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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 6

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015

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SPORTS

PUBLIC SAFETY

Nearby attacks put NYU on alert

Basketball star shoots for NCAA tourney By BOBBY WAGNER Sports Editor

The UAA is loaded with talent this year, but NYU junior basketball star Evan Kupferberg has claimed his stake as one of its undisputed top players. Kupferberg, the conference’s leading rebounder at 10.8 per game and second leading scorer with 17.7 points per game, garnered his third UAA player of the week award over the weekend. Kupferberg transferred from Liberal Studies to the Gallatin School of Individualized Study to study real estate. When he is not on the court, he passes time playing video games. After such a successful sophomore season, Kupferberg earned the confidence of his coaches. “It’s a whole year process,” he said. “I’ve been working in the offseason to get better. During the season the coaches really put you in the right spots to succeed.

KUPFERBERG continued on PG. 8

By ALANNA BAYARIN News Editor

STAFF PHOTO BY JOHN AMBROSIO

A bloody sweater lays outside of University Hall following attack on a pedestrian. The suspect is still at large and the NYPD is attempting to identify him.

FEATURES

Tisch sophomore crowdfunds tuition By DHRITI TANDON Staff Writer

To help Tisch sophomore Jeremy Harris pay his spring semester tuition, Steinhardt sophomore Ursula Seymour, CAS junior Erica Gonzales and Steinhardt junior Devin McNulty started a successful fundraiser on the crowd-funding website ‘Go-Fund-Me’. The quartet surpassed its initial goal of $7,864, the amount Harris needed to pay for his petition, to raise $11,055 in just nine days. This overwhelming response was completely unanticipated. “At the start we weren’t really expecting to reach the full $7,684,”

Seymour said. “I thought maybe we could get close to it and beg NYU for the rest. Then, we were absolutely in shock when we reached the full amount and people kept donating. We didn’t know how to stop it, really.” Initially having given up all hope, Harris was prepared to head home to Minnesota. His hope returned, however, when members of his A Cappella group, The Mixtapes,began donating on the crowd-funding site. “Most notably my fellow Mixtape, Jerry Wilson, donated a slightly larger amount than another Mixtape, Tom Dziuba, with a caption

JEREMY continued on PG. 5

Four people were attacked by a man with a boxcutter near Union Square last night after they refused to give him money. None of the victims are affiliated with NYU, but the attacks occurred in close proximity to University Residence Hall. The suspect has yet to be arrested. The assailant slashed three people in the face with a boxcutter and slapped a woman. The assaults occurred at the bus stop in front of U-Hall, on an uptown No. 4 train between Broadway and Lafayette, in the Union Square subway station and in front of the Food Emporium on 14th Street. Randy Vasquez, the first victim, told the New York Daily News that the victim seemed unstable and was initiating confrontation with many peo-

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THEATER

Venture back ‘Into the Woods’ Off-Broadway By WILLA TELLEKSON-FLASH Contributing Writer

From the moment the cast of Fiasco Theater’s “Into the Woods” stands together and announces “once upon a time,” the audience is transported into an engrossing world of magic. A baker and his wife, cursed by a neighboring witch, are sent into the woods on a quest to reverse the spell preventing them from having a child. Along the way, they encounter Grimm’s beloved characters: Jack of “Jack in the Beanstalk,” Little Red Riding Hood, Cinderella and Rapunzel. Each on a pursuit of his or her own, the characters cross paths in the woods, finding that they need each other in order to realize their dreams. In 2014, the play’s journey was transformed

into a film adaptation. The first act ends in happily ever after, leaving the audience wondering how the plot will advance in the second act. Yet the second act is just as exciting, if not more compelling, as the characters join forces to defeat a kingdom-crushing giant. Betrayal, loss and culpability add new dimensions to the once-lighthearted tales, capturing the concern of the audience. There is more to Fiasco Theater’s interpretation of “Into the Woods” than its fairy tales, though. The music plays a key role in creating the magical tone, and the set doesn’t let the audience forget that. An upright piano sits at center stage, which musical director Matt Castle plays for the entirety of the show. Other instruments, played by the cast,

also remain on stage. The sides of the stage are lined with the innards of pianos, evoking the singing harp of “Jack and the Beanstalk.” The backdrop is covered with a web of ropes, which simultaneously remind the audience of the strings of a piano and a forest densely packed with trees. Clever and charming lyrics balance simple and poignant melodies, enchanting the audience with Sondheim’s music. In this mashup fairytale, Cinderella and Rapunzel’s respective princes are brothers, and they indulge the audience with some sibling rivalry in the wonderfully funny number, “Agony.” The melodramatic lyrics of the princes struggling with the trials of love leave

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

ON THE SIDE

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WSN STAFF

DRAKE, “SO FAR GONE”

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

“So Far Gone,” a 2009 release, marked Drake’s third mixtape and undeniably launched the rapper’s career as an internationally renowned artist. The mixtape’s two singles, “Successful” and “Best I Ever Had,” assisted in building Drake’s fame. Collaborations also contributed to the mixtape’s enormous success, including features from Trey Songz, Lloyd, Lykee Li and Lil Wayne. To this day, “So Far Gone” is still recognized as one of the most atmospheric-sounding modern mixtapes, blending together R&B and hip-hop — a style that Drake has seemingly mastered and made his own. Not only did “So Far Gone” launch Drake’s career, but also marked the beginnings of the rapper’s signature sound. – Alexa Spieler, Arts Editor

