NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 1
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015
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FEATURES
LAW SCHOOL AFFAIRS
Trustee’s subpoena attempt denied
Professor recognized for brain research By MARINA ZHENG Features Editor
By MARITA VLACHOU News Editor
Not judging a book by its cover is an axiom to live by. But recent research suggests that it might be easier said than done. Jon Freeman, an assistant professor of psychology at NYU and director of the Social Cognitive & Neural Sciences Lab, was recently listed under Forbes’ 30 Under 30 list in the field of science for his research regarding brain mechanisms underlying snap judgments, specifically on facial recognition. “We routinely use others’ facial cues to slot them into specific social groups and infer their underlying traits,” 28-year-old Freeman said. “The basic visual perception of another person’s face is readily shaped by our own stereotypes, motives and the larger social context.” Freeman, whose love for the field of social neuroscience started during his undergraduate career at NYU, published a study on this sub-
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STAFF PHOTO BY SANG BAE
Amidst a conflict between Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office and the NYPD, three officers stand on duty at the Union Square subway stop.
SPORTS
Violets goalie Sam Daley recovering from surgery By BOBBY WAGNER Sports Editor
The NYU hockey team has faceed a lot more than hardhitting defenseman and stout goaltending this season. Heading into their winter break riding a four game winning streak, the Violets got some news that shook up their season. Their starting goalkeeper, junior Sam Daley, had a brain tumor that required emergency surgery to remove. The news hit hard and it hit quick, assistant coach Dan Fortunato said. “Sam had been playing very well all season,” Fortunato
said. “He hadn’t complained once about anything unusual.” Because the news came while many team members were home on their winter breaks, the team had to come together in ways previously unimaginable. Head coach Chris Cosentino informed the team immediately. “When Sam told me the news he was so confident that he was going to get through it,” Cosentino said. “Here’s a young man going down a dark, unknown road and he did it with an incredible amount of courage. Sam’s confidence in our
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A federal judge ruled that an attempt to subpoena NYU Law students Luke Herrine and Leo Gertner violates their First Amendment rights. The subpoena was issued by Daniel Straus, a former NYU board of trustee, and his company CareOne Management. The two students were subpoenaed last spring after writing a letter critical of Straus. The letter discussed Straus’ unjust practices including his efforts to limit sick and vacation days, freeze pensions and restrict the formation of unions for his workers. This is not the first time Straus has been under the microscope for the poor treatment of his workers. The federal labor board has noticed several labor law violations at his companies.
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REVIEW
‘Girlhood’ portrays French youth By ISABEL JONES Film Editor
Céline Sciamma’s most recent venture is a film of many names: in France it is known as “Bande de filles,” in America as “Girlhood.” With the English name “Girlhood,” some have compared the movie to Richard Linklater’s “Boyhood.” The similarities end with their titles, however, as “Boyhood” capitalized on the American experiences intrinsic to the childhood of a single generation — the songs we grew up singing, the books we’d beg our parents to read to us before sleeping. “Bande de filles” is not this story. It’s a tale of French-African adolescents in one of Paris’ hard-
edged suburbs, known as banlieues — Patricia Arquette, the leading lady of “Boyhood,” is nowhere to be found. With “Bande de filles,” it is difficult to avoid falling into the trap of Hollywood allusion. It is hard to watch the mildmannered Karidja Touré fall in with a group of three dangerously free-willed yet closeknit bad girls without drawing a comparison to “Mean Girls.” Similarly, the gang fights that breakout between teen girls in the neighborhood bring to mind the rumbles of the Socs and Greasers in “The Outsiders” — the “Boyz ‘N the Hood” title song feels like it belongs. It is interesting to imagine a French audience overlooking these unfor-
tunate parallels — that this film could exist in its isolated reality elsewhere. The girls rent a hotel room with money they bummed off their frightened classmates, steal dresses from department stores with the security tags still attached, drink strong drinks and lip sync to Rihanna’s “Diamonds.” Although there’s more theft and debauchery than in the cookiecutter picture of adolescence, the familiarity of the scene is difficult to shake. At its core, “Bande de filles” tells an incredibly common tale of goofing around with your best girlfriends. Beyond the international
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Dear Readers,
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OPINION PAGE opinion editor
One year ago, I rode a slow, dimly lit elevator to the fifth floor of 838 Broadway, the home of the Washington Square News. I nervously joined a pitch meeting — nervous because I had never written an article, taken a journalism class or even considered journalism as a career. I was welcomed instantly by an incredible staff. Without their talent, dedication and ability, this paper would not be possible. Before I knew it, WSN became my home, the staff at WSN became my family and I felt I was making a difference.
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As freshmen, we are overwhelmed by possibilities in a new city. But soon, the city becomes familiar as we discover new shops, restaurants and friends. And eventually, life becomes just a little more predictable. Journalism, and WSN especially, empowered me to question everything and break my routine. Now, as a newspaper, we want to break ours. We want to take this opportunity as student journalists, photographers, artists and editors to experiment and explore.
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Judge rules subpoena violates free speech
As part of the subpoena, students were asked to present emails, text messages, social media postings, letters, notes, diary entries and any other information expressing support for 1199SEIU United Health Workers East, a labor union that supports health care employees in the eastern United States. The judge rejected most parts of the subpoena and ruled requiring the students to submit any evidence of communication between them and other NYU Law students was “outside the scope of relevance” of the case. The students were still required to turn over any documentation related to payments between them and the union by Jan. 23. Gertner said he is satisfied by the outcome of the case, because it makes it clear that students should be allowed to speak openly about perceived injustices. “I am happy that the judge saw the injustice of hampering our right to speak freely on campus
about the abuses we perceived CareOne to be perpetrating against its workers,” Gertner said. A 1199SEIU spokesman said students should not hold back from voicing their concerns about unjust practices simply because it involves exposing school trustees. Additionally, they emphasized the importance of the problems health workers face. “This ruling sends the message that students should not be subjected to intimidation for holding their universities’ trustees accountable for the misconduct of their companies,” the spokesman said. “It’s important to remember that the nursing home workers who these students stood up for continue to struggle for decent wages, benefits and their legally protected right to form a union within their facilities.” Herrine hoped the rights the court granted them by the court will also extend to the health care workers at Straus’ companies. “I am glad our First Amend-
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
Straus filed a subpoena to compell Herrine and Gertner to produce documents related to their letter.
ment rights were vindicated, and I hope the same for the SEIU and the workers it represents,” Herrine said. The union said they will not give up on trying to improve working conditions at the com-
Former student arraigned for fire By AMANDA MORRIS Contributing Writer
Former NYU student Jaime Castano was arraigned Jan. 20 facing charges of first-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment after Castano set another student on fire. The arraignment comes months after the incident, which occurred on Aug. 23. The reason behind the attack is still unknown. According to the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, the victim fell asleep with one other person present inside Castano’s dorm room in Lafayette Street Residence Hall at approximately 11 p.m. when Castano set the victim’s bed on fire. The court complaint reads, “The defendant admitted to her in substance that he was responsible for setting fire to the comforter and causing her injuries.” As the victim burned, Castano sang and took a video on his cell phone, which he later posted to social media. He recorded her waking up and attempting to put out the flames. The victim fully woke up at approximately 6 a.m. the next day, covered in painful burns and scars across her torso. It is unclear whether the residence hall smoke detectors went off. Tisch freshman Kendall Dupre’ said she could not make sense of it incident. “I was honestly shocked when I heard this story, won-
dering who would do such a thing and why an act that horrifying would be committed,” DuPre’ said. Though the incident occurred Aug. 23 and was reported to the university several days later, police were not notified until Oct. 27. NYU spokesperson John Beckman said the delay was due to the victim’s reluctance to report the incident. “From the very beginning, the University spoke with the victim about involving the police,” Beckman said. “It has been the University’s practice to give a significant degree of deference to a victim’s wishes regarding involving law enforcement. When, after some time, the victim ultimately indicated a wish to go to the police, the University accompanied her.” Steinhardt freshman Janelle Pitts said she was unsatisfied with the delay in reporting the incident. “I’m disappointed by the way the university handled the situation,” Pitts said. “The incident definitely should’ve been reported to the police immediately.” Beckman said the University took the case seriously from the beginning, however, and immediately pursued disciplinary action against Castano, who was expelled. Castano had been studying technology and business at NYU and planned to pursue a career in real estate. After the incident, Castano began working as an agent for Citi Habitats but no
panies run by Straus. “The workers of CareOne, and all the health care workers of 1199SEIU, will continue to hold Daniel Straus’ companies accountable and lawfully stand up for working families and
nursing home residents,” the union said. The university declined to comment on the decision. Email Marita Vlachou at mvlachou@nyunews.com.
