WSN091514 by Washington Square News

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 42, No. 60

monday, september 15, 2014

nyunews.com tech

NYU Events app to launch this week

inside this issue NEWS

By Arsh Harjani Contributing Writer

illustration by Sonja Haroldson

Campus Crime Log WSN’s summary of on-campus crime for Sep. 1-14. story on PG. 3

Opinion

Photos by Dana Brown

Female comedians held auditions for another year of laughs In addition to auditions, Bechdel Test, NYU’s all-female comedy group, had its first performance of the semester Sept. 13.

Two developers are preparing to launch their new eventcollecting app, NYU Events, on Sept. 18. The free app, which was developed by CAS junior Abhi Ashutosh and former NYU student Tanner Nelson, will use crowdsourcing to consolidate events from NYU schools and student groups. “The way [the] NYU Events app processes is it shows you events that you like,” Nelson said. “This is [going to] make it really great for club leaders as well because the process for adding your club to our app literally takes a couple of seconds. All you do is give us your Facebook information, Eventbrite, if you have it, maybe a little bit about your club and we can direct it from there.” The app will have club and event categories, with the

Cameras to improve police transparency

STORY ON PAGE 4

The NYPD body camera program can foster accountability and transparency.

New exhibit showcases the world of shoes

story on PG. 7

sports

Weekend in Sports An overview of how the Violets fared this weekend in volleyball, soccer, tennis and cross country. story on PG. 8

Event continued on PG. 3

FEATURES

By Karishma Sonde Staff Writer

The “Killer Heels” exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum is an all-too-appropriate historical account and celebration of the high-heeled shoe. The exhibit, which opened in the midst of Fashion Week on Sept. 10, provides eye-opening background information on a common shoe in its various forms. “Killer Heels” presents a history of the shoe from its beginning as a signifier of class to its present-day artistry and association with femininity. The exhibit brings together shoes from different eras and standout shoes from designer collections. It shows pieces from some of the biggest names in footwear,

including Manolo Blahnik, Salvatore Ferragamo, Miu Miu, Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen and Chanel. “I never realized you could put so much historical significance in a shoe,” CAS sophomore Christina Hong said. “I’m a history major and, as a historian, you don’t really think of shoes as being that vehicle to communicate anything from the past.” The museum also commissioned six short films by Ghada Amer and Reza Farkhondeh; Marilyn Minter; Zach Gold; Rashaad Newsome; Steven Klein; and Nick Knight, which present the shoes in different ways. Knight’s “La Douleur Exquise” is a visual representation of the romanticism associated with heels, including specially

Photo by Karishma Sonde

The exhibit puts famous designer heels on display. made glass slippers by Georgina Goodman and Max Jacquard. High heels at the exhibit were featured for their political significance as well as their cultural importance. “Healing Fukushima (Nonohana Heels),” created in collaboration with artist and designer Sputniko! and shoe designer Masaya Kushino, is in-

spired by the nuclear disaster of Fukushima in 2011. The shoes themselves are an example of mechanical mastery. As the wearer of the shoe walks, radiation-absorbing seeds are planted through the heel into the ground. Such innovative use of technology is celebrated in the showcase, which features 3-D printed heels as well as ones made of glass, plastic, metal, fishing wire and other unconventional materials. “Killer Heels” includes an element of view participation by allowing the attendee to describe how they viewer the symbolism of the high heel. Audience reactions like beautiful, powerful

HEELS continued on PG. 5

Washington Square news | Monday, September 15, 2014 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief

Exposure

nicole brown Managing Editors

emily bell dana reszutek Assistant Managing Editors

Photos by Rachel Liquindoli The Oltrarno quarter of Florence is known for being home to the workshops of numerous craftsmen that continue the Florentine tradition of producing artisanal goods. Among these shops exists the bottega of Omero Benvenuti, a bookbinder carrying on one of the oldest artisanal traditions in Florence. Much of Omero’s work stems from practices that began during the Renaissance, including the art of making Florentine marbled paper. When creating this paper, Omero combines both traditional and new methods to create innovative, colorful patterns that he sometimes uses in place of leather to cover the books and journals that he binds. Omero began to learn these skills when he was only 11 years old, and today, almost sixty years later, he should be considered no less than a master of his craft.

casey dalrymple bryna shuman Web Managing Editors

cicek erel kavish harjai Creative Director, Special Editions

lyanne natividad Creative Directors

Julie ciccone olivia martin

senior staff

news JOHN AMBROSIO, VALENTINA

DUQUE BOJANINI features HANNAH TREASURE arts ALEX GREENBERGER sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO copy THOMAS DEVLIN multimedia SHAWN PAIK under the arch blog JONATHAN

