4 SPORTS
6 ARTS
How Can Athletes Trust USA Gymnastics?
‘Bull’ Offers an Intimate Glimpse Into Rodeo Life
5 CULTURE
7 OPINION
Getting in Touch With the Great Outdoors
The Consequences of NYU’s Guise of Transparency
VOLUME LIV | ISSUE 14
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
Teaching Assistants Plan a ‘Sick-Out’ Strike Members of Sick-Out NYU plan to take a three-day strike to advocate for graduate students’ rights during the pandemic. By NICK MEAD Deputy News Editor
JESSICA FRANCIS
This week, NYU TAs may stop teaching in protest. Sick-Out NYU released a list of demands for NYU administration to address in order to provide for students and workers.
NYU Teaching Assistants plan to collectively take three consecutive sick days starting Wednesday, May 6 to demonstrate their essential role at the university and protest NYU’s lack of support for graduate students. The strike will be orchestrated by Sick-Out NYU, a group of master’s and doctoral students aiming to gain more support from the school administration as graduate students face the end of funding for their research — or, in the case of international students, visa cancellations — during the pandemic. Doctoral student Jackson Smith is an organizer of Sick-Out NYU who plans to participate in the action later this week. “From our perspective, they’ve failed to address this crisis, or even have a full understanding of what this crisis means for graduate students,” Smith said. “It will be impossible for some of us to return to NYU in the fall. Without a guaranteed extension of funding, the only people who’ll be able to f inish their degrees will be those with independent wealth.”
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Three NYU Professors Inducted into American Academy of Arts and Sciences By NICK MEAD Deputy News Editor Three NYU professors were elected as American Academy of Arts and Sciences fellows — one of the most prestigious scholarly honors — on Thursday, April 23. The new fellows are English professor emerita Mary Carruthers, Psychology professor Gregory Murphy, Psychology professor emeritus and Anthropology professor Susan Antón. They are three of 276 members elected in 2020. “It’s more like the Nobel Prize than anything else in Humanities,” Carruthers told
WSN in an email. “I just got an email out of the blue one morning last week saying that I’d been elected to the Fellowship.” In addition to the professors, the AAAS also inducted Vice-Chairman of NYU’s Board of Trustees Chandrika Tandon, although this was not stated in NYU’s initial press release. Following a 2015 donation of $100 million to the Tandon School of Engineering, the school was renamed after her and her husband. Tandon is the founder and chair of Tandon Capital Associates and chair of the NYU Tandon School of Engineering’s Board of Overseers. The award is multidisciplinary, encompass-
ing f ields such as education, democracy and justice, energy and environment, the arts and science and technology, the AAAS website states. Former recipients include Martin Luther King Jr., Georgia O’Keeffe, Toni Morrison, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. The academy has elected more than 13,500 members since its conception in 1780. The election process begins with a nomination from two already-existing members — each from a different institution — and then prospective inductees are placed on a ballot. Members vote on these ballots in sections and then place 12 members from each section
to advance to a further round. In the next round, six out of the 12 members are chosen and forwarded to The Academy’s Council and Board of Directors, who then off icially elect the members, according to the AAAS website. “The primary criteria for election are excellence in the f ield and a record of continued accomplishment,” the website reads. While inductees are generally chosen because they excel in their f ields, the exact selection criteria remain unclear. Inductees are generally not told why they are selected, Carruthers said.
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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
NEWS
NEWS@NYUNEWS.COM
Edited by LISA COCHRAN and EMILY MASON
Teaching Assistants Plan a ‘Sick-Out’ Strike CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The Graduate Student Organizing Committee released an open letter to Provost Fleming on Tuesday, March 31, which outlined a set of graduate student demands. Among the demands were emergency summer funding, a one-year extension of time-to-degree deadlines for all graduate students and waiver of fees for all graduate students. Sick-Out’s demands support the ones listed in GSOC’s letter and add that the university should end the school’s hiring freeze and assist international students with housing and visa issues. If Sick-Out’s demands are not responded to and met by Tuesday, May 5, participating graduate students will use their sick days on May 6, 7 and 8. “This action we’re taking is simply calling in sick with guaranteed sick days we have in our contracts,” Smith said. “We’re using it to call attention to the iniquities that have emerged in
the wake of this crisis, not only for graduates but undergrads who are paying tuition for online instruction that is not equal or suff icient to what they’d normally receive.” The Sick-Out intends to show the university how diff icult it will be for undergraduate classes — many of which rely on TAs — to operate normally if graduate students are unable to return to NYU next semester. “Many graduate students will not be able to continue with their studies,” Smith said. “The university, I don’t think, comprehends that it’s threatening its own ability to function going into the fall.” An international doctoral student who asked to remain anonymous, citing fears about her immigration status, explained the precarious position she’s in without assistance from NYU. She was doing research in Germany this semester and therefore is not a TA, but fully supports the goals of Sick-Out. “My U.S. visa has expired,” she
said. “The embassies are closed, I’m running out of funding in May and that means there’s no point applying for an extension to even be considered for a visa. We don’t get funding for the summer, and in the middle of this crisis we don’t have money for rent past June. We need more time, and funding is essential to our visa status.” Tisch graduate student and member of the NYU COVID Coalition, Zane Liston, is in full support of the goals of Sick-Out. “I think what they’re saying about international students hiring freeze affected us greatly,” Liston said. “The f irst steps our department took was to hire as many people as possible as research assistants, but two days later the hiring freeze was implemented.” Liston sees the hiring freeze as a particularly harmful aspect of NYU’s response to the current economic crisis. “Graduate students that are grad-
uating this year are especially hurt by COVID,” Liston said. “We’re about to go into the worst employment f ield in the history of America. Department-by-department lifting of hiring freezes would change our lives right now.” With so many students in dire straits, many see the demands that Sick-Out is f ighting for as a lifeline. “We are in a pandemic right now,” Smith said. “It sends a strong message to show how, beyond COVID-19, NYU’s response — or lack of response, as we see it — also makes us sick.” NYU spokesperson John Beckman responded to the plans laid out by Sick-Out. “The University is sympathetic to adverse situations that COVID-19 has caused for many in the University, including graduate students,” Beckman told WSN in a statement. “Nevertheless, a job action by graduate workers would be a violation of the contract they signed
and agreed to.” Beckman also addressed the f inancial strain COVID-19 has inflicted on the University. “We would ask that all members of the community be mindful of the reality that the University itself is in f inancial straits unlike those seen in decades, and even as there may be new challenges and needs, resources are far scarcer,” he said. Smith disagreed with the university’s off icial stance. “I understand that there’s a f inancial crisis that’s been instigated by [COVID-19],” Smith said. “The fact of the matter is, NYU has $1.9 billion in assets and has not imposed any salary cuts on the highest earning administrators, such as President Hamilton. The austerity burden is falling on grad students and NYU can afford it. It’s a matter of will, not a matter of f inancial restraint.” Email Nick Mead at nmead@nyunews.com.
