NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 42, No. 61
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014
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transportation
World politics
Peace scholar speaks at NYU
All-female taxi service launches today By Sonja Popovic Contributing Writer
By Marita Vlachou Deputy News Editor
The new livery service SheTaxis launched today, and will offer women in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island an all-female taxi service, similar to Uber and Lyft. SheTaxis, known as SheRides in New York City, was founded by Stella Mateo with the goal of providing a safe means of transportation for women who feel uncomfortable riding in cars with unknown men. Mateo told The New York Times in an article from Sept. 7 that the company employs 50 female drivers between the ages of 21 and 70, and that she hopes to expand the service to the District of Columbia, Miami and Chicago in 2015. GLS freshman Andrina Voegele said SheTaxis appeals to her because of the security it provides women. “This service is a good idea because it’ll make me feel safer than riding with a strange man in the middle of
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Staff photo by shawn Paik
Yair Hirschfeld, architect of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, offered opinions on the Israel-Palestine situation at the NYU Taub Center on Sept. 15.
ARTS
Esso plays sold-out show at Bowery By Matthew Mahoney Contributing Writer
The indie electropop duo Sylvan Esso gleefully pranced onto the Bowery Ballroom stage on Sept. 12 — the second sold-out show of a two-night stop in New York City. Sylvan Esso, which has a home base in Durham, North Carolina, is an American duo comprising singer Amelia Meath, a member of folktrio Mountain Man, and Nick Sanborn, the bassist in the experimental rock group Megafaun. The two met and formed Sylvan Esso when Sanburn was opening for Mountain Man in 2013 and Meath asked him to remix one of her songs, “Play it Right.”
Yair Hirschfeld, a University of Haifa professor and key architect of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, spoke at the NYU Taub Center for Israel Studies last night about the current peace negotiations in the Middle East and his recent book, “TrackTwo Diplomacy toward an IsraeliPalestinian Solution, 1978-2014.” During the lecture, Hirschfeld argued that negotiations between Israel and Palestine have been ineffective and an effort should be made to find common ground for the governments. “So far negotiations have been based on the logic [that] nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon and, if you want a recipe of failure, this is a recipe for failure,” Hirschfeld said. Instead of focusing on their grievances, Hirschfeld suggested that Israel and Palestine should
Meath, described by one concertgoer as an “acid bunny,” was outfitted in a neon, skintight onesie that featured a cigarette-smoking face, along with a pair of massive white Buffalo shoes. Dressed in a black T-shirt, Sanburn took his place behind a computer and control panel. They were flanked at the rear by four vertical lights that pulsed to the beat of the music and were controlled by Sanburn’s dramatic hand movements. The show opened with the seductive “Hey Mami,” during which Meath’s dance moves built anticipation for the shuddering bass line that enters halfway through the song.
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PALESTINE continued on PG. 3
arts
Exhibit challenges object perception By Leah Gross Contributing Writer
Andy Coolquitt’s “somebody place,” which opened at Lisa Cooley on Sept. 7, is an experience of displacement. One of the most notable pieces in the exhibit is “Neo-Deo: Open Market, Open Vitrine, & DeoLiberal Potentialities,” which features about 50 plastic figures shelved on blue glass with orange glass behind them. The plastic figures, about the size of a fist, vary in shape and color, although they are all domed on top. The most striking thing about the assortment is how familiar all the objects seem — they were recognizable yet somehow unidentifiable. A little research reveals that they were
Courtesy of andy coolquitt and Lisa Cooley Gallery
“somebody place” opened at Lisa Cooley on Sept. 7. once containers for deodorant. This motif of out-of-place objects continues throughout the exhibition in pieces such as “pure/gold/plum/splendor/subtle/
sage” and “build/cut/rear/seam/ black/slut/suck/step,” in which Coolquitt places a carpet and the
COOLQUITT continued on PG. 5
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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief
nicole brown Managing Editors
emily bell dana reszutek Assistant Managing Editors
casey dalrymple bryna shuman Web Managing Editors
cicek erel kavish harjai Creative Director, Special Editions
lyanne natividad Creative Directors
Today in 1994, the NYU Program Board hosted the Namgyal Monks of Tibet after the monks spent a summer touring with Lollapalooza. Although modern Lollapalooza would likely not feature a group like this, at the time the monks hoped to educate Americans about their dying culture and the plight of Tibetans under Chinese rule. NYU students enjoyed a performance by the monks in the Eisner & Lubin Auditorium, including a selection of cultural dances and chants.
