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NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 101

MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014

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MEN’S BASKETBALL

Violets win, jump above .500

By MICHAEL THOMPSON Contributing Writer

The NYU men’s basketball team improved its record to 3-2 with an 82-72 win over the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Nov. 29.

The Violets got off to a quick start in the first half, building a 40-26 lead after 20 minutes. The early advantage proved to be enough to carry the team to the end.

After an impressive start, the Violets looked to sustain their momentum for a full 40 minutes. The Violets were hot offensively all game long, shooting 64 percent from the field. Junior forward Evan Kupferberg led the way, scoring 25 points on an efficient 11 of 13 shooting.

Kupferberg also set a career mark in assists with six.

Not far behind Kupferberg was junior center Costis Gontikas, who shot a staggering 80 percent from the field and racked up 21 points, five assists and nine rebounds.

Gontikas has been an important

BASKETBALL continued on PG. 5

STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK

Laurie Arbeiter protests in Herald Square on Friday, Nov. 28. Arbeiter and many others gathered in front of Macy’s at roughly 1 p.m. to protest Black Friday and the Ferguson Decision.

STORY ON PAGE 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

FEATURES

Admins weigh racial privilege

ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK

By MONICA MILLAY Contributing Writer

Market welcomes holidays The Union Square Holiday Market is back, and brings quirky gifts for the winter season.

STORY on PG. 4

Business founder in Founders Stern freshman Julian Marchese co-created investment company Remora Capital in his dorm.

STORY on PG. 4

WATR requires alterations The group focused on white administrator discussion needs to widen its perspective.

STORY on PG. 7

Within the context of predominantly white administrators in a more diverse student body, White Administrators Talk Race seeks to provide a space to discuss racialized topics. The administrators delve into and develop their roles as allies in response to racial tensions such as the actions in Ferguson, Missouri.

WATR is a discussion group that meets every other week in the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs. This is the first semester the group has met.

Justin Lerner, an administrator who attends WATR meetings, said he finds the space

and dialogue useful to becoming a better ally.

“I attend WATR because I like having a space where I can process and discuss my white privilege with other administrators,” Lerner said.

“In light of the recent Ferguson decision, I think it’s even more imperative for white administrators to understand their own power and privilege and how they can use that privilege to be good allies to people of color and to effect positive change.”

Co-facilitator and studyaway advisor Miriam Halsey said WATR is a way to talk about white privilege and ideas of racism. A white administrator herself, Halsey said the group engages in

ways to develop themselves as individuals as well as support colleagues and students of color.

Co-facilitator Brittany Bummer, an administrative assistant in the Office of the Vice President of Student Global Affairs and a part-time graduate student in Steinhardt, explained that the group started as the administrative staff’s counterpart to the student discussion group Unpacking Whiteness, which meets every other Wednesday from noon to 1 p.m. in the CMEP Student Lounge in the Kimmel Center for University Life.

Halsey saw the need for this dialogue to be initiated among administrators, not

WATR continued on PG. 4

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For several months, I searched for the fisherman Potaje, who l saw embark into the ocean on a Styrofoam raft. In Cuba, “Potaje” is the word for red bean soup or an erupting volcano, but I associate Potaje with this elusive man. Everyone in Central Havana knows of Potaje, but no one knew where he went after his building collapsed. Eventually, I met someone who knew someone who led me to a family that took Potaje in. With a weathered face and silent demeanor, Potaje is a hardened man, like most Cubans who lived through the depression, or the “special period,” of the 1990s.

