NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 42, No. 66
wednesday, september 24, 2014
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TRANSPORTATION
EXPANSION
NYU 2031 hearings to begin today
MTA sued over highly disputed posters
By Rebecca Spalding Contributing Writer
By Nathaly Pesantez Contributing Writer
The American Freedom Defense Initiative, an organization known for its controversial views against Islam, announced on Sept. 19 that it intends to sue the Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the second time for refusing to run an antiIslam ad on its buses. In a press release issued on Friday, the MTA said the rejected ad, which includes the phrase “Killing Jews,” goes against its advertising standards. “The MTA concluded it was reasonably foreseeable that displaying the advertisement would imminently incite or provoke violence or other immediate breach of the peace, and so harm, disrupt or interfere with safe, efficient and orderly transportation operations,” the press release said. Although the MTA rejected one ad, they will still run the remaining four
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STAFF GRAPHIC BY LYANNE NATIVIDAD
The map above shows the locations of four buildings NYU plans to build on the superblocks south of West Third Street.
Beauty & style
Barefaced models shock the runway
By Gabriella Bower Contributing Writer
New York Fashion Week never ceases to redefine style and showcase the industry’s myriad of geniuses. Marc Jacobs has a knack for being one of these innovators. After all, it was Jacobs who, in 1992, launched a grunge collection for Perry Ellis that would become the epitome of ’90s style. It was also Jacobs who would design Louis Vuitton’s first Ready-to-Wear line in 1997. And now, in 2014, Jacobs sends his models down the runway of his Spring/Summer collection with absolutely no makeup.
Jacobs and makeup artist François Nars worked together to create not only a natural look, but also a real one. With Jacobs envisioning an army of models, Nars told fashionista. com that it was also the designer’s idea to have the models be completely barefaced. This realness has been trending throughout the industry and, now that it has been presented on the runways, it will not be long before women everywhere embrace this look. “This goes back to one of the looks that I’ve always loved — bare skin, nothing on the face, lips or
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The New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division will hear oral arguments today at 2 p.m. in NYU’s appeal of the ruling that halted the bulk of its 2031 expansion plan. The appeals process began in January when judge Donna Mills determined that the city government allowed the university to take three strips of parkland without obtaining necessary approval from the state legislature, making the transfer illegal and halting much of the expansion plan in the process. While both sides await a decision from the appellate court, NYU is proceeding with plans to build on the site of Coles Sports Center, which was unaffected by the January ruling. However, Andrew Berman, a plaintiff in the case against NYU and executive director of the Greenwich
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arts
Artist brings powerful show to NYC By Zane Warman Contributing Writer
An invigorated Paolo Nutini showed off his reinvented style on Sept. 22 at Terminal 5, which was the first of his two shows in Manhattan this week. The Scottish singer-songwriter revealed a new side of himself with this concert — his pop-rock music appeared to be more mature than ever, and his soul-music influences became especially obvious. Opening for Nutini was PHOX, whose soulful folk music has recently been catching attention, predominantly as a result of the band’s touring work with acts such as the Lumineers. The six Wisconsinites offered a likeable but middle-of-the-road sound that flowed together in shallow
rivers of reverb. Their foundation of twangy guitar, electric piano and occasional banjo built sentimental sounds that can be expected from many other stars in the current indie-rock scene. When Nutini did take to the stage, a nine-piece band — including a horn section and a female vocalist — accompanied him. The band launched into the album’s leading single, “Scream (Funk My Life Up),” with full force. Immediately, the audience sensed the emotional growth of Nutini — a lovelorn, carefree wanderer who keeps growing in complex ways with everything he records. Nutini moved as one would imagine he would, with his hand over his heart, knees buckling and, at times, doubling over as if he were on the verge of giving into com-
plete despair. The band raucously played two songs — “Jenny Don’t Be Hasty” and “New Shoes.” The resulting sound was like “The Colour and the Shape”-era Foo Fighters, with Nutini delivering a portion of lines as spoken word. Based on the studio version, few could have predicted the bone-chilling guitar solos that punctuated these songs. Throughout the performance, Nutini’s presence emphasized his title as bandleader, compounding the ensemble’s power with his howling lines. Instead of presenting himself in a singer-songwriter light, as those might expect based on his earlier recordings, he has found a hardier, more effective voice. His delivery channeled the
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Washington Square news | wednesDAy, september 24, 2014 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
staff recommendations
Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief
nicole brown
With the New York Film Festival kicking off its 52nd edition on Friday, it is easy to become overwhelmed by the festival’s slate. Interested in “Gone Girl” but haven’t seen the films David Fincher is famous for making? Scared to try out Jean-Luc Godard’s latest, “Goodbye to Language,” because you haven’t seen his classics? Here are recommended past films by NYFF directors who have new films showing at this year’s festival.