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
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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
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ALISON LIZZIO University and alumni coordinator
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ARIANA DIVALENTINO
SNAPSHOT
today on campus
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Ask the Sexpert Talk to a sexpert on the second floor of Kimmel Center for University Life between 12:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.
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JESSICA TIEN
“Literature and New Media Art” with Professor Claudia Benthien Visiting scholar from Germany Claudia Benthien will discuss her research in literature and language at the Deutsches Haus at 6:30 p.m.
advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER
JIM LUTTRELL EDITORs-AT-LARGE
The Growing Divide Between the Sunni and the Shia Worlds A spontaneous decision to go to a concert at Irving Plaza turned into an exciting Friday night.
PHOTO BY reeca soriano
Three scholars will discuss the differences between Sunni and Shia communities in Jurow Hall from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today’s events are free for NYU students.
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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 | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
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Author discusses history of rock ’n’ roll, explores song covers By Alex Bazeley Contributing Writer
Acclaimed music critic and author Greil Marcus spoke on Sept. 15 at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute about his latest book, “The History of Rock ’n’ Roll in Ten Songs,” in which he follows the many incarnations of the genre. Adjunct professor Charles Taylor moderated the discussion. In the book, Marcus outlines the history of rock music using less-than iconic songs, including “Shake Some Action” by the Flamin’ Groovies and “Money (That’s What I Want)” by Barrett Strong. “With the idea that these songs would be so good — that’s how rich and developed [the book] was — that you could find the whole of the music in each of the songs,” Marcus said. During the discussion, Marcus said his book was inspired by his favorite Neil Young quote. “[Young] said, ‘Rock ’n’ roll is the cause of country and blues, now blues and country came first, but somehow, rock ’n’ roll’s place in the order of things is dispersed,’” Marcus said. “I love the philosophy of history in that statement.”
Photo by amina sayeed
Greil Marcus spoke about his book with adjunct professor Charles Taylor at the journalism school. Marcus explained why he sometimes cites not only original songs, but covers of them as well. He shared an anecdote about the Cyndi Lauper cover
of the Brains’ song “Money Changes Everything.” Marcus said Lauper made the song her own, creating a thrilling stage persona out of it and going so
palestine continued from PG. 1
Email Alex Bazeley at news@nyunews.com.
Taxi continued from PG. 1
SheRides provides specialized car service
Hirschfeld analyzes IsraelPalestine
work on the common ground they have. “The mindset should be what is agreed upon can be implemented, since there is agreement on a number of issues including water, access and movement, as well as crossborder corporations,” he said. Hirschfeld also denounced the violence that religious Israelis have demonstrated toward Palestinians and warned of the consequences of their actions. “To tell you the truth, we have religious people putting a Palestinian kid on flames, and this is something so outrageous and so terrible that if this is the way we’re going down this is really the end of everything,” Hirschfeld said. CAS junior Rayya Nahas said she found Hirschfeld’s opinion to be less extreme than other opinions on the conflict. “The fact that he had a very moderate approach was very interesting,” Nahas said. Hirschfeld also emphasized the importance of Israel building a partnership with its neighboring countries. “If we want Israel to be a sustainable nation, it has to develop
far as to place herself in a trash can when she performed the song live. Gallatin senior Brie RocheLilliott said Marcus’ take on
cover songs was interesting. “What I like about it is how he chooses the songs rather than the artists themselves, and how different people covering the same song can provide such a different meaning,” Roche-Lilliott said. Marcus also discussed his past distaste over the term rock ’n’ roll, citing its disassociation with the music that had defined it many decades ago. Ultimately, he reconciled with the phrase. “I was going to go back to the idea that rock ’n’ roll is all popular music with any energy to it at all from somewhere in the ’40s to the present,” Marcus said. CAS graduate student Sam Behrens said he appreciated Marcus’ explanation of the genre’s importance. “[The history of rock ’n’ roll] is important in the way he described it at the end: rock ’n’ roll not as a genre but as more of a history of important or energetic music that has something to say,” Behrens said.