CRIME LOG january term
By CHRISTINE PARK Deputy News Editor The NYU Department of Public Safety has received reports of nine incidents of larceny, two incidents of illegal substance possession, one incident of a graffiti and one incident of trespass during NYU’s January term. VIA NYU.EDU
Jaime Castano was arraigned on Jan. 20 for setting a woman on fire in his Lafayette dorm room.
longer works for them. Castano’s mother, Leena Heiman, who also works in real estate, declined to comment. Looking back, Beckman said he believes the university should have promptly reported the incident to the police and is now changing its decision-making process so that in the future, events like these are reported immediately. Nevertheless, Beckman said the role of the university in incidents like these is to provide help, support the victim and hold the ruleviolator responsible. Castano and his attorney did not return calls seeking comment. Email Amanda Morris at news@nyunews.com.
Illegal Substance On two separate occasions at University Residence Hall, on Jan. 8, at 11:52 a.m. and Jan. 15, at 11:52 a.m., Public Safety confiscated a small amount of marijuana from two residence hall rooms. The investigations have been closed.
Larceny On Jan. 6 at 9 a.m., an administrator reported a former NYU Medical Center employee regarding a fabricated check, which was used to withdraw money. The New York Police Department filed a report. On Jan. 9 at 3:05 p.m., a staff member reported her sunglasses missing as she returned in the morning on Jan. 8, at 8:30 a.m. after having left the item in her locked office on Jan. 8 at 8:30 a.m. On Jan. 13 at 5:25 p.m., a student was apprehended for attempting to steal books at the NYU Bookstore. On Jan. 14, at 4:55 p.m., a staff member reported that his pants,
change and papers were missing from his locker at 7 Washington Place on Dec. 31. On Jan. 14 at 11:03 p.m., a student reported his bicycle missing when he returned on Jan. 13, at 10:30 a.m. after having secured it to the scaffolding near the entrance of Othmer Residence Hall on Dec. 17 at noon. Public safety received four reports of electronic theft between Jan. 1 and Jan. 14. Thefts were reported at 4 Washington Square Village, Rogers Hall, Palladium Residence Hall and Bobst Library. The incidences include cellphone and laptop theft. All incidents except for the one at the bookstore are still under investigation.
Criminal Mischief On Jan. 4 at 5:24 a.m., a residence assistant reported that an unidentified person wrote graffiti on the front door of a dormitory room. This incident is still under investigation.
Trespass On Jan. 1 at 5:19 a.m., New York Police Department arrested an individual unaffiliated with NYU for trespass in the courtyard of Founders Residence Hall. This incident has been closed.
Email Christine Park at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
New program to provide photo IDs By JIMMY CHIN Contributing Writer
In an attempt to provide all residents of the city access to a government-issued photo ID, New York City launched IDNYC, a free municipal ID program. The program, approved in July of last year, is aimed primarily at undocumented immigrants, the elderly, the homeless and others who may find it difficult to obtain identification. IDNYC will be accepted by the city for access to public buildings and by the NYPD for issuing summons and tickets. In addition, cardholders will be offered various benefits with their ID, including prescription and entertainment discounts, library access, the ability to open a bank account and a free one-year membership to many of the city’s institutions. Thanu Yakupitiyage, communications director of the New York Immigration Coalition, said the new IDs will improve the lives of many New Yorkers. “It’s more than just having an
ID, it’s a symbolic marker of being a New Yorker,” Yakupitiyage said. “From the amount of people, we see it’s really a need and people are very excited to get their IDs. It changes what’s possible for the undocumented family.” Cardholders cannot use their ID to purchase tobacco or alcohol, receive public assistance benefits, fly on a plane or in place of a driver’s license. City residents can obtain a card as long as they are at least 14 years old and can provide proof of identity and residency. The service is free for the rest of the 2015, but is likely to require a fee in the future. CAS sophomore and NYU Dream Team member Monica Millay recognized the progress made by IDNYC, but also expressed some concerns about the program. “Although I acknowledge that the creation of a city ID is a great leap forward for undocumented New Yorkers,” Millay said. “I also wish to express my doubts about how accessible the ID may actually be. Requiring three non-expired forms of identification, in my mind, may
VIA TWITTER.COM
New York City’s new identification card will allow people to access many local institutions.
ultimately end up excluding the most vulnerable populations of undocumented New Yorkers.” Another Dream Team member, Steinhardt sophomore Tiffany Rodriguez, added that while the program may not be perfect, it still offers help to the undocumented community. Rodriguez is worried
Tensions between the New York Police Department, Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton continue to escalate after the recent police brutality, protests and pro-NYPD protests. In December, after the announcement that there would be no indictment in the cases of Michael Brown and Eric Garner, de Blasio spoke openly about the fears of many families raising young men of color on national television. De Blasio spoke from personal experience, discussing how he taught his son to be careful around police. “Because of a history that still hangs over us, the dangers he may face, we’ve had to literally train him, as families have all over this city for decades, in how to take special care in any encounter he has with the police officers who are there to protect him,” de Blasio said during a Dec. 8 interview on ABC. Both citizens and officers have been vocal in their protests against de Blasio, claiming he did not support the NYPD. Officers even turned their backs on de Blasio during the funerals for officer Rafael Ramos and officer Wenjian Liu, the two NYPD officers who were killedwhile on patrol on Dec. 20. Police commissioner Bill Bratton denounced the NYPD
funeral protests, while Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association’s President Patrick Lynch publicly defended the NYPD protest in a speech on Jan. 4. “New York City police officers have opinions, too, and we’re going through a very emotional and difficult time,” Lynch said. CAS junior Swati Malik thinks the NYPD’s efficacy is not affected by the gap between de Blasio and the police. She said the NYPD will continue to keep people safe to the best of their ability. “Although the past year’s headlines have created rifts between the public, the NYPD, as well as the commissioner and mayor, it is important to remember that, simply stated, crimes do occur and there will always be a difference of opinions,” Malik said. “That doesn’t mean that the public should stop believing in and having faith in the system that was created for the purposes of protecting the people.” CAS freshman Weston Richey said he believes de Blasio was truthful in his proclamations about a young person of color’s interactions with police. “Regardless of how I feel about de Blasio generally, he certainly was not lying when he spoke about the oftentimes violent relationship between police and minority groups,” Richey said. “If the NYPD can’t acknowledge their own faults and work to
immigration process can be implemented before the federal government takes any larger steps regarding this community. We need to make sure this smaller program is efficient and successful.” Email Jimmy Chin at news@nyunews.com.
