NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 86
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2014
nyunews.com TECHNOLOGY
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Hackers build tools to combat Ebola
NEWS
By ALEX BAZELEY Deputy News Editor
STAFF PHOTO BY VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI
NYU students receive HBO Go in dorms Students living in housing now have access to HBO Go. STORY on PG. 3
FEATURES
STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK
STAFF PHOTO BY HARKANWAL KANWAL
Laptops questioned in classrooms
The iron lung was one method to aid in respiratoin for Polio patients.
Whether or not to allow technology is an ongoing debate for professors.
Alums remembered for polio vaccine
STORY on PG. 4
OPINION
Campaign focus shift needed in midterms Youth voters focused on issues, not parties, and politicians must take note.
FEATURES
By AMANDA MORRIS Staff Writer
The fear surrounding the current Ebola epidemic has drawn some comparisons to the influx in polio cases in the early 1950s. David Oshinsky, who won the Pulitzer Prize for his work, “Polio: An American Story,” is director of the Division of Medical Humanities at NYU Langone Medical Center, which is now showcasing an exhibit about the polio epidemic. “The difference, of course, was that polio was a yearly occurrence to Americans, arriving like the plague each summer and paralyzing and killing thousands of chil-
dren,” Oshinsky said. “The fear was palpable.” “Confronting the Epidemic,” which runs until Nov. 7, commemorates Jonas Salk and Albert Sabin, both NYU School of Medicine graduates who developed the polio vaccine. “It was no accident that both men attended NYU, and that both went on to become path-breaking polio vaccine researchers,” Oshinsky said. “NYU was the only major medical school in the Northeast that did not have a ‘Jewish’ quota in the 1930s, when Salk and Sabin applied. NYU provided a lifeline to young Jewish students.” Salk and Sabin both worked on researching and develop-
ing the vaccine after there was an influx in the number of polio cases in the early 1950s. NYU’s reputation as a research institution is often an important reason that students like CAS sophomore Ian Passman choose to study at NYU. “It’s definitely inspirational to know that such a significant discovery came out of the school that I go to,” Passman said. “It makes achievements like that feel more tangible and possible. Research is what I want to do, so this definitely resonates on a personal level.” The exhibit showcases a small
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Students attempted to increase access to information and doctor-patient communication regarding the Ebola epidemic at a hackathon hosted at the Polytechnic School of Engineering. Their goal was to respond to the challenge made by government agency USAID and technology platform OpenIDEO to create tools for fighting the disease. The hack session lasted from morning to evening on Sunday, Nov. 2. The six teams, which comprised two to six students, created solutions using open source materials to promote universal accessibility to their creations. Many of the projects were focused around the use of SMS to coordinate Ebola treatment because of its ease of use and widespread access, even in developing countries. CAS freshman Arnav Sood and third-year medical student Pamela Wu designed a text messaging service that would allow anyone to text a location to the number and receive an update on whether or not the location is in or around an Ebola-affected zone. “We went with something that we could do really simply, and also make a nice presentation for,” Wu said. “Ultimately, if you’re on the ground, if you’re just a citizen of one of the African countries that are affected, you’re going to want something you can remember.” Wu and Sood’s presentation demonstrated an already working version of the system, and explained its use of widely available resources, including an online map of Ebola outbreaks. Kelsey D’Souza, a freshman at the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science, and John Kotey, a junior in the same school, worked on an SMS-based help
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TODAY ON CAMPUS Screening and Discussion of “Electoral Dysfunction” On the eve of Election Day, go to the NYU Bookstore at 6 p.m. for a viewing of the documentary “Electoral Dysfunction” and a conversation with the minds behind the film, including political humorist Mo Rocca.
Artist Talk: Gráinne Quinlan Artist Gráinne Quinan will present and discuss her most recent projects, including photographs of the Straw Boys of West Ireland and “White Crane Spread Wings,” which features senior citizens in Hong Kong. The event will be in room 471 of 20 Cooper Square at 6:30 p.m.
A Conversation with Gay Talese
Six runners in the professional women’s category tackle their eighth mile on Brooklyn’s Fourth Avenue in the New York City Marathon. The 26.2-mile race, which attracted tens of thousands of people, took participants through all of New York City’s boroughs.