Three NYU Professors Inducted into American Academy of Arts and Sciences CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
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“Since the whole process is secret, I don’t know why I was selected,” Carruthers said. “I would guess it has to do with the range of other people’s research which my work has influenced over thirty years, in ways great and small.” Though Carruthers is categorized as an English language professor, she believes that the category doesn’t reflect the interdisciplinary nature of her work, which includes research on art history and aesthetics. When her book “The Book of Memory” was published in 1990, she received correspondence from scholars in f ields ranging from anthropology and sociology to computer science. “I still regularly get questions from doctors who treat geriatric patients, and from people who work in secondary education,” Carruthers said. “I like having such a multidisciplinary audience.” Susan Antón — who was recognized
for her work in the study of early human evolution — also shared her surprise at being elected. “The AAAS President’s off ice emailed me about noon on the day the awards were announced to welcome me as a newly elected member,” Antón told WSN in an email. “I already knew about the organization, of course, but I almost missed the email because I wasn’t expecting it and it looked like something I didn’t need to read right away!” Antón also shared what the recognition meant to her personally. “I’m pretty excited about having been elected, and quite humbled to have been included,” she said. “At the same time, there are so many deserving folks who could be in my position, that I am simply feeling very lucky to be recognized. I’m also a little sad, because my mom died this Fall and I would have loved to have been able to share this with her.”
Gregory Murphy — who is now retired — declined to comment. His research focuses primarily on the psychology of language acquisition. Other 2020 AAAS fellows include former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, singer-songwriter Joan Baez and f ilmmaker Richard Linklater. It is currently unknown whether there will be the usual in-person induction ceremony for new fellows this October. Antón hopes to meet the other inductees if it is deemed safe to hold the event. “I am betting there will be some exciting conversations around new ideas and perspectives,” she said. “I have no idea what those will be. But even more than that, I hope that my recognition provides a little bit of possibility to some aspiring kid somewhere that anything is possible.” Email Nick Mead at nmead@nyunews.com.
@nyunews IMAGES VIA NYU, ALEXANDRA CHAN | WSN
American Academy of Arts and Sciences selected its 2020 fellows last week — three NYU professors made the list. From left to right, English professor Mary Carruthers, psychology professor Gregory Murphy, and anthropology professor Susan Antón are among the 250 chosen this year.
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
Washington Square News | News
Students Voice Concern Over NYU Pandemic Response
Elected Officials Address NYC College Students’ Pandemic Concerns By EMILY MASON News Editor
ALEXANDRA CHAN | WSN
Students Demanding Care hosted a virtual town hall last Friday over Zoom. Joined with other student organizations, they asked NYU to take action and provide aid to the community.
By ANDREW CALIFF Staff Writer Before the floor opened to comments, the f irst town hall hosted by Students Demanding Care started with a somber offering of condolences to those in NYU’s community who have COVID-19 and those who have passed away from the virus. A brief silence ensued before people started introducing themselves and sharing their grievances. The meeting was held via Zoom on Friday, May 1, for students to voice their concerns about NYU’s handling of COVID-19. Participants talked about the university’s failure to reimburse students who believe their quality of education has been severely reduced, their opaque policies regarding their use of CARES Act funds — which provide emergency funding to universities nationwide — as well as and the logistical diff iculties many international students have faced due to NYU’s response. “One thing that everyone [attending the event] has been f ighting for is just more transparency from NYU,” Tisch graduate student and event attendee Zane Liston told WSN. “We have never gotten a breakdown of what our tuition actually means, which is how they are able to argue right now that we are receiving our full education online.” Liston was vocal in the discourse Friday night, expressing concerns about how students in her department have not been awarded even the minimal fee refunds granted to other Tisch students for certain performance, lab and equipment fees. “[Administration] is way more interested in the bottom line of the university than protecting students,” Liston said. “They should put the students and the faculty at the forefront of all the decisions they are making” The 38 attendees included representatives of multiple student-led organizations such as the Student Labor Action Movement, GenVote and COVID Coalition. “I felt like it was a space for student power, and for them to really address the fact that student voices aren’t being heard by the administration,” Gallatin professor Amin Husain told WSN. “They are not part of a decision making that is … impacting their lives and their resources.”
He attended Friday to voice his concerns about how NYU has responded and to stand in solidarity with his students, some of whom are founders of SDC. He highlighted the importance of sticking together as a community versus as an institution. A variety of plans to mobilize and suggestions to get the administration’s attention were raised. COVID Coalition just f inished a week of virtual action and SDC is planning to hold future town halls. Other ideas were bounced around, including a fall tuition strike in which students refuse to pay tuition. “Based on what NYU has been doing, it’s clear they care more about money than students,” International Student Affairs committee member Gabin Lee said about the proposed strike. Lee Zoomed in from Korea to illustrate the many challenges international students have faced. Lee explained how many students struggled or failed to get home once dorms closed because NYU waited until the last minute to act, leaving students with short notice to move out. Many students in China were put in hotels to quarantine and did not have WiFi strong enough for Zoom. NYU failed to do anything to remediate these and other challenges, Lee said. She also discussed NYU’s failure to address the xenophobic sentiments Asians students have faced amid the pandemic. “At the moment, we are left on our own to deal with any hateful actions that may arise,” Lee said. “It would be great if NYU had some [anti-xenophobia] policies but at the moment they [don’t].” SDC wrote NYU President Andrew Hamilton with demands including tuition refunds and freezes, job security and guaranteed pay and structural changes to the institution to better support students. The letter also expressed support for NYU COVID Coalition’s petition demands. “It’s really important to get students talking,” Gallatin junior Alessandra Frank said about the event. “Hopefully moving forward we can band together to do something that moves the needle.” Email Andrew Califf at news@nyunews.com.
