NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 42, No. 99 city policy
tuesday, november 25, 2014
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judicial system
Bratton No indictment in Ferguson spurs mass protests visits NYU Law amid protests By John Ambrosio and Valentina Duque Bojanini News Editors
By Alanna Bayarin Staff Writer
Following a Missouri grand jury’s decision to not indict officer Darren Wilson for the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, protesters in cities across the country — including Ferguson, St. Louis, New York City and Los Angeles — rallied in the streets.
In New York City, protesters, including students from New York City universities, began to gather in Union Square at 5 p.m. in anticipation of the grand jury’s decision. An activist group called the People’s Power Assembly created a Facebook event calling for demonstrators to assemble in the park. By approximately 9:30 p.m., the crowd had grown to about 300 people, who began to march follow-
ing the decision. Over the course of the night, the crowd grew to thousands and marched along a circuitous route through the West Village, Midtown, Times Square, Harlem and the FDR Drive. Wilson shot and killed Brown on Aug. 9 after an altercation during a traffic stop. After weeks of protests, a federal investigation of the Ferguson Police Department and grand jury proceedings, St. Louis County
A gathering of 15 demonstrators at the NYU School of Law called for the removal of NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, who came to speak at the school as a part of Conversation on Urban Crime about broken windows policies like stop-and-frisk and police action on Nov. 24. Jonathan Laks, an NYU Law student and member of New Yorkers Against Bratton, protested outside the event. Laks said Bratton does not adhere to the progressive platform Mayor Bill de Blasio ran on. “Bill de Blasio pretends to be liberal and progressive but he hired Bratton, a founder of the broken windows ideology,” Laks said. Bratton responded to the protestors’ interruption, which occurred 10 minutes into his speech when the protest moved inside the building, by commending them for exercising their rights. “That is one of the pillars we are celebrating — the freedom of speech, the freedom to dissent, the freedom to give voice to your issues and your concerns,” Bratton said. After the interruption, Bratton continued with his planned lecture, during which he addressed his position on police action. He
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Protesters marched from Union Square to Times Square before heading to Harlem, pausing in front of the Times Square American LED Flag. Marchers carried signs and stopped traffic while chanting about the grand jury decision to not indict Darren Wilson.
Alum combines music, bar food
With new restaurants or bars popping up all over Manhattan, Pinks, located in the East Village, hopes to stand out from the crowd. In addition to serving great food, the team behind Pinks wants to turn the cozy space at 242 E. 10th St. into the East Village’s premiere rock bar. Avi Burn, the owner of Pinks and a former NYU student, wanted the restaurant to embody Kustom Kulture, a term that originated from the car culture of the 1950s. “Now it encompasses everything from hot rodding to rock and roll, rockabilly, tattoo culture, motorcycle culture, all
ferguson continued on PG. 2
staff photo by hannah luu
dining
By Kendall Levison Staff Writer
prosecutor Robert McCulloch announced in a press conference at 9:15 p.m. on Nov. 24 that, according to the grand jury, there was not sufficient evidence to charge Wilson. “They determined that no probable cause existed to file any charges against officer Wilson,” McCulloch said. “As tragic as this is, it was a not a crime. It doesn’t
sorts of things,” Burn said. This influence is easy to spot in Pinks’ decor, which includes the grill of a ’58 Ford Thunderbird hanging above the bar, a chandelier handmade out of motorcycle parts and vintage turquoise bar stools. The food at Pinks is equally eclectic. Most of the menu items are snacks that are perfect for late-night sharing, such as the house-made beef brisket jerky ($7). Unlike the often bland packaged version, this jerky perfectly balances salty and sweet flavors. Spicy food lovers will want to check out the Nitro Shrimp ($9) — fried shrimp tossed in a fiery Sriracha aioli. Pinks also serves larger meal items like burgers, tacos and its own take on chicken and waffles.
Instead of fried chicken served with waffles, Pinks’ Chicken Waffles ($10) are chicken tenders that are coated with waffle batter and then fried. With chipotle maple syrup for dipping, it is hard to imagine a better late-night dish. Pinks also serves innovative cocktails and a variety of craft beers, cider and wine — all poured from a tap made out of a gas pipe. Music is another huge part of the experience at Pinks. The bar’s usual background music is blues, but Burn said this genre covers a diverse range of music. “That’s a pretty wide description — everything can really be traced back to the blues,” Burn said.
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Film
‘Horrible Bosses’ stars discuss sequel By Vincent Salvano Contributing Writer
Thanks to the success of its first installment in 2011, “Horrible Bosses 2” will be hitting theaters this Wednesday, Nov. 26. Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis and Jason Bateman have teamed up once again for the sequel from newly recruited director Sean Anders and producer Brett Ratner. The film follows the merciless trio — all reprising their roles from the first film — attempting to kidnap the son of their conniving boss Bert Hanson (Christoph Waltz). This time, the three characters are causing trouble in order to eliminate all obstacles in the way of them starting their own business.