Potaje was very reluctant to let an American Photographer photograph him. He warned me of jellyfish, dangerous water and the police — but I wanted to create a photo essay that showed what many Cubans must do to survive in a 24-hour period, and eventually Potaje agreed. — WILLIAM MARTIN III

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief

Exposure

NICOLE BROWN Managing Editors

EMILY BELL DANA RESZUTEK Assistant Managing Editor

BRYNA SHUMAN Web Managing Editors

CICEK EREL KAVISH HARJAI Creative Director, Special Editions

LYANNE NATIVIDAD Creative Directors

JULIE CICCONE OLIVIA MARTIN Copy Chief

THOMAS DEVLIN deputy MADELINE PAZZANI Multimedia

SHAWN PAIK deputy HANNAH LUU video DANIEL COLE

SENIOR STAFF

news JOHN AMBROSIO, VALENTINA

DUQUE BOJANINI features HANNAH TREASURE arts ALEX GREENBERGER sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO global JOEY BUI social media ARIANA DIVALENTINO senior editors KEVIN BURNS, SCOTT MULLEN, VALERIE NELSON, MARINA ZHENG

DEPUTY STAFF

news ALEX BAZELEY,

LARSON BINZER, MARITA VLACHOU features BAILEY EVANS beauty & style DAVID BOLOGNA dining REBECCA RIDDLE film ISABEL JONES entertainment IFE OLUJOBI music ALEXA SPIELER theater/books NIKOLAS REDA-CASTELAO sports TONY CHAU

OPINION PAGE opinion editor

CHRISTINA COLEBURN deputy opinion editors

OMAR ETMAN, ADAM FAZLIBEGU, TESS WOOSLEY

BLOGS

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ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER

ALISON LIZZIO UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATOR

CLAIRE MAHANY SALES MANAGER

SNAPSHOT

TODAY ON CAMPUS Screening: “Fathers and Daughters, Fathers and Son” Check out at a screening of three short films on the theme of family bonds, followed by a panel of filmmakers who will discuss the process of filming abroad. The event takes place from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the NYU Abu Dhabi House.

Second Annual Open Mic Night Co-hosted by the Minetta Review and The Plague, the NYU Bookstore will hold its second annual Open Mic Night for students interested in sharing their creative writing or spoken word pieces.

The event will be in the bookstore between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

ARIANA DIVALENTINO SALES REPRESENTATIVE

AMY LU, JILLIAN BRANCHAUD SALES ASSOCIATE

LUXI PENG, MIKE GROTT GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

KALEEL MUNROE CIRCULATION MANAGER

JESSICA TIEN

ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER

JIM LUTTRELL EDITORS-AT-LARGE

Snow covers Southampton, Massachusetts, on Thanksgiving Day.

STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH LUU

“Bridging the Gap: Dollars and Cents on Pay Equity for Women”

KRISTINA BOGOS, RACHEL KAPLAN, CLIO MCCONNELL, JORDAN MELENDREZ, KALEEL MUNROE, JONATHAN TAN

The Wasserman Center for Career Development and the NYU Feminist Society are hosting a panel to discuss the gender wage gap and possible solutions to the issue. The event will be held in the Wasserman Center from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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.

TODAY’S EVENTS ARE FREE FOR NYU STUDENTS.

Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible.

If you believe we have erred, contact the managing editors at managing@nyunews. com or at 212.998.4302.

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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Protesters attempt to disrupt Black Friday sales

By VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI News Editor

On the biggest shopping day of the year, protesters all over the country called for a boycott of Black Friday in response to the Ferguson grand jury decision to not indict Darren Wilson.

As part of a march organized by Million Hoodies Movement for Justice and The Rockaway Youth Organization, protesters in New York gathered in front of Macy’s at Herald Square.

Roberto Brutus, a York College CUNY senior, marched in the protest with members of the Alpha Phi Alpha chapter at Columbia University.

“What we’re doing right now is that we’re protesting, that we use our academic freedom, that we do not purchase not a single thing between Thanksgiving Thursday and Cyber Monday,” Brutus said. “If we take away the power of the dollar that we use every day that fund these cops ... then they will hear us.”

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Brutus said several groups participated in the Black Friday protest, most of which were doing so non-violently.

“We have a lot of people here that are trying to be radical and engage the crowd to act violently as you see with myself and with Alpha Phi Alpha, we’re trying the best that we can to keep everybody peaceful,” Brutus said. “We’re not hurting anybody, we just want to protest peacefully.”

Alpha Phi Alpha member Dion Thompson said he was unsure where the radical group of protesters came from.

“They came in and they were being a little more unruly than previously expected,” Thompson said. “Now we’re trying to separate ourselves from them because we don’t have any violence on the streets. We’re not exactly sure who this radical group is.”