Managing Editors
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lyanne natividad
“Fight Club”
David Fincher’s adaptation of Chuck Palahniuk’s novel of the same name captures the anxieties of our time while also wryly critiquing them. Centered around a narrator (Edward Norton) and his friend Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt), the film quickly reveals itself as a humorous metaphor for consumerist culture hidden under the guise of the narrator’s desire to rediscover his masculinity through organized underground fights. There is also Marla Singer (Helena Bonham Carter), but to explain her would be to explain the movie. Brimming with irony and scene changes as sharp as the twisting plotline, Fincher’s movie is a cult classic for a reason. Gianna Collier-Pitts, Violet Vision Editor
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news JOHN AMBROSIO, VALENTINA
DUQUE BOJANINI features HANNAH TREASURE arts ALEX GREENBERGER sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia SHAWN PAIK under the arch blog JONATHAN
KESHISHOGLOU global Joey bui social media ARIANA DIVALENTINO senior editors SCOTT MULLEN, VALERIE NELSON, MARINA ZHENG
deputy staff
“Boogie Nights”
news LARSON BINZER, RAHUL
“CoNtempt”
“Boogie Nights,” the iconic ’90s film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, offers a decidedly unglamorous view of sex, drugs and the ’70s porn industry. Arguably, it is the movie that took Mark Wahlberg from teen idol to serious actor. Scenes vacillate masterfully between dryly hilarious and gut-wrenching. Watch it first for the lewd but clever ironic humor. Watch it again for the complex explorations of relationships, morality and identity. Ariana DiValentino, Social Media Editor
“Contempt,” Jean-Luc Godard’s first and last big-budget movie, is an art film through and through. It is a scathing takedown of the film industry, and it is also a sad portrait of a couple whose relationship crumbles during a film shoot. Successful for playing up Brigitte Bardot’s sexuality and turning her into a style icon, and complete with beautiful cinematography and a melancholy score from Georges Delerue, “Contempt” remains one of the most memorable cinematic experiences of all time. Alex Greenberger, Arts Editor
KRISHNAMOORTHY, MARITA VLACHOU
“Happy-Go-Lucky”
Though British director Mike Leigh’s film career extends back to the early 1970s and includes over 20 films, only a handful have managed to make as great an impression as “Happy-Go-Lucky.” The film stars Sally Hawkins as a resilient schoolteacher who has a hard time taking things seriously, especially when it comes to her curmudgeonly driving instructor (Eddie Marsan). Hawkins is an absolute delight, and the supporting cast and infectious score are equally as brilliant in telling the story of a woman fighting, in her own heartfelt way, to preserve the magic in the subtleties of everyday life. Ife Olujobi, Entertainment Editor
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 video daniel cole
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CORRECTION:
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Bubbles float around a crowded Union Square.
WSN incorrectly credited the front page photo in the Sept. 23 print edition. The photo was taken by William Martin. WSN regrets this error.
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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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Anti-expansion rally Cyclists file lawsuit against DMV to take place today Building continued from PG. 1
By Alex Balazey Contributing Writer
Village Society of Historic Preservation, said NYU should not be able to go through with its expansion plans on the site. “We do not believe that the university can proceed with construction,” Berman said. “[The prior] ruling makes clear that the basic assumptions of the environmental review and approval that were the basis for the approvals previously given were incorrect.” In the week preceding the hearing, the New York Building Congress released a report underwritten by NYU, Columbia University and CUNY, which stated that higher education spending on construction in New York City will reach $9.85 billion between 2013 and 2017. The report highlighted NYU, celebrating its 14 major construction projects planned for the next five years. “[T]his report makes the inescapable point — colleges and universities are helping build New York and in the process lifting the city’s economy,” Lynne Brown, NYU spokesperson and co-chair of the Building Congress’s Higher Education Committee, said in a press release. However, Berman dismissed the report as being besides the point. “We consider the report to be a red herring that sidesteps the real issues,” Berman said. Berman added that his organization worried the construction in Greenwich Village would have lim-
ited economic benefits and a detrimental environmental impact, as opposed to the Financial District or Downtown Brooklyn. Another issue raised by critics is how the university intends to finance future construction. The final report released by the University Spaces Priorities Working Group forecasts that, between 2013 and 2022, NYU will spend $3.01 billion on new construction and renovation. However, that figure only takes into account construction on the Coles site and none of the other projects halted by the courts. NYU spokesperson Philip Lentz said both the Coles project and the 14 other construction projects mentioned in the New York Building Congress will be financed in a variety of ways. “The Coles site will be financed as part of NYU’s overall capital budget, which is financed through a combination of long-term borrowing, short-term borrowing, fundraising, drawdown of available cash and reinvestment of annual operating surpluses,” Lentz said. In anticipation of the oral arguments at the hearing, the Greenwich Village Society of Historic Preservation and NYU Faculty Against the Sexton Plan are holding a rally on LaGuardia Place today at 12 p.m. Email Rebecca Spalding at news@nyunews.com.