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief

VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI Managing Editor

THOMAS DEVLIN Assistant Managing Editor

JOHN AMBROSIO Digital Director

HANNAH TREASURE Creative Director, Special Editions

OLIVIA MARTIN Creative Director

TEERIN JULSAWAD deputy ALEXA WONG

CHICK COREA, “THE ENCHANTMENT”

Copy Chief

Chick Corea has enchanted the judges once again. The piano legend and 20-time Grammy winner has been nominated for the 62nd and 63rd time, including a nomination for best jazz instrumental album, “Trilogy.” “The Enchantment,” which won the Latin Grammy award for best instrumental album in 2007, features Corea and American banjo virtuoso Béla Fleck. With a well-blended sound of American and Latin jazz, “The Enchantment” can put listeners in a trance to feel like they are floating in the ocean, the clouds or both at the same time. – Shawn Paik, Multimedia Editor

MADELINE PAZZANI deputy RICHARD SHU Multimedia

SHAWN PAIK photo SAM BEARZI video CALVIN FALK deputy photo SANG BAE, MATHILDE VAN TULDER deputy video CHRISTIAN FORTE

SENIOR STAFF

ARCTIC MONKEYS, “FAVOURITE WORST NIGHTMARE” The sound the Arctic Monkeys are nominated for this year is more polished than what they originally became known for. “Favourite Worst Nightmare,” their second album, is the Arctic Monkeys at their most raw. “Fluorescent Adolescent” and “Balaclava” are particular standouts, with a chugging guitar and an unadulterated effervescence that echoes through in what is undeniably one of their best albums. The record shows Jamie Cook’s mastery of the electric guitar and a younger, more energetic Alex Turner still trying to figure out the image he wants to show the world. – E.R. Pulgar, Music Editor

HAIM, “DAYS ARE GONE”

COLEBURN, FELIPE DE LA HOZ, FRANCISCO NAVAS, IFE OLUJOBI

DEPUTY STAFF

news ALEX BAZELEY, SCOTT MULLEN,

CHRISTINE PARK features NINA JANG beauty & style SOPHIE LEWIS dining REBECCA RIDDLE film ISABEL JONES entertainment AUDREY DENG music E.R. PULGAR theater/books CAROLINE CUNFER sports KYLE LUTHER

OPINION PAGE opinion editor

The Haim sisters released their first album, “Days are Gone,” in 2013. The album has received a lot of attention, including being named one of Pitchfork Media’s 100 Best Albums of the Decade So Far. The album has produced six popular singles, including “Forever” and “The Wire.” Haim not only records well, but also puts on an amazing live show. They are joining Taylor Swift’s “1989” tour in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois and California. Currently, Haim is working on their second album. – Alanna Bayarin, News Editor VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

news ALANNA BAYARIN, MARITA VLACHOU features MARINA ZHENG arts ALEXA SPIELER sports BOBBY WAGNER senior editors LARSON BINZER, CHRISTINA

TESS WOOSLEY deputy opinion editors

ANNIE COHEN, TOMMY COLLISON, MATTHEW TESSLER

BLOGS

As the 57th Annual Grammy Awards approach, the WSN staff looks back on this year’s nominees’ previous works.

editor EMILY BELL violet vision GABRIELLA BOWER the highlighter MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE under the arch EMMA SCOBLE global DANA RESZUTEK

ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER

ALISON LIZZIO UNIVERSITY SALES RELATIONS

CLAIRE MAHANY

SNAPSHOT

TODAY ON CAMPUS

SALES MANAGER

EMMA HOWCROFT SALES REPRESENTATIVES

MARL Talk: Michael Casey The Music and Audio Research Lab is hosting “Towards Neural Theories of Music: Recent Work in Identifying and Decoding the Neural Representational Spaces of Music.” The lecture will be in the conference room on the sixth floor of 35 W. Fourth St. starting at 1:45 p.m.

AMY LU, BEN SWINEHART SALES ASSOCIATES

MIKE GROTT, LUXI PENG GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

KALEEL MUNROE CIRCULATION MANAGER

JESSICA TIEN

Keeping it Real: A Panel Discussion The NYU Curatorial Collaborative will have a panel discussion about the current and next 80WSE exhibitions, “Absence/Presence” and “Senior Honors Studio.” The panel will be held at 5 p.m. in the Barney Building, and will be followed by a reception.

Fiction Reading

STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK

Authors Nathan Englander and Chris Normandin will be reading as part of the Creative Writing Program Reading Series. It will be held in the Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House at 7 p.m. TODAY’S EVENTS ARE FREE FOR NYU STUDENTS.

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ALEX HANSON, FIONA GORRY-HINES

ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORS-AT-LARGE

TATIANA BAEZ, NICOLE BROWN, ALEX GREENBERGER, CLIO MCCONNELL, JORDAN MELENDREZ About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact the managing editors at managing@nyunews. com or at 212.998.4302.

NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Panel discusses ethics of experimental drugs By JIMMY CHIN Contributing Writer

STAFF PHOTO BY MARITA VLACHOU

In the NYU Abu Dhabi campus, students recieved news that Dave Tinagero has resigned.

