ISSUE
PHOTO BY RYAN MIKEL
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Highlights from Game Center Showcase cate a limited amount of time to developing their game. The Incubator program opened the designers’ eyes to issues they were stubbornly blind to before. “We had been designing the game for ourselves,” Chung said. “The Incubator forced us to address the fact that we had to make the game for other people.” Lantz said it is important for these developers to incorporate an entrepreneurial spirit with their creativity. Despite living in what Lantz called “the golden age” of independent game design, markets remain extremely volatile. For this reason, a key component of the Incubator program seeks not just to invent new ways of imagining games but to actually bring those games to market.
PHOTO BY MACK DEGEURIN
“Exposure” is one of the independent video games that was shown at the NYU Incubator showcase. By MACK DEGEURIN Deputy News Editor “Exposure,” one of seven independent video games highlighted at this year’s NYU Incubator showcase, broke barriers and wooed crowds by blurring the lines between gaming, art and Darwinian evolution. In “Exposure,” players take control of a small creature that can instantly morph its color, camouflaging itself within a warping world of minimalist psychedelic art. Players utilize this camouflage system to avoid larger predators in an experience that simultaneously feels stressful and surprisingly calming. Brian Chung, one of the two game designers of “Exposure,” said the concept of the game comes from evolution and abstractions found in nature. For the game’s main inspiration, Chung pointed to the evolution of the peppered moth, which during the Industrial Revolution completely altered its color to camouflage with the smog. Despite its fast pace and do-ordie decision making, “Exposure” brings users a sense of tranquility through its eye-catching art design. GJ Lee, the game’s other designer, explained how the two were inspired by the work of Bridget Riley and others in the genre of dazzle art. “We were especially interested in how patterns and shapes can incorporate movement,” Lee said. John Wanamakur, a Tisch junior majoring in Game Design, playtested the game and was markedly impressed. “This is a very fluid game,” Wanamakur said. “It makes you feel vulnerable but also very relaxed.” “Exposure’s” abstract approach to gaming mirrors the NYU Game Center’s greater philosophy. “We want to really be exploring the frontiers of game design and think beyond the immedi-
ate horizons of what is currently popular or possible,” Game Center Director Frank Lantz said. Lantz, who has worked at NYU for 17 years, sees game design as an outlet for abstract creativity. Last year, the NYU Game Center received a $450,000 grant from New York state, solidifying its role as one of the key New York gaming hubs. Lantz said that supporting local game development rests at the core of the department’s mission. To help grow the next generation of games and designers, the Game Center created an intensive three month program called the Incubator. What began three years ago as a program to help introduce NYU MFA students to a world after college has quickly evolved into a highlight of the city’s video game community. This year’s Incubator Showcase saw a crowd of more than 200 people clamoring for space on 2 Metrotech’s 8th floor. Admission into the Incubator program is highly competitive. The Game Center faculty, alongside industry insiders and developers, chose seven finished or nearly finished games from NYU students and local New York developers. From there, the Game Center faculty, alongside advisors from within the game industry, chooses from a competitive field of game designers. Prisyafandiafif Charifa showed off his turn based strategy game, “Rondo 6,” at this year’s showcase and said the Incubator system allowed his co-designer and himself the ability to meet influential people in the gaming industry and widen their possibilities. “There are no other words I can say except thank you,” Charifa said during his presentation. For Chung and Lee, the Incubator program allowed their dream to become a reality. Prior to their acceptance into the program, the pair was working full-time jobs and taught game design, so they could only dedi-
Other Noteworthy Games RONDO 6 “Rondo 6,” a turn based strategy game made by developers Charifa and Keng Kai Chang, innovates the traditional strategy game formula by allowing players more freedom of choice and movement. In a style that feels similar to a high stakes chess match, players pick between two factions with special abilities and try to destroy each other’s home base. Charifa and Chang, who both hold masters in game design from NYU, have launched a Kickstarter for the game and hope to release it on Xbox and Playstation next year. DEEPER “Deeper” is an ambitious title by developers Christopher Chung and Desirre Cifre, where players take on the role of an adventuring submarine team. The game, which seamlessly transitions from split to full screen, forces players to work as a team. With a persistently draining submarine battery and a limited amount of oxygen for divers, “Deeper” has a constant sense of tension. “Deeper” stands out for its attempt to maintain a strong narrative despite its coop presentation. Among other features, players can chose their own dialogue options when interacting with one another. NO PLACE Playable on computers and iOS devices, “No Place” takes the traditional puzzle game and flips it on its head. Created by designer Burgess Voshell, “No Place” plays on dimensionality and challenges players to approach puzzles from unusual and novel angles. Nick Carlson, a senior studying Film at Tisch, played the game at the Incubator showcase and said the game worked especially well with the touch screen functionality on an iPad. “It feels like you are moving through the fourth dimension,” Carlson said. Email Mack Degeurin at mdegeurin@nyunews.com.
