Washington Square News February 16, 2016

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Students Create Drone for Marine Mapping

By KATI GARRITY Staff Writer

A team of NYU students has been receiving widespread attention with their creation of the reefRover, a low maintenance underwater mapping drone developed at NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus.

Sophomore Daniel Carelli and his team developed the drone in hopes of facilitating advancement in the field of marine biology from their own contributions and by providing resources for scientists around the world.

NYUAD senior and developmental team member Sien Yang Lee said the reefRover is a submersible drone that autonomously scans marine environments and enables researchers and citizen scientists to collaboratively gather well-structured image data about coral reefs in high volume.

“During a scanning mission, the rover is quickly and easily deployed from a dive boat, and once in the water, it begins to navigate a grid pattern within a geo-fenced perimeter at a fixed distance above the seabed, capturing high-resolution

images of consistent scales.”

Lee added that the background research and conceptualization for their project began a year ago while the physical testing of the prototype began in November of 2015.

“The reefRover is built on top of the OpenROV platform, an opensource remotely operated underwater vehicle,” Lee said. “To that, we added a distance sensor to enable the rover to maintain a constant distance from the seabed, as well as a pair of underwater gimbals (camera mounts with stabilization capabilities) to keep the cameras pointed in the correct orientation while the rover maneuvers.”

While the majority of marine habitats still remain a mystery to scientists today, the reefRover team hopes to inspire new research with the introduction of their drone.

“By creating the reefRover, we hope to empower citizen scientists without specialized scientific training to collect research-grade data,” said Lee. “With a standardized tool in the hands of enthusiastic community contributors, the volume of high-quality data collected can

CRIME LOG Feb. 6 to Feb. 12

By CHRISTINE WANG AND GRETA CHEVANCE Deputy News Editors The NYU Department of Public Safety received three reports of larceny, two reports of harassment, one report of criminal mischief, one report of criminal tampering and one report of controlled substance between Feb. 6 and Feb. 12.

Larceny On Feb. 6 at 5:10 p.m., a student reported that she left her camera in the 11th floor student lounge at 721 Broadway at 4:35 p.m., but it was no longer there when she returned at 4:45 p.m. Police were notified and a report was filed.

On Feb. 8 at 11:10 p.m., an administrator reported that he left his laptop at 239 Greene St. on Jan. 29 and that it was no longer there on Feb. 8. NYPD notification was declined.

On Feb. 9 at 12:50 a.m., a faculty member of Broome Street residence hall reported that her credit card company had notified her of three authorized purchases charged to her credit card, totaling $5,200. Police were notified.

Harassment On Feb. 10 at 10:35 a.m., an employee at the Kriser Dental center reported that a child patient’s

mother pushed her while she was holding the child’s hand in order to assist a Kriser Dental Center student. Police were notified.

On Feb. 10 at 10:35 a.m., a student reported that, while walking west on W. 4th Street between Washington Square and 6th Avenue at around 8:28 p.m., an unknown man began pushing her and cursing at her. Police were not notified.

Criminal Mischief On Feb. 6 at 10:20 a.m., a public safety officer reported graffiti on an exterior door of the Kimmel Center.

Criminal Tampering On Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m., a nonNYU student observed another non-NYU student taking light bulbs out of the light fixtures and putting them on shelves in the study rooms at the Dibner Library.

Controlled Substance On Feb. 12 at 5:37 a.m., Public Safety responded to a report of an alleged controlled substance in Coral Towers residence hall.

A small amount of marijuana was recovered. Police were not notified.

Email Christine and Greta at news@nyunews.com.

VIA NYU.EDU

NYU Abu Dhabi sophomore Daniel Carelli and his team have created the reefRover, an underwater mapping drone. increase by orders of magnitude.”

The team has received a great deal of attention from the press, including recognition from the Middle East Broadcasting Center as well as the organizers for the UAE Drones for Good Award. This award is designed to appreciate the innovative technologies turning civilian drones into practical solutions for improving people’s lives today.

CAS junior Kathleen McHugh

commented on the award, which previously had not received a great deal of attention in the U.S. “I’d never heard of the Drones for Good Award, but I think that’s such a creative way to get people interested in this field involved in a way that benefits the community as a whole,” McHugh said.

Steinhardt sophomore Chris Gilberts noted the impact that drones can have on the community of col-

lege students interested in this sector of the science community.

“It’s so cool to see that the team wants to get other students involved in scientific research,” Gilberts said. “A lot of people are interested in this field but haven’t really had access to resources to study it until now.”

Email Kati Garrity at news@nyunews.com.

NYU Leads Way in VR Program

By STEPHEN MALKOWIZZ Contributing Writer

While most students are bundling up trying to avoid the cold at all costs, one group of students are getting up early on Saturdays, jury-rigging four GoPros together, pursuing their passion.

At first glance, this contraption might seem ridiculous. But their ridiculousness is not without purpose. This group of 60 undergraduates is busy probing the bounds of digital media as part of a six hour masters class in Virtual Reality.

Led in partnership with Oculus as part of their Story Studio University program, the class takes 30 undergraduates from Tisch School of the Art’s film program and 30 from the game design program on a whirlwind tour of the cutting edge concepts and techniques in the field.

Virtual Reality, or VR, is a burgeoning and cross disciplinary field where the visual and performing arts meet hardware and computer science to create fully immersive experiences. NYU and the USC Cinema School were the first universities to participate in the program, which hinged not only on the intimate cooperation of the sponsors and university but also between the students themselves.

GSAS graduate student Sebastian Herscher is an investigator at NYU’s Media Research lab, where he works on Hologem, a 25 square foot arena where up to four people can share a virtual space through motion tracking cameras. Hercher said despite its immense narrative potential, virtual reality has its gives and takes.

“For example, you can’t move a user independently or they’ll get sick,” Herscher said. “But these constraints also force innovation and creative narrative design; we have to rethink tropes not replicable in VR.” In just the last year the medium has matured greatly, winning its first Emmy for the film “Sleepy Hollow” by Secret Location studio in the category of user experience and visual design. Not only have VR techniques won critical acclaim, but they have also been used to great political effect by the U.N. in its film “Clouds Over Sidra,” which portrayed the first person experience of a young girl in a Syrian refugee camp. Along with the technologies’ unfolding narrative opportunities are its economic ones.

Sector intelligence firm Digi-capital projected a $120 billion market for VR by 2020.

Yet despite tremendous growth, VR is still a relatively new medium.

The company is ambitiously cultivating VR content and the next generation of creators.

Professor of film and television at Tisch Jonathan Weinstein said although VR is still in its infancy, it’s a new frontier in narrative storytelling that has generated significant student interest. Weinstein was instrumental in bringing the program to campus in a relatively short time frame.

“Talks with Oculus began in November and we had to finalize things quickly so they could announce at Sundance Film Festival,” Weinstein said. “VR emphasises shared experience and this collaborative education leads to shared success.”

Email Stephen Malkowizz at news@nyunews.com.

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NYU is one of the first schools in the nation to offer classes on Virtual Reality gadgets such as the Oculus Rift.

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Abu Dhabi Language Lab: Bilingual People Are Smarter

By ANNE CRUZ AND LEXI FAUNCE News Editors

It may be time to enroll in another language course next semester. Researchers at the Neuroscience of Language Lab at NYU Abu Dhabi studied a group of 19 bilingual subjects and concluded that being fluent in multiple languages may improve cognitive function. The subjects were fluent in both English and Arabic and were asked to verbally respond how they would complete various tasks, such as ordering a cup of coffee, while researchers studied how their brains’ reacted.

Graduate student Esti BlancoElorrieta and Associate Professor of Linguistics and Psychology Liina Pylkkänen lead the study, and its findings may be used to support the bilingual advantage hypothesis.

The hypothesis states bilinguals find it easier to focus on a task while simultaneously tuning out distractions. This theory rests on the idea that bilinguals use cognitive control to actively suppress one language while speaking or listening in another.

Blanco-Elorrieta and Pylkkänen used a magnetoencephalography machine to measure brain activity and see which specific regions were activated when presented with a stimuli. Participants switched back and forth between responding in English and Arabic when pre-

sented with different colored cards.

Blanco-Elorrieta spoke to the Dubai news outlet 7 Days and said her research concluded that benefits of being bilingual can apply to productive tasks such as being able to express yourself but not to perceptive tasks like understanding information that’s being presented.

“Our findings show that different parts of the brain are used for switching between languages in speaking and listening, which is a novel finding because no one has done this kind of comparison before,” Blanco-Elorrieta said to 7 Days.

However, some NYU students are skeptical of the study’s findings.

CAS sophomore Bismah Akhter feels being bilingual in Urdu and English has helped her learn more languages, but hasn’t helped her concentration.

“In terms of studies, my bilinguality has definitely helped me especially in the area of learning new languages,” Akhter said.

“When you already have your feet wet with two distinct languages, learning more languages isn’t all that difficult. But in terms of focus and attention span, it doesn’t really help.”

However, Stern sophomore Karen Fich is fluent in Spanish and English and says knowing both languages gives her a better understanding of both dialects.

“Each language that I speak has words that the other language doesn’t,” Fich said. “Whenever I’m working on something, I think in both of the languages that I speak and am able to be more productive. Also, I am able to use the Latin roots a lot in what I am working on because the words are similar to Spanish and I feel like I have a better un-

derstanding of some words.”

CAS freshman Daniel Brioso said coming from a bilingual household has helped him access information quicker.

“Between Spanish — my native language — and English, I can usually jump between both lingual capacities and translate mentally, which in turn strengthens my understanding of con-

cepts in both languages,” Brioso said. “It also broadens my knowledge of the world, because most often English and Spanish terms share roots, so overall, it does help my focus. I couldn’t be more grateful to have grown up with a bilingual advantage.”

Email Anne Cruz and Lexi Faunce at news@nyunews.com.