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Renowned journalist Gay Talese discusses his book, “The Bridge,” on the 50th Anniversary of the building of the book’s subject, the Verrazano Bridge, on the seventh floor of 20 Cooper Square at 6:30 p.m. TODAY’S EVENTS ARE FREE FOR NYU STUDENTS.
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KRISTINA BOGOS, RACHEL KAPLAN, CLIO MCCONNELL, JORDAN MELENDREZ, KALEEL MUNROE, JONATHAN TAN About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact the managing editors at managing@nyunews. com or at 212.998.4302.
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NYU Reacts: HBO Go in dorms
HACK continued from PG. 1
By SUEBIN KIM Staff Writer
STAFF PHOTO BY ALEX BAZELEY
Students living in NYU housing are now able to use HBO Go on their laptops and smartphones. This service is currently available to undergraduates and the Law School’s on-campus residents with NYU Campus Cable services. Upperclassmen living in the hotels — Affinia Manhattan, Affinia Dumont and Affinia Shelburne — are unable to utilize the service. Members of the NYU community shared their views on the news that students living in residence halls would have access to HBO Go.
Students gather at Poly to develop hacks for Ebola aid.
Students aim to help Ebola communication
line and surveillance system. D’Souza said the system could be used by patients to report their status of sickness and by health workers to monitor cases and patients’ locations. The database would be completely accessible via text. “I thought I wasn’t going to have any ideas, but I went in there and gave them my SMS idea and people liked it,” D’Souza said. “Then we started building on it and at that point I realized it could be real, and we can make a difference.”
By CHRISTINE PARK Staff Writer The NYU Department of Public Safety has received reports of 11 incidents of larceny and one incident of sexual offense in the past week.
Sexual Offense At 7:13 a.m. on Oct. 26, a student at Alumni residence hall notified Public Safety that he or she had been raped. This incident is still under investigation.
Larceny There were six reports of bicycle theft between Oct. 25 and Oct. 29. The thefts took place at the NYU Dental Center, Tisch Hall and Warren Weaver Hall. At 9 p.m. on Oct. 29, a student reported that when she came back to the eighth floor of Bobst Library, her laptop, which she had left unattended, was missing. A police report has been filed. This case is still open and under investigation. At 8:12 a.m. on Oct. 29, a student studying in NYU Florence reported that coins were stolen
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Kotey said they have plans to expand the system and underscored the importance of recognizing that, with Ebola being a global issue, it is time to take action. “So far, we have a case confirmed in New York, and it could affect anyone,” Kotey said. “We feel that if we have the expertise and knowledge in certain fields to help people out, why not?” Email Alex Bazeley at abazeley@nyunews.com.
from a jar placed on his desk in his dorm room. He reported that he observed his coins missing on Oct. 5. At 10 p.m. on Oct. 28, a student reported her laptop stolen from a lounge at Tisch Hall when she left it unattended from 9:20 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. At 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 28, Public Safety received a report of a stolen wallet that had been in a cabinet at Carlyle Court residence hall. At 12:10 p.m. on Oct. 26, a student found her cellphone missing after she left it unattended for three minutes on a water fountain at Bobst Library. This case is closed. A student reported a backpack theft from his dorm room at 1:05 a.m. on Oct. 26. He stated that he left his backpack at 3 p.m. and came back to his room in Lafayette Street residence hall at 8 p.m. to find the bag missing. All except the incidents that occurred in NYU Florence and Bobst Library are still under investigation. Email Christine Park at news@nyunews.com.