A group of New York City cyclists filed a class action lawsuit against the Department of Motor Vehicles on Sept. 16, to refund thousands of dollars to bikers fined by the DMV. The cyclist groups allege that they were forced to pay a mandatory $88 surcharge for traffic violation tickets and received additional points on their licenses. Many cyclists, seeing the word mandatory on the ticket, paid the fine. These extra penalties, however, are only supposed to apply to motor vehicle operators. Steve Vaccaro, the attorney arguing the case, said the DMV is ignoring the problem. “[The DMV admits] there were hundreds of people who faced these surcharges or had been charged them,” Vaccaro said. “At least 600, but we think the number is a lot higher than that.” Vaccaro said the plaintiffs in the case hope cyclists who paid the charge, not knowing it did not apply to them, will be compensated. He said he alerted the DMV of the issue back in August and was informed that the surcharge did not apply to cyclists and that appropriate refunds had been issued to a small number of his clients. The DMV has not rectified the problem, however, as the online ticket payment system still does not recognize cyclists as a separate class. Instead, it groups them in with operators
A journalist at Wired and New York Times Magazine, Clive Thompson spoke at the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute’s Inside Out session on Sept. 23, where he shared his experiences and promoted his new book “Smarter Than You Think: How Technology is Changing Our Minds for the Better.” During the event, Thompson discussed his interest in writing about politics and technology. “When the Internet emerged in the ’90s, I began writing about the political dimensions of the Internet,” Thompson said. “I wanted to explore how the Internet shaped people’s behavior.” Thompson added that the scope of technology in today’s world makes it an important field. “Technology writing is writing about the way tools change our behavior,” Thompson said. “What makes this field so broad, is that anytime we use a tool — even things as simple as pencils, scissors and light — we
are writing technology.” Thompson told aspiring freelance journalists to spend time searching for new sources of inspiration. “If you are looking for a big break, pay particular attention to ideas that have never been written on before,” Thompson said. “However, still impose deadlines on yourself so that things get done.” NYU journalism graduate student Ilaria Parogni said she is interested in how technology is shaping the future of journalism. “I came to this event because I wanted to hear [Thompson’s] insight on the way the realm of journalism is changing, and to what extent this [change] is going to affect us,” Parogni said. NYU journalism graduate student Hannah Newman said the talk left her with new insights. “I learned that it’s okay to pursue your passions, and that you should do what makes you happy and not necessarily what the industry says is standard,” Newman said. Email Romie Williams at news@nyunews.com.
Bikers hope to be compensated for DMV tickets. of motor vehicles — making the charge mandatory. New York DMV commissioner Barbara Fiala said they had reviewed their ticketing procedures, referred to as plead and pay, and said the problem stems from clerical errors. “Our review of those tickets did not discover any systemic issues in either the ‘plead and pay’ application or the [Traffic Violations Bureau] database in general, or, as [Vaccaro’s] letter suggests, any ‘practice’ of ‘unlawfully’ charging surcharges and/or levying points,” Fiala said in a press release from Sept. 15. “Instead, it appears that the errors are caused by improper data entry.” Vaccaro said these penalties have led to serious consequences, however, including a driver assessment responsibility fee, which must be paid once someone receives six points on their license, and increases in automo-
bile insurance. “The DMV is the Department of Motor Vehicles, and I think they overlook the fact that they regulate bicyclists by processing their traffic tickets,” Vaccaro said. “I have not yet seen any evidence to suggest that there was an intentional desire to collect money that was not owed from cyclists.” Patrick McCullough, a CAS freshman and occasional biker, said it is good that someone is standing up for the cyclists against the DMV. “You know there’s a problem when the DMV sees and ignores an issue like this,” McCullough said. “I’m glad that someone is taking action and not letting something like this slip by. I’m a bicyclist and I want to have the rights that the DMV says I do.” Email Alex Balazey at news@nyunews.com.
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Clive Thompson shares journalistic wisdom By Romie Williams Contributing Writer
Photo by Leo Lien
Ads cause uproar, legal action
Photos by Amina Sayeed
Clive Thompson (above, bottom right) discusses the start of his career in journalism.
ads in their campaign on 100 MTA buses and 2 subway stations for four weeks starting Sept. 29. Pamela Geller, president of the AFDI, questions the rejection of the ad because it blocks discussion on the issues of anti-Semitism and Jihadism. “This is an ad designed to show the genocidal Jew-hatred of Hamas and of Jihadis in general,” Geller said. “The MTA would never refuse an ad about Islamophobia, but anti-Semitism, even though anti-Semitic hate crimes are eight times more common than hate crimes against Muslims, is not allowed to be discussed or combated?” The MTA updated its advertising standards in 2012 after a federal ruling found part of the agency’s ad guidelines unconstitutional. The ruling came after the AFDI filed a lawsuit against the agency for refusing to run its anti-Islam posters. Kevin Ortiz, director of media relations for the MTA, pointed to previous court rulings in determining the results of the AFDI’s potential lawsuit against the agency. “We review every viewpoint ad under the standards, but a series of court rulings have made [it] clear
that our hands are largely tied,” Ortiz said in an email. Patricia Jeng, a junior at the College of Nursing, said she agrees with the MTA’s rejection of the ad because it would negatively impact the agency otherwise. “I think the MTA is right in refusing to put up the ad,” Jeng said. “The ad is demeaning, and it seems like the AFDI just wants to incite internal problems within the city. Although the first amendment grants the freedom of speech, if an agency like the MTA places this intolerant ad, it makes it seem as though they support its views.” CAS junior Heba Allam says it is necessary for the MTA to reject the ad to show that New York does not tolerate its stance, even if the AFDI is using its right to freedom of speech. “I think it’s important that the MTA reject this hateful ad to show all New Yorkers that there is no room for hatred in our city,” Allam said. “As a Muslim-American New Yorker, I feel unsafe riding the subway and having Pamela Geller’s radical thoughts threatening every Muslim.” Email Nathaly Pesantez at news@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesDAy, september 24, 2014 | nyunews.com