STAFF PHOTO BY JAKE QUAN

Studies reveal that people who speak two languages are able to focus better with distractions.

Open-Heart Surgery on Tandon Computers

By JAMI TANNER Contributing Writer A Tandon professor has created a simulation that will test whether a child’s heart surgery will be successful before the surgery takes place. Vittoria Flamini, Industry Assistant Professor at NYU Tandon’s Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, developed a computer simulation project that enhances the efficacy of pediatric pulmonary valve replacements.

In 2011, the FDA approved the first artificial heart valve that could be implanted without open-heart surgery. The Sapien Transcatheter Heart Valve inserts an artificial valve through a pencil-thin catheter, which is then expanded with a balloon to enlarge the valve opening. The process, often referred to as balloon valvuloplasty, is minimally invasive to the patient; however, it is not entirely void of risks.

Flamini said that there is currently no true guarantee that Sapien Transcatheter Valves will fit — the exact drawback that her simulation solves. Using Flamini’s computer simulations, doctors will be able to determine whether the artificial valve will fit the patient’s heart and ultimately, whether or not the

surgery is even necessary.

“We are evaluating the risks without exposing the patient to those risks,” Flamini said.

The project’s development began in the summer of 2014, when Professor Flamini and NYU Langone professor Puneet Bhatla expanded upon their existing research regarding heart disease complications. The testing process exclusively involves retrospective cases, as Flamini examines batches of medical images of already completed surgeries. Blinded to the results of the actual procedures, she tests the photographs with her students and meets with Bhatla to confirm whether her results are correct.

The simulation process itself is quite rapid, taking only a couple of days to complete. It is the preparation for the simulation — capturing images, image analysis, creating a model, preparing the model — that is time consuming.

Flamini said her work was motivated by the widespread desire for personalized solutions.

“All of us want medicine to be custom-tailored to us,” Flamini said. “The simulation is entirely patient-specific.”

The venture is funded by the KIDS of NYU Foundation, an or-

VIA NYU.EDU

NYU Tandon’s Industry Assistant Professor Vittoria Flamini has created a computer simulation to test whether a child’s heart surgery will be successful. ganization that supports children’s services at NYU Langone through philanthropy and advocacy for research and clinical care enhancement.

Tandon Dean Katepalli Sreenivasan said Tandon looks forward to collaborating with clinicians at NYU Langone because medical research involves technological innovation. Sreenivasan said this partnership between the two schools embodies the vital relationship that exists between technology and medicine.

“More broadly, I strongly believe that technology must be in the service of society, and nothing touches the lives of people as much as advances in medical and clinical technology does,” Sreenivasan said.

Email Jami Tanner at news@nyunews.com.

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Gallery Intrigues Through Obscurity

By QIANQIAN LI Contributing Writer

STAFF PHOTO BY IAN KUMAMOTO

Journalist and artist Laura Poitras creates an interactive exhibition space where the viewer is immersed into snapshots of post 9/11 America.

Surveillance Exhibit Has Interactive Twist

By ABRAHAM GROSS Deputy Opinion Editor

“Astro Noise” opened at the Whitney Museum of American Art on Feb. 5, showcasing Laura Poitras’ interactive and artistic exploration of the dystopian realities of the post 9/11 world.

Poitras, a journalist and filmmaker, is best known for directing “Citizenfour,” the Oscarwinning documentary about Edward Snowden’s revelations of flagitious government surveillance programs.

The five pieces of art within this small exhibit echo Poitras’ filmmaking style: stark and disjointed, but consistently ominous. At the entrance, visitors are confronted by a large video presentation: “O’Say Can You See,” displaying slowmotion footage of faces looking slightly past the viewer at a space in the sky where the World Trade Center once stood.

The opposite side of the screen shows U.S. military interrogation videos of two prisoners in Afghanistan, which juxtaposes tragedy with its consequences.

This exhibit offers unique artistic storytelling of a refreshingly honest political message.

Most of the works in the exhibit’s darkened rooms are unaccompanied by explanation — and visitors are encouraged to pick up a pamphlet before entering the exhibit.

It is fitting that “Astro Noise” keeps tight control of the information visitors are exposed to, since the exhibit is about cataloguing data surveillance.

There is still much to be seen: for instance, the “Disposition Matrix” is an L-shaped corridor lined by slits in the wall which reveal bits of classified memos, testimonial footage and alter-

natingly crude and complex diagrams of surveillance systems. This piece offers information, but forces onlookers to peer through the walls to see fragments of evidence from a secretive universe.

The strength of this exhibit is its interactivity, both aesthetically and politically. Poitras encourages engagement with the surveillance systems that ultimately force all citizens to become subjects. One of the strongest works in the exhibit, “Bed Down Location,” allows visitors to lie down on a large elevated slab in the middle of the room. Above, thousands of lights streak across the dark skies of Somalia, Yemen and Pakistan. The roar of plane engines and crackle of indecipherable voices across radio frequencies transform the blinking stars of the night sky into drones. It is a powerful perspective which creates the unsettling feeling of exposure to an ever-present, invisible threat.

Though the exhibit is small, it does a lot with a little. The artworks largely speak for themselves, showing rather than telling. Those who are searching for more earth-shattering revelations on government surveillance may leave disappointed, but all can find something to enjoy in the unique interactivity.

“Astro Noise” is a unique synthesis of art and politics that is well worth a visit.

“Astro Noise” is on display till May 1 at the Whitney Museum of American Art, at 99 Gansevoort Street. Museum entry is free with an NYU ID. Email Abraham Gross at agross@nyunews.com.

“Close to the Chest” is the resulting collaboration between graduate students from the Institute of Fine Arts and undergraduates from Steinhardt’s Department of Art and Art Professions as part of the NYU Curatorial Collaborative. The gallery is the first show in the five-part 2016 Senior Honors Studio exhibition series.

The exhibit, curated by Adam Dunlavy, features works by Steinhardt seniors Paula Rondon and Natalie Tung. Rondon’s sculptures and Tung’s photographs are distinct yet they unite under the theme of mystery. The works foster an intriguing sense of both familiarity and doubt in the viewer.

The floor space of the gallery is dominated by Rondon’s series, “Director’s Cuts,” comprised of three sculptural assemblages which laconically recreate pinnacle moments from Hollywood movies such as “The Graduate”,

“Titanic” and “Dirty Dancing”. On a piece-by-piece basis, the sculpture only suggests the subject in rough outline, but in larger scale, the scenes are obvious. The abstract nature of the sculptures challenges viewers to guess the iconic moment of the film.

Tung’s photographs share the same assembled quality as the sculptures, yet their tones are more somber. The photographs document light phenomena that create “magical moments” and “phantom imprints” in rooms. Tung prints black and white photographs of rooms on transparent paper, a technique which allows her to layer photos on top of each other, representing the room’s many inhabitants over time.

It’s an intricate process — Tung captured and trimmed photographs to the precise moment, then assembled and layered the images.

The modest exhibition space is harmoniously arranged as the two sets of works balance each other. Although the two artists

PHOTO BY MEETALI GUPTA

Curated by Adam Dunlavy, “Close to the Chest” is a collaborative exhibition featuring the works of Steinhardt seniors Paula Rondon and Natalie Tung.

vary in style, the sculptures and photographs are linked by themes of memory and realization. Viewers must carefully examine the artwork in order to achieve the sublime moment of realization once a new detail is discovered.

The 2016 Senior Honors Studio exhibition series will run through March 12 with a new show each week.

Email Qianqian Li at entertainment@nyunews.com.

Diet Cig Fights Jet Lag to Rock NYC

By MANDY FREEBAIRN Staff Writer

It has been exactly one year since Diet Cig — the musical project of singer/guitarist Alex Luciano and drummer Noah Bowman — premiered their first EP, “Over Easy.”

It seems fitting, then, that the band would return to its New York roots for a show at Brooklyn’s Aviv on Saturday. The duo is fresh off a tour that took them across both the UK and the United States, and will be departing on another one just next month, this time to South by Southwest, the popular music festival in Austin, Texas.

In spite of jet lag, Diet Cig put on a lively homecoming show, confirming their well-deserved success.

“It feels really good to be home,” Luciano said to the crowd as they came out on stage. They began with “Cardboard,” one of the more mellow songs on the EP. Luciano’s airy voice and reflective lyrics juxtaposed Bowman’s upbeat drumming, introducing the crowd to the music as if inviting them into their home.

The upbeat tone of Diet Cig’s music was complemented by their exceptional stage presence. During the instrumental break in their single “Sleep Talk,” Luciano hopped around the stage emphatically while Bowman bobbed his head to the drumbeat. During “Scene Sick,” Luciano implored the audience to dance along, later adding: “This is actually my birthday party.”

Between songs, Luciano stressed

her relief to be back in New York after a long tour. Citing anecdotal evidence such as finding a cockroach in her towel the previous morning and accidentally buying inappropriate comic books for her 12-year-old sister, she gave the show a conversational ease, as if the audience were simply watching their friends play at a house show. During “Breathless,” a song about living alone for the first time, the emphasized line “in my first apartment / where I pay so much for rent,” was met with knowing cheers from an audience of fellow New Yorkers.

Towards the end of their set, Diet Cig premiered a new song, which Luciano attributed to all her “girls who have ever been talked down to by a guy,” and all her “guys who felt like they had to prove something.”

The song showed clear musical progression for the band, displaying a more evolved sound while remain-

ing true to Luciano’s catchy and resonant lyrics.

The band ended their 45-minute set with the most popular song on “Over Easy,” “Harvard,” a biting reflection on a snobby ex-boyfriend and his new Ivy League girlfriend.