“I think I will use HBO Go only for watching ‘True Detective.’ It’s nice to have, but nowhere near a big enough incentive to remain in residential life.” — Kimberly Chen, CAS junior living in Palladium “Although I obviously wish we had access when we were still in housing, I realize that schools and benefits are constantly evolving, so I think it is a smart and well-deserved benefit to people in housing, especially given the price of dorming.” — Jacob Sim, CAS junior living in downtown Manhattan
“I’m a little peeved about not having access to HBO Go because I’m technically still in housing but I don’t have access to all the perks of it. But since it’s relatively easy to access HBO content on other resources online, I think that it’s nice that NYU gave students access to it.”— Gabe Hajyousif, CAS junior living in Affinia Shelburne “I thought the deal was a good idea by HBO, since on-campus kids aren’t going to pay for cable in the first place, might as well give them free stuff to build customer relations.” — Yifei Zhang, CAS sophomore living in Greenwich Hotel “I would say it’s a trade-off. Hotel living is a lot nicer than your typical dorm. For me, I would rather live in a hotel than have HBO Go. It’s pretty cool, though, that NYU is taking care of their students a little better, because we do pay a lot for housing so we should have stuff like that.” — Justin Silverberg, LS freshman living in Third North
STAFF PHOTO BY VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI
Posters in residence halls display student access to HBO Go.
“I think it’s awesome that we got HBO Go. It was never something I planned on getting for myself, but I definitely will not complain about having access to it for free. I was able to get a quick look through it the last couple days, and although it’s basically another reason to procrastinate, it’s really nice to have all these shows and movies to watch.” — Swan Cho, CAS junior living in Palladium “I think it’s a little lame that we don’t get to use it considering we’ve already been inconvenienced enough living 30 minutes from campus, but we live in a really nice hotel that has a free TV so it’s not that big of a deal to me.” – Austin Reardon, CAS junior living in Affinia Shelburne Email Suebin Kim at news@nyunews.com.
THE GAZELLE: ON SAADIYAT, AL FAJR CLOCKS IN PLACE OF CALL TO PRAYER Published on TheGazelle.org on Nov. 2, 2014 By SAM BALL The Gazelle With the shift to Saadiyat Island, NYU Abu Dhabi students can no longer hear the call to prayer throughout campus. The move marks the campus’s first year without the call to prayer, and some students have reacted to this change with nostalgia, others with more vocal objections. The call to prayer, or adhaan, is a recitation by a muezzin that reminds Muslims of the five daily prayers. In Abu Dhabi, the call to prayer is recited from the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque while being broadcasted to other mosques throughout the city. Students have proposed a series of initiatives to bring the call to prayer back to campus. Islamic custom, however, dictates that the call to prayer must be live and emanate from a mosque. Since the university does not
have the capability to properly broadcast its own call to prayer, a different way of navigating the issue had to be found. Director of Intercultural Education and Spiritual Life Alta Mauro worked with different students on campus to address the issue. “The best thing we can do in lieu of having a mosque within earshot of Saadiyat,” said Mauro, “is that if we have a few of those [Al Fajr clocks that display prayer times] in very public places that would illuminate when you would have heard the call, if you were within earshot … in both the East and West Dining Halls and then also in the Campus Center.” This initiative is already underway, with clocks now placed in the prayer rooms. The process has relied on Mauro gauging a diverse range of student opinion in order to figure out what would best fulfill the needs of the community. So far, she said, students have approached her saying that
this is a good first step. Student Government President Hamel Al Qubaisi agreed, but maintained that more should be done. “I want to eventually hear the call to prayer just like we hear it in the malls. Although, a step in the right direction, the clocks are not enough,” he said. Janeen Asfour, president of the Islamic Student Union, echoed this sentiment. “I think the administration should set up speakers on the highline so that adhaan can at least be heard,” she said. “Another alternative is working with the government of Abu Dhabi to build a [minaret] so that the adhaan that is heard in Abu Dhabi can also be heard on Saadiyat.” Read the full story online at nyunews.com. Email Sam Ball at sball@thegazelle.org.
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FEATURES
EDITED BY HANNAH TREASURE FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Professors, students debate pulling plug on technology By LISA AZCONA Contributing Writer
With the proliferation of iPads, laptops and smartphones, a classroom without technology seems unimaginable. Many conflicting opinions are surfacing about whether the presence of this technology in the classroom has a positive or negative impact on student learning. The use of technology in class has created a debate among students and professors who have noticed that laptops — with their tempting invitation to use social media, check emails and shop online — have become an increasing distraction to students. Because of the possibility of students becoming sidetracked, CAS associate professor Clay Shirky decided to ban laptops in his NYU Shanghai journalism class this semester. “With no laptops, students are simultaneously more bored and more engaged,” Shirky said. “They are more bored because they cannot dip into WhatsApp and NYU Secrets every 10 minutes, and
STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK
Some professors argue that laptops serve more as a distraction than a supplement. more engaged because the only means left to alleviate the boredom is to participate in class.” LS sophomore Melissa Paris advocates for the use of pen and paper over laptops in class. “I prefer taking notes by hand as opposed to typed on a laptop,” Paris said. “I find that when I write out my notes, I retain information better than when I type them and multitask.”