KESHISHOGLOU social media ARIANA DIVALENTINO senior editors TESSA AYSON, SCOTT MULLEN, VALERIE NELSON, MARINA ZHENG

deputy staff

news LARSON BINZER, RAHUL

KRISHNAMOORTHY, MARITA VLACHOU features BAILEY EVANS beauty & style DAVID BOLOGNA violet vision blog GIANNA COLLIER-PITTS dining REBECCA RIDDLE film ISABEL JONES entertainment IFE OLUJOBI music ALEXA SPIELER theater/books NIKOLAS REDA-CASTELAO the highlighter blog MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE sports TONY CHAU multimedia hannah luu

opinion page opinion editor

CHRISTINA COLEBURN deputy opinion editors

OMAR ETMAN, ADAM FAZLIBEGU, TESS WOOSLEY

advertising business manager

ALISON LIZZIO University and alumni coordinator

claire mahany sales manager

ARIANA DIVALENTINO

SNAPSHOT

today on campus

sales representative

ETHAN JACOBS Sales associate

emma howcroft

Close Readings: Greil Marcus Greil Marcus will talk about his new book “The History of Rock ‘n’ Roll in Ten Songs” on the seventh floor of 20 Cooper Square from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Graphic DesignerS

jillian branchaud KALEEL MUNROE circulation manager

JESSICA TIEN

advising

Career Fair Workshop The Wasserman Center for Career Development is offering tips for finding jobs and internships at career fairs. The workshop is from 11 a.m. to noon.

Startups and Entrepreneurship at NYU Learn more about entrepreneurship and the resources available to students at the Leslie eLab from noon to 12:45 p.m.

Illustration by Sonja Haroldson

today’s events are free for NYU students.

GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER

JIM LUTTRELL EDITORs-AT-LARGE

KRISTINA BOGOS, rachel kaplan, MICHELLE LIM, CLIO MCCONNELL, jordan melendrez, jonathan tan 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.

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nyunews.com | Monday, September 15, 2014 | Washington Square news

EVENT continued from PG. 1

App aggregates campus, club events

event page providing information including maps to the venues. Nelson added that the app works according to user preferences and will allow users to filter lists by event category. The user will also have the option to RSVP within the app. “When you click RSVP to an event, it will be added automatically to your calendar,” Ashutosh said. “You can swipe between days and this is more than just a regular calendar app. It is really sourcing things from around you, so you can explore.” NYU Events started as Event Scout, an app that Ashutosh and Nelson developed over the course of 48 hours last May during the 2014 NYU Hackathon. Hackathon organizer and Poly junior Earl Co said the app impressed judges and was one of his personal favorites from the competition. “It won best design because it was built over the course of 48 hours and it was surprisingly well-designed, which I think was pretty fantastic,” Co said. “It was an app that I would use myself; I admin several groups on Facebook and saw it personally as an app that I could use to tag specific things.” Ashutosh said the app has already started to gain traction among students and groups, even before its launch. “We did a two-week beta before actually launching it and we found that there was a 15 to 20 percent increase in engagement,” Ashutosh said. “It’s a good sign for the organizers to put [their clubs] on the app.” Ashutosh added that the app, while not officially developed with NYU, will work in tandem with the university to spread the word about on-campus events. “NYU Student Affairs knows about the app,” Ashutosh said. “They are trying to figure out where it will fit into their ecosystem and that will come, probably around two weeks after the launch.” Nelson said the app was built to help make the far-flung NYU community more aware of what is happening around campus and around the city. “We care a lot about the community at NYU and people always talk about how to foster that community and getting participation in club events is one of the best ways to do that and that’s our main focus here,” Nelson said. “We want to build a community.” Email Arsh Harjani at news@nyunews.com.

Campus Crime Log: Sept. 1-14

on Sept. 3. The marijuana was confiscated and thrown away, and the investigation was closed.

MADRID

Criminal Mischief At 2 p.m. on Sept. 8, a staff member reported that someone had tried to break a lock at 20 Cooper Square sometime between the evening of Sept. 4 and the evening of Sept. 8. The incident remains under investigation.

Larceny

illustration by sonja haroldson

Stalking

By Scott Mullen Senior Editor Here is a look at on-campus crime from the past two weeks. At press time, 22 crimes had been reported to Public Safety since the beginning of September. Of these, 19 involved larceny, which is the theft of personal property. The remaining three reports were incidents of criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance and stalking. Only three of the investigations have been closed, according to the report, with the remaining 19 still under investigation.

