NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 42, No. 77
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014
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student life
expansion
Students, politicians speak on assault
Unclear future for proposed school By Suebin Kim Staff Writer
By Alex Bazaley Staff Writer
The Women’s Equality Party gathered with students from universities across New York City on Oct. 15 in an effort to raise awareness about sexual assault on college campuses. Following a closed roundtable discussion with student leaders from Columbia, Fordham, Hofstra and St. John’s universities, the group hosted an afternoon Q&A in Times Square. The conversation was led by Christine Quinn, former speaker of the New York City Council, and Kathy Hochul, Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor of New York. Hochul was adamant that there needs to be change within the university system so that young women who have fallen victim to sexual assault feel supported. “When we send our daughters off to campuses, we expect universities to make sure they’re protected, and that their friends are also part of a support system to make sure that
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STAFF PHOTO BY DANIEL COLE
A new public school could ease overcrowding in the schools within Community Board 2.
features
Blog exposes tech gender disparities By Emily Harris Contributing Writer
Hackers of NY, a Tumblr blog created by Gallatin senior Dani Grant, is dedicated to all things tech. With the help of alumnus Steven Chan and CAS junior Terri Burns, who are both hackers, Grant created Hackers of NY to promote local hacking. “It’s very empowering to be part of the hacker community — hackers build tools for one another and work collaboratively to solve problems,” Grant said. “I wanted to give this access to other people. I wanted to get people excited about hacking.” Grant said the first impression of the word “hacker”
sometimes carries a negative connotation, so she is trying to redefine the word to carry a more positive meaning. “Very often, the media can portray hackers to mean criminals — think Huck from ‘Scandal’ — but the term hacker gives us a way to celebrate our peers who strive to find creative ways around problems,” Grant said. “If the term hacker gives the community a way to recognize technical innovators, it’s important that we reclaim it.” Through the website, Grant is able to remove geographic location as a barrier to communication with other hackers that share her interests. “The most incredible part of this project has been the opportunity to connect with
hackers from around the world and talk to them about their experiences,” Grant said. One of the issues the website targets is sexism within the technology community. The sexism comes in several forms, including stereotypes and practices that do not associate women with work in the industry. “Women haven’t traditionally held technical positions for a long time, due to a number of reasons,” Burns said. “That’s had a really negative impact on encouraging women to start joining these fields, in addition to creating and perpetuating false stereotypes that women aren’t fit to do technical work.”
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NYU may no longer be responsible for the seven-story public school it promised to build on Bleecker Street as part of its 2031 expansion plan, as the Dec. 31 deadline is approaching and the Department of Education has yet to commit any funding for the project. After that date, NYU will be able to repurpose 145,000 square feet of the 170,000-square-foot site, possibly for its expansion. The deadline was originally set by NYU for 2025, but councilwoman Margaret Chin worked to push it forward to the end of 2014. Sam Spokony, communications director of Chin’s office, said she initially pushed it forward to ensure the proper usage of the space as quickly as possible and to avoid any delays with development. After the DOE’s School Construc-
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film
Director, star actor discuss NYC film By James Muntisov Contributing Writer
“Listen Up Philip,” the third feature from writer-director Alex Ross Perry, has all the makings of an indie hit. The film deals with the many mishaps of Philip, a semi-successful writer living in New York City, played by Jason Schwartzman. Creating a film like “Philip” is easier said than done. In an interview with WSN, Schwartzman and Perry talked about the creative choices behind their film. Perry’s initial reasoning behind choosing “Listen Up Philip” as a follow-up to his film “The Color
Wheel” had a lot to do with New York City. “I realized I’d been wanting to do the New York movie for a while,” Perry said. “What was becoming clear was that my New York story was starting to be defined by a simultaneous achievement of all these goals that I’d had for a very long time. It felt very good.” Writing “Philip” was a personal experience for Perry, an NYU alumnus who, like many students, found himself unhappy in a city, despite having so many opportunities. “I was becoming absent from my home, from my friends and
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Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief
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senior staff
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KRISTINA BOGOS, rachel kaplan, 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.