Luciano jumped around gleefully, climbing on top of the speaker and crowd surfing. The live set seemed to add a new dimension to Diet Cig’s music, as if dancing and jumping were unspoken requirements for listening. Much like her lyrics, Luciano’s final remark was clear, simple and full of heart: “Thank you. We love you. Happy Valentine’s Day!” Tickets are on sale for Diet Cig’s next New York show at Baby’s All Right on March 26. In the meantime, you can hear the song “Scene Sick” at nyunews.com.

Email Mandy Freebairn at music@nyunews.com.

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Diet Cig performed at Brooklyn’s Aviv on Feb. 13.

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Tisch Professor Directs AnnaSophia Robb in New Drama

By ANUBHUTI KUMAR Staff Writer

“Jack of the Red Hearts” is NYU through and through, directed by Tisch professor Janet Grillo and starring Gallatin student AnnaSophia Robb, known for “Bridge to Terabithia” and “The Carrie Diaries.” A story following the world of an eleven year old girl affected by autism, the film’s intensely authentic narrative stems from the experiences of Grillo, as the mother of an autistic son, and Jennifer Deaton, the screenwriter, as an aunt to an autistic girl upon whom the main character is based.

In anticipation of the Feb. 26 release date, some of the cast and filmmakers were in attendance for a preview at Cantor, with a discussion of the development and inspiration for the film following the film. Janet Grillo, producer Joey Carey, AnnaSophia Robb, Scott Cohen and John D’Leo were all in attendance.

“When I read it, it knocked me out. And the first thought I had was whoever wrote this knows,” Grillo said of receiving the script. “This has too much detail, too much authen-

ticity, too much understanding, sophistication about autism.”

AnnaSophia Robb spoke candidly about the emotional impact that drove her to get involved with the film.

“I knew I only wanted to work on things that really impacted my heart,” Robb said.

“I remember getting the script and thinking a) it impacted my heart and b) I wanted to play a really different character than the previous characters I had played before.”

Very different it was. Robb plays Jack, a rebellious young adult on parole and desperate to not only stay out of jail but also keep her sister out of foster care since their mother’s death. When she sees a flyer for a family looking for childcare, she poses as an expired and educated therapist willing to help the family look after their autistic daughter Glory (Taylor Richardson). As Jack and Glory grow closer, Jack becomes more and more determined to help prepare and improve Glory for an interview for a competitive new school, while also trying to keep her real identity a secret from the family that has trusted here with their beloved daughter.

One of the pivotal moments of the film is a scene when Cohen, who plays Glory’s father, sings and plays guitar for his family and the family seems together, carefree, and completely happy for a moment, bridging the

gaps that stress in taking care of Glory had brought.

“All I really remember is practicing so much, because I was really scared of singing and playing guitar on set,” Cohen said. “To me that was re-

ally raw and vulnerable and not like you’re performing, but you’re not performing, you’re being.”

Email Anubhuti Kumar at film@nyunews.com.

STAFF PHOTO BY MICHELLE SANDERS

Director Janet Grillo discusses the movie “Jack of the Red Hearts” with cast members Scott Cohen, John D’Leo and AnnaSophia Robb.

‘Cabaret’ Star Strips, Emotionally

By JOSEPH MYERS Theater & Books Editor

Actor Alan Cumming spoke candidly about past sexual encounters, estranged family and his interactions with Liza Minelli in his performance of “Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs with Friends.”

Last Monday, the “Cabaret” star played a cabaret show of his own at Carnegie Hall in conjunction with his new album, “Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs: Live at the Café Carlyle.” The performance delivered humor, camp and costume, but also personal sentiment.

With a small band consisting of piano, drums, guitar and cello, Cumming delivered a very intimate show from a setlist of personally significant songs.

Cumming’s zany and naughty humor shone during several moments, such as when he noted that pop songs and songs by Stephen Sondheim sound very similar in a humorous medley arrangements that he titled “Someone Like The Edge of Firework” (combining Adele, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry) and “No One is Alive While I’m Around” (combining Sondheim’s “No One is Alone,” “Being Alive” and “Not While I’m Around”) as well as when he brought actress Ricki Lake onstage to sing the

musical number from the commercial that they both shot for Trojan Ecstasy condoms.

Other notable stars joined Alan Cumming onstage during the show including fellow Broadway performers Darren Criss and Kristen Chenoweth.

Criss showed off both his vocal chops and piano skills in a sultry duet of “I Don’t Care Much” from “Cabaret,” followed by a playful rendition of “Part of Your World” from “The Little Mermaid.” Chenoweth and Cumming reminisced on their experience hosting the 2015 Tony Awards and delivered an emotional duet of “When Somebody Loved Me” from “Toy Story 2.”

Cumming’s voice was sensitive yet gruff and his wit was sharp, but this was not surprising. What was truly amazing was the depth of emotion Cumming drew from his performance. Cumming revealed stories of heartbreak, reminisced about his mother country, Scotland, and told the horrifying story about uncovering the previously unsolved mystery of his grandfather’s death.

One particularly tender moment in the show was when Cumming talked about his strained and estranged relationship with his father. He sang a very sensitive version of Rufus

Wainwright’s “Dinner at Eight,” prefacing it by explaining his personal connection to the song. When he sang, the sadness and anger in his voice was obvious and all pretenses were thrown out. It was no longer Alan Cumming the performer on that stage, but simply Alan Cumming as himself. At the end of the song, Cumming wiped tears from his eyes, smudging his eyeliner. It was a vulnerable moment for the normally cavalier actor.

Alan Cumming’s album “Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs: Live at Café Carlyle” is currently on sale, while he is touring North America with the cabaret show.

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Email Joseph Myers at jmyers@nyunews.com.

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Actor Alan Cumming is selling his album, “Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs: Live at Café Carlyle”, on his North America cabaret show tour.

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Ask the Sexpert, Don’t Be Shy

By RILEY GOODELL Contributing Writer

For the past seven years, NYU’s Health Promotion Office has offered a service they call “Ask the Sexpert.”

Alyssa LaFosse — who earned her B.A. in psychology at UCLA and Masters of Public Health at UC Berkeley — acts as NYU’s resident sexpert, addressing student inquiries regarding sexual health, STIs and intimacy.

LaFosse is available through multiple forums, such as email and personal appointment. Perhaps most intriguing is her public booth at the top of Kimmel’s staircase l every Tuesday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.

With such a prime piece of real estate and a notably open-minded student populous, one might expect to see a fairly generous showing.

While students of all ages swarm

past the booth, most only glance at it peripherally, some giggle under their breath and others approach coyly, merely asking for free candy.

LaFosse remains undaunted, responding calmly and cheerfully to the student’s requests.

“Some students don’t feel comfortable coming up to a crowded table but at least they know the service is offered.” LaFosse said. “They see it and they remember.”

With eye-catching signs reading, “CANDY AND CONDOMS,” it’s difficult not to turn some heads. But upon closer examination, some students discovered that pamphlets with initially startling titles like “How to Find your G-Spot” and “Masturbation Tips for Men” can genuinely help students who wish to access safe and reliable materials.

Steinhart senior Emma Rooney

was especially pleased to see the booth setup in such a busy part of campus and weighed in on the somewhat scarce amount of student participation.

“Even though we’re in NYU and New York City and we’re much more open about sexuality, I still think that it is a taboo subject,” Rooney said.

Rooney has long been a proponent for comprehensive sex education, hoping that displays like “Ask the Sexpert” make the process gradually less awkward and more common for young adults.

At a time when the Internet offers a colossal domain of information at your fingertips, it’s also unsurprising that students feel less inclined to speak publicly. It may feel strange to talk about what happens behind closed doors while in

Tell Your Brain to Hit the Weights

a room teeming with classmates.

Despite this, Rooney thinks that campus services like the Sexpert have their place.

“Everyone is going to have a different way,” Rooney said.

“Whichever is more comfortable for them to receive the informa-

tion, it doesn’t matter. The most important thing is offering accessible and accurate information for all people, all gender identities and sexualities.”

Email Riley Goodell at features@nyunews.com.

Get the Most Burger for Your Buck

By MICHELLE MING Contributing Writer

By MINA KAJI Contributing Writer

Center for Neural Science Professor Wendy Suzuki is redefining the traditional classroom experience. Suzuki is the first professor at NYU to work out with her students before teaching them. At the start of each lecture, she leads her students through a workout called IntenSati — a mixture of physical movements from kickboxing and dance to yoga and martial arts.

Suzuki created the exercise component of her class after discovering the numerous positive effects exercise has on the brain, specifically long term memory and focus. She used her students as the subjects for her first exercise study and tested whether one semester of increased exercise could improve the students’ memory functioning relative to a traditional academic setting.

She found that even by increasing activity once a week, the students in the exercise class had significantly improved reaction times. In addition, the students’ academic performance decreased in the class without the aerobic exercise, while the students’ performance remained constant in the class with aerobic exercise.

“This was exciting to me,” Suzuki said. “Even in high-functioning NYU neuroscience major students, only one exercise class a week showed improvements.”

This inspired her to create

STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH SHULMAN

Every Tuesday, “Ask the Sexpert” occurs at the top of the Kimmel steps where Alyssa LaFosse answers NYU students’ questions about sex.

STAFF PHOTO BY PRANATI WADHAWAN

NYU professor Wendy Suzuki leads her students through a workout before each lecture. a second study involving a cohort of NYU freshmen. This semester the students were instructed to maintain their normal levels of activity, but in the fall, they will be exercising around three times a week. Suzuki wants to see how exercise will affect student engagement with the university, study habits and mood to potentially improve the educational quality at NYU. The freshmen cohort has already secured a sponsorship with the New York Sports and Racket Club, giving them access to a workout facility and trainer who will teach free classes in Washington Square Park.

“I’m going to be out there exercising with them too,” Suzuki said. “I want to create a community that makes exercising fun and accessible. My goal is to make NYU the exercise university.”

If the freshmen cohort is a success, Suzuki hopes to expand the program to upperclassmen as well.