BEAUTY & STYLE
edited by david bologna bstyle@nyunews.com
Models add performance to runway By Jennifer Neufeld Contributing Writer
From Prada to Dior, European fashion shows have been distinguished for their taste of performance on the runway. Chanel elevated that theatricality in their Fall/ Winter ’14 Ready-to-Wear show, where models strutted through a Chanel Shopping Market. There, models carried bedazzled shopping baskets and browsed through aisles filled with shelves of “Tweed Cola” and Chanel egg cartons. Similarly, Alexander McQueen was known for his theatricality on the runway. In various shows, McQueen walked models down the runway with wolves, mechanically spraypainted a model-turnedcanvas live on the stage, reenacted dance scenes such as “They Shoot Horses, Don’t They,” and had models imitate the motions of a chess match under a checkerboard design light. American fashion has finally caught on to a longstanding trend, one familiar to countless European designers whose performances capture the runway. Opening Ceremony took drama quite literally, with a 30-minute play about New York Fashion
Week. Titled “100% Lost Cotton,” the play was co-written by Spike Jonze and Jonah Hill, directed by Jonze and starred Elle Fanning, John Cameron Mitchell, Rashida Jones and Karlie Kloss, among numerous other models that lined the stage. While the play itself was a satire, the entire ordeal remained a fashion show. The stars donned Opening Ceremony’s Spring/Summer ’15 line, and actors including Kloss and Fanning even strutted across the runway. Ralph Lauren also found inspiration in performance. Utilizing technology in the Spring/Summer ’15 show to create a 4-D hologram, the collection was projected off of a lake in Central Park’s Cherry Hill. Larger-than-life models walked down moving pictures of New York City scenery for the duration of the show. This performance quite naturally incorporated a modern advance in technology into the equally evolving world of modern fashion. Along with others, Marc Jacobs is no stranger to theatricality in Fashion Week. One of the first American designers to adopt this exaggerated, performative runway show, Jacobs became notable for an exceptional runway after his
’70s looks seen at Milan FW By Lauren Craddock Contributing Writer
Milan Fashion Week brought about a feeling of nostalgia as 1970s style resurfaced, and notable houses held to their own aesthetic to redefine this Spring/Summer ’15 season in their own way. From Alberta Ferretti and Fendi to Etro and Bottega Veneta, Milan did not disappoint with five days of trendy Italian fashion. Miuccia Prada’s Spring/Summer ’15 line was one that embraced the vintage theme. Models carried heavy coats, high necklines and mid-length skirts around dunes of lilac sand, showing off patterned socks and bulky Mary Jane-style heels. The hues of the collection were also reminiscent of antique patterns. A color palette of neutrals, with touches of faded greens and yellows, allowed for subtle floral accents to peek through. Handmade was the idea behind this intensely vintage yet modern rendition of classic Prada style. Closing the second day of presentations was one of the most talkedabout collections of the week: Moschino. This Spring/Summer ’15 collection was all about Barbie. Pink, pink and more pink walked the runway, exhibiting every Bar-
Spring/Summer ’07 show, where models walked down a grassy pathway elevated over a river of candies, filled with a background of rolling hills that gave the room an English countryside feel. More recently, Jacobs’ Fall/ Winter ’14 line featured Jessica Lange, whose smooth, cool voice narrated the show titled “Happy Days Are Here Again,” where models walked through a dark room filled with countless off-white clouds that hung from the ceiling. This season, Jacobs presented his Spring/Summer ’15 collection with a new twist: headphones. Each audience member, from Anna Wintour to André Leon Talley, wore Beats by Dre that played a robotic voice — inspired by John Smith’s short film from 1976, “The Girl Chewed Gum” — that described the models’ actions and clothing as they passed by sections of the audience. With designers like Marc Jacobs and Opening Ceremony taking this performance aspect quite literally, it is likely that theatricality on the runway will be further embraced in seasons to come. Email Jennifer Neufeld at bstyle@nyunews.com.
staff illustration by Kari sonde
Theatrics could overtake fashion shows next season. natural continued from PG. 1
Marc Jacobs redefines natural beauty
via facebook.com
Dolce & Gabbana’s collection stayed true to Italian style. bie lifestyle, from beach Barbie to travel Barbie. Hair and makeup was, of course, perky, with big blonde curls and bright pink lips. On a pure white catwalk, models brightened the room in neon hues while accessories came straight out of a young girl’s toy collection. Finally, gowns took the stage with excessive amounts of tulle and bows the size of Barbie’s dream house. In proper closing, creative director Jeremy Scott took recognition while wearing a shirt that read “Moschino For Ages 5 and Older.” Missoni, on the other hand, colored Milan in a way only this unique brand can. Loyal to its signature style, colorful stripes and knit pieces seemed to convey a lightweight breath of air during a summer day. The runway show opened with bright lights, setting the scene of an early summer morning. An oversized cream blouse and freeflowing skirt, complete with rosy hues of pink and orange floral accents, took the runway. As the show progressed, the collection turned to its striped dresses with mixed yellows, greens, blues and purples. Imagining a hued sunset,
the collection closed in comfortable, warm tones of pink. The final day of the week ended with Dolce & Gabbana, bringing the bold beauty of Spain to Milan. The first look immediately captured spectators with a matching combination of black embroidered high-waisted shorts, a bandeau top and a cropped jacket. Watching models command the rouge red runway gave a highfashion edge to the traditional traje de luces — the classic attire of a bullfighter. Spanish garments of red polka dots and lace edges displayed a modern Italian. In traditional Dolce & Gabbana fashion, the collection closed with all models in the same look — a crisp white button-down, a simple black underlay and embellished high-waisted shorts. From the craftsmanship of the ’70s to the classic flair of Spain, Milan Fashion Week brought a diverse range of looks for fashionistas to look forward to in the coming season. Email Lauren Craddock at bstyle@nyunews.com.