NYU applications at all-time high
Conflicts continue between NYPD, mayor By ALANNA BAYARIN News Editor
about the possibility of exploitation, fraud and the stigmatization of cardholders, however. “For now, let’s use this public service as a model for the rest of the country,” Rodriguez said. “Fix the kinks, shorten the lines and make the application process simpler so that broader reforms of the
By ALEX BAZELEY Deputy News Editor
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Relations between the mayor’s office and the NYPD deteriorated. correct them, that’s almost entirely on them.” NYU professor Lawrence Mead said de Blasio has done very well in office, noting the decreasing crime rate. “This is happening very early in de Blasio’s term, and the first year went pretty smoothly because these issues didn’t crop up,” Mead said. “If we saw an increase in crime after he was inaugurated, that would be very serious because that would vindicate what the conservatives said against de Blasio.” Mead added that de Blasio’s reputation will not be tarnished by this conflict if he plans to run for re-election and that de Blasio’s performance with crime prevention will be what voters remember, not this discord with the NYPD. “I think it will be forgotten about in a few years, provided that everyone keeps their voice down and that’s what Bratton is clearly trying to do,” Mead said. Email Alanna Bayarin at abayarin@nyunews.com.
For the eighth year in a row, NYU’s application record has been broken with a record 60,322 prospective students applying to the class of 2019. This admissions cycle has received a 15 percent increase over last year’s applications — the largest increase that the university has seen since 1999. From 2002 to 2012, the university saw a 45 percent increase in applications, receiving nearly 53,000 applications last year for the class of 2018. Of those, 34 percent were accepted. This year, 7,749 of the applicants were Early Decision, more than any other university in the United States. Applicant Veena Sivaraman, who is waiting to hear back on her application to the College of Arts and Science, said NYU forces students to step out of their comfort zones. “I think NYU is just doing a great job accommodating all types of students and helping them succeed which is why so many more people are applying,” Sivaraman said. “What makes NYU great is that it accepts all kinds of students, so I think it should keep attracting as many students as possible.” Alejandra Villanueva, an incoming CAS freshman, said she applied because of the opportunities NYU presented her. She emphasized that NYU should focus on attracting students that would benefit from and fit into NYU, especially those who would contribute to NYU’s academic growth.
“Accepting students should be mutually beneficial,” Villanueva said. “It should not matter if they are the best academically, it should matter what they can do with what NYU offers them.” NYU remains one of the most popular universities for prospective students, alongside many of the University of California schools. UCLA received over 100,000 applications for the incoming freshman class. NYU spokesperson John Beckman said the school is delighted in the increase in applicants, and the number represents the diverse community to which so many are attracted, a feature which many applicants said drew them to NYU. “This is a real testament to the quality of the scholarly community built by our students and faculty — diverse, vibrant, globally oriented and academically rigorous,” Beckman said. “That should be a source of pride for everyone here.” Austin Tucker, who applied Early Decision to the Stern School of Business and will be attending in the fall, said the increase in applicants shows how desirable NYU continues to be to high school students everywhere. “The best and most interesting students come from all backgrounds, countries and walks of life, so it’s important to keep attracting as many applicants as possible,” Tucker said. “That’s what really makes NYU unique.” Email Alex Bazeley at abazaley@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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FEATURES
EDITED BY MARINA ZHENG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM FREEMAN continued from PG. 1
NYU professor studies social perception
ject in the Journal of Neuroscience this past summer. The research focused on a particular region of the brain: the amygdala, a structure that relates to humans’ social and emotional behavior. Before the experiment, a set of subjects are shown a series of real and computer-generated faces and asked to rate the trustworthiness of each face. In the experiments, a new set of subjects view the same set of faces but for only a few milliseconds. Following the brief moment of exposure, the subjects experienced a feature known as backward masking, which stops the brain’s ability to further process the face and hinders the brain from reaching full awareness. During both sets of experiments, the activity of the amygdala correlated with the level of trustworthiness. “These findings provide evidence that the amygdala’s processing of social cues in the absence of awareness may be more extensive than previously understood,” Freeman said. “The amygdala is able to assess how trustworthy another person’s face appears without it being con-
sciously perceived.” Despite the success of the study, Freeman and his team faced challenges throughout the process. Attention to detail was vital to the final outcome. “We had to go through several tests, iterations of stimuli and getting the timing just right to ensure that our subjects were not consciously aware of the faces we were presenting them in the brain scanner,” Freeman said. The research, regarded as a groundbreaking discovery in the field of cognitive neuroscience, placed Freeman on Forbes’ radar. Upon discovering his inclusion on the list, Freeman said he was honored to have joined the ranks of other notable peers. “The other individuals on the list are such inspiring scientists and innovators, and it’s humbling to be recognized along with them,” Freeman said. Following this research on facial recognition, Freeman and his colleagues are delving deeper into the
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
NYU professor Jon Freeman, 28, was named one of Forbe’s Magazine’s 30 Under 30 for his brain research.
subject by conducting other projects relating to the brain mechanisms behind snap judgements. One particular study addresses the question if stereotypes or expectations literally change the way we see another person. Researchers are investigating how social
perceptions shape the visual perception of one’s face. This is just one of many studies being conducted in Freeman’s lab. As a researcher who found his passion in college, Freeman seeks to educate as much as he does to discover.
“My lab is always looking for smart, talented, and highly motivated undergraduates to help with many exciting projects in the lab,” Freeman said. Email Marina Zheng at mzheng@nyunews.com.
Photos draw diverse reactions By LUMIELLE CHOI Contributing Writer
“Gruss Gott -- A Fairy Tale,” Florian Reischauer’s exhibit of simple yet cryptic photographs, has the power to stimulate and engage its viewers. “This project functions as a metaphor that plays with memories and associations of the observers which ideally form, in the end, a story,” Reischauer said at the opening. The setup for the exhibit is seemingly arbitrary, but Juliane Camfield, director of Deutsches Haus, commends the upstart photographer for his sense of conviction. “He is extremely organized and talented,” Camfield said. “He emailed us a sketch of how he wanted the exhibit to look like, and he came and set it up exactly the way he planned.” “Gruss Gott” is a narrative on childhood memories. Without captions, the portraits of individuals dressed in peculiar attire and landscapes of a small village in Germany’s countryside invoke unique reactions from different viewers. For Bernd Jennert, who works for the German embassy at the United Nations, “Gruss Gott” is an aid to the memory. “The scenes I saw depicted in the photographs were very similar to the scenes in southwest Germany,” Jennert said. “It’s very similar in culture, traditions and landscapes.” When Sarah Girner, the cultural program coordinator at Deutsches Haus, looks at the photographs, she
experiences a sense of nostalgia. “This project really resonates with me — it’s familiar to me from my childhood,” Girner said. “The woodsman, the maid, they all capture the essence of fairy tales from when I was younger.” Reischauer, who is Austrian and resides in New York, incorporates the idea of being fixated in time as a recurring theme in “Gruss Gott” despite living in a city that is constantly changing. “Nothing is constant; very few places stay the way they are and are constantly moving and changing,” Reischauer said. “With this project, there’s a certain constant that’s familiar, and it’s interesting to show it with my arts.” Deeming it an ongoing project, Reischauer has many aspirations and future touches for the project. “I would like to add some audio to the installment,” Reischauer said. “I want stories to be told by the protagonist.” Reischauer’s other works include “Pieces of Berlin,” a book which includes portraits with excerpts from the subjects. J.M. Stim, a journalist and good friend of Reischauer who wrote the foreword for the book. Stim compares the theme of the work to that of New York based photographer Brandon Stanton, founder of Humans of New York. Email Lumielle Choi at features@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
EDITED BY MARINA ZHENG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
NYC gallery shows to visit this winter
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
New York City galleries including (left to right) SUGARCUBE, Shin and The Hole feature some of the season’s interesting art exhibitions. By PILAR BOSCH MELENDEZ Contributing Writer New York City’s art scene is always changing. And while the constant flux of exhibits means there’s always something new to check out, it also means that it is easy to miss out on some great art. From art galleries to photography exhibits, here are the top five best free art galleries to check out before they close.