nyunews.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
Veterans encourage risk-taking, initiative
NYU Reacts: Vatican shifts stance on issues By Larson Binzer Deputy News Editor
By Andrew Mei Contributing Writer
Veterans in the NYU community attended an Oct. 15 panel hosted by the NYU Veterans Initiative to discuss perceptions of veterans as entrepreneurs, the way in which military experience can be used as a branding strategy and opportunities for female veterans in tech. The panel, titled “How To Turn Military Success Into Business Success,” featured Mark Rockefeller, co-founder and CEO of StreetShares, Inc; Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of Girls Who Code; and Alex Patterson, vice president of Tough Mudder. The discussion touched on the risks of starting a business, especially for veterans who are returning from service and want to pursue entrepreneurship. Returning medic and Wagner graduate student Bernard Ortega talked about the challenges that veterans face when they return from service. “All veterans returning from service face a common challenge in the transition back into society,” Ortega said. “The three speakers here today are role models because of the risks they all took in pursuing their businesses, and the challenges
staff photo by shawn paik
The panelists shared personal experiences about starting businesses. that they overcame to succeed.” The speakers discussed their experiences of quitting their jobs to pursue their startup dreams. Patterson said he joined Tough Mudder, a military-style obstacle course, after he quit his job as a lawyer and decided to pursue his passion in physical activity and community through fitness. “It’s hard not knowing what to do next,” Patterson said. “Yet it is empowering to be in a place to make the rules for myself. After I hit a wall in my law career, I changed directions and took a leap in joining Tough Mudder.” Rockefeller, a nine-year Air Force veteran, said he also left his job to follow his passion by starting StreetShares, Inc, an online interactive marketplace for small business loans. “I left my high-paying, secure job as a Wall Street lawyer that supported a wife and three children because life is too short,” Rockefeller said. “We’re all trying to hit a home-
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Roundtable calls for policy changes
they have all the resources they need,” Hochul said. The conversation also touched on the Women’s Equality Act, a 10-point bill that aims to protect equal pay, equal work, equal choice and equal rights for New York women. Quinn said she is confident that the bill will pass. “I have little doubt that we will have the votes we need,” Quinn said. “If somebody’s not clear, that’s not a condemnation of them; I applaud them for admitting it. These young women and the others like them out there will help them understand and take them through the reality of it.” Zoe Ridolfi-Starr, a senior at Columbia and one of the founders of No Red Tape, a student group working to end rape culture at the university, alleged that both Barnard College and Columbia have mishandled sexual assault cases. She expressed her frustration that the schools would not hold themselves accountable. “They have not once even responded to the reality that there’s a Title IX complaint, that 28 students came forward and filed federal complaints with the Department of Education,” Ridolfi-Starr said. “They won’t even [acknowl-
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edge] that that is happening, let alone start to address and actually work with the students.” Donya Nasser, a senior at St. John’s, maintained that real action has to be taken by women everywhere in order for change to happen. “You can tweet something, but that doesn’t mean that there’s going to be action followed up on it,” Nasser said. “When you have women like us, who are working on these issues every day, who face these issues, whose friends face these issues — and we have experiences, and we’re giving our information to the Women’s Equality Party — that’s what really influences policy for the good.” Hochul praised the young women for their willingness to fight for the rights of women everywhere. “I commend them for the courage to come here today and have this conversation,” Hochul said. “The public stance they’re taking on their campuses to elevate this debate and make sure that this is the last group of individuals who have [to] raise this, because we’re going to change the culture.” Email Alex Bazaley at news@nyunews.com.
run in life, and I didn’t want to go through life not having hit mine.” Saujani quit her job as a high profile lawyer to start Girls Who Code, a nonprofit organization working to close the gender gap in technology and engineering. “All three of us here are here because we hated what we were doing,” Saujani said. “Passion is not overrated, and finding what you love to do is definitely important.” Wagner graduate student and veteran Leslie Williams, who returned from service in 2010, hoped to get advice about finding a way into the film industry. “Joining the army gave me the opportunity to get an education at NYU, and the army was the bright light in my life that allowed me the chance to fulfill my dreams here,” Williams said. “Failure for me is not an option now. I am willing to accept the risks and challenges that are in front of me.” Email Andrew Mei at news@nyunews.com.
The Vatican released an introductory document on Oct. 13 that suggested the Catholic Church should be more tolerant of the gay community, divorced couples and children of non-traditional family dynamics. Members of the NYU community shared their thoughts on the issue. Weronika Janczuk, an NYU alumna who graduated in 2013 and who was a member of the Catholic Center at NYU for two and a half years, said this document presents nothing new about acceptance within the Catholic community. “The Catholic Church has never been ‘against’ gay persons,” Janczuk said. “I think the pope is concerned fundamentally with protecting the dignity of each and every single person; there is nothing about being gay that lessens the dignity or the value of a person, in the eyes of Pope Francis, in the eyes of the Church, in the eyes of God.” However, Stern junior Robbie Paul worries about potential backlash to the document. “On the one hand I’m glad that the church is in some ways moving more toward an ideology of acceptance,” Paul said. “On the other hand, I worry ... if the
church’s new stance does have a lasting and prominent sort of negative backlash, I’m nervous to see what that could manifest itself as.” Father Allan White of the Catholic Center explained that the document is a Relatio, meaning it is information about public opinion to be presented to the synod, rather than an official report. He said members of the synod will still have to analyze and review each individual section before a final report will be released. “All of the news items appearing recently are based on unattributed sources reflecting on the introductory document,” White said. “It has already been made clear that the church’s doctrine is not going to be changed. What is being discussed is the exercise of her pastoral care.” Despite the report not being official, Chelsea Bona, a CAS junior who was raised Catholic, is relieved that the idea of loving thy neighbor is being more generally applied within the Catholic clergy. “I think it’s great that a religion that is known for its rigidity,” Bona said. “My understanding is that the ‘gays go to hell clause’ is an archaic and ill-based interpretation of the Bible that has needed to be dispensed with since it was thought up.” Email Larson Binzer at lbinzer@nyunews.com.