At 7:43 p.m. on Sept. 3, a male staff member at Coles Sports Center reported that a stranger had been following him throughout the facility for several weeks. He said the person had tried to talk to him. The incident is still under investigation.

Controlled Substance Incident Public Safety personnel were informed of the presence of marijuana in one of the dressing rooms of the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at 8:30 p.m.

Larceny has been reported to Public Safety on 19 separate occasions thus far in September. Thefts have been reported at the NYU Dental Center, the NYU Bookstore, Rogers and Othmer halls at the Polytechnic School of Engineering, Third North and University residence halls, the Education Building, Meyer Hall, Starbucks at Faye’s, the Henry Kaufman Management Center and various other outdoor locations. The incidents included bicycle thefts, two electronics theft and the theft of a clock from a faculty member’s desk. Two students were also apprehended for shoplifting at the NYU Bookstore. All but the two incidents of shoplifting are still being investigated. The NYU Department of Public Safety maintains public records of crime that takes place on university property, which can be found on the department’s website. Email Scott Mullen at smullen@nyunews.com.

via flickr.com

The Spanish government is set to reject tougher abortion laws for which conservative parties were advocating due to a lack of popularity among 70 to 80 percent of the Spanish population. If they passed, they would enact some of the strictest abortion laws in Europe, allowing abortions only in cases of rape or potential harm to the mother or fetus. Additionaly, two doctors will be needed to verify that the pregnant woman meets these criteria. — The Guardian PARIS

VIA flickr.com

France will be the first in Europe to send an official minister, Annick Girardin, to visit Ebola-stricken countries. Girardin is making the trip after the World Health Organization asked the international community for a quicker response to help the countries affected by the virus. — France24 BERLIN

the gazelle: NYUAD GOES SMOKE FREE Published on TheGazelle.org on Sept.14

via flickr.com

By Alyssa Ferreira Contributing Writer at The Gazelle “NYUAD is a smoke-free campus.” NYU Abu Dhabi’s new smoking policy begins with a simple sentence, one ominous to smokers and comforting to non-smokers. Most people are already aware of the risks of tobacco use and tobacco users are arguably the most aware of the damage it causes to their bodies. Upperclassmen and faculty alike are used to the experience of smoking in Sama Tower. They are used to a different level of access, where smoking was only an elevator ride away rather than a trek around campus and sometimes across roads. There’s a saying that, “old habits die hard” and this is definitely true of the smoking situation on Saadiyat. Adam Ramey, Associate Professor of Political Science at NYUAD said, “While the UAE federal law from 2009 bans

smoking in educational institutions, it says nothing about residential units within academic institutions.” The change in policy stems from a law that states that educational facilities must be smoke-free. But what exactly does this mean? It is understandable that enclosed spaces such as buildings should remain smoke-free for the comfort and health of those who use them. When it comes to outdoor areas, however, the rules can become open to many interpretations. What exactly is considered off-campus? When asked, Public Safety officers respond by saying that crossing the street would place you off-campus. The confusion about the new smoking rules is genuine. The new rules claim that the school requires cooperation and consideration of both smokers and non-smokers to achieve suc-

cess. Seniors and smokers, Andrew Pitts and Moiri Gamboni, agree that cooperation between smokers and nonsmokers is necessary to fulfill the existing policy, but that it isn’t happening. In order to promote this cooperation, Pitts has initiated the formation of a new Student Interest Group, named SIGarette, in order to help dispel this lack of communication and cooperation between smokers and nonsmokers. Pitts says that the main goal of his SIG would be to help create a clean environment on campus, including receptacles for cigarette butts. As it stands, smokers tend to throw their butts on the ground, creating unsanitary and unsightly waste, or to throw them in recycling bins, which are not meant for cigarette waste. Email Alyssa Ferreira at akf284@nyu.edu.