THE GAZELLE: DEAN OF STUDENTS RESIGNS Published on TheGazelle.org on Feb. 4, 2015 By JOEY BUI Gazelle Editor in Chief In an email addressed to the NYU Abu Dhabi community, Dean of Students Dave Tinagero announced his resignation on Feb. 4. After three-and-a-half years at NYUAD, Tinagero will be leaving at the end of this academic year to return to the United States. Tinagero cited family reasons in explaining his resignation. Signing off, “Warmly, Dave,” Tinagero framed the notice as a piece of personal news and emphasized that to leave Abu Dhabi was a difficult decision. “Joining NYUAD has been one of the best decisions my family has made. In the end, though, I have chosen to take a new opportunity for family reasons,” wrote Tinagero. Tinagero became the third dean of students at the beginning of the 2013-2014 academic year, having served as deputy assistant for the former Dean of Students Julie Avi-

na. Avina had served as dean of students since Jan. 2011, and decided to return to NYU New York after two-and-a-half years. Jim Larimore was NYUAD’s first dean of students for half a year. Following his resignation, Charles Grim stood in briefly as dean of students before Avina took the position. In his email, Tinagero thanked the staff, faculty, Vice Chancellor and NYUAD leadership. He mentioned his appreciation of the students in particular, to whom his “gratitude is, by far, the most significant,” and noted that “the NYUAD student body remains the most compelling narrative of this truly global institution.” In light of Tinagero’s schoolwide announcement, Vice Chancellor Al Bloom noted Tinagero’s impact on the community. “Dave is a truly extraordinary dean, who has given exceptional leadership to the development of Student Life at NYUAD,” wrote Bloom to The Gazelle.

“The model he sets of generosity of spirit, subtlety of response to student needs and wisdom and passion in educating for a world of greater mutual understanding will have a profound impact on the future of this institution. We will miss him greatly.” Student Government Vice President and senior Alex Nyikos said that Tinagero has been a great partner, especially in troubleshooting residential problems last semester during NYUAD’s transition to the Saadiyat campus. Nyikos commended Tinagero for his general receptiveness to student concerns. In July, Tinagero will take the post of headmaster at St Andrew’s, a preparatory boarding school in Rhode Island. University administration has not yet released information regarding Tinagero’s resignation or his replacement for the next academic year. Email Joey Bui at jbui@thegazelle.org.

NYU Langone professor Arthur Caplan led a discussion on Wednesday at NYU Law about the ethical use of experimental drugs for terminally ill patients. Arthur Caplan, who is a member of the NYU Working Group for Compassionate Use, began the event speaking about Josh Hardy, a child from Virginia who suffers from a life-threatening kidney disease. Hardy’s family sought a drug in development that showed potential for treating Hardy’s viral infection. Chimerix, the company that manufactures the drug, denied two requests to release it from St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, but eventually capitulated due to pressure from a social media campaign Caplan explained that the drugs rarely make it from animal trials to pharmacy. “When somebody says, ‘I want it,’ there’s a pretty good chance that it isn’t going to work,” Caplan said. “If it was easier to do this, we wouldn’t have so many diseases that we wouldn’t be able to cure.” NYU Law student and co-president of the Health and Law Policy Society Isaac Ritter, who coordinated the event, said the compassionate use discussion is significant. “This is all more acute in the age of social media, where campaigns can catch fire, pressuring stakehold-

ers to provide experimental drugs to patients,” Ritter said. “While these efforts are well-intentioned, they pose serious risks and ethical concerns we must address.” Caplan added that there is a lot of uncertainty when it comes to the legal process of experimental euthanasia drugs. Some people are reluctant to move forward because it is currently illegal. Caplan also discussed the difficulties in dealing with minors, hospice patients and disabled, non-terminally ill people who also want access to drugs. “I don’t think right-to-try laws will result in any access,” Caplan said. “I would expect all 50 states to pass them by the end of this year.” For steps to improve compassionate use, Caplan argued for improved awareness of the issue, independent vetting of drug requests, reporting of all treatment outcomes to the FDA and addressing payment issues. Ashley Ferguson, another co-president of the Health and Law Policy Society, emphasized the importance of the debate. “The way that health law is right now, so much of what we hear is coming from the other side,” Ferguson said. “Even though they know the potential for complete failure of medicine, if they are willing to try, we should also be willing to try.” Email Jimmy Chin at news@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY JAMES PARK

Arthur Caplan discusses legal issues surrounding euthanasia.