eye, just beautiful skin,” Nars said in a statement to the Today Show. “What you see is what you get.” While Tommy Hilfiger embraced star tattoos and Badgley Mischka painted their models’ eyebrows in pastels, Marc Jacobs’ models solely used tinted moisturizer. Though next summer people will likely to be seen with body art and pastel accents, the bare face will be dominant. Not only is it practical and easy to keep up, but it also will make women put a stronger emphasis on their personal skin-care regime. Marc Jacobs’ minimalist movement has garnered world-wide attention. CAS freshman Zoe Thompson said while the bare face is innovative, it is a double standard. “What is considered minimalist is the appearance of a model who is characteristically chosen to conform to a certain look,” Thompson said. “Regardless of makeup or not, it’s still present-
ing a false idea of beauty.” Tisch freshman Emma Hart, however, said the no-makeup look is good for women. “I find it very inspiring as a woman that the fashion industry is promoting a more natural look,” Hart said. “It puts a lot less pressure on women to feel like they always have to look made up.” Regardless of personal opinion, Marc Jacobs’ Spring/Summer ’15 presentation can undoubtedly be called revolutionary. Jacobs is starting a movement toward a bare face with an emphasis on inner beauty that the fashion industry is often stereotyped to be adamantly against. Next time, when debating whether or not to brave it to class with zero makeup, go for it. Join the movement and do it with confidence. Less is truly more. Email Gabriella Bower at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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arts
edited by alex greenberger arts@nyunews.com
Play examines abilities of brain By Clio McConnell Editor-at-large
For most of us, memory is supersensory. Recalling an event is more important than seeing it, smelling it or hearing it for the first time. But the sensation is fleeting, as actress Kathryn Hunter says at one point in “The Valley of Astonishment,” now playing at Polonsky Shakespeare Center. “You can’t study a memory,” Hunter says. “It has no shape, no weight, no length.” Yet for some people, experiences are multisensory even in the moment. Hearing a musical refrain may evoke splashes of color in the listener’s consciousness, or reading a word might bring to mind a certain shape or texture. This condition is called synesthesia, which essentially means “combination of senses.” Written and directed by frequent collaborators Marie-Hélène Estienne and Peter Brook, “The Valley of Astonishment” presents several case studies of synesthetes, including Hunter’s character, Samy Costas. Beginning the play working as a newspaper reporter, Samy is singled out for her unique abilities. She performs dazzling feats
of memory, rattling off long lists of words or numbers as they had been read aloud to her moments earlier. Her editor sends her to visit a cognitive science lab, where she describes her mnemonic strategy of “encrusting,” which involves making an image for every word or phrase and then placing it within a mental map, so that eventually the streets and avenues in her mind become cluttered with the debris of past conversations. “In order to understand the meaning of a word, I have to be able to see it,” Samy says. The world of these phenomenal individuals is more colorful and musical than that of the audience, and it seems quite romantic. One young man, played by Jared McNeill, talks about what it was like to fall in love with music and to translate jazz into painting. Yet, the synesthetes’ stories prove that the condition can be terribly overwhelming. At one point, Samy explains how the avenues and boulevards in her head have become too crowded to navigate, causing her to feel trapped in her own impressive memory. McNeill’s artist character tells one of the scientists that he has never been able to discuss his synesthesia before, always worrying that friends would call him insane. These
characters think at extraordinary levels, but perhaps this only confines them to their own brains. “The Valley of Astonishment” is extremely interesting without being cryptic or elitist. It may be a play about people who think outside the box, a subject that might normally lend itself to excess, but the production itself is spare. The set is simple, but not aggressively so, and while the few cast members do play several characters each, none of the actors make huge changes in their performance styles. There is not much dramatic action, but the nuanced subject of synesthesia is engrossing enough to excuse the flaws. Brook and Estienne have chosen a topic that is very real while still bordering on the fantastical because synesthesia may be a legitimate phenomenon, but, for the average theatergoer, it seems far-fetched. Traveling with Samy through the “Valley of Astonishment,” audiences are forced to marvel at — and forced to fear — the capabilities of the human brain. “The Valley of Astonishment” runs through Oct. 5 at the Polonsky Shakespeare Center, 262 Ashland Place in Brooklyn. Email Clio McConnell at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.