The first film garnered positive reviews from audiences and critics alike, and the three stars were excited to come back for round two. “It’s great when you make something again, and people say, ‘Oh, I want to be a part of that,’” Sudeikis said. It can be challenging to craft a sequel that is just as successful both commercially and critically. For Bateman, Day and Sudeikis, part of the difficulty of acting in “Horrible Bosses 2” was living up to their performances in the film’s predecessor, but Bateman said having series newcomer Waltz, acclaimed for his performances in “Inglourious
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Washington Square news | Tuesday, november 25, 2014 | nyunews.com
ferguson continued from PG. 1
Marchers in NYC remain peaceful
Former NYU student Lucy Parks, who attended the protest, said she understands the anger that the people of New York are feeling. “We had Eric Gardner a few months ago and Akai Gurley just got shot on Thursday, so I think people in New York are really, really torn up about police violence toward people of color and then this is all about coming out as one,” Parks said. CAS freshman Skylar Mealing, who attended the protest, said she is fighting for the voices of all people to be heard. She said she experienced racism growing up in the South. “Where we’re from, black lives don’t matter as much as white lives do,” Mealing said. “That’s really frustrating for us because it’s the idea that I have brothers and cousins, that if they get killed it wouldn’t matter.” Columbia University sophomore Fainan Lakha said over 30 students from his school demonstrated in solidarity with protesters in Ferguson and all over the country. “Columbia students stand alongside the people of Ferguson and in solidarity against the effects of police brutality and mass incarceration,” Lakha said. “We hope to continue the struggle against the effects of systematic racism for as long as it takes for things to change.” SPS freshman Jason Yu said he came out to the protest not just because of the lack of indictment, but also the larger social problem the Michael Brown case points to. “This is something that affects us as culture. It affects everybody — black, white, yellow, brown. It’s about more than just police brutality or one kid,” Yu said. “It’s the effects of police brutality on everyone.” Additional reporting by Alanna Bayarin. Email the news team at news@nyunews.com.
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Students and community members filled the streets of New York uptown and downtown throughout the night of Nov. 24 and into the early morning of Nov. 25.
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lessen this tragedy. There is still a loss of life here. The family is going to have that loss forever.” During a press conference at 10:15 p.m. on Nov. 24, President Barack Obama urged protesters to remain peaceful. “We are a nation built on the rule of law, so we need to accept that this decision was the grand jury’s to make,” Obama said. “That won’t be done by throwing bottles. That won’t be done by smashing car windows. That won’t be done by using this as an excuse to vandalize property. It certainly won’t be done by hurting anybody.” Police in Ferguson and St. Louis fired tear gas and bean bags into crowds gathered in the streets. According to the Ferguson Police Department, there was at least one shooting victim during the protests, whose condition is unknown. As of press time, 29 people have been arrested, multiple police cruisers have been set on fire and several storefronts have been damaged and looted. In New York, protesters gathered on a ramp to the FDR Drive and the Brooklyn, Manhattan and Triborough bridges were temporarily shut down. Protests remained generally peaceful with only a handful of arrests. In Times Square, a protester threw fake blood on NYPD Police Commissioner William Bratton and was later detained. CAS junior Arielle Andrews, president of the NYU Black Student Union, said she believed the protesters would be more effective through nonviolent protest. “Mike Brown is already gone, Trayvon, all of them are gone, so acting violently won’t solve anything,” Andrews said. “It’s a shame. The fact that there’s no indictment here shows that there is no justice. It proves that we have a long way to go.”
Washington Square News
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 | Tuesday, november 25, 2014 | Washington Square news
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bratton continued from PG. 1
Protesters interrupt Bratton’s lecture at NYU Law
said he wanted the New York City Police Department to decentralize police departments and focus more on preventing crime rather than responding to it. “The reason the police exist is to prevent crime and disorder to potentially eliminate fear,” Bratton said. “The city is very diverse, and we cannot police it as one entity and we need to be in a position to decentralize with community police.” Bratton also discussed the use of stop-and-frisk, which he said is important for maintaining order in the United States. “Stop, question and frisk is essential to American democratic policing,” Bratton said. “The police are authorized by our Constitution, by our Bill of Rights, to stop, to question and, if appropriate, to frisk under reasonable suspicion, not probable cause.” Bratton compared police work to that of an oncologist in that too much force, like too much chemotherapy, can be harmful to the person being helped.
“I believe what happened in the early 19th century was the analysis was correct, the focus was correct, but the amount of medicine used was totally out of proportion, with stop-andfrisks,” Bratton said. “The department began to pull back some of that while still clinging to the fact we need large doses to keep control of the illness.” Bratton declined to comment about the Eric Garner and Akai Gurley cases because they are both ongoing investigations. Gabrielle Apollon, an NYU Law student, said she wished attendees were given the opportunity to ask Bratton questions. “I think it’s kind of ridiculous that we did not have space for students to dialogue with him and ask him questions,” Apollon said. “I would have asked him about his labeling of this incident, the incident of Mr. Gurley’s killing, an ‘unfortunate accident.’” Email Alanna Bayarin at news@nyunews.com.
staff photos by calvin falk
While Bratton discussed the stop-and-frisk policies in New York, protesters gathered at the NYU School of Law.
