Washington Square News September 5, 2017

STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON. DESIGNED BY RACHEL BUIGAS-LOPEZ AND LAURA SHKOURTOFF

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM

It’s Affirmative, Your Race Isn’t Why You Got Into NYU

By SIERRA JACKSON News Editor

The use of Affirmative Action policies, or those intended to increase the representation of underrepresented communities, during the admissions process at American universities is a recurring point of debate in the academic and legal worlds.

In 2016, The New York Times reported that a white woman named Abigail Fisher sued the University of Texas, claiming that the university denied her admission because of her race. In August 2017, a group of Asian American students who were rejected

by Harvard University accused the school of giving preference to other underrepresented racial groups.

If you were to consider the effects of Affirmative Action based on this information alone, you may be left with the impression that the policy hurts both white students and students of color.

Dennis Parker, an American Civil

Liberties Union lawyer and the director of ACLU Racial Justice Program, said that there are many other common beliefs about Affirmative Action that paint the policy in a negative light.

“This idea that [students of color] are unqualified people, is a problem as is the suggestion by a number of people that Affirmative Action hurts students of color because it admits them into schools which they are not conventionally competitive,” Parker said.

At NYU, where the total percentage of white students enrolled at the university has steadily decreased since 2012 — as noted in NYU’s factbook — someone might consider Fisher’s claims to be true. Some people could even make the unsubstantiated claim that NYU only allows a set number of students of color into the university per year, as the number of Asian and black students has remained relatively the same since 2012.

NYU’s Assistant Vice President and

Dean of Admissions Shawn Abbott, however, stated that NYU does not implement a de facto quota.

“While we have absolutely no quotas, no minimums, no maximums or targets for student communities who are underrepresented at NYU — as such practices are prohibited by U.S. federal law — we may act affirmatively in our admission process for students who are academically competitive for admission,” Abbott said.

Abbott added that because of the way the racial demographic is divided, the numbers do not tell the entire story.

“We are required by the federal government to report international students as an ethnic category,” he said. “As a result, our student body is even more ethnically diverse than our reported demographic percentages would suggest.”

Vice President for Enrollment Management MJ Knoll-Finn, whose role at NYU includes improving diversity, said that the incoming freshman

NYUAD Creates ‘Unhackable’ Microchip

By MACK DEGEURIN Deputy News Editor

This month, researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi’s Design for Excellence Lab created what they are heralding as an “unhackable” microchip. The design has been in development for more than five years and aims to protect microchips from malicious attackers.

The breakthrough could affect everything from personal consumer consumption to government national security.

Microprocessor security falls under a more general category called hardware security. Hardware security is the term people in security field use to distinguish physical vulnerabilities from cyber/network insecurities. While the public consciousness has opened up to the real dangers of cyber and network security, hardware security has garnered considerably less attention. Just as networks and internet connected devices are vulnerable to malicious attacks, so are the microchips used in nearly all devices.

Why chip security matters Jeyavijayan Rajendran, an associate professor at Texas A&M and an NYU Tandon alumnus, has worked extensively on the new chip design. Rajendran said the need for secure hardware is greater than ever. While in the past microchip companies possesed full autonomy in the design, creation and production of their chips, changes in global markets have led manufacturers to outsource their microchip production, which can lead to an increased security risk.

“Until 20 years ago a single manufacturing company could design, manufacture, test and deploy that chip into the system and send to the user,” Rajendran

said. “But because of advancement in technology that has led to increased costs, a single company cannot afford to have all these steps in the supply chain.”

This increase in off-site microchip manufacturing leaves a chip especially vulnerable when out of the designer’s hands. According to Ozgur Sinanoglu, an associate dean of engineering for Academic Affairs at NYU Abu Dhabi and the head of the Design for Excellence Lab, companies fear that those with malicious intent can install trojan viruses and backdoors onto the chip during off-site manufacturing. These type of attackers, according to Sinanoglu, may sell a company’s intellectual property secrets on the black market, an act called IP piracy. Attackers may also exploit vulnerabilities in hardware to slowly leak product secrets or install a kill switch, which would allow the attacker to remotely deactivate the chip.

How it works Sinanoglu and Rajendran’s chip works by taking a standard microprocessor and locking it using a process called Striped Functionality Logic Locking. Once applied, this security measure prevents a chip manufacturer from accessing the function and mechanical details of a company chip. Many of the theoretical concepts used in the making of this prototype can be found in Sinanoglu and Rajendran’s co-written paper, “Physical Unclonable Functions and Intellectual Property Protection Techniques,” published in January.

“We first take the design we want to manufacture and then run it through our locking mechanics,” Rajendra said. “Then, [the chip] is sent to the manufacturer, the manufacturer produces the locked chip and we get the locked chip and unlock it.”

class has seen an increase in the number of students of color.

According to Parker, universities like NYU have every right to act affirmatively and target underrepresented communities.

“What the court has said is that diversity is recognized as being what’s called a compelling governmental interest,” Parker said. “That means that universities and colleges can take steps to create diverse learning environments in their schools.”

Abbott confirmed that along with race and ethnicity, NYU also considers whether a student is choosing an underrepresented major, has the potential to be a star athlete or is the child of alumni, among other factors.

“I would note, however, that just because a college or university acts affirmatively for any particular student doesn’t mean other students are discriminated against,” Abbott said. “Every student has her/his own unique story to tell and will hopefully bring something compelling to the table

STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON

Although the percentages of students of color at NYU have increased over the past few years, the university maintains that it does not create a quota for students of color accepted. beyond good grades and test scores — which simply are not enough to warrant a space at any selective college or university.”

Email Sierra Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.

CRIME LOG

Aug. 20 to Aug. 30

By MIRANDA LEVINGSTON Deputy News Editor

VIA NYUAD.NYU.EDU

NYUAD students created an unhackable computer microchip.

The NYU Department of Public Safety received five reports of larceny, one report of criminal mischief, one report of indecent exposure, two reports of harassment, one report of robbery and one report of found property between Aug. 20 and Aug. 30.

Larceny

Though Sinanoglu and Rajendran’s technology is still in what they call the “academic phase,” the need for more robust hardware security options may demand the chip [to] expand quickly. Sinanoglu admitted that at the present, cyber and network security may pose the most imminent threat to the average person but noted that hardware is not far behind, and may soon make news headlines.

For Ravendran, a more aware public does not necessarily translate to a more secure public.

“I think people are more aware of the dangers of hardware security now than they were 10 years ago, but they are not aware of any solutions,” Rajendran said.

With security conferences and presentations fast approaching, Sinanoglu and Rajendran hope their project may catch the ears of some of the industry’s smartest and most influential minds.

If received well, consumers from all walks of life may be one step closer to a more secure technological experience.

On Aug. 20 at 11:45 a.m. a non-NYU person reported to Public Safety that their bike was missing from the bike racks at 721 Broadway. A police report was filed.

On Aug. 28 at 10:19 p.m. a staff member from 240 Mercer St. reported that his watch, bracelet and ring were missing from the bathroom sink where he left them. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 29 at 9:59 a.m. a report was received by Public Safety that a Bobst Library staff member’s shirt was missing from his locker. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 29 at 4:34 p.m. a report was received by Public Safety that a staff member’s bag and wallet were missing from the staff lounge at 721 Broadway.

Police notification was declined and the report is open and under further investigation.

On Aug. 30 at 10:30 a.m. a report was received by Public Safety that a student’s coin purse was missing from her backpack in Bobst. The report is open and under investigation.

Email Mack DeGeurin at mdegeurin@nyunews.com

On Aug. 21 at 1:49 p.m. a report was received by Public

The future of the unhackable chip

Criminal Mischief

Safety that a cafeteria fridge lock in Lipton Residence Hall had been tampered with. The report is under investigation and police notification was declined.

Indecent Exposure

On Aug. 21 at 11:35 p.m. a report was received by Public Safety that an unidentified male exposed himself to a university affiliate at Bobst. The report is under investigation and police notification was declined.

Harassment

On Aug. 23 at 3:00 a.m. a report was received by Public Safety that unknown persons followed a university affiliate in their car down West Fourth Street. The report is under investigation and a police report was filed.

On Aug. 25 at 9:22 a.m. a report was received by Public Safety that a patient verbally harassed staff and students in the NYU Dental Center. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

Robbery

On Aug. 26 at 4:19 p.m. a report was received by Public Safety that three NYU students were robbed outside the NYU Bookstore by four unidentified men. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

Found Property

On Aug. 26 at 6:17 p.m. a report was received by Public Safety that a student’s wireless speakers and charger were missing from the 12th floor hallway of Founders Residence Hall. A staff member later found and returned them and the case was closed.

Email Miranda Levingston at news@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPS Changes Paul McGhee Division

By NATASHA ROY Assistant Managing Editor

Earlier this summer, NYU’s School of Professional Studies announced it would restructure its Paul McGhee Division, which incorporates liberal arts and professional studies, to primarily grant two-year associate degrees. Due to the change, the school laid off 10 professors.

