NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 88
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014
NEW YORK ELECTIONS governor 40.6% ROB ASTORINO (R)
HOWIE HAWKINS (G) comptroller
60% THOMAS DINAPOLI (D) 36.6% BOB ANTONALLI (R)
2.7% THERESA PORTELLI (G)
attorney general
55.3% ERIC SCHNEIDERMAN (D) 41.8% JOHN CAHILL (R)
2.2% RAMON JIMENEZ (G)
*statistics as of 1 a.m. on Nov. 5
STAFF GRAPHIC BY LYANNE NATIVIDAD
BEAUTY & STYLE
Fashion, lawsuits unexpected pair By SAM DEL ROWE Staff Writer
The worlds of law and fashion seem disparate. One does not think about the legal workings of the industry while pinching pennies for a Chanel purse. It is in the courts, however, that the direction of the multi-billion dollar industry is determined. The Oct. 24 legal decision on famed designers Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana piqued interest into the judicial side of the world’s chicest profession. Barbara Kolsun, executive vice president at renowned shoe company Stuart Weitzman and NYU adjunct professor on fashion law, said legal issues related to the industry vary
from case to case. In recent years, there has been the current hotbed case of Christian Louboutin’s long battle over its unmistakable red-bottom shoes and Gucci suing Guess over use of the iconic interlocking ‘G’ logo. With regard to what can and cannot be protected, Kolsun explained the distinction in U.S. law, stating the different forms of law and patent. “In the U.S. we basically have copyright law, trademark law and design patents,” Kolsun said. Kolsun said the design of a garment is unprotectable, and noted that because of the numerous global companies in the industry, protection is dealt with based on where that company is working. She also
MIDTERMS
Cuomo victorious, re-elected as governor By THE NEWS DESK
53.9% ANDREW CUOMO (D) 5%
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mentioned the controversy over whether the fashion industry would benefit from a law protecting design. “My opinion on that is that if we’re going to do it, it’s probably best to have a scheme — like Europe has — to protect designs rather than lobbing it onto the copyright law,” Kolsun said. “That is certainly something that’s been in discussion for a really long time.” NYU Law assisting professor Charles Colman highlighted the most common legal issues in the industry today. “When it comes to fashionspecific issues, we see a lot of uncertainty in the area of intellectual property law,” Colman
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Incumbent New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo was re-elected for a second term on Nov. 4 with 54 percent of the vote and 99 percent of the precincts reporting. Cuomo defeated Westchester County executive Rob Astorino, who secured 40.6 percent of the vote. Cuomo, who campaigned on his successes legalizing gay marriage, enacting stronger gun control laws and balancing the state budget, said during his acceptance speech he would tackle several new issues in his second term. “We are just getting started,” Cuomo said. “We’re going to raise the minimum wage for working families. We’re going to pass the Women’s Equality Act because discrimination and inequality against women stops in New York State.” Astorino, who gave his concession speech 10 minutes after the polls closed, implored the governor to consider the arguments he made about term limits during the campaign. “I called for state term lim-
its in my campaign, and I hope Governor Cuomo will keep his pledge to seriously look into that idea,” Astorino said. “We are too good a state. New Yorkers are too hardworking to be embarrassed by their government year after year.” Politics professor Larry Mead said Cuomo’s skill as a manager and his successful legislative record were the key to his victory. “He’s gotten the legislature to do whatever he wants and keeps the budget under control, which shows he’s a good governor,” Mead said. “He’s done some things that are controversial, like shutting down the Moreland Commission, but those matter less to average voters.” Politics professor Patrick Egan agreed and said Cuomo’s performance in the election could set him up for a presidential campaign in the future. “It’s a very strong result for Cuomo, and his results are going to end up being some of the strongest for any incumbent governor in the country,” Egan said. “It positions
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REVIEW
‘Signal Failure’ pleases as triumph of candor By CLIO MCCONNELL Editor-at-Large
Everyone has experienced the jittery rush of making accidental eye contact with a cute stranger on the train, perhaps even breaking the unspoken rule of public transportation and striking up a conversation. Sasha Ellen’s play, “Signal Failure,” explores the potential of missed connections classified ads, introducing viewers to several characters looking for their subway soul mates. Lorna, played by Ellen herself, and Spencer Cowan’s Brian are young professionals, neither of whom is lucky in love. They both become fascinated
by watching other people’s interactions on the London Tube, so much so that they begin to plan their commutes in order to keep track of fellow passengers’ burgeoning romances. In an hour-long show, the two actors manage to share a stage for 30 minutes without interacting. But soon enough, caught up in watching the flirtations of others, they also begin to notice one another. Lorna submits a classified ad to the newspaper, and Brian reads it the next day. They meet up for a very awkward round of drinks, and an even