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New York Elected Representatives and New York City college students discussed issues facing college students in the age of COVID-19. Student representatives from Young Invincibles — an organization that addresses issues of health care, higher education and economic security for young adults — shared their experiences as New York City college students living through the pandemic. Topics covered included access to mental health services, housing and food insecurity as well as emergency funds for struggling students. New York State Assemblymembers Deborah Glick and Harvey Epstein fielded student questions, with both emphasizing the need for a federal bailout to allow for CUNY and SUNY systems to best support students. New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo has warned that budget cuts to higher education, K-12 and healthcare may come soon if the federal government does not provide additional funding. Mental health resources proved to be a key concern for students. However, Glick explained that even with additional funding, counselor availability on college campuses may remain an issue. “We have to get federal bailout dollars and if they arrive, [counselor availability] will still be a problem,” Glick said at the event. “The flip side is that this crisis has made people realize the inequities in our society and the fact that people like myself are not struggling the same as people in minority communities or as young people are struggling.” Glick emphasized that while mental health resources on campuses may remain elusive, the state has set up a mental health hotline for which 10,000 mental health professionals have volunteered their time to take calls. Around 78% of CUNY enrollment are minority students and before the pandemic around 48% of 22,000 CUNY students responded to a survey saying they faced food insecurity, making these students especially vulnerable to the financial and emotional tolls of COVID-19. While mental health resources were a hot-button topic, City College of New York senior Marcia Collier, who attended the town hall, said that in her experience, housing insecurity has been the biggest concern that students face. Before the pandemic 14% of CUNY undergraduate students were experiencing homelessness, according to a media advisory. “I know a few students who are borderline homeless, they’re moving from place to place and there is no assistance at all with help,” Collier told WSN. “The only option you have is to stay in the dorms, which is only available for a certain amount of individuals and it’s extremely expensive.” In addition to housing insecurity and limited access to mental health services, Hunter College senior Tanisha Williams raised concerns regarding access to food pantries for college students dealing with food insecurity in New York City. “As campuses close access to food for many students is harder than ever especially as food pantries are closed or offer extremely limited hours,” Williams said before asking representatives what they can do to open up access to food pantries for college students. “Meanwhile, the state’s investment in food pantries
has not increased since 2018 and very few college students enroll in food stamps.” In April, the city approved $25 million to be allocated toward emergency food providers. Representatives Glick and Epstein agreed that the Grab-and-Go programs implemented by the city should have been based on college campuses. Glick also raised that food pantries should be open to all university students, regardless of which school they attend. This measure would have been especially useful for NYU students facing food insecurity, as the university does not have a food pantry. “Students who have a school ID should be able to go to any campus,” Glick said. “The city has not put any of the Grab-and-Go on campuses which would have been helpful in those neighborhoods where the campuses are and I don’t quite understand why they didn’t do that.” Paola Cruz, a Columbia University student, added to the conversation that university emergency funds have also proven difficult to access for students who have applied. She cited a friend whose application was denied. “For some colleges the emergency funds have already existed, but the demand is very high as students and families lose work while potentially taking on new expenses like internet access or computers to make sure they can keep up with classes,” Cruz said at the event. “We also know that the federal government is sending money to New York’s colleges for emergency aid as a part of the CARES act. These emergency grants funded from the CARES act must address urgent needs students may be facing from housing to childcare to accessing food.” However, Senator Robert Jackson emphasized that private universities with large endowments, like Columbia University or NYU, should be able to provide for students in need. “As far as endowment, Columbia University has billions of dollars in endowment so they should be able to set aside X amount of dollars when it comes to cash for food, for housing,” Jackson said during the session. “Columbia — I don’t know if they’re doing that. They have a huge endowment to do that, whereas the City College comparatively does not.” While discussion centered around meeting fundamental health and safety needs, Williams also brought up concerns that money awarded to students through the New York State Tuition Assistance Program may be put in jeopardy by budget cuts or suffering GPAs due to the financial and emotional strains brought by COVID-19. Assemblymember Epstein assured students that they would work not only to protect TAP awards, but also to extend funding. “If you can’t get your four years, your eight credits from the TAP, we need to ensure that students have additional time and additional semester of TAP not losing that opportunity,” Epstein said. But the question of budget cuts still hangs heavy in the minds of CUNY college administrators and students. Young Invincibles advertised a petition at the end of the call, demanding that Governor Cuomo not follow through on plans to slash education budgets in the coming months if a federal bailout does not appear. Email Emily Mason at emason@nyunews.com.
JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN
Many universities have placed their campuses in NYC. College students from NYC schools recently spoke with local and state officials about various issues they currently face.
Washington Square News
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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
SPORTS
SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Passion FC: Soccer for Social Change
Edited by ARVIND SRIRAM
How Can Athletes Trust USA Gymnastics?
By ARVIND SRIRAM Sports Editor
By BELA KIRPALANI Editor-at-Large
At the age of 17, SPS junior Arik Rosenstein took a gap year to live in Jerusalem to participate in a leadership development program that promotes social change and to advance his career in the sports industry. Rosenstein was able to intern for Maccabi Tel Aviv Football Club’s Community Trust and when delivering gifts to the supporters of their team in Haifa, Rosenstein had a life-changing interaction with a fan. “One night, we had a match in Haifa, in northern Israel,” Rosenstein said. “We drove two hours to deliver Maccabi Tel Aviv FC gifts to a paralyzed 12-year-old girl. She had received a vaccine when she was 10, and that same night, as they were watching a Maccabi game, she had a freak reaction and had been bed-ridden and paralyzed ever since.” Rosenstein walked in and placed a Maccabi Tel Aviv FC blanket on the 12-year-old girl’s bed. Her father turned to him and said something that Rosenstein will pass down to his future generations. “[He] said ‘Maccabi Tel Aviv is not only keeping our faith in her recovery, but more importantly my daughter’s faith,’” Rosenstein said. “You see, that is when I learned what it means to listen. To actually, and authentically listen. That is so difficult for people.” Inspired by this interaction, in the summer of 2018, Rosenstein created Passion FC, a social movement that utilizes soccer and its growing global community to “confront and address social issues of our time.” To Rosenstein, Passion FC is more than a social movement. “Passion FC is simply a mindset,” Rosenstein said. “Many people, especially soccer lovers, have this mindset. It’s this common understanding that sports has this ability to connect people instantly and allow people to simply see each other, not say a word and have an emotional bond unimaginable.” Originally an Instagram story-telling initiative modeled after “Humans of New York,” Passion FC has grown immensely. Over the past year, the Passion FC team has increased from two members to eight, including the additions of SPS sophomore and Managing Director of India Prakarsh Jain, SPS senior and Managing Director of Asia-Pacific Lucy Guan and NYU Abu Dhabi sophomore and Managing Director of the Middle East and Eastern Europe Leila Al Dzheref. Passion FC has also hosted in-person events and expanded the story-telling aspects to focus more on addressing particular social issues. “We’re not only gathering people’s stories and posting them so people can just read them,” Dzheref said. “We’re trying to start a conversation between the story-
Last week, elite gymnastics coach Maggie Haney was served with an eight-year suspension by U.S.A Gymnastics following accusations that she had verbally and emotionally abused athletes. Haney has had at least one gymnast represent the U.S. on the junior or senior level every year since 2013, according to the New York Times. Laurie Hernandez, the youngest member of the Final Five that won gold at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, opened up about Haney’s abuse in a vulnerable Instagram post on Thursday. “She’d humiliate me in front of others without a doubt, constantly make comments about me gaining weight, have me work out on multiple injuries, curse at me, point out the way I cried in front of others, and much more that goes beyond my own words,” Henandez wrote. U.S.A Gymnastics’ ruling came after an independent hearing panel determined that Haney had emotionally and verbally abused gymnasts. According to Hernandez’s mother, Wanda Hernandez, reports of Haney’s behavior were brought to USAG’s attention in 2016. It took three years and four months for the hearing to happen. While the process took far too long, some gymnasts see the outcome as a small sign of progress — Haney’s eight-year suspension is certainly more than nothing, and perhaps it also demonstrates that U.S.A Gymnastics understands that emotional abuse is equally as serious as physical crimes. The news of Haney’s suspensions comes just three years after the Dr. Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal, the effects of which still haunt many gymnasts today. Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas, McKayla Maroney and Aly Raisman are some of Nassar’s more prominent victims. Biles and Raisman have publicly discussed their struggles with anxiety, depression and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, and Raisman retired from gymnastics earlier this year, citing a personal goal to make the sport safer. Nassar was a former team doctor for the U.S. Gymnastics team and Michigan State University. He was sentenced to more than 100 years in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of criminal sexual misconduct of his patients. Not only did U.S.A Gymnastics fail to put an end to Nassar’s abuse for years, it knowingly failed to inform authorities of abuse by coaches at all levels, per a 2016 Indianpolis Star investigation — despite laws in every state requiring people to report suspected child abuse. Last summer, a Senate panel lambasted the national gymnastics federation after conducting an 18-month inquiry that concluded that the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee and U.S.A Gymnastics “knowingly concealed abuse by Larry Nassar, leading to the abuse of dozens of additional amateur athletes from summer 2015 to September 2016.” So how can Nassar’s victims and others trust the nation’s gymnastics federation? This cycle of abuse and overt negligence by the very institutions that are supposed to govern and protect their athletes is apparent in almost all sports — not just gymnastics. There was the 2011 sexual abuse scandal involving former Pennsylvania State University defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and 10 of his football players. Several officials at the university had been informed of the incidents and failed to report them to the authorities, enabling further abuse. Just last month, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Tennis Association knew that prominent youth tennis coach Normandie Burgos had been accused of sexually abusing
IMAGE COURTESY OF PASSION F.C.
