NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 98
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2014
nyunews.com
TECHNOLOGY
STUDENT LIFE
Students pitch TEDx Talk ideas
NYU Hackathon focuses on education
By CHRISTINE WANG Contributing Writer
By CHRISTINE PARK Staff Writer
Students gathered at the annual “Create a Better NYU Hackathon” to pitch ideas for the better use of technology at NYU. The attendees showcased their ideas to improve the educational services provided by the university. NYU’s Student Technology and Research Committee hosted the event at the Kimmel Center Market Place from Nov. 21 to 22. Students and faculty from various schools and communities formed groups based on similar interests to present at the event. SPS graduate student Sumit Gupta said this event was a great opportunity for students like himself to be involved in the improvement of the NYU community and its environment. “[When] you talk about NYU, either you have a positive or negative experience, but then
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STAFF PHOTO BY DANA BROWN
Students in the Kimmel Center for Univeristy Life participated in the “Create a Better NYU Hackathon,” which focuses on improving educational services.
Perez Hilton reflects on blog’s impact, future pursuits
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
Alum Perez Hilton recently returned to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway.
STORY ON PAGE 4
Six students competed in a TEDxNYU event titled “The Pitch: What’s Your Angle?” for the chance to present their TED Talk at the club’s annual spring conference. The competition was held in the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life’s Grand Hall on Nov. 22. The students presented their pitches for full-length TED Talks. Three judges chose the student they thought had the most innovative and interesting presentation. CAS senior Blazej Gawlik, who won the competition, discussed the future of artificial intelligence and its challenges. He addressed the need to build artificial intelligence that can accurately interpret sentences, make decisions and learn like a human.
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FEATURES
Trans Week emphasizes gender identity, equality By MERANDA YSLAS Contributing Writer
Trans Awareness Week, which ran from Nov. 17 to 23, recognized and celebrated the transgender members of the LGBTQ community at NYU. Part of the purpose of the week is to add depth to the typical representations of the LGBTQ community. LS sophomore Ishani Dugar said this represntation is needed at NYU. “Trans representation and awareness is very, very little in comparison to other aspects of the community,” Dugar said. “The face of the queer movement is a white, cis, gay male.” Cisgender individuals are those whose gender and biological sex correspond. “Trans experiences are difficult for cis people to understand, and I don’t necessarily want a deep understanding from cis people,” Dugar said. “I want cis people to treat trans people like the humans they are.”
CAS senior Serena Daniari agreed that there is a discrepancy within the LGBTQ community. Daniara, a transgender woman, identified as a gay male prior to coming out as trans. “I think it’s a little bit scarier coming out as trans, having experienced both,” Daniari said. There are often many misconceptions about what it means to be transgender in addition to confusion about the differences between being transgender and being gay. “I think the biggest misunderstanding people have is they often conflate sexuality with gender identity,” Daniari said. “Even at NYU, a school with politically active, socially aware students, a lot of people just assume that trans people are the same as gay people.” There are often many steps someone has to go through as they come out as transgender. The steps, which vary for everyone, can include legalities, such as being recognized by
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