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DOE delay jeopardizes plan
tion Authority did not include funding for the school in its 20152019 capital plan, however, councilwoman Chin and Community Board 2 requested that NYU extend the deadline. “Council member Chin’s office is currently engaged in discussions with NYU about extending this deadline for the City to commit to building a public school at the Bleecker Street site,” Spokony said. “We are hopeful that we can reach an agreement with NYU to extend the deadline and give the city more time to take advantage of this as a public school site.” NYU spokesman John Beckman pointed to a letter that senior vice president for university relations and public affairs Lynne Brown sent to councilwoman Chin’s office in May after she first requested an extended deadline. In the letter, Lynne explained that the university could not change their plans because of the ongoing lawsuit, which was decided in NYU’s favor on Oct.14. “The Core Project is the subject of pending litigation and appeals,” the letter read. “In light of that fact, we feel that it is not an appropriate time to undertake to modify the Restrictive Declaration and, further, that it may be imprudent to do so.”
staff photo by daniel cole
The city hopes to receive funding for a new public school. Beckman added that the university’s position has not changed since the letter was sent. Lifelong Greenwich Village resident and CAS senior Sophie Tunney said she thinks the public school would be a step toward easing tensions between NYU and the Greenwich Village community. “Working with the community by providing a school for its residents was a good opportunity to give a little back to the community we live with,” Tunney said. “2031 is clearly unwelcome, and if NYU decides to continue with the plan, creating a school for the community would have been a good way to show to the residents of the Village that NYU hears and understands their concerns.”
Tunney said the delayed response from the DOE is understandable, considering the heavy costs that come with opening a new school. She added that as the community continues to grow, however, the need for a new school is inevitable. “Many schools in the city can barely afford the basic necessities for their students, so it is quite understandable that the DOE would be hesitant about opening a new school,” Tunney said. “The DOE should try and work with NYU and the city council to get the school open in the next couple years.” Additional reporting by John Ambrosio. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 | nyunews.com
FEATURES
edited by Hannah treasure FEATURES@nyunews.com tumblr continued from PG. 1
Student blog focuses on sexism in tech
Staff Photo by Stefanie Chan
Brooklyn cafe specializes in unique ingredient
Williamsburg’s MatchaBar offers everything matcha and focuses on the variety of health benefits of the green tea powder, an alternative to coffee.
STORY AT NYUNEWS.COM
In addition to the difficulties facing women trying to break into the field, sexism is often apparent in the form of Internet comments, even on Hackers of NY. Grant has received sexist comments like “I’d hack her” and “She’s a stripper” from hackers who are part of the community Grant has helped build. “Some social changes just take time,” Grant said. “It’s actually precisely the hacker ethic that strives to create solutions to injustices that make me so hopeful about the community as a whole.” Email Emily Harris at features@nyunews.com.
Film tour features Tisch students By Wenjie Kong Contributing Writer
The North America Chinese Directors Short Film Tour showcased the talent of both current and past Tisch students at Quad Cinema on Oct. 9. Four of the six short films screened were produced by Tisch alumni Yulin Liu, Bruce Li and Kate Tsang, and Tisch graduate student Shan Jin. Each of them is one of the 21 finalists in the film tour. Liu directed “Door God,” which was awarded the silver medal in the narrative category for the 41st Student Academy Awards. In the film, 7-year-old Lingli’s mother returns home to her after two years, bringing changes to Lingli and her family. Liu was inspired by her own family’s stories to direct the film. “My great grandma and I used to live in a small village in Henan, China and she told me so many stories happened there. Lingli was one of [them],” Liu said. “Like her, so many emotions in this village are being neglected. I want to tell those overlooked stories and bring those unique and amazing characters through the power of cinema.” The other students’ films encompass many genres. Li directed the film “Caught,” a story about trading illegal contraband in a middle school. Jin directed “The Right Thing,” which creates a tension between three guardians and an
BY Sue Liang Contributing Writer
Photo by Wenjie Kong
Bruce Li, Kate Tsang, Jingyang Cheng, Shan Jin, Yulin Liu and Min Ding present their films at Quad Cinema on Oct. 9. “innocent” person. Tsang, the director of “So You’ve Grown Attached,” used black and white to tell a story about a girl who plays with her imaginary friend, who is later forced to retire when the girl starts to grow up. Her work is distinguishable by its use of animation. “My entire life is basically watching Miyazaki Totoro and I remember how incredible [his work] made me feel,” Tsang said. “I’ve never seen or experienced something so powerful … Since then I’ve been chasing the energy and the joyfulness I felt.” Her artistic approach took a turn to black and white for several artistic and pragmatic reasons. “The character reads a lot of black-and-white comic books [so it’s] a good reflection of that. And, I want it to be a film
that from the first frame you see you know that it’s a different world … Also the imaginary friend has a black mask. If I edit that in color from frame to frame, my budget couldn’t afford that,” Tsang said. When asked about plans for the next 10 years in the Q&A session, Liu spoke of an ambitious goal of cross-cultural art. “In 10 years, I will move back to China and continue telling these Chinese stories to the people around the world,” Liu said. The North America Chinese Directors Short Film Tour will travel to Chicago for its next stop on Oct. 23 and will eventually hit Boston, San Francisco, Los Angeles and China by 2015. Email Wenjie Kong at features@nyunews.com.