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Students cautious after local attack

STAFF PHOTO BY SANG BAE

One of the many flyers around Union Square offering a reward.

ple on the No. 4 train. “He was screaming his mind out,” Vasquez said. “He was swaying left to right. He wasn’t stable. I thought, ‘Oh boy, another day in New York’.” NYU sent a university-wide email informing students about the incidents. Residents of U-Hall have expressed safety concerns. Tisch freshman Victoria Sprowls, who lives in U-Hall, said the incident the incident has made her wary of walking around Union Square, especially at night. “I always felt safe before in this neighborhood, but I am going to go out tonight and I am having one of my guy friends walk me back to my dorm,” Sprowls said. “I wouldn’t say that I feel unsafe but I feel apprehensive to go out alone.” NYU spokesperson John Beck-

man said NYU is cooperating with the New York City Police Department in all investigations. He added that Public Safety officers have been advised on how to deal with the situation and how to keep students as safe as possible. “Violent incidents are uncommon in our neighborhood,” Beckman said. “We have briefed all NYU Public Safety Officers about the attacks at their roll call, we have provided descriptions and reporting instructions to all of our fixed posts and mobile patrols and we have directed those officers posted to the Union Square area to be especially vigilant and report any possible sightings of the suspect.” CAS freshman Robert DeSisto, who also lives in U-Hall, said he thinks NYU cannot do a lot about the situation, con-

sidering it did not happen on NYU property. “I feel pretty safe once I am inside U-Hall, but I can see how, especially in the early hours of the morning, it can be dangerous walking by yourself,” Desasdo said. “The incident obviously happened outside of the building, and there’s not a lot the university can do about it.” CAS freshman Alec Henson said he does not worry for his safety. He said NYU should let the NYPD conduct all further investigations. “I definitely feel safe right now,” said Henson. “I think this is a series of isolated incidents that are unlikely to happen to most NYU students and NYU is probably best to leave the NYPD to do their work alone.” Email Alanna Bayarin

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

ARTS

EDITED BY ALEXA SPIELER ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

NYU alumni rule SoundCloud BY KIERAN GRAULICH Staff Writer

NYU Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music alumni Jesse Aicher and Matt Walsh are making waves as Prelow, a New York/New Jersey electro-pop duo. After forming in 2014, Prelow made a splash in the online music pool, as their track “Mistakes Like These” landed at No. 3 on HypeM and No. 1 on the Soundcloud streaming service. Their first EP, “Why Does Everything Happen So Much?” was released Jan. 27.

WSN: How did music become a part of your life and how did that lead you to NYU? JA: I’ve been playing guitar since I was young, and my mom really wanted me to get into it. I started writing music in high school with my band. I actually went to NYU to study philosophy, but music just became a bigger part of my life. I decided to transfer into recorded music. MW: When I was five, my mom enrolled me in this class where

we clapped along to music with tambourines and stuff. I took piano lessons after that for two years, and learned how to play by ear. When I was 16, I broke my leg and couldn’t walk for eight months, so I started producing, and then I just knew. When I went to music tech at Steinhardt, I actually didn’t know that Clive Davis existed. Then after [the Ultraviolet Talent Show at Third North Residence Hall], I saw Jesse perform with a couple of friends. I didn’t even speak to him after that, I think we actually met a year and a half later. That’s when I learned about Clive Davis and transferred.

WSN: Who is your biggest influence as musicians? JA: I feel like it’s such a cop out to just say the Beatles, but I just listen to so much Beatles. It’s pressure to name just one. So yeah, it’s going to be the Beatles for me. MW: For me it’s Bob Dylan. I can go back and play so many songs, so many random songs and I can just love them all. I heard “The Man in Me” in

“[The] Big Lebowski” and it’s like my favorite song ever. And I don’t think it was even a single.

WSN: You guys had the number one streaming song on Soundcloud. How do you think music-sharing on the internet is going to influence the success of independent artists? JA: It’s incredible. Sharing really helps spread your art around. Especially on Twitter and Soundcloud it’s so cool to see it get reposted and retweeted and how it compounds other stuff too, that’s maybe easier than ever. But, at the same time, it’s harder to make a dedicated fan base because there’s so many musicians who make music on those same platforms. MW: Yeah, there’s so many singles coming out every single day, and in the same genre on the same websites, a lot of people and artists will be able to listen and keep coming back. People will be able to identify with the person and an artist with just a song that they like

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VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Sondheim’s ‘Into the Woods’ returns to the stage for the first time since its revival in 2006.

‘Into the Woods’ brings back magic the audience laughing. As for sentiment, “No One Is Alone” stands out as the most touching and powerful piece of the show. Feeling as though they have experienced the at-times lonely and isolating struggles of being in the woods, the audience understands the taxing emotional experience of the newly united cast. The actors bring irresistible personality to their characters. Co-directors Noah Brody and Ben Steinfeld, who play essential characters as well, lead

their co-stars to a brilliant success of a musical. Brody plays Lucinda, the Wolf, and Cinderella’s Prince, whereas Steinfeld plays the Baker. “Into the Woods” is magic simply because it does not shove magic in the faces of the audience; rather, it lures the audience into the power of what happens if one believes. “Into the Woods” is playing at the Laura Pels Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., through April 12th. Email Willa Tellekson-Flash at theater@nyunews.com.

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Prelow released their first album after success with online singles. or see online, and there’s so many options and that’s what I want to get to.

WSN: What’s your plan for the new year?

dates, continuing music for our first album, to continue to grow everything and see where it goes. We’ve been working on music for a long time that didn’t end up on the EP.