Associate Dean of SPS’s McGhee Undergraduate Division Billie Gastic said via email that the division is focused on giving students an accessible and affordable education through both the associate and bachelor’s degrees. He said that, to provide each student enrolling in these degree programs with the best opportunity to complete his or her degree, the admissions criteria for bachelor’s degrees in the McGhee Division of SPS have been adjusted.

Gastic also said students applying for a bachelor’s degree through McGhee will now have to have completed an associate degree or at least 60 transferable credits of undergraduate study.

“This will better equip those entering these programs to be able to benefit from their rigor and to successfully complete their studies,” Gastic said.

Gastic said students who do not meet the associate degree or 60 transferable credits requirement can now benefit from associate degrees, which have recently decreased in price. McGhee’s website will be updated to reflect these changes after Labor Day. According to the McGhee division’s website, each of the four associate degrees offered before the 2017-18 school year require 60-62 credits to complete. Assuming students took 4-12 credits per semester, completing the degree program could cost students anywhere between $70,876.33$82,380 total in tuition during the 2016-2017 academic year.

“These degrees now provide an affordable alternative to local community colleges, making a world-class education more affordable to those who might not previously have been able to pursue this type of opportunity,” Gastic said.

Structurally, Gastic said the curriculum for the divi-

sion’s bachelors and associate degrees have not majorly changed. He said during the last six months, McGhee has worked to ensure that all courses, regardless of discipline, allow students to apply what they learn to the outside world.

“Our programs offer a solid grounding in the knowledge and the skill sets that provide the most competitive advantage for our students,” Gastic said. “None of the associate or bachelor’s degrees have been eliminated, and students currently enrolled in those programs will in no way be interrupted in earning their degree.”

While the school aims for these changes to benefit students, some members of the class of 2021 are unsure of how they will positively affect their education.

Incoming SPS freshman Melvin Nguyen said he knows the firing of 10 McGhee professors does not directly affect him, as he is studying Hospitality and Tourism Management in SPS. However, he said he is worried about the future of other divisions at SPS. “In all honesty, the school is small enough and unknown to many students,” Nguyen said. “I don’t understand how the school expects to give the students a proper education if they are letting go of dedicated and knowledgeable professors.

Nguyen said SPS students come to NYU believing they will receive the best education possible considering the price they pay for tuition, room and board. He said with these changes to the program, he does not know what to expect anymore.

Despite some misgivings about the changes, Gastic believes they will be a win-win for students entering both McGhee’s associate and bachelor’s degree programs.

“We are confident that these adjustments will ultimately provide a better experience for our students while they are studying with us and will result in the strongest possible outcomes beyond graduation,” Gastic said.

Email Natasha Roy at nroy@nyunews.com.

STAFF PHOTO BY VERONICA LIOW

The School of Professional Studies announced several changes in their educational program over the summer.

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NYU Unites After Hurricane Harvey

By CAROLINE HASKINS Deputy News Editor

Following Hurricane Harvey’s landfall in the Gulf Coast region of the United States on Aug. 25, NYU and its students are now engaged in efforts to help students and non-students alike who were impacted.

According to NYU spokesman Matt Nagel, 534 students in coastal Texas and 60 students in Louisiana live in areas directly impacted by Hurricane Harvey. He said that as of Sept. 2, no students have contacted the university to inform them that they will be returning to campus late. Returning students to NYU can appeal their financial aid package, but it is unclear as to whether students impacted by Harvey will be eligible.

“It is too early to tell whether we have anyone who needs take advantage of the additional aid,” Nagel said. “There is a process in place through the Financial Aid Office and we encourage anyone who may find himself or herself in an extreme circumstance to reach out to them for assistance.”

Nagel was unable to confirm whether NYU had reached out to students in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and India — which were also recently affected by extreme weather events.

“Any time we are made aware of a situation that might impact a student or a group of students, the university tries to reach out and make them aware of the resources they have available to them,” Nagel said.

“We would ask that the university community reach out to Student Affairs or the Wellness Exchange if they

are aware of students that may have been impacted by events in another part of the world.”

Senior Vice President for Student Affairs Marc Wais sent an email on Aug. 25 — the day Harvey made landfall in the Houston region — to affected students informing them that there will be no academic penalization due to travel delays, as well as providing contact information for the NYU Wellness Exchange.

Mary Erina Driscoll, the interim provost and senior vice president for Academic Affairs at The City College of New York, has researched students who are impacted by natural disasters. She said that college students face particular challenges in the wake of a natural disaster such as Harvey.

“Most students will receive reassuring news — we hope — but others may learn of the deaths or injuries among friends and families,” Driscoll said. “It’s also true that students may find their financial situation has changed overnight, especially if their parents’ home was used as a source of equity for their tuition. Individual students will likely need support of all kinds.”

CAS senior and Houston native Rohan Shah was one of the students who received the email from Wais.

“I’ve had to reschedule my flight three times,” Shah said on Aug. 30 when the storm was still active. “I don’t know about other NYU students in Houston. However, it is worth noting that Bush Intercontinental Airport opened for commercial flights at noon [Aug. 31], and Houston Hobby Airport opened [Aug. 30].”

Various NYU student groups are

heading efforts to assist victims of Harvey. Lauren Serritella, Steinhardt senior and president of NYU’s Greek Panhellenic Council, said that Kappa Kappa Gamma is organizing a sticker fundraiser for Harvey. NYU Divest issued a statement of solidarity with the victims of Harvey with donation links to relief efforts. Shah, who is also a member of NYU Red Cross, said that the group will be raising money for Harvey relief this upcoming school year.

CAS freshman Charlie Kolczynski is planning an item collection campaign in Brittany Residence Hall with her Resident Assistant Sai Konkala, a Tisch senior.

“Especially with this political climate where many Texans feel like they only have each other, I thought they needed to know other Americans are on their side and ready to help,” she said. “NYU is a great community of generous people and with move in and Welcome Week ending now, everyone will be in good spirits.”

Email Caroline Haskins at chaskins@nyunews.com

VIA AF.MIL

534 NYU students in coastal Texas and 60 in Louisiana live in areas directly affected by Hurricane Harvey.

International Safe Space Opens in Kimmel

By ADRIANA TAPIA Deputy News Editor

The International Student Center, a new space that promotes inclusiveness and engagement among international students, opened at the start of this semester.

Located on the seventh floor of the Kimmel Center for University Life, the center is an initiative created by the NYU Division of Student Affairs in collaboration with the Center for Student Life, the International Student Council and the Office of Global Services.

The opening of the center comes at a time when NYU is home to the largest number of international students in the country, with more than 17,000 students from more than 140 countries, according to NYU’s website. Riddhi Keralia, CAS senior and president of the International Student Council, believes the timing is appropriate.

“NYU prides itself in being a global university and a melting pot of diversity and inclusion,” Keralia said. “Hence the suggestion for the creation of a center was well received and supported.”

CAS junior and Director of Advocacy of the International

PHOTO BY ANNIE SWENSON

This summer, the Center for Student Life opened the International Student Center, where international students can meet, connect and learn about new resources.

Student Council Danning Zhang said she is confident that the center will be beneficial for international students. However, she emphasized the importance of spreading the word about it.

“It comforts international students with the knowledge that we can drop by and get questions answered on a platform of solidarity,” Zhang said. “Yet these specific services need to be publicized in a more organized and effective way so that no one misses out.”

Assistant Director for International Student Engagement

Isabella Villacampa encourages all NYU students who are interested in cultural engagement to get involved with the International Student Center.

“I am working directly with students who advocate for the development of programs, events and services for our globally minded NYU community,” Villacampa said. “Our programs are open to all NYU students to foster meaningful connections as global thinkers.”

Email Adriana Tapia at atapia@nyunews.com.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM

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Upright Man: A Band of Evolution

By HAILEY NUTHALS Editor-at-Large

Upright Man, following suit with the change its name implies, constantly evolves. The group — officially comprised of NYU Music Composition alumni Aidan Dolan, Nick Katz and Max Yassky and unofficially including Adam November — has been changing its sound throughout its entire career.

Only three days after their debut record “Upright Man” was released, they spoke easily with WSN about having already recruited November to play guitar for live shows despite his not being a part of the album recording process. In fact, November has already been adding in his own sonic influence to the point where the songs no longer sound like the album version.

They began the recording process in early 2015. They had 17 songs already, but by the time 2017 came around, the band and the world had changed so much that the music was quickly outdated. Yassky, the group’s drummer, spoke about the contrast between Upright Man’s recording process and their usual lifestyle of playing gigs and writing songs.

“So much time has passed between the time we recorded

— which is in itself this certain amount of time where you’re just hyper-focused and it feels like you’re in a different space,” Yassky said. “And then after that, you’re just back to playing shows. So the album being released kinda feels like, ‘oh yeah, that thing that we did.’”

Upright Man was born when Dolan, the group’s lead vocalist and guitarist, asked during a Music Composition Program meeting if anyone was interested in playing drums in a group. Through mutual friends, he was connected with Yassky and Katz. November came along more recently when Katz was looking for a pedal specialist and was pointed toward November, who is also a Music Technology alumnus. Four years and a few graduation ceremonies later, the group had a debut album.

The members each have varying opinions on what they learned during their time at NYU, and particularly what of that learning was useful.