I Can Love You Better Shin Gallery, 322 Grand St. Until Feb. 28 Renowned artist Kenny Rivero’s newest exhibit comprises paintings, sculptures and a site-inspired installation. Named after the 1997 Mary J. Blige album, the exhibit focuses on Rivero’s quest
to find himself through visual allegories. The exhibition explores his complex past, following his journey through various three-dimensional forms, including doors and hair clippers. This free show is thought-provoking, intimate and definitely worth the trip.
Second Annual Whimsical Winter Wonderland Poe Park Visitor Center, 2640 Grand St. Until Jan. 31 Poe Park’s second annual Whimsical Winter Wonderland exhibition features 14 artists’ interpretation of winter. Through the use of media — paintings, sculptures and photography — each artist exhibits their own relationship with the season. These artists, both established and
emerging, use whimsy and wonder to interest visitors of all ages. The show is only a week long, so hurry in before it is too late.
SUGARCUBE South Street Seaport Until Feb. 1 SUGARCUBE — a pop-up art venue at the edge of the Financial District — includes free live music, film screenings and craft workshops, all within a single inflatable white box. SUGARCUBE hosts various art events, including interior design by artist Mark Gagnon Thursday through Sunday. On Thursdays, visitors can enjoy film screening, artists and filmmakers starting at 6 p.m. Friday nights in the SUGARCUBE range from concerts to label showcases. Weekends at the popup venue are packed with all-day
activities, from craft workshops to an open marketplace.
Altstadt Girl Cheim & Read, 547 W. 25th St. Until Feb. 14 The new exhibit “Altstadt Girl” is a collection of drawings of women in confined spaces by Copenhagen-based artist Tal R. Whether in hotel rooms, corridors, showers or bedrooms, Tal R creates tension between him and his subject for the sake of his art. By asking the subjects for permission to paint them without knowing them previously, Tal R’s anxiety and intensity are seen in his use of color and compositions. With often unrealistic dimensions or environments, the exhibit’s semi-abstract nature showcases the artist’s internal journey for self actualization.
Remember the Future The Hole, 312 Bowery Until Feb. 22 KATSU — a street artist with a cynical view of humanity’s increasing dependence on technology — has created a diverse series of pieces that showcases his understanding of this dependence. With famous pieces like drone-painted enamel canvasses, KATSU explores how humans interact with the technology they have created. The exhibition finds inspiration from technological innovations and their unintended consequences on humanity, forcing patrons to critique the price of luxury.
Email Pilar Bosch Melendez at features@nyunews.com.
Student reflects on January term By SABRINA PALACIOS Contributing Writer
Gelato, leather and art; this was what my January encompassed. To ring in the New Year, I decided to spend the first month of 2015 in Florence for a January term session. Participating in January term abroad is one of the best decisions I have ever made as an NYU Abu Dhabi student. Taking an NYU Abu Dhabi course was a completely different experience, the biggest benefit of which was getting to meet such a diverse group of Abu Dhabi students. Last spring, I studied abroad in London for the semester, and I am still constantly reminiscing about that experience. Being abroad for a semester is a wonderful opportunity, and participating in a January term gives you a taste of what it would be like, which is perfect for students who are unsure how they would fare for an entire semester abroad.
January term is also a great solution for someone who has already been abroad, loved it and can’t do it again during the regular semester. The class that I took, Introduction to Machiavelli, only had 14 students in it, which made it easy for all of us to get to know each other, including our fantastic professor Stephen Holmes. Every day we had a tour of a museum or a historical site of Florence relating to Machiavelli before going to class on the beautiful campus. The fact that we could read “The Prince” and then visit the house in which Machiavelli actually wrote it added another layer to the course. It was a busy — but fulfilling — three weeks abroad. I do think that being abroad for a semester allows one to familiarize with the culture better, but the January term does a good job of immersing you completely from day one to get as much as possible out of your short time. The mornings in Florence were
my favorite. My roommate and classmate Allanah and I immediately bonded when we both realized that we had a shared passion for coffee. Every morning before our daily tours of the museums, we would leave early to take in the city and, of course, to get a delicious cup of espresso. While overall my experience has been amazing, I do have to admit I was a bit intimidated at first. Being only one of three NYU New York students in the program, you might feel like an outsider in the sea of mostly NYU Abu Dhabi students. But in the end, we are all NYU students and in my three weeks with my new friends I have learned so much. January term abroad is a great way to bring together two of NYU’s portal campuses — it truly underscores the fact that NYU is a global university. COURTESY OF ISSA NASR
Email Sabrina Palacios at features@nyunews.com.
NYU Abu Dhabi student Sabrina Palacios reminisced about her time in Florence.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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BEAUTY & STYLE
EDITED BY SOPHIE LEWIS BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
Red carpet style accessible for students By GABRIELLA BOWER Violet Vision Editor
Awards season began with the Golden Globes on Jan. 11 and will close with the Academy Awards in Feb. 22. While many college students will not be attending red carpet events this winter, anyone can take a stylish cue from the Hollywood starlets. This season, solid, bold colors such as Katherine Heigl’s navy number, Katie Holmes’ eggplant gown and Felicity Jones’ teal stunner at the Golden Globes made major trend headlines. They all completed their ensembles with elegant and understated jewelry to draw attention to the gowns. While the stars wore Zac Posen, Marchesa and Christian Dior respectively, similar bold colored dresses can be found at ASOS and Nordstrom for any semiformal or formal event a college student may have. As previously stated, jewelry should be kept elegant but not extravagant. BaubleBar has a huge assortment of earrings, necklaces and statement cuffs that all fall under the $40 price mark. Another red carpet trend seen at the Globes were jumpsuits. Lorde
and Emma Stone stole the show with theirs. Stone wore an incredible Lanvin jumpsuit while Lorde, taking a cue from her bestie Taylor Swift, sported a black-tie pantsuit including a crop top, high-waisted trousers and a slick blazer to finish the look. Whether college students are going to a formal event or just out on a Friday night in the city, jumpsuits will be sure to make an appearance. Sticking to a solidcolored jumpsuit or pantsuit set such as Lorde’s is much more practical for a college student’s budget. The solid color will allow for you to switch up the look every time you wear it with a simple change of accessories. This could include a change of jewelry from statement necklaces to ones that are layered and delicate, or a makeup switch from a dramatic smoky eye to a bold, colorful lip. Finally, another trend college students can take over with a limited budget is nails — necessary to complete a look. The classic french manicure took an update, and stars like Camila Alves and Lupita Nyong’o wore a three-color French mani. Pale polishes also took center stage, and finally the full spec-
STAFF ILLUSTRATION BY SANG BAE
Living on a tight budget shouldn’t stop you from looking as stylish as the people on the red carpet.
trum of red hues were worn by the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Olivia Munn. Sally Hansen sticker nails allow for the even the most amateur college nail artist to try out the three-color French mani, while Essie offers the best quality pale polishes while re-
maining under $9. Revlon is the goto brand for a large collection of rich red hues. Not everybody can walk the red carpet, but anybody can notice the trending styles and interpret those trends into their personal aesthetic. As the Oscars
approach in late February, be sure to use the attire, accessories and nail trends of the stars as a source of inspiration to update your own formal winter wardrobe. Email Gabriella Bower at gbower@nyunews.com.