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APPLE PIE Apple pie may sound like a boring recommendation, but the Sour Cream Apple Walnut Pie from Little Pie Company (424 W. 43rd St.) is no traditional slice. Don’t let the sour cream throw you off: this pie is sweet and delicious. Warmed up, it is perfect on a cool fall day. — Nicole Brown, Editor-in-Chief
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PUMPKIN RAVIOLI Although pumpkin and pasta might not seem like they would be a good combination, Trader Joe’s Honey Roasted Pumpkin Ravioli is the perfect option for a fallthemed entrée. Orange pasta squares are filled with a mixture of ricotta cheese, honey and pumpkin, which gives the ravioli a perfect balance of sweet and savory. The Trader Joe’s website recommends topping the pasta with a mixture of their infamous Pumpkin Butter and Cream, but the ravioli are also delicious when paired with a simple tomato sauce. Like most food at Trader Joe’s, these ravioli are inexpensive, at just $3.49 for a two-serving package, and are worth waiting in the long lines for. — Rebecca Riddle, Dining Editor
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ALMONDS Almonds are one of the most versatile ingredients, and are also one of the healthiest. They can be used to top a sweet dish like a parfait or to add some crunch to a savory salad. And they don’t even stop there. You can just throw a cup of them in a plastic bag as a snack for studying or for whenever you travel. Almonds are also believed to help alleviate headaches. Talk about a superfood. — Jordan Melendrez, Editor-at-Large
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CRANBERRIES Cranberries are totally underrated. Your first thought at the word “cranberry” might involve a congealed can-shaped thing with ridges, plopped on your Thanksgiving table, untouched. Or maybe you think of the band the Cranberries, which would be cooler. Either way, you probably aren’t taking full advantage of this tiny, seasonal superfruit. Try adding some dried cranberries to your morning oatmeal, make cranberry cider with fresh cranberries or just pick up a cranberry scone from Cranberry’s in Brooklyn Heights to fully appreciate these bittersweet gems. — Hannah Treasure, Features Writer
ACORN SQUASH For a filling addition to any November meal, look to acorn squash. Though the squash, after halving it and removing the seeds, can be stuffed with savory items like rice or meat, it is best served as a sweet dish to balance out more bitter fall flavors. Poke a few holes in each half, making sure not to break the skin of the squash, and place a small piece of butter in the bottom of each crater. Stuff with sugar, cinnamon, brown sugar and a pinch of salt, then bake in the oven for a sweet glazed finish and perfectly cooked consistency. — Emily Bell, Managing Editor
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Commuters Got Talent The Commuter Student Council’s annual talent show, Commuters Got Talent, will be at 7:30 p.m. in the Eisner & Lubin Auditorium of the Kimmel Center for University Life.
Gallery Opening: “Convergences” Acrylic-on-linen paintings by Paul Gruhler will be on display in a gallery on the second floor of the Puck Building, 295 Lafayette St. The gallery will open at 6 p.m.
Webinar: Jump Start Your Spring & Summer Internship Search A child dressed as a squirrel plays in the grass during Washington Square Park’s Children’s Halloween Parade.
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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.
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Students explore US citizenship policy
By RAHUL KRISHNAMOORTHY Deputy News Editor
NYU students engaged in an open conversation about U.S. citizenship and addressed the increase in U.S. incarcerations and immigration-related penal actions — both of which have reached record highs in the last two decades — in an event held on Nov. 4. The discussion was jointly organized by the NYU Dream Team, which aims to make NYU more accessible to undocumented students, and the Incarceration to Education Coalition, an organization centered around the NYU community fighting to abolish restrictions on incarcerated persons’ access to higher education. Danny Lentz, a Gallatin alumnus and member of the IEC, spoke about what the group hoped to accomplish at the forum on citizenship. “Our immediate campaign is to abolish the box at NYU and the Common Application, the box that asks if you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor or felony,” Lentz said. “The more that you interrogate the fear behind that, the more you realize a person with that experience can actually add to a classroom environment.” Sarah Lawrence professor of public policy Luisa Heredia opened the conversation with a statement reflecting the
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recurring theme. Tisch senior Marco Galaviz Luna, who plans to become a U.S. citizen next year, said citizenship is an unfortunate necessity. “I’m going to become a citizen, because then I can’t get deported,” Galaviz Luna said. “The idea of citizenship, it’s a very real, tangible benefit that I previously and currently don’t have. I understand the need to question citizenship, and what that means in terms of nations and nation states, but at the same time I want my mom not to get deported.” Email him at rkrishnamoorthy@nyunews.com.