“Exercise allows you to get the maximum out of the brain that you have,” Suzuki said.

“Exercise is something that when you spend time on it, it

will buy you time when you start to work.”

Suzuki’s passion for researching the effects of exercise started when she commenced on a personal journey to lead a more balanced life.

“I was being productive,” Suzuki said. “Things were going well, but at some point I realized I was not very happy.”

Suzuki hired a trainer and found workout classes that she loved. The gym is where she fell in love with IntenSati, the class that she would later become a certified instructor in.

“I was in such a better mood,” Suzuki said. “Not only that, but I was able to recall things faster. I realized that my brain was better from working out more.”

Professor Suzki’s classes are only open to neuroscience majors, but that’s not the only way to learn about her combination of exercise and brain science. You can check out her book, “Healthy Brain, Happy Life,” or www.satilife. com to find an IntenSati class near you.

Email Mina Kaji at features at features@nyunews.com

Students today have more options for quick, delicious meals than ever before. Casual restaurants like Chipotle and Shake Shack are the part of the newest trend dominating the dining scene, and the traditional fastfood giants are beginning to take notice. Popular fast-food stops like Wendy’s and McDonald’s have adopted the same strategy: make prices as cheap as possible. Now that Burger King has thrown its hat into the ring with its “5 for $4” deal, the stakes are rising in the competition for the lowest prices.

Here is a rundown of what you can expect at these three fast-food restaurants when you order their meal deals:

McDonald’s Deal: 2 for $2 What you get: Mix and match between a McChicken, a McDouble, small fries and three mozzarella sticks.

Value: Because you get to choose your two items, the amount of food that you get will vary. The McDouble, which contains 2 beef patties with one slice of cheese, has 380 calories, compared to 370 for the McChicken, 230 for the small fries and 200 for the three mozzarella sticks. In terms of size, it looks to be about as big as the other burgers on this list, with a weight of 150g. In total, this meal has 760 calories which averages out to 380 calories per dollar, and a total weight of 300g.

Wendy’s Deal: 4 for $4 What you get: A Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, four chicken nuggets, small fries and a small drink.

Value: The Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, which contains one beef patty, one slice of cheese and bacon, contains 380 calories like the McDouble, but it weighs 165g, making it heavier. With the four chicken nuggets, small fries and drink, the total number of calories adds up to 1100, or 275 calories per dollar. The total weight of the meal, excluding the drink, is 333g.

Burger King Deal: 5 for $4 What you get: A bacon cheeseburger, four chicken nuggets, small fries, a small drink and a chocolate chip cookie Value: The bacon cheeseburger, which contains one beef patty, one slice of cheese, bacon, ketchup and pickles, has 290 calories and weighs 112g. The four chicken nuggets have 190 calories and weigh 70g. The small fries have 340 calories and weigh 128g. The small drink, which is 16 fl. oz like the one at Wendy’s, has a maximum of 190 calories. The chocolate chip cookie has 160 calories and weighs 38g. This adds up to 1170 calories, or 234 calories per dollar. The total weight, excluding the drink, is 348g.

If you choose to only judge the meal deals’ respective values based on the criteria of calories purchased per dollar, McDonald’s provides the best bang for your buck and Burger King, the newest kid on the meal deal block, fails to keep up with its competitors. If you look at how much food each of the restaurants offers based on weight, however, Burger King lives up to its name as the king of the pack.

Email Michelle Ming at features@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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FEATURES

EDITED BY KENDALL LEVISON FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

Students Kick the $6 Footlong

By TAYLOR NICOLE ROGERS Staff Writer

Say goodbye to the famous $5 footlong. With its recent price increase, Subway has rendered its iconic jingle obsolete. On Feb. 2, the fast-food chain announced on Twitter that the price of its classic footlongs will raise from $5 to $6 for the month of February.

Many Subway customers are upset by the price increase. After facing backlash on Twitter, the fast-food chain explained that the price increase was due to rising costs.

“We launched the $5 footlong in 2007,” the fast food chain tweeted. “Since then our costs have gone up greatly, but we try to balance that with promotions.”

As the costs for the company have been rising, sales have also been steadily decreasing.

Subway has also been the focus of multiple media scandals that have challenged its promotion of a healthy lifestyle.

The sandwich shop made headlines after a food blogger revealed that its bread contains azodicarbonamide, a chemical found in yoga mats. In November 2015, former Subway spokesperson Jared Fogle was sentenced to more than 15

years in prison on child pornography and sex crime charges.

Despite promptly removing azodicarbonamide from its bread and firing Fogle, Subway has not been able to salvage its decreasing reputation. Liberal Studies freshman Juhi Dalal believes that this month’s price increase will make their fiscal situation even worse.

“My dad took me to Subway all of the time growing up because he is vegetarian,” said Dalal. “I can recognize the smell of it when I’m just walking down the street. The $5 footlong is iconic for them. Everyone knows the $5 footlong song from the commercials. I just don’t think it is a good marketing move to mess with that.”

Dalal said that higher prices could making competing with other health food chains such as Chipotle and Panera even tougher for Subway.

“I don’t think [the price increase] will affect my decision to eat at Subway or not, because I never go to Subway anymore.,” Stern freshman Jill Xu said. “It’s probably still the best fast food option near campus, but if I have $6 to spend on lunch, I’m going to get noodles [from Xi’an Famous Foods] on St. Marks.”

Tisch freshman Cameron

Penn said that although he has not eaten at Subway while at NYU, he still eats there when back home in California. “$1 won’t stop me from eating there, but it will minimize it,” Penn said.

Time will only tell if increasing the price of their iconic footlongs will help Subway survive its competitive market. “$6 footlong just doesn’t have the same ring to it,” Dalal said.

Email Taylor Nicole Rogers at dining@nyunews.com.

With Men’s New York Fashion Week ending and women’s nearly over, several overlapping trends emerged from the two shows amongst both genders. From outerwear and winter accessories to metallics and athleisure, the Fall/ Winter 2016 season has many gender-neutral trends worth trying.

Gender-Neutral Hats: Both men and women collections top their looks with crochet and knit hats as well as beanies and floppy fedoras.

Metallics: Donned by women in slinky dresses and camisoles, and by men in long coats, metallics dominated the runways of Saunders, Calvin Klein and Versace.

Fleece and fur coats: For the fall/winter collections when theweather generally tends to drop it would only make sense that designers are focusing on making stunning outerwear. Functionality is key in the winter and fashion no longer needs to be sacrificed.

pecially on dresses and jackets.

Bold prints: Skirts and long dresses made strong statements on the womenswear runways in various bold prints. The skirts and dresses took center stage as they were styled with tights, cropped jackets and collared shirts of solid colors.

Furry accessories: Helen Yarmak and Demoo Parkchoonmoo featured hand warmers, fur hats, headbands and many other winterwear accessories.

Men’s Trends Athleisure + sneakers: Athleisure is not going anywhere. Fitted joggers were tailored and more structured, allowing men to wear these comfy bottoms anywhere, includ-

This quick five-step makeup routine is all you need to look and feel your best in the morning.

Five Steps to Face the Day

By CATALINA GONELLA Contributing Writer

PHOTO BY GRACE MOON

Subway decided to increase their famous $5 footlong to $6 for the month of February.

Fashion Week Looks for Winter

By GABRIELLA BOWER Beauty and Style Editor

STAFF PHOTO BY TATIANA PEREZ

ing work. The Wood House label did a brilliant job of moving this trend from the trendy streets to the professional workplace. Sneakers also continue to complement several menswear collections.

Checks: Pants, suits and overcoats in various colored check prints made a strong comeback. Exuding a mod and dapper aesthetic, Eidos and Suitsupply created versatile designs for menswear.

Bombers: In addition to the warm coats of fur and shearling, bombers were everywhere from Givenchy to Moschino, often serving as the centerpiece of the outfit.

Email Gabriella Bower at gbower@nyunews.com.

Between 8 a.m.s and internships, most NYU students have jam-packed schedules that don’t exactly lend themselves to hourlong morning beauty routines. In a city as fabulous as New York, we always want to look and feel our best. Here is a budget friendly five minute makeup routine that is guaranteed to make you feel beautiful, confident and ready to face the day: Step 1: First things first — wash and moisturize your skin. Use Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanse ($10.39) to wash your skin and leave it feeling smooth and refreshed. After patting it dry, use CeraVe Am Facial Moisturizer ($12.99) to hydrate your skin and protect it from the sun.

Step 2: Foundation. When choosing foundation, everybody is different depending on their skin. For a quick application, the trick is finding one that is lightweight enough so that it blends in without too much effort. A good bet might be Loreal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Foundation ($12.99), as it provides great coverage and is still light enough to quickly swipe on using your favorite brush or sponge. You could also use a powder foundation if you’re really in a time pinch, since they’re usually a little bit faster to put on and even out.

Neutrogena’s SkinClearing Mineral Powder ($13.49) does a great job at covering up blemishes and evening out skin without clogging up pores.

Step 3: Eyebrows. The fastest and easiest way to do your eye-

brows is to use Loreal Paris’ Brow Stylist Designer ($8.99) to dot your eyebrow with color, making sure to pay attention to areas with less hair, and then use the brush to blend in the color. Remember, they don’t have to be absolutely symmetrical — eyebrows are sisters, not twins!

Step 4: Eyes. When in a rush, it’s important to not pick colors that require time or precision.

Natural, warm colors will always be your best bet. NYX’s Natural Shadow Palette ($7.50) offers some great colors to work with.

First cover your entire lid with one of the middle tones, then apply one of the darker ones to the outer corners of your lids and blend together using the tip of your finger. For eyeliner, use Sephora Collection Long Lasting Eyeliner ($12.00), as the precision brush allows for quick application. Start off drawing a really thin line along the top eyelid.