Angela Merkel, German chancellor, has joined the rally to fight antisemitism. The rally was initiated by the Central Council of Jews in Germany to fight the rise in antisemitism that Jewish leaders and authorities are allegedly blaming on Muslim extremists and young immigrants in Germany. — The Guardian sydney

via flickr.com

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott declared war on “the Islamic State ‘death cult.’” This was done in response to a U.S. request that the Australian government send planes and 600 military personnel as part of a multinational strike against the group that calls itself the Islamic State. — The Sydney Morning Herald

Washington Square news | Monday, September 15, 2014 | nyunews.com

FEATURES

edited by Hannah treasure FEATURES@nyunews.com

All-female group livens NYU comedy community By Avery Chang Staff Writer

Bechdel Test, NYU’s first and only all-female comedy troupe, put on its first show of the semester on Sept. 13 with much success. The troupe is named after the evaluative rule that asks whether a piece of media features at least two women who speak to each other about something other than a man, and it shows that the group aims to bring a new dynamic to comedy. Bechdel Test president and founder Meghan Sullivan created the group to bring strong female voices to the comedy world. “I am tired of waiting for female humor to become mainstream,” Sullivan, a Tisch senior, said. “There is a stigma around female jokes that they have to be one thing or another — well they don’t. Bechdel Test is a bold brand of comedy that is run by women.” Their first show opened with a video of the girls spoofing the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge by pouring everything but ice water — iced coffee, sangria and flax milk, to name a few — onto themselves. The parody of the viral challenge showed audience members that

Bechdel Test will wrangle any topic and turn it into comedy. Seamlessly creating scenes using audience-suggested topics, Bechdel Test showcased their improv finesse with a blend of genuine humor and quick wit that made for an easygoing, enjoyable show. The audience, receptive from the start to Bechdel Test’s clever, uncensored comedy, never failed to accompany each punch line with a burst of laughter. “Bechdel Test does not have a particular brand of humor,” Sullivan said. “We hope to make you laugh and make jokes that you would not expect.” The ladies of Bechdel Test come from various backgrounds, yet are still able to come together as friends and play off of one another’s comedic talents. Vice president and Tisch senior Anjali Desai said the troupe’s diversity fosters an interesting group dynamic. “Each girl brings their own type of humor because everyone in our group has their own unique upbringing,” Desai said. Although the four performers of Bechdel Test became interested in comedy through different channels, comedy is a bonding factor between them all. Sullivan comes

from a conservative Irish family where she often had to fill the role of comic relief during fights. Desai comes from Indian parents who encouraged her creative growth. Treasurer Carly Silverman, a Tisch junior, comes from a witty Jewish family that introduced her to “The Simpsons,” “Seinfeld” and the Marx brothers at a young age. Secretary Rachel Clayton, a Tisch sophomore, jokingly credits her interest in comedy to her role as the ugly friend. Bechdel Test is authentic and accessible. Each of the ladies complements one another nicely, whether they are performing a sketch together, working off each other’s jokes in an improv scene or even just speaking to the audience. “I think Bechdel Test is setting a great example for more women to unapologetically step out into not only comedy but also any area of interest they happen to excel at,” CAS sophomore Alyssa Mullaly said. Bechdel Test aims to expand their presence at NYU throughout the year. “We hope to grow our group and become more prevalent in the NYU comedy scene,” the members said in an email. “We will incor-

Photo by Dana Brown

Bechdel Test brings together a wide range of comedic styles. porate experimental comedy, and we might incorporate stand-up comedy into our shows. We do not want to box ourselves into

one type of comedy.” Email Avery Chang at features@nyunews.com.

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FEATURES

edited by hannah treasure features@nyunews.com

Professor recognized for book on media, immigration By: Amanda Morris Contributing Writer

Associate MCC professor Rodney Benson received the Tankard Book Award for his book, “Shaping Immigration News: A French-American Comparison.” The Tankard Award, presented by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, honors work of in-depth reporting and investigation and was awarded on Aug. 6. Benson’s book, based on almost five years of research, explores the differences in the coverage of immigration news between France and the United States, and how the media shape public opinion. Benson chose France to compare to the United States because the two countries have been debating similar issues in regard to illegal immigration. “France is often America’s ‘other,’” Benson said. “People will criticize U.S. media and say that France’s is better, but they don’t say why. I was curious to see if it was.” In his research, Benson examined a variety of news outlets and their coverage from the 1970s to modern day. He found that there

was a big difference in the format of the news — the United States presented more personalized narratives, such as following the story of one immigrant, whereas France used a more holistic style. Benson calls France’s organization a “debate ensemble approach,” where the first few pages of a newspaper are dedicated to one story, told through interviews, profiles, reporting and historical background. “They do something we consider taboo by mixing editorial and commentary with news,” Benson said. “It’s presented in a more compelling way, and viewers can see the whole story. In the American approach, you have to piece it together yourself by following the story over time and looking at different outlets.” He argues that this difference in formatting comes from the United States taking pride in the First Amendment and frowns on government funding for news outlets, whereas France’s government is more involved and the public stations are often the largest ones. However, Benson discovered that the less commercialized the news, the more ideologically