NYPD has not released any press advisories on the protests.

The black Friday boycott was meant to call attention to institutionalized racism and the connection between racial and economic inequality. Arielle Newton, an organizer from Rockaway Youth, said students needed to unite to fight racism.

“We are thinking very comprehensive about what institutional racism is,” Newton said. “We have to understand that is the next frontier, it’s no longer lynchings in the street, it’s no longer slavery, it’s hidden behind institutions, businesses, government. We need to better understand that, and that’s why we’re here today.

This is about economic freedom and economic justice.”

Newton said students have to organize to be a part of the fight for racial equality.

“Sit together, start thinking, start talking and then take these initiatives,” Newton said. “Then make sure your message is known and also make sure to communicate with one another. This is a movement and we have to move together.”

Additional reporting by Shawn Paik. Email them at news@nyunews.com.

THE GAZELLE: ALL NYUAD STUDENTS TO RECEIVE TRAINING ON SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Published on TheGazelle.org on Nov. 30, 2014.

By ANDRES RODRIGUEZ Editor-in-Chief at The Gazelle In an email to the entire NYU Abu Dhabi student body, Dean of Students David Tinagero revealed a new plan to address sexual misconduct and awareness in the school. The email revealed that all NYUAD students will be receiving training on sexual misconduct prevention and awareness.

The resources outlined in the email are a part of a wave of recent efforts by universities across the United States who are responding to an increased awareness of sexual misconduct, lack of information and lack of action in campuses across the States.

Tinagero also spoke of different resources available to students in the case of sexual misconduct. These resources include the Health and Wellness Center (02.628.8100) and the Wellness Exchange in New York (02.628.5555). Both of these resources can advise students and keep information confidential.

Alternatively, students can also per-

sonally report incidents of sexual misconducts to Tinagero. “[O]nce I receive a report regarding an incident of sexual misconduct, I will share the information disclosed with school administrators involved in responding to such matters, including NYU’s Title IX Coordinator, to determine appropriate next steps to address the situation. Such steps may include an investigation and disciplinary proceedings,” said Tinagero.

Lastly, the email announced that Tina Wadhwa has been appointed Associate Director of Mental Health Promotion and Sexual Misconduct Support Services. Wadhwa will offer support for issues related to preventing sexual misconduct on our campus. She will be trained on the University’s judicial process and will be available to meet with students both one-on-one and in groups.

Wadhwa and Student Counselor Jenni Kahler have trained Residential Assistants on bystander intervention. RAs were trained to intervene in situations in which they assessed

that sexual misconduct, misbehaviour or assault were a possibility. Roshni Dadlani, RA and peer supporter with REACH, a student led peer support group, mentioned that REACH members are currently being trained on a weekly basis. Dadlani envisions that they will be qualified to conduct workshops on bystander intervention, sexual misconducts and related issues in the near future, with the supervision of Wadhwa.

The announcements, however, deal only with the training aspect of sexual misconduct. According to NYU’s Sexual Misconduct, Relationship, Violence and Stalking Policy, the school reserves the right to take action against someone found to have committed an act of prohibited conduct.

This means that incidents will still be dealt on a case-by-case basis.

“Hopefully at some point this training becomes compulsory as part of Marhaba,” said Dadlani.

Email Andres Rodriguez at arodriguez@thegazelle.org.

CRIME LOG nov. 20 to 23

By CHRISTINE PARK Staff Writer The NYU Department of Public Safety received reports of larceny, physical harassment and vandalism between Nov. 20 and 23.

Criminal Mischief At 6:50 p.m. on Nov. 23, a student said his personal belongings were vandalized by an unidentified person at Brittany residence hall. This incident is still under investigation.

Harassment At 11:05 a.m. on Nov. 21, Public Safety received a re-

port from 19 W. Fourth St. that a student pushed a professor after an argument at 1 p.m. on Nov. 20, leaving the professor with minor injuries. This incident is still under investigation and no charges have been made against the student.

Larceny At 2:30 p.m. on Nov. 21, a student said her laptop was stolen between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the basement lounge of 1 Washington Square North. The New York Police Department did not file a report and the incident is still under investigation.

