NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 26
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015
nyunews.com SPORTS
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Results mixed over break for baseball
NEWS
By STANLEY WU Contributing Writer
VIA NYU.EDU
Andrew Ross not allowed in UAE The SCA professor was kept from traveling to NYUAD. STORY on PG. 3 FEATURES
VIA JOURNALISM.NYU.EDU
Inside Lens NYU’s journalism program is screening student produced NewsDocs on NYC Life. STORY on PG. 4 SPORTS COURTESY OF OUIMAGES/PHIL SAYER
Andrew Hamilton will succeed John Sexton as the 16th president of New York University beginning January 2016. Hamilton plans to focus on making NYU more affordable. At roughly $63,000 per year, NYU was recently ranked the fourth most expensive university in the United States, according to CNN. Hamilton served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford since 2009 and as Yale’s provost prior to that. Find the full story on nyunews.com.
The NYU baseball team squared off against the Emory University Eagles on March 13, ending in a 5-0 defeat. The Eagles began on a positive note, quickly scoring one run, followed by four more in the third, fourth, fifth and ninth inning. The Violets played again the following day, this time against Brandeis University. The game was close, but NYU again lost, this time 8-6. Brandeis opened the match with fervor, scoring two runs in the first inning. The Violets trailed close behind, scoring three in the second, only to come up just short again. They took the field once more on March 15, competing with the University of Rochester Yellowjackets to conclude the UAA Championship with a 12-0 loss. The Violets tenaciously fought to overtake the opponent, loading the bases three times, but were unable to knock the runners home. In spite of the string of defeats, sophomore outfielder Adrian Spitz remains optimistic about the team.
BASEBALL continued on PG. 5
FEATURES VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Spring break sports recap Top news in NYU athletics from the past week. STORY on PG. 5 OPINION
Coyotes take Manhattan The influx of urban coyotes demand acknowledgment. STORY on PG. 7
Tisch photo students showcase BFA work By BENJAMIN MOK Staff Writer
The culmination of a fouryear BFA program at the Tisch School of the Arts Department of Photography and Imaging, Show Two, is an exhibition showcasing the capstone projects of 17 seniors. Second in a series of two shows, it features works in media ranging from photography to interactive websites, all of which are to be displayed at various NYU galleries starting March 26. These works portray numerous subjects and relationships, touching on issues ranging from drone attacks to growing up in California — explored through a wide range of mediums. Despite this range, the
show carries a few underlying themes including our relationship to modern society and interpretations of cities and childhoods. At one turn, Mark Davis’ “427” reflects on the death of his father in the crash of USAir Flight 427 and his first time visiting the crash site as an adult. At another turn, Saskia Kivilo’s “im-pe-tus” seeks to bring to form the drive and passion that the word itself suggests. Deborah Willis, chair of the Department of Photography and Imaging, said the department offers students extensive guidance and resources throughout the collaborative process. “There are three professors teaching the senior directed projects class, which
includes all of the graduating seniors,” Willis said. “The class as a whole meets once a week and offers critiques and suggestions to the students. Faculty and staff guide and mentor throughout.” The selection process for the exhibition involves students curating their own work based on 12 weeks of critique. The resulting project is a realization of the student’s vision produced through the guidance of the teaching staff. Mariel Victoria Mok will display abstracted maps of drone bases in the United States and photographs of drywall that imitate satellite imagery of places where the United States has carried out drone attacks, believed that it was beneficial to
work with professors who have different areas of focus. “Often one professor would give me some feedback that another would disagree with, or an idea that another would not be so behind,” Mok said. “I think this really forced me to exercise more independent thinking and reflect on what it is that I want and what I think is best for my work.” Pablo Garza, an aspiring photographer and Tisch freshmen, said Show Two reflects the quality of arts education at NYU. “I’m very interested in seeing the work of students who have benefited from four years in Tisch,” Garza said. “I want to see what they have taken
SHOW TWO continued on PG. 4
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The following pictures are from a land grab in the West Bank town of Tekoa, south of Bethlehem. In Israeli-occupied territories, there are often land disputes when Palestinians attempt to plant trees or crops in land that Israeli settlers consider to be their own. Because land grabs often result in a confrontation with settlers and military, Palestinians will often bring members from NGO’s who can document and observe the situation for the purposes of using the evidence in court. During this land grab, Palestinians attempted to plant olive trees in an Israeli settlement, which was permitted under a prior court ruling. Settlers and Israeli military came to intervene under the understanding that the Palestinians did not have the right to utilize the land for farming. After a long but peaceful confrontation, the Palestinians stopped planting and left the land. The case is now being taken to court, which will determine whether or not the Palestinians can come back and finish planting their olive trees.