You want to be sure to start off thin and then build up a little if needed. If you start off too thick it will take twice as long to take it off and start over! For your eyelashes, use Sephora Collection Full Action Extreme Effect Mascara ($12.00). Because it provides thickness, you’ll only need to apply it once, again saving you a bit of time.

Step 5: Lips. Again you want to choose a color that doesn’t require a lot of time, nothing too dark and definitely not red! Pick one of the Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipsticks ($12.00) in a natural, toned down shade and swipe it on.

Email Catalina Gonella at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Women’s Trends Color: Contrary to popular belief, the winter wardrobe no longer needs to be limited to minimalistic colors. Yellows, fuchsias, bright blues and greens were seen throughout Fashion Week but es-

PHOTO BY JESSICA LUYA

Helen Yarmak’s Fall/Winter 2016 fashion week show showcased many trendy furry looks that anyone can try.

NYUNEWS.COM

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NYU's Modern clubkid:

Nicky Nicky Ottav Ottav Half-jet black, half-fuschia hair shaved into a precise yet chaotic bowlcut, Nicky Ottav hadn’t slept from Friday to Saturday when we met at his Lower East Side apartment. Catching cat naps at early hours is pretty standard for the 21-year-old party host and Tisch photography junior, but you’d hardly say he’s a drag unless, of course, you’re referring to cigarettes.

“My 6 to 9 a.m. is like other people’s 3 to 6 p.m.” said Ottav while applying wicked, pink lipstick in the mirror.

Friends enter the Lower East Side apartment in head-to-toe looks, rainbow shades and performances of visual body art. Every attendee is dressed for a night like no other and Ottav’s cheeky apartment — complete with self-painted pop art murals — provides the perfect backdrop in which 20 rhinestones are better than one and love is always present.

“I’m just really honored to be able to be at the center of this,” Ottav said.

“Something that’s so positive for so many people,” Ottav said.

With almost 30,000 Instagram followers, the Los Angeles native has established himself as the face of the reemerging New York Clubkid scene since moving to the city in 2013. That candy-colored, alien image that is so enticing on his social media platforms is one Ottav masterfully crafts and constantly embodies. Every look the young artist births captures his unique and unapologetic essence, and it’s this con-

tagious celebration of individuality that is the true cornerstone of any Clubkid event. Even as guest lists climb to 170 people or more, Ottav ensures the soul of the Clubkid community remains.

“I’ve had the privilege to meet people from the original movement that have been around doing this forever,” Ottav said. “When they come out to see me and my friends in the club they tell me, ‘Wow! Watching you guys, that spirit and that atmosphere is still alive today!’”

Following in the footsteps of this iconic Clubkid culture of the 1980s and 1990s, Ottav is both inspired and supported by his partying predecessors — who include one of the founders of the scene, James St. James. Ottav has bonded with St. James over everything from drugs to Founders Hall, appearing twice on St. James’ cult YouTube video series, Transformations.

“I get giddy every time he likes my stuff online or we text or call,” Ottav said. “On top of everything, we’ve become friends. I really like when people who are originals have respect for the ones that come after them.”

Indeed, an evening at a Nicky Ottav party is a night brimming with the energy of a not-so-distant past time.

That spirit is alive in the pulsing lights of venues like Bushwick’s new Flash Factory, communal cigarettes, alcohol and even in the process getting to the club. The hot hellions even hit the party via the subway, providing a relentlessly

DAVID BOLOGNA STAFF WRITER

fun spectacle for bitter locals lost in their headphones.

“One of the things I really like doing that harkens back to the bygone era is taking the train instead of everyone splitting off taking Ubers,” Ottav said.

“I feel like every time we do that it feels like we’re in a different time.”

Tradition certainly inspired today’s kids, and that reverence is evident even in the new wave of Clubkid culture. While he draws from fashion icons like Grace Jones and Leigh Bowery and frequently blasts his favorite ‘90s pop band Deee-Lite, Ottav recognizes that his outfits are more than just a look.

Having modeled at New York Fashion Week and even collaborated with the legendary Patricia Field, Ottav’s creativity knows no boundaries and neither does his contagious spirit. Be warned that the glitter cannons will sound on the day of Ottav’s graduation, signaling the beginning of a long and literally bright journey for the soon-tobe superstar and those lucky enough to be on his guest list.

“For us, this is a really genuine outlet for our creativity, for our energy, for our art,” Ottav said. “Whereas certain people will go to the club for a photo or to be seen, for us it’s really a platform to feel comfortable. We’re there to have fun.”

Email David Bologna at dbologna@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Your Guide to

Fueling the party

Brooklyn Brooklyn

NINA JANG DIGITAL DIRECTOR

HANNAH TREASURE STAFF WRITER

Late night Munchies

Those of you who live in Manhattan may never have to venture across that small, alienating bridge to Brooklyn. You have your go-to pregame spot just down the street, clubs in every direction and corner bodegas after a long night out. But there is still a certain staleness and desperation in Manhattan, like the fourblock Uber ride or the sight of freshly-mopped bathroom puke under pretentious lighting. Of course, not all places in Manhattan have this air, but if I want to dance — I’m going to Brooklyn. If you’ve never gone to Brooklyn on a weekend night, begin your journey by checking out one of these places.

Aviv — 496 Morgan Ave

I CE NY $ 101 MacDougal St Wait time: 3-5 minutes Cards accepted

For those who crave ice cream but in a unique form, try the Thai rolled ice cream on MacDougal St. Not only will you get to watch your ice cream transform from liquid to rolls, but the ice cream is as good as the visual experience. Popular flavors are the Thai Tea, Matcha Madness and Strawberry I CE U.

Arguably the best pho house in Greenwich Village, Saigon Shack may be the remedy to all hangovers. The warm, flavored yet simple broth paired with light rice noodles and vegetables makes their delectable pho dishes effective for a groggy morning. Or try the simple yet solid banh mi sandwich.

Bagels on the Square $ 7 Carmine St Wait time: 1-5 minutes Best known for: quick service

Russ and Daughters $$ 179 E Houston St Wait time: 2-5 minutes

Best known for: bagel & lox combination

Mudspot $$ 307 E 9th St Wait time: 3-5 minutes Cash only

With a brunch special on the weekends, you can enjoy a solid meal at this popular East Village spot. The huevos rancheros or pressed sandwiches like the avocado sandwich are some good choices.

Email Nina Jang at njang@nyunews.com.

Surviving

your next party

Baby’s All Right — 146 Broadway

GABRIELLA BOWER BEAUTY & STYLE EDITOR

College parties can be awkward, but they don’t need to be. We have it pretty good here at NYU — we’re not limited to frats or dorms. But sometimes, you may find yourself at a party with a bunch of people you don’t know. Worried about being too awkward the whole time? No problem! Here is a simple list of do’s and don’ts to to make the most of your next party.

DOs

•

Bossa Nova Civic Club — 1271 Myrtle Ave

For more late night Brooklyn spots go to nyunews.com.

Email Hannah Treasure at htreasure@nyunews.com.

Saigon Shack $ 114 MacDougal St Wait time: 3-5 minutes Cash only

If fried meat sprinkled with crushed peanuts, drizzled with a tangy sauce and all enveloped by a soft white bun is what you crave, Baohaus is the spot to check out. Founded by Eddie Huang of Vice Video, this Asian spot emanates cool with its friendly staff and sticker- and graffiti-decked walls. The Birdhaus Bao and Chairman Bao are the go-to’s.

Silent Barn — 603 Bushwick Ave

Although the club’s popularity has increased substantially over the years, it still retains some of the same charms I fell in love with when I visited the first time: the electric green wallpaper resembling the Windows 95 pasture landscape and the small crowd rolling blunts in the small backyard of the venue.

Be sure to catch their Tropical Goth DJ sets, and give a shout out to the bouncer — Jay was bestowed the title of “Best Bouncer in Brooklyn” by Brooklyn Magazine.

Sidewalk Tacos $ Corner of Bleecker and Thompson St. Wait time: 2-5 minutes Cash only

Baohaus $ 238 E 14th St Wait time: 3-5 minutes Cards accepted

Venue, gallery, marketplace and radical education center, Silent Barn constantly hosts events to either enlighten the masses or get them dancing. Some nights, bands like Krill and LVL UP perform at Silent Barn, while other nights, reading discussion groups gather to discuss topics like intersectional feminism. If you’re lucky, you may even be able to snag a haircut from a hair dresser who makes occasional appearances and offers quick trims.

Attracting possibly some of the most wellknown bands in the Brooklyn music scene, Baby’s All Right always promises good jams and a danceable environment. Their bar features a drink called the Ai Weiwei, which of course gets its name from the political Chinese artist, and supposedly emulates his outspoken spirit with tequila, jalapeño, lime and agave.

They also offer brunch on the weekends, so if dancing isn’t your thing, you can explore the venue during daytime with a side of eggs and a mimosa.

What seemed like an epically successful night can turn into an exhausting next morning. Dehydrated and in desperate need of something to ease the queasy stomach, seek out these hangover cures that will help you regain life.

If you’re craving a hearty burrito, some soft tacos or fajitas, check out Sidewalk Tacos, located conveniently at the corner of Bleecker and Thompson. The service at this Mexican food truck is quick and efficient, so you’ll have your food in no time.

Remember to have some cash on hand because they don’t take cards.

Although it’s easy to breeze past this gem located behind an unmarked door among blocks of warehouses, Aviv is worth the hunt.

All events at Aviv are either all ages or 18+, and several NYU bands have performed there. The music performances vary greatly in genre, from the neo-soul jams of OSHUN and Mal Devisa to the club beats of Juliana Huxtable. Aesthetically, Aviv resembles a smoky house party basement with surreal, dim lighting. But despite the familiar, homey setting, Aviv hosts a full bar, serviced by some who actually live in the venue in exchange for working there.