Email Christine Park at news@nyunews.com.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

FEATURES

EDITED BY HANNAH TREASURE FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

5 Best Union Square Holiday Market vendors

P TO

By ANNA FERKINGSTAD Staff Writer

Running from Nov. 20 to Dec. 24, the Union Square Holiday Market boasts close to 200 food and novelty stands. Whether it is a sales pitch from a man in a sock monkey onesie or the ramblings of a poet, here are some wacky booths to check out.

Pook (C37) This stand features socks, hats and gloves, all made from old sock monkey materials. Scour through the sock monkey toys and attire underneath a motor-powered contraption that raises and lowers additional sock monkeys through the air. Whether or not you decide to make a purchase, prepare for display after display, made by the enthusiastic booth worker, of the various uses of the convertible sock monkey hat.

wooden pieces with painted words rotate freely to reveal a new poem every time you look at it. At Pozie Poems, the chalkboard-painted sales counter reads “Give positivity” and “Make the world a better place.” The poems can be purchased pre-made or with personalized words and quotes.

Actual Film Votive (A52) From “The Wizard of Oz” to “Star Wars,” this stand offers a variety of frames from old-fashioned film reels that are damaged and no longer usable. The cells are attached to glass candle holders, the flame illuminating scenes and characters from one of the 22 films featured. A variety of classics, the films date as far back as “King Kong” (1933) and as recent as “The Polar Express” (2004). Originating as an Etsy account, Actual Film Votive suggests using the $15 film cells for holiday gifts or as souvenirs.

Monkey Business (D19)

La Muse Kalliope (D21)

If you think you have seen every kind of Christmas ornament, then visit the Monkey Business booth.

Hundreds of hand-carved wooden ornaments line every nook and cranny of this four-walled stand.

Each delicately hanging bird, bell, pinochi or nearly any figurine you could imagine costs between $5 and $10.

For a perfect gift for a young relative or just a little toy to hug, La Muse Kalliope sells several adorable small stuffed animals called musettes. A creative breed of creatures, each musette has its own name and purpose. Some resemble dragons, others unicorns.

Painted pastel signs detail how on each stuffed animal you will find either a set of small felt spikes or two ribbons that can be shaped into hearts.

Pozie Poems (A37) For a dash of creativity or inspiration, take a look at this booth’s several “moving poems.” Hanging from strings, the array of shifting

Email Anna Ferkingstad at features@nyunews.com.

STAFF PHOTOS BY SHAWN PAIK

Clockwise from top left: Vendors from Actual Film Votive, Monkey Business, Pook, Pozie Poems and La Muse Kalliope offer unique items for gifts at Union Square’s holiday market.

Freshman takes on stock market

By AMANDA MORRIS Staff Writer

Inside a Founders residence hall dorm room lies the temporary office of Remora Capital, an investment company co-founded by Stern freshman Julian Marchese.

The company, which Marchese founded with Yale sophomore John-Paul Pigèon, uses a program Marchese developed called the Technical Trend Reversion Model to track the stock market.

Currently, Marchese and Pigèon are working on obtaining investors and funding for Remora Capital. The two are in the process of raising capital and establishing their firm.

“Remora is a quantitative long/ short equity fund, though we plan to roll out some discretionary global macro strategies down the line,” Marchese said.

Since buying his first stock at the age of 8, Marchese has been heavily interested in investing and the stock market.

“The market has always fascinated me because it is a constant intellectual battle,” Marchese said. “You need to know about finance, economics, history, politics, psychology, etc. to be successful. It forces you to

learn about everything.”

Marchese made his first trade when he was 9 and started developing TTRM when he was 14. TTRM is a quantitative, long-short equity strategy that runs automatically on his computer using algorithms. It can make trades for him while he is otherwise engaged. It allows him to be a full-time student while still running the company.

“Our flagship trading strategy is an automated one so at this point we are setting up the infrastructure to accept capital, and run our systems on our AUM [assets under management],” Marchese said.

One of the challenges that Marchese has faced is running the company at his age, which he says has been a double-edged sword.