“So much of the stuff that I learned at NYU was not stuff that they set out to have taught you or was not something they could have ever functionally planned to do,” Yassky said.

“But it’s stuff you just learn by being around them. Dealing with NYU has taught me so

much. But particularly it was learning to be disingenuous about what you want to do if you’re being a musician.”

Judging by the band’s album release show at Bowery Electric on Aug. 23, Dolan and his bandmates have still had trouble narrowing down what they want to do. Their performed music spoke to a vast range of musical influences. Jazzed-up chords filled out unusual time signatures and guitar solos shredded alongside softer vocal moments.

At times heavy metal vibes played out, and at others the songs echoed The Beatles. All that is not even to mention the ambient visuals projected on the walls beside them — b-roll of lightning flashes, CGI-ed images of spaceships and eerie graphic designs added an ethereal layer to the performance.

Between all the sounds and visuals happening on stage, however, Upright Man’s set was more than just an impressive display of musicianship. The sonic influences and lyrical content were unarguably a product of life in 2017 — an echo of uncertainty, of questioning, but of resolution to keep on singing and do so beautifully.

Email Hailey Nuthals at hnuthals@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY HAILEY NUTHALS

Upright Man performed at the Bowery Electric on Aug. 23, wowing the audience with a series of projected visuals on the walls of the venue.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF BRANDON STANTON

Brandon Stanton, the man behind the portraits on Humans of New York, is setting his sights on turning HONY into a docuseries.

‘Humans of New York’ in Motion

By RYAN MIKEL Entertainment Editor

Meet Brandon Stanton – a local New York-based photographer – who, by 2013, was listed in Time Magazine’s “30 Under 30” and, by 2017, runs the successful “Humans of New York” (HONY) photoblog. Featuring more than 10,000 intimate interviews with accompanying portraits of random New York street-goers since the blog’s 2010 inception, Stanton’s “Humans of New York” has amassed a following of 7 million and 18 million followers on Instagram and Facebook, respectively. In 2013, Stanton released a book adaption that spent 31 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.This fall, HONY is getting yet another adaptation: Stanton’s passion project is getting its own docuseries.

The docuseries, dating back to pre-production in 2013, is a culmination of more than 400 days of filming and an upwards of 1,200 interviews.

“

I always knew that video would provide the closest thing to actually being there.

BRANDON STANTON

”

It will be presented in 12 half-hour weekly segments on Facebook’s newest subsidiary, Watch on Facebook — a Netflix-like streaming service where, like everyday Facebook livestreams, viewers can comment and react in real-time. Oscar-nominated producer Julie Goldman, the woman behind critically acclaimed documentaries “Weiner” and “Life, Ani-

mated,” will serve as executive producer. Immediately struck

by Stanton’s mine of painstaking testimonial of the everyday New Yorker, Motto Pictures — Goldman’s production company — will produce the HONY docuseries.

The docuseries was announced on Facebook at the tail end of August, with a 90-second trailer and personal statement from Stanton, himself.

The trailer begins with one of Stanton’s thousands of documented street testimonials — an older gentleman with a Dumbledore-like beard and wisdom — conveying the message: “Stories are what women tell their children and what, eventually, their children tell to their children. And the first stories told are how to be human.” Clips of a myriad of colors, cultures and creeds soon follow whilst more testimonials of love, loss and life overlap against such tableaus as a daughter embracing her mother in Central Park, two Middle-Eastern women laughing in a marketplace, and a male dancer leaping in front of the Lincoln Center fountain.

At the clip’s end, we are revisited by the aforementioned gentleman, stating “one thing you take with you when you leave is your story.”

“Early on, I realized that video would add a deeper layer to Humans of New York,” Stanton said. “At the heart of all these posts are the conversations themselves… And I always do my best to recreate the experience through photos and words. But I always knew that video would provide the closest thing to actually being there.”

Catch Brandon Stanton, “Humans of New York” and its 1,200 stars at next week’s Tuesday, Sept. 5th premiere on Watch on Facebook.

Email Ryan Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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Essential New York Films to Appreciate New York

By DANIELLA NICHINSON Film Editor

New York is considered one of the most thriving and engaging cities in the world for a reason: it is full of diversity, nightly happenings and an abundance of culture.

Across all art forms, the city has been represented through the personalities of various artists. To see the city take on a wide array of identities, here are some essential films to watch to appreciate the beauty and sometimes the dark underbelly of the city that never sleeps.

Any Woody Allen film is an idealistic and romanticized depiction of his favorite city, but “Manhattan” takes the top spot. More painting than film, “Manhattan” is shot in striking black and white and devotes its opening scene en-

tirely to a montage of the most alluring monuments and locations the city has to offer. The story follows an unorthodox relationship between a 45-year-old man and a

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Nothing says New York film classic like Woody Allen’s Manhattan, showcasing some of the city’s iconic views.

17-year-old girl, also making it one of Allen’s more romantic films.

Full of typical Woody Allen jokes and neuroses and co-starring longtime collaborator Diane Keaton, “Manhattan” will show you the city through rose-colored glasses you’ll never want to take off.

For a vastly contrasting portrait of New York in the ‘70s, Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver” is arguably his magnum opus and one of the most influential films of American cinema. The film’s central character is Travis Bickle, a taxi driver who suffers from insomnia and has a delusional plan to rid the city of its scum. All of Scorsese’s films, not just “Taxi Driver,” are perhaps the most accurate representations of what New York was like in the ’70s — dangerous, ridden with drugs, prostitution and crime and feared

by its inhabitants. “Taxi Driver” is an unlikely homage to the city of Scorsese’s youth and an important film to appreciate how much has changed — and how some things haven’t.

One of the most prolific New York filmmakers, Spike Lee, released his 1989 masterpiece “Do the Right Thing,” which was extremely relevant at its time and continues to be today. The film explores the racial tensions between an Italian pizzeria owner and the black community in the Bed-Stuy neighborhood of Brooklyn on the hottest day of the summer. Besides the social message of New York’s racial issues, Lee also utilized unique camera angles and fourth wall breaks to tell the story. “Do the Right Thing” is an exciting and stimulating film about a social aspect of the city that people

often forget to recognize.

Set in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, Noah Baumbach’s semi-autobiographical film “The Squid and the Whale” shares a very distinct experience of 1980s Brooklyn. The film is an intimate observation of the divorce of two writers and its repercussions on their children. Though mostly sharing unhappiness and cynicism on behalf of the characters, Baumbach manages to illustrate a relatively stable side of the city while also revealing the unraveling of a failed marriage. Perhaps not the first film that comes to mind when thinking of New York, “The Squid and the Whale” is an unmistakable depiction of this ever-changing city.

Email Daniella Nichinson at dnichinson@nyunews.com.

End of an Era for Webster Hall

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Webster Hall’s doors are closed for renovations indefinitely, ending a century of music history in the East Village.

By CONNOR GATESMAN Music Editor It’s the end of an era for Webster Hall, the iconic East Village venue located conveniently across the street from NYU’s Third North Residence Hall. The venue had its last show on Aug. 10, when Action Bronson performed to a sold-out crowd. The building itself has been around for more

than 100 years, although it has existed as Webster Hall since 1992. The storied venue has seen a host of famous shows from the likes of Travis Scott and Skepta and, of course, the Kanye West make-up show that never was.

Before that, the stage featured countless legendary artists like Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan and the Beastie Boys, among others.

The venue will be shut down for

an indefinite amount of time for renovations. Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment and AEG Presents purchased the space in a joint venture. AEG launched the Panorama Festival in 2016 and also runs locations like the Barclays Center and Terminal 5. Reports indicate that the venue will become more concert-centric with fewer club nights.

The shuttering of the hall is no doubt a sad reality for many at NYU. The venue has been host to countless memories for NYU students and will be sorely missed.

The venue’s weekly line of concertgoers dependably wrapping around the block was an integral part of many students’ latenight commutes back to their residence halls.

However, there is hope for the shuttered venue. As Billboard reports, AEG plans to spend $10 million renovating the space.

Brett Yorkmark, CEO of Brook-

lyn Sports and Entertainment, envisions the revamped venue as a feeder location for up and coming talent hoping to one day play shows at bigger locations in the area. Yormark also told The New York Post that the new ownership seeks to “preserve what Webster Hall means to consumers and artists,” but modernize it. This will likely come in the form of food, beverage and even bathroom upgrades.

With this in mind, the seemingly grim news of Webster’s closure also marks promise of a new beginning. AEG Presents is extremely well-seasoned in the realm of venue management and promotion, and a more artist-centric lineup may in fact prove to be preferable to event-goers who were previously uninterested in Webster’s club nights and special events.

Regardless of the potential benefits of the renovation, the fact remains that New York con-

cert-goers will have to say goodbye to Webster Hall and all of its grungy glory. The closure of the independently-run hall is no surprise given the ever-gentrifying nature of New York City real-estate. As New York becomes more expensive, independent ventures are frequently being sold and replaced with more profit-oriented corporate entities. From CBGB’s closing to Palladium becoming an NYU residence hall, Webster Hall’s passing is just another mark of an ever-changing city. Webster’s closure is far from the exception and change is and always has been the rule in this city. The hall’s renovated successor might have better bathrooms, but nothing will be able to replicate the charm and character of the venue people came to know and love.