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French Literature in the Making French author and screenwriter Pierre Lemaitre and journalist Olivier Barrot discuss French literature at 7 p.m. at La Maison Française.
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Steinhardt at Saklad Marilyn Nonken is directing a piano performance as part of the Steinhardt at Saklad series in the Septodont Auditorium at First Avenue and 24th Street at 6:30 p.m.
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Easy Childhood Policy
USI-AIT hospital workers protest in the streets of Florence in March.
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The NYU Steinhardt Educational Leadership program is hosting a panel to discuss early childhood education in New York City at 5:30 p.m. in the first floor lounge of 82 Washington Square East. TODAY’S EVENTS ARE FREE FOR NYU STUDENTS.
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TATIANA BAEZ, NICOLE BROWN, ALEX GREENBERGER, CLIO MCCONNELL, JORDAN MELENDREZ About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact the managing editors at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Prof barred from Abu Dhabi
CRIME LOG
By VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI Editor-in-Chief After attempting to board an Abu Dhabi-bound Etihad Airways flight on March 14, NYU professor Andrew Ross was informed by United Arab Emirates authorities that he was barred entry into the country. Ross planned to spend the week in Abu Dhabi, where he was to conduct research into labor issues surrounding migrant workers on NYU’s Saadiyat Island campus. Ross called the incident an issue of academic freedom that requires the university’s intervention. “I will continue my work if the NYU administration intervenes to ensure the UAE ban is lifted,” Ross said. “Since academic freedom is the lifeblood of any university, and this is a clear violation of it, it is paramount that the administration takes steps to guarantee unrestricted passage to the UAE for all NYU faculty and students.” Ross received an email from provost David McLaughlin on Wednesday regarding the travel ban. McLaughlin said in cases like these the university tries to ensure there is justification behind immigration decisions, and they are speaking to relevant authorities about Ross’ case. “We cannot know all the thinking that goes into any immigration authority’s decisions about who is or is not granted a visa, and we’ve had people who were coming to our campus in New York on academic matters who have been denied visas by the US authorities, including one in the last few days,” McLaughlin said. “Whenever such cases arise we emphasize the principle of mobility and advocate to the relevant decision-makers that any limitation should be justified
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march 10 to 18
By MARITA VLACHOU News Editor The NYU Department of Public Safety received reports of larceny, controlled substance possession and simple assault between March 10 and 18.
Larceny
COURTESY OF NYU ABU DHABI
Andrew Ross attempted to travel to NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus. by good cause.” As both a member of the the Coalition for Fair Labor at NYU and the president of NYU’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors, Ross has often criticized labor violations at NYUAD. The CFL also condemned the travel ban and said in a statement on March 16 that they believe the ban is a response to Ross’ criticism of labor practices during the construction of the NYUAD campus. “The fact that professor Ross was barred from travel to the UAE, the site of NYU’s main ‘global network’ campus in Abu Dhabi, represents a gross violation of academic freedom,” the statement reads. NYU spokesperson John Beckman said the university has not had issues with academic freedom on the NYUAD campus, and added that faculty have the right to discuss issues like labor rights in the classroom.
“We’ve had five years of running a campus in Abu Dhabi, and our faculty and students have experienced zero infringements on their academic freedom, even when conducting classes about sensitive topics,” Beckman said. NYU professor Mark Crispin Miller said more has to be done to protect academic freedom for professors inside and outside the classroom. “If there were academic freedom at NYU Abu Dhabi, our faculty and students there could openly investigate the world beyond their splendid compound,” Miller said. “They could raise public questions about anything they want, including the regime. They could, in short, do what professor Ross was not allowed to do.” Email Valentina Duque Bojanini at vbojanini@nyunews.com.