STAFF Graphic by kavish harjai
Staff photo by shawn paik
In his lecture, Yair Hirschfeld explored nuances of negotiation. relationships with its neighbors and you can only build good relationships with your neighbors if you maintain a high amount of dialogue,” he said. While Hirschfeld said even though Israel should seek the support of the United States, he was critical of Secretary of State John Kerry’s peace initiative in the Middle East. “If Mr. Kerry wanted to solve this in nine months, he didn’t know what he was doing,” Hirschfeld said. In a statement to WSN, TorchPAC, the NYU pro-Israeli group, proposed a solution for resolving the Israeli-Arab conflict. “TorchPAC believes that a lasting solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict will only be solved with the creation of two
states for two peoples, one Israeli and one Palestinian,” the statement read. “A lasting solution must come from both sides of the table.” Students for Justice in Palestine did not comment. However, NYU law student Prasad Dharshini said Hirschfeld did not propose a solution to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. “There are very few people today who are neutral on the issue who can tell you that there is a solution, because it is a very complex conflict,” Dharshini said. “He didn’t suggest a solution to the problem, he suggested that a solution was possible.” Additional reporting by Su Sie Park. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
the night,” Voegele said. “I like that it’s created for the safety of women.” SheTaxis was also created with the intention of adding women to a male-dominated industry, as only 1 percent of yellow cab drivers are female. Natalia Binnmyr, a mother who recently moved to New York from Europe with her two young children, said the new app was a good idea and similar to certain services offered overseas. “I like women taxi drivers,” Binnmyr said. “I feel safer, and I always had a good experience when a woman drove me. There was a service like this in Europe called Pink Taxi and people often used it for their children.” In an article from Sept. 8, the Wall Street Journal wrote that the service is illegal because both local and federal laws forbid businesses from turning down workers or applicants based on gender. NYU Law professor Samuel Estreicher was quoted in the article and raised doubts as to the legality of the service, argu-
ing that it discriminates against male passengers. “Generally the law doesn’t recognize the customer preference as a justification for discrimination,” Estreicher said in the article. “Employers cannot assume all males will be violent sex offenders.” LS freshman Idy Watt agreed, saying the app discriminated against men. “I think it’s discriminatory and find it wrong that women would just assume that all male taxi drivers are dangerous for them,” Watt said. Poly freshman Yohann Abittan said the service was justified in turning away male passengers. “I don’t think this is a discriminatory service,” Abittan said. “It is a good idea, but it certainly signifies a problem in society. It teaches future generations that men cannot be in contact with women.” Email Sonja Popovic at news@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 | nyunews.com
dining
edited by rebecca riddle dining@nyunews.com
Once-trending foods fading, making room for new fads By Anna Ferkingstad Contributing Writer
height of the craze was reached in 2011, marked by Starbucks’ integration of the dessert into its Petites Menu. However, the one thing that will remain unique about cake pops, as they become another addition to the graveyard of short-lived food trends, is their ability to appeal to any age group.
Whether it is the cupcake or the cronut, food trends come and go. They range from unique to everyday eats and can stretch from coast to coast. Here are some food trends that have recently lost their popularity.
Sriracha (2008 —)
Frozen Yogurt (2008-2012) To the delight of everyone’s inner child, frozen yogurt stores recently graced every street corner and shopping complex. The dessert reached its height in 2012 by attracting customers with its self-serve concept, allowing them to pick their own flavors and toppings. Although it is going to be a long time before froyo completely vanishes, the frozen yogurt trend has certainly been losing steam. While many frozen yogurt shops are still open for business, former froyo lovers seem to be moving toward trendier ice cream and dessert options, such as gelato.