JA: We’re planning on getting on the road, doing a lot of live

Email Kieran Graulich at music@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

FEATURES

EDITED BY MARINA ZHENG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

Freshman discusses musical growth

JEREMY continued from PG. 1

BY ZOE THOMPSON Contributing Writer VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Singer-songwriter Leah Lavigne, a bubbly and ambitious freshman in NYU’s Liberal Studies program, has recently released her second album “Peripeteia.” Classifying her sound as a fusion of acoustic indie pop and adult alternative, Lavigne proves that her young age does not deter her from a budding music career. Lavigne describes the new album as an account of her personal development, including songs she wrote during difficult periods in high school. “Peripeteia is a Greek word and it means a sudden reversal of fortune. The Greeks believed the world was this great unknowable thing and it’s always changing,” she said. “This album is about growth, ups and downs.” Influenced by Ingrid Michaelson, John Mayer and Regina Spektor, the aspiring solo artist considers her second album to show significant progress when compared to the first. “With my first album, I produced it myself and was only fourteen,” Lavigne said. “My vision was still kind of limited and the studio was a bit overwhelming.

Leah Lavigne released her sophomore album “Peripeteia” on Nov. 4. Going into this one, I am a lot more comfortable with the studio and different sounds.” So far, Lavigne has received support from a wide variety of people. Detroit radio hosts played Peripeteia’s first track “Easy” a few weeks ago and engaged couples have chosen “Right Next To You” as their wedding song. Lavigne is self-managing her career, so she has been dependent on local shows, open mics and press interviews as ways of getting her name out to a larger audience. “You can find a lot of gig opportunities online, but a lot of information is mainly through word of mouth,” Lavigne said. “We live in New York City — there are endless opportunities everywhere. It is just being social and interacting with others.” Lavigne has found the resources offered at NYU to be helpful in the development of her music career. “Luckly, Clive offers a really well-rounded curriculum that

helps you not only develop as a musician but as a savvy member of the music industry,” she said. It is clear that Lavigne’s vision for the future holds no limits. “For me, dreaming is the same as growing,” Lavigne said. “You need vision and hope in order to go somewhere.” Leah has recently raised over $2,000 through a crowd fundraising project to film her new music video, which will be released this summer. With her album already available on iTunes, Spotify and YouTube, Leah is currently working on making it available in independent music stores. Advising other artists who are hoping to get their name out, Lavigne’s resounding message is to have impassioned determination. “Go for it,” she said. “You can’t sacrifice your dreams to be practical. It is so important to keep dreaming. Just go for it.” Email Zoe Thompson at features@nyunews.com.

VIA GOFUNDME.COM

Jeremy Harris raised over $11,000 to pay for his tuition.

Crowdfunding, passion kept student at NYU that said, ‘Get at me, Dziuba,’” Harris said. “I honestly didn’t get my hopes up until the crowdfunding reached around $3,000. Then I realized that our goal was achievable.” The campaign took off and attained success when the fundraising page was posted on the Facebook page NYU Secrets. Among the top contributors were Roy Rosenberg, the father of one of The Mixtapes’ members, and Cole Snyder, a benevolent stranger, donating $800 and $2,930, respectively. “Once we got the campaign posted on NYU Secrets, though, money was rolling in by the hundreds or thousands every hour,” Seymour said. “The donors were so generous. A lot of friends and parents donated, and a lot of the funds came from kind strangers.” Because the NYU administration was unable to fully cover Harris’s need for additional aid, Harris

turned to the website as another solution. However, Harris still recommends fellow students in debt to persevere and work with the administration to look for more alternatives in their financial situation. The NYU Office of Financial Aid could not be reached for comment. In the end, Harris attributed determination to remain at NYU to his wish to continue pursuing the acting in Tisch, a community in which he found comfort. “I love, love, love acting. It’s the only thing I’m really good at,” Harris said. “But the reason I am so determined to stay at NYU is because of the communities I have found. I have made so many beautiful connections over my brief stay at NYU and I’m not ready to give that up.” Email Dhriti Tandon at features@nyunews.com.

Service trip brings groups together BY TEJAS SAWANT Contributing Writer

Bridges, a Muslim-Jewish Interfaith student organization at NYU, devoted the last week of winter break giving back to the community. A group of 20 members, led by Hannah Katz from the Bronfman Center and Amira Shouman from the Islamic Center, undertook a disaster-relief service trip from Jan. 18 to 24 to the towns of Mayflower, Vilonia and Little Rock, Arkansas, which were both struck by devastating tornadoes last April. As part of its mission, the group participates in service programs every year in regions hit by natural disasters in the United States, working in cooperation with the Jewish Disaster Response Corp. Beginning early in the morning, the volunteers’ days were packed with work — building shelves, grouting floors, caulking, spackling, building deck foundations and painting. After a day of work, the group would

then engage in an interfaith activity. On one of the evenings, they visited the Arkansas House of Prayer, where the local interfaith group hosted a dinner to welcome Bridges to the community. CAS sophomore Afraz Khan was stunned by the hospitality despite it being Bridges’ first time in the particular area. “It was beautiful, and it goes to show that places like Little Rock, Arkansas, in the south are taking major steps as well in bridging gaps between different beliefs,” Khan said. Khan, a leader in the organization, described the relationship between giving back service and upholding the mission of the group as complements of one another. “In fostering a greater level of cooperation between the Muslim and Jewish faiths here at NYU, service work plays a pivotal role in serving as a natural icebreaker to allow students to feel comfortable with one another,” Khan said. This same sentiment was

shared by another leader, Silver junior Emma Stein, who acknowledged the ability of service to bring strangers together. “When painting the side of a house for five hours, or standing on a ladder nailing a roof to chicken coop with someone spotting you for your safety, you get to talking,” Stein said. “You learn to put your trust in a stranger who very quickly becomes a companion.” CAS junior and secretary of Bridges Shanjida Chowdhury spoke about how, in addition to helping those in need, the service trip had a positive effect on her personally. “It was definitely a life changing experience,” Chowdhury said. “It taught me to have an open mind and an open heart to be grateful for my faith, my family and everything that I have. We spoke to many locals from Little Rock who lost everything in the tornadoes, and they would share stories about how their faith kept them strong despite the fact that they lost almost everything

STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH SHULMAN

Members of Bridges spent their break repairing tornado damage. they owned.” As for Bridges’ future plans, Stein hopes to continue building the rapport between members by coming together to provide aid to more communities around the nation.