At 3:50 p.m. on March 10, Public Safety received a report that a student who left their phone unattended on a couch at the UC level of Tisch Hall at 3:30 p.m. found it missing when they returned to the scene 15 minutes later. The New York City Police Department filed a report. At 12:50 p.m. on March 11, a student reported they found their laptop missing after leaving it unattended for 15 minutes in a classroom at 19 University Place on March 9. NYPD was not notified. At 7:50 p.m. on March 12, Public Safety was notified that a student found his bicycle missing at 7:30 p.m. after having locked it in a Tisch Hall bike rack at 9:45 a.m. The NYPD was not notified. At 8:45 a.m. on March 16, Public Safety reported they noticed a contract employee leave the NYU Main Bookstore with a shower speaker at 8:15 a.m. on March 14. The employee was discharged after returning the shower speaker. At 10 a.m. on March 16, a student reported they found their
backpack missing at 5 p.m. on March 1 after having left it unattended in a computer lab in Bobst Library for an hour. The NYPD was not notified. At 2:30 p.m. on March 17, a contract employee reported they found $50 missing from their wallet at 7:30 p.m. after having left it unattended on their desk at 10 Astor Place for 20 minutes on March 16. At 2:50 p.m. on March 18, an NYU employee stated they found their iPad mini missing when they returned to work at 9 a.m. on March 16 at Bobst Library, after having left it on top of their desk over the weekend.
Simple Assault At 3:20 a.m. on March 15, Public Safety received report that a group of unidentified males punched a non-NYU visitor on the head outside D’Agostino Hall after they had a verbal argument at 2:55 p.m. The NYPD was not notified.
Controlled Substance At 3:25 p.m. on March 17, Public Safety confiscated a small amount of marijuana from a dormitory room in Founders residence hall after being notified by FCM staff, who were doing maintenance work in the room. Email Marita Vlachou at mvlachou@nyunews.com.
NYU Reacts: Hamilton named NYU president By ALEX BAZELEY Deputy News Editor NYU announced on Wednesday that Andrew Hamilton will succeed John Sexton as the new university president. After an exhaustive eight-month search with over 200 candidates for the position, the search committee finally settled on Hamilton, who will take over presidential duties in January 2016. Hamilton has served as the vice-chancellor of the University of Oxford since 2009, and was previously the Provost of Yale University. Now, as the 16th president of NYU, Hamilton said he will focus on providing affordable education for students and maintaining a high level of academic standards.
Members of the NYU community shared their thoughts on the new president and his plans for the university.
“I am curious to see how Andrew Hamilton will respond to the high expectations that are held for him. It is imperative for Hamilton to reconcile with the faculty that had previously felt voiceless and disenfranchised under John Sexton and to address the criticisms that have surfaced regarding NYU’s local expansion plans.” -Daniel Lynne, LS sophomore
“I think his hands-on leadership approach seen through his continued interest in teaching and being generally involved on campus is
really admirable as it shows he’s ready to learn about us before he pushes for improvement. I’m sure the presidential transition will be a challenging one, but we can also look forward to it being equally exciting.” -Aayush Gupta, Stern sophomore
“Given Sexton’s reputation for a lack of transparency when it comes to how the previous administration handled affairs, I hope Hamilton will make efforts to communicate with both the students and the village community more openly. For example, few students even know about the 2031 plan despite all the opposition it has garnered from both NYU faculty and our neighbors.” -Harrison Louie, CAS freshman
“I think a lot of people are upset by this decision because they think there is either bias against candidates of color or that we just need a change of races for the leadership. I think at an institution like NYU there is very little bias against candidates of color, and as for the second point, I think changing the races of leadership simply for the sake of changing the races of the leadership, without any regard to actual qualifications, is very inadvisable, regressive and illiberal given our commitment to equal opportunity and inclusiveness.” -Louis Bartholomew, CAS freshman
“It’s hard not to feel encouraged by his strong words in support of improving the dire financial aid
COURTESY OF OUIMAGES/PHIL SAYER
Andrew Hamilton will take over as president January 2016. situation at NYU. This is the kind of spirit I would have expected from our administration when I came here.” -Devin Woods, LS sophomore Email Alex Bazeley at abazeley@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
EDITED BY MARINA ZHENG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Junior shares advice for finding apartments By DHRITI TANDON Contributing Writer
Steinhardt junior Nisha Chojar’s apartment is creatively reflective of her comfortable, home-styled living. Unlike New York City’s characteristically cramped apartments, Chojar’s apartment welcomes visitors with ample space and organized furniture placement. Although finding an apartment in New York City can be hectic, Chojar’s experience was easier than usual. She got a two-bedroom apartment through a New York City broker with a rent that is below $3,000 per month. “We used a broker, called them and told them our budget and our parameters,” Chojar said. “We met them at a weekend morning and signed everything that morning itself. We just got really, really lucky.”