Students largely accept marijuana, study says By SHIRLEY FOO Staff Writer
The majority of high school seniors are in favor of marijuana legalization, or at least, they want diminished punishment and decriminalization, according to a study by Joseph Palamar, a researcher affiliated with the NYU Center for Drug Use and HIV Research. The study, “An Examination of Opinions toward Marijuana Policies among High School Seniors in the United States,” discovered that 33 percent of high school seniors think marijuana should be legal. Another 28.5 percent believe marijuana should be treated as a minor violation. In regards to purchasing marijuana, 10.4 percent of high school seniors said they believe anyone should be able to purchase it if it were made legal. The study used data from an annual nationwide investigation of high school students called “Monitoring the Future.” “The MTF survey is administered in approximately 130 public and private schools throughout 48 states in the U.S.,” an Oct. 31 press release from NYU reads. “Roughly 15,000 high school seniors are assessed annually.” With a portion of the public currently favoring the liberalization of marijuana policies, Palamer saw a
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The study found that gender correlates with stance on marijuana. need to study adolescents approaching the voting age. Palamar pointed out that many of the high school seniors surveyed in this study have moved on to college. “Most of these teens will likely continue their liberal views toward marijuana policy in their college years,” Palamar said. “Many people also use marijuana for the first time during their college years so it wouldn’t be surprising if an even larger percentage of college students begin to favor legalization — especially at such a liberal-minded, urban institution.” According to the study, a person’s political affiliation and gender were both discovered to have
an impact on a person’s stance on marijuana legalization. “Unsurprisingly, political affiliation tended to be strongly associated with positions toward legalization,” the press release reads. “Conservatives were consistently against legalization and decriminalization, and liberals were consistently at higher odds for supporting more liberal policies.” Evidence was also found that gender has an impact on a person’s views on legalization of marijuana. “Upon analyzing the responses, Dr. Palamar found that females were significantly less likely to respond that marijuana should be legal, with only 26.7 percent of fe-
GOP takes majority of Senate seats
males surveyed in favor of legalization, compared to 39.2 percent of males,” the press release reads. Palamar said the general public can expect a greater number of states to enact more liberal laws because college students are now at an age permitting them to vote on local drug policies, causing the gradually liberalizing overall attitude toward marijuana use. President of Students for Sensible Drug Policy Ashley Frenkel is not surprised by the results of Palamar’s study. “When I was in high school, for a long time, I was against marijuana for no good reason, but then in my senior year, I definitely began to see the light,” Frenkel said. Although there is widespread support for legalization of marijuana use in the youth and adolescent age group, Palamar said he does not believe that this is a worrying sign. “Support for legalization doesn’t necessarily mean intent to use,” Palmar said. “A large percentage of non-users now support legalization, and this can be based on support for liberty, eliminating arrests, raising tax revenues, reducing black markets and associated corruption and harm and even to reduce access to youths.”