DINING
EDITED BY REBECCA RIDDLE DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Resolution-friendly dining options By HANNAH ALEXANDER Contributing Writer
Yet another New Year’s has come and gone, and like every year, many have embraced “new year, new me” mantra. After a winter break filled with family, friends and homecooked food, people are eager to get back to the city and work toward a healthier lifestyle. The new year and the quickly approaching bikini season can increase motivation to drop the burrito and pick up the kale. Living a healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to mean restricting or eliminating satisfying foods from a diet, as New York City is packed with restaurants that strive to fill stomachs with wholesome food that can help you stick to your New Year’s resolution. Check out these close-tocampus establishments that focus on good-for-you food at affordable prices.
Hu Kitchen Hu Kitchen, located at 75 Fifth Ave., is one of the city’s most popular spots for vegan, vegetarian, paleo and dairyfree dinners. Hu Kitchen serves
up all breakfast, lunch and dinner all day long, seven days a week. Along with an incredible organic coffee and smoothie bar, Hu has trademarked their “mash bar,” which is a vegan alternative to ice cream — perfect for students fighting stress-related ice cream cravings. The restaurant’s refrigerators are stocked with delicious house-made raw desserts, juices and prepared foods that can be taken to-go, but there is also seating in sleek-looking dining areas where customers can enjoy a warm and filling meal. Not only does Hu help keep your body healthy, but it is also good for your wallet⎼all students receive 10 percent off with a student ID.
LifeThyme Market Disguised as a mild-mannered-looking grocery store at 410 Sixth Ave., LifeThyme Market is a health nut’s paradise. Cases of homemade vegan and vegetarian snacks, ranging from decadent cookies and cakes to savory vegetable pies, are prepared fresh every day. Their salad bar is packed with organic grains, greens, soups, pastas and comforting hot food
options, all of which are 50 percent off after 9 p.m. LifeThyme is the perfect place to stop between or after classes not only to get all of your healthy grocery shopping done, but also to treat yourself to a few one-of-a-kind healthy snacks.
Brazilia Cafe This unique cafe located at 684 Broadway serves the best of both worlds, as it offers both healthy sit-down and togo options. Choices include a sandwich and chopped salad stations, a juice and smoothie bar and a full menu with a Brazilian flair. The food is always fresh and satisfying and the atmosphere is uplifting. Their smoothie bar is a must-try — they even serve Brazilian acai bowls. Brazilia also offers almond milk to satisfy dairy-free coffee lovers. This cafe is a great spot to stop and refuel with a plant-based meal, as well as to unwind in one of their cozy window seats. Brazilia takes campus cash, and NYU students receive 10 percent off. Email Hannah at dining@ nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
Brazilia Cafe on Broadway offers a number of healthy options, including a full juice bar.
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ARTS
EDITED BY ALEXA SPIELER ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Upcoming film fests around the city By SIDNEY BUTLER Staff Writer
As awards season comes to an end, New York City will offer an entirely new set of activities to scratch the pop-culture itch. If you were too busy to check out some of the film festivals this fall, then look forward to these upcoming spring film festivals. The Athena Film Festival will take place on the Upper West Side. Sponsored by Indiewire’s Women and Hollywood blog and run by Barnard College, the Athena Film Festival shows the best of the best by women in film. Features this year include “Beyond the Lights,” “Obvious Child,” “Dear White People,” and many others. Now in its fifth year, the festival attracts groundbreaking women in the industry, like this year’s Lifetime Achievement award recipient Jodie Foster. The threeday event offers screenings of every genre, as well as panels with wellknown producers, writers and directors. The festival runs from Feb. 5 to 8 on Barnard’s campus. If you are looking for an artsy night out that is closer to home, NYU will hold its annual Fusion Film Festival from Feb. 26 to 28 at Cantor Film Center and the Tisch School of the Arts building. The Fusion Film Festival is NYU’s premiere film and television festival dedicated to celebrating women in film, television and new media. Past
NYU offers diverse theater
By CAROLINE CUNFER Theater/Books Editor
guests include Lena Dunham, Lucy Alibar and Paul Rudd. The festival includes film and television panels all weekend with inspiring women in the industry, concluding with a final student showcase. The New Directors/New Films program, which is cosponsored by the Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center, is more of a showcase than a festival, but nevertheless has launched the careers of revered filmmakers. Favorites like Richard Linklater, Spike Lee, Wim Wenders, Steven Spielberg and more were featured at New Directors/New Films earlier in their careers. The showcase specializes in films you haven’t heard of, but should know. This year’s exhibition, which runs from March 18 to 29 at MoMA and the Walter Reade Theater, includes Cannes favorite “The Tribe” and Sundance darling “Entertainment.” Every year, the Tribeca Film Festival welcomes the international film community and general public. Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff created this indie showstopper as a way to revive Lower Manhattan in the wake of 9/11. Receiving roughly 6,000 submissions every year, the festival showcases the best of upand-coming independent filmmakers. The festival will run from April 15 to April 26.
Although the height of the Broadway season is arriving and the list of new plays and musicals to see is overwhelming, NYU’s impressive and eclectic theater scene is producing its own must-see, diverse and captivating theater this spring.
Email Sidney Butler at film@nyunews.com.
In February, Uproar Theatre produces another atypical pro-
Catch Me If You Can Tisch New Theater This musical adaptation of the 2002 film of the same name tells the story of a deceitful Frank Abagnale Jr., who leaves home to pursue a luxurious life and lies until he is tracked down by the FBI. “Catch Me If You Can” was nominated for four Tony awards in 2011, and includes a perky score by the same composerlyricist duo that wrote for the equally ebullient “Hairspray.” Tisch New Theater is open to any student, so a unique mix of drama and non-drama majors will be featured in this talented cast. You can catch the show between April 2 and 6 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, and tickets go on sale online Jan. 27 at noon.
Hidden Talents: Uproar’s Speakeasy Cabaret
duction, this time a Speakeasy Cabaret. This 1920’s-inspired event will feature both solo and group performances in a traditional cabaret style. The Speakeasy Cabaret will take place Feb. 7 at 8 p.m.
The Drowsy Chaperone NYU Players Club NYU Players Club is a student-run organization through the Steinhardt Vocal Performance Program, and this February it will present “The Drowsy Chaperone.” This musical, which graced Broadway in 2006, is a spoof on old-time musical comedies. It is a show-within-ashow — the play’s central character, Man in Chair, listens to the record of his favorite 1920s musical. The audience sees the show come to life in his living room as he punctuates its jazzy score with humorous and heartfelt insights. The Players Club will perform “The Drowsy Chaperone” from Feb. 13 to 15 at the NYU Black Box Theatre.
Spring Awakening College of Arts and Science Theater This spring, CAST will conquer Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater’s edgy rock musical, “Spring Awakening.” This 2006 Broadway game-changer
is set in late-19th century Germany, where hormone-addled adolescents explore their blossoming sexuality. The breathtaking blend of rock- and folk-inspired music creates an addictive score that is sure to draw any musical lover. “Spring Awakening” grabbed eight Tony Awards in 2007 and its Broadway run lasted over two years. CAST will perform it from April 10 to 12, with a location to be determined.