Email Connor Gatesman at cgatesman@nyunews.com.

Banana Puddin’ Jazz on Avenue C

By KHRYSGIANA PINEDA Theater and Books Editor

Rome Neal presents a night of Banana Puddin’ Jazz, vocalists, dance, open mic and poetry on Avenue C at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. “I’m the guy who made the puddin’!” Neal said as he dished out a generous serving of complimentary banana pudding to each guest upon entry.

“The mood was yellow and the night was young,” Neal sang from the top of his lungs, accompanied by the “Dynamic Ladies Quartet.” Kyoko Oyobe tickled the ivory, Adi Myerson skillfully played bass, Taylor Moore passionately rocked the drums and Gabrielle Garo hypnotized the audience with the

flute and saxophone.

The quartet played off of each other’s strengths to make a vibrant sound as a whole, while also tactically maneuvering into solo pieces, allowing their talents and individualism to shine through their instruments. They quietly signaled to each other throughout each number, showing strong synergy as a band.

Neal swept the audience into the world of jazz with his showmanship and Sinatra-rustic vocals. A CD is rumored to drop during the upcoming year that will include the numbers he sang at Banana Puddin’ Jazz.

Halfway through the set, special guest, eight-year-old Jolie Emi Neal sang Louis Arm-

strong’s legendary hit, “What a Wonderful World.” This was followed by various dance genres, ranging from ballet to the moonwalk, executed to Michael Jackson’s forever classic “Thriller.” An energetic tap routine was featured at the end of the night, quickly becoming an audience favorite.

During Open Mic, NYU Atlantic Studio drama alumnus, Paris Storey sang, “I Got a Feeling I’m Falling,” from the musical “Ain’t Misbehavin.” COR.ECE also wowed the audience with his impressive vocal range that hinted of Daniel Caesar.

Poetry brought the night to a heartwarming close. During the show, each member of the audience wrote a poem down based

on his impressions and feelings brought on by the night of jazz and pudding. At the end of all the acts, the poems were read aloud to the room, presenting strong audience involvement and showmanship once again.

Although this year’s summer Banana Puddin’ Jazz has come to an end, more productions are still to come. Rome Neal has been playing the lead, solo role in MONK, written by Laurence Holder, for 17 years around the country and in Senegal, West Africa. A centennial celebration performance will run Oct. 5-7 at 7p.m. at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

Email Khrysgiana Pineda at kpineda@nyunews.com

PHOTO BY KHRYSGIANA PINEDA

Banana Puddin’ Jazz showcased the talent of all kinds of performers at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe.

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Join the Club: Navigating Club Fest

By THOMAS CHOU Deputy Features Editor

Club Fest: it’s the best of times and the worst of times. NYU’s semesterly club fest is happening tomorrow, Sept. 6 in the Kimmel Center for University Life.

With hundreds of clubs to sort and choose from, it can be hard to navigate and pinpoint exactly what you want to do. From cultural clubs to print publications to even a club focused exclusively on cheese, it can be easy to get lost among all the incredible options.

Here are some clubs to keep an eye out for during the massive event.

Editorial Publications NYU has a large number of amazing publications that are built up of teams of creative people with similar interests in mind. If you’re interested in writing in any form, whether it be journalism, creative writing or poetry, writing for an NYU publication might be a great fit for you. Some organizations include WSN, Baedeker (a travel magazine) and Spoon NYU (a collegefocused food blogging website).

NYU publications are a great resource to try out and experience if you’re at all interested in pursuing a future career as a writer, journalist or photographer.

students, Greek life is a great way to meet new people and find a smaller, tight-knit community here at NYU.

Cultural and Identity-Based Clubs With such a large student body, NYU has an enormous number of cultural clubs and associations to match. Cultural clubs can be a great way for people to reconnect with their culture after moving to New York City or for someone interested in learning about a specific culture to meet people and share experiences. With more than 60 cultural clubs, many are tailored to people of specific backgrounds or specific interests. Joining a cultural club is a fantastic way to explore, connect and learn.

Email Thomas Chou at tchou@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY IFFAT NUR

More than 300 Welcome Week Leaders helped welcome the incoming class of 2021, new transfer students and Liberal Studies First-Year Abroad students.

By KAITLYN WANG Features Editor

Greek Life While Greek life might not be as popular here as it is at other universities, NYU has a smattering of fraternities and sororities to look into. Greek life at NYU can range from community service-based fraternities and sororities such as Alpha Phi Omega to pre-professional fraternities and sororities like Phi Alpha Delta, and even includes cultural fraternities and sororities as well. At a school with more than 50,000

Welcome Week Leaders Bring Together Students New and Old

STAFF PHOTO BY POLINA BUCHAK

Club Fest showcases all of the different extracurricular clubs at NYU, giving students the opportunity to sign up for a number of activities.

NYU’s annual Welcome Week, hosted a week before school starts in September, welcomes new students to campus with fanfare and hype. Boasting more than 400 events, this year’s Welcome Week featured programs like Bed, Bath and Beyond: After Dark; Drag Bingo; and the Star Ball to cap it all off. The diverse array of programs drew interest from all different students, but there was one thing they all had in common — passionate, excited Welcome Week Leaders making sure the event went as smoothly as possible. They might also have been dancing.

Upperclassmen who applied to be Welcome Week Leaders were divided into teams and underwent a three-day training process.

As welcoming faces to students

new to the school or to campus, the leaders had to be enthusiastic and above all knowledgeable and ready to answer any questions students may have, according to Welcome Week Leader and media team member Tisch sophomore Jacarrea Garraway.

“There was an initial training period of three days where we took crash courses designed to help us become more knowledgeable with NYU, various questions we might be asked during Welcome Week and the various students we may encounter,” Garraway said.

But the work doesn’t stop after training. Organizing and supporting students during events takes a lot of time, and Welcome Week leaders sacrificed their voices and sleep to make the week come together. For Stern junior Hector Galvan, who has been a leader two times, it was worth it.

“This experience really helps you grow and mature in ways you don’t really think you could,” Galvan said. “You dance your way through a couple weeks of no sleep and are happy to do it all the time.”

Steinhardt sophomore Victoria Pflaum was happy to do so because she wanted to give back after having a rough experience during her own Welcome Week.

“In all honesty, I had a really [bad] Welcome Week last year because I had broken up with my boyfriend of a year and best friend of four years during Welcome Week,” Pflaum said. “But I managed to drag myself to a pilates class, make some friends and feel better.”

Other leaders, like LS sophomore Stephanie Sison, also applied for the position to replicate their positive experiences for other new students. Sison said that she found Welcome Week Leaders inviting during her first year and wanted to be that person for incoming first years. “[Welcome Week Leaders] reminded me that college is an entirely new and exciting chapter,” Sison said. “I wanted to share my experience and advice with the incoming students and hopefully rid some of their fears.”

Through helping new students get acclimated and find communities at NYU, Welcome Week Leaders also found a family of their own. Garraway said that although it was a rewarding position all around, her favorite part of the experience was getting to know the other leaders.

Sison agreed. “I’ve truly met some of the most inspirational and dedicated people from not only my team, but from the entire Welcome Week staff,” she said.

Email Kaitlyn Wang at kwang@nyunews.com.

Gallatin Student Set to Show Collection at NYFW

By PAMELA JEW Deputy Copy Chief

Gallatin sophomore Selly Djap has been designing for years. Her fall/winter 2017 collection,Polarity, premiered at the Gallatin Fashion Show last spring. At this year’s New York Fashion Week, Djap’s newest collection, Sex, will be showcased on Sept. 9 among seven to nine up and coming designers.

Djap is known for her elegant, one-of-a-kind couture designs, and Sex will be no different. Sex includes 10 designs all with Djap’s signature hand beading and done in a variety of blush shades.

“Like my first collection, I

made Sex all by hand and all by myself,” Djap said. “I spent the entirety of the summer designing and sewing. It’s a lot of work, but I love the process.

This collection is a progression of the discovery of my own sexuality.”

Originally from Indonesia, Djap was taught that sex was taboo and not up for discussion. Coming to NYU, Djap found that people talk freely about sex and their sexuality, causing her to explore and ground her own opinions about sex. The collection begins with a more innocent vibe transforming into pure seduction with more skin showing in the later designs.

“As women, we shouldn’t be scared to show off our own bodies as we should be proud of it,” Djap said. “That’s why I’m not scared to show skin in my dresses.”

Throughout her first year at NYU, Djap uncovered her own sexuality through talking to fellow NYU students. Djap found her sexuality was repressed throughout her childhood, and Sex showcases Djap finding her way out of that repression.

“Sex is something really beautiful,” Djap said. “It’s a gift that should be grounded in truth and grace.”

Djap’s team at the show will consist of her best friend and fellow Gallatin sophomore,

Matt Hall, who photographs all of Djap’s designs. Hall assisted Djap in shooting the press photos for Sex back in late August.