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have also yielded a disproportionately high increase in detentions of non-citizens and a U.S. prison system that has seen an increase in incarcerations of 1,664 percent from 1990 to 2009, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Participants also discussed the idea of citizenship as it affects those it excludes, namely the increasing number of incarcerated persons and non-citizen residents — both documented and otherwise — in the United States. Students spoke about how citizenship can be an exclusive construct as well as an inclusive one. As the opinions mounted, the privileged nature of U.S. citizenship was a
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him well for a presidential run, particularly because he’s managed to do quite well without having to move too far for the left.” As a result of the other races across the country, the Republican Party won the six seats needed to take control of the Senate for the first time since 2006. The Republicans also maintained their majority in the House of Representatives and gained 31 governorships. While voter turnout numbers will not be available for a few days, Egan said the makeup of the electorate during midterms contributed to the Republican victory. “What we are seeing nationally is a pattern that tends to be the case in midterm elections as opposed to presidential elections is that young people are much less likely to turn out for midterm elections, so what you see if a voter turnout that is much older and much less racially diverse,” Egan said. President of the NYU College Democrats and CAS sophomore Sophie Tunney said she thinks Astorino’s platform was not well-developed. “What Rob Astorino proposed was very limited,” Tunney said. “When he came to NYU, the only thing he really talked about was changing term limits, which although I do agree, it is not something that you can run for governor on.” Michael DeLuca, secretary of the College Democrats and CAS sophomore, said he is looking forward to seeing Cuomo’s policy in his next term. “We are excited about his progress on issues like gay marriage and gun control, and to see him deal with some of the criticism that were lodged against him during the race like his dealings with corruption,” DeLuca said. “We’re hoping that is something to be addressed in his upcoming term.” NYU College Republicans president and Stern senior John Catsimatidis said Astorino’s loss was unfortunate, but ultimately the midterms were successful for Republicans. “It is a tough thing to compare, but it is nice to see the majority of the House seats in New York State going to Republicans just because we’ll have representatives from New York who follow the Republican ideals in the Senate forming national and international policies,” Catsimatidis said.
The NYU Dream Team and the Incarceration to Education Coalition hosted ”The Limit of Citizenship.” change the 1990s and 2000s brought in terms of U.S. penal and immigration policy. “We’re in this kind of unprecedented moment in the U.S., and it’s due to this kind of enhanced scope as well as the accuracy of the U.S.’s enforcement regime,” Heredia said. “In 1990, there were somewhere around 30,000 non-citizens deported. So fast forward 10 years to 2000 and that number goes to 200,000 people deported. Fast forward another 10 years and that number goes up to 400,000 people deported.” This surge in deportations represents only part of the equation. The last two decades
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
BEAUTY & STYLE
EDITED BY DAVID BOLOGNA BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
Fall weather brings back variety of sweater styles
By GABRIELLA BOWER Staff Writer
It is the most wonderful time of the year: sweater season. The basic pullovers and cardigans are here, but there are also several new sweater trends making their mark this season. With ponchos, blanket cardigans, exaggerated turtlenecks, sweater dresses, Fair Isle prints and shoulder-to-ankle sweaters, there will surely be a style for everyone to try. Ponchos are on the rise with the biggest comeback. Whether they are paired with skinny jeans and boots for ease or with wide-legged trousers for a complete retro vibe, ponchos are versatile and provide warmth against the city wind. The boho blanket graced the Fall 2014 Burberry Prorsum runway. While the Burberry monogrammed blanket is priced at around $1,300 — well above the average college student’s budget — Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom offer more affordable options. This style is perfect for the transitional weather when wearing a coat is too warm, but wearing just a
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Large knits is one of the classic cuts trending for fall. top is not warm enough. Turtlenecks are not just for your school’s librarian. This season’s new trend of the exaggerated turtleneck,
is both mod and classy. When paired with a boyfriend jean, skinny pant or layered under a light jacket, it exudes an air of effortless chic.