Student NewsDocs tackle big issues By BENJAMIN MOK Staff Writer
NYC Life, New York City’s Lifestyle Channel, had been searching for a documentary series produced by locals. When the channel came into contact with NYU’s Arthur L Carter Journalism Institute, a collaboration was born. Inside Lens features eight student documentaries that are aired weekly on Tuesdays at 9:30 p.m.; Thursdays at 4:30 a.m.; Fridays at 11:30 p.m.; and Saturdays at 3:00 p.m. Each of these documentaries are capstone projects filmed by alumni of the NewsDoc program. Filmmaker Kristen Kiraly featured the issue of unaddressed post-traumatic stress disorder in Military Working Dogs. Her film, “Dog of War,” incorporates both a first hand view of the MWD training facilities and a personal account of the relationship between a military veterinarian and her retired MWD. It focuses mainly on the life of a Brix D141, a german shepherd facing retirement as a result of PTSD. The film asks pow-
Chojar admits that the process of moving in is difficult in and of itself. Finding good quality yet inexpensive furniture also proved to be a challenge. Chojar used budget-friendly furniture stores such as Ikea and Target to purchase fundamental furniture, including a couch, desk and bed. “Ikea and Target are good places to get apartment furniture,” Chojar said. “There are certain days when these stores provide student discounts, which is when students could get good deals on furniture prices.” For Chojar, having the freedom to decorate your own space is the best thing about owning an apartment. Chojar and her roommate are both hardcore Beatles fans, and the apartment reflects their taste with the abundance of Beatles posters adorning its colorful walls.
VIA CITYSPADE.COM
CitySpade is a great way for NYU students to find non-NYU housing options. “My roommate and I both have a ton of pictures,” Chojar said. “We both really like colors and have decorated our place with things like tapestries and lights.” Chojar advises other students looking for apartments to consult websites such as CitySpade, Trulia and Apartable. “CitySpade is really good, it was actually developed by an NYU student,” Chojar said. “There’s also a really good
Facebook group called Housing at NYU for people looking for apartments in New York City. It’s just filled with people advertising apartments and moving out of their old places.” Chojar’s conveniently located building also has its own laundry room, which she believes is one of the greatest perks an apartment building in New York City could offer. She also says that she has definitely found
more peace in her off-campus apartment than a college dorm. “Being older, I definitely wanted an apartment,” Chojar said. “We have a kitchen, so we can cook and just generally be more independent with our lifestyle. Dorms were distracting when everyone is hanging around, and I believe apartments are quieter.” Email Dhriti Tandon at features@nyunews.com.
SHOW TWO continued from PG. 1
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Documentarians create their films through NYU’s Inside Lens. erful questions about the way the U.S. military treats these animals. Professor Marcia Rock, director of the Institutes’s news and documentary program, notes how closely the filmmakers work with the Institutes’s teaching staff in producing these films. “We work very closely with our NewsDoc students throughout their time with us, but particularly in that last semester when they’re editing their films that they shoot over the summer,” Rock said. Students in the program shoot and edit everything on their own, making the experience particularly rewarding. “It is a transforming experience always say that they come back in the fall as different people,” Rock said. “They are more mature and much more knowledgeable. It is an assignment that stretches more than even they could imagine.” The documentaries to be aired on Inside Lens focus on a wide array of topics, ranging from children using human growth hormones to the difficulties female
farmers face in America. Yet by addressing prominent social issues, all of the documentaries challenge viewers to look beyond than their own lives. Each filmmaker chose an issue perceived as problematic in his or her own lives, using films as a medium to impact others — an impact that can now be distributed across NYC Life’s broadcast platform. This impact has already reached many NYU students who watch the show. Tisch freshman Andrew Kanatani said he was impressed by “Dogs of War.” “It was well-shot and made a small but noticeable difference in [my] life,” Kanatani said. Others, such as Stern freshman Zoe Seward, said the documentary highlighted an important issue. “The film is something that challenges perceived notions about working animals and inspires to make positive changes in the world,” Seward said. Email Benjamin Mok at features@nyunews.com.
UNDER THE ARCH | 5:30 P.M. NEWS | 5 P.M. FEATURES | 5:30 P.M. ARTS | 6 P.M. PHOTO/MULTIMEDIA | 6:30 P.M. SPORTS | 5:30 P.M. OPINION | 5 P.M.
PHOTO BY RODRIGO CAÑEDO GATTEGNO VIA FACEBOOK.COM
NYU Tisch Photography and Imaging’s second thesis show will feature 17 graduating seniors’ work, beginning on March 26.
