Too Nice

Shannon Moran’s Too Nice is a powerful and raw poetic exploration of how kindness  is often weaponized against them in a culture that blames victims of sexual assault and coercion. The poem deconstructs the insidious narrative that being “too nice” invites abuse, pushing back against societal tendencies to question the victim’s behavior rather than the perpetrator’s. Through vivid, emotionally charged language, Moran gives voice to the often-silenced experiences of coercion, emotional manipulation, and victim-blaming. The poem underscores the no-win reality many survivors face and challenges deeply ingrained myths about consent, strength, and survival

non-partisan student voter organizing, psychology, criminal justice, and counterterrorism. He works as a criminal intelligence analyst for the Camden County Police Department. He is also a graduate student at Georgetown University, where he is pursuing a

In this analytical essay, Geoffrey Downing explores the mathematical modeling of COVID-19’s rapid spread through the lens of exponential functions. Using definitions and structures from both standard algebra and epidemiology, he illustrates how the reproductive number (R₀) and growth constants model infection trajectories. Downing emphasizes the critical role of two variables: exposure (E) and probability of infection (P), showing how reducing exposure through social distancing directly flattens the curve. He introduces exponential and logarithmic graphing tools to understand spikes and predict outcomes, while also addressing the limitations of pure exponential growth as infection reaches population saturation. The essay advocates for scientifically informed public health strategies and highlights the life-or-death significance of individual choices during a pandemic

The Second Chance Act of 2007

Ashanti Howard presents a comprehensive policy analysis of the Second Chance Act (SCA) of 2007, a federal initiative aimed at reducing recidivism and supporting successful reentry of formerly incarcerated individuals. The article begins by unpacking the concept of “invisible punishments”—such as restrictions on housing, employment, and voting rights—that hinder reintegration and increase the likelihood of reoffending. Howard details the SCA’s bipartisan origins, legislative structure, and its implementation through grant-funded reentry programs. The essay evaluates the effectiveness of these programs across various states, drawing on both successes and failures like Project Greenlight. Howard concludes with thoughtful policy critiques and recommendations, emphasizing the need for smaller, more personalized programs, mandatory participation, and risk-tiered interventions. The piece underscores the vital role of the SCA in combating mass incarceration and promoting public safety through rehabilitation rather than punishment

Editor's Note

In this introduction to the Fall 2021 issue of The Undergraduate Review, editors Isaiah Dingle and William Huang reflect on the resilience and creativity of the Rutgers–Camden undergraduate community during a time of global uncertainty. The issue features a diverse array of faculty-approved student work spanning history, law, business, literature, and creative writing. The editors spotlight essays addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, political extremism, and human connection, underscoring how students grapple with both global crises and intimate realities. They also express gratitude to student contributors and faculty advisors, and invite readers to engage deeply with the ideas presented

My Other Half

In My Other Half, Nicholas Rienstra weaves a narrative about loneliness, deception, and the human need for connection.  With dark tenderness, Rienstra explores the ethics of manipulation, the aching hunger for validation, and the paradox of being both predator and caretaker in the same act

The Geometry of Love

In The Geometry of Love, Jennifer Le crafts a poetic meditation that merges mathematical imagery with romantic longing. Using terms and structures from geometry, Le weaves an emotionally resonant portrait of a lover whose physical and metaphysical qualities defy comprehension. The poem blends form and feeling, logic and lyricism, to express awe at the beauty and precision found in intimacy. Through its clever numeric and spatial formatting, the poem invites the reader to experience love as both equation and enigma—something as structured as a proof and as elusive as the stars

Grandma, What Big Fears You Have! Cultural Femininity in Little Red Riding Hood

Amanda Clapcich’s essay explores the evolving representations of femininity in various retellings of Little Red Riding Hood, analyzing how each version reflects its cultural moment’s attitudes toward gender, sexuality, and power. Using a post-structural lens, the paper examines literary and oral traditions from Egbert of Liège’s Christianized 11th-century variant to contemporary feminist reimaginings by Angela Carter. Clapcich highlights key shifts in narrative agency, the portrayal of the wolf as a symbol of male desire or societal threat, and the protagonist’s journey from innocence to sexual autonomy. By unpacking versions by Perrault, the Brothers Grimm, Tex Avery, and Carter, the essay argues that Little Red Riding Hood serves as a mirror of evolving social norms and a battleground for the representation of female identity and empowerment

Ericoid mycorrhizae influence nitrogen acquisition by Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry)

This study examines the role of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ERM) in facilitating nitrogen uptake in Vaccinium macrocarpon (American cranberry), a crop of both agricultural and ecological importance in New Jersey. By using isotopic nitrogen (¹⁵N) tracers and controlled inoculation of ERM, the authors assessed whether cranberry plants prefer nitrogen from organic sources provided by mycorrhizal associations over inorganic fertilizer. Results showed that while ERM presence significantly increased total nitrogen uptake, the plants still favored inorganic nitrogen sources, contrary to initial hypotheses. The findings support the benefits of ERM in nutrient acquisition but suggest further research is needed to quantify their specific contribution to organic nitrogen cycling in cranberry agroecosystems

Blood and Soil: Right-Wing Terrorism Poses an Existential Threat to the United States

Benjamin Simonds Nixon delivers a powerful and meticulously researched analysis of right-wing terrorism (RWT) in the United States, arguing that it constitutes the most severe threat to American democracy today. Tracing its lineage from historical white supremacy to contemporary movements like the alt-right and ecofascism, Nixon examines how ideologies of racial purity and anti-government sentiment have evolved into decentralized, digitally-savvy networks. These groups use coded language, internet memes, and conspiracy theories to radicalize disaffected white Americans while infiltrating government agencies and law enforcement as “ghost skins.” Through historical context and case studies, including references to The Turner Diaries, Nixon shows how RWT seeks not only disruption but the complete dismantling of democratic institutions in favor of white ethnostates. The article calls for urgent attention by security services and the public to confront and dismantle the deep structural racism that enables these movements

Polarity of the International System: Shift to Multipolarity

Alyssa Granato’s essay explores the evolving structure of global power, arguing that the international system is shifting from unipolarity—dominated by the United States—toward multipolarity, with China and Russia emerging as formidable global actors. Drawing from international relations theorists including Layne, Pape, Waltz, and Monteiro, the paper examines how economic interdependence, military fatigue, and strategic “soft balancing” signal the erosion of U.S. hegemony. Granato critiques the limitations of unipolar dominance, including its tendency toward moral decay, regional conflict, and global resentment, while presenting multipolarity as a more stable, interconnected alternative. The paper blends theoretical frameworks with recent historical developments to offer a compelling case for a changing world order