via facebook.com
Paolo Nutini is a Scottish singer-songwriter. nutini continued from PG. 1
Nutini gives humble performance
rebellious joy and secret inner turmoil of ’50s and ’60s soul singers — a sound he said he was raised on. At the end of the concert, Nutini did not lose sight of what brought fans to his music to begin with — hopelessly saccharine love songs. After finishing the set with his anthem of freedom, “Iron Sky,” Nutini and his band returned
for two more songs, one of which was an upbeat rendition of Etta James’ “I’d Rather Go Blind.” The band filed offstage, and, as a disco ball was illuminated, Nutini grabbed his acoustic guitar and returned to the stage. “We definitely have a few romantics in the building,” Nutini said in his slurry, Scottish accent. Although
it was a tacit agreement that he would play his hit “Last Request,” he added riffs and harmonies in new areas, humbly reminding listeners of his skill at making any song sound no less sincere than the first time it was sung. Email Zane Warman at music@nyunews.com.
via wikipedia.org
“Forever,” ABC’s newest drama, shows potential in its pilot.
New drama on ABC is work in progress By Bradley Aslop Contributing Writer
“Forever,” ABC’s new drama that premiered in two parts on Sept. 22 and 23, exhibits all the problems associated with the portrayal of a complex idea like immortality. How can writers strike a balance between characters undergoing emotional struggles and the mystery surrounding why they cannot die? For “Forever,” such a combination sounds ridiculous, and unfortunately it comes off as being that way most of the time. “Forever” centers on Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd), a mysterious medical examiner living in New York City. Through his narration, the viewer discovers that Henry became immortal when he was killed defending a slave onboard a trading ship 200 years before. Since then, whenever he dies, he returns in a body of water completely naked. After dying in and returning from a subway crash that puts him in the line of potential suspects by the New York Police Department, he strikes up a relationship with detective Jo Martinez (Alana De La Garza) and helps her find the real criminal behind the subway collision. Taken as a whole, the pilot is entertaining enough, but it is not groundbreaking in any way. Considering the freshness of its concept, this is disappointing. The first episode is very much typical of the opening to a crime show, and it has all the trappings of genre television: a procedural format, red herrings and the like. Instead of living up to the show’s rich premise, “Forever” falls into one cliché after another. Henry’s characterization is not particularly convincing either. The flashbacks that allude to events in Henry’s past leave much to be desired, and they do not resonate because of how artificial they come across. We miss out on important informa-
tion about who his former lover is, and we don’t know why we should even care. The writing is hackneyed and contrived at times, making blatant references to Henry’s immortality through one-liners and non-sequiturs that do not really contribute to Henry as a character or the progression of the episode. Better things can be said of Gruffudd, however, whose portrayal of Henry is spot-on so far. Gruffudd delivers a portrait of a man who is off-putting and ineffably confident. His relationship with his only friend, Abe (Judd Hirsch), contains a level of warm kinship and chemistry already. Their scenes together are undoubtedly the highlights of the episode. The idea of Henry being a student of death is a fascinatingly dark concept that should be explored as the show progresses. A story arc about a mysterious caller who knows Henry’s secret should prove to be the most intriguing part of the show. It strays from the procedural format and strikes to the heart of Henry’s internal conflict. How that mystery is revealed and reconciled will be a barometer of how well the writers can weave an arc into the procedural and create a satisfying and cathartic conclusion. The best scene of the episode comes at the end, when the viewer discovers how Abe and Henry met. It is heavy-handed and panders to viewer emotions, but it drives one message home perfectly — that regardless of one’s position in life, hope holds no judgment or condescension. This is universal and absolute. Despite the episode’s many generic shortcomings, its strengths signal that there is hope yet for “Forever,” and it could be a success if the creative team can weed out the superfluous elements and build on their strengths as the season progresses. Email Bradley Aslop at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesDAy, september 24, 2014 | nyunews.com
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Crossword ACROSS 1 Start to grunt? 6 Air freshener scent 11 Tabloid paper, slangily 14 Shudder at 15 Plain People 16 Subj. for U.S. citizens-to-be 17 Fare for those 17 and up 19 Lunes or martes 20 Google Earth offering 21 Watered down 22 Astronomical red giant 24 Runoff conduit 26 Steal the show from 28 “Invest With Confidence” firm 31 Swelled heads 32 Top of a platter 33 Black keys, in some key signatures 35 Schumer of Comedy Central 36 Publicist’s handout
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nyunews.com | wednesDAy, september 24, 2014 | Washington Square news
opinion
edited by CHRISTINA COLEBURN opinion@nyunews.com
technology
Right to online privacy should be claimed By Tommy Collison Contributing Columnist
Every week, students fall victim to new online privacy violations. The New York Police Department is spying on Muslim student groups up and down the East Coast, Facebook is using us as lab rats by conducting psychological experiments and employers regularly Google the names of prospective hires to find their social media accounts. In the wake of the Snowden revelations and with the knowledge that comments made on a public Facebook page are likely to never be deleted, we could be forgiven for thinking the entire Internet is a public forum and we have no right to privacy. But, in our offline lives, we regularly exercise this right to privacy. We close the bathroom door and we have conversations with our best friends and loved ones that are just between us. If you visit a brick-and-mortar bookstore, browse some shelves and then pay for a book in cash, very little is logged. Without closed-circuit cameras or a cashier following
you around the store, it is also fairly anonymous. Private companies, however, do not believe we deserve the same rights online. Email providers, such as Gmail, crawl through our online conversations to serve us targeted ads; sites harvest our data and sell it to the highest bidder, and online retailers show different prices depending on how wealthy they think we are, based on where we live. Chains like Target will try to predict important events like pregnancies based on your buying habits, marketing maternity products to you before you even realize that you need them. Log on to Amazon and they know exactly when you arrived, what you searched for and which pages of which books you read. Because you are required to have an account if
you want to make a purchase, they know your credit card, purchase history and roughly where you are in the world. That is not how it has to be. Since technology has progressed to the stage where our every digital step is tracked and logged by those looking to target us with ads, it is worth examining our browsing habits and evaluating what information we are giving away. Anyone who wants to protect their right to online privacy and avoid unfair price discrimination should look into anonymous web browsing. Online privacy can be protected with the right technology, such as lookup tools that allow you to chat anonymously. It is also easier to browse the Internet anonymously than you would think, and anonymous browsers can help. The Internet has changed how we learn, buy things, talk to our families and even find romance. Using it should not come at the price of our fundamental rights and freedoms. Email Tommy Collison at opinion@nyunews.com.