SPS junior Arik Rosenstein founded Passion F.C., a movement driven to address social issues through soccer. The student led group connects with people internationally and is determined to continue sharing their message.
teller and the audience so we can start a conversation about a particular issue or a particular aspect that was mentioned in the story.” On January 22, Passion FC collaborated with Universal Dialect, an activewear company, to host “The World’s Game: A Day of Understanding, Connection, and Football” as a way to unite those of different backgrounds by playing soccer. With 63 attendees, the event was a numerical success. However, to Rosenstein, the biggest indicator of success was the new relationships they helped form. “People were broadening their horizons, people were meeting up for beers after [the event] and people were just talking, using football as a medium,” Rosenstein said. “We couldn’t get them to stop talking and planning, it was a targeted approach and it worked. I would say that [The World’s Game] was a success.” Over the past week, Passion FC published El Mismo Amor, a content piece on Buenos Aires that confronts the social issue of violence amongst Argentinian soccer fans. However, instead of just spreading awareness to the violence, El Mismo Amor strives to share the positive aspects of Argentinian soccer. “Stereotypically, people think that in Argentina, if you go to a football game, there’s going to be violence in the stands or outside the stadiums,” SPS junior and Chief Partnership and Strategy Officer Aggie Dent said. “[El Mismo Amor] shows that [violence] is there and people know it’s there, but there are also all of these really positive things that come out of these games.” A key reason for El Mismo Amor’s success: the fact that the members of Passion FC speak multiple languages.
“Our team is very international and between us, we speak 10 languages fluently,” SPS junior and Head of Communications Anton Kondrashov said. “It’s one thing when you hear a story, and then you translate it into English, and then you don’t really understand it. It’s completely different when you’re able to hear from the source, understand the meaning behind the words in a different way, and then translate it by yourself with the meaning that you get in mind.” Despite all of Passion FC’s success so far, there have been some setbacks. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Passion FC has had to postpone their future in-person events and transition to solely focusing on social media outreach for the time being. However, Passion FC has been able to find the silver lining of this complication. “Now, people are quarantined at home so they usually crave for content,” Guan said. “If anything, it’s an opportunity for us to have more content and engage with people online.” The reason for this seamless transition: the team’s collaborative approach and emphasis on interpersonal communication. “Everyone has an equal say,” Jain said. “It’s not just about one person giving their opinions and beliefs, there is a lot of discussion on every topic that we take on.” With the success that this initiative has achieved so far, Passion FC continues to remember its roots. “It wouldn’t be possible without this [soccer] ball,” Rosenstein said. “I think it’s a testament to the game and its amazing ability to get such a deep emotion out of people in different ways. So credit to the game itself.” Email Arvind Sriram at asriram@nyunews.com.
players for years. He was licensed by the USTA and had received funds from the organization. But the organization failed to take any sort of public action against him. Burgos was convicted of 60 counts of child molestation last year and is currently serving a 255-year prison sentence. Stevie Gould, a victim of Burgos’ who once tried to warn the USTA of the abuse, was presented with a national sportsmanship award by the USTA around the same time he was set to testify in Burgos’ criminal trial. In sports, athletes are expected to form strong relationships with their coaches and physical trainers. Budding gymnasts, football players and tennis stars spend the most amount of time with these authority figures. They have to trust them with their bodies and their minds. But what happens when coaches and doctors use that level of trust to manipulate and abuse their athletes? And how can these athletes trust the very sporting institutions that were created to oversee and protect them after those governing bodies have proven themselves to be unworthy of that faith? To break the cycle of abuse, large sporting federations like U.S.A Gymnastics, the USTA and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee need to be held accountable for the behavior of their coaches and staff. They also need to develop stronger safeguards to protect their athletes against future abusers. After the Nassar scandal shocked the world, U.S.A Gymnastics experienced a period of turnover and turmoil.The organization’s president, Steve Penny, resigned in 2017, and the federation has hired three new executives in the last three years. Following the Senate panel’s inquiry, the Senate introduced a bill which would increase the legal liability for the USOPC and its sport-specific governing bodies, including U.S.A Gymnastics. It also increased the funding for the Center for SafeSport, an independent, nonprofit organization created to end abuse in sports. It was the Center for SafeSport that conducted the hearing on Haney’s abuse allegations, which didn’t begin until over three years after allegations surfaced. The bill has not yet been passed. Additionally, an investigation into who within the U.S.A Gymnastics specifically chose to protect Nassar — which Biles and Raisman have called for — has not yet transpired. The pair were disappointed by the federation’s proposed settlement offer, which included $215 million to the victims, as it suggested the release of Penny, former coaches Martha and Bela Karolyi and others from liability. While the suspension of Haney from the sport may serve as a small consolation, an insufficient settlement offer and a lack of transparency leave athletes feeling dismayed and alone. The question remains: can U.S.A Gymnastics be trusted to handle — or, at the very least, report — abusers within its structure? The Sports Girl is a weekly column that features a girl’s take on sports. Yes, a girl. Yes, on sports. Email Bela Kirpalani at bkirpalani@nyunews.com.
SOPHIA DI IORIO | WSN
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MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
CULTURE
CULTURE@NYUNEWS.COM
Building a Home Away From Home
MANASA GUDAVALLI
The Brooklyn Bridge shines brightly in the night. Since leaving the city when remote learning began, many students are thinking of their experiences in the city, such as witnessing views such as these.