HEELS continued from PG. 1

Unique shoes displayed at Brooklyn Museum

Photo by Karishma Sonde

“Killer Heels” highlights the historical side of shoes. and sexy, as well as painful and too high, are posted throughout the exhibit. Overall, the display brings a surprising weight to a shoe, displaying high heels as a symbolic item and a vehicle for creativity. From the craft of classic leather sling-

backs to gravity-defying moon shoes, the heels are celebrated and analyzed to cement the works. The exhibition will run until Feb. 15. Email Karishma Sonde at features@nyunews.com.

Photo by Rachel Liquindoli

Rodney Benson compares American and French styles of news. diverse its coverage. Benson hopes his research will highlight the democratic importance of having a wide range of coverage. “If the market doesn’t support a certain outlook, we shouldn’t let it die because it provides a different viewpoint,” Benson said. Additionally, Benson’s re-

search showed that France’s immigration news coverage was more explanatory, focusing on topics such as the structural consequences, causes and costs of immigration. In comparison, the United States’ coverage often focused on American politics and legislation regarding immigration.

CAS professor Martin Schain agrees with the premise of Benson’s book, that the media hold influence in framing the way we look at issues such as immigration. “This book teaches us that the media are important actors in shaping how we look at issues of immigration,” Schain said. “However, if we look at public opinion surveys on immigration, as well as the results of elections in both France and the United States, it is clear that the journalistic framing of these issues do not always dominate public reaction and behavior.” In the future, Benson hopes the United States’ immigration news coverage will adapt models with a wider viewpoint like France’s. “We [in the United States] have a view that we’re so great and that’s why people want to come here,” Benson said. “But people would rather stay home, they’re leaving out of desperation. If people understood this … people would be less hostile and not see immigrants as a problem, but as victims.” Email Amanda Morris at features@nyunews.com.

Study focuses on biomechanics By Avani Hegde Contributing Writer

Researchers have discovered that gender and height could have an effect on something we do every day: swallowing. Sonja Molfenter, an assistant professor at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, released a study this past June about the swallowing function in human beings. Her study, “Use of an Anatomical Scalar to Control for Sex-Based Size Differences in Measures of Hyoid Excursion During Swallowing,” explores the differences in swallowing function between women and men, which could result in more targeted treatments for swallowing disorders. “This study was part of my doctoral work which focused on kinematic and temporal measures of swallowing in healthy participants and in patients with swallowing disorders,” Molfenter said. “I was inspired to do this work in order to further our field’s understanding about the complex biomechanics of swallowing.” Patients who have suffered from a stroke, brain injury or head or neck cancer are likely to develop dysphagia, also known as a swallowing disorder. These disorders can completely prevent or make it very difficult for one to swallow. Thus, people with dysphagia are often unable to acquire essential fluids and nutrients.

via steinhardt.nyu.edu

Molfenter’s research on swallowing aims to treat illnesses. “Dysphagia can cause pneumonia and result in significant disruptions to nutrition and hydration,” Molfenter said. “It almost always causes major disruptions to quality of life.” Separate studies have shown that gender plays a large role in swallowing biomechanics. These studies have found that men display greater movement than women in swallowing. This has resulted in different treatments for men and women who have dysphagia. However, Molfenter took a different approach in her study and chose to focus on height differences in people, rather than solely on gender. “I was interested to know if gender differences could simply be the result of size/height differences,” she said.

To test her hypothesis, she took samples of healthy young men and women who represented a variety of heights. They were given several swallowing tasks including different volumes of liquid. By the end of her study, Molfenter was pleased to see that the results supported her hypothesis. “The results showed that differences in swallowing biomechanics can actually be explained by the size of the individual, not just their sex,” Molfenter said. “Swallowing is such a basic biological function. It seems logical that men and women do this in a similar fashion when we control the variation attributable to their size differences.” The overall process of completing this study took two years for Molfenter. However, she hopes to repeat this study in an older age group. “This is important because most people who develop dysphagia are not young,” Molfenter said. “We need to know that this relationship holds true in older individuals as well.” Because the study introduces new ideas about swallowing biomechanics, Molfenter hopes her research will prompt clinicians to use new methods and treatments. “In the paper, we propose a way for clinicians to use a method to control for participant size when they are measuring swallowing biomechanics,” Molfenter said. Email Avani Hegde at features@nyunews.com.