Student council holds first pageant
Reporter gives insights on Fukushima coverage By Suebin Kim Staff Writer
By Daniella Haviv Contributing Writer The CAS Student Council hosted the first-ever Royalty Pageant in the Kimmel Center for University Life on Nov. 24. Pairs of CAS students representing each class competed in a three-part competition: talent, an NYU- and New York Citythemed costume contest and a Q&A portion. CAS seniors Matthew Go and Lucy O’Shaughnessy took the crown. Go performed a magic show with elements of neuroscience, while O’Shaughnessy presented a breakdance act. O’Shaughnessy said she hoped to make an impact on fellow students by sharing her NYU experience with others during the Q&A section of the pageant. “I feel like I have taken advantage of a lot of the opportunities offered by CAS and I was excited to talk about them so more people would know about them, and take advantage of them as well,” O’Shaughnessy said. CAS junior Henry Knight said he enjoyed the winners’ performance. “My favorite part so far was the last two performances, Lucy’s and Matt’s,” Knight said. “In terms of performance, they really got it down. I was very impressed.” Gallatin junior Derrick Wang said he was impressed by Go’s performance. “The magic tricks, his whole
Staff Photo by Sang Bae
Matthew Go (right) performs magic on stage during the pageant. show, it was very impressive,” Wang said. CAS juniors Christopher Aseervatham and Sidra Ahmad, sophomores Heather Minton and William Goedel and freshmen Corinda Hayes and Justine Rosalez also competed in the pageant. Junior Rebecca Cruz, CAS Student Council vice president, said the concept of the pageant has been in the works since June, and council members have been planning the event since early October. Cruz thought the event was an overall success, especially in helping form a stronger CAS community. “I really liked how we’re starting to create a CAS community, and now a class-specific community within NYU,” Cruz said. “I think that the event went really well, especially for our first time.” Freshman Genesis Bellot, CAS Student Council secretary and Programming Committee chair, said she was impressed by the outcome of the pageant.
staff photo by sang bae
Lucy O’Shaughnessy breakdances for her talent act.
“Being that it was the first time that we hosted the event, it was definitely a learning experience,” Bellot said. “I think that it went really well overall. We have taken a lot from it to better plan and organize our projects and events in the future.” Email Daniella Haviv at news@nyunews.com.
Despite the safety risks while covering Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, former CNN anchor Miles O’Brien reported in areas where other journalists did not venture. O’Brien, now an independent science reporter, spoke about his personal and professional experiences in science journalism at a discussion hosted by the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute on Nov. 24. Robert Lee Hotz, SHERP distinguished writer in residence, moderated the event. Hotz began the discussion by asking O’Brien about the challenges behind simplifying complicated scientific topics. “It was an amazingly disarming way to get an interview going and to get people thinking outside their box of jargon and lexicon and get them trying to come up with analogies that would work for a mass audience,” O’Brien said. O’Brien spoke about how he navigated an area struck with natural, industrial and governmental disaster. He said he found alternate channels to gain access into exclusion zones that he was previously denied access to. “I connected with a group of hackers in Tokyo who were building Geiger counters,” O’Brien said. “And I said, ‘Can you get me in the zone?’ and they said, ‘Oh yeah we’ll get you in there.’” O’Brien explained how the dan-
ger in Fukushima was miniscule because of the extensive safety measures he followed. “In the grand scheme of things, me flying my single engine airplane at night in bad weather versus me going to Fukushima with a respirator and an entire bagged suit — whatever risk was there was far outweighed by the benefit of going there,” O’Brien said. O’Brien said he believes a science journalism TV network, despite barriers and costs to entry, could survive because there is still public interest in the subject. O’Brien also discussed the events following Fukushima in the Philippines that led to the amputation of his left arm. O’Brien lost his arm after a film equipment bag fell onto it while he had a day off in the Philippines. This accident changed the way he approaches his work. “I think it’s changed the way I view everything, how I talk to people and the way people talk to me,” O’Brien said. “Especially people who are disabled, the connection I have with them — it’s very interesting.” Zehra Rehman, a GSAS student in the Global Journalism program, said O’Brien’s narrating ability makes science an enjoyable topic to learn about. “I think he’s a really good story teller,” Rehman said. “I’m not interested in science but I enjoy listening to him because he does explain it in a way that can be understood.” Email Suebin Kim at news@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | Tuesday, november 25, 2014 | nyunews.com
dining
edited by rebecca riddle dining@nyunews.com
Pinks continued from PG. 1
Local eatery brings rock vibes to Village
No type of music, however, is excluded at the restaurant. Pinks recently hosted a Madonna party called “Like a Version,” where guests were encouraged to dress up as their favorite of the singer’s many incarnations. There are usually DJs three nights a week, including Black N Blue Fridays, which kick off with live music followed by a DJ until 4 a.m. Burn played guitar and bass guitar for 10 years in Manhattan, and many of the musicians playing at Pinks are his friends. “It really gives it a neighbor-
hood vibe,” Burn said. Burn and his team have definitely succeeded in giving Pinks a friendly, laid-back atmosphere. The restaurant has everything one would want in a perfect hangout spot — food, drinks, music, free Wi-Fi and power outlets for phones or tablets. Whether looking for rock and roll, a late-night bite to eat or just someplace to hide from the cold, Pinks is worth checking out. Email Kendall Levison at dining@nyunews.com.
staff Photo by sang bae
Pinks offers a full bar with a 1950s theme at its location on 242 E. 10th St.