It is a weekend of festivals in New York City. From film to food to French culture, there are plenty of options. October is the last month where weather is pleasant enough for street fairs, so take advantage of the various festivals that allow you to stroll leisurely down the streets. When the day has cooled off, head to one of the many movie screenings. Festival Albertine: This festival is dedicated to celebrating all things intelligent and French. On Oct. 17, Matthew Weiner, “Mad Men” creator, and Alexandra Clert, creator of the popular French show “Engrenages,” will discuss the portrayal of women in pop culture. The free festival lasts from Oct. 14 to 19 and is being held at Albertine book store at 972 Fifth Ave. “Pulp Fiction” screening: Your Friday or Saturday night could be filled with Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece “Pulp Fiction,” which turns 20 this year. The Nitehawk Cinema is celebrating by having a midnight screening of the film on Oct. 17 or 18. The Williamsburg theater has regular Friday and Saturday night screenings of classic and popular movies. Tickets for the “Pulp Fiction” screening are $11 at 136 Metropolitan Ave. Sixth Annual Marco Polo Festival: One of the beautiful things about New York City is the way cultures from all over the world blend with
one another to create beautiful relationships and, as a result, good food. The Marco Polo Festival takes place on the edges of Chinatown and Little Italy, and it celebrates the relationship between Chinese and Italian Americans. The free festival begins with a pageant featuring Marco Polo and Kublai Khan marionettes and continues from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. with food, Italian opera, Chinese dancers and various other performances. It takes place Oct. 18 on Grand Street. Korean Food Festival: If you have been craving kimchi and the to-go version at m2m is not cutting it, head to Times Square on Oct. 17 and 18 for the Korean Food Festival. Starting at 10 a.m., stop by to learn how to make kimbap or traditional rice cakes. If you are feeling particularly ambitious, the eating contest begins at 12:30. Entry is free. Hitchcocktober: Nothing prepares you for Halloween like the brilliance of Alfred Hitchcock. East Village Cinema makes up for the distinct lack of Hitchcock movies on Netflix by bringing you Hitchcocktober. Every Thursday in October at 8 p.m., a different movie is playing, including the Oct. 16 screening of the classic “Psycho.” At only $10 a ticket, the only downside is having to think about that famous scene every time you are in the shower for the next month. Email Sue Liang at features@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
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arts
edited by alex greenberger arts@nyunews.com
Yellowcard lead singer shares thoughts on band’s future By Alexa Spieler Music Editor
it’s going to take us, but it’s possible that it won’t be pop punk. Whether I’m writing for other people or writing for Yellowcard, I never want to be trapped in a box.
With pop punk band Yellowcard fresh off the release of its new album “Lift a Sail,” Ryan Key, the band’s lead singer, is changing his career. In a phone interview with WSN, Key spoke about his recent ventures into the music publishing business, as well as the enormously positive reception of the album and how the album marks a shift in sound for the group of Florida natives.
WSN: I know that you’ve been interested in getting more involved with the publishing side of the industry. Are you currently pursuing publishing?
WSN: Lyrically, “Lift a Sail” is vulnerable. Were you anxious at all about creating such a vulnerable album? RK: Much of the album is connected with my wife and my experience. My wife is a professional snowboarder and she suffered a horrific spinal cord injury last year. She was paralyzed below the waist. Leading up to the album, there were a lot of dark places that we went to. I was able to get past that and start writing, and in the end, it came out exactly how I wanted it to.
via facebook.com
Ryan Key discusses “Lift a Sail’s” differences from previous albums.
WSN: Was the album therapeutic for you? RK: Yeah, it always is. That’s one of the things about being a songwriter — you get to hash it out on your own. It got a lot of weight off my shoulders. Writing, in general, is always therapeutic for me.