For the Day After

After an eventful night of letting loose, you’re left with an abyss pitted dead center in your stomach. Luckily, the city offers plenty of spots to satisfy late-night munchies and bounce back from drowsy morning-afters.

Come with at least one friend. Even the most extroverted person doesn’t want to show up without backup if a party, bar or club is lame. Don’t be afraid to meet new people. Asking people what school they’re in is the easiest and possibly the best conversation starter.

Gallatin kids keep it interesting, CAS kids love to talk politics, and Stern kids...well if you run into a Stern kid, maybe just walk away.

•

Believe in the power of liquid courage. Even if you’re not a huge drinker it gives you something to hold onto which is for some reason comforting. Alcohol is a great social lubricant—just don’t be that kid throwing up in the bathroom.

•

Wear what makes you feel most comfortable. Look good, feel good, right? If you’re dressed in something uncomfortable (like that bodysuit where you can’t go to the bathroom) you’re going to look uncomfortable.

•

Just have fun with it! no one is paying attention to the way you’re standing or if you’ve emptied your solo cup yet. Relax and enjoy yourself. Trust me, most people at the party are probably overthinking it as much as you are.

DON’Ts •

Aggressively add your new party BFFs on all forms of social media. It’s weird. Get their number or add them on FB and leave it at that until you’ve interacted at least more than once.

•

Be that kid who’s taking an incessant amount of photos and blinding everyone with the flash. Your time should be spent on meeting new people and engaging in conversations, not stalking the person’s Instagram who’s standing right in front of you. Our phones have turned into our social crutch but if you’re constantly on your phone you will come off as unavailable and distant.

•

Kill the vibe by being that person who changes the music at someone else’s party. The host of the party or pre-party generally has a mood in mind so feel free to suggest music, but definitely keep in mind the mood that has already been set.

That said, music is always a great conversation starter — so go ahead and share your thoughts on the new Kanye album and get people talking.

Email Gabriella Bower at gbower@nyunews.com.

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OPINION

EDITED BY RICHARD SHU OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

POLITICS

With His Passing, Scalia Leaves Senseless Sycophants

By RICHARD SHU Opinion Editor Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died this Saturday, and the nation lost its mind. Scalia was a powerful presence on the bench, known for his inflammatory rhetoric and his staunch conservatism.

He was the driving force behind the paradigm of constitutional originalism — the notion that the original text of the constitution is the ultimate decider of right and wrong for the nation — long before it had caught on in the Republican mainstream. Though the second-oldest justice on the bench, he never betrayed a hint of frailty or intellectual lapse. Scalia was a constant in the world. To me, at least, it seemed

like he had been there since the beginning of the nation and would remain there until the end of days.

No surprise, then, that his passing was like removing an anchor suddenly being loosed from the ocean floor — it sent the whole ship shaking. Senate Republicans howled at President Obama to refrain from nominating a successor, never mind the president’s constitutional duty to do so. Pundits and journalists scrambled to predict possible replacements and to pontificate on the way that Scalia’s passing will tip the political orientation of the bench. We have been used to the four conservative, four liberal, one swing grouping for a while now — the loss of the conservative bedrock under a liberal

president could mean the end of the balanced bench as we know it.

One of the more troubling responses to Scalia’s death have come from activists and writers who have long viewed Scalia’s brand of strict constitutionalism as anathema to social progress. Some of Scalia’s sharpest criticisms have been against abortion rights, gay marriage and affirmative action, all hocking the doctrine of original

intent to shoot down attempts at invalidating unfair state laws. With his passing, social media resounded with a sort of “ding dong, the witch is dead” celebration.

But the wheels of conservatism he set in motion are still turning.

Not only has constitutional originalism become entrenched in the conservative mainstream, it comes from mouths much less civil than that of Justice Scalia. Divorced from Scalia’s scholarly background, the current vanguards of conservatism have taken up the constitutional banner for, frankly, stupider purposes — like calling for Obama to refrain from nominating another justice.

Scalia was the best of the bad bunch. He forced his opposition

to rethink their positions and develop their arguments rigorously and thoughtfully. Before activists celebrate his passing, they should realize that Scalia possessed many gifts that his sycophants lack.

Charm. Knowledge. The actual wherewithal to respond intelligently to criticism. He gave the modern right an intellectual backbone. Meanwhile, the conservatives he spawned are characterized mostly by misplaced nostalgia and lockstep resistance to Obama, not by any sort of principle. He was one of the last reasonable conservatives left. For that, at least, he should be sorely missed.

Email Richard Shu at rshu@nyunews.com.

ECONOMY

Employees Get the Short End of the Share Economy

By SHIVA DARSHAN Staff Writer

Companies such as Uber and Airbnb are making bank in the so-called sharing economy.

They advertise that they allow everyday people to make a little extra money by letting people use their cars, apartment, etc. when they are not using them.

The core idea of many of these companies is to enable more efficient utilization of resources and that is a worthy idea. Yet for workers at these companies the end results are not as idyllic. In the share economy, workers often bear costs which more traditional businesses normally would.

Companies that are part of

the sharing economy, such as Uber and Airbnb, dump most of the costs of upkeep on their workers. Typically, a hired car company would need to maintain fleets of vehicles and pay for all the resulting expenses, yet Uber classifies its drivers as independent contractors.

Uber controls fares and can terminate drivers, but because of this classification, Uber drivers are responsible for buying and maintaining their own cars. If the drivers can charge enough to cover their overhead, then there is not a problem with this model. However, when Uber cuts fare, as it did earlier this month, many drivers can not make ends meet. Yet because Uber does not pay for upkeep,

it still makes money even when its drivers take home less than minimum wage.

Part of what makes the sharing economy so expensive for workers is the fact that the workers have to assume liability when conducting business.

Traditional businesses pay, as part of their overhead, for insurance and safety measures.

Yet for companies like Uber and Airbnb, paying for insur-

ance and safety measures falls on the workers. These costs are easier to bear for a large company — who can spread burden of expense and risk over the entire company — than a single worker. Consequently, workers live on razor thin margins or simply skimp on insurance and safety to make their margins work. Guests who are injured or killed in Airbnb rentals have little recourse. While hotels have strict safety standards and insurance, Airbnb hosts get little safety guidance and often do not have insurance.

For Uber drivers, though they are required to get insurance, they often skimp. So when they get into an accident, drivers may not have enough

insurance to cover.

The business models of companies such as Uber could improve access and quality of services. The sharing economy has the potential to allow consumers to more efficiently utilize their resources. These companies are doing a great job serving underserved markets and are triumphs of entrepreneurs’ ability to find and fill gaps in the market. However, these companies have no excuse to export liabilities onto their employees. They need to be held accountable for the fair treatment of their employees just like any other company.

Email Shiva Darshan at opinion@nyunews.com.

CULTURE

MPAA Shapes Unhealthy Film-Watching Habits

By AKSHAY PRABHUSHANKAR Staff Writer

The Motion Picture Association of America is made up of representatives of six major Hollywood studios, but it is an independent branch of the organization that has rated films for decades. Parents and schools nationwide depend on the MPAA, as do movie theaters, with big chains refusing to screen unrated films.

Despite the case-by-case basis used to rate movies, the outdated and secretive system is plagued by poor management and an inability to keep up with social progress, and is undeserving of its relevance.

Few details are known about the ratings process, though a 2006 docu-

mentary “This Film Is Not Yet Rated” revealed many of the dealings behind closed doors. The MPAA says it typically hires parents of children 5 to 17 years old for the ratings board, and that members do not serve longer than seven years. However, the documentary discovered that many of the members were either childless, parents of kids who were out of the age range or were serving longer than allowed.

Also concerning was the lack of diversity among the group. One Catholic and one Protestant member must be on the appeals board, and a new member was recruited simply because he was a neighbor of another. The boards are also criticized for their members’ friendli-

ness with studio executives, who worry about the implications of film ratings on profits. With such a disorderly system and an unfair makeup, the board is bound to face condemnation on its decisions.

Easily the most criticized antic of the MPAA is its sensitivity to sexual content and language. While children witness gratuitous violence on-screen from an early age, rarely

does a film rated less than R contain a long sex scene or use the f-word.

Labelling intimacy between two people as inappropriate — while gore is freely permitted — projects the wrong message to the nation’s youth. It is also bizarrely unrealistic.

For example, the 2011 film “Bully” was originally rated R for language, even though it documented bullying of children in American schools. The highly-regarded movie suffered as it became inaccessible.

Even more antiquated is the board’s uneasiness with LGBT themes, evidenced by how difficult it is to find a G-rated movie with a non-straight romance. By no means can one expect the MPAA to set social standards in American society,

but it must acknowledge its influence and keep up with progress.

The MPAA, as a private organization, is free to operate as it wants.

However, when movie theaters and public schools rely on this antiquated system, they are effectively adopting the prejudices of the board and granting them legal status.

At the very least, a more transparent MPAA would benefit everyone, including studios unaware of the reasoning behind a rating. Without proactive reform, this backwards, “mommy-like” system dictating cinema will harm children, the very group it is in place to protect.

Email Akshay Prabhushankar at opinion@nyunews.com.

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OPINION

EDITED BY RICHARD SHU OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

POLITICS

STAFF EDITORIAL

Voting is Valuable, Regardless of Reason

By MAX SCHACHERE Staff Writer

As the American presidential election process rages on, there is a natural tendency to place emphasis on the candidates themselves.

Once in awhile, however, the public is reminded that it is indeed the voters, not the candidates, who are responsible for selecting the next president. Unfortunately, the conversation about voting rights is historically masked with prejudice, whether it be in the form of racism, sexism or xenophobia. This election season proves to be no different, with political pundits dismissing women who vote for Hillary because she is a woman. The truth of that statement is irrelevant — the idea that people are condemned for their voting rationale is more problematic than anything else.