Unique cheese comes to NYC
Businesses emulate Chipotle’s model By Lingyi Hou Contributing Writer
By Caroline Ogulnick Staff Writer
The burrata cheese craze is conquering New York City. Burrata, a form of mozzarella cheese that is filled with a cream and cheese mixture, has been appearing in dishes at many popular restaurants. An increasing number of restaurants are offering the delicacy, prepared in both traditional and exotic ways. Burrata originated in the Apulia region of southern Italy. It was first produced in the 1920s on the Bianchini farm, but became more popular during the 1950s when local cheese factories began to produce it. Even after the specialty became more widely produced, burrata was still considered a premium product. Many recognize burrata as mozzarella’s cousin. The beginning product is similar to mozzarella. Although both types of cheeses go through the “pasta filata” process, which stretches the cheese in hot water, burrata forms a hollow pouch during the process. The pouch is filled with a mixture of warm mozzarella and fresh cream, and then tied at the top to enclose the soft center. One of the most important
staff photo by stefanie chan
Burrata can be simply prepared with sliced tomatoes and fresh basil. qualities of burrata is its buttery and milky consistency, as the name translates to “buttery” or “buttered” in Italian. Only buffalo or cow’s milk, rennet, and cream are needed to make the cheese. Since it uses so few ingredients, the taste is based on the quality of the ingredients and the skills used when making it. Freshness is also an important factor. Burrata is best when served within 48 hours after it is made. There are many places around the city to enjoy the burrata specialty. Murray’s Cheese Bar, located at 264 Bleecker St., serves its burrata with crispy artichoke and grilled bread. The Murray Cheese Store down the block offers a BBLT Melt including bacon, burrata, lettuce, tomatoes and pesto aioli. On the Lower East Side at 314 W. 11th St., The Spotted Pig has a dinner menu that includes burrata with creamy beans and salsa verde, providing a Mexican-esque take on the Ital-
ian dish. The Smith, located at 55 Third Ave., offers a burrata appetizer with tomatoes, balsamic and cracked pepper on grilled ciabatta as another less traditional combination. The most exotic combination can be found on the brunch menu of the famous Trattoria Il Mulino in Greenwich Village at 86 W. Third St. This restaurant offers the ultimate sweet and savory dish — burrata French toast. Although it is priced at a costly $19, the burrata French toast includes a thick piece of egg, sugarcoated brioche bread and house-made burrata stuffed with ricotta, all covered in a fresh blueberry and orange sauce. Whether you decide to try a traditional or more unique burrata dish, it definitely will not disappoint. This cheese trend continues to prosper with its rich texture and unique taste. Email Caroline Ogulnick at dining@nyunews.com.
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Chipotle has risen to the top of the on-the-go food scene in America with over 20 years of experience and more than 1,600 restaurants around the country. Chipotle has begun a fast casual trend in restaurants, providing customers with a more upscale dining atmosphere, more freshly prepared food and higher quality ingredients than traditional fast food restaurants. Chipotle’s style of serving food has caught on, and a wide variety of restaurants are adopting their business model to redefine the fastfood experience. The Hummus & Pita Co., Soho Tiffin Junction and Roast Kitchen are examples of restaurants near NYU that share Chipotle’s business style. The Hummus & Pita Co., located at 816 Broadway, allows customers to build a custom meal with the same working line and cafe setting as Chipotle, but offers Mediterranean food including falafel, shawarma and gyros. The restaurant provides NYU students buy one, get one free deals every Friday. Though the restaurant is similar to Chipotle, owner Steven Pesso does not give Chipotle credit for inventing the style. “It is actually not Chipotle that comes up with this kind of idea,” Pesso said. “They make it popular, but this style has been existing more than 50 years. If you go back to the old school, you will find it is the same thing. You wait in a line, order the food and then get it and pay it very quickly.” Soho Tiffin Junction, which
opened last April at 42 E. Eighth St., is an Indian restaurant that uses the same concept as Chipotle. Their food features buildyour-own dosas, dosa bowls and salads. They also give all NYU students a 15 percent discount on their meals. Dawn Mcclan, who has worked at the restaurant since it opened, said Soho Tiffin Junction is committed to serving its customers. “We are focused on food more than anything else,” Mcclan said. “We make our food fresh and our customers happy first. And we always work together with a hand in hand culture.” Roast Kitchen, at 120 University Place, is another fast casual food chain in New York that creates bowls and wraps. Naeemah Ouedraogo, who works at Roast Kitchen, sees both similarities and differences between Roast Kitchen and Chipotle. “We are similar to Chipotle in the business model, because we are all healthy,” Ouedraogo said. “But at the same time, we are also different. We have more options than Chipotle.” Fast casual has redefined the dining experience in the fast food industry. Employers have never put such a heavy weight on the health, quality and service of food as they do now. Many college students, such as Gallatin junior Sally Ruan, appreciate the fast casual style of restaurants. “It is really efficient and I like it,” Ruan said. “It is a good alternative to general fast food. It is still fast, but I like the way that I can actually see what they are doing in front of me.” Email Lingyi Hou at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | Tuesday, november 25, 2014 | Washington Square news