Washington Square news | Monday, September 15, 2014 | nyunews.com

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Edited by Will Shortz 1

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56 Hawaiian gift 57 Regatta implement

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opinion

edited by CHRISTINA COLEBURN opinion@nyunews.com

city politics

Economic diversity needed in NYC buildings By Omar Etman Deputy Opinion Editor

Mayor Bill de Blasio appears to be ready to tangibly address “the Tale of Two Cities” narrative he campaigned on amending. His efforts are most obvious in housing and urban development. His administration has mandated that most new developments be mixedincome, usually with an 80-20 split between market-rate and low-income units. The workaround some developers have found is being called the poor door, and that is exactly what it is — a separate entrance for lower-income tenants. The economics behind the dual door solution makes sense. The renters paying market rate for their apartments will still be drawn to the building for the amenities and prestige offered, much of which lowincome renters will not have access to. The developers can market its product as a luxury while meeting the city’s mandate. The poor door first came into public consciousness at the end of August, when developer Larry Silverstein, in plans for his 42-story

apartment on the Upper West Side, revealed a proposed solution to the mixed-income mandate that de Blasio’s building plan presents. In response to the public criticism of the poor door, Silverstein adjusted his original model. The developer has recently agreed to provide residents of the building’s lower-income portion access to the courtyard and rooftop deck. But, he has not yet approved a consolidation of the buildings entrances. He has agreed, however, to relocate the poor door from an alley to a park. A poor door, no matter the location, contributes to unfair stratification. De Blasio’s efforts at urban progress do not necessitate economic segregation. David Brooks, now a columnist for The New York Times, wrote a short essay for the Atlantic in 2003 called “People Like Us.” In it, he analyzes

the hollowness of the conversation surrounding diversity, specifically cultural diversity. He writes, “The dream of diversity is like the dream of equality. Both are based on ideals we celebrate even as we undermine them daily.” Brooks provides examples of American institutions and places that celebrate diversity but do not actually have it in practice. He continues, “It is appalling that Americans know so little about one another. It is appalling that many of us are so narrow-minded that we can’t tolerate a few people with ideas significantly different from our own.” With the current poor door plan, no interaction between tenants of varying economic incomes will be required, despite living just a few floors apart. On weekday mornings, as lowand high-income residents leave their shared building from separate doors, they are expelled onto the same street. Diversity is New York City’s appeal, and it is up to New Yorkers to ensure that it does not become superficial. Email Omar Etman at oetman@nyunews.com.

national politics

Individual factors may sink Senate Democrats By Johnpaul Baratta Contributing Columnist

As November draws closer, the question of whether the Republicans will be able to gain control of the U.S. Senate is looming. Three races where Democratic incumbents are retiring nearly guarantee GOP pick-ups, and Republicans only need an additional three seats to take the majority. Recent polling gives the Republicans a slight advantage in three red states currently represented by moderate Democratic incumbents. In Louisiana, three-term senator Mary Landrieu came under fire for using taxpayer dollars in improperly charged campaign flights. Arkansas senator Mark Pryor attacked his Republican opponent over his military service and later blamed him for the Ebola outbreak. Senator Mark Begich of Alaska denounced his opponent for listing a D.C.-area home as his primary address, despite the fact that Begich did the same on his campaign finance filings. All three Democrats are behind in the polls. Perhaps the candidate who has suffered the most from gaffes is Iowa Democratic congressman Bruce Braley. Braley’s controversial re-

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marks, criticizing Republican senator Chuck Grassley as “a farmer from Iowa that never went to law school,” have been detrimental in the agrarian state. Once expected to win the seat of a retiring Democrat easily, Braley now finds himself locked in a dead heat with local politician Joni Ernst. In two marquee races where Democrats had hoped to go on the offensive, the rising stars of the Democratic Party are quickly fading. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell is fighting for reelection this fall against Alison Lundergan Grimes. Controversy for Lundergan Grimes began when her father, the former chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party, allegedly secured her campaign bus at a significantly cheaper rate because of his political connections. Lundergan Grimes, once deadlocked with McConnell, now trails him significantly in seven polls.