On the other side of the debate, Steinhardt professor Susan Murray, who teaches TV: History and Form, does not ban laptops in her classroom. “I’ve considered banning laptops from my classes,” Murray said. “But I haven’t because I understand how useful they can be for taking thorough notes that can be used later to create certain types of chronologies and study
guides, which is more difficult to do with handwritten notes.” LS sophomore Annalise Goeke agrees that note-taking is much easier when laptops are allowed because of the speed of typing. “I can’t write down what the professor says, only what they have on the board,” Goeke said. “With a computer, I can get down everything, just about word for word, too.” Steinhardt professor Adam Bu-
chwald offers an alternative. He discourages laptops in class, but still allows students to use them as long as they sit in the back of the classroom to prevent them from distracting other peers. During the first week of his Science of Language class, he presented his students with research showing how laptops can inhibit learning for the students and their peers. From that point on, Buchwald allowed his students to decide for themselves if they wished to use laptops or not. Despite the conflicting perspectives on laptops in classrooms, Shirky aims for a collaborative classroom environment, where technology is just another factor in the equation. “I have come to think of the classroom as a collaboration between me and my students to make them smarter, and we are all in it together fighting off possible impediments to learning,” Shirky said. Email Lisa Azcona at features@nyunews.com.
Students share scheduling advice
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By DHRITI TANDON Staff Writer
Planning your schedule for the upcoming semester can be tough, but here are some tips from students and an academic adviser to help organize your class schedule.
Balance class content
STAFF PHOTO BY HARKANWAL KANWAL
The exhibit celebrates the discovery of the Polio vaccine.
NYU alums’ work on polio vaccine showcased
vial of Salk’s polio vaccine, Sabin’s box of polio slides, an Emerson iron lung respirator and an original Candy Land board game, invented by and for polio patients. Oshinsky said much of the country was in a state of fear about the disease. “We all stayed away from crowds,” Oshinsky said. “The newspapers kept daily box scores of kids entering the polio wards, with terrifying photos of wheelchairs, leg braces and iron lungs ... That’s why everybody rallied around the massive polio vaccine trials of 1954 ... Parents couldn’t vaccinate their children fast enough, and they were right. That choice was the absolutely crucial in eradicating the disease.”
Eventually, polio was cured through Salk and Sabin’s vaccine. Oshinsky believes that the future of Ebola will follow a similar pattern. “There is little doubt that an Ebola vaccine is coming,” Oshinsky said. “Trials in Africa will begin in December. The effort is being fast-tracked, and the result should produce an effective vaccine in the near future. But nature is always a step ahead. Ebola will be defeated, but another microbe will rise up to take its place. That’s the nature of the beast. We must understand the process and be prepared for it.” Email Amanda Morris at features@nyunews.com.
For a well-rounded and interesting semester, students need to make sure they take a variety of subjects, rather than have all classes of the same kind. CAS junior Allison Cai said students should not take more than two classes related to their major each semester. “According to some of the sample four-year plans that major departments put up … they usually advise to take two major classes, a school-specific requirement and an elective or class for a minor,” Cai said. “I usually take three academically rigorous classes specific to my major and minor and then either an elective or a Core requirement for CAS.”
Understand what works best for you Depending on one’s sleep schedule, workload and extracurriculars, students should choose classes that allow them to maximize productivity during their free time and ensure adequate sleep. CAS academic adviser Devon Pryor said he tells students to factor in their study habits. “I encourage students to be as honest as possible with themselves when they’re mapping out their classes,” Pryor said. “If you trust yourself to take advantage of time between classes and actually be
STAFF PHOTO BY HARKANWAL KANWAL
Registration for spring classes will begin in two weeks. productive, then create that time for yourself; if you know you’re likely going to procrastinate that time away, then maybe try to have your classes back-to-back.”