STAFF GRAPHIC BY CICEK EREL
Pork Belly (2004-2013) People are starting to realize that pork belly is pretty much bacon. With a perfect combination of a crispy outside and buttery inside that melts on your tongue, pork belly was well-worth the hype when it first gained popularity. The trend began back in
Chia seeds latest health food craze By Emily Harris Contributing Writer
Though Chia pets have been featured in outlandish commercials, chia seeds are now gaining popularity not as wacky plant decor, but as a recent health-food trend. Coming from the desert plant Salvia hispanica, it is believed that the plant originated in Central America, where it was a staple of the ancient Aztec diet. Chia seeds are packed with an impressive number of health benefits. They are very low in calories, at precisely 138 calories per ounce, but deliver an abundance of nutrients. Packed with protein and fiber, they can help satisfy your appetite. Manganese, calcium and phosphorus are present in these nutritious seeds, which make your heart healthier and your bones and teeth stronger. Chia seeds provide 18 percent of your daily intake of calcium, 30 percent of your daily intake of manganese and 27 percent of your daily intake of phosphorus per 1-ounce serving. Antioxidants, which help protect your body from dangerous free radicals, are also abundant in chia seeds. They also slow digestion and are being researched as a tool to help fight type 2 diabetes. LS freshman Audrey Fong said there are many benefits to adding chia seeds to her diet. “[Chia seeds] are a great way of making any drink or food healthier,”
Fong said. Chia seeds have essentially no taste, making it easy to combine them with food you already enjoy. Some people incorporate chia seeds by mixing a handful into yogurt or breakfast cereal to start the day off right. The seeds can add a healthy crunch to a salad, or even be mixed into pudding for dessert. CAS freshman Hyejo Ahn said she often adds them to her oatmeal for breakfast. “They’re an awesome source of fiber,” she said. A recipe that utilizes this healthy trend and is seasonally appropriate for the upcoming autumn weather is a pumpkin spice chia smoothie. This smoothie is a quick and easy way to indulge in a popular seasonal flavor, but also feel good about. Pumpkin Spice Chia Smoothie Ingredients: 1/2 cup of any variety of milk, 1/2 cup pureed pumpkin, 1 frozen banana 1 tablespoon of chia seeds 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg ice cubes as needed Directions: Use a blender to blend until the desired consistency is reached.
Email Emily Harris at dining@nyunews.com.
2004 with Momofuku chef David Chang’s mouth-watering pork buns. Over time, however, what had been a decadent treat transitioned to an overused and easy-tofind menu item. Popular among restaurant savvy adults, pork belly is giving way to traditional bacon alternatives and gamier options, such as lamb belly.
Cake Pop (2010-2013) The cake pop trend engulfed the country at the beginning of the decade after its small portion size and cute frosting began to pop up on every blog and bakery menu. Although at first the idea of having dessert on a stick was adorable, the trend has declined. The
Whether it is used in snacks, chocolates or even jams, Sriracha has seeped into every possible corner of many American 20-something’s diet. As a testament to its popularity, even big-name companies have picked up on the trend. Lay’s launched a Sriracha-flavored potato chip in 2013 and Subway integrated the sauce into their condiment selection. Although the Americanmade hot sauce can still be found in the back of many kitchen cabinets, it is already beginning to gather dust. It is only a matter of time before another newly discovered, exotic sauce strikes. Email Anna Ferkingstad at dining@nyunews.com.
PHOTOS BY REECA SORIANO
Opt for the less-featured items at these eateries, such as cheesecake, sesame pancakes and carrots.
Less popular dishes still delicious By Kendall Levison Contributing Writer
Many restaurants in New York City are known for one particular specialty, and it seems as though they do not serve anything else. In honor of those overlooked dishes, check out some of these less popular but still delicious menu items at three local eateries.