“We shot the press photos at Coney Island, starting earlier in the evening until it was almost pitch black,” Djap said. “Coney Island emulates the fun and unknown of sex while the evening light shows the progression from innocence to seduction.”

To check out Djap’s designs along with others, visit the show at 11 a.m. on Sept.

9 at the Hotel Pennsylvania in Midtown.

Email Pamela Jew at pjew@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW HALL

Gallatin sophomore Selly Djap will showcase her new collection, Sex, at New York Fashion Week.

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The Exploding Omelet

By YASMIN GULEC Dining Editor

Every month we find ourselves discovering a new dish, whether it is an innovative take on something we already know or a traditional food from another country that we just hop on the bandwagon for. From ramen burgers to spaghetti donuts, these past years have been notable for food discoveries.

One dish that has been popping up around New York and on the internet is the exploding omelet, or omurice. This dish is an example of yoshoku — a Western influenced style of Japanese cuisine — and can be found both in Japanese households and Western-style Japanese diners. It was first created in Japan at the turn of the 20th century and slowly made its way around Korea, Taiwan and now, New York.

The dish is basically an omelet made with fried rice and topped with ketchup. Most kids menus in Japan feature this dish, but in New York it has turned into a signature dish that requires a lot of skill to prepare. A variation for this dish is made with demi-glace — a rich brown sauce made from veal stock and espagnole sauce — rather than ketchup. In a few other places the omelet is put on top of a bed of chicken fried rice

PHOTO BY SOPHIE SHAW

By SOPHIE SHAW Beauty & Style Editor Each person experiences a series of fashion firsts during his or her life. At age 20, I’ve acquired quite a few — my first pair of heels, first bra, first tube of lipstick — to name several. These pieces of clothing, accessories or makeup are physical representations of memories and milestones. Tied to them are cherished moments and emotions of nostalgia, gratitude and sometimes even regret.

They built character and reflected specific periods of personal development. By remembering one’s fashion firsts, you can find what played key roles in the evolution of someone’s style.

Heel height was a big deal to

I Tried… Ice Cream Trucks of WSP

By YASMIN GULEC Dining Editor

VIA GOFINDALICE.COM

The omurice is a Japanese omelet covered with a number of unconventional toppings — it’s more than your typical salt and pepper. and covered in gravy. The most significant characteristic of the dish is the omelet itself. It is a perfectly smooth, cloud-like omelet and when you cut into it, the inside simply melts into the rice and covers the whole meal. After you cut into it, you top everything with gravy. Some restaurants use noodles instead of rice.

You can already find the exploding omelet at a handful of places in New York, but there are two places in particular where you should definitely try it.

Hi-Collar on 214 East 10th St. is a hip Japanese cafe that has highend coffee, sandwiches and the famous omurice. Their slogan is “flirting with the west”– a symbol of the melding of Japanese

and Western style foods. During meal-times, there are very long lines to get in, so visit them in off-peak hours. Even if you have to wait in line, it will be worth it.

Another great dinner place for you to visit is Bar Moga on 128 West Houston St., a Japanese-inspired bar that has craft cocktails and comfort dishes. They have a small menu but they make a chicken rice omurice with demiglace that is out of this world.

You can always challenge yourself to make it, but if you don’t want to spend time and waste a lot of eggs, make sure to visit Hi-Collar or Bar Moga.

Email Yasmin Gulec at ygulec@nyunews.com

Fashion Milestones

A first investment piece, whether it be a piece of jewelry, a handbag or a pair of shoes, is a fashion milestone worth more than the price tag alone.

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me as a 5-feet 1-inch 13-year-old.

Of course, I thought the higher the heel the better — however, my mother had a different, better-informed opinion. We compromised for a modest pair of black patent leather Steve Madden pumps that were about two inches high. They were shiny and felt special. I only wore them several times for the holidays, but having them in my closet made me feel like I had reached a certain level of maturity. The confidence boost they gave is the same that I feel when slipping on my favorite heels today.

Another fashion first that has stuck with me is my first investment piece that I bought on a visit to New York City the summer after eighth grade. At the time, that meant spending more than $200 on an article of clothing or piece of jewelry. I had saved my allowance money and was waiting until I stumbled upon the perfect, topical and quite unnecessary thing to spend my savings on.

I happened to find it in a small jewelry store on Madison Avenue — a large faux turquoise stone ring set in a gilded gold band. It went over my head that I would be shelling out $230 for a piece of costume jewelry.

The purchase of that ring signified several important lessons,

though. First, it was an independent purchase, something I bought for myself without the help of my parents. (In retrospect, however, I realize that the source of my income at the time was my parents.) Second, it was an investment piece. Investment pieces are so called for a reason — they will grow in value over time, whether it’s monetary or emotional. For me, it was the latter. The ring is still in my jewelry box and is one of my most cherished pieces. It represents a visit to New York that helped solidify my ambitions to go to school and make a life here. Purchasing that ring was a goal that I met, which led to bigger and better goals for my future.

These fashion firsts can lead to others, as well as play a part in big-picture life events. They can also give meaning to the pieces that follow them. After my first pair of heels, I added a first pair of stilettos to my bucket list, then I aimed for a first pair of Christian Louboutins. And now, a $200 purchase no longer feels like an investment piece. I’ve graduated onto a larger scale. There’s a first for everything, especially when exploring fashion.

Email Sophie Shaw at sshaw@nyunews.com.

Ice cream is one of the best snacks you can get when you are walking under the hot sun or sitting in the park and people watching. Finding a quick, nostalgic ice cream that is simple yet satisfying is very easy thanks to the ice cream trucks around New York. NYU students’ quad and the heart of Greenwich Village, Washington Square Park is one of the many places you can find ice cream trucks. As an avid ice cream eater and a lover of ice cream trucks in general, I am proud to say that I actually tried all the ice cream trucks around Washington Square Park — multiple times — and have made some observations.

As I understand, New Yorkers have very strong opinions on ice cream trucks — they either love or hate them. Most New Yorkers complain about the jingle that triggers their children into wanting ice cream and wakes them up. There have been more than a thousand complaints in the last year about the jingle, so much so that there is a website where you can report the truck. As time passes and New York’s hip food scene grows, ice cream trucks have become so much more than the simple soft serve ice cream trucks we know. Although trucks like Mister Softee struggle to keep up with ice cream trucks like Van Leeuwen’s and Big Gay Ice Cream, nothing can beat their vanilla ice cream with rainbow sprinkles that sparks up childhood memories.

Mister Softee is an ice cream brand that was founded by two brothers — William and James — who started out by selling green ice cream in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. They have been growing ever since. To my mind, ice cream

PHOTO BY TAYLOR STOUT

Ice cream trucks can be found on any side of Washington Square Park on any day that the weather isn’t gloomy.

trucks are an ode to childhood and everything it represents — sweet, simple and cheerful.

Therefore getting ice cream from the truck is somewhat a nostalgic act for me.

After some walking around, I found three ice cream truck locations around Washington Square Park: one right behind the arch on Fifth Avenue, one in front of Kimmel and one on the corner of Waverly Place and University Place. I knew that Mister Softee was a chain and that the quality shouldn’t really change, but I thought it was worth the research. To make things fair, I ordered the same ice cream from each truck: vanilla ice cream with blue sprinkles.

Softee #1: Behind Arch, Fifth Avenue I paid three dollars for my order and was greeted with a warm welcome. The ice cream was cold but not too firm, and the sprinkles covered the whole ice cream.

I enjoyed the treat a lot.

Softee #2: In front of Kimmel I am convinced that ice cream trucks like ripping off students because I paid four dollars for this ice cream. I don’t know if this was an error in calculation, me or the man being distracted, or just a change in price. The ice cream was good, but they did not have blue sprinkles, so I had to go with rainbow sprinkles. The ice cream was almost too warm, so it started to melt as soon as I got it. I had to speed eat it.

Softee #3: Waverly and University The spot of this ice cream truck is kind of awkward just because the pavement is not wide enough for both the people walking and rushing to class and the ice cream lovers who stop to get ice cream. The ice cream was lovely. It did not melt the second I held on to it, so I could enjoy it rather than rush to eat it.

All in all, if I had to choose one of the trucks around Washington Square Park, I would go for the one behind the Arch on Fifth Avenue because it gave off positive vibes and made me relive my childhood moments of running after ice cream, begging my mom to buy me some. I think with the fast pace of New York, it is great to have things that make you stop and think about the past and slow things down. Make sure you try other high-end, cool ice cream trucks, but don’t forget to visit the classic Mister Softee.

Email Yasmin Gulec at ygulec@nyunews.com.

By SIERRA JACKSON News Editor

F LILI URTESY O PHOTO CO

AGA ANA ZULU

NYU students hailing from all 50 U.S. states and 133 countries — statistics found on the first NYU brochures students receive and the university’s website.

It’s not unusual to discover that your current NYU roommate, best friend or classmate has left friends, family and familiarity behind just to attend this university.

But for some NYU students, specifically first-generation Americans, the messiness of converging multiple identities occurs years before they even know what college they will attend.

CAS freshman and first-generation American Daniel Li said his educational experiences and upbringing have made it increasingly difficult to tell people where he is from.