WSN: “Lift a Sail” is a very different album from your past work. Are you trying to step out of pop punk at all? RK: Yes, I think we did that with “Lift a Sail,” anyway. I think we’ve really started ourselves down a [new] path. I don’t know where
Film lacks style, lead actor soars
WSN: Has publishing always been something you have been interested in pursuing? RK: I’ve had a stronger desire to in the past year, but I’ve always tried it out. Yellowcard signed its first publishing deal in 2004. I would do some stuff here and there, if the publisher thought that I was right for a session. But
WSN: How do you feel about your upcoming tour? RK: I’m so ready. It’s been a while, but just knowing that we’re going to be playing these new songs and the show itself is going to be really special. These songs are not necessarily our usual, where people will lose their minds in circle pits. I’m really excited, because I think that these songs are going to connect, in a major way, emotionally. I’m really excited to feel that energy, because I know that it’s not going to be quite as off-the-wall as it usually is for us. Email Alexa Spieler at aspieler@nyunews.com.
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Schwartzman, Perry examine ‘Philip’
By Daniel Lieberson Staff Writer
“Rudderless,” William Macy’s directorial debut, is uneven to say the least. It has a sincere heart, but it lacks the structure needed to be a truly powerful film. It often comes off as flat and messy. But the film has one saving grace: Billy Crudup’s immensely powerful performance. Crudup plays Sam, whose life falls apart when his son Josh dies in a school shooting. After the tragic death, Sam resorts to alcohol for comfort, and he is so emotionally distraught that he is unable to hold a job. Soon, he finds himself living on a boat, unable to keep his luxurious house and too proud to ask for financial help from his ex-wife (Felicity Huffman). Just when he hits rock bottom, Sam discovers a box filled with CDs of his son’s music recorded in the months before he died. Nearly overnight, his son’s quirky songs lift Sam’s spirits and he begins to learn them on guitar. When Sam decides to play one of the pieces at a local cabaret bar, he meets Quentin (Anton Yelchin), who shares a passion for similar music. As the two develop a friendship, Sam begins to
RK: Right at this moment, I’m not. I just recently found a place in Nashville, and I’m moving in and getting settled here. So, I’m trying to rush through it all and then we’re out [on tour] next week. When I get back, now that I do have a place there, I’m excited about furthering my career outside of the band.
I think I’m just starting to realize now that there’s a lot of opportunity to set yourself up for when we’re not touring. Right now, it’s on fire, but I’m married now, and you never know what the future is going to hold. I’m not saying the band is going to break up, but who knows if years from now we’ll still be touring nine months a year. I’m just more aware of that now as I get older.
via wikipedia.org
Billy Crudup’s performance as Sam is the highlight of “Rudderless.”
see his son in Quentin. As Sam, Crudup steals the picture with his raw performance that always remains grounded in truth. Even though the script is scattered with trite dialogue and awkward plot gaps, Crudup’s immensely powerful acting partially compensates for the errors. But as talented as Crudup is, it does not distract from the film’s lack of dimensionality. The minimal editing and lack of artistic camerawork make it clear that “Rudderless” is very much an actor’s film. Interestingly, the missing stylization of the film renders the piece more realistic and creates a unique flow to the piece similar to one found in a staged play. There are a few awkward casting decisions that detract from the power of the film’s drama.
In an effort to draw younger audiences, pop star Selena Gomez plays Josh’s ex-girlfriend. The former Disney Channel actor is only on screen for a few minutes, disrupting the flow of honest acting with her hyperbolic lashing out at Sam. The talented Laurence Fishburne also has an uncharacteristically small role as the owner of the local music store. Both of these actors seem out of place in their throwaway roles. Despite the problems the film has, it always comes back to Crudup, who guides “Rudderless” through its rough patches. “Rudderless” is far from a perfect artistic achievement, but Macy succeeds in taking the audience on a surprisingly elaborate psychological journey. Email Daniel Lieberson at film@nyunews.com.