Vanessa’s Dumpling House It sounds crazy to go to Vanessa’s Dumpling House for something other than their handmade Beijing-style dumplings, but the trip is worth it for another surprising specialty — sandwiches. Vanessa’s takes sesame pancakes, which are a thin, focaccia-like bread completely coated on one side with toasted sesame seeds, and splits and stuffs them with a number of different fillings. The Sesame Pancake with Peking Duck ($3.50) is a wedge-sized meal from a Chinese restaurant, complete with tender duck, a smear of hoisin sauce and a cucumber and scallion garnish. If you are a fan of bánh mì, try the Sesame Pancake with Roasted Pork ($2.50), which is made with pork,
pickled carrots and cilantro. Vegetarians can opt for a plain pancake, or choose one of the non-meat filling options like the Sesame Pancake with Vegetables ($2), where the pancake comes topped with a salad of cucumber, pickled carrots and cilantro. 310 Bedford Ave., Williamsburg
Taïm Taïm might make some of the best falafel in the city, but that does not mean the tiny shop is a one-trick pony. They also serve a variety of salads, all of which are a good way of making up for all of the vegetables you have not been eating in the dining halls. The Green Cabbage Salad ($4) is perfectly tart and crunchy, and a great contrast to the heavier items on the menu. Or try the Moroccan Carrots ($5), which are cooked with a satisfying mix of garlic and spices, and could almost be a meal on their own. While Fried Eggplant and Tahini ($4.50) might sound greasy, it actually contains no breading — just silky, perfectly cooked eggplant sprinkled with fresh herbs. 222 Waverly Place
Dessert Club, ChikaLicious
No one who visits Dessert Club, ChikaLicious can be blamed for being distracted by the shop’s unusual menu times. With crazily named desserts like the Bun Chika Bun Bun, you might ignore the more standard offerings. That would be a shame, however, because ChikaLicious serves excellent versions of many classic desserts. Their New York Cheesecake ($6.50), for example, is fluffier than most cheesecakes and with specks of real vanilla bean and a crumbly graham cracker crust, it is light enough that you can finish the whole slice. While they might not be fashionable anymore, the shop still turns out excellent cupcakes, including a s’mores version with a rich chocolate filling and toasted marshmallow frosting ($3.50). Despite its plain appearance, the Vanilla Cookie Éclair ($5.50) is a standout, with a perfectly crisp shell surrounding sweet vanilla pudding. 204 E. 10th St. Email Kendall Levison at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
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arts
edited by alex greenberger arts@nyunews.com coolquitt continued from PG. 1
Coolquitt places objects out of context in exhibit
beginnings of a staircase — two things that are expected to be on the floor — onto a wall. This challenges the perspective of the viewer. Maybe the rug and stairs are in their rightful place on the floor, but only if the viewer is standing on the wall. “Somebody place” also toys with opposites such as dirty and clean; scuffed and shiny; and hard and soft. In “i’ve gotta take this,” a plush pink blanket fills a hard, sharp-cornered glass cube that protrudes from the wall. Another challenge in perspective comes from the work “Momentum Activation Exercise: Core sample Portrait/Landscape Axis Shift.” Looking at the piece dead-on, it appears to be a sixfoot-tall, two-inch-wide watery apparition of colorful, mysterious rings. Viewed from the side, it is revealed to be spools of thread stacked behind a tall, glass-like acrylic cylinder. In the last work of the progression, simply titled “twin,” Coolquitt challenges reality yet again. A sixfoot by three-foot panel of glass covers black fabric mounted to the wall. Staring at the work, one ends up staring at oneself, or, as the title
suggests, one’s twin, in the reflection of the glass. Coolquitt’s final act of the exhibition is to pull the viewers themselves out of context. “Twin” is not what one expects to see on a day-to-day basis, nor is it necessarily desired or expected. This change in function indicates a change in reality, begging the question whether this twin is really the viewer at all, or some other object created by Coolquitt. By taking common objects out of context, Coolquitt renders the commonplace bizarre, enigmatic and, at times, unrecognizable. He challenges the belief in familiarity of even the most basic material aspects of day-to-day reality. Deodorant is for hygiene, a carpet is for walking on and a blanket is for sleeping. When these items are taken out of the context of their function, they appear to be different objects entirely. Coolquitt seems to ask whether the realities of the environment are based on the function of the objects within that environment. “Somebody place” will run until Oct. 19. Email Leah Gross at entertainment@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW MAHONEY
Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn combine their talents during their show at Bowery Ballroom. Esso continued from PG. 1
Duo pleases crowd with set, covers
Meath and Sanburn chatted amicably with the crowd and with each other throughout a set that included their entire self-titled debut album, “Sylvan Esso.” Standouts were the danceable “H.S.K.T.,” the soothing “Coffee” and the smooth “Uncatena,” where Meath’s voice was brimming with emotion and sent chills down audience members’ spines. Meath’s vocals sailed gorgeously over Sanburn’s crisp production throughout the set. The main set ended with the catchy hit “Play it Right.”