Sweater dresses are an oldie but a goodie. Long-sleeved, short-sleeved or quarter length, they are a classic option for going to class or heading
to brunch with friends. Tights are the obvious option to complete the look, but over-the-knee socks and a tall boot update the otherwise traditional fall sweater dress. Fair Isle prints, commonly seen on the stereotypical “ugly sweaters,” are always a must-have. Whether on a pullover, a chunky cardigan, a poncho, a boho blanket or a turtleneck, the Fair Isle print is a necessity in any wardrobe. It is also important to consider that, as the temperature starts to drop, sweater styles with this print tend to be exceptionally warm. Finally, the shoulder-to-ankle sweater is a new trend that will certainly make a statement. Keep everything else in the ensemble a tighter fit so the sweater can take center stage, and complete the look with a pair of short boots and a topknot. While there are myriad sweater styles, these versatile and stylish pieces should be top priority when shopping for a fall wardrobe. Sweater weather is finally here and it is better than ever. Email Gabriella Bower at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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Feminism not about clothing By KARI SONDE Staff Writer In Chanel’s Spring/Summer 2015 show, Karl Lagerfeld, Chanel’s head designer, came out on the runway with a group of models behind him, all with signs proclaiming feminist phrases such as “History is Herstory,” “Ladies First” and “Be Your Own Stylist.” Most of these slogans were vague and meaningless in the context of feminism — especially when the person leading them is Lagerfeld. The designer has openly claimed that Coco Chanel, a thoroughly independent woman in a time period where such a thing was looked down upon, was not a feminist because she “wasn’t ugly enough.” Another recent correlation between appearance and feminism occurred when Annie Lennox, former lead singer of Eurythmics, revealed that she considers Beyoncé’s feminism as “feminism lite,” citing her revealing clothing and sometimes sexual performances as a reason that Beyoncé is “not liber-
ating … [and] not empowering.” But what is a feminist supposed to look like? While some laud Nicki Minaj’s revealing outfits as a way of taking control of her own sexuality, others claim she is indecent, crude and vulgar. Rihanna’s sexualized performances receive the same praise and critique. Meanwhile, Emma Watson received little to no criticism over her outfit at her U.N. speech — quite possibly because the outfit does not matter. An outfit should not decide whether someone is considered a feminist — it only matters if the individual believes in equal rights for men and women. Part of those rights is the ability to wear whatever one wants without being judged for how feminist she must be. A hemline does not determine someone’s stance on equal rights. This is why people like Lagerfeld and Lennox are seriously misguided in what makes a feminist. Appearances do not make the feminist, ideas do. Lagerfeld can hardly push a feminist theme in his show
when he has openly attacked women for their appearances, calling singer Adele “a little too fat” and claiming that Pippa Middleton “should only show her back.” Lennox cannot call Beyoncé “feminist lite” for choosing to represent herself in the way that she — not Lennox — does. If people claim that someone is not a feminist because of the way she dresses, it says more about their stance on feminism than the person that they are judging. It is not about what they are wearing. It is not even about what Beyoncé or Lennox are singing about. Feminism is them being able to do anything they want to do, wearing anything they want to wear and saying anything they want to say. Nobody should be told what to wear to be a feminist. They should be told that having the choice to wear what they want is what feminism is all about. Email Kari Sonde at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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Christian Louboutin is one designer caught up in legal battles.
Professors discuss legal side of fashion
said. “Specifically in the areas of design-patent law — which was not heavily used for many years, but has experienced a resurgence in recent years — trademark law’s treatment of ‘gray goods’ — goods that were authorized for sale in one jurisdiction, then imported into another and sold there — and, of course, perennial difficulties in applying copyright protection to works of fashion design.” Colman is concerned about and has written extensively
on the abuse of trademark law and the limitations of copyright and patent protection for fashion design. “I think Congress, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the courts should crack down on this abuse by refusing to let fashion companies monopolize basic design elements through the Lanham Act — governing federal trademark law,” Colman said. Email Sam Del Rowe at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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ARTS
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SIGNAL continued from PG. 1
Historical film lacks in depth By ZACH MARTIN Staff Writer
The conflict in Lithuania between Soviet occupying forces and the Lithuanian partisans from 1944 to 1953 is often considered a forgotten war by historians. The heavy suppression of resistance discussion by the Soviets as well as their vague documentation of the warfare led to little acknowledgement of the war. The Soviet forces simply called it “The Invisible Front,” which is the title of a new documentary directed by Jonas Ohman and Vincas Sruoginis. The focus of the film is the Forest Brothers — a guerrilla youth group — specifically, the life of their leader Juozas Lukša. He led the resistance in 1946, escaped the country to rally support from the West, re-entered Lithuania in collaboration with the CIA and was killed in 1951. While the film offers a good overview of the conflict and a somewhat satisfying narrative arc, its surface-level analysis and the details provided are little more than what’s readily available on Wikipedia.
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“The Invisible Front” is little more than an overview of a USSR conflict. The main value of the film is the use of firsthand accounts of the events revealed through interviews with direct participants, including Nijole, Lukša’s wife, who provides the strongest emotional connection for the audience. It is commendable that the filmmakers were able to talk with so many involved parties — their segments are personal and moving, but they become repetitive as the film goes on. Archival footage and excerpts from Lukša’s personal writings are used to fill in the gaps of the documentary and show Lukša’s feelings, but the work as a whole suffers from a frustrating lack of depth. In one scene, the use of a clip from an old interview with Jonas Kukauskas, the man who betrayed Lukša to the Soviets, is promising but goes nowhere beyond having Kukauskas explain what happened. There is very little to the film beyond an explanation of history. The style of the film closely resembles that of Ken Burns.