“Though I was born in the United States, my parents hail

from China, and I went to school in Hungary before I moved to the United States for high school and college,” Li said. “Now that I have come to NYU as a first-year student, this burning question gets asked every time I meet someone new, and for a matter of fact, to this day I still do not have an answer.”

Li credits CAS’s cohort program with helping him further explore his identity.

“Through the discussions I have had with my fellow cohort members about identity in America, I had questioned even more what it means to be an American, and just about identity in general,” Li said. “Though one thing I can say with absolute certainty is that these discussions were extremely thought provoking and I think I am one step closer [to] reconciling with my identity.”

He also said finding a friend with whom he could identify as both an ethnic Chinese and as an American has helped him answer some of his questions about his origins.

Just as your definition of Americanness may vary with your experiences, first-generation American NYU students’ struggles with fitting into multiple cultures — or lack thereof — also differ. Whereas Li is still exploring his identity, Tandon sophomore Karan Ganta, whose parents hail from India, said he discovered who he was early on.

Despite this difference, Ganta said finding people with a similar background also helped him adapt.

“I knew my identity com-

ing into the school, and if anything I have met more first-generation Americans that I share those similarities with,” Ganta said. “But it isn’t different from high school, as I had similar friends there too.”

Although many first-generation American students have had different experiences defining their identities, there is a general consensus that their lives in America have presented them with opportunities their parents have not had.

Li believes NYU students take their intellectual freedom for granted, considering his own parents did not have the same freedom in China.

“My parents went to school in a country where not only freedom of speech is restricted, but the lack of opportunity was a real issue as well,” Li said. “Many of the people who ended up going to school stayed within China, often living their entire lives in their province with only a few exceptions, including my parents, who went abroad.”

Although being an American citizen has given him more opportunities, Li also admitted that the gap between himself and multi-generational Americans is a drawback to his status as a first-generation American. “[People] talk about how American it is to have a proper Thanksgiving dinner with an oven-baked turkey and cranberry sauce, or how America was different when their parents went to school, or how people’s grandfathers fought in the Second World War,” Li said. “I feel disconnected with the history of America because my story in Amer-

ica does not start with my great-great-grandfather who came from Ireland, but it starts with me who is trying to forge an identity for himself.”

Ganta added that there was a cultural gap between himself and non-American Indian students.

“Those from India don’t respect you as much because you don’t know the language, customs or culture as well,” Ganta said. “They believe you to be stupid because you never learned these things or they believe you to be less of a person because you don’t know these things.”

Regardless of the obstacles like those mentioned above, Li believes being a first-generation American is a status worth fighting for.

“Blacks, Latinos, Asians and even Whites had to face immeasurable obstacles to establish themselves in this country,” Li said. “America is imperfect, and there is discrimination and inequality in America. However, nowhere else in this world can you become a part of a society and an identity where it does not matter where you came from, and what you look like. Though many immigrants, including my parents, went through many hardships, ultimately they always work hard everyday for a brighter tomorrow.”

Email Sierra Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.

By RYAN MIKEL Entertainment Editor NIEL URTESY DA

PHOTO COURTE

SY OF KARAN

GANTA

PHOTO CO

LI

Admission into college is a triumphant accomplishment for most, marking someone’s choice to grow intellectually beyond the requisites of compulsory education. This honor — seemingly more conventional than not — is often assumed a given, with many inadvertently taking the magnitude of a college degree for granted.

For some, though, college is not a given, an expectation or even an option, but rather an immense privilege. The latter rings true for the 17 percent of incoming CAS freshmen, and 1,200 CAS students in general, who as first-generation college students at NYU went above and beyond to achieve this

and I anticipated a sort of seclusion from the rest of NYU,” Maloney said. “However, I think the people who say Tandon is basically not NYU are entirely wrong. I’ve met so many people from other schools throughout Welcome Week and seen many come over to the Brooklyn side.

Tandon is not secluded at all, it just requires a little longer commute.”

Another disparity between Maloney’s initial perception and his experience at the university is in the atmosphere on campus. He said NYU provides an impressive balance between academia and fun.

“Welcome Week has been so loud, vibrant and fun, and I’m glad NYU can be a pretty prestigious school while still having a great time,” Maloney said.

Haseeb Waseem, a freshman in Steinhardt, agreed that the community on campus is much less divided than what he thought beforehand.

accomplishment and privilege.

One such individual, CAS senior Jeremy Muhia, exemplifies what it means to be a first-generation college student. Hailing from Kenya, Muhia arrived in the U.S. with his mother at the age of eight.

His arrival to Birmingham, Alabama greenlit the arrival of a multitude of opportunities, but at a financial disadvantage. Gaining admission into the esteemed but costly Math and Science program of the Alabama School of Fine Arts, Muhia persevered.

“I think one of my greatest successes is being at NYU in the first place,” Muhia said. “Throughout high school, I financially supported myself. ASFA was an amazing opportunity for me, but was an hour and a half commute… so I paid for my own gas money to go.”

Such financial limits, in addition to social limits, are differences Muhia began to notice between himself and non-first-generation college students when he arrived at NYU.

PHOTO BY RYAN MIKEL

“I expected the community to be much more separated and divided, especially given how some residence halls are generally farther than the main campus, as well as how Tandon is in Brooklyn,” Waseem said.

“I’m pleasantly surprised to say that I’ve gotten close to many people from a wide variety of halls even though I’m in Lipton, which is right next to the park.”

Waseem said that the vast number of clubs and activities offered at the school also came as a surprise to him, but most importantly the people were more relaxed and helpful than anticipated.

“I was surprised by how generally chill a lot of the staff tends to be,” Waseem said. “During the Presidential Welcome, I never felt like I was being talked down to, and it’s very refreshing coming from high school to that.”

YASMIN G ULEC

A year after my own arrival in the city, another Welcome Week simmers to an end and the freshman class reflects on its first impressions of NYU. I walked into my own information session on my first visit to NYU with the blind and unwavering faith that my next four years would be spent in Washington Square Park.

My first impression of the university was laced with romanticized ideas of life in the big city, and although I’ve learned that Times Square isn’t exactly representative of New York, my view of this colorful city has not changed drastically from my first moments within its historic walls.

Steinhardt freshman Sinead Anae said that her initial impression of the university was molded by the sheer contrast between New York City and her hometown in California.

“My first impression of

NYU was probably a common one,” Anae said. “I was definitely overwhelmed when I first arrived. However, more so I was excited to be in this environment.

Coming from the West Coast, I wasn’t exposed to East Coast lifestyle before attending NYU so I experienced a bit of a culture shock when I first arrived.”

For Anae, Welcome Week has only reinforced her thoughts on the vibrancy and excitement of NYU, but she has come to realize that the independence of the campus and the students is also a defining trait.

Some students, such as Tandon freshman Jesse Maloney, said NYU has proven itself extremely different from their impressions prior to attending. In particular, Maloney said his perception of Tandon and its role in the NYU community was incorrect.

“Before coming to NYU I heard that Tandon and the Washington Square schools were worlds apart,

PHOTO BY

By JEMIMA MCEVOY Managing Editor

Email Jemima McEvoy at jmcevoy@nyunews.com.

Financially, many of Muhia’s non-first-generation friends came to New York with ample support from their parents. To this day, however, Muhia pays out-ofpocket for everyday expenses such as food and housing — not out of necessity but out of selflessness.

“My parents barely have the money to hold everything down at home,” Muhia said. “I want to alleviate their financial burden by doing all that I can do to support my own self, so they can support themselves.”

Socially, his peers also seemed to be one step ahead of Muhia. As a first-generation student, Muhia forfeited much of the high school experience to better prepare for the unknown ahead of him.

“My mom understood that college was a new path for the family,” Muhia said. “A path no one could really carve out but me.”

These limitations were, however, limitless on Muhia who, by the halfway-mark of college, landed internships at American Express and Blue Apron. Now, in his final stretch, Muhia is in contention for entry-level positions at Airbnb and Microsoft, while recently being shortlisted for a software develop-

ment position at Snapchat.

Muhia credits the wealth of resources at NYU with helping him cultivate and transition into his promising future. CAS’s cohort program, Wasserman Center, FirstYear Residence Hall Programming and, most notably, Proud To Be First are at the center of Muhia’s foundation. PTBF is a program within CAS aimed at the engagement and support of first-generation students through such programming like Proud To Be First Mentors and Advocates.

PTBF Leader and Assistant Dean of New Students Sarah Beth Bailey hopes the program encourages students to be bold and confident, as well as inspires them to reach their goals.

“Since they are first in their families to attend college, they are pioneers, trailblazers and uniquely qualified for any opportunity,” Bailey said.

PTBF was fundamental in Muhia’s transition from first-generation American to next-generation software developer. Muhia is, indeed, proud to be first.

Email Ryan Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.

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OPINION

EDITED BY ANDREW HEYING OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

UNIVERSITY LIFE

NYU: An Urban Wilderness

By LOUISE CHOI Contributing Writer For the last seven years, I’ve lived in the middle of nowhere.