City policy
De Blasio fails to deliver on homelessness By Johnpaul Baratta Contributing Columnist
Just over four years ago, newly elected public advocate Bill de Blasio delivered a scathing criticism of then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s policies on homelessness in New York City: “I’ve never heard a full acknowledgment of the failure of the strategy, and I don’t know how you can make something better if you don’t acknowledge that it hasn’t worked.” However, between de Blasio’s continuation of previous policies and rising homeless rates, it appears that the mayor has ignored his own advice. De Blasio’s recent actions speak far louder than his words. Project Reconnect, one of the various Bloomberg-era homelessness policies that de Blasio once attacked, is still in practice by the current mayoral administration. The project, founded in 2007, pays for the one-way transportation of the city’s homeless elsewhere if they can prove they have relatives they can stay with at their destination. In Bloom-
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berg’s final year as mayor, the Department of Homeless Services paid for the removal of 2,208 homeless residents. De Blasio is on track to match Bloomberg’s removal rates, having funded the departure of 1,412 homeless people since taking office. The once proudly progressive candidate has now angered various local leaders, including community advocate and unsuccessful State Senate candidate Luis Tejada. Speaking to the New York Post, Tejada said he “expected more from [de Blasio]. This is a big surprise.” Despite the use of Bloomberg’s policies in an effort to lower the population of the homeless, the exact opposite has occurred. Recent reports show that homelessness is actually on the rise,
increasing 6 percent, to 54,754 people, since de Blasio took office. De Blasio has attempted to shift the blame onto the Bloomberg administration, but the continued rise in homelessness flies in the face of various new shelters, subsidy programs and affordable housing initiatives enacted under de Blasio. The increasing number of homeless persons in light of new shelters not only demonstrates the early failures of de Blasio’s policies, but also shows how he has strayed from the left-wing principles he proudly espoused during the mayoral election. Should de Blasio continue to silently backtrack on the various promises of his campaign, he faces certain backlash from his supporters. Many enthusiastic progressive voters who came out to give him 73 percent of the vote in his electoral landslide last year may just stay home for the night when de Blasio is up for re-election in 2017. Email Johnpaul Baratta at opinion@nyunews.com.
staff editorial
New York could be environmental leader
Mayor Bill de Blasio addressed the United Nations on Sept. 23 to tackle the pressing issue of climate change. The mayor remarked that “the reckless way in which we live” is threatening humanity and alluded to Superstorm Sandy hitting New York City two years ago. In response to the growing issue of climate change, the mayor restated his plan to reduce New York City greenhouse gas emissions over the next 40 years. The mayor’s proposal comes as part of a larger movement within the United States. President Barack Obama made climate change a focal point of the summit when he noted that the United States has decreased its total emissions over the past decade. Just as the United States has been a leader in reducing its emissions, de Blasio’s plan offers New York City the opportunity to lead the nation in the fight against climate change. Even if the United States could instantly cease all air pollution and other harmful activities, climate change would continue to be an issue. On a regional scale, pollution from hundreds of miles away has impacted visibility in wilderness areas such as the Grand Canyon and Yosemite. Internationally, contaminated air from China has appeared on North America’s West Coast from Alaska to Southern California. Given its considerable emissions, New York City has plenty of reasons to be an environmental leader even without the global nature of the problem. In 2007, then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg released PlaNYC, an initiative to encourage progress on a variety of the city’s infrastructure problems, from adding pedestrian plazas to planning for the next superstorm. Sustainability continues to be one of PlaNYC’s focuses, with its GreeNYC division aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 30 percent. Since Bloomberg left office, de Blasio has emphasized PlaNYC’s focus on resiliency in the face of potential increases in flooding and other severe weather. According to PlaNYC’s 2014 progress report, it has already planted 800,000 trees and reduced carbon emissions by 19 percent. De Blasio’s plan is part of a pledge to cut the city’s 2005 emission levels by 80 percent over the next four decades. This pledge, if fulfilled, would place New York City at the forefront of the climate change movement, leaving it the largest city to make such a commitment. However, such a lofty goal comes with a price. An estimated $1 billion is required to update cityowned buildings and additional funds would be required to change privately owned property. The funds will be part of the 10-year capital plan, to be released next year. Whether de Blasio will carry out his plan when facing future budgets remains to be seen. If he does, it will go a long way toward making New York City an environmental leader.