Amid cries for more material, Meath and Sanburn apologized that their set was ending, but then coyly asserted the audience must have known the finale was coming, as “Sylvan Esso” has only 10 songs to their name. The pair returned after a few minutes to play two more songs. Admitting they had already played all their bangers, they relaxed the pace and started with a cover of Porches’ “The Cosmos,” a soaring rendition replete with stunning vocals and synths. The
final song was the album closer, “Come Down.” Meath and Sanburn thanked the audience again for coming out and for selling out the show three months in advance. Based on their sincere appreciation for the fans’ support, it is likely they will stick to their charming and humble roots even as they continue to tour throughout Europe and other parts of the United States. Email Matthew Mahoney at music@nyunews.com.
Sports
edited by CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@nyunews.com
Violets continue undefeated streak, 5-0 for season By Abbas Shahid Contributing Writer
PHOTO BY MATT D GOLDMAN
Freshman Nicolas Notaro is a young star on the team.
The NYU men’s soccer team beat St. John Fisher College with a close 2-1 scoreline to take their perfect starting streak to 5-0 on Sept. 13. With forward Nicolas Notaro finding the back of the net and also bagging an assist, the freshman seems to have gelled well with older the players. Freshman forward Malcolm Montilus also managed to get a goal to his name in the contest. The win has boosted the confidence of the team, who is aiming for a University Athletic Association title this year. Sophomore forward Bryan Walsh acknowledged the contribution of the freshmen on the team. “A close win against a solid program is always a confidence booster, but this game specifically showed us that the freshmen can produce results in crucial situations,” Walsh said. This win came on the back of an impressive 4-0 win over City College of New York on Sept. 3, and a hardfought 3-2 extra time win against the College of Staten Island on Sept. 10. The progression of the performances put forward may be an indicator of how well the team is shaping up. With nine goals scored in the last
PHOTO BY MATT D GOLDMAN
Ryley Llorente kicks from the corner against Staten Island. three games, the team boasts a wide array of attacking players, with the freshmen being especially impressive thus far. An average of over 22 shots per game, combined with over 2.5 goals per game, bodes well for the team. Playing an away match against Hunter College this Wednesday, these statistics are bound to give the players self-assurance. Much of this success has been because of the talent of both the experienced and the freshmen players, as well as solid
work put in at the training ground. One can see how the team is being built to be not only great in possession, but also hardworking off the ball by pressurizing opponents and closing up spaces. Even though the team’s attack has been particularly impressive, the defense deserves equal praise for putting in consistent displays in the early stages of the season. “Our undefeated record so far comes from a lot of talent and a lot of hard work,” sophomore midfielder Petter Aasa said. “We have a really talented team this year, but talent doesn’t mean anything unless you have the work ethic which we have proven to have as well. We are now just focusing on constantly improving, both individually and as a team in order to win the UAA this season.” With the team vying for the UAA title, each game is a must-win and the game against Hunter College could be pivotal for their momentum. While Hunter College will be looking to give the Violets their first defeat of the season, NYU hopes to take their perfect record to a formidable 6-0. Email Abbas Shahid at sports@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 | nyunews.com
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, September 16, 2014
The new york times crossword & daily sudoku
Crossword ACROSS 1 Cry after an epiphany 4 Butt 7 Toy in a crib 13 *“Grey’s Anatomy” actor Patrick 15 *Actress Jane who was a “Medicine Woman” 16 Short opera piece 17 “No kidding!” 18 Three-card hustle 19 “Where ___ go wrong?” 21 Wall St. initials 22 Annoyed one’s bedmate, perhaps 24 Hawaii’s state bird 26 With 40- and 48-Across, much-mocked ad phrase that could have been said by the answers to the four starred clues 32 Wood shaper
35 Sheet music abbr. 36 Brown beagle? 37 Whip … or something that can be whipped 40 See 26-Across 42 Said with one’s hand on a stack of Bibles 43 Sparkly headwear 45 Follow closely 47 Fleur-de-___ 48 See 26-Across 52 ___ close to schedule 53 Attends to hair and makeup, say 57 A long way off 61 And 63 Bonehead 64 Offshore race 66 Chocolaty spread since 1964 68 *Actor Jack who was “Quincy” 69 *“ER” actor George 70 Equilibrium 71 Lair