arts
edited by alex greenberger arts@nyunews.com REVIEW
5
Simple, honest acting found in ‘Love Letters’
By Kelly Letourneau Contributing Writer
A.R. Gurney’s “Love Letters” may have been robbed of the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1988, but it is winning the hearts of Broadway audiences in its current run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. The play is successful because of its simplicity — its narrative is made up of letters exchanged between a pair of friends and lovers over 50 years. Upon entering the theater, audience members are greeted by a bare stage with exposed brick walls, a wooden table, two chairs, a ghost light and a low-hanging light grid — an unexpected yet welcome change from the bright spotlights of a flashy Broadway show. Actors Candice Bergen and Alan Alda, playing Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III respectively, sit at the table reading from their scripts throughout the play, effectively dispelling all sense of theatrical illusion.
Instead, the actors and the audience are simply present in a theater at the same time. Pieced together, the letters convey a half-century of life, love and loss. These brilliantly written letters paint Melissa and Andrew’s realities for the audience. Even though there is little sensory stimulation by way of set or sound, the world of the play is firmly established. The play does not pander to audiences by telling them exactly what to see in its richly written world. Gurney’s writing transcends the function of communication merely in conversation. In doing so, it creates a world within the audience’s imaginations instead of actually showing it to them. Bergen and Alda — who will be cycled out for other bigname actors after Dec. 5 — are notable for their honesty. They use the text to tell the story without adding cloying or sentimental cues to indicate what they were feeling. Because of
their clarity and simplicity, the pauses in the text, which occur when Melissa and Andrew lose contact, are palpable. The strength of the text and the actors’ refusal to complicate it place the audience in the actors’ hands. After receiving a particularly nauseating Christmas letter from Andrew, Melissa scathingly threatens to moon Andrew’s family. At this moment, the audience erupts into thunderous applause and giddy laughter, yet there is no visual or sonic spectacle at all in the moment. It is just two people reading and connecting. Of course, this is but one example of the play’s power. It is moments like these that make the play so attention-grabbing. As a result, “Love Letters” is a refreshing experience that leaves audiences reflecting on their own lives. As the play proves, there is still hope for genuine human communication. Email Kelly Letourneau at theater@nyunews.com.
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Candice Bergen and Alan Alda star in A. R. Gurney’s “Love Letters.”
REVIEW
bosses continued from PG. 1
Minimalism shines in ‘Alchemy’ By Carter Glace Contributing Writer
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Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis and Jason Bateman star in “Horrible Bosses 2.”
Christoph Waltz joins Day, Sudeikis, Bateman
Basterds” and “Django Unchained,” was instrumental in overcoming those difficulties. “New Line and Warner Brothers wanted to do another one, and there’s a lot of pressure to make a film as good as the first,” Bateman said. “And when you class it up with Oscar winners, it’s great.” Anders and John Morris, who wrote the script, spent a significant amount of time knocking around ideas and piecing together a story that would feel original. The cast reflected on the new take that writer-director Anders brought to the movie. “Sean brought so many visual elements to the film,” Sudeikis said. Day echoed his co-star’s sentiment about Anders’ visual style. “The film isn’t completely reinvented, but when it makes sense
for the film to be stylized, he did so, and it fit the story,” Day said. Some people see the “Horrible Bosses” films as wish fulfillment, but as far as Bateman is concerned, the film is pure fiction — he has never had any despicable employers. “I’ve worked for some bad directors, studio heads, but no real horrible stories,” Bateman said. “I’m waiting for a real son of a bitch to come my way.” If “Horrible Bosses 2” is anything like the first film, fans will be left clamoring for a third. And while that may pose yet another challenge for the actors, based on their chemistry and enthusiasm for the films, it is likely that the comedic trio will strike gold again. Email Vincent Salvano at film@nyunews.com.