from every dynamic I had built for years,” Perry said. “To do a movie about somebody who, on the one hand, has everything they want and has wanted for a long time, and, on the other hand, part of that means moving around and being out of people’s lives and being absent, felt like the basis for the New York movie.” When talking about Philip, Schwartzman spoke about how much he enjoyed playing a selfish character. “He’s not passive-aggressive, he’s just aggressive,” Schwartzman said. “I don’t find him hard to like. I find that people probably have a hard time embracing somebody who’s very honest and outspoken because I think we’re at a point now in our society.” The film shifts the spotlight from the titular protagonist throughout to Schwartzman’s co-stars Elizabeth Moss and Johnathan Pryce. “You’re reading [the script] and you’re going, ‘This is going to be about this guy?’ and then all of a sudden it’s like, now we switch,” Schwartzman said. “It felt exciting and it was more like a literary structure. It was good that he used that structure for a movie about a writer.” The film recently played at the 52nd New York Film Festival,
via tribecafilm.com
Jason Schwartzman plays the titular in “Listen Up Philip.” which held significant sentiment for Schwartzman. “[The festival] has a very significant appeal to me because it’s where ‘Rushmore’ first played,” Schwartzman said. “It’s a very emotional place where people first saw me in a movie. I think just being in New York, it’s special, especially for this movie. It’s the ultimate home for it.” Email James Muntisov at film@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 | nyunews.com
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The new york times crossword & daily sudoku Crossword “CHANGE OF HEART” This crossword was the most-discussed puzzle at Lollapuzzoola 7, a tournament held on August 9 in New York City. The event was directed by Brian Cimmet and Patrick Blindauer. Hint: The title (above) is key to solving the puzzle. Time limit: 45 minutes. ACROSS 1 Computer purchase 6 “Much ___ About Nothing” 9 Rooster’s roost 14 Canadian pop singer Lavigne 15 Hawaii’s Mauna ___ 16 Pretty person 17 Dismantle 19 Goody two-shoes 20 Hum follower 21 Stomach muscles 23 Brazilian baker? 24 Further to the right on a number line 27 Yellow-centered bloomer 30 Archaic “Curses!” 31 Fish oil source 32 Sticky stuff 33 Reading material, for short
34 It can be saved or cured 36 Leader of the pack? 40 Simon & Garfunkel’s “I ___ Rock” 41 False show 42 Gives a thumbsup 44 Repair 45 Under attack 47 Starsky’s partner 49 President between James and Andrew, briefly 50 First state: Abbr. 52 Excellent drivers often break it 53 Supernatural being 54 Rely on 56 Piece of office equipment 59 “Adios!” 60 Tier
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62 “___ Joey” (Sinatra film) 63 Deduce logically 66 Sideshow performer 71 “I have no idea!” 72 Slew 73 Georgia campus 74 Priest of ancient Gaul 75 Exclamation of discovery 76 Perez of film DOWN 1 Pin cushion? 2 Some germ cells 3 Sturdy tree in the beech family 4 Filter in the kitchen 5 Cow in Borden ads 6 ___ broche (cooked on a skewer) 7 “Rico Suave” rapper 8 Swear words? 9 “Angel dust” 10 U.K. locale 11 Spring (from) 12 Autumnal quaff 13 Command to a canine 18 Friskies eater 22 Moderate decline in prices 24 “Johnny B. ___” 25 Label anew 26 “Planet of the Apes” planet [spoiler alert!] 28 / 29 Cambodia’s Lon ___ 30 Exerciser’s enemy
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PUZZLE BY PATRICK BLINDAUER
34 They may be drawn before bedtime 35 Tune for nine 37 Sufficiently old 38 Float like a helicopter 39 Brought down, as a tree 43 Abrasion 46 Partner of Dreyer
48 Improvement 51 Item in an env. 54 Pavarotti or Caruso 55 Evoking the past 57 Rapunzel’s prison 58 “Me ___ Patricio” (“I am called Patrick”) 59 Cowboy’s home, familiarly
61 Old Spice alternative 64 London-based record company 65 Word before Sox or Wings 67 Cell stuff 68 ___-Mex 69 “___ tu” (Verdi aria) 70 Manhattan part
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nyunews.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
opinion
edited by CHRISTINA COLEBURN opinion@nyunews.com
academic policy
Neglecting core subjects fails students
By Christina Coleburn Opinion Editor
According to a survey released on Oct. 15 by the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, few universities require students to take classes in all seven core subjects that are deemed critical to a liberal arts education, including economics, foreign languages and U.S. history. The sixth annual edition of the survey found that 18 percent of American colleges mandate at least one course in U.S. history or government, 13 percent necessitate a foreign language and 3 percent require students to take economics — startlingly low figures. Of the 1,098 universities the ACTA surveyed, only 23 received an A grade, reserved for schools that compel students to take classes in six of the seven areas. NYU, which does not require U.S. history or economics courses, was among the 389 schools that earned a B. Although a B demonstrates a far more respectable effort than the 63 percent of colleges that were given an assessment of C, D or F, the fact that NYU does not necessitate that its students take courses
in these areas is still disconcerting. A proficient knowledge of U.S. government, history and economics is essential for engaging with the broader financial and political landscape. Studying government enlightens individuals on the duties and rights of citizenship, understanding history enables citizens to analytically consider the nation’s past and comprehending economics fosters quantitative reasoning. Despite the importance of historical, civic and economic proficiency, these skills are declining among American youth. In a 2012 collaboration with the ACTA, GfK Roper surveyed 300 college graduates from both private and public institutions to assess their knowledge of U.S. history — with alarming results. While 96.2 percent of the respondents knew that Lady Gaga was a musical performer, only 38.4 percent
knew the correct term limits for members of Congress. While the troubling survey does not directly reflect a causation with minimized requirements in core subjects, a correlation is plausible. Many students work toward their bachelor’s degree for at least four years. The reality that a student could study for four years in an institution of higher learning and never step foot in a core subject class — and the ACTA study found that many do not — is extremely unnerving. While several shortcomings contribute to this lack of proficiency beyond the scope of post-secondary education, universities cannot be fully exempt from culpability. The troubling results from the survey that measured college graduates’ historical knowledge demonstrate that all institutions — whether public or private, A or F rated — have a responsibility to provide students with an education that sufficiently prepares them for post-collegiate life. By disregarding the significance of these classes, colleges deny students a pivotal education. Email Christina Coleburn at ccoleburn@nyunews.com.