“I hope to help facilitate experiences like this in the future,” Stein said. “I hope to see more wide eyes and big smiles.” Email Tejas Sawant at features@nyunews.com.

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Part of a Spanish explorer’s name “Funny Girl” composer Chutes and ladders locale Ho Chi Minh City festival 1961 Tony winner for Best Musical Sistine Chapel painting setting Antennae, so to speak Charged Butterfly, but not a caterpillar Average … or a literal hint to 17-, 26- and 42-Across Cave Trump Duke’s transportation? Game for which it’s helpful to have hands-on experience?

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work? 2 Comedian Mort 3 Deuce follower 4 Until 5 Beginning 6 “Now ___ shakes my soul”: Sappho 7 Highest power? 8 Traveler’s checks, for short? 9 Not let up in criticism 10 Site of a 1953 C.I.A.-directed coup 11 Paddle around 12 Organlike legume 13 Function 14 Taxi eschewer, for short 18 Animal shelter animal 21 2013 Joaquin Phoenix film 22 Chest compressor, for short 24 In abundance 25 Ritzy 26 Promoted 27 Real imp 28 Brio 29 Big name in morning radio 30 “The Confessions of ___ Turner” (1967 Pulitzer winner) 32 Wallop 33 “___, boy!”

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Canned food made by Nestlé

“L.A. Law” actress

Peter Fonda’s role in “Easy Rider”

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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY TESS WOOSLEY OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

EDUCATION

Inexpensive education reform still effective By KENNY KYUNGHOON LEE Contributing Writer

Inequality in education still persists despite numerous large-scale education reforms for public schooling. A 2011 study shows that students from low-income families have a 9 percent chance of getting a college degree, while those from high-income families have a 54 percent chance. Education reformers and politicians have been strenuously trying to solve this problem, but their efforts are both ineffective and costly. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, between 1965 and 2005 American taxpayers invested more than $778 billion on federal programs for elementary and secondary education. Yet fewer than one in 10 low-income students obtain a college degree. More recently, the George W. Bush administration’s No Child Left Behind Act has been criticized for failing to foster any progress in education. The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, denounces this act as “the massive administrative and bureaucratic costs the federal government imposes on state and local authorities.” Still, politicians often ignore the

fact that the quality of education and the amount of money spent by governments in the name of reform are not necessarily correlated. They have prioritized large-scale initiatives with catchy names over low-scale alternatives that actually work. Many of these alternatives better suit low-income students’ needs, and directly address the obstacles in their way to tertiary education. According to the Department of Education, 10 to 20 percent of collegeeligible, low-income high school students across the nation do not enroll in college due to lack of support and resources. To fight this problem, two researchers at the University of Virginia and the University of Pittsburgh tested an automatic text message system that sends high school students reminders about deadlines with links to required forms and counselors. They discovered those who received the text messages

were 7 percent more likely to enroll in college than those who did not. The cost of this program is very low — just $7 per pupil. Policymakers should reassess their focus in education reform and look not at the size of an initiative, but its effectiveness. They should also acknowledge that the high costs of their projects do not guarantee success. In his recent State of the Union Address, President Barack Obama made bold promises. He unveiled America’s College Promise, his new proposal to make two years of community college free, which would cost the federal government about $60 billion over the next 10 years. His proposal will make tertiary education far more affordable, but it is questionable if this proposal can reduce inequality in education under the status quo. More hurdles than high tuition fees still remain between low-income students and college education such as complicated financial aid application processes and the lack of quality college counseling at public high school. It is time to adopt policies that actually are effective. Email Kenny Kyunghoon Lee at opinion@nyunews.com.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Anti-vaccination crowd endangers everyone By MATTHEW TESSLER and TESS WOOSLEY Opinion Editors

We are privileged to live in a country where vaccines against deadly diseases are readily available to everyone. These vaccines and public health initiatives in the 20th century led to the elimination of harmful, common diseases like polio and, in 2000, measles. Yet in recent years there have been several measles outbreaks in the United States — the most recent one linked to Disneyland in California. While the United States is relatively disease-free compared to many other areas of the world, these recent outbreaks show that our vaccinebolstered health cannot be taken for granted. The anti-vaccine campaign, spurred by a now-retracted 1998 paper that falsely linked the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine to autism, has had a massive effect in California. The state allows religious and philosophical exemptions to vaccines, creating concentrated pockets where vaccination rates reach only 90 percent — including Orange County, where Disneyland is located. As vaccination rates fall, the herd immunity