This winter, the Nohra Haime Gallery is exhibiting Julie Hedrick’s latest work “Alchemy.” The exhibition centers around efforts by philosophers, scientists and other experts in ancient and medieval times to transform metals such as lead into gold, though their efforts ultimately proved fruitless. In the exhibit, Hedrick uses Egypt’s history in alchemy to present a fascinating, simple collection of works. The key word for the entire work is “minimalist.” The paintings on display are made up of three colors — black, white and gold — with Hedrick blending them together on canvas to create unique designs. Even the room is incredibly simple with blank white and black walls. The complexity reveals itself in the blurring of these colors and Hedrick’s very intricate texturing. The blurring of blacks in whites creates an effect somewhere between a hazy, moody fog and an incredible visualization of lead — the most common element used in
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Julie Hedrick’s “Alchemy” is now on display at the Nohra Haime Gallery. the alchemy process. The texture effects with gold are also excellent, in some places being made to look scratched and imperfect while in others it takes on a hazy, illuminating effect, dripping along the edges of the frame. There are also some subtle traces of Egyptian inspiration in the gold work, creating traces of ancient diptych. The simplicity creates striking works. The concept of
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enlightenment and illumination, a common theme in alchemy efforts, is brilliantly brought about through the collection of colors. Slowly swirling between black and white as glimmers of gold appear, the color play culminates in two standouts of the collection, a pair of tall paintings titled “Alchemist Twins.” The first is an atmospheric blur of black and white with a grey figure in the middle and the second is a dirty white with a beautiful streak of gold working up the middle. In terms of shape, it is somewhere between a heavenly streaked light or the figure of a woman, lovely either way. The remaining works feature gold prominently, some made entirely of gold, but the middle ground is the most engrossing by far. It is a simple, eloquent work that makes the most of an interesting premise to create something both beautiful and thought-provoking. Hedrick’s “Alchemy” is on view now at the Nohra Haime Gallery through Jan. 3. Email Carter Glace at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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The new york times crossword & daily sudoku Crossword A SIGN OF THE TIMES All the puzzles this week, from Monday to Saturday, have been created by one person, Patrick Blindauer. Keep your solutions handy, because the Saturday puzzle conceals a meta-challenge involving the solution grids of all six.
ACROSS 1 Alternative version of a song 6 Is into 10 Karl, Richard or Harpo 14 Actress Donovan of “Clueless” 15 Something spinach has 16 Switchboard attendant: Abbr. 17 Dramatic note in Verdi’s “Di quella pira” 18 Grandma, familiarly 19 Story with many chapters 20 TIME 23 Baseball family of note
24 Not optional: Abbr. 25 ___ Miss 26 Part of 31-Down: Abbr. 28 Force = ___ x acceleration 30 Single 32 “Much ___ About Nothing” 33 Egg cell 34 Mo. that seems like it should be seventh 35 TIME 41 Mined material 42 Arduous hike 43 Palindromic woman’s name 44 47 Senator Harry of Nevada
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48 Kristoff’s reindeer in “Frozen” 49 “Much ___ About Nothing” (“The Simpsons” episode) 50 Speedometer letters 52 Pier 54 TIME 59 Days of ___ 60 Uptight, informally 61 Preoccupy 62 Brings to a close 63 Giant in the fruit and vegetable market 64 Avoid 65 Word before home and room 66 ___ for it (invites trouble) 67 Two-time U.S. Open winner Monica DOWN 1 Talk show host Diane of 31-Down 2 “On the Waterfront” director Kazan 3 Seasonal traveler 4 Promising beginning? 5 Craft knife brand 6 Natural history museum display 7 Dry country whose name is an anagram of wet weather 8 They’re doomed ... doomed! 9 Trap 10 Swamp stuff 11 Judd who wrote and directed “Knocked Up”
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12 Delight 13 Like “Midnight Cowboy,” originally 21 Gulf War vehicle 22 Tiny complaint 26 Few Z’s 27 Org. with an oral fixation? 29 Struck, old-style 31 “Fresh Air” airer 33 Cloverleaf part 34 Home of Pippi Longstocking
36 With 44-Down, fictional prankster 37 Beans in a burrito 38 Elite fighter 39 Palindromic woman’s name 40 Vied for office 44 See 36-Down 45 What Apple’s Project Purple became 46 Two of five in basketball 47 Big chargers in Africa
48 Endeavor 51 Luxury label 53 French heads 55 Word repeated by a roadie into a microphone 56 Bacteriologist Jonas 57 “My man!” 58 Unlocks, in verse
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nyunews.com | Tuesday, november 25, 2014 | Washington Square news
opinion
edited by CHRISTINA COLEBURN opinion@nyunews.com
race
staff editorial
Ferguson highlights prevalent racial inequality
Black lives matter: Ferguson verdict, militarized police undermine liberty
After months of deliberation, the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri, decided last night to not indict officer Darren Wilson, who fatally shot Michael Brown on Aug. 9. Despite continually increasing media coverage leading up to the decision, conversation on the underlying racial issues that initially sparked the demonstrations in Ferguson seems strangely absent. Rather than explicitly discussing the widespread racial oppression causing tension between police and minorities throughout America, reports largely skirt substantial discourse on the country’s glaring racial inequality. While the response in Ferguson following Brown’s shooting reflects decades of citywide racial tension, Gallup polls about the events in Ferguson depict a striking racial divide in the perception of inequality throughout America. According to an August survey, 80 percent of African Americans believed the shooting and resulting protests raise important discussions about race, while only 37 percent of white people interviewed shared this stance. The statistics are not much better concerning the grand jury decision. Hours before the announcement of the verdict, a CNN/ORC poll reported 54 percent of nonwhites said Wilson should be charged with murder. Only 23 percent of white people agreed. Unsurprisingly, these numbers serve as an indicator of the extent of inequality in a country that still defends white privilege through constructed barriers and racist practices that society largely neglects. Despite the landmark 1954 rul-
