WSN030415

Page 1

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 20

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4, 2015

nyunews.com

FEATURES

UNIVERSITY

Prison Education Program launched

Gallatin fashion hits the runway By LAUREN CRADDOCK Staff Writer

The fifth annual Narrative Threads: The Gallatin Fashion Show showcased 21 collections designed by Gallatin students, alumni and staff at the Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre for the Performing Arts on Friday. The collections connected literature and fashion by representing the themes, characters and plots of each designer’s favorite story. Rhonda Garelick, a fashion, literature, arts and politics writer, spoke about her recent book “Mademoiselle: Coco Chanel and the Pulse of History,” emphasizing Chanel’s ability to enhance a character in a story through fashion. With this mantra in mind, the designers ranged from simplistic in “Under the Radar” by Andrew Kaufman, which featured a t-shirt, crew neck and jacket, to Gallatin junior Rachel Wang’s “Anderson’s Nightingale,” with feminine addons to her free flowing dresses. Stand out collections included Tamara Leacock’s “The Goddess of Nobody.” Leacock vision was to express the divinity in being nobody. Models wore masks down the runway to hide their identity, and the garments re-invented the ideas pre-

GALLATIN continued on PG. 5

By ALEX BAZELEY Deputy News Editor

STAFF PHOTO BY MANNY KAUR

Odyssey in Fashion was one of the 21 presentations of Narrative Threads: The Gallatin Fashion Show. This presentation took the essence of characters from Homer’s Odyssey.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE NYU Reacts: Living in Brooklyn

STAFF ILLUSTRATION BY JORDAN MELENDREZ

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

VIA NYU.EDU

Students react to housing changes. STORY on PG. 3

London couture Check out London Fashion Week coverage. STORY on PG. 5

Flood Wall Street 11 The editorial board discusses the necessity defense. STORY on PG. 7

NYU launched its Prison Education Program to give those incarcerated at the Wallkill Correctional Facility access to a college education, the university announced Monday. The program, backed by a $500,000 grant from the Ford Foundation, currently has 36 incarcerated individuals enrolled. Wallkill Correctional Facility is a medium security prison for males located in the Hudson Valley. Rolled out for the Spring 2015 semester, PEP currently has two courses available with the possibility of an additional four during the summer of 2015. Following their release from prison, students may choose to continue their education at NYU or apply their credits to another university. CAS Dean Gabrielle Starr and Gallatin Dean Susanne Wofford were approached by faculty members with the idea three years ago. Starr said those involved with the program feel that it is a way to give back to the people of New York. “As it turns out, it is the single best way to give people ac-

PRISON continued on PG. 3

REVIEW

Show delights with hip-hop history By CAROLINE CUNFER Theater/Books Editor

“Hamilton” is a new hip-hop-influenced musical based on the life of founding father Alexander Hamilton. This modernized colonial tale is currently gracing the Public Theater, and is, in its own way, creating a revolution. Hamilton’s prowess as a wordsmith is true of both the character and the man playing him. LinManuel Miranda plays Hamilton with his mastery of language and rhythm. “Hamilton” is primarily composed of rap music which uniquely juxtaposes the historical content and imbues the whole play with a hip-hop style. The musical is inspired by Ron Chernow’s book “Alexander Hamilton,” which sparked Miranda’s curiosity when responsible for the production’s

book, lyrics, and music, interpreting Hamilton as the Tupac of the American Revolution. Besides the modern prose and beat, the rest of the production is of the period. The return to the 18th century is cut with modern verbiage that melds history and modernity in an unparalleled theatrical experience. These characters express themselves similarly to how we do today, concerning love and hopelessness. The simple, modern prose connects viewers even more to these characters. Miranda’s writing beautifully and effortlessly creates both incredibly catchy beats and clever lyrics incorporating wonderful plays on words. Eliza Schuyler, who later marries Hamilton, is played by the strong and endearing Phillipa Soo. In the performance of “Hopeless,” Schuyler expresses the love-at-first-

sight she experiences when she locks eyes with Hamilton for the first time. “Down for the count and the sky’s the limit,” she repeats, and the ensemble repeats the line. Miranda plays a sharp, eloquent Hamilton alongside a smooth and commanding Aaron Burr, played by Leslie Odom Jr. Manuel and Odom navigate the stage tensely. Yet at the end of the first act, they share a warm moment as new fathers. The two tenderly sing to their children, understanding each other on a sentimental level. Brian d’Arcy James appears as a sassy King George of England who humorously comments on the colonial situation. Draped in what looks like a dalmation, James stiffly yet merrily sings, sneering

HAMILTON continued on PG. 4


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.