But while Burns’ documentaries are meticulously detailed and intriguing, “The Invisible Front” struggles to find the same power. The film has all of the clichés of a traditional historical documentary — the constant voice-over narration and the slow pan across still images. It would certainly help to make the content more interesting and the filmmaking more admirable. Last year, “The Missing Picture” and “The Act of Killing” both detailed lesser-known historical events, but did so in exciting new ways that experimented with the definition of a documentary and provided insightful analysis into the events. “The Invisible Front” is an adequate overview of the LithuanianSoviet conflict, but it fails to find a new approach beyond the historical documentary you might watch in a high school history class. The film feels stale and derivative. Email Zach Martin at film@nyunews.com.
REVIEW
Pelican documentary soars
By JESSE JAMES READ Contributing Writer
“Pelican Dreams,” the latest documentary from Judy Irving (“The Parrots of Telegraph Hill”), offers fascinating footage of pelicans. To anyone averse to birds or documentarian work, the film may seem slow or goofy at times, but it shines as an educational and intimate documentary. The narrative of Irving’s love poem to pelicans follows Gigi, a female who flies onto the Golden Gate Bridge and halts traffic before being captured. As Irving follows her through her rehabilitation process, the film jumps between Gigi’s personal story and footage of other pelicans both in the wild and in captivity. Particularly heartwarming is the story of Morro, an older injured pelican. Irving presents Gigi and Morro as characters, and their personal tragedies of injury and rehabilitation are juxtaposed with other, largerscale grievances — oil spills, DDT poisoning and fishing injuries. This is not to say “Pelican Dreams” is overly precautionary or poignant with its message. Its focus is first and foremost the pelican, and the footage Irving stitches together is excellent and tantalizing. Irving’s professed
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“Pelican Dreams” appreciates the beauty of the birds.
fascination with the birds comes through in the beauty of her craft. It is hard to not share this love when watching the film. Irving reveals something about pelicans — she presents them as playful, emotive and conscientiously aware. The footage Irving provides serves to humanize the birds. Brownheaded teenage pelicans learning to fly are goofy and awkward yet powerfully hopeful and uplifting. Their dives into the waves are majestic,
and the head waggles by which the pelicans communicate are silly, but clearly understood as language. As compelling as the subject matter is, however, Irving’s documentary is not quite as neatly preened as it could be. Transitions can be jarring or distracting, and the music is often nondescript and generically complementary. These design decisions have specific ramifications in documentary format. When just watching footage, the arrangement and the specific details of the film are curatorial. Essentially, all creative choices need to primarily present the central subject, and Irving displays some experience and talent at this, though the editing of the film ultimately hurts the film’s quality. Yet at their worst, these negative aspects are distractions from an intriguing, heartfelt and compelling film. “Pelican Dreams” displays fascinating sympathy toward a peculiar species. For such a distinctive bird, pelicans do not receive nearly enough credit, and Irving’s film provides a strong argument for the beauty and humanity of the pelican. Email Jesse James Read at film@nyunews.com.
more awkward hook-up at his apartment. Audience members will probably cringe while watching the pair’s nerve-racking interactions, but this only proves that Ellen’s script is awash in authenticity. This heartening sincerity is emphasized by the production’s lack of trimmings. The stage is bare except for two large wooden blocks and a large wood plank, which are combined in various ways to become train seats, a pub table and a bed, among other things. Many of the lines are performed as soliloquy, but both actors — especially Cowan — have such easygoing natures that it feels as if they are in direct conversation with the audience. Ellen’s script is fresh and funny, perhaps most appealing to the 20-something age group to which Lorna and Brian belong. The bare-bones nature of “Signal Failure’s” design and the apparent effortlessness of its delivery — facilitated by director Peter Darney — are deceptive, masking a carefully crafted piece of writing and superbly acted performances.