A community brimming with citizens rooted in similar beliefs and backgrounds — who have almost no tolerance for contrasting opinions — and a lack of socioeconomic and racial diversity, my small hometown seemed like a giant bubble I could not escape from.

When I first moved to the bubble in middle school, whispers about me spread pervasively throughout the halls.

And while other students nonchalantly described the personal jet they took to St. Barts or a new beach house they acquired in Aruba over spring break, I’d spend spring break binging Netflix shows on my laptop. As soon as senior year rolled around, I yearned to study at a college that would not only encourage me to freely express my own opinions, but would also grant me the opportunity to engage with other students of various backgrounds and viewpoints.

After reading through my college acceptance letters, I

chose to attend NYU not just for its phenomenal academic programs, but also because no other college came close to NYU in terms of cultivating diversity among students. At last, I’d pop out of the bubble of my hometown and explore the urban wilderness of New York City.

Just from walking around NYU during Admitted Students Day, I could immediately sense its difference from my hometown.

During my tour, I chatted with other students, who were from the other side of the country and even from across the globe, and I found that listening to their drastically different experiences and backgrounds was so interesting that I decided to keep in contact with many of them and even developed a few close friendships. The palpable diversity throughout NYU amazes me, and I am ecstatic to learn more about other students’ cultures

and backgrounds this semester.

With this new and different home away from home, maybe I will discover a new passion for a hobby I never thought I would pursue, like rock climbing during Welcome Week or cooking international delicacies.

Maybe I will rush a sorority or bond over basic things like doing my own laundry every week with my floormates. Maybe I’ll even get published in WSN for the first — and hopefully not the last — time.

Email Louise Choi at opinion@nyunews.com.

UNIVERSITY LIFE

What Led Me Here

By MARIE KESSEL Contributing Writer When I first began the college application process, I thought I wanted to escape New York. I thought I would be happier if I were as far away from everything as possible, somewhere completely unfamiliar where no one would know me. I had no real idea of what I wanted to do with my life.

In August 2016, I went on a tour of NYU’s campus, where I learned about The Gallatin School of Individualized Study. I’ve known for a while that I’m interested in pursuing law; however, my choice never

seemed completely right. I’ve been drawing since I was three, and art has always been one of my passions. I thought that I would have to let go of art if I wanted to have a serious career someday. Learning about Gallatin completely shifted my perspective: I learned that I actually can have my cake and eat it too. Gallatin, above any other school, allows me to pursue all of my passions.

I love the idea of creating my own major and building my own career. I plan to take the LSAT someday, but I’m centering many of my classes around art history and philosophy, two subjects I am fascinated

by. For the first time, I’ve had complete freedom in picking classes, and I look forward to school like never before.

Originally, I believed that I was tired of New York City as a whole. Walking through Washington Square Park and seeing the hodgepodge of people, passion and excitement floating around me showed me that

this definitely wasn’t the case.

I was just tired of monotony, whether it was not being able to pick my high school classes or following the same routine every day. Manhattan and NYU are the opposite of this. I love how NYU is smack-dab in the middle of the city, giving perfect exposure to the different art museums and galleries of New York. I can see myself sketching at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, listening to jazz in Washington Square Park and studying at the epic Bobst Library. I want to go to every museum, read new books and learn about new authors and about what inspired them.

One of my goals for college includes trying new things whenever I can. Recently, I’ve begun to realize that being brave doesn’t mean to not have any fears, but rather to push through those fears despite the risk of failing. Even if I’m still not completely sure what I want to do with my life, NYU gives me the opportunities, freedom and exposure that no other college can match. This, combined with the diverse and friendly atmosphere, is why I cannot picture myself at any other college.

Email Marie Kessel at opinion@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY ANDREW HEYING OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

CULTURE

STAFF EDITORIAL

Driverless Pizza Changes Dynamic

By ADRYAN BARLIA Deputy Opinion Editor

Last week, Domino’s Pizza Inc. announced its plans to begin testing Ford Fusion self-driving cars for pizza deliveries. These Fusions have been equipped with radars and cameras focused on scanning the roads and lidars — laser beam radars — that intantaniusly beam the car’s surroundings in order to create a highly-detailed digital map that the car then uses to find the house of its delivery.

Although the specs of these cars and the mere idea of self-driving cars sounds amazing, it’s unfortunate that it will change the pizza-ordering dynamic we all know and love.

Unlike the delivery of many other types of food, the bond from ordering pizza and said deliverance of pizza is sacred. In breaking down the structure of the culture of pizza-ordering, it is evident that the second best

part of the whole experience relies on there being a delivery person handing you the pizza you’re about to eat. Even Domino’s chief digital officer Dennis Maloney asked, “There’s no human interaction … will people mind coming out of their house?” To that the answer would obviously be yes.

One does not simply order pizza with the intention of leaving the house in the first place, making the existence of these driverless delivery cars paradoxical.

In addition, in merely thinking about the early experimentation of these Domino’s cars, I can imagine several things that could occur that would tamper with the amount of

time it takes to deliver pizza, as though it didn’t take long already.

Just to list through some likely scenarios that could occur: people may be prone to confusion, errors in radar due to weather could occur and affect the car’s navigation system, or the car could malfunction for any reason and would require human assistance to fix it before it can continue the deliver.

Essentially, this new progression in pizza-delivering service has the potential to cause more trouble for people ordering pizza than good.

People would have to pay attention to their phones more, physically have to leave their homes to approach an empty car, and figure out the payment process from automated screens set up in the car’s exterior — a list of inconveniences. Pizza delivering is great and will continue to be great, so no need for replacements.

Email Adryan Barlia at abarlia@nyunews.com.

POLITICS

Swift’s Assault Case Highlights DeVos’ Flaws

By CARINE ZAMBRANO Deputy Opinion Editor

Taylor Swift is hitting the stands again. Now, however, it’s not because she has a new boyfriend or because another celebrity criticized her group of friends but because she was on trial. Swift was sued by former DJ David Mueller, who accused her of fabricating her account of him sexually assaulting her in 2013, which ended his career.

He asked for $3 million in retaliation, but Swift countersued Mueller for sexual assault, asking for a symbolic $1 in hopes that the trial would encourage women to come forward and face their assaulters.

While Swift’s trial should not be widely publicized, primarily because it’s a deeply personal matter, it shines light on the stigma faced when people admit a sexual assault and see justice, especially when the victim is a woman. Moreover, it also relates to the other headlines that are hitting the stands in the past weeks: Secretary of Education Betsy Devos and her promised reforms for sexual assault reports on university campuses.

Swift is right. Victims of sexual

assault should feel safe coming forward. According to a Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network statistics report women who are between 18 and 24 years old and are going to school are three times more likely than all women to suffer sexual assault, but only 20 percent of the victims from this demographic report the assaults to law enforcement.

Also 12 percent of the 80 percent of college female students, who decided not to report their assault, told RAINN they did not do so because they believed their assault was not important enough to report.

This belief would be further perpetrated by the reform DeVos supports. The Obama administration’s guidelines for reporting such crimes on-campus, while not perfect, push colleges to put in more effort in researching sexual assault reports. However, victims, campus administrators and defendants

have voiced contrasting criticism of the guidelines. According to the LA Times, DeVos sided with campus administrators who mostly want to preserve their universities’ statuses and think the measures force them to “take sides” even if the “facts are unclear” and with defendants who claim that false accusations have ruined their lives. Victims, on the other hand, often complain about the immense paperwork and consequential trauma they must relive in order to report their assault or rape, which already discourages many victims, but their concerns are, apparently, marginalized by DeVos. DeVos’s reform — which, according to her, is supposed to ease the aggression the Obama guidelines require — frightens many organizations and victims who fear the process might become even more traumatizing and arduous that it already is. While the Obama administration’s measures are flawed, a step back from it would not be beneficial to the victims who already face criticism for seeking justice, even when they are world-famous superstars like Taylor Swift.

Email Carine Zambrano at czambrano@nyunews.com.

Keep It Up, President Hamilton

Recently, President Donald Trump announced that he plans to move ahead with dismantling Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration program aimed at helping more than 800,000 undocumented immigrants who entered the country under the age of 16. As it stands now, however, Congress has up to six months to reverse the decision. Thankfully, the leader of this university has already done what the president of the country would not by speaking out against this decision in the form of a letter addressed directly to President Trump.

This publication has repeatedly criticized President Hamilton for not putting action behind his statements and promises to the NYU community. Hamilton’s past promises have fallen flat — most notably the talked up Diversity Task Force failing to meet promised deadlines.

In the wake of the 2016 election, President Hamilton gestured toward a commitment to undocumented students.

However, he was rightfully criticized for the timidity of his rhetoric and seeming lack of commitment to undocumented students. This letter is a step in the right direction. Given the hate coming out of Washington, this university needs strong moral leadership and an unwavering commitment to the well-being of every member of the NYU community.

To lighten the burden of deporting 800,000 undocumented individuals currently protected under DACA, Trump proposed a six-month delay, in which Congress can pass legislation to repeal his decision. Because both Republicans and Democrats are in favor of the Obama-era act and 70 percent of those polled agree with the politicians, a response from Congress that subverts Trump’s stance is expected. Hopefully, Andrew Hamilton’s statement will contribute to the national sentiment, which will push Congress to pass bills repealing Trump’s viewpoint.