Show Two showcases student artworks away from the classes and made their own.” The exhibition is installed in the Gulf + Western Gallery located in the first floor lobby of the Tisch Department of Photography and Imaging as well as the Eighth Floor Gallery located at 721 Broadway, where it will remain on view from
March 26 to April 28. For those who are impatient to catch a glimpse of Show Two, some of the works from Show One, its predecessor, are currently on display in the Department of Photography and Imaging. Email Benjamin Mok at features@nyunews.com.
SUnday pitch Meetings 838 BROADWAY, fifth floor
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
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March Madness in full swing
BASEBALL continued from PG. 1
By BOBBY WAGNER Sports Editor
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Jonathan Iaione had five hits in baseball’s doubleheader and Natalie Evans was 1-for-3 at the plate.
Violets record 5-8 after week of games
“Things are only going to get better over time,” Spitz said. “We have a ton of freshmen with a lot of potential.” The team confirmed this on Wednesday when it finished a doubleheader against Cairn University with two impressive wins of 12-7 and 10-2. NYU gained a quick lead in the beginning of the first game by scoring six runs, thanks to some timely singles and errors from Cairn. The second match played out similarly, as NYU scored four at the start to take an early two run lead. Cairn was unable to rally, giving up two runs in the second inning and four more in the fourth. The wins brought NYU to 5-8 for the season. They will take the field again on March 25 to play Maritime College. The softball team got off to a similarly slow start for the week, dropping two UAA Championship games on March 14. The first game concluded in an 8-3 loss to University of Rochester, followed by an 11-4 loss to Washington University in St. Louis. Rochester took the initial lead, scoring three runs in the first inning and four more in the second and third. NYU quickly rallied by scoring three runs, but ultimately failed to complete a comeback. The second match against WashU started on a more positive note, as the Violets garnered an early three-run lead. However, the Bears made a fast
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comeback, taking a six-run lead. They pulled ahead even further by adding five more runs in the later innings. The Violets then ended their first-ever UAA Championship on March 15 when they suffered an 11-3 defeat to the Case Western Reserve University Spartans. The Spartans grabbed a four run lead at the start, which gave them the advantage they needed to conclude the match eight runs ahead. The Violets took runs in the first, third and fifth innings, but they were unable to overtake the Spartans. Sunday was a different story for the Violets. They won their first two games in the program’s history against Brooklyn College with scores of 10-1 and 5-2. The first game was tied at the bottom of the first, as each team scored one run. From there, the Violets powered ahead, leading by two runs in the fifth and then raking in an astonishing seven points at the end to ensure the win. The second game was closer, but the Violets were able to gain a three-point lead early on that swept them to success. They will take the field again later this week on Thursday in Hoboken against Stevens Institute of Technology, as their Tuesday home game against Purchase College has been postponed. Email Stanley Wu at sports@nyunews.com.
If your March Madness bracket is not already busted, then you should either be hired as an ESPN analyst or you should play the lottery. For the rest of us who are wallowing over the losses of Villanova, Virginia, Kansas and Iowa State, we at least have some entertaining basketball ahead of us to watch. Every year in mid-March, basketball fans pull out their hair and watch in amazement as small, upstart basketball teams like Davidson College or George Mason University pull off upsets against college basketball royalty in the NCAA’s annual end of the year tournament. March Madness is the perfect combination of parity and dominance. It pairs storylines like undefeated Kentucky bulldozing through the tournament with narratives like University of Alabama Birmingham beating Iowa State, one of the top teams in the country. What makes March Madness so exceptional is that it is nearly impossible to predict each year. Compared to the NBA playoffs, where
seven game series are played between teams to determine the best team the NCAA tournament pits 18, 19 and 20 year old kids against each other in a one-game elimination style that leaves the door open for, as CAS junior Kevin Zhao says, just about anything to happen. “I like March Madness because there’s a lot more on the line,” Zhao said. “If you lose one game, your season’s over and for some players that means their entire basketball career.” This season, the goliath Kentucky Wildcats, have steamrolled the competition on their way to what is now a 36-0 season. Most people believe that the Wildcats will go on to win the competition easily, and by all means, it is their tournament to win. But there is something magical about March, when Cinderella stories are anything but uncommon. Wichita State, a solid program with not nearly the amount of assets of Kentucky, could get hot and hit 10 threes in a half to knock off the Wildcats. Kentucky could go completely cold on their way to being ousted by West Virginia or Maryland in the Sweet 16. The beauty of it is that
fans just do not know, and as evidenced by a year of exceptionally poor brackets, have only a faint idea of how to guess what might happen. The college competition has a whirlwind of problems that needs to be addressed. The game is slow, plodding and filled with sloppy offense and unappealing defense. There are countless moral debates going on about the validity of the NCAA. Should college players be paid? Should they get the profits from sales of their brand and their name? Only time will solve these debates. In the meantime the NCAA tournament offers fans a moment’s reprieve from all this. If the game as a whole is improved, the viewing experience of the tournament will too. However, March Madness will never grow dull as long as college basketball players show the desire to pull upsets, stay focused and go further than anyone expected. With a near-perfect postseason tournament as it is, so long as the NCAA does not tear it down and try to rebuild it, it can only get better. Email Bobby Wagner at bwagner@nyunews.com.