Know your classes and professors beforehand Students should have a good idea of their class prerequisites, content and instructors. Gallatin sophomore Kimberly Wang advised fellow students to have an in-depth knowledge of the classes they will be pursuing. “Making sure you understand the prerequisites is super important,” Wang said. “Making sure you have a plan of trajectory is also crucial — in other words, know why you’re taking the course. Talking to upperclassmen is also a good idea. Emailing professors for syllabi and more in depth descriptions of the course material is also advisable.” CAS freshman Sarai Colon suggested that students utilize Internet reviews for their potential professors. “Make use of online tools such as Rate My Professors, and read
the course descriptions on Albert and departmental websites before deciding upon a class,” Colon said. “Also ask your friends who have already taken the class.”
Have backup classes Classes fill up fairly quickly every semester, causing most students to not be able to select their firstchoice classes. LS freshman Jeannette Zang highlighted the need for a backup class schedule. “Sometimes a few of those classes may fill out quickly,” Zang said. “A backup class schedule is always advisable instead of stressing out much later near the enrollment deadline date.” Pryor also suggested keeping an open mind and to be flexible with your schedule. “Don’t forget that spring registration happens two months before classes actually start,” Pryor said. “You will have time to fiddle around with your classes for quite a while after registration week.” Email Dhriti Tandon at features@nyunews.com.
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SPORTS
EDITED BY CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Weekend Wrap Up: Oct. 31-Nov. 2 By KYLE LUTHER Staff Writer
Wrestling Starting off the 2014-15 season, the NYU men’s wrestling team placed seventh at the Monarch Invitational on Saturday in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Of the 12 wrestlers that competed for NYU, sophomore Matthew Coppola had the best finish, placing third in the 149-pound bracket. Coppola took third place, totaling five wins on the day. The Violets ended the tournament with a total of 54.5 points, while Roger Williams University won with 140 points.
Soccer The NYU men’s soccer team fell 2-0 to Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday. This is the second loss in a row for the Violets and the third time this season they have been shut out. The team’s record now stands at 11-5. While both teams took 10 shots, the Bears were able to put four shots on goal while the Violets could not put one on target. Also facing off against Washington University in St. Louis on Sunday, the NYU women’s soccer team defeated the Bears 4-2. Although the Bears outshot the Violets 19-12, the Violets were able to capitalize on their chances. Senior forward Cami Crawford had the best game of the season, leading the team to victory with four goals.
Women’s Volleyball
The NYU women’s volleyball team finished the New York State Region Challenge on Saturday with a 1-3 record. The Violets split their matches on Friday, winning their first in straightsets against Rowan University, but were then defeated in straight-sets by Nazareth College. The team had a tough Saturday, dropping the first game in fivesets against Clarkson University. They followed that up with another five-set defeat against the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Swimming and Diving The NYU men’s swimming and diving team defeated Vassar College 204-62 in a dual meet on Saturday at the Palladium Athletic Center. The standout performance came from senior Austin Blease, who won both the one-meter competition with a score of 330.45 and the three-meter competition with a score of 313.36. Blease earned NCAA qualifying scores in both competitions for the second time this season. Senior Brian Blum also achieved a NCAA qualifying score in the one-meter competition of 281.18. The NYU women’s swimming and diving team continued its streak at the third meet of the season, winning against Vassar College 199-87. Sophomore Ashlie Pankonin won the one-me-
ter competition with a NCAA-qualifying score of 261.46. Freshman Austin Campitelli also recorded her first collegiate win in the three-meter competition with a score of 256.35.