Although NYU has prematurely closed its doors for the remainder of the academic year due to the coronavirus outbreak, its students are not letting that stop them from continuing their lives in New York City — regardless of whether they’re in the city or not. For Steinhardt junior Sam Winslow, life in New York City was f illed with business events, concerts and live DJ sets. But with the abrupt move out of the city, Winslow has found ways to bring these facets of his city life to his stay at his summer home in New Hampshire. “A big reason I enjoy living in NYC (besides bagels) is that everyone around me seems to be working on cool projects,” he told WSN through Facebook Messenger. “In my case, I usually attend a lot of entrepreneurial workshops and enjoy growing my network that way.” While Winslow admits that being away from the live New York music scene is hard, he has managed to connect his entrepreneurial passions with his love for music by launching his new music-sharing app, Tunestack. “I think this was a great time to launch this service, because it replicates the experience of sharing album recommendations or ‘passing the aux’ in a virtual space,” he said. “By building something my friends and I want to use, I’ve started to feel less isolated.” Similarly, Steinhardt f irst-year Sirena Beard-Galati leads a music-centric life in New York and has found solace in creating a songwriting challenge while staying in Connecticut. “I’ve started this songwriting challenge for 30 days and have also been nominating people to pass it on,” Beard-Galati said. “This challenge is to write a song every day (it could be a melody or some lyrics) and really just exercise the brain to
keep focused and achieve a goal everyday (even if it’s just some ideas you’d write down).” Beard-Galati remains optimistic that life in the city will begin again and is compiling a list of things that she wants to do when the city reopens. In fact, she has even created a community on Zoom where friends can meet to share their quarantine experiences over hot chocolate. “I [...] have started ‘hot chocolate time’ which is a zoom group call that I’ve organized of friends and newer friends to make connections, speak about their experiences in quarantine, how they are staying healthy and productive during this time,” she said. “This space is more focused on support and making connections for the future when these hard times clear. You of course have to bring hot chocolate!” Meanwhile, Steinhardt second year Master’s student Jessica Chertock has been able to experience her city life in doses from her Long Island hometown by watching livestream concerts hosted by her friends. Watching Instagram and Snapchat stories of friends based in the city has made her feel connected with the networks she’s created. “I’ve spent my whole life in and out of the city so I didn’t really have to adjust to being away from the city,” Chertock told WSN through Facebook Messenger. However, she acknowledges that staying at home has been an adjustment, since she lives alone in the city and misses the convenience of walking everywhere. “I mostly wish I had the freedom to just walk outside and go to a coffee shop,” Chertock said. “I have the ability to do this both on Long Island and in the city but I miss the independence of living in the city.” New York City may be far away, but the energy and ambition that it cultivates lives on in NYU students. Email Sara Miranda at smiranda@nyunews.com.
Edited by BELLA GIL
Getting in Touch With the Great Outdoors By ADDISON ALOIAN Deputy Culture Editor
By SARA MIRANDA Under the Arch Multimedia Editor
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Due to the abrupt move to remote classes for the rest of the semester after the outbreak of COVID-19, some students have relocated miles away from New York City, either in their home state or at another friend or family’s house. Many students have been taking advantage of the great outdoors to immerse themselves in the different nature scenes they don’t experience in the concrete jungle. In turn, this practice is also helping them deal with any anxieties about the virus. Gallatin junior Jaime Ostrow is currently enjoying her time away from the city in sunny Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “I spend almost every day outside,” Ostrow said. “I try to read and do homework in my backyard so I can be in the sun. The weather most definitely affects my mood and I feel very lucky to be able to wake up and spend most days outside.” Similarly, California native and Tisch sophomore Ko Narter is visiting Austin, Texas for spring break, which turned into two months. “I miss New York weather in the sense that the changing of seasons is exciting, and when it finally gets warm in New York I feel like I’ve earned it, but I’m not complaining at all about the warmth and sun here,” she told WSN through email. Stern sophomore Neyl Loukil-Borrás has also been staying away from home with his friend, Steinhardt sophomore Ellie Condello, and her family in the Bay Area. He chose not to fly back to his hometown of Munich, Germany, because of the unavailability of flights due to the border closure and fear of possibly spreading the virus. “The weather here is beautiful,”
Loukil-Borrás said. “The sun is out nearly everyday and has definitely affected my mood positively.” On the contrary, Steinhardt sophomore Hannah Heil is staying in Grand Lake, Colo. While she appreciates the beautiful Rockies, she is missing the city as well. “The weather is very up in [sic] down in Colorado,” said Heil. “For the first few weeks, it was snowing a lot on and off and I definitely was missing the New York spring, but lately it has been really nice and sunny out.” For some students, being outside has improved their mental health drastically. “Spending time outside has definitely helped me during this quarantine,” Ostrow said. “Like I said earlier, I feel so lucky to have access to all of these things because not everyone does.” Narter has also found this time refreshing, to both explore new areas where she doesn’t normally get to spend time, and to replace her commute time on walks around her neighborhood. “My daily walks have saved me.” she admitted. “When I first got here, my dad and I drove to some trailheads and did some real hikes which was such a lovely contrast to the infinite amount of concrete in New York, but other than that I just try to access the nature around me.” Loukil-Borrás, too, has loved his time spent in a different part of America since he lives in Europe. “This time outside has really helped me stay sane,” Loukil-Borras said. “Getting to breath [sic] new fresh air and take in the sun has helped clear my mind and I have been able to focus on my work more afterwards. I am spending time outside nearly every day and remind myself to go outside everyday
because I am lucky enough to have an outdoor space.” Heil has used this time to honor herself through a balanced mix of celebrating the outdoors and resting inside. “I am trying to spend some more time outside; going on walks, playing with my dog; and even just sitting outside when the sun is out,” she said. “I’ve always loved hiking, and in Colorado it’s especially beautiful, but I haven’t really had much time to discover something new during the quarantine.” As for the future, some students are feeling a bit uneasy but are looking forward to returning to normal life. “I really feel like life is on pause right now,” Narter said. “I’m in the middle of my degree, I don’t have anything major going on, and I’m just laying low, calling friends, making music and passing the time.” However, most students know this time will pass and that we will return stronger than ever to the Big Apple as soon as possible. “I am optimistic about the aftermath of COVID-19,” Ostrow said. “New York City has and will recover, it is only a matter of time. There will definitely be a transition period, but there is a learning lesson in everything.” Heil agreed that while this period of uncertainty has been detrimental to the world, we are living in a historic time. “It is a weird feeling, living through something so historic — although I wish it never happened, I am grateful for this insane experience and I know that I will cherish the time that I have left at NYU so much more.” Email Addison Aloian at aaloian@nyunews.com.
CHELSEA LI | WSN
Washington Square Park’s iconic fountain is often turned on when the weather begins to warm. Though the park provides a laid-back place to hang out on sunny days in the city, students reflect on enjoying spring in their respective hometowns.
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ARTS
ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
Edited by KAYLEE DEFREITAS and ETHAN ZACK
Travis Scott’s ‘Astronomical’ Fortnite Concert Has Redefined Genuine Interactivity
SOMEONE | WSN
Travis Scott’s concert, “Astronomical” was held over three days on Fortnite, a popular gaming platform. Since the social distancing order, artists have shown their creativity by holding live events in unique online spaces.