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 | wednesDAy, september 24, 2014 | Washington Square news
sports
edited by CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@nyunews.com
MLB
NYU reflects on Jeter’s historic career By Kyle Luther Contributing Columnist
With the New York Yankees on the precipice of falling short of the postseason, shortstop Derek Jeter will make his final MLB appearance on Sept. 28. Down the line, we will all forget how the weather was that day, who pitched and who hit the winning run, but we will not forget the last time we saw the Captain. Over the past 20 years, Jeter
via facebook.com
Jeter acknowledges fans during his last season as a Yankee. has become the face of baseball. The Yankee captain has been a shining beacon of how to play the game right during the steroid era, and he will be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time. Even those who do not watch baseball, such as Stern freshman Zoe Seward, recognize Jeter’s impact on the sport. “I don’t follow sports at all but everyone knows who Derek Jeter is,” Seward said. Drafted sixth overall in the 1992 Draft by the Yankees, Jeter
was promoted to the majors in 1995. In his first full year in 1996, Jeter won the American League Rookie of the Year award and the Yankees defeated the Atlanta Braves in the World Series. This was an auspicious start for someone who would lead the Yankees to five World Series Championships. “He was always the favorite player at school,” CAS freshman Harvinder Bassi said. “Jeter was the consummate professional and someone to admire.” Above all, what made Jeter such a great player was his consistency. Throughout his career, Jeter has maintained a .310 batting average. He is a five-time Gold Glove winner who immortalized the jump throw play. He would go on to receive 14 AL AllStar nominations and become the first Yankee to reach 3,000 hits, finishing sixth on the alltime hits list. The steroid era loomed large in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Great sluggers like Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa and Barry Bonds had their reputations tarnished. But not Jeter. His name never came up, and most never feared that it would. Not for a man with this much integrity and love for the game. That is what the game needed. A player who did not take steroids, did not constantly find himself in the newspapers for the wrong reasons and played the game right. That was Jeter — the captain of the Yankees and the captain of baseball. It will certainly be a strange opening day next year when someone else is shortstop. The final member of the Core Four has finally hung up his spikes and a new era of baseball will begin. To amend a famous quote by Joe DiMaggio: I’d like to thank the good Lord for letting me watch Derek Jeter play. Email Kyle Luther at sports@nyunews.com.
Photo by Sam Bearzi
Defender Justin Suter reaches to keep the ball away from the opponent. Men’s Soccer
Penalty kick gives Violets the win By Bobby Wagner Contributing Writer
Ten minutes into overtime, sophomore co-aptain Petter Aasa came through in the clutch with a dramatic game-winning penalty kick, lifting the NYU men’s soccer team to a 2-1 victory against the United States Merchant Marine Academy on Sept. 23. The win takes their record to 7-1-0 on the season. USMMA held most of the possession for the first half. Despite being outshot 11-6 and struggling to keep the ball in the latter part of the half, NYU was still up 1-0 at the break thanks to an opportunistic fast break and a beautiful ball over the top of the defense from Aasa that was met by freshman forward Tommy Walters’ left foot on one bounce. The Violets threatened a couple more times in the half, including a last-second cross into the box that came to nothing due to a confident save from USMMA goalkeeper Cory Maier. At the start of the second half, the game got a little choppy. USMMA protested a few foul calls while the ball hung around the midfield for the majority of the time between
the 45th and 60th minute. Seeming to rally around an injury to one of their midfielders, USMMA put the heat on and created an onslaught of offensive opportunities between the 60th and 80th minute. Aasa was all over the field, however, contesting almost every pass in the midfield area, doing all he could to stifle the Mariners attack. Still, an equalizer with nine minutes remaining in the match shocked the Violets after such resilient defense during the half. Following the tying goal, a number of opportunities arose for both teams to win the game in the final 10 minutes of regulation, concluding with sophomore forward Reece Barton’s screaming shot that was a hair too high of the crossbar in the final minute. The Violets got one more chance in overtime when freshman forward Nicolas Notaro drew a foul in the box, setting up Aasa for the game-winning penalty kick in the 100th minute — a fitting ending for a dramatic and hotly contested match. “This game was special in the way that we just had our first loss of the season last game, and we needed to get the win tonight in order to keep
Photo by Sam Bearzi
Midfielder Vegas Kastberg goes up for the ball. the momentum up that we had before,” Aasa said. “We really pulled through as a team and showed that we are determined never to lose at our home field.” Despite falling to Manhattanville College over the weekend, the Violets continue to boast an impressive record. They will look to build a new winning streak on Sept. 30 against Farmingdale State College. Email Bobby Wagner at sports@nyunews.com.
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