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Spencer Cowan and Sasha Ellen are sincere in “Signal Failure.” Though the underground show might be out of place on Broadway, it requires a range of ability that few performers could accomplish. Ellen and Cowan will surely go on to do greater things, but for the moment, “Signal Failure” is a major success. “Signal Failure” is playing at the SoHo Playhouse, 15 Vandam St., through Nov. 16. Email Clio McConnell at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 “Take ___” (1994 Madonna hit that was #1 for seven weeks) 5 Formal, maybe 9 Formal wear accouterment 13 St. Petersburg’s river 14 “Peanuts” kid with a security blanket 16 Build muscles, with “up” 17 Genre of Verdi’s “Jérusalem” 19 Lens holders 20 “Come in!” 21 “Fist of Fury” star, 1972 23 Chapter 52, formally 24 Guacamole base, in British lingo 27 Making the rounds? 29 Yang’s go-with 30 Cause of a blowup?
31 Cannes showing 32 Sound from a window ledge 34 Do some housekeeping 36 Used a crowbar on, say 40 ___ facto 42 Crime lab sample 43 Amt. of cooking oil, maybe 47 Spanish she-bear 48 Face the pitcher 51 Boorish 53 Robert Redford’s “great” 1975 role 56 Vote for 57 Where you might pick fruit while it’s still green 58 Palliates 60 Something false in the Bible? 61 Lowdown … or a hint to 17-, 24-, 36- and 53-Across 64 Tizzy
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE B A R B
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68 Tire swing part 69 Appalachians, e.g.: Abbr.
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6 Engraved letters? 7 End of an ancient period 8 Lexicographer James who was the O.E.D.’s first editor 9 ___ throat 10 Facilities 11 Accidental
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65 “Please, I can do it”
12 Much of Arabia 15 ___ Arabia 18 In need of some color 22 Publisher Nast
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37 Bomb squad member
45 Make more inclined
38 “Movin’ ___”
46 “Star Trek” weapons
39 Glazier’s unit
47 Studious-looking
40 Words before “… and that’s final!” 49 Shower time 50 Many a Taylor 41 Soap ingredient Swift fan 44 Takes over the assets of, as a 52 Tribe of the partner Canadian Plains
54 What a big mouth might have 55 Basil-flavored sauce 59 Singer Lambert 62 Little handful 63 Syllable repeated after “fiddle”
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY CHRISTINA COLEBURN OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
SOCIAL ISSUES
‘Tweets From Women’ series furthers stereotype By ADNAN ZARIF Staff Columnist
In 1998, comedian and actor Jerry Lewis said, “I don’t like any female comedians … a woman doing comedy doesn’t offend me but sets me back a bit. I, as a viewer, have trouble with it.” In 2007, Christopher Hitchens went so far as to write an entire essay titled “Why Women Aren’t Funny.” These instances reflect the general, widespread and untrue stereotype that female comedians are somehow inherently less funny than their male counterparts. The Huffington Post has attempted to address this issue with a weekly series called “The Funniest Tweets From Women This Week.” The articles regularly publish tweets from popular female writers and comedians such as Lena Dunham and Cosmopolitan’s editor, Amy Odell. This series of articles is not doing women any favors in terms of equality, however. In fact, these pieces are a disservice to women. On a superficial level, it may seem that these tweets will help dispel the belief that women are not funny, but this simply is not
the case. The most glaring problem with the articles is that there would never be a series called “The Funniest Tweets From Men This Week.” There is no reason at all to specify the tweets with the qualifier “women” as anyone who thinks women are not funny is unlikely to choose to read tweets that have been explicitly designated to be by women. The only people who would naturally read the article are people who already appreciate women comedians, but those people are not the ones perpetuating the stereotype. Also, by assigning a gender to the tweets, there is an implication that the tweets are somehow only relevant to women. This only further alienates a male reader who, despite thinking women are funny, will think that the jokes are not relevant to him.
Furthermore, the article is published under the Women section of the site, not under the Comedy section. This, coupled with the unnecessary gender assignment in the title, serves to only further obfuscate funny women and does nothing to confront or ameliorate troubling stereotypes. The only way to achieve equality on a large scale is to first model that equality. Instead of the current articles, the Huffington Post should instead publish an article called, “The Funniest Tweets of the Week” and publish it to the comedy section of the site. The article does not have to have men featured in it, but having men and women’s jokes appear side-by-side would provide a necessary role model for equality. By separating male and female humor, the Huffington Post has done the exact opposite of its intended goal. Instead of fighting the stereotype that women are less funny than men, they have perpetuated it. Email Adnan Zarif at opinion@nyunews.com.