Cross Country The NYU men’s cross country team finished fourth at the UAA Championship on Saturday at Forest Park in St. Louis. The Violets are currently ranked 28th in the nation by United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. Three NYU runners finished in the top 20 and totaled 102 points. Senior Johnny Lake did best for the Violets, finishing the 8K course with a time of 25:25:95. The other top-20 finishers for NYU were sophomore Herbert Gates, who finished 13th with a time of 25:44:01, and senior Sebastian Oja, who finished 18th with a time of 25:52:77. Also at Forest Park, the NYU women’s cross country team came in sixth at the UAA Championship on Nov. 1 in St. Louis. The Violets, currently ranked 25th by the USTFCCCA, had two top-20 finishers and racked up 134 points. Senior Sarah Czuprynski finished the 6K course with a time of 22:17:70. The other top20 finisher was junior Lily Corsaro, who finished with a time of 22:55:93. Email Kyle Luther at sports@nyunews.com.
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Crossword ACROSS 1 Hwy. speed 4 Shocked ... SHOCKED! 10 Brothers and sisters, for short 14 Sun. talk 15 Hang around a public place 16 Actor/stand-up comic Foxx 17 Opposite of yeah 18 Words to a local success story 20 Unexciting 22 Org. on a toothpaste tube 23 After everything’s been said and done 24 What a local success story achieves 27 Italian “god” 28 “Darn it!” 29 Salinger girl 31 Catch in the act 34 Longtime Pittsburgh product 36 Dispute
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OPINION
EDITED BY CHRISTINA COLEBURN OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
HEALTH STAFF EDITORIAL
Flu vaccinations vital to public
By SHARIKA DHAR Contributing Columnist
November marks the arrival of colder weather, shorter days and a sinister virus — it is not Ebola, but influenza. While the public’s attention is fixed squarely on Ebola, it is important to remember that the flu claims around 25,000 American lives each year. It is far more likely for an American to die of the flu than of Ebola. On a college campus like NYU’s, where the mix of new pathogens and close living quarters guarantees a cold or two, students should take precautions to avoid getting sick and spreading the flu to others. An obvious protective measure is getting a flu shot. The NYU Student Health Center has been offering free flu shots to NYU students, providing a convenient way for students to get vaccinated. Also, pharmacies around campus like CVS and Walgreens offer walk-in flu shots. Regardless of accessibility, it is likely that some Americans will not get vaccinated because they wrongly believe that vaccines are dangerous. This view is horribly outdated
and misinformed, yet it has persisted since the publication of a 1998 paper linking vaccines to autism in a prestigious medical journal. The research was immediately questioned, and ultimately disproved and retracted, but the damage was done. In 2007, the anti-vaccine issue was once again popularized when former Playboy Playmate Jenny McCarthy and various other celebrities spoke about the supposed dangers of vaccination. While both government and private institutions have worked to dispel these unfounded claims, the anti-vaccine movement has left a lasting imprint on the collective American psyche. In 2010, a study found that 14 percent of Americans did not get vaccinated because they did not “believe” in flu vaccines. Another 14 percent did not get vac-
cinated because they thought they would experience negative health effects as a result. The facts speak for themselves: it is biologically impossible to get the flu from a flu shot. A small amount of discomfort is expected — and some do experience short-term flulike symptoms — but the pain is nothing compared to the actual flu. The shot does not contain dangerous components, and vaccines are tested extensively before they are put in use. Flu shots do not cause autism or Alzheimer’s, nor do they weaken the immune system. They do reduce the risk of catching the flu by about 60 percent among the overall population. False claims should not prevent students from getting a flu shot. Anti-vaxxers endanger both themselves and others when they refuse to get vaccinated. NYU’s last free flu vaccine event will be on Thursday, Nov. 13 from noon to 4 p.m. in the Kimmel Student Resource Center. Save the date — make the decision that benefits everyone. Email Sharika Dhar at opinion@nyunews.com.