SUBMITTING TO
ing in Brown v. Board of Education, black and Latino students disproportionately attend schools that offer fewer courses and services than those of their white counterparts. According to government data, the wealth gap, which depends on race, is now wider than that present in South Africa during apartheid. Statistics showing the effects of racial inequality are comprehensive — disproportionate arrest rates, average income, disparity in home ownership and the likelihood of getting pulled over at traffic stops. For too many white people, racism no longer exists in America. Without the systemic oppression of Jim Crow laws and slavery, these people consider racism something entirely in the past — an ugly concept successfully eradicated from our society. In arguments denying inequality, misinformed Americans flip the causality presented by statistics. They do not view poor educational resources, judicial practices and, in the case of Ferguson, corrupt law enforcement as factors that create impediments for minorities attempting to obtain the same opportunities as white people. Instead, they claim the present numbers indicate an inherent laziness or inferiority of black people. Sadly, the current response by the media and society fails to impress upon the public the depth of the race problems in America and the necessity of addressing them. When situations like the one in Ferguson arise, they demand a genuine reconsideration of the societal practices that perpetuate demonization of minorities, not a condemnation of those striving for a voice. Email Dan Moritz-Rabson at opinion@nyunews.com.
The much-anticipated grand jury decision in the case of Michael Brown was released yesterday evening inciting protests around the country. Darren Wilson, who shot the 18-yearold black male on Aug. 9, will not face any charges. The killing represents what the American Civil Liberties Union called “an alarming national trend of officers using excessive force against people of color.” The verdict is an insult to the concepts of liberty and justice on which this country is founded. Before announcing the verdict, St. Louis County prosecutor Robert McCulloch took the time to harshly criticize cable news and social media for hindering grand jury deliberations. His comments suggested that Ferguson is an isolated incident, which is simply not true. Many white officers have long been able to kill black men with impunity, and Ferguson is just the latest example of this — following in the heels of Akai Gurley, Eric Garner, Rodney King and Trayvon Martin. In Union Square, protesters held up signs that read “Black Lives Matter,” which later became a trending hashtag on social media, but it remains to be seen when this sentiment will become true on an institutional level. President Barack Obama, who addressed the nation soon after the verdict was announced, spoke about broader challenges and “the lessons we should draw from tragic events.” He displayed a bizarre disregard for the severity of the situation, saying that negative reactions among protesters will “make for good TV.” His comments are the latest in a long line of limp, disappointing government responses. The subtext of Obama’s speech made it clear that his administration is only nominally interested in improving racial tensions between police forces
and communities. Particularly revealing is the divide of opinions on the situation in Ferguson between white and black Americans. This division partly stems from the fact that many white Americans have only discussed Ferguson with other white Americans. The discussion about the situation — especially on social media, where 91 percent of white people’s networks consist of other white people — is not as diverse as it should be. It is this division that feeds into dangerous misrepresentations of the protesters and further stokes the tensions, supporting the self-importance of officers over the safety of civilians. It is this division that keeps the people in power from seeing the urgency of the crises that their decisions create. Aside from the present violence, the risk of the verdict is the perpetuation of unchecked police violence. McCulloch, delivering his monotone, tar-like slurry of a verdict announcement, certainly did not adequately understand the anger boiling beneath the surface. The actions of Ferguson officials following Michael Brown’s death did little to quell unrest leading up to last night’s verdict. Gov. Jay Nixon’s comments in the immediate aftermath of the shooting, which called for protesters to restrain themselves, were deaf to the protestors’ legitimate grievances. An Aug. 14 statement in which he affirmed “the rights of the press to report on matters of public concern” was directly at odds with the arrest of three journalists the night before. Regardless of intention, newspaper photos of white officers with military-grade weapons pointed at Ferguson residents only increased tensions. Instances of genuine sympathy seemed few and far between. In the face of violence — both militarized police action and
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)