Criticizing Americans for voting along seemingly superficial guidelines is not new to the 2016 election cycle. In both 2008 and 2012, conservative pundits lambasted African-Americans for voting for Barack Obama because he is black. This

criticism is apparently meant to delegitimize their vote or even the election result as a whole. However, this sort of dialogue is poisonous in a democracy. The crux of the matter is simple: any reason for voting is a legitimate one. A vote based on gender or race is just as valid as one based on fiscal or foreign policy.

A vote is designed to express the sentiment that a candidate, for whatever reason, is best at representing the interests of the voter.

Even if a candidate just barely indicates that he or she will represent the interests of a voter, that is reason enough to vote. The alternative, in this case, would be to simply not vote. Abstaining leaves the process to random chance, taking all power from the voters and leaving minorities both under-

represented and misrepresented.

Lawmakers know this, which is why America has been so historically plagued with voter obstacles.

Anything from poll taxes to voter ID laws are designed to filter out those who are voting for less than so-called legitimate reasons.

Every voter should of course be encouraged to learn more about the candidates, the issues and politics in general — it is part of one’s civic duty. Yet, in an era where not even three out of five Americans show up to vote for a president, the focus should be towards incentivizing voters to turn out, not chastising the ones who do. In places like Australia where voting is mandatory, clearly not everyone will be making the most informed decision. Still, their democracy is arguably stronger than that of the United States’ because every voice is counted. So, whether you like Clinton for her gender, Carson for his race or Sanders for his accent, it does not matter — just vote.

Email Max Schachere at opinion@nyunews.com.

EDUCATION

Bidding Au Revoir to a Classic Culinary School

By CONNER BORDEN Contributing Writer Prospective American chefs received distasteful news in December of last year when Le Cordon Bleu, a series of premiere culinary arts schools, announced it will be shutting the doors of its 16 U.S. locations in 2017. The alma mater of esteemed chef and TV personality Julia Child, as well as many famed and celebrated chefs across Europe, Asia and Oceania, Le Cordon Bleu has been a cornerstone of culinary and gastronomic education since 1895. Its parent company, Career Education Corporation, previously announced it was looking for a company to buy the schools, but when the deal fell through, they were forced to close.

While up and coming culinary students still have a selection of schools from which to choose, the closing of Le Cordon Bleu is still alarming.

Media outlets seem to conclude that the schools simply could not make enough money to continue operations.

However, Le Cordon Bleu charged tens of thousands in tuition, and collected more from interest on the student

SUBMITTING

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debt of the graduates who did not achieve fame and fortune in the world of fine dining. Todd Nelson, C.E.O. of Career Education, stated, “New federal regulations make it difficult to project the future for career schools that have higher operating costs…” in a news release.

Like in many other career paths — especially fields in the fine arts — a small percentage of students will get jobs, and fewer will become renowned in the field. Students who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu have lobbied grievances against the school, bitter about a high tuition with little return.

A former student even sued Career Ed for falsified job placement information in its advertising to recruit students. It is no shock the company is suffering: they settled with the stu-

dent for $40 million, indicating Career Ed knew how large the fallout would have been had the case been argued in court.

This case should have been met with more outrage. If Le Cordon Bleu nearly got away with false advertising, one must wonder how many other schools — vocational or four-year — fudge the numbers to attract talented students.

When colleges are run like corporations, or run by them, students suffer every time. In an institution where learners should be prioritized, their money comes before their needs. On a national level, education politics, often adulterated with bureaucracy by men and women long graduated, can neglect student interests in the pursuit of economic relief. However, students and schools need the money. If we are in the business of educating and rearing young adults to be citizens and members of a society, we should meet their needs with fervor and the understanding that they will one day return the investment.

Email Conner Borden at opinion@nyunews.com.

Don’t Let FOMO Rule Your Life

As NYU students, we live in one of the greatest cities in the world. While other students live in sleepy college towns, we wake up every day in a city of eight million people, each of us doing something different, novel and exciting. The allure of the proximity to the city’s hottest clubs, bars and events should be impossible to ignore. But with these opportunities comes the gnawing compulsion to capitalize, the pressure to have the best time possible and to project that image to everyone. This compulsion is the reason why dorm parties still exist, even when the city has so much more to offer. They offer refuge from that pressure, but the looming feeling of missing out persists.

For some, New York City’s glitz and glamour can quickly take on a darker sheen thanks to the amplifying effects of social media. A seemingly endless barrage of Snapchat updates, Facebook events and perfectly curated Instagram feeds only exacerbates the feelings of missing out.

When it seems like everyone is out on a Saturday night, it makes staying in and watching Netflix, or even having a low-key party with friends, seem a little sad in contrast.

The constant exposure to this endless list of happenings can paradoxically foster a feeling of isolation.

In the end, there is no way to have a perfect night every night. Not every student has the money, time or cadres of friends with fake IDs in order to make those legendary outings happen regularly. The pressure to go out and party every weekend is self-imposed and magnified through the lenses of social media. Snapchat and Instagram exist to show off those picture-perfect moments, not to capture the mundane moments of everyday life that are much more common.

Yet people cling to these images, mistakenly believing that everyone is having a much more interesting time than they are. In reality, there’s no real need to go out and do everything. In fact, it’s an impossibility.

If you feel like you’re missing out on everything, that’s ok. We all are.

The reason that the college party still thrives at NYU is simply because it’s easy. In a social context that places such an emphasis on indulging in city nightlife, college parties sans spectacle are often a much easier option.

The convenience and relative quiet of small, contained parties can offer respite from the overstimulating world outside. No one should let the feeling of missing out keep them from having a good time just drinking in a dorm.

No one should let the pressure to be interesting dictate how they live their lives.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Richard Shu (Chair), Emily Fong (Co-chair), Abraham Gross (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI

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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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SPORTS

EDITED BY MICHAEL THOMPSON SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Home Finale: Hockey Routs UNH

By RACHEL RUECKER Deputy Sports Editor

It was a bittersweet night on Friday at Chelsea Piers as the NYU men’s hockey team took to the ice for their last regular game of the season. For seniors Denis O’Hara, Curtis Fisher, Beau Lardner, Sam Daley and captain Gabriel Gollette, it would be their last time suiting up at home.

Facing off against a University of New Hampshire team out for redemption after a loss to William Paterson University the previous night seemed like a challenging feat. However, the crowd, which included many players’ parents and friends, made success seem like less of a hope and more of a definite outcome.

With a starting lineup of all the seniors along with sophomore forward Steven Esposito, it took NYU just over four minute to net their first goal of the night. It came from junior forward David Morgan, assisted by Lardner and junior defenceman Evan Ripley.

Later on in the first period, freshman forward Mason Gallegos got the Violets’ second goal of the night with the assist going to junior forward David Shaby along with Gollette. The frame ended with 4-on-4 action when freshman defenseman Gabe Regan and a UNH player each got thrown in the box late for slashing. NYU outshot UNH 11-5.

Once the game was back to 5-on5, Morgan got another, this time unassisted, netting the Violets’ third unanswered goal. This prompted a UNH goalie change, which was met by plenty of “back-up” chants from the Violets’ loyals.

UNH managed to get one past Daley, but this night was very much about the Violets. On a UNH hooking call, Ripley scored the team’s fourth and final goal of the night.

Helpers came from freshman forward John Kowalewski along with Esposito.

Though there were no more scores in the game, the action was far from over. Midway through the second period there was a UNH tripping call, which was shortly

followed by pure madness: O’Hara, junior forward Pete Jorgensen were tossed in the box for roughing, with NYU serving a double minor because Jorgensen was called for boarding as well. However, it all worked out as the Violets got the kill.

The third period was mostly an exercise in letting the seniors soak in their last home game after an exciting journey donning the NYU Violet. Though this wasn’t like the seven-goal showings of last week, a 4-1 win was not a bad way to cap off an exciting regular season, in which the Violets have now won 10 straight. The season ends at a time where the team suffered numerous injuries, but stood tall in the face of such adversity.

“The thing that stands out the most is that with all the tough injuries we have right now, guys are stepping up in a big way,” head coach Chris Cosentino said. “Each player in our lineup is finding a way to add value and that’s what this whole thing is about.”

For players like Lardner, who was awarded the hard hat for Player of

STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH SHULMAN

The hockey team had their last game of the regular season against the University of New Hampshire. the Game, senior day was especially meaningful. With his parents in the stands for the first time in two years, the experience was memorable.

“To have the first game they’ve seen in two years, and the last home game of my college career go so perfectly, it was a really special

night,” Lardner said.

The Violets now head into next week’s Super East Collegiate Hockey League playoffs in Montclair, New Jersey.

Email Rachel Ruecker at rruecker@nyunews.com.

Basketball Sputters as Season Nears End

By BRANDON HERRERA Staff Writer The men’s and women’s basketball teams once again played the same schools on the same day, as they each faced Emory University on Friday and the University of Rochester on Sunday. But similar to last week’s performances, the results were mixed.

The men’s team (18-4, 7-4 UAA) kicked off its pair of games with a 73-56 victory over the No. 24 ranked (d3.hoops.com) Eagles in Atlanta, GA. Emory controlled the first half, shooting 8-19 from behind the arc and claiming a 3430 lead at the end of the half. The final 20 minutes belonged to the Violets though, as they outscored Emory 43-22 for the remainder of the game, holding the Eagles to a dismal 2-18 from three point land. NYU capped off a dominating performance down low, outrebounding Emory 47-26 and outscoring them 46-19 in the paint.

Senior captain Evan Kupferberg had a team-high 26 points and 11 rebounds.