Moreover, NYU students can help by speaking out against the cancellation of DACA and by encouraging President Hamilton to continue to stand up against Trump’s hate.

In the past, President Hamilton has mainly advocated for certain political causes via emails to the NYU community. While this is important, penning a letter directly to President Trump is much more effective in trying to save DACA. As this decision moves forward, President Hamilton must continue to speak out for undocumented Americans. In addition, the student body must expand current efforts, such as the Immigrant Defense Initiative, meant to protect undocumented students. As a university that prides itself on diversity of all forms, this is the only option.

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

EDITORIAL BOARD: Andrew Heying (Chair), Adryan Barlia (Co-chair), Carine Zambrano (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY POLINA BUCHAK

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM

SPORTS

EDITED BY MADDIE HOWARD SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Seniors Reflect on Freshman Experiences and Upcoming Hopes

By MADDIE HOWARD Sports Editor

Senior athletes arguably carry the most weight on any collegiate sports team. They act as leaders for the group, doing things such as setting goals for the upcoming season, assessing the team’s strengths and weaknesses and motivating players to push forward through difficult periods. However, they were not always the driving forces that they are today — they all started as nervous freshman. WSN asked a few of the fall sport captains to reflect on how their experiences as first year athletes compare to now being leaders on their teams and about their hopes for the groups and their upcoming seasons.

“The main goal is definitely making it to NCAAs this year. We did it my freshman year and I 100 percent know we can do it this year. Our team has evolved so much, and I think that our skill matched with our team dynamic has us coming in really strong this year. Although the goal may be the same as my freshman year, I think our team has so much more confidence this season.

We know we’ve earned our spot now and we’ve proven ourselves whereas my freshman year we moreso felt lucky to get in as a wild card pick. We’re not the underdogs anymore.”

MCKENNAH SPAGNOLA, WOMEN’S SOCCER SENIOR CAPTAIN IN STERN

VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM

NYU women’s volleyball lost its last two matches this past Saturday during the Kean University Invitational.

Women’s Volleyball Falls Short in Seasonal Debut

By ALEX DOMB Contributing Writer

NYU girls’ volleyball came up short in its opening tournament of the season, losing all four matches at the Kean University Invitational in Union, New Jersey. The Violets fell to Nebraska Wesleyan University, Johnson and Wales University, Albion College and SUNY New Paltz, respectively, over the course of Friday and Saturday.

Kelsey Kraetz, a sophomore player, expressed the team’s sentiments post-weekend.

“I think we were all a little disappointed with the outcome of our first weekend, but we learned a lot that will help us prepare for our UAA games, so it was beneficial,” Kraetz said.

Kraetz is a Mathematics major in CAS and saw action in each match.

The tournament kicked off on Friday evening with the Violets’ matches against Nebraska Wesleyan and Johnson and Wales.

In each match, the Violets won the first set, but went on to drop the following three; against Nebraska Wesleyan, the Violets lost with set scores of 30-28, 21-25, 13-25 and 21-25, while losing to Johnson and Wales with scores of 25-23, 8-25, 19-25 and 16-25.

Senior Rayne Ellis and Sophomore Caroline Rapp led the Violets in kills in each match, with 15 and 9 kills, respectively.

On Saturday, the Violets hoped to rebound, but lost their two matches against Albion and New Paltz, each in straight sets. NYU

lost to Albion with set scores of 16-25, 19-25 and 22-25, while falling to New Paltz with set scores of 14-25, 18-25 and 23-25. Freshman Kate Glavan led the Violets against Albion with 11 kills, while Rapp put up a team-high eight kills against New Paltz.

The tournament marked the collegiate debuts for Glavan and fellow freshman Lauren Ward. Following the Invitational conclusion, Rapp was named to the all-tournament team as a result of her outstanding play throughout.

Daryl Mitchell, a junior player in CAS, said that this was a weekend of growth for the team.

“This weekend was an important learning opportunity that gave us a chance to become familiar with each other on the court as teammates,” Mitchell said. “Now that we have had live court time to smooth out plays and foster greater gametime chemistry, we have more material to work with during this week’s practices. This point of the season is an optimal time to approach practice with a finetuned focus on the small details and techniques of the sport that can become huge deciding factors on game days.”

Mitchell started in all four matches for the Violets thus far.

The team hopes to put up its first win of the season in its next match when it faces off against the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

Email Alex Domb at sports@nyunews.com.

“I am excited about how our team can do this year. I think we have a strong group to put on the line, and I think we will perform well at our championship races later on. I have run cross country for so long so I hope that my last season is one I can be proud of and enjoy. In comparison to freshman year, I am more team-oriented. As a freshman I just wanted to do my best to run with the team and improve upon my high school self. Now, as a senior, it’s important to be a leader and do my best to make the team successful.”

HANNAH HALEY, WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY SENIOR CAPTAIN IN CAS

“We have the opportunity as a team to capitalize on all of the experience that we have and really make a showing in our conference and region this season. As a freshman you have hopes, but usually you don’t have the ability to contribute in a way that could make or break a season. As a senior, you know that it’s your job to lead. So my hopes are the same, but my ability to do something about them is what has changed.”

RAYNE ELLIS, WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SENIOR CAPTAIN IN CAS

“For the upcoming season I have two goals. As a team, I want us to get to the round of 16 in the tournament. As a personal goal, I want to make an All-American team. I spent freshman year at a different school and program so back then it was how can I make it onto the travel squad and how can I become an important player for the team. The main difference in perspectives, I would say, as a freshman I wanted to break into the team, [and] a senior now, I want to lead the team to championships.”

TRISTAN MEDIOS-SIMON, MEN’S SOCCER SENIOR CAPTAIN IN CAS

“My hopes for the upcoming season besides from the obvious goals of winning the UAA and being National Champions is to just enjoy the game. Being a senior, it is crazy to think over the next few months that these will be the last times that I get to play the sport. Looking back, I realize that freshman year and sophomore year, I focused so hard on playing my best every game, and I got so in my head that I lost the love for the game and was never truly enjoying it. So my hope for the season is that as a bigger team this year we can all use soccer as a way to express ourselves and let go of our responsibilities, fears and stress from school and just go out there and play the game we love because we love it. Team chemistry has a whole lot to do with it, so I hope that even with a bigger team we’re still able to be as close as smaller teams. I think team chemistry has a lot to do with team success because you want to be out there with your teammates and you want to play well because you want to play for not only yourself but your team as a whole. Overall, I just hope this season everyone plays with heart and enjoys the game they play, because yes, it is always nice to be able to say you won the conference, or won the national championship. Although there will never be a point in anyone on the team’s life where they will have the exact same group team. So just having fun playing the games, making memories through it all and having no regrets after every single game knowing that they tried their best and gave it all that they could.”

MARQUEL LOVE, WOMEN’S SOCCER SENIOR CAPTAIN IN CAS

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

13

SPORTS

EDITED BY MADDIE HOWARD SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

NYU Violets Soccer Provides Welcome Week Delight

By KIERAN BROWN Contributing Writer

Last Friday, the NYU Violets women’s soccer team got a fresh start to its 2017 season, with a dominant 4-0 victory over St. Joseph’s College. In addition to a great showing from both teams, more than 200 people came out to support their school, while many also streamed the game from home.

CAS sophomore Alex Benedict opened up the scoring and picked right back up where she left off last season as the team’s leading goal scorer. Benedict,

who is playing for the first time since sustaining an injury this spring, said she is excited for what is to come this season and is looking forward to contributing to the team’s success.

“I expect that we will win the [University Athletic Association] and get to the [National Collegiate Athletic Association] tournament,” Benedict said. “We have a phenomenal group of new players who bring a lot to the table and can help us get there.”

LS freshman Julia Raith netted her first career collegiate goal in the match.

“When I scored my first goal, I

was utterly elated and honestly somewhat shocked,” Raith said.

“It was an unforgettable moment due to the fact that when one goes through transition, in this case transitioning from high school or club soccer to the collegiate level, there is always a new bar to be set and a higher level that is expected.”

Raith registered six shots in total throughout the game. She said she approached this game as she would any other — focusing on reaching the standards set by her team, her coaches and herself.

“My team and I are trying to achieve and really pay attention

to the physical recovery throughout the week due to many hard practices,” Raith said. “Although collegiate soccer is most definitely a higher and more intense level of playing, [my coaches] Michele, Taylor and Scott have been instrumental in connecting everything I had learned about preparation and performance with the new information they have provided me with.”

She credits the technical staff with her ability to mesh with the team so easily, and she praised her teammates for their hard work and talent. Raith said being part of the NYU community

helps her in aspects of her life beyond athletics.

“NYU is the only university that truly allows me to experience the world all around,” Raith said. “It’s a place without walls.

Not only are there no campus walls, but also there are no walls of a specific culture, language, city or continent.”

The Women’s soccer team will look to continue its winning streak against Swarthmore College on Sept. 9 in the Stevens Engineering Cup. Email Kieran Brown at sports@nyunews.com.

PHOTOS BY KATHY BENEDICT

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