Uproar Theatre Corps MainStage Production Uproar Theatre Corps is a club run through the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, and this spring it will debut a truly unique and innovative theatrical experience. Inspired by “Rent” and the artistic aura of the East Village, 10 actors and researchers will interview various people about their relationship with and understanding of art in New York City. The responses will be recorded and transcribed, and will then serve as a script for the actors, complemented with original songs by NYU students. Tompkins Square Park will host the performance in the East Village, and will occur from April 23 to 26. Email Caroline Cunfer at theater@nyunews.com
GIRLHOOD continued from PG. 1
French film presents grittier coming-of-age
politics of experience, “Bande de filles” is an incredible, visceral journey. The closeness the audience feels with the film doesn’t need to be established through setting, characters or plot. The close camera shots bring a sense of intimacy that is rarely felt in domestic films. “Bande de filles” avoids Hollywood glitz and polish, but still presents itself as one of the most emotionally and aesthetically beautiful films to be released in quite some time. The push-pull factor that “Bande de filles” creates for the audience — a force that disallows us from truly under-
standing our place within and emotional attachment toward the narrative — is both jarring and comforting. We hate their world and their circumstances, yet we love their fiery bond. We don’t know how to feel, but neither do our outwardly selfassured characters. Although the action doesn’t span an entire childhood, by the credits, it feels like it has. “Bande de filles” characters are so vivid that it is as if we’ve not only spent the last 113 minutes with them, but that we’ve spent that time as them. Email Isabel Jones at film@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF FILMS DISTRIBUTION
The new film “Girlhood” presents a different perspective of adolescence, but a relatable story.
UNDER THE ARCH | 5:30 P.M. NEWS | 5 P.M. FEATURES | 5:30 P.M. ARTS | 6 P.M. PHOTO/MULTIMEDIA | 6:30 P.M. SPORTS | 5:30 P.M. OPINION | 5 P.M.
SUnday pitch Meetings 838 BROADWAY, fifth floor
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ARTS
EDITED BY ALEXA SPIELER ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
NYC shows feature range of music By ZANE WARMAN Staff Writer Music fans are now looking forward for the fifth annual Governors Ball. The lineup for New York’s three-day festival housed on the Randall’s Island borough junction was announced on Jan. 7. Headliners feature key players in various genres, including Deadmau5, The Black Keys and Björk. As Drake and Chromeo fans alike eagerly await June 5, there’s a plethora of shows in the upcoming weeks to keep music aficionados satiated. Although there are many highenergy acts on the horizon, few will come close to the explosive festival highs than Jack White, who plays Madison Square Garden on Jan. 30. White is a mastermind of a musician, not only in his impressive command of guitar, but also in his ability to lead his tightly run
STAFF PHOTO BY RACHEL KAPLAN
The lineup for Governors Ball, which includes the Black Keys, Deadmau5 and Drake, were announced on Jan 7. The annual festival is set for the weekend of June 5 to 7. band in collective improvisation, not unlike his old blues heroes. With such talented musicians and a mad genius as frontman, this concert will prove to be a gripping evening at the Garden. Pacific folk mainstay and Fleet Foxes collaborator J. Tillman visits New York under his Father John Misty moniker for two shows: one at Rough Trade on Feb. 12 and another at the Bowery Ballroom on Valentine’s Day. The curator of what he calls the “Modern American Popular Song” promises a
bric-a-brac evening that mixes oldschool folk styles and surprisingly conscious lyrics with his laid-back, merry-prankster onstage attitude. Highlights from “I Love You, Honeybear,” his highly anticipated sophomore album that will be released on Feb. 10 are sure to be featured at both events. Recently paroled pseudo-mogul Meek Mill will also be performing on Feb. 12 at Best Buy Theater. A committed model of the trap-rap scene, Meek Mill brings an ambitious, authentic vigor to his live shows that sets him apart from
a preview for their appearance at Governors Ball, marking the duo’s second consecutive year at the festival. Many others will also be testing the waters in anticipation for their summer spots, including moody singersongwriter Sharon Van Etten at Warsaw on Feb. 18 and 19; Logic at Webster Hall on March 13; and folk kings The Decemberists at the Beacon Theatre on April 6. Email Zane Warman at music@nyunews.com
Spring television premieres, farewells
Album releases promise innovation
By WSN ENTERTAINMENT TEAM
By AHMED BUBSHAIT Contributing Writer
According to Spotify data, NYU students are the nation’s hippest with regard to musical taste. Our university’s appreciation of music is only emphasized by events such as the Mystery Concert, which featured Jamie xx, Ratking and Ghostface Killah. NYU also featured BADBADNOTGOOD, which has subsequently announced an experimental jazz hip-hop album with Ghostface Killah titled “Sour Soul,” to be released on Feb. 24. The student body’s music taste and university’s appreciation of music have proven successful in predicting artists and music to look out for. Genre-spanning and boundarypushing, “Sour Soul” should prove an interesting listen, as it brings together Ghostface Killah’s compelling storytelling and BADBADNOTGOOD’s innovative production. Natalie Prass’ undeniably outstanding debut which will be released this week. The self-
his colleagues. The Philadelphiabased artist will bring out several guests from his Dream Chasers label, along with tracks from his delayed album, “Dreams Worth More Than Money.” Those searching for a carefree show ripe for dancing need look no further than Gorgon City, the understated drivers of the newest generation of house producers. The duo’s Feb. 17 set at Irving Plaza promises bouncy synthesized bass, flashing lights and smooth, soulful vocals over energetic beats. Gorgon City’s show serves as
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Ghostface Killah and Sufjan Stevens are set to release new albums. titled album features the new songstress’ gentle murmur of a voice overlaid with lush string orchestration, making a very mature and natural sound. On her first single, “Bird of Prey,” melodic horns and swelling flutes mingle with captivating Diana Rossinspired vocals reminiscent of 1970s soul-pop. While newcomers such as Prass are introducing new elements established artists are also hard at work to release new songs to stay relevant. Sufjan Stevens recently announced his first album since his electronic-heavy 2010 release “The Age of Adz.” The upcoming album, titled “Carrie & Lowell,” is billed as a return to folk roots, harkening back to earlier albums “Seven Swans” and “Michigan.” In March, indie-rock icons Modest Mouse will release their
sixth studio album, “Strangers to Ourselves.” The two singles released so far, “Lampshades on Fire” and “Coyote,” retain the polished hooks and more pop-oriented sound the band has cultivated in its past two releases. Not one to be outdone by burgeoning younger divas, Madonna is set to release “Rebel Heart,” her 13th studio effort, on March 10. An eclectic mix of A-list producers, ranging from Avicii to Kanye West, contributed to the album, further solidifying Madonna’s EDM-inspired style. The album also flirts with hip-hop, showcasing guest stars such as Nicki Minaj on “Bitch, I’m Madonna” and Chance the Rapper on “Iconic.” It seems as though every artist is on top of their game for 2015. Email Ahmed Bubshait at music@nyunews.com.