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE C A T C H O N
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72 Publishers’ hirees, for short DOWN 1 Douglas who wrote “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” 2 Long-legged bird 3 Acid in proteins, informally 4 Look up to 5 Fishbowl accessory 6 Set of two 7 Jogs, in a way 8 Yes 9 Counterfeiter fighter 10 U.S. equivalent to the U.K.’s Laurence Olivier Award 11 San ___ Obispo, Calif. 12 Art Deco icon 14 ___ dish 15 “I Want to Hold Your Hand” through “All My Loving,” on “Meet the Beatles!” 20 Crashers, e.g. 23 ___ lab 25 A seeming eternity 27 Celestial sphere 28 Milk dispenser 29 Handyman’s belt item 30 Nashville site, familiarly 31 Bartender’s stock 32 Prologue follower 33 Reason to call a plumber 34 Gusto 38 Coach Parseghian
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PUZZLE BY ROBYN WEINTRAUB
39 Potato salad ingredient, informally
51 Single accompanier
59 Rain, in Spain 60 Cleaning cloths
41 And
54 Kanga and Roo creator
44 32 Beethoven pieces
55 Propelled, as a raft
46 Econ. indicator
56 Remains behind
49 Hall-of-Fame pitcher Ryan
57 Temple receptacles
65 “Eww, I don’t want to hear about it,” in a text
50 King in “The Little Mermaid”
58 Arts and crafts material
67 Diminutive ending
62 How much 1990s music was issued
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nyunews.com | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
opinion
edited by CHRISTINA COLEBURN opinion@nyunews.com
Technology
Taxi services must embrace innovations By Kenny Lee Contributing Columnist
A German court has recently banned Uber’s UberPop ride-sharing service from operating within the country’s borders. Arne Hasse, spokesman for the Frankfurt state court, explained the verdict. “While competition is healthy, everyone has to be playing by the same rules,” Hasse said, referencing insurance and licensing regulations that ride-share drivers do not fulfill. These regulations are behind the times. They stifle innovation and hurt consumers. The cab situation is similarly bleak in America. Almost every urbanite in this country has a taxi horror story. The industry, however, has not adapted its practices to adequately address the inconveniences its service causes. In New York City, the need for ride-for-hire service has increased as the population has swelled. The industry has not sufficiently adjusted to meet the demands of over 8 million people, tied up by the city’s medallion limit. A medallion is a certification from the taxi commission approving a vehicle for the city’s yellow livery. When first introduced in 1937, 16,900
medallions were issued. In 2012, however, the number fell to 13,237. This scarcity provides taxi companies that own these medallions security without any incentive for innovation or investment in new technology. Into this vacuum stepped Uber in 2011, which now operates in more than 200 cities worldwide. Uber’s software pinpoints when and where its cabs will be available. This service connects the customers to drivers more efficiently than the traditional hailand-wait system. Better still, Uber’s smartphone app, through which all transactions are completed, facilitates driver quality control. Taxi commissions in the United States have been wary of Uber’s presence. Chicago and the District of Columbia have made unsuccessful attempts to ban Uber, and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission proposed
an amendment to an existing law to ban Uber and services like it. Such regulations disrupt progress and prolong inefficient practices. There are areas where Uber can improve. Its controversial recruiting tactics and sometimes unqualified drivers have hurt its image. Such problems can be solved as the company’s business model matures, however. The introduction of innovation is never easy, but in this case it will prove to be beneficial. When New York City began requiring taxis to accept credit cards in 2007, the backlash from drivers was fierce. Two years after the technology’s introduction in cabs, however, the Taxi and Limousine Commission concluded that credit cards helped the taxi business survive the recession. The Times heralded the “backof-the-cab swipe” as an “unlikely savior for New York’s taxi industry.” Taxi regulators, in the United States and abroad, should embrace technological advancement. The change will benefit consumers that rely on an outdated industry. Email Kenny Lee at opinion@nyunews.com.