By HOLLY GRACE JAMILI Contributing Writer Travis Scott’s hit “SICKO MODE” from his 2018 album, “ASTROWORLD,” blared through an Instagram post that sucked me into a dimension that spun trippy hues of tropical magentas and flaming reds and yellows. A glimpse of knockout video game franchise Fortnite’s iconic aerial battle bus shot through the screen and landed in the background of Travis
Scott’s newest innovation: “Astronomical.” The application of the same font as the one he used in his truly infamous ASTROWORLD music festival, that featured big names like Post Malone and Megan Thee Stallion, hinted at his forthcoming at the grandeur of virtual, other-worldly experience. Hip hop mastermind, Travis Scott, and Fortnite creator, Epic Games, held the three-day “Astronomical” concert across multiple international time zones from April 23 to April 25. The main at-
traction was the premiere of Travis Scott and Kid Cudi’s collaboration “THE SCOTTS.” When players completed challenges, they had the chance to unlock some of Travis Scott’s most known outfits, such as his highly sought-after Air Jordan 1 High OG “Cactus Jack” collaboration. Additionally, players were able to snatch in-game items like the ASTROWORLD cyclone glider and two Travis Scott loading screens for free. The concert commenced on the beaches of Sweaty Sands, complete with giant golden Astro Heads, enormous inflatables modeled after Travis Scott’s likeness that depict him with his mouth wide open as in the artwork for “ASTROWORLD” spread out for the players to bounce on. A few minutes prior to the show, players were instructed to swap their weapons for fiery microphone stands. They paid tribute to the Travis Scott concert picture meme where he is screaming and raising a microphone stand as flames glow behind him. Head-banging emotes flooded the scene in front of the ASTROWORLD Theme Park planet, drawn by the levitating speaker at its core. Opening strains of Travis Scott’s “SICKO MODE” and fluffs of Drake’s ad-libs kicked into overdrive as Travis Scott rolled up in the form of a gleaming lavender comet that crash-landed on the shore. The explosion had players fly far out from the stage and left a duo chromatic gloss. A spot-on, skyscraper-sized
Travis Scott soon dominated the screen. Digitized Travis Scott spent his time teleporting all over Sweaty Sands and embodied different characters in many visually astonishing environments. After rapping through “STARGAZING,” lightning struck and Travis Scott unveiled his cyborg body. Players were then blasted off into a laser-filled sanctuary where Travis Scott performed “goosebumps” as a neon skeleton. At the end of the aforementioned fan favorite, Travis Scott plunged the concert underwater for “HIGHEST IN THE ROOM,” where fans swam around the artist now dressed as a deep-sea diver. Finally came the performance of the long-awaited debut of “THE SCOTTS.” Players were blasted into orbit to spectate its glory. Travis Scott’s colossal avatar sat on the moon from Kid Cudi’s “Man on the Moon: The End of Day.” Suddenly, Kid Cudi’s moon zoomed further away as the ASTROWORLD planet took over the screen. The “Astronomical” concert was brought to a crescendo when the ASTROWORLD planet crumbled like a pastry and detonated itself, launching players light years away into another casual day of Fortnite. The grandeur of the “Astronomical” concert had more than 12.3 million players tuned into the Travis Scott experience in merely the first night of the five shows. And this does not take into account all of the streaming parties that were held on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
Travis Scott was scheduled to headline the wickedly famous Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival that typically reels in 250,000 heads in two weekends during this time in April. Attaining the coveted headline slot at Coachella has traditionally been a universal sign that an artist has achieved a high amount of popularity and acclaim in the music industry. However, given the current crisis, Travis Scott was unable to perform at Coachella. But, that didn’t stop him from being able to pull off what could be dubbed the spellbinding event of the year alongside Epic Games. Epic Games has undoubtedly provided the biggest stage that an artist has ever encountered as well as having obtained the largest live audience in Fortnite history. Travis Scott’s “Astronomical” concert has demanded the attention of all stakeholders within the music and gaming industries alike. This entertainment experience has set a new benchmark for how fans will engage with music, and those who dare repeat the same idea will have some very big shoes to fill. Fortnite and Travis Scott have victoriously executed their concoction of genuine interactivity and striking eye candy in this collaboration. Travis Scott will go down as one of the pioneers that has successfully married fan engagement and pop culture on a large scale. Email Holly Grace Jamili at arts@nyunews.com.
‘Bull’ Offers an Intimate Glimpse Into Rodeo Life By KAYLEE DEFREITAS Arts Editor From the beginning of Annie Silverstein’s “Bull,” it is apparent that Kris (Amber Havard) has become resigned to her circumstances. The adults around her show her little emotional support, and the friends she has are only there if she has something to give them in return. She lives in an uncaring world, one in which there is a never-ending cycle of children becoming products of the adults around them. “Bull” is director and co-writer Annie Silverstein’s feature film debut. It premiered at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival in the Un Certain Regard section. The film follows 14-yearold Kris, who lives on the outskirts of Houston, Texas, with her grandmother while her mother is serving jail time. Her neighbor Abe (Rob Morgan) is an aging bullfighter, but is now retired and unable to let go of the rodeo. After Kris breaks into his house one night and is later caught by Abe, she is forced to either help him with various tasks or be sent to a juvenile detention center. Thus, she discovers the world of rodeo and is drawn to bull riding as a temporary escape from life. The film is not immune to playing with the same tropes that audiences see time and time again in this particular genre. While the story is one that
can be associated with several other films, Silverstein brings a sense of understanding and humanity to her characters and her writing, combined with that of co-writer and executive producer Johnny McAllister, makes this film stand out just slightly. The emotional depth and realism of each person on the screen is what makes the film striking and the audience want to hear this specific narrative. The film utilizes a documentary-esque style that makes it have a distinctly authentic feel. The scenes cut in and out, giving the audience an intimate look into the characters’ lives. As the film progresses, these slices of life gain new meaning. The future scenes become more plot-driven, but it is the small moments that help break down the barriers between the audience and the characters on screen. There is a unique sense that life has gone on before this film begins and that it will continue to go on once it ends. Havard is a strong newcomer who brings a precise determination to Kris’ character. She draws the audience in while still keeping up the character’s carefully placed shields. When Kris finally smiles brightly for the first time late in the film, it is a profound moment that lights up the screen. To see Havard peel back the layers of this stoic girl so quickly is to catch a glimpse of the beauty of the character and how the world around her has caused her to be so resigned.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS
Directed and co-written by Annie Silverstein, “Bull” centers around 14-year-old Kris who discovers a passion for bull riding with mentor Abe Turner. “Bull” was released last week and was meant to be screened at SXSW.
The most notable element of the actors’ performances is the chemistry and power shared between Havard as Kris and Morgan as Abe. The arc between the two characters is evident as Abe takes on a mentor-like role with Kris, but the dynamics of the two performances are more than enough to make this a fresh take. The subtle emotional connection of the characters shows how the two need each other, even if they don’t acknowledge it. They are both navigating an uncertain world that they feel
is leaving them behind and moving on around them. The stark and honest realism of the film is well accomplished, but it is also where the film has some issues. The film occasionally has slow points, which in turn only heighten the tragic events the characters experience, making it hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel for either of the two leads. If it were not for Havard and Morgan’s profound performances, the slow pacing would bring the film down, but the two carry the film through.