A promising open seat in Georgia also appears to be slowly slipping away. After a leak of campaign documents where staff members voiced concerns of her being “not a real Georgian,” Democrat Michelle Nunn now trails Republican David Perdue. While pundits identify the national mood as a “Republican wave,” President Barack Obama’s declining approval rating will likely only affect the GOP holding the House. The Senate races, however, are far too complicated to give this blanket analysis. State-specific factors such as candidate likeability and local scandals will likely hand the majority back to the GOP, not national politics. Meanwhile, in swing states without major Republican tilts — including New Hampshire, North Carolina, Michigan and Colorado — savvy and experienced Democrats are keeping their chances afloat against competent Republicans with strong campaigns. However, into the final two months before election day, a Republican-controlled Senate, although not a guarantee, appears to be the most likely outcome. Email Johnpaul Baratta at opinion@nyunews.com.

staff editorial

NYPD program moves toward accountability

The New York Police Department will launch a pilot program of officers wearing body cameras this fall. Only one precinct per borough — those with the highest number of stop-and-frisks — will allow officers to voluntarily wear the cameras during the pilot stage. The program is a step in the right direction, but only comes after an order from a federal judge in the stop-and-frisk court case. While some details, like the type of cameras to be used, are still undecided, Mayor Bill de Blasio expects the program to “provide transparency, accountability and protection for both the police officers and those they serve.” As the stop-and-frisk case moved through court, police behavior across the country has continued to come under public scrutiny. The killings of Eric Garner and Michael Brown have incited criticism of the excessive force employed by the officers involved. These controversies have fueled the notion that police officers are militant, confrontational and overzealous when apprehending suspects. Without any objective evidence, it is impossible to determine the events in a controversial case. According to recently released Gallup data, only a little over one-third of black Americans showed “a great deal” or “quite a lot” of trust in their police departments, compared to nearly 60 percent of white Americans. Police departments must have a productive relationship with residents in minority communities if they intend to bridge this gap. The cameras will create concrete, undisputed evidence to document officers’ actions. This practice will also deter racially biased or otherwise corrupt officers from acting inappropriately. One of the main hurdles to the full implementation of police body cameras is concern for privacy. Donna Lieberman, head of the New York Civil Liberties Union, warned against these cameras becoming a “tool for massive police surveillance.” However, the Supreme Court has defined the right to privacy as only applying when individuals have a “reasonable expectation of privacy,” which is not true of most police encounters. As people walk through the streets of New York, or any city, they can expect to be recorded by security cameras, weakening the invasion of privacy argument. There will be issues as the program progresses, but its implementation marks an important turn from the previous mayoral administration. Former mayor Michael Bloomberg said body-mounted cameras would lead to “people questioning whether [officers] deliberately choose an angle.” However, a study conducted in Rialto, California, earlier this year showed an 88 percent decline in the number of complaints against officers when half of the department wore cameras. The new body cameras could either vindicate cops that are unfairly accused of crimes or convict them for their unjust actions. Regardless, the truth will become public, allowing for transparency in adjudication and community relations.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Christina Coleburn (Chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Adam Fazlibegu (Co-chair), Tess Woosley (Co-chair)

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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nyunews.com | Monday, September 15, 2014 | Washington Square news

sports

edited by CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@nyunews.com

Weekend wrap up By Chris Marcotrigiano Sports Editor

Women’s Volleyball The women’s volleyball team traveled to New Paltz, New York this weekend for the New Paltz Invitational. The team faced four opponents over the course of the weekend, coming out with a 3-1 record. On Friday, the Violets beat both of their opponents, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham and Mount Saint Mary’s College, in straight sets. In the FDU, Florham match, sophomore outside hitter Gigi Morally had a match-high nine kills while sophomore libero MaTia Hughes registered 15 digs on the back line. Against Mount Saint Mary’s, Morally picked up seven kills while junior setter Emily Moore had a team-high 18 assists. Saturday brought mixed fortunes for the Violets. After an impressive come-from-behind victory against SUNY Fredonia, the Violets dropped three straight sets to host SUNY New Paltz. In the first match against Fredonia, sophomore outside hitter Josie Luck lit up the stats sheet, picking up 13 kills and 15 digs. Hughes was again stout and registered 27 digs. While all three sets were closely contested against New Paltz, the

hosts proved to be too much for a Violets team looking for a weekend sweep. Senior setter/opposite Katie Robinson chipped in 12 assists while junior middle blocker Nicole Frias led the Violets with five kills. The Violets are now 8-5 and return to the court for the NYU Violet Classic next weekend at the Coles Sports Center.