What you missed: NYU athletics updates from spring break By BRAD WALDSTREICHER Contributing Writer Sports were in full action last week, though classes stopped for spring break. Here are five things you missed while away on break:
Men’s and Women’s Swimming The NYU women’s and men’s swimming and diving team performed exceptionally at the NCAA Division III Championships during spring break. The women’s team came in ninth place out of 54 teams, scoring 116 points, while the men finished ninth of 57 teams. The men and women both broke multiple NYU records at the championships. Led by senior captain Emily Doerner, who completed the 100-yard freestyle in 51.65 seconds, the women’s team concluded their season on a high note. Matt Kendall, the men’s captain, captured fourth place in the 200-yard breaststroke and collected All-American honors.
Track As part of the women’s track and field spring training, the Violets competed in Tampa Bay at a competition hosted by the University of South Florida. The highlight of the trip was Ireland Gibson breaking the school record for the 800-meter race. With a time of 2:13.95, the freshman
placed second out of 39 runners. Other highlights included junior Becky Turlip, who ran the 1500-meter in a remarkable time of 4:45.16. That was good enough for seventh among 66 competitors. Team scores were not tallied during the event. The Violets will compete next week in North Carolina at the Raleigh Relays.
Violets came out victorious each time. Against D’Youville, juniors Nick Benson and Colin Laporte sealed the victory in four sets with strong play. Even though the Violets are scheduled to face some tougher competition, Pina and his players are thrilled with their performances and look to continue their success.
Fencing
Awards
Daniel Sconzo and John Cramerus competed in the NCAA Championships this past weekend at Ohio State. Sconzo, a freshman, finished 20th out of 24 in foil. On Friday, Sconzo defeated opponents from Ohio State, St. Johns and Yale. Cramerus, a sophomore, earned three wins on Friday in the épée competition. He defeated opponents from Princeton, Duke and Sacred Heart. Head Coach Steve Mormando was very pleased with his players’ performances, even though they lost some close matches. As of now, the Violets are in 16th place out of 20 teams in their division.
Coach Lauren Hall-Gregory, the head coach of the women’s basketball team, was nominated for the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division III National Coach of the Year Award. HallGregory has led the Violets to two NCAA tournament appearances in the past three seasons. Her star player, junior forward Megan Dawe, was named WBCA All-American DIII Honorable Mention. Dawe’s polished career at NYU reached a high point when she scored her 1,000th point in the team’s final NCAA tournament game.
Men’s Volleyball NYU’s men’s volleyball team rolled through competition this weekend against Hilbert and D’Youville Colleges. Sophomore outside hitter Jake Getz led the charge against Hilbert with career-high 12 kills. All three sets against Hilbert were close, but the
On the academic side, a record 83 students at NYU were recognized by the University Athletic Association for Winter Sport AllAcademic. With 14 selections each, the women’s track and field and swimming teams were tied for the most students selected. Email Brad Waldstreicher at sports@nyunews.com.
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Crossword Note: The last names of eight U.S. presidents are hidden in this puzzle’s completed grid, reading across, back, up, down and diagonally, word-search style. Can you find them all? ACROSS 1 Fudd of cartoondom 6 Site of the 1968 Democratic convention, informally 9 Foster of “Taxi Driver” 14 “That’s cool!” 15 Campaigned 16 Nobles above viscounts 17 Imprint on a dirt road 19 Nearly vertical, as a cliff 20 Instrument for Bill Clinton, informally 21 Lacking taste 22 ___ Party (modern political group) 23 Pig cries 24 Skin-related 27 Quantity
30 Veal ___ 31 French market town 32 Poet William Butler ___ 34 ___-ray Disc 35 National Medal of ___ (honor bestowed by the president) 36 Many a Lawrence Welk dance tune 37 Cleared, as a garden 38 N.F.L.’s Manti ___ 39 Jack who played Napaloni in “The Great Dictator” 40 Way overcharge 41 Compel observance of, as laws 43 Like “All the President’s Men,” originally, per the M.P.A.A.