“Bull” is not revolutionary in what it brings to the table, but it does offer a thoughtful look at the draw of the rodeo and the people who live for it. Bull riding can be seen as a dangerous game, but for some, it is the only place where control and hope are felt in a world of constant sorrow. “Bull” was released on May 1, 2020. It is available as video on demand. Email Kaylee DeFreitas at kdefreitas@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
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OPINION
OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
Edited by JUN SUNG
EDUCATION
Teachers Deserve Better Pay in Crisis
By NICOLE CHIARELLA Deputy Copy Chief Since the onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic, many schools across the United States have responded by closing their doors for the remainder of the academic year. As a result, these schools have opted for online learning and in doing so, have revitalized a collective appreciation for teachers nationwide. Parents and celebrities alike have taken to social media to praise teachers for quickly adjusting students to the new world of remote learning. Television and film writer Shonda Rhimes’ call for teachers to “make a billion dollars a year” elucidates the grim reality for many educators: they are historically and consistently underpaid. The closure of schools has caused disarray for teachers throughout the country; educators have hastened to adapt their teaching to the online classroom, but not without adversity. Moreover, teachers have also begun to serve as beacons of comfort to many students experiencing trauma at home: one teacher has resorted to making Snapchat videos to “help them ease their anxiety.” The greatest challenge educators have dealt with centers around accommodating students who do not have access to a digital device or internet — an issue that affects 3 million students in the U.S. For years prior to the pandemic, K-12 public school teachers have wrestled with the ongoing conflict of substandard salaries. In 2019, U.S. college graduates had an average starting salary of $50,944, but according to the National Education Association, the national average starting salary for educators is $39,249. In New York City, higher starting salaries and considerable financial growth tend to engender a sense of disillusionment for those outside the profession. Teachers’ salaries in the city are especially competitive in comparison to the national average; for the 2019-2020 school year, the New York City Department of Education reported a starting salary of $57,845 for teachers with a bachelor’s degree and no prior pedagogical experience. In particular, the starting salary for New York City teachers alludes to the difficulties many teachers face from living in an area with a high cost of living. The teachers at the bottom of the pedagogical totem pole serve as a prime example: the lowest paid teachers in the city spend almost 65% of their salary on rent alone. With a salary of $57,845, an New York City public school teacher qualifies for public housing in an 80% Area Median Income area — areas with an AMI between 50% and 80% are deemed low-income, suggesting that many of these teachers fall into that bracket. Binh Tai, a teacher at University Neighborhood Middle School in Manhattan, lamented the struggles of living on a teacher’s salary in one of the most expensive cities in the world. “I’ve been teaching for 17 years, and I’ve been working two or three jobs since 2003 just to be able to afford to live in New York City,”
Submitting to
Tai told Time magazine. Research findings published by the Pew Research Center corroborate Tai’s statement, concluding that 16% of public school teachers nationwide held summer jobs while 18% worked an additional job during the school year. Teachers juggling multiple jobs during and outside of the academic year can potentially threaten the quality of education they give, as their focus is split between teaching and their other work. To remedy the issue of inadequate teachers’ salaries, state and federal governments must reevaluate the allocation of their budgets. For the 2019-2020 academic year, New York State and New York City had a combined budget of $34 billion toward education. However, despite a $2.7 billion surplus for the current fiscal year, Governor Andrew Cuomo recently hinted at budget cuts for education due to a projected $10 billion decrease in tax revenue as a result of the pandemic. Under normal circumstances, part of the $2.7 billion surplus should be dedicated towards raising starting salaries for teachers to help ease financial burdens. Efforts to increase teacher salaries have also indirectly been impeded on a federal level by proposals to cut the national education budget — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos presented a budget plan in 2019 that would effectively cut over $8.5 billion from education funding. Nevertheless, Congress’ approval of a $2 trillion stimulus package and disbursement of stimulus checks to roughly 90 million individuals showcases their ability to make a positive economic difference to the larger population. The same tenacity and eagerness with which lawmakers have passed exorbitantly high military budgets and the creation of the Space Force should be maintained after the pandemic and aimed towards raising salaries for teachers, starting with the national hourly pay, which is currently $15. For the American educational system to fully utilize its potential, new laws that support and protect educators must be enacted at both the state and federal levels. First and foremost, the federal government should establish a higher minimum pay standard nationwide — should states be unable to pay this amount for teachers, they can request a categorical grant to help match any salary gaps. Additionally, teachers should receive weekly stipends during the summer for any incurred expenses — as of today, teachers do not earn any pay throughout the summer. A shift of partial budgetary responsibility to the federal government can help provide long-awaited financial security to American educators. The unexpected shift to a new style of learning due to the coronavirus outbreak has reopened the case for teachers to receive upgraded salaries. With most of the U.S. on pause, now is the time to redefine the standards of compensation for educators. Teachers should not be tormented by the dichotomy between pursuing a better salary and following the career they love. The finesse with which teachers have handled the abrupt closures of their schools — by reshaping lesson plans and providing emotional support for students — cements the fact that their salary raises are long overdue.
STAFF EDITORIAL
The Consequences of NYU’s Guise of Transparency Friday, May 1 was decision day, when many high school seniors chose where they were going to go to college for the next four years. This year’s day was unprecedented with campuses unavailable for in-person visits that were supposed to help with making this decision. Even in the midst of everything, some upcoming members of the class of 2024 posted on social media with #NYU2024 in excitement for the future. During that same week, President Andrew Hamilton, Provost Katherine Fleming and Executive Vice President Martin Dorph sent a letter to the NYU community describing the grim financial situation of the university. They explain that the university has lost around $100 million over the spring semester and that it is estimated to lose $150 million in the summer — allegedly the biggest financial hit for the university since it almost filed for bankruptcy in the early 1970s. Because of this, NYU says modifications will be made to the 2020-2021 budget, which include a 0% salary increase, a continuation of the current hiring freeze, a continuation of the ban on non-essential spending and a division of responsibilities for workers. The letter also mentions possible drastic measures like reduction in employees’ work hours, furloughs or layoffs. However, it doesn’t provide any further information on how these may occur or the steps it plans to take to avoid these measures. The celebration of decision day and the tone of the administration’s letter provide a stark contrast between NYU’s projected image of its relationship with students versus the reality — a contradiction that the university seems to ignore. This contradiction is deepened by the fact that these financial losses as a result of the pandemic’s detrimental impact on NYU cannot be proven. The absence of any detailed financial records — aside from tax returns, which the university is required to release by law, and other minimal financial information — forces students to look at the current situation without an understanding of the full picture. The administration’s decision to use this letter to share a few numbers without any definitive plan for how the university will operate is simply a guise of transparency that attempts to dull student demands. The limited nature of the information in this
letter also seeks to portray the university in a certain light while leaving out important details. For example, the letter mentions that NYU has provided $4 million of emergency aid to those at the New York campus, but doesn’t mention the number of students who applied for the aid. When clarifying how the university’s endowment can be used, it mentions how most of the endowment is designated for certain purposes by donors. However, it doesn’t provide a full picture of what the endowment is meant for and how much money is legally allocated to be used for certain purposes. Suspiciously, the letter doesn’t mention that the university is receiving, as reported by NYU Local, around $25 million in grant money from Congress through the CARES Act as well — half of which must be used to provide students with emergency aid and the other half to be used at the general discretion of the university. Why didn’t the university communicate this public knowledge to students? This lack of information is leaving students in the dark on important financial policies that impact them the most. The missing details in this letter and NYU’s lack of full financial disclosure are indicative of the university’s desperation for institutional prestige. It further shows the cost of this desperation, and the fact that NYU prioritizes its reputation over student concerns. Furthermore, by trying to toe this line, the university fails to provide a direct answer to the serious problems at hand. Rather than clarifying the situation, these kinds of responses only serve to confuse and muddle the problems at hand. How can the university claim to put student interests first when it blatantly refuses to provide transparency on important decisions? NYU’s method of communication — where details are selectively provided while others are left out — isn’t a sufficient way of conveying information to the NYU community. Instead of providing clarity, it attempts to prove that the university is doing enough, even when students’ concerns show this isn’t the case. The events that have unfolded over this semester have revealed that NYU frequently turns a blind eye to students’ concerns, and the administration’s most recent letter only solidifies this.