science
Scientific academia must acknowledge students By Tess Woosley Deputy Opinion Editor
Regardless of your major, the chance that you will graduate NYU without reading an academic paper are slim to none. For most science students, the majority of readings in later electives often consist of recently published journal articles, and independent research projects require extensive online searches. But, this is a recent trend — article access used to lie solely under the university library’s journal subscriptions. This shift online has brought useful changes, but the academic world needs to be responsive to current restructuring as new technology and more productive policies arise. Several recent papers have shown that less-prestigious journals are making headway against the elite. A study published earlier this month by the Google Scholar team showed that the “non-elite” journals, or those outside the top 10, are increasingly cited. This means that highly cited papers, those with the greatest impact, are starting to appear in smaller journals. The study reviewed different fields, including health and medical, computer science and social science. Overall, the
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percentage of citations in non-elite journals has changed from 27 percent in 1995 to 47 percent in 2013, with the largest changes in physics and math. Although Science and Nature will likely remain among the elite journals for decades to come, the change shows a shift in the way articles are accessed, and possibly even in the way researchers view journal prestige. As a biology major, this is a positive step forward. The knowledge that prestige now contributes less to which papers are read and cited is especially comforting in an intimidating field where experience helps not only with publication frequency, but also in receiving grants. The National Institute of Health is the foremost funding agency for biomedical research, yet the median age of first-time recipients of their most common grant is 42. In contrast, a study that looked at Nobel
Prize winners and notable scientists from the 20th century found that most were between the ages of 35 and 39 when they had the ideas that lead to their fame. Scientific experience is currently well-earned after years of study and work in labs, but the academic waiting game may be blocking out new ideas. In an Oct. 3 opinion piece in The New York Times, physician-turnedcongressional representative Andy Harris blasted both the NIH and the federal government for failing to provide opportunities for young researchers who he feels often have more “innovative thinking.” The NIH has publicly acknowledged this, but is increasingly limited by both a Congress unwilling to fund innovative or risky research and the status quo of academic expectations. In order for today’s students to truly benefit from increasingly open publication opportunities and online resources, they need funding for their ideas. Government agencies, Congress and academia must cooperate in order to ensure the integrity of future research. Email Tess Woosley at twoosley@nyunews.com.
staff editorial
Campaign aimed toward New Yorkers beneficial
NYU students can be inclined to stay in Greenwich Village, and this is an attitude that is not only indicative of many students, but also New Yorkers in general. Although some may believe that confining themselves to the Lower East Side is sufficient for their New York City experience, they actually are robbing themselves of the unique opportunity to explore the five boroughs. New York City is hailed as one of the most vibrant cities in the world, and even Manhattan has more to offer than just Broadway shows and Fifth Avenue museums. Stuyvesant Town is overflowing with energy, and Harlem feels just as alive as the streets of TriBeCa. Whether in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx or Staten Island, there are different ways to experience the same city. To help New Yorkers become acquainted with the entire island, the ad agency New York & Company announced a citywide campaign yesterday aimed at locals. Called “See Your City,” the initiative encourages residents to explore beyond their figurative backyards. An estimated 54.3 million visitors traveled to New York City in 2013. But for many visitors, New York evokes only iconic images of a brightly lit Times Square, a towering Empire State Building or a glowing Brooklyn Bridge. While city life obviously embodies a more immersive and explorative lifestyle, many residents still seem to remain in fairly confined areas around their neighborhoods. The movement seeks to stimulate exploration of other areas of the city not just for tourists, but for residents as well, by advertising the appeal of the less-frequented boroughs on subway cars. Given New York’s dense population, the campaign aims to encourage spending and travel between small geographic communities defined by implicit barriers. While the distances between Staten Island and the Upper West Side are relatively small, the density of each neighborhood serves as an oppressive, limiting force. “See Your City” seeks to overcome this restriction by advertising the appeal of all neighborhoods, not just a confined section of the city. Campaigns encouraging residents to venture and enjoy local surroundings benefit both locals and city businesses. Students often claim that exploring all of New York City can be an exhausting pursuit and, in fairness, their assessment can be accurate. Still, their criticisms are based on a narrow definition of a sprawling city. It is important for students and native New Yorkers alike to remember that New York City is a collective of neighborhoods and cultures, not the 10-by-10 grid where they individually reside.