“Man Seeking Woman” is an FXX show featuring the romantic mishaps of Josh Greenberg. In the first episode, Josh goes on a blind date with a troll, hates his ex’s new boyfriend, Hitler, and receives a MacArthur Genius Grant after successfully getting a girl’s number. The show hyperbolizes every romantic trope and consolidates them into a gripping psychological thrill. It can be watched on Wednesdays at 10:30 p.m. On Sunday, the new HBO comedy series “Togetherness” examines the mundane of adulthood: marriage, unemployment and sleeping on couches. Each adult fights to sustain his or her passions without neglecting responsibilities. “Togetherness” is a creation of the Duplass brothers, who use humor and nuance to illustrate their characters’ collective desire to make sense of their lives. We also welcome back “Girls,” which depicts a group of girls navigating their early 20s, just as Hannah, the protagonist played by Lena Dunham, is moving to Iowa, leaving behind her boyfriend, Adam. It is hard to tell where the storylines will go with the protagonist away from the other characters, we may see a season more centralized on Hannah than before. “Portlandia” returns for a fifth
season with a slight change to the show’s sketch formula-episodes are now based on a single set of characters. This format, although acted as hilariously as ever, is also confining, as there isn’t that jump between stories that made the show so unique. The season premiere follows feminist bookstore owners Toni and Candace as they reveal how they first met. At its heart, “Portlandia” is a sketch show, but it’ll be interesting to see a full story for each set of characters. Spring of 2015 might be the time to welcome the new year, but it is also the season to say goodbye to a few TV series, including NBC’s “Parks and Recreation.” The show, starring Amy Poehler, premiered its seventh and final season on Jan. 13. This season follows main character Leslie Knope after a time-jump that includes three kids and a major promotion. “Parks and Recreation” airs on Tuesday at 8 p.m., with two backto-back episodes for 13 weeks. Fox’s dramedy “Glee” follows the lives of high school students as they participate in their school’s glee club. It enters its sixth and final season on Jan. 9 at 9:00 p.m., and fans can expect 12 more installments before the two-hour finale on March 20. Email the entertainment team at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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OPINION
EDITED BY TESS WOOSLEY OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
ACADEMICS STAFF EDITORIAL
Core Curriculum tech update needed By TESS WOOSLEY Opinion Editor
With the start of the new semester, many students are looking forward to some of their classes more than others. Attending a liberal arts university such as NYU means completing a wide range of Core Curriculum courses in addition to a chosen major. Since the Core ranges from science to Expressive Cultures, it is unlikely that NYU students are going to feel comfortable in all of their classes. This discomfort is useful — the Core is “designed to give students … the skills and breadth of intellectual perspective to flourish in their major programs of study and in their later careers,” according to the Core College website. Nonetheless, it needs an update in the form of a computer science requirement. Only 19 percent of students have taken a computer course in high school, and even fewer have experience with programming because it is typically not required. In an increasingly tech-centric world, students with no experience who may be intimidated by computer science are left behind. Liberal arts universities have an opportunity to fix this. NYU
in particular has a reason to since the Core requirements are light on STEM. The program requires only a year of natural science and a semester of mathematics. In contrast, it requires two years of both contemporary culture and foreign language, and allows far more AP credit exemptions for science and math than any other subject. A computer requirement has the potential to spark interest in undecided students lacking computer experience, or to give students the confidence to creatively experiment with software design. If a new Core category were created, it could involve several types of interdisciplinary computer courses — anything from statistical analysis to building apps and web pages. For instance, Wheaton College offers a class called “Computing for Poets” that incorporates J.R.R. Tolkien and Anglo-Saxon
literature into computational analysis. The Core at NYU already consolidates multiple fields into one requirement; there is a wide range within the Cultural Foundation courses and specified Expository Writing groups. The same principles must be applied to computer science at NYU. There can be no doubt that basic software knowledge is becoming more important in many jobs, and even one semester provides valuable analytical skills that can be applied in other fields. President Barack Obama’s Jan. 8 proposal for free community college will only cover certificates or degrees in high-demand areas. If passed, it will create an increase in the number of graduates with these degrees, which will likely include computer science. In addition, issues like net neutrality, cybersecurity and Internet surveillance have become a critical yet little understood part of the political discourse. NYU needs to anticipate the skills its graduates will need, and should become one of the first universities to require a semester of computer science. Email Tess Woosley at twoosley@nyunews.com.
LGBTQ ISSUES
Transgender suicide rate demands action By TOMMY COLLISON Deputy Editor
The suicide of Leelah Alcorn, a 17-year-old transgender girl from Ohio, has renewed a national conversation on youth suicide and transgender rights. Alcorn’s suicide has received international attention in part due to a suicide note that she timed to publish on her blog after her death. In the letter she wrote that she would only rest in peace if “one day transgender people aren’t treated the way I was.” Tumblr has since reoved the post, reportedly at the request of the parents. Laverne Cox, a transgender activist who spoke about Alcorn on “The View,” said “isolation made [Leelah] feel that she would never be the woman she dreamed of becoming. She didn’t feel like she had any support.” Alcorn’s suicide renewed calls from activists for a ban on Christian gender conversion therapy, a controversial practice which has been condemned by several medical organizations, including the American Association of Pediatrics. The Obama administration must step up and ban conversion therapy on children and teens, which often amounts to little
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more than child abuse. Alcorn’s death is part of a wider epidemic among the LGBTQ community. According to a 1989 U.S. government study, LGBTQ youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people. Meanwhile, a study from the Transgender Equality Network of Ireland reported that 78 percent of transgender individuals admitted to thinking of taking their own lives. Parents, teachers and administrators must be aware of the issues facing transgender youths if they are to offer meaningful, nonjudgmental support. At NYU, the LGBTQ Student Center provides resources for transgender and gender nonconforming students, faculty and staff. This includes regular programming to foster communities of transgender individuals, as well as resources to help students navigate university bureaucracy regarding
changing the name and gender listed on enrollment forms. The student health center also provides social and medical services for transgender students, including hormone therapy. It is unclear what legal changes, if any, could be brought against Alcorn’s parents. Dan Savage, a gay activist and author, said on Twitter he believed Alcorn’s parents can and should be charged with child abuse. He referenced Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers student who committed suicide after his roommate, Dharun Ravi, used a webcam to record him kissing another man in his college dorm. Ravi was sentenced to 30 days in jail and given a $10,000 fine. Whether or not Alcorn’s parents can be charged, Alcorn’s suicide must be seen as a catalyst for legislative support for transgender youth. In 2012, President Barack Obama said he supported gay marriage, but he must go further. It is time to push legislation to protect transgender youth, starting with a ban on conversion therapy. Only then can we begin to lower the numbers of transgender individuals taking their own lives. Email Tommy Collison at tcollison@nyunews.com.