Email the Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. CHAIR Jun Sung CO-CHAIR Emily Dai, Gabby Lozano, Asha Ramachandran, Helen Wajda CHAIR EX OFFICIO Cole Stallone, Abby Hofstetter,
Ronni Husmann, Paul Kim, Anna-Dmitry Muratova
Email Nicole Chiarella at nchiarella@nyunews.com.
SEND MAIL TO: 75 THIRD AVE. #SB07, NEW YORK, N.Y. 10003 OR EMAIL: OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title. WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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UNDERTHEARCH@NYUNEWS.COM
UNDER THE ARCH
MONDAY, MAY 4, 2020
Edited by GURU RAMANATHAN
Manda’s Mobile Music & Daring Driving Diary This is a love letter to my favorite record store that is now closed due to COVID-19 with an uncertain reopening date in a new location, to every Californian that enjoys the thrill of simply driving and listening to music and to the friends that I reconnected with while on this journey.
“Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie “More Than This” by Roxy Music
Before I transferred to NYU, my Friday nights consisted of driving down Los Feliz Boulevard onto Sunset Boulevard to Amoeba Music. It’s a tradition that started before I even knew how to drive: with my dad, who would heroically drive in LA traffic so that I could build my film and music collection with the help of our favorite record store. Since then, all I ever did Friday — and sometimes Saturday — nights was jump into my car, listen to some tunes and drive to Hollywood. This record store has given me more than another place in LA to call home. Amoeba Music — and also my dad — gave me the best music to listen to when I drive such as “More Than This” by Roxy Music, a song that I listen to in silence while I glare past the neon lights on Sunset Blvd. or “Rebel Rebel” by David Bowie, a song that makes me long to be a teenager in the 70s. Most of the music found in that record store has been played on drives along the Pacific Coast Highway tinted with pink skies, around downtown LA late at night and in search of rooftops with the best views. If I could listen to my never-shared Spotify playlists on repeat and drive around forever, I would do it in a heartbeat.
Words and Photos by
MANDIE MONTES
Under the Arch Senior Editor I’ve always been okay staying in and chilling at home, even during the weekends. I am what they call a homebody, always preferring to revel in my film collection and going to sleep around 9 p.m. Something I’m not used to is being unable to see my friends in person while back home. Since the coronavirus outbreak, California has been under a strict lockdown, which has prevented me from hosting kickbacks with my friends. So, I decided to visit my friends throughout Los Angeles to do the three things I love most: drive, listen to music and take photographs. This also provided me the opportunity to see some people that I hadn’t seen in a while and catch up with them while maintaining social distance. What originally began as a simple way to pass time morphed into this project that gave me the chance to reflect on my relationships and the
Me in Hollywood on Sunday, April 26, 2020.
Naomi Clements in Highland Park on Thursday, April 16, 2020. Clements poses for a photograph with her dog, Hobbes, in the sunny California weather.
If you feel so inclined, add songs to this playlist that you listen to when driving. Email Mandie Montes at mmontes@nyunews.com.
I met Naomi Clements at a Bleachers concert in the fall of 2017. I was sitting alone against a fence, reading a book, when Clements and her friend Luz sat down next to me. I don’t remember how we struck a conversation but I remember being delighted to discover that Clements went to the community college I was attending before she transferred to CSUN to pursue a major in film studies. In fact, she took a screenwriting class with the same professor I did. What really struck me about Clements was that she opened up to me, a complete stranger, and invited me into her life. We’ve attended several concerts together and been friends ever since. Needless to say, I am thankful that frontman of Bleachers, Jack Antonoff, brought us together on that fateful September day.
“Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” by Katy Perry
Elise Navarro in Sierra Madre on Thursday, April 16, 2020.
“I Want It That Way” by Backstreet Boys
Back when I attended Pasadena City College from 2016-2019, I had the opportunity to work on their paper, The Courier, throughout my time there, alongside Photo Editor, Michael Watkins. In my tenure as both the Managing Editor and Editor-in-Chief, I spent a majority of my time with Watkins, figuring out the multimedia for each article. He was the one that would make me laugh on those long, dreadful Wednesday nights of publishing and editing article after article. Whether it was his ridiculous dad puns or his DJing that consisted of only “I Want It That Way” by the Backstreet Boys, I’m thankful Watkins was by my side to make me smile.
Link to playlist: baby, you can drive my car.
“I Miss Those Days” by Bleachers
“pink skies” by LANY
I can’t remember the day I met Elise Navarro. I know it was during high school when I still attended Maranatha and I know I met her through a mutual friend, but I don’t think we connected until we left high school. One thing that we have in common is our mutual love for LANY and their music that creates a euphoric feeling while driving under “pink skies.” Last semester, while I was adjusting to life in the city and feeling a bit homesick, I posted a story on my Instagram commenting on how lonely I felt at NYU. Navarro immediately messaged me showering me with love, compassion and care. I remember that I felt like Navarro was right next to me, offering me solace even though she was miles away, in Colorado. She makes me feel close to home just like when I listen to LANY.
music that transports me back in time to specific moments shared with my friends. This is a playlist of sorts filled with songs from my past and my beloved tradition of perusing through the dusty DVDs and records at Amoeba Music Hollywood, which is now indefinitely closed.
Berlin Garcia-Marquez in Los Angeles on Friday, April 24, 2020.
Berlin Garcia-Marquez is the only one on this list who knows me from my cringey middle school days. Even if those days are too embarrassing to recall, I am fond of the time we spent running around thinking we were cool, watching movies that were too mature for our age and having the occasional sleepovers with dance parties to Katy Perry and The Black Eyed Peas. To some of our peers and teachers, we seemed wild, but to each other, we were the perfect amount of fun. At the time, it was just us and a couple of other friends against the world, and it still felt that way even though we hadn’t seen each other for a while. No matter the distance, Garcia-Marquez will always be my cuzzo.
“Red” by Taylor Swift
Michael Watkins in Atwater Village on Friday, April 24, 2020.
Aurora Lyons in Altadena on Friday, April 24, 2020.
I met Aurora Lyons working as a writing tutor at Pasadena City College. We were fortunate enough to be part of the staff that was reinventing the Writing Support Center from an unknown tutor space to what it is now: a center that is popular among students and staff. When I met Lyons, I knew very little about her except for the fact that she loved Taylor Swift, a musician that I both appreciate and criticize. We would sometimes get into small arguments about her politics but none of it mattered because once she’d mention a song that she liked — especially “Red” — I’d chime in immediately with, “OMG, I also love that song.” Sometimes, I’d even sing aloud. Something I like about Lyons is that she always listened to my arguments about Taylor Swift (and politics in general), even if they were stupid and somewhat unnecessary; she made me feel heard. I’m not someone that likes to share the more vulnerable parts of myself with people I haven’t known for a while, but with Lyons it was easy, and I’m thankful to myself for tearing down my walls and trusting her because I don’t know if I would have gotten this far without Lyons and her sage advice.
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