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44 Idle drawing in a margin 45 Lip-puckering, as kraut 47 Sushi eggs 48 Japanese cartoon art 49 Many an Israeli 52 Six-time Tony winner McDonald 54 Flirt with disaster 56 Primp 57 ___ kwon do 58 1%-ers 59 Eagles and such 60 Subtract’s opposite 61 Apportioned, with “out” DOWN 1 Docs with little flashlights 2 “Star Wars” princess 3 Harpo, Zeppo or Groucho 4 Summer in Somme 5 Going bad, as fruit 6 Solve, as a code 7 Political ___ (partisan sorts) 8 Jet-black 9 Entertainers for kings 10 Westerns, in old lingo 11 Have fantasies of 12 Suffix with percent 13 Mind-reading skill, for short 18 Tirade
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23 Opposite of theirs 24 Polling figures, e.g. 25 State without proof 26 Eulogized 27 Quieted down 28 Oscar-winning Rita 29 Not working 30 Concoct 32 Oxen connector 33 ___ Lilly & Co.
36 Tempo 37 Winter frost 39 New ___, site of the 1988 Republican convention
48 Lead-in to boy or girl 49 Monopoly space that says “Just Visiting” 50 Suffix with disk
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43 Where a horse’s tail is 45 Golf’s Sam
53 Pseudopsychic Geller
46 Pointed, as a gun 55 Rapper ___ Rida
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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, MARCH 23, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY TESS WOOSLEY OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
NYU PRESIDENT STAFF EDITORIAL
Students too quick to judge Hamilton By TOMMY COLLISON Deputy Opinion Editor
The search for NYU’s next president ended on Wednesday when the university announced that Andrew Hamilton, the former provost of Yale University and current vice-chancellor of Oxford University, will become president after John Sexton steps down in January 2016. He joins the university at a tumultuous time: application numbers have reached record highs, but the Sexton administration has been criticized for human rights abuses at its portal campuses, mounting student debt and its Greenwich Village expansion plans. In the days since the announcement, many students have expressed their opinion of the incoming president on social media. As a student body, we should withhold judgement and not prejudice ourselves against Hamilton until he has a chance to take the reins himself. One of the main criticisms levied against Hamilton stems from a 2013 article in The Guardian, in which he said he expressed support for higher tuition fees for top universities in England. It is important to bear in mind that Hamilton was suggesting
that top-tier universities in the United Kingdom should be able to charge above the government-mandated tuition cap, which is not the same as supporting tuition hikes across the board. While some have interpreted this to mean that Hamilton sees education as a commodity, his overall point seemed to have been that raising tuition costs was a reasonable way of bridging a funding “chasm.” Whatever the case, U.K. universities are different from U.S. institutions: a year’s tuition at Oxford costs less than $14,000, accounting for only 25 percent of the U.K. average household income. In contrast, a year at NYU represents 61 percent of the U.S. average household income. While his opinions on tuition costs are relevant, it is unfair to judge Hamilton too harshly based on comments made about a different education system on a different coun-
try under a different government. I am hopeful that having an academic at the helm will repair relations between administration and faculty, particularly after their vote of no confidence in Sexton. I am encouraged to read Hamilton called college education a “sound investment.” For too long, the NYU administration has been perceived to make decisions based on what is good business rather than what is good for students. It remains to be seen whether Hamilton will decrease the expansionism that has characterized Sexton’s tenure. It is too early to say whether Sexton will be remembered most for the NYU 2031 plan, contentious financial aid policies or his penchant for hugs. Whatever Sexton’s legacy will be, it will consist of actions and judgments he made during his 14-year tenure as president — not of idle speculation in the months before he took office. Early speculation about what Hamilton will do with NYU’s tuition costs is overly negative and unfair. We owe it to the new president to reserve judgment until January 2016. Email Tommy Collison at tcollison@nyunews.com.