On Sunday, NYU ran into a good Yellowjackets team and lost 75-63, snapping their four-game winning streak in Rochester, New York. Rochester was unstoppable from deep, shooting 10-19. The Violets were not able to find their stroke, shooting a weak 3-19 from

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The men’s basketball team had its fourth consecutive win against Emory University on Feb. 12. downtown. The game remained relatively tight throughout, but the Yellowjackets’ shooting was able to give them the edge. Kupferberg added another doubledouble — his fifth straight and 16th on the season. Senior center Costis Gontikas also played well with 16 points and eight rebounds. Even with strong performances, players such as freshman Doug Gertner believes the Violets have to get back to what they do best.

“We’re gonna have bad shooting days we just need to feed the ball inside to the big men more because that’s our bread and butter,” Gertner said. “Then when we start hurting the other team inside it opens things out on the perimeter for more open shots as the defense packs in.”

As for the women’s team, the Violets (ranked No. 14 by d3.hoops. com) continued to slump as they dropped both of their games, extending their losing streak to four.

The Violets lost a close one on Friday in Atlanta against the Eagles 65-59. Junior guard Kaitlin Read led all players with 25 points, but her stellar performance was not

enough as the Violets’ foul trouble proved costly. The Eagles were given nearly twice as many free throw attempts as both Read and senior captain Riley Wurtz fouled out, awarding them the edge late in the game.

Rochester proved to be a tough test for the women as well, as they were blown out 85-55 by the Yellowjackets. NYU (17-5, 6-5 UAA) kept it close through the first quarter but could not get anything going in the second quarter, trapping them in a deep hole they could not climb out of. The Violets struggled from the field, shooting 24 percent compared to the Yellowjackets’ 49 percent. Senior captain Megan Dawe scored a team-high 18 points.

Both teams next hit the court when they each host the University of Chicago on Friday, Feb. 19 in what could be the last basketball weekend at Coles. Tip-off for the women’s team is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. for the men.

Email Brandon Herrera at sports@nyunews.com.

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SPORTS

EDITED BY MICHAEL THOMPSON SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Track Has Record Setting Day

By MICHAEL THOMPSON Sports Editor

Records rather than hearts were broken at Friday’s Boston University Valentine’s Invitational. The Violets’ track and field teams were led by a handful of men and women who rewrote history and set the stage for the upcoming UAA Championships.

Rather than let someone else break his 200-meter school record in the future, senior captain Matthew Powers’ college career came full circle, building on his previous record with a time of 21.63, two tenths better than his previous freshman mark.

The invitational was also the sight of several personal bests for the men’s squad. Junior Jorge Maldonado finished 30th in the 5,000-meter competition, with a personalbest time of 14:53.93. Junior Curtis Mann also had a big day, with a personal-best finish in the 800-meter (1:56.11) and a near-record breaking 4x400-meter relay. Mann, alongside Powers, sophomore Malcolm Montilus and junior Budd brown finished in 3:18.64. Good enough for 11th place, the finish was just a couple of seconds off of the school record.

If the men’s 4x400-meter teased breaking a record, the women’s competition had no time for games.

Freshmen Danielle Murray and Justina Sanders-Schifano, sophomore Ireland Gibson and senior Drew Gibson scorched the school’s old record by two seconds, setting a new Violets record with a stellar time of 3:55.73. In her last year of competition, Murray seems to have finally mastered the strategy that is so important in a relay event.

“We each focused on running the best 400 we could which collectively allowed us to break the record this weekend,” Murray said.

“And even though we had some hiccups like my teammate running without a shoe on during the race, I think it just shows how badly we wanted it.”

Sanders-Schifano also excelled in the 400-meter, setting a new personal record and nearly breaking the school’s mark in 59.77. Gibson also flirted with history, with just under a half second standing between her and the NYU 800-meter record. And freshman Alyssa Jean continued her progression, finishing the 200-meter in a new careerbest time of 26.56.

In other weekend action, senior Max Avila edged out Mann in the 800m, finishing in 1:56.04, while Brown led the violets with a 48.79 mark in 400-meter, good enough for 28th. In the 3,000-meter, sophomore Max Mudd finished in 8:38.71

with sophomore Karn Setya and junior Nick Haram close behind.

In the women’s 400-meter, Murray also finished strong, setting a new personal-best time at 59.77.

Meanwhile, senior captain Kristina Harris looked to be hitting her stride at the ideal time in the 60-meter dash, finishing in 8.16 seconds, her best performance of the season.

The Violets will look to stay in shape with the UAA Championships approaching as the men and women will compete on Saturday Feb. 19 at the Ramapo College Indoor Tune-Up in Manhattan.

Email Michael Thompson at mthompson@nyunews.com.

After a disappointing start to the season, the NYU men’s volleyball team entered Saturday’s UVC crossover under .500 and hungry for wins. Fortunately, the Violets were seemingly able to right the ship, winning their first two United Volleyball Conference matches of the year in nail-biting fashion against MIT and Elmira College.

Against MIT, the Violets, ranked No. 8 in the country by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, started quickly, winning the first set, but they dropped the second and third. Down 2-1, the Violets battled back, winning the final two sets of the game for a successful start to the UAA season. Outside hitters senior Nick Benson and junior Chase Klein finished with 17 and 15 kills respectively. They also notched two blocks and six digs apiece. Junior setter Derrick Chiu had a career-best 57 assists in the match, and sophomore libero Benjamin Oxnard ended with five digs, five blocks and 13 kills. Senior opposite Colin LaPorte finished with 13 kills, six digs and two blocks. LaPorte was happy to see his team pull

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Men’s track and field competed in Boston at Boston University’s Valentine’s Invitational.

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NYU men’s volleyball had two five-set victories at the United Volleyball Conference. itself out of the gutter after losing a few matches they were expected to win.

“This was a very important weekend for us, not only was it our first conference matches, but we took down two talented teams in five sets each,” LaPorte said. “It really showed our grit and that all of our work lately has paid off.”

Sophomore middle hitter Chase Corbett was the Violets’ MVP of the game — recording a match-best five blocks, eight kills and two digs. Junior middle hitter Sean Leahy ended with seven kills and four blocks.

Leahy knew the Violets had to step up after a rocky start.

“We had a goal of heading home with two UVC wins, and we accomplished that goal, in two fiveset matches,” Leahy said. “This was not an easy feat, and we were obviously very tired, so it required a total team effort.”

Against Elmira, the Violets got off to a rough start. Both teams traded the lead until NYU took the victory.

The NYU Wrestling team won its fifth straight UAA title this weekend in Cleveland, OH.

Grapplers Snag Fifth Straight UAA Title

By KYLE RYAN Contributing Writer

Violets Grind Out Two 5-Set Wins

By ASHLEY ARNOLD Staff Writer

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Senior captain Nick Benson notched a total of 20 kills. Oxnard and Corbett both had career highs in this match — Oxnard managed 16 digs and Corbett finished with nine blocks and 10 kills. Senior middle hitter Phil Bueno racked up nine digs, eight kills and two blocks. Chiu led with 49 assists in addition to five digs, four blocks and two kills. Chiu said the team struggled due to sickness and lack of practice, but still managed to get the win.

“I would say this weekend we didn’t play our best for sure because a bunch of us were sick and we haven’t had a real practice in over a week,” Chiu said. “We showed a lot of tenacity and determination to win, which helped us mount comebacks in both games.”

The Violets next play on Wednesday, Feb. 17 in a match against the always-difficult Stevens Institute of Technology.

Email Ashley Arnold at sports@nyunews.com.

It was a huge weekend for NYU’s wrestling team, as the Grapplers sent representatives to two separate events: the Centennial Conference Championship hosted by McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland and the University Athletic Association Championship in Cleveland, Ohio. In Cleveland, the Grapplers were looking to continue their run of excellence by winning their fifth straight UAA Championship.

NYU elected to send most of their top wrestlers to the UAA, rather than the CCC, so they weren’t expected to blow away the competition, like usual. But the Grapplers went in with victory on their mind as they faced off against schools such as Stevens Institute of Technology, the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Johns Hopkins University, Muhlenberg College, Washington and Lee University and Gettysburg College.

Sophomore Austin Day shined with junior Nathan Pike absent. After losing his first bout, he won his next three bouts — one by fall against Brandon Tran of Johns Hopkins and two by decision over Yoseph Borai of Stevens (9-7) and Gettysburg’s Jake Bracken (7-5) — securing himself third place at 133 pounds.

Freshman grappler Ian Burke, wrestling at 149 pounds, performed well enough to check in at fourth, and Senior Kyzen Smith at 197 pounds reached the consolation semifinals of his respective division.

However, these individual accomplishments did not amount to much, as the Violets put up only 30.5 points as a team. Although they had come into the tournament in third place in the Centen-

nial this season, the team walked away with only a seventh place finish. First place went to Stevens, who put up an impressive 121 points.

Day, confident even in the face of lackluster results, was still pleased with the Violets’ second unit.

“We had a split squad and our starters were in Chicago, so to come into this tournament with younger, less experienced guys and still place seventh shows a lot about our team depth and is a testament to the competition within our room,” Day said. “We had three freshmen place top four which is a good indicator for next year and the next few years.”

Meanwhile in Cleveland, NYU secured its fifth straight UAA Championship.

The Grapplers were led by UAA Most Outstanding Wrestler John Messinger, who had a 16-6 major decision over Case Western’s Nick Leez. The team started the day with a 36-12 victory over Case Western. Their battle against them started with a clean sweep of the first seven matches, which ran from 125 pounds to 174. It was only in the eighth match at 184 pounds that Western notched its first victory.

The rest of the day continued in the same fashion for both Messinger and the Grapplers, as his 4-3 decision over Chicago’s Paul Papoutsis paved the way for the team’s eventual 22-16 victory over Chicago — a much closer victory than the one prior, but still one well deserved. The Grapplers take to the mat next on Thursday, Feb. 18 to face off against the College of Mount Saint Vincent and host school LIU-Post in Brookville, New York.

Email Kyle Ryan at sports@nyunews.com.

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