Soccer Women’s soccer suffered a tough 1-0 defeat against Vassar College this Saturday at Gaelic Park. The lone goal for Vassar came in the 39th minute when sophomore goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg could not play the ball in front of her net and Vassar forward Katie Voegtlin tapped the ball into the open goal. Despite this, Steinberg was able to give her team a chance to win the game, registering three saves during the contest. The Violets dropped to 2-3 on the season with the loss. Men’s soccer was able to beat St. John Fisher University by a score of 2-1. Freshman forwards Nicolas Notaro and Malcolm Montilus scored for the Violets. Notaro also recorded an assist on Montilus’ goal, continuing the stellar play of the team’s freshmen thus far. The team improved to 5-0 after the victory.

Tennis Men’s and women’s tennis took part in the College of New Jersey Invitational this weekend in Ewing, New Jersey. On the women’s side, the team compiled an overall record of 9-9, including a 5-3 doubles tally. Junior Carmen Lai and sophomore Laila El Dessouki dominated for the Violets with 8-3 and 8-1 doubles victories. The pair also each went 3-0 in their singles play. The men’s team didn’t fare quite as well, but still had some solid individual performances. Senior Nicholas Tan and junior Sidd Thangirala won both of their doubles matches while freshmen Ian Combemale and Samuel Khoshbin earned an 8-4 victory.

Cross Country Both men’s and women’s cross country got off to good starts to their seasons this past weekend at the Saratoga Invitational. Hosted by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the tournament saw both teams finish third in a 14-team field. For the men’s team, seniors Johnny Lake and Sebastian Oja placed second and fourth respectively in the 6K race. The women’s team also impressed with All-American junior

STAFF GRAPHIC BY CICEK EREL

Lily Corsaro finishing ninth in the 5K race with a time of 17:54.

Email Chris Marcotrigiano at cmarcotrigiano@nyunews.com.

Pitcher injury rates rising, Yankees in tough spot

Yankees pitcher Masahiro Tanaka was one of the many pitchers to suffer UCL injuries. By Kyle Luther Contributing Columnist There has not been much to praise about the New York Yankees’ performance this year, despite their flurry of off-season signings. After a lackluster 2013 season, the Bombers went on the free agent market and acquired veteran catcher Brian McCann

and outfielder Carlos Beltrán to bolster the offense. They also let star second baseman Robinson Canó leave to the Seattle Mariners on a ten-year contract. By letting Canó’s contract go, the Yankees were able to sign Japanese pitching star Masahiro Tanaka to a seven-year, $150 million deal. At the beginning of the year, the Yanks looked solid, while their

via wikipedia.org

AL East foe, the Boston Red Sox, floundered. Tanaka was living up to expectations with a record of 12-4 and a 2.51 ERA before partially tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. The Yankees had two options with the rookie — let him try to rehabilitate the torn ligament and hope the pain dissipates or have him undergo Tommy John sur-

gery, ending his season and cutting down on his playing time for the 2015 campaign. Tommy John surgery consists of the reconstruction of the UCL, using a tendon taken from elsewhere in the body. The decision whether to go ahead with the procedure is a tough one, as not all pitchers who undergo the surgery return to the form to which they are accustomed. The number of pitchers receiving this surgery has dramatically increased in recent years. In 2013, Tommy John surgery was performed on 124 out of 360 opening-day pitchers. Compare this to the less than sixteen surgeries for every year between 2000 to 2010, and a stark disparity becomes clear. This could be a warning sign that the amount of stress on young pitchers, especially in the minor leagues, is deteriorating their arm strength at a much faster pace than in previous years. Something has to be done to reverse the tide. Baseball clubs should be open to switching to a six-man rotation. They all have to find additional pitchers, but it works out in the long run when young stars will not flame out early in their careers. In the case of Tanaka, there is a huge contrast between his workload in Japan and in the United States. In Japan, Tanaka was part

of a six-man rotation and pitched every sixth day instead of every fifth, which is customary in America. With only four days’ rest, pitchers’ arms are not given enough time to heal before their next game, making them more susceptible to injury. With Tanaka, the Yankees have chosen the road of rehabilitating the injury in place of having the surgery, a decision almost forced upon them by the stunning number of injuries they have had to deal with this year and the decimation of their starting rotation. This does not seem to be the best long-term plan. The Yankees are still vying for the second wild card spot, but their playoff chances are dwindling every day. Why risk Tanaka re-injuring his elbow late in the season without there being much of a chance of getting into the playoffs? While it is Derek Jeter’s last year, and he deserves to go out with a bang, it is time to cut their losses and not jeopardize the young career of Tanaka. There would be no point bringing Tanaka back to the mound this year when the team has a piecemeal starting staff and a below-average offense with time running out. Email Kyle Luther at sports@nyunews.com.