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that protects the unvaccinated or susceptible dissipates. Unfortunately, some conservative politicians have responded to the Disneyland outbreak by campaigning for votes. Fringe opinions that contradict proven science are given a national platform when politicians like Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul mention anecdotal cases of vaccines supposed relation to mental disorders. Even New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie commented that parents should have a choice, despite the fact that many anti-vaccine parents have proven they cannot make the right one. Christie has since backtracked and said that, at least with diseases like measles, there is no question kids should be vaccinated. But the initial statement — the dangerous one — caught the most press. President Barack Obama is right; kids need to be vaccinated. As the

2016 election cycle kicks off, politicians must at least be united against the threat of terrible diseases. Living in a society as healthy as the U.S. is not a right — it is a privilege. Our society is safe against preventable diseases because scientists and politicians worked together to make it so. Personal belief exemptions to vaccinations cannot be allowed, or else we risk falling down a slippery slope. While measles was eliminated here, it is still common in nearly every other country. Hundreds may have been exposed to measles in Penn Station on Jan. 25 when a sick Bard College international student took the Amtrak after returning to New York City from Germany. New York state only allows vaccine exemptions for religious reasons, but the consequences could be dire if vaccination rates were lower or the student attended college in California. These exemptions would be to blame, just as they are at fault for causing the Disneyland outbreak. When lives are at risk, it’s time to step up and ban personal belief exemptions. Email them at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

De Blasio’s State of the City overlooks police

Mayor Bill de Blasio delivered the annual State of the City address on Feb. 3, his second since taking office last year. Fighting inequality in New York City has been a theme throughout de Blasio’s tenure as mayor, proven by his successful advocacy for universal pre-K and paid sick leave. Despite these achievements, de Blasio’s administration has been troubled from the fallout of the Eric Garner decision, which resulted in massive citizen protests and an early January police slowdown. Given the scale of this issue, it came as a surprise when de Blasio failed to make any mention of it in his speech. While de Blasio deserves praise for his progressive policies, he must address various lingering police controversies before he proceeds to make any sweeping changes. Many in the New York Police Department publicly stated that they felt betrayed by de Blasio after the murder of two NYPD officers in late December that was related to the Garner decision. The tension culminated at the slain officers’ funerals, with many other officers turning their backs to the mayor in a blatant act of protest. Coupled with the racial tensions already plaguing the city in the wake of the Ferguson decision, de Blasio is under more pressure than ever to balance the interests of the police and their critics. His failure to discuss the issue in his State of the City address is unfortunate because it sends the message, true or not, that he is trying to sweep it under the rug. Anti-police brutality activists held a press conference outside City Hall Wednesday, where they condemned de Blasio for ignoring the problem. “Yesterday there was a glaring omission — we thought this mayor was committed to this issue,” said Michael Skolnik, an activist with the protest group Justice League NYC. Also in the speech, de Blasio outlined broad goals to construct 80,000 affordable housing units over the next decade, and announced well-received plans for creating a “new citywide ferry service.” While his progressive ideas are admirable and worth pursuing, New York City comptroller Scott Stringer expressed some concerns about the financial feasibility of de Blasio’s lofty ambitions. “When you talk about affordable housing, you have to figure out a way to pay for it,” Stringer said. Eventually de Blasio must be held accountable for his plans, but the proposals are commendable. In the coming year, de Blasio must prioritize rehabilitating his relationship with the NYPD in addition to turning his bold plans for the city into a reality. This will involve making more concrete plans for his projects. After a tumultuous first year in office, marked by triumphs and failures alike, de Blasio must communicate better with activists and the NYPD in order to properly serve the people of New York City.

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.

NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Intramurals offer opportunities for fun

KUPFERBERG continued from PG. 1

Player hopeful for future games

I’m really happy they have trust in me. I’m just continuing to get better.” The Violets are 13-5 this season, and are coming off one of the biggest wins of the year against Emory last Sunday. Despite their solid overall record, they are just 4-3 in the conference, but Kupferberg isn’t worried about bringing home a UAA title. The team’s three conference losses should not be a problem, as long as they continue to play at their current clip. Because the UAA is so competitive, it has left them some opportunity to recover from some early season letdowns. “This season is crazy,” Kupferberg said. “The winning team for the UAA title is probably going to have five or six conference losses. It’s so competitive, teams are beating teams left and right. Against Rochester we came out flat, and that’s what happens in the UAA. Anybody can lose.” But Kupferberg is confident that this season will be a season to remember. The team is closely knit and prepared for a deep postseason run together. “I would say the camaraderie

By JONATHAN SCHIFMAN Contributing Writer

STAFF PHOTO BY RACHEL KAPLAN

Evan Kupferberg shoots during a game against Emory. on our team is probably as tight as any team in the UAA, if not the entire country,” Kupferberg said. “I’m friendly with all the guys, and the freshman have come in and accepted their roles.” Max Ralby, Kupferberg’s fellow junior captain at NYU, has been around Kupferberg for years before NYU. Ralby played at Kupferberg’s rival high school in Florida. “Evan is a great player, friend, and teammate,” Ralby said. “In high school we always battled against each other. It’s nice having him on my side these past three years. He is a big part of our success not only with his performance on the court, but the person he is off the court. I’ve known Evan since lower school, and I feel very blessed to be his

teammate. I know we will be life-long friends.” For Kupferberg and the rest of the Violets, it’s all about the team getting to the NCAA tournament this year. That doesn’t take away from their regular season accomplishments though, one of which came recently in the form of a long overdue victory. “I just told the guys in the locker room on Sunday that that was my first time beating Emory,” Kupferberg said. “It felt good to finally get a win against them.” Kupferberg will look to lead the Violets to another win when he suits up this Friday as the Violets take on the University of Rochester. Email Bobby Wagner at bwagner@nyunews.com.