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) illustration by jourdan enriquez
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
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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nyunews.com | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2014 | Washington Square news
sports
edited by CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@nyunews.com
women’s tennis
Violets compete in NY DIII Championships By Bobby Wagner Contributing Writer
The NYU women’s tennis team took to the court in the New York State DIII Championships this weekend. The competition was held upstate in Ithaca, New York. The Violets sent six girls to the competition: juniors Jazmin Colling, Alison Wang and Madeline King, seniors Mari Tzakis and Alex Ziarko and freshman Nicole Schnabel. On day one, all six were in action and five grabbed victories. Colling won twice on that day, first in straight sets 6-2, 6-0, then in three sets 6-4, 4-6, 10-3, moving from the round of 16 to the semifinals in just a day. Wang, King and Ziarko all won their quarterfinal matches. Schnabel won her quarterfinal match, but then moved on to play her semifinal match that same day and lost 6-1, 6-1. Tzakis dropped her quarterfinal match in a grueling three set match that went 7-5, 4-6, 13-11. On day two, the Violets were not so fortunate. Top-ranked King was the only Violet to advance to day three as she won her semifinal match 6-1, 6-1 over Amanda Alexander of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Wang, Ziarko and Colling all suffered losses in their semifinal matches. Wang and Tzakis also dropped their match in the doubles tournament to Skidmore College. On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, NYU only had King to represent them. However, King dropped a tough match to secondranked Emily Hallewell of Vassar College in the singles player finals by a score of 6-4, 6-1. The competi-
via gonyuathletics.com
Junior Madeline King represented NYU in the finals. tion did not include team scoring, so the only method of scoring was individual play. Despite the end result, the Violets played well over the weekend in their last competition of the fall. King praised the efforts of the entire team, despite many players having to step up to positions they were not normally accustomed to. “We had a solid performance at states this past weekend, especially considering two of our top players were at Nationals and most of us had to play up a position,” King said. “We came into the tournament confident and it showed in our play. The new additions to our squad played well and were supportive team players at their first state championships.” This marks the end of the fall individual season for the team, which opens up the second leg of its season on Feb. 28. The team will begin team scoring in the spring, so the Violets hope to carry along their individual success to the broader team game. Email Bobby Wagner at sports@nyunews.com.
column
Royals defy expectations in playoffs By Kyle Luther Staff Columnist
Whether the Kansas City Royals go home with a World Series Championship or not, they have already won in the eyes of their devoted fans. Has there been anything more exciting than watching this small market, Midwest team continue to exceed expectations in the postseason? Though it looks as if the Royals are destined to win it all, that is not always how it appeared. In fact, the Royals barely got into the playoffs and had to play the Oakland Athletics in the Wild Card Game just to earn a spot in the first round. The A’s had been the best team in baseball before taking a dive in the latter part of the season. Still, Oakland was favored to win the game with ace Jon Lester on the mound. The Royals’ season seemed over when Oakland scored five runs in the sixth. The Royals’ late-inning heroics, however, tied the game against Oakland’s usually solid bullpen, and Kansas City went on to win the game in extra innings. The Royals could not catch a break as they were then tasked with playing the favorite to win the World Series, the Los Angeles Angels, in the American League Division Series. If you blinked, you might have missed this series. The Royals took the first two games from the Angels in Anaheim and then sealed the series victory with a game three win at home.
via wikipedia.org
The KC Royals advance to the World Series as the underdog. Now the Royals have done the same to the Baltimore Orioles. After winning the series 4-0, the team is preparing to play either the San Francisco Giants or St. Louis Cardinals for the right to be crowned World Champions. This season is a winner for Kansas City and for baseball itself. It is uncommon for a small market team with no real superstars to take on teams like the Angels and the Orioles, which have some of the highest paid players in baseball. Other than pitcher James Shields and first baseman Eric Hosmer, many have a hard time naming even one player on the Royals. They are the proverbial underdogs and score as a team, rather than on the back of one particular player. Even more miraculously, this year is the first time the Royals have made it to the
postseason in almost 30 years. They won the World Series in 1985 and have not smelled postseason baseball since. In the views of many, this is destiny. No one would have predicted that the Royals would have ever beaten Jon Lester, then swept superstar Mike Trout and the Angels and now have vastly outplayed the high-flying Orioles. Baseball has a tendency to become repetitive with the same few teams making the playoffs every year. That is why watching a dark horse team blaze through the competition makes things exciting to watch. It is always good for any sport when everyone has a chance to win and the fans are mesmerized by a gripping storyline. Email Kyle Luther at sports@nyunews.com.
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