TECHNOLOGY
NYU free speech stance online deserves credit By TOMMY COLLISON Staff Columnist
Every week, a new story seems to emerge about governments or corporations seeking to limit freedom of speech on the Internet. In China, where NYU has a portal campus, access to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube is blocked. Reporters Without Borders, a French nonprofit that promotes freedom of the press, reported that websites in the United Arab Emirates that discuss controversial topics such as “dissenting political opinions, or nonorthodox views of Islam” are routinely blocked by the country’s Telecommunication Regulatory Authority. In February 2011, the Egyptian government pressured the major Internet service providers to shut down Internet access for five days. Universities should be a place where students can learn without fear of censorship and discussion of controversial topics should be encouraged rather than stifled. Internet censorship is antithetical to these ideals. Recognizing this but wanting to expose students to new cultures, NYU routes traffic from countries with regional censorship through
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U.S.-based servers. By bypassing these restrictions, NYU allows students to study abroad without sacrificing their freedom of speech. So long as NYU maintains this practice, it is standing with free speech and promoting academic exploration. The Internet has changed how we communicate, and also how we report information. During times of major social change, such as the Arab Spring, one person with a smartphone could broadcast information to millions. That kind of transmission can only happen when the Internet is not blocked. NYU prevents governments from censoring its students by directing web traffic from its global sites through servers based in the United States using a virtual private network — a connection that obscures the user’s original location. In effect, students in Shanghai or Abu
Dhabi appear to be browsing from the United States, which prevents local authorities from censoring the content accessed. Free speech on the Internet relies on a series of intermediaries — servers, Internet service providers, social networks — that must be kept free from the pressures of censorship. NYU has a responsibility to its students to ensure continued access to the open Internet. Unconstrained inquiry is a core facet of the university experience, and college administrations that align themselves with repressive regimes cheapen the education provided. Last semester when a group of NYU students, including myself, wrote a letter about the chilling effects of mass surveillance on college campuses, the administration reaffirmed its commitment to free speech on its campuses. The Internet has shortened the news cycle, changed how activists plan revolutions and transformed the university learning experience. Given that free speech is the capstone of academic inquiry, NYU’s commitment to an uncensored Internet is to be commended. Email Tommy Collision at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
New York should lead nation with STEAM
The third proposition on yesterday’s New York ballot was whether or not the New York Bonds for School Technology Act should be passed. The act would allow the state to invest in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics education by issuing $2 billion in bonds, of which New York City would receive $783,141,339. The money would help fund new interactive whiteboards, servers, computers and enhanced Internet connectivity. This act is New York State’s opportunity to lead the nation in tackling its poor global education ranking and preparing students to enter a changing workforce. About 90 percent of students in New York have no interest in pursuing the fields prioritised by STEAM, and part of the Smart Schools Commission’s goal is to reintroduce enthusiasm and excitement into the classroom. By teaching STEAM subjects in an interactive and interesting way, the commission hopes to equip students with the skills needed to take these subjects into the workplace. It is estimated that in the next four years there will be over 2.4 million job openings in the STEAM fields. Looking at these statistics, the investment made by New York seems worthwhile. And as technology becomes more vital to everyday life, computer-based learning is quickly becoming one of the most important fields within education. Some condemned the initiative, calling on voters to consider the bill’s costs and consequences. “Even New Yorkers inclined to write a blank check for education should think long and hard before they say ‘yes’ to Prop 3,” E.J. McMahon, president of the Empire Center for New York State Policy, said. Others expressed concern about the lifespan of new technology, but the benefits of modernizing education is a long-term investment in the education policy of the country. Refusing to provide at least some technologic provisions will cause the United States to fall further behind in global education rankings. Beyond the simple joys of iPads and SMART Boards, one of the potential uses of the technology upgrades authorized by the act is the administration of online testing. Online testing is a central element of the Common Core standards, which have been adopted by 43 states. While some disagree with the Common Core, there is no doubt that online testing is on the rise, so current investments are sure to remain relevant in the future. Budget concerns are always an issue, but if New York is going to spend on anything, its students and its future should be a top priority. Paying now to improve education and prepare students for higher paying jobs is a long-term investment. Increasing funding for STEAM fields is also going to have more positive, long-lasting benefits than say, investments in public infrastructure. This act is a step in the right direction that the nation as a whole should seek to emulate.
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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