ANIMAL WELFARE
New Yorkers must adjust to coyotes By ZAHRA HAQUE Staff Writer
Earlier this year, a coyote was found and captured by police on the Upper West Side. Two weeks later, another one was spotted in Stuyvesant Town, where many NYU students live. Coyote sightings in New York City, while somewhat rare, have become more frequent in recent years. Although sightings in the streets of Manhattan tend to garner the most media attention, most of the city’s coyotes reside in parks in the north Bronx and near suburban communities. Ecologists at the City University of New York suggested that the animals migrated from eastern Canada via the Adirondack Mountains, making their way south from upstate New York. As their numbers increase, a strategy must be developed to deal with urban coyotes in the context of city life. The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation hosted a workshop on Saturday called “Living with Urban Coyotes,” with the goal of educating people about these fascinating creatures and how to coexist with them. More public education like this is necessary if we want to ensure
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a healthy coexistence with our unlikely neighbors. It is important for people to know what and what not to do upon encountering an urban coyote. Feeding it, for instance, is a bad idea because it undoes coyotes’, and other animals, natural guardedness towards humans. By associating humans with food, the wild animals become more comfortable in approaching, and possibly hurting, reluctant humans. Residents of New York suburbs that are inhabited by coyotes must understand the proper ways to handle trash, outdoor pets and other things that may attract coyotes to their backyards. In general, widespread knowledge of coyote etiquette will make coexistence safer for both humans and coyotes. Education can also eliminate fear. Stories of coyotes stalking the streets
of Lower Manhattan incite mass hysteria when, in reality, coyotes are relatively harmless creatures. An unprovoked coyote will not go out of its way to attack people. In fact, people are far more likely to be injured by a domestic dog than by a coyote. Chicago’s downtown area is home to thousands of coyotes, which are remarkably adept at avoiding detection and hardly impede upon city life. While the chances of downtown Manhattan becoming a coyote hotspot are slim to none, urban life would likely continue as normal in such a situation, as long as people can govern their gut reactions. The idea of wild animals lurking in a cosmopolitan city may seem terrifying and absurd, but it does not have to be. As urban wildlife proliferates and interactions with humans increase, it is ever more necessary to support the city’s ecological wealth, and the continuation and expansion of workshops is critical. It can demonstrate to city folks that New York’s modern metropolis is not incompatible with the wild. Email Zahra Haque at opinion@nyunews.com.
Sexton must respond to travel ban
The United Arab Emirates barred professor Andrew Ross from entering the country over spring break due to “unspecified security concerns.” A vocal critic of the UAW government in the past, Ross teaches social and cultural analysis and researches labor issues. The goal of the trip was to continue researching labor conditions. NYU Abu Dhabi has received negative attention in the past, but never for concrete infringements on academic freedom. Unfortunately, the administration’s response to this travel ban has been minimal. If NYUAD is to continue operating in a country with serious human rights violations, the administration must at least take a strong public stance against academic limitations on its faculty. The university’s official position emphasizes that NYU cannot control the country’s immigration policies, and cites a recent case of an NYU-affiliated individual who was denied entry to the United States. The administration also stated they “believe in the free movement of people and ideas.” Yet Ross has not received support from the administration and NYU President John Sexton has been troublingly silent on the issue — he has not made a public comment as of print time. Denying Ross entry to the country is only the latest example of NYU and the UAE being embroiled in controversy. In January 2015, Human Rights Watch reported that labor abuses were still occurring on Saadiyat Island. In addition, The Gazelle reported that Skype had been blocked in the country, including on campus. There are troubling reports from Newsweek and Reuters of press suppression and dissenters being subject to “abduction-like arrests.” These are troubling salvos against free speech that are in direct contention with Sexton’s affirmations of “our standards of academic freedom.” The government of Abu Dhabi covering all the costs associated with NYUAD makes it almost impossible for the satellite campus to uphold free academic inquiry. As the sitting president, it is Sexton’s job to comment on issues of academic freedom such as this one, especially considering that the opening of NYUAD — which was controversial in the first place — was Sexton’s pet project. Andrew Hamilton, the incoming president of NYU, has beaten Sexton to the punch in making a definitive statement about the issue. In a recent interview, Hamilton said. “There’s no question in my mind that academic freedom is the bedrock of success at great universities around the world.” Hamilton rightly noted that Sexton “has unfinished businesses to take care of with regards to academic freedom.” It is unacceptable that a week has passed without comment from Sexton on this issue, though NYU spokesperson John Beckman responded in the original New York Times piece. Sexton must unequivocally condemn Ross’ travel ban, which amounts to nothing more than governmental bullying.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tess Woosley (Chair), Annie Cohen (Co-chair), Tommy Collison (Co-chair), Matthew Tessler (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
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