“It has been helpful in some instances as the novelty of my story has garnered interest from people, however some people naturally don’t take me seriously,” Marchese said. “However I find that after someone has a conversation with me on my craft, that mentality changes quickly.”

Even Marchese’s parents, who have been supportive throughout the process, underestimated him at first due to his age. When he made his first trade on their ac-

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Julian Marchese balances schoolwork with managing his company. count, they canceled the order after finding out. The company was then bought out and the stock price tripled within the month.

Marchese said he has already learned from his experiences trading and investing in stocks.

“I’ve had many risk management lessons early in my career (between the ages of 11-15) where I took unfounded, big risks and lost money very quickly,” Marchese said. “Those experiences taught me the importance of having a plan for every trade, and understanding where my risk limits are, given the strategy I am employing.”

Email Amanda Morris at features@nyunews.com.

WATR continued from PG. 1

Administrators meet to discuss racial issues

just students.

“There is a lot of programming for students at NYU, obviously, but I think that staff administrators also want to be a part of the conversation,” Halsey said.

The group has consistent attendees, as well as new faces each week.

“So far it’s been mostly white people,” Bummer said. “But it’s definitely open to everybody. I think, because of the name, it has been mostly white people.”

CAS junior Arielle Andrews, president of the Black Student Union, said the intentions of the group are misguided.

“There is something to be learned from intragroup dialogues, so I can see what the intent was, but they will never gain the education that they seek to gain without engaging with the races who need a platform to discuss their issues the most,” Andrews said.

Yet the assistant director of CMEP, Selima Jumarali, assured the NYU community that WATR is not an exclusive space.

“We have been very careful, in CMEP, about not marketing it as a group that is just for white administrators because, of course, that would replicate historic racism to create space that would be ‘whites only.’” Jumarali said.

“But it is also trying to create a space for a demographic of people to come together and share experiences that may be similar because they share a similar identity.”

Jumarali sees WATR’s discussions as necessary.

“In diversity work, learning about a marginalized group should not be only the responsibility of the marginalized group to educate the dominant group,” Jumarali said.

Email Monica Millay at features@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM NFL

BASKETBALL continued from PG. 1

Jets, Giants have work to do in offseason

Basketball gains momentum after win

By CHARLES SURETTE Contributing Columnist

For the third consecutive season, neither the New York Giants nor the New York Jets will reach the NFL playoffs. The NFC’s Giants currently sit at 3-9 after an embarrassing 25-24 loss to the 1-10 Jacksonville Jaguars, while the Jets are 2-9 heading into a Monday Night Football clash with division rival Miami Dolphins.

For fans of New York football, there has been little to smile about over the past few seasons.

Following their Super Bowl XLVI victory over the New England Patriots in February of 2012, the Giants have yet to glimpse the postseason, while the Jets have not seen January football since consecutive trips to the AFC Championship in 2009 and 2010.

As both clubs crawl toward losing seasons, each is left to wonder what went wrong and attempt to pick up the pieces.

For the Jets, the problems lie with the head coach and the quarterback position. Despite brash proclamations of Super Bowl victories upon his hiring, Jets head coach Rex Ryan has done little to live up to his predictions since the Jets’ stunning upset of the Patriots in Foxborough during January of 2011. Despite his defensive prow-

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG (LEFT), VIA FACEBOOK.COM (RIGHT)

Both New York quarterbacks have struggled greatly this season. ess, Ryan has repeatedly shown ineptitude on coaching the offensive side of the ball. The Jets are last in passing offense despite a perennially strong ground game. To make matters worse, quarterbacks Geno Smith and Michael Vick have failed to stop the bleeding this season. For the Jets to once again succeed in wresting control of the AFC East from New England, owner Woody Johnson and general manager John Idzik must consider dismissing Ryan and starting a new quarterback, preferably one with a more accurate arm and better decision-making abilities.

As for the Jets’ MetLife Stadium co-tenants, the Giants, the problems are more widespread.