Student papers foster discussion
The student government at the University of Redlands voted to suspend funding for its newspaper, the Bulldog Weekly on Dec. 10. The small liberal arts university in California allows the Associated Students of the University of Redlands to vote on funding for student life activities. The decision to cut funding to the paper was made over concerns about the “quality of professionalism” of the paper during the previous semester, according to the university’s website. A specific article published on Nov. 10, which quoted a student who felt a $35 million scholarship donation was only for “rich, white men,” reportedly led to tensions between the ASUR and administration, however. Student newspapers are a critical part of campus life and no matter the reason for the Bulldog Weekly’s suspension, steps should have been taken to improve it rather than shut it down. Redlands has no journalism program, so it is perhaps unsurprising that there are tensions between the newspaper and the student government and administration. A student newspaper depends on collaboration between student journalists and university officials. When the writer of the Nov. 10 story reached out to the university for comment, editor Morgan York said emails to several administrators were ignored. The university administration should have stepped in and kept the newspaper operating during the review period. In response to the hiatus, a committee of students and faculty was formed to reform its practices, but this could have been done without stopping publication. When a school newspaper is shut down, the voices of students are silenced, thus restricting knowledge of the events in and around their school. The ASUR further justified their decision to shut down the Bulldog Weekly in an email sent to students in which they questioned spending nearly $40,000 annually on a newspaper with low readership. While cost is a valid concern, student newspapers are invaluable. There are various ways to cut costs without cutting the paper; these include shifting to a more online-based model and moving to a volunteer staff. Newspapers not only report on student and university activity, but also provide a forum for discussion and allow journalistically inclined students to practice and hone their skills. Redlands students’ protests on Jan. 20 demonstrated an understanding of the importance of the medium, which was unfairly dismantled. The evolving role of universities in the 21st century means that administrations need to listen to the concerns of the community. Even if the school newspaper violated journalistic integrity, it should not have its voice taken away by its peers. A student’s time at university is meant to teach him or her to engage with new ideas and resolve conflict responsibly — any forum for this engagement, such as a student paper, needs to be protected by both the administration and the student body.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tess Woosley (Chair), Annie Cohen (Co-chair), Tommy Collison (Co-chair), Matthew Tessler (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor 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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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Recap of sports over winter break
DALEY continued from PG. 1
Team shows support for Daley
conversation helped me address the team.” Fellow goalkeeper and freshman Jack Nebe spent a lot of time around Sam during practice, competing with him in drills and learning from him any way he could. “Sam is one of the core members of the team,” Nebe said, “Hearing about what he was going through was a big shock to us all, not only because of the magnitude of what he was facing but also because of how sudden it had come about. It was a scary time for us as a team and knowing that Sam was having to battle through it alone was tough to deal with.” Daley’s family kept the coaching staff up to date on Daley’s condition while the rest of the team was on pins and needles in hopes for a speedy recovery. Daley, a biology major in the College of Arts and Science who is studying to become a dentist, had a successful surgery to remove a benign tumor. His resilience in the face of such terrifying adversity has truly inspired the team and the NYU hockey community. In light of the news breaking, over $1,500 has been raised online to help Daley’s family pay for the medical costs. Additionally, several veterans of the team have reached out to this year’s current roster and Daley himself to offer their support. The community has gotten the word out on Twitter, using the hashtag #DaleyStrong, and it has gone viral since. ESPN and Fox News featured his
By BRADLEY ALSOP Contributing Writer
STAFF FILE BY SHAWN PAIK
The lineup for Governors Ball, which includes the Black Keys, Deadmau5 and Drake, were announced on Jan 7. The annual festival is set for story, as well. The team also reached out to Daley by video. Manager Brendan Gutenschwager edited together a string of well wishes from the guys on the team. Daley was able to view it just before his surgery. The outpouring of support from everyone, including opposing teams and fans, has been remarkable. “It has been incredible and inspiring to watch the way other fans and the whole hockey community has come together,” Fortunato told WSN. The story has even garnered attention from the National Hockey League, from whom Daley received a care package. On Twitter, the New York Rangers sent their best wishes, as did Los Angeles Kings goalie Jonathan Quick. Doctors are optimistic that Daley will recover ahead of
schedule and be able to return to the team by playoff time. Fans, friends and family are overjoyed to hear he’s going to be okay, hockey or not. “Even though his locker is empty at the moment, Sam is still very much a driving force in our team and will continue to be,” Nebe said. “We say it all the time,” Cosentino said. “The values we learn from being a part of a team will carry over to real life situations and how you deal with adversity.” After all they’ve been through, the team will come together again this Friday, Jan. 30th, when they square off against rival William Paterson at the Sky Rink in Chelsea Piers. Email Bobby Wagner at bwagner@nyunews.com.
The winter sports season is in swing, with a full slate of competitions occurring during the respite from academics. The men’s basketball team has roared out to a 12-4 record overall through Jan. 25th, with a slightly more middling conference record of 2-2. On the 23rd, the Violets handily defeated Washington University 91-67. They continued their hot streak with a 85-68 drubbing over the University of Chicago, spearheaded by a 22-point effort from junior Evan Kupferberg. They will continue in the new semester with two more home games against University of Rochester and Emory University. The women’s basketball team started the season off with a bang, boasting a 14-0 record. Nearly all their wins have been by double-digits, like their 34-point rout of Hunter College on Jan. 12. That trouncing was led by a solid 13-point outing from junior Megan Dawe. The Violets won their next three games before dropping a game, 7387, to University of Chicago. NYU wrestling has come out to a similarly hot start, sporting a 10-3 record with a stellar 5-0 run in away matches. Like in women’s basketball, the wrestling team has been destroying their opponents in wins but has suffered three close losses in early December and January to Hunter, Loras and Olivet colleges. Most recently the team posted a 34-15 victory over Plymouth State. In recognition of this stellar start, freshman Jacob Donato was named UAA Athlete of the Week on Jan. 19.
Their last two competitions have been postponed due to weather but they are scheduled to resume competition on the 28th against Stevens Institute of Technology. The winter track season is just getting underway, with two races under the team’s belt after the New York City Gotham Cup on Jan. 16 and the Metro Team Challenge on the 23rd. Sophomore Nick Karam placed 27th in the mile, posting a personal best time of 4:27.93. The women’s track team competed as well, with similar individual success in the mile — senior Alyssa Binczyk posted her personal record of 5:19.03, coming in 20th out of 94 competitors. Although other athletes placed relatively well throughout, this was not a team event and therefore only individual scorings were available. The two teams’ first out of state competition comes at the Boston University Terrier Invitational on Jan. 30 and 31. The men’s swimming and diving team has marched out to a sterling 9-0 record, with astonishing takedowns of their opponents. The Violets posted a 202.5-91.5 destruction of Springfield College. Most recently they crushed Iona College 219-71. The women’s team boasts an identical 9-0 record, most recently defeating Iona College by a more modest 123 points, 20784. The teams’ next significant action comes on Feb. 6 and 7 at the NYU Invitational. Most of these teams are off to scorching hot starts. Only time will tell if they can continue on this blistering pace. Email Bradley Alsop at sports@nyunews.com.
Students return early for sports season preparation By KYLE LUTHER Deputy Sports Editor
Over winter break, the majority of NYU students packed their belongings and made their way home for the month long break. Student athletes’ breaks, however, were cut short by the need to train. Just after New Years, they had to return to the empty NYU campus to begin the most intense practices of their season. Without classes, teams can practice longer and more frequently. Junior Matt Eulau believes that the time is crucial to staying in peak shape for the rest of the wrestling season.
“I love my family and friends back home,” Eulau said, “But a whole month would be way too much ‘relaxing at home’ for me to handle. Personally I enjoy the winter sessions. Although it means two workouts a day, it’s a time where the team is able to focus purely on our athletic goals. During the semester we walk a fine line between trying to do our best in school but making sure we aren’t too burnt out from studying to make our practice time count.” During break, the NYU campus is mostly empty. Friends have left and without classes there can seem to be a lack of things
to do. For many students that can be frustrating and lonely, especially during a time when being with one’s family is so important. But it can also be a time to hang out with teammates and build a stronger bond, or a time to explore the city. Without the pressures of classes, students like junior basketball forward Megan Dawe are free to check out parts of the city they hadn’t had time for during the semester. “It’s always hard coming back early in that, at least for basketball, we are usually flying back the day after Christmas,” said Dawe. “The campus is empty besides the few teams
that come back, but it’s also fun knowing that when we come back we just get to focus on our sport and hang out with the team. Then during the hours we’re not at Coles, we have free time to explore the city — time most of us don’t really have when school starts up again.” It is important to remember spending extra time at school is part of the deal. Time away from family and friends is a small price to pay for many athletes on scholarship, like junior Nathan Pike, who need to remain at the top of their game. “You still have friends out here as well as your team-
mates,” said Pike. “You also have to remember that we signed up for this. Coming in as an athlete you already know how much time you’re going to be putting in. It’s all part of the commitment. Having said that, I feel that I actually improved the most in wrestling during this winter break.” It can be a lot of work, but the athletes take precautions not to be overworked. At the end of the day, they wouldn’t have it any other way; it is just one of many opportunities to improve upon their craft. Email Kyle Luther at kluther@nyunews.com.