Foreign Policy
Obama fails to comprehend Iraq instability By Dan Moritz-Rabson Contributing Columnist
Despite initially campaigning for the presidency with the promise of withdrawing all U.S. troops from Iraq, President Barack Obama now seems prepared to ignore the cautionary tale of the 2003 Iraq occupation. By doing so, he has succumbed to the uninformed right-wing’s calls for military engagement. Granted, the present circumstances differ from the mass hysteria caused by sensational reporting and perpetuation of Islamophobic stereotypes following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Rather than instinctively rushing into Iraq, Obama ostensibly contemplated the best course of action to deal with ISIS, the group that recently beheaded two American journalists and one British aid worker. However, Obama failed to think critically about the consequences of resuming militaristic activity in Iraq. Even after former President George W. Bush’s claims of Iraq’s possession of weapons of mass destruction catalyzed Congress’s declaration of war and were then disproven, much of the American public still remains drastically uneducated about the
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true impact of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The stability and democracy that was promised as a result of U.S. involvement never took a firm hold. And yet, Obama still declared the campaign successful as he withdrew from Iraq, claiming the United States left “behind a sovereign, stable and self-reliant Iraq, with a representative government that was elected by its people.” Considering the continued sectarian violence, Obama’s 2011 declaration seems anything but accurate. The United States certainly did not, despite the $1.7 trillion spent on Iraq, leave behind a foundationally solid structure of democracy. Amid many theories about our rationale for attack lies a seemingly inescapable truth — nationalistic attempts that implicitly, if not explicitly, seek to Westernize the world clash with cul-
tural values of Middle Eastern societies. In order for foreign intervention in the Middle East to exist with any possibility of ensuring lasting peace, the powers entering into a complicated and unfamiliar conflict must strive to understand the situation from a nonWestern perspective. If truly striving for democracy, the United States must implement measures Iraqi and Syrian citizens will accept. Failure to act accordingly created the chaos that empowered ISIS in the first place. When considering the recent actions of ISIS, foreign military intervention to incapacitate the group appears necessary. The strategy of “bombing them back to the stone age,” however, fails to address the underlying political instability and social conflict that enabled ISIS to expand so rapidly. Instead, it proposes a shortsighted solution that only perpetuates the cyclical rising of another extremist faction. As Bush’s actions left Americans questioning the true intent of his Iraq invasion, Obama’s actions raise the same concerns, especially in light of Bush’s obvious failure. Email Dan Moritz-Rabson at opinion@nyunews.com.
staff editorial
Textbooks must be affordable, accessible
Yesterday was the last day NYU students could add or drop classes, and also marked the last day to return textbooks to the NYU Bookstore. Many students are now officially stuck with textbooks they are unlikely to need in three months. Not only are course materials overpriced, they are not fully utilized in some classrooms, and professors should be more mindful of the added expense. According to a survey conducted by the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, 65 percent of college students have, at some point, considered not buying a college textbook because of its cost. The survey noted that the price of college textbooks has climbed three times the rate of inflation over the past decade. According to the College Board, the average college student spends around $1,200 on textbooks and other school supplies each year. Too often professors will list a textbook as required course material, yet only assign a specific paragraph on a specific page during the entire semester. This is not fair to the student who spent $200 on it. Many professors whose classes use textbooks require physical ones in class. They should be more lenient, allowing students to use online textbooks even if it means making an exception to their no technology policy. Electronic textbooks cost significantly less than actual textbooks, yet only 6 percent of students use them. A shift in professor policy could increase this number. NYU can help alleviate this expense on its students. Bobst Library carries copies of most textbooks, but the editions it carries are often outdated. A third edition French textbook is useless to a student whose professor teaches from the updated seventh edition. Additionally, borrowing textbooks from Bobst is not as easy as it could be. Because the library usually stocks few copies of each textbook, there are limitations on borrowing. If the copies are already in use, the student is out of luck, and even if a copy is available, the student can only use the book for two hours. The New York Times released an infographic on Sept. 8 analyzing the schools with the most economic diversity. While it is a positive that NYU made the list, economic diversity does not equate to a lower bottom line for tuition. For NYU students, the article is a reminder of a familiar financial reality, to which textbooks are an added burden. NYU’s professors should consider the cost to students when devising a curriculum, while the university should re-examine Bobst resources.
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.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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