The team’s attempt to shore up its woeful offense by bringing on new offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo has proven to be ineffective thus far, as the once clutch Eli Manning continues to throw interceptions at an alarming rate behind a weak offensive line. Making matters worse are injuries to key receiver Victor Cruz and

the loss of Hakeem Hicks to the Indianapolis Colts, robbing Manning of his most prized weapons. The Giants also sport the 29th-ranked defense in the league. For the Giants to reach the NFL’s zenith once again, they must get back to basics by strengthening their offensive line in order to give Manning more time in the pocket, while adding depth at wide receiver to recharge a still-tepid passing attack. Moreover, the Giants must seek out defensive playmakers to regain their position as one of the most feared defenses in the league.

New York professional football faces dark days for the foreseeable future —­the Jets are an organization in near constant turmoil, while the Giants have lost their way following their last postseason triumph three years ago. Serious work needs to be done in the offseason to fix some of the glaring issues for both teams.

Email Charles Surette at sports@nyunews.com.

contributor this season, averaging 15.2 points, eight rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game for the Violets.

The sophomore pair of forward Alec Papesch and guard Joe Timmes also contributed to the win. Papesch had seven points and seven boards while Timmes was effective on both ends of the court, scoring 11 points and leading the way defensively with two blocks.

Freshman point guard Ross Udine continued to prove his worth, scoring nine points and dishing out eight assists. Currently in his first season, he averages a solid seven assists per game. Udine attributed the win to the Violets getting off to a quick start.

“We jumped on them right off the tip and were able to establish a nice lead,” Udine said. “They went on a run late in the game, but we responded well and came out with a win.”

There is plenty to be optimistic about for the Violets. Through five games, the team has an average scoring differential of plus-12. The team has been highly efficient, shooting 53 percent per game and averaging nine more assists than its opponents per game. The Violets have also been dominant on the boards, with a rebound margin of plus-11.8 over their foes.

The Violets, however, have been hindered by turnovers. Thus far, they average 18.4 per game, 7.6 more than their opponents. Even with efficient offensive play, NYU has found itself on the losing end of games due to fixable mistakes.

That being said, the Violets are

VIA NYUATHLETICS.COM

Evan Kupferberg led the team in points over the weekend. now above .500 for the first time since Nov. 15, and will look to improve upon their record in the coming weeks. Key players Kupferberg and Gontikas will need to continue their stellar play, while developing players such as Udine, Papesch and Timmes have to continue to grow as the season wears on.

Next up for NYU is the Stevens Institute of Technology on Dec. 6. Important conference games begin for the Violets in January, against familiar foes such as Brandeis University, Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Chicago. Postseason aspirations will rely heavily on these showdowns.

Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.

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Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 THE620ForNEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Monday, December 1, 2014

Crossword ACROSS 1 Topmost points 6 Tennis champ Kournikova 10 Scribbles (down) 14 Target number to hit 15 Jetty 16 Southern vegetable that’s often deep-fried 17 Opposite of rural 18 1/640 of a square mile 19 Banister, e.g.

20 Muscles that are crunched 21 Eponymous star of a 1960s sitcom, the only American TV star with his three initials 24 Author Gay 25 Desert rest stops 26 Subsequent prescription order 29 Abel’s brother 31 “Top Chef” appliance

32 ___ Corner (Westminster Abbey locale) 34 Gasoline additive brand 37 Long-running western anthology, the only American TV series with its three initials 41 Make a misstep 42 Urge to act 43 Downloadable programs 44 Any “Salome” solo 45 Very beginning 47 Gettysburg general George 50 New Hampshire senator Shaheen 53 TV hookup option … or what you are by solving this puzzle?