Wrestling wins big at home By KYLE LUTHER Deputy Sports Editor

The NYU men’s wrestling team won dual matches in an impressive fashion at home last night at the Coles Sports Center, improving their record to 16-3. Due to inclement weather on Jan. 24, the Grapplers’ match against Stevens Institute of Technology was postponed until Feb. 5 as part of a double header. The Grapplers entered the night on a seven match win streak. Senior Brian Anderson, a team captain, was recently awarded the UAA Athlete of the Week title for his dominant performances against Ursinus College and Muhlenberg College. In the night’s first match, the Grapplers faced the United States Merchant Marine Academy, beating them 28-7 and giving them their 15th win and a 5-0 record in the Centennial Conference. They earned their eighth straight win and 24th-seed ranking by the National Wrestling Coaching Association. The match against Stevens was much more hard fought. It began with NYU sophomore Wayne

Yuan winning the first match by forfeit over Stevens’ Rob Murray. Grappler standout sophomore Nathan Pike dominated the second match over Anthony Geiger, 19-5 giving NYU the 4-3 lead. “Our team is really starting to mold together and things are looking great,” Pike said. “A lot of our wrestlers fought hard this match because we knew how important coming away with a win was.” Brandon Jones, 14-3 for the season, competed in the next match against Stevens’ Ryan Wilson. Jones won by technical fault 20-3 giving NYU a lead of 9-3 in the match overall. Sophomore Matthew Coppola won both of his matches on the night. In his second match, Coppola was able to pull out an overtime victory on a takedown. After five bouts against Stevens, NYU led 12-7 when sophomore John Messinger took to the mat. Although Messinger ultimately lost his match 14-9, he was able to avoid the major decision and NYU held the advantage of 14-10. Junior Matt Eulau did not fare any better, losing

his match and allowing Stevens to take the lead 16-14. However, senior captain Patrick Sheehan was able to put the Grapplers back on top with a 12-4 victory to tie the match up 16-16 with two matches remaining. Sophomore William Gockel-Figge was able to pin his opponent 1:23 into his match, giving NYU a crucial six-point lead. The Grapplers then sent out Anderson, who simply needed to avoid being pinned to ensure the Grapplers’ second victory of the night. “The team had been looking forward to the Stevens match ever since they beat us in Madison Square Garden,” Eulau said. “Everyone understood that if we wrestled to our potential we could beat them. There wasn’t anything really special we did, the coaches told us we could beat them and we all bought in and wrestled hard.” The Grapplers will be back in action on Feb. 7 to take on McDaniel College at Washington and Lee in Lexington, Virginia. Email Kyle Luther at kluther@nyunews.com.

With over a week of classes already complete, students interested in sports and competition can start registering for NYU spring intramurals. Intramurals have become popular at NYU in recent years, and can get very competitive. Tisch senior Kahlil Maskati has enjoyed a long intramural career here at NYU. “NYU intramurals are really fun,” Maskati said. “I’ve played basketball and volleyball, and I love how organized and competitive everything is. It’s gotten cooler and more interactive every year.” CAS senior Justin Gee felt similarly, saying intramurals can be a great way for students to interact and find common ground. “Being a part of a team was awesome,” Gee said. “You build community and develop your skills together as the season goes on.” Those who sign up should expect one or two times per week. But Gee emphasized the balance between intramurals and academics is not difficult. “The structure of intramurals is great,” he said. “The scheduling was flexible enough for me to be able to handle school and enjoy playing during the semester.” Registration on IMLeagues ends for some sports next week, while others have deadlines in March and April.

Sports:

3-on-3 Basketball: A six to seven week regular season followed by an NCAA March Madness-like single elimination tournament. The registration deadline is Feb. 9 with a league start date of Feb. 16. Men’s and Women’s Volleyball: A six to seven week regular season followed by a single elimination tournament. Registration deadline is Feb. 9 with a league start date of Feb. 16. Team Handball: A coed league that plays on Tuesday nights. Registration deadline is Feb. 9 with a league start date of Feb. 14. Indoor Cricket: A six week season followed by playoffs. Registration deadline is Feb. 10 with a league start date of Feb. 17. Tennis (singles and doubles): A single-elimination tournament played on the rooftop courts at Coles Sports Center. Registration deadline is March 23 with a league start date of March 30. Indoor Soccer: A 32-team soccer tournament that plays at the Chelsea Piers Field House. Registration deadline is March 23 with a league start date of March 27. Bowling: A coed league that meets on Friday afternoons at Bowlmor Lanes. Registration deadline is March 23 with a league start date of March 27. Softball: A coed league that plays on Sunday mornings and afternoons. Registration deadline is March 24 with a league start date of March 29. Email Jonathan Schifman at sports@nyunews.com.