CYBERBULLYING
Lewinsky’s return to public life courageous By ANNIE COHEN Staff Columnist
Monica Lewinsky is undeniably one of the most polarizing figures in contemporary American culture. She has been unable to escape the consequences of her sex scandal with former President Bill Clinton. While the public has seemingly forgiven Clinton, viewing him favorably in polls, Lewinsky has been reduced to a vulgar punchline for nearly two decades. In recent weeks, however, she has strived to change her image. Armed with a newly minted Twitter account and a meaningful cause, Lewinsky has set out on an admirable journey to parlay her own notoriety into helping others who have been victims of what she calls a “culture of humiliation.” Her bold new stance is remarkable — in the face of shame and scrutiny, Lewinsky has chosen to use her personal pain to address the issue of cyberbullying. Although Lewinsky’s return to the public eye has been met by some degree of skepticism, her willingness to manifest her personal demons into a worthy cause is incredibly
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courageous. She has been shamed for almost 20 years, paying for an incident that took place in her early 20s. Her ventures into public life have been met with scorn and judgment. In an Oct. 20 speech at Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Summit, Lewinsky declared herself Patient Zero of the cyberbullying phenomenon. Along with personal stories, she recounted the life of Tyler Clementi, a college freshman who committed suicide in 2010 after his roommate secretly filmed him having sex with a man. Like Clementi, Lewinsky was subjected to a tsunami of cruelty driven by the Internet and media. Lewinsky also discussed the Clementi case in a June 2014 Vanity Fair piece. She said it gave her the clarity and confidence to finally break free of the restraints society had placed on her and to speak out
in order to give a voice to other victims of cyberbullying. Three days after the Forbes speech, more distressing details about the handling of the Clinton affair were released. The Washington Post obtained a sealed report confirming that in 1998 Lewinsky was severely mistreated by investigators, who ambushed her at a mall before subjugating her into a 12-hour interrogation. The rest became history. With Clinton’s presidency in jeopardy and a story that few could initially resist publishing, Lewinsky’s reputation as a dim-witted floozy was cemented. After being branded in this fashion for so many years, it is refreshing to see Lewinsky respond to those who ridiculed her and stand up for herself. While it is unlikely that her name will be completely rid of stigma, Lewinsky’s decision to turn her infamy into a platform against cyberbullying is commendable. By giving context to her story, she can be a force for positive change. Email Annie Cohen at opinion@nyunews.com.
Campaign shifts needed for millenial vote
Midterm elections are slated to take place on Nov. 4 with critical Senate, House and gubernatorial races in the balance. The outcomes will have significant implications on a host of issues, including the economy, immigration, foreign policy, social issues and voting procedures. It is also likely that the election results will have a nuanced impact on the political climate leading to the 2016 races, potential presidential contenders and the final years of the Obama presidency. Voter turnout for midterm elections is habitually low, but a certain demographic has been especially absent from the ballot box — youth. Recent findings indicate why this may be. Young voters largely express cynicism in regard to elected officials, consider themselves independents and demonstrate an issue-oriented focus rather than a party-oriented one. This cannot be attributed solely to millennial skepticism — it is representative of a broken system that has failed to interest young adults and address the issues they care about. An April 2014 poll conducted by The Institute of Politics at Harvard University found that only 23 percent of young Americans said they “will definitely be voting” in the midterm elections. The survey of over 3,000 U.S. citizens between the ages of 18 and 29 showed that millennial interest in 2014 midterms greatly lagged behind the 2010 levels. The survey also found that this age group’s trust in public institutions is at a five-year low. Furthermore, millennials hold significantly different opinions on the legalization of marijuana and the income gap than previous generations. In addition, the poll showed that 44 percent of 2012 Mitt Romney supporters now say they will vote, compared to only 35 percent of 2012 Barack Obama supporters. This political landscape is one of the reasons Republicans are predicted to take both the House and the Senate. If politicians from both parties aim to increase their appeal to youth in future elections, they must reach young adults on platforms driven by specific issues rather than partisan affiliation. This notion is especially evident when considering the economy. Debt, internships, post-graduation employment and the minimum wage have a profound impact on millennials’ economic situation. Targeting youth by concentrating on these issues would not only help candidates, but also would impassion young people to vote. While it is easy to attribute the low youth voter turnout to disenchantment, this dismissive attitude negates politicians’ ineffective campaigning. This generation of American youth is drawn to issue voting, rather than party voting — it is less concerned with partisan labels. Millennials are drawn to vote by pressing issues, and politicians must remember this shift in voter sentiment when they campaign. To reach young people, candidates must set party affiliation aside and address how they plan to solve the issues that speak to this demographic. Political campaigns must adapt to millennials — not the other way around.
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
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