55 TV host Dobbs 58 Chocolate ___ cake (dessert with a molten center) 59 River that starts at Pittsburgh

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63 Peeling potatoes in a mess hall, say 64 Stew-serving utensil 65 Maui or Kauai 66 Standardized H.S. exam 67 Toys on strings DOWN 1 Pastel blue 2 Street’s edge 3 Angry crowds 4 Pilot’s in-flight announcement, for short 5 Beach footwear 6 Speedily 7 Shaving mishaps 8 Place for an axon 9 Field of expertise 10 Amman’s land 11 Approves 12 Tot’s three-wheeler, informally 13 They’re rung up on cash registers 22 Sick 23 Raucous 24 Slight coloration 26 Went in a vehicle 27 Ceaselessly 28 Haunted house feeling 30 Corroded 32 Rival of Domino’s 33 Hispanic hurray 34 Drains, as one’s energy 35 Ilk 36 “Hey, I’ve got a secret …”

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38 New person on staff 39 Sch. known as the West Point of the South 40 Social engagement 44 Charge for a commercial 45 Result of dividing any number by itself

46 Hard to control 47 1552, on a cornerstone 48 Bob ___, restaurant chain 49 Aleve alternative 51 Eleniak of “Baywatch” 52 Get a pet from the pound, say 54 Chicken house

55 Lord’s partner 56 Norway’s capital 57 Applications 61 His portrait is at the entrance to Beijing’s Forbidden City

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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY CHRISTINA COLEBURN OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

POLITICS

Notions of indoctrination at colleges extreme

By CHRISTINA COLEBURN Opinion Editor

Debates about political diversity on college campuses resurfaced during the Nov. 28 edition of Fox News’ “The Kelly File.” Host Megyn Kelly interviewed pundit Dinesh D’Souza, who is among the many conservatives who lament that right-leaning ideas are suppressed in higher education.

D’Souza opined that college professors indoctrinate students through a “continuum of leftism.” Invoking Bill Ayers and Ward Churchill, he continued that radicals “penetrate the very institutions they were once protesting … [and] have become deans.” Agreeing with the notion that academia views Republicans as “stupid” and “lazy,” D’Souza said college professors “feel unaccountable to legislators … alumni … parents.”

He then generalized college liberals, saying “none of them really believe in free speech for those who disagree with them.”

While students and professors at American universities are more likely to ascribe to liberal than conservative beliefs, D’Souza’s characterizations are extreme. Being an ideological minority does not necessarily equate to indoctrination. Even as a Gallatin student con-

centrating in political communication at NYU, which is continually ranked highly for its largely progressive students, I rarely find myself in a “liberal bubble.” In my three semesters, conversations about politics with fellow students have been infrequent and I personally have never heard a professor espouse partisan opinions. Prior to college, I attended school in a deeply conservative district. Defending my beliefs on a regular basis helped me strengthen my reasoning. Although being a lone voice occasionally felt daunting, it helped me have faith in my convictions.

I now manifest this confidence through editorials for WSN, where the majority of my political interactions take place. Despite D’Souza’s narrative, several of my columns argue that free speech should be consistently applied for liberal and conservative students. Still, as expected with opinion writing, kind feedback from like-minded individuals is practically nonexistent. I more often re-

ceive vitriolic, intolerant comments from readers who consider my opinions to be stupid and lazy. Moreover, I find that it is not professors who display a startling lack of accountability to legislators, alumni and parents. It is rather administrators who are responsible for stingy financial aid, unlivable wages, labor violations, inadequate sexual assault policy and lack of transparency — hardly indicative of progressive values, nevermind radical leftism. These institutional actions trickle into the classroom, challenging the preconceived concept of a liberal university culture.

Disagreement does not always equal retaliation in environments where one is an ideological minority. A professor penalizing students for political nonconformity would constitute indoctrination. There are varying shades of ideology, especially at a school as large as NYU. While liberals may outnumber conservatives at universities, the lack of instances of legitimate indoctrination and increasingly corporatized model of higher education demonstrate that the collegiate “continuum of leftism” is not as genuine as D’Souza suggests.

Email Christina Coleburn at ccoleburn@nyunews.com.

CITIZEN JOURNALISM

Rise of social media must be embraced

By TOMMY COLLISON Staff Columnist

The role of social media after Michael Brown’s death is under scrutiny. When the verdict was announced, prosecutor Robert McCulloch criticized what he saw as the insatiable appetite of the media and social networks for spreading “nonstop rumors” in search of “something, anything new.” His words indicate deep misunderstanding about the role of social media and its ability to disseminate information quickly. After the decision, users organized protests and shared stories, news and locations, using slogans like #FergusonDecision, #HandsUpDontShoot and #JusticeForMikeBrown. Ferguson, Missouri, is the latest example of how social media has changed news reporting. The unrest might never have entered the national consciousness if it were not for the efforts of Internet users around the country.