subsequent protests, few benefit and it can feel impossible to look into the future. The events of the last few months have all but snuffed out any hope for improving American law enforcement. And as conflicts between protesters and police increase over the coming days, those hopes can only grow dimmer. Heightening police militarization and racial tensions threaten the very idea of an open conversation. But more than ever, local governments need to address the increasingly neglected duty of police to protect citizens and not themselves. If we as Americans ever move forward from this injustice, and all those that came before, lawmakers and law enforcers need to keep a clear head and clear goals. Increased transparency between police and constituents through body cameras, laws regulating police use of deadly force and an end to Department of Defense sales of military equipment to local police units could all vastly improve police relations. Critics of these measures argue that they keep the police from doing their jobs, but in the aftermath of crises like this one, the police themselves seem to not understand what their job is. The police and state government cannot afford to remain blind to the undercurrent of tension that the state troopers, simply through their presence, feed into the cycle of fear. As tensions bubble over when violence to combat violence becomes the order of the day and when the police have become the instigators of conflict, governments at all levels must rethink the role of law enforcement. No longer keepers of the peace, the police in Ferguson have become harbingers of anxiety and panic. After the Ferguson verdict, as tensions once again turn into physical violence, the deadly results of this panic become all too clear. illustration by jourdan enriquez
By Dan Moritz-Rabson Staff Columnist
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
WRESTLING
Violets play strong despite DI, DIII opponents
By JONATHAN SCHIFMAN Contributing Writer
The NYU wrestling team competed at the New York State Collegiate Championships on Nov. 23 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Featuring schools from both NCAA Division I and Division III, the tournament pitted the Violets against some of the top teams in the country, including Cornell and Hofstra University. NYU ranked 12th out of 20 teams, accumulating 37 points with some strong performances from key wrestlers. Senior co-captains Patrick Sheehan and Brandon Jones each finished in the A Division bracket for their respective weight classes — Sheehan placed fourth in the 184-pound bracket with 15.5 points, while
Jones placed seventh in the 141-pound bracket. “The team wrestled tough this weekend, although we fell short of a few goals,” Sheehan said. “We grinded through the long week and it’s something we can be proud of. We need to review the tape and improve in areas where we didn’t get the job done.” Other wrestlers in the A Division bracket included freshmen Steven Nogradi and Raymond Jazikoff, sophomores John Messinger and Wayne Yuan and senior co-captian DJ Albonico. Each collected one victory. The Violets also had wrestlers compete in the B Division bracket, including freshmen Justin Martinez and Austin Day and sophomore Nick Matthews. Day gave a strong performance, finishing fourth place in the
CAS junior balances basketball, karate By KYLE LUTHER Staff Writer
Many athletes at NYU could not imagine playing more than one sport per semester while keeping up with school work. That is not the case for CAS junior Maya Wasowicz, who plays for both the NYU basketball team and the USA Senior Karate National Team. Growing up in New York, the economics major attended Beacon High School and made the National Karate team in her senior year. She also played on the basketball team all four years and was captain during her junior and senior years. Wasowicz ended her high school career as the program’s all-time leading scorer. In the first four games of this season, Wasowicz has averaged eight points, 16 minutes and 2.3 rebounds per game. While she said she does not practice karate during the basketball season as much as she would like, she still balances sports and a full class load. “I try to set up my class schedule in a way where I could practice both basketball and karate,” Wasowicz said. “I played basketball and did karate in high school as well so I kind of just got used to managing school work. To me, it’s actually easier to do school work when I have a busy schedule.” Wasowicz started karate when she was 13, and by 16 she had made the Junior USA Team. She is also a black belt at the Goshin Ryu Shotokan Karate school. In July, she secured a spot on the 2014 team and qualified to participate in the World Karate Championships in Bremen, Germany. All other athletes on the U.S. team had one or two matches, but Wasow-
133-pound bracket. Martinez earned one victory, while Matthews collected two. Coming into the tournament, NYU was undefeated, winning its first four dual meets on Nov. 15. Senior co-captain Matthew DiGiovanni said the team will look to learn from its experience at the championships, specifically from the DI schools. “We faced a lot of DI opponents, and though we might not have come out on top we held our own,” DiGiovanni said. “Through the tournament we lost a couple important matchups that we would have liked to win, but I believe we learned a lot from those matches and I have faith in my teammates that they will win the next ones. Coming from the tournament I see a few areas that need to be worked on, but that is
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Brandon Jones competes in the New York State Collegiate Championship. ordinary this early in the year.” The Violets’ next matches will take place in the Coles Sports Center on Violent Nation Giveaway
Day, Dec. 6, starting at 9 a.m. Email Jonathan Schifman at sports@nyunews.com.
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the VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Maya Wasowicz is on the USA Senior Karate National Team. icz competed in five. Wasowicz said she had a lot of support from her team, coach and family. “My sensei, Luis Ruiz, along with our Elite Team at my dojo, showed up every day to practice for me,” she said. “They all made sure I was as ready as I could be for this competition. A lot of my family from Poland came to watch me fight. I had a great coach in my corner. In a way, I was doing it for all of them too.” Wasowicz said she intends to continue her karate career after college. “I definitely plan on going back to the World Championships and coming home with a medal,” she said. Although her ambition and talent have taken her to international heights, Wasowicz has remained true to her roots. “I wanted to stay close to home,” she said on her decision to attend NYU. “I knew I wanted to continue doing karate and I didn’t want to leave my dojo.” Email Kyle Luther at sports@nyunews.com.
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