Much has been written about McCulloch’s preamble before the grand jury verdict last week, but his condemnation of social media is particularly galling. Many civil rights

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activists noted that activity on social networks kept the media spotlight on Ferguson when the mainstream media might have moved onto something new, proving the power of the citizen journalist.

Citizen journalism has become a buzzword in recent years. When US Airways Flight 1549 made an emergency landing in the Hudson in January 2009, one of the first pictures of the floating plane came from a Twitter user onboard a ferry that picked up the passengers. Before movements like Occupy Wall Street, reporting was once a transactional experience in which journalists wrote the news and everyone else passively consumed it. This is no longer the case. The line between journalist and consumer is blurring.

Mainstream media outlets used the photo of the plane posted on Twitter to accompany their reports because their

official photographers had not been at the scene in time. The proliferation of new personal technologies, including Facebook and Instagram, allows everyday citizens to have a say in what they think is newsworthy.

Both traditional journalism and social media share a role in shining a light on things officials hope to keep hidden. As blogger and designer John Gruber wrote, “[McCulloch’s] condemnation of ‘social media’ is that social media is preventing them from sweeping this under the rug quietly.”

The decentralized Internet, unconstrained by national boundaries, lowers the barriers of entry for millions of users, creating an enormous network of people able to create and consume news. One person can now broadcast to millions — a reality some governments fear. Social media users will not replace journalists, but the world is beginning to see a symbiosis between the two groups of newsmakers. Both communities must commit to reporting important stories together.

Email Tommy Collison at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Discussion group on race misguided As of this semester, a discussion group for administrators called White Administrators Talk Race now meets every other week in the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs Student Lounge. There is also a related student group called Unpacking Whiteness that meets every other Wednesday in the Kimmel Center for University Life. WATR is meant to provide a setting for administrators to examine their place as allies in the wake of escalating racial tensions. Although WATR is open to individuals of all races, most attendees have thus far been white.

While WATR is well-intended, its inapt name and homogeneity among attendees limits effectiveness. The group must adjust its marketing and acknowledge its limitations.

Co-facilitator Miriam Halsey told WSN that the group would contemplate ways for administrators to take initiative in improving race relations by discussing systematic injustice, white privilege and other racialized subjects. The intention of the group is to bridge the gap between the white university leadership and the diverse student body. WATR is commendable in its aim to facilitate discussions about the inequity that remains in both university settings and the United States, but issues in execution still exist. By operating under a title that only mentions white administrators, individuals of color may feel discouraged from participating — regardless of whether exclusivity is intentional. If NYU is committed to facilitating effectual and inclusive discussions about race, administrators must be cognizant that marketing matters when promoting groups like these.

Many administrative gatherings already feature mostly white administrators discussing their views from a vantage point of collective racial similarity. Substantive conversations about race cannot be complete without contributions from those who are most affected by bigotry. Although wellintended, the goal of the group will fall short if it does not involve dialogue from individuals of color who have experienced microaggressions and racism firsthand. To more fully understand the gravity of systematic injustice, one must hear from those who endured it — to comprehend and abandon defensiveness about white privilege, one must hear from those who are disadvantaged by it.

An attempt at dialogue that understands and shrinks the divide between minority groups on campus is certainly appreciated. If WATR does not adjust its unsuitable marketing, it may deny itself an opportunity to listen to valuable insight from people of color. Having an incomplete range of perspectives can lead only to lackluster results. A meaningful connection between a predominantly white administration and a diverse student body, cannot be achieved if WATR continues to involve a portion of the equation. If WATR is not able to facilitate this comprehensive discussion, then another space must be provided for administrators. In the future, seeking diversity in administrators would also represent a meaningful step toward connecting the administration with the student body. Although WATR has a laudable goal, current marketing compromises its end.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Christina Coleburn (Chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Adam Fazlibegu (Co-chair), Tess Woosley (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.

WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.

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