CRIME LOG
Sept. 1 to Sept. 6
By MIRANDA LEVINGSTON Deputy News Editor The NYU Department of Public Safety received one report of trespass, two reports of controlled substance, two reports of simple assault, one report of criminal mischief, one report of harassment and one report of larceny between Sept. 1 and Sept. 6.
Trespass On Sept. 1 at 6:16 p.m., Public Safety responded to a report of an unknown unresponsive man inside Lafayette Residence Hall. The man was escorted out by the police and EMS. The report is open and under investigation.
Controlled Substance On Sept. 2 at 12:34 a.m. Public Safety responded to a report of an alleged controlled substance violation and recovered a small amount of marijuana in Weinstein Residence Hall. Public Safety closed the case and referred it to the Office of Community Standards. On Sept. 5 at 11:10 p.m., Public Safety responded to a report of an alleged controlled substance violation in Greenwich Residence Hall and recovered a small amount of marijuana from a residence. The case was closed and the resident was referred to the Office of Community Standards.
Simple Assault On Sept. 3 at 3:00 a.m., Public Safety received a report from a student who was punched and shoved by his roommate in Lipton Hall. Police notification was declined and the case was referred to the Office of Community Standards. On Sept. 5 at 7:10 p.m., Public Safety received a report from a Rogers Hall staff member who was assaulted by another staff member. The police were notified and an arrest was made.
Criminal Mischief On Sept. 4 at 1:06 a.m., Public Safety received a report from an Alumni Residence Hall resident assistant who noticed graffiti on a resident’s name/door tag. Police notification was declined. The case is open and under investigation.
Harassment On Sept. 5 at 9:00 p.m., Public Safety received a report from a student in the Global Center who was verbally harassed by another student. The report is open and under investigation.
Larceny On Sept. 6 at 1:35 p.m., Public Safety received a report from a student who witnessed that a non-NYU person was pickpocketed at Washington Square Park. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation. Email Miranda Levingston at mlevingston@nyunews.com.
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NYU and UCATS Local 3882 to Begin Negotiations By MARK SHEFFER Contributing Writer
VIA NYU.EDU
Researchers at the Desplan Lab have new understanding of glial cells in the brain and could be closer to developing a treatment for epilepsy.
Researchers Inch Closer to Epilepsy Treatment By FLAVIA SINHA Contributing Writer
Researchers at NYU’s Desplan Lab have decoded the role that seizure-driving glial cells play in brain development, marking a crucial first step in developing future epilepsy treatments. Previously, biologists thought glial cells were simply servants to neurons, providing them support and nutrients. This study found that glial cells act as commanders in a developing brain: not only do glial cells direct neurons to develop, but they harmonize growth in the left and right regions of the brain. Vilaiwan Fernandes, a postdoctoral fellow in the Desplan Lab who conducted the research with Zhenqing Chen, Anthony Rossi, Jaqueline Zipfel, and Claude Desplan, said that understanding glial cells is crucial for understanding what causes seizures. “In the future, this does have an impact on medicine. There are a lot of brain pathologies that involve glial dysfunction, including epilepsy,” Fernandes said. “One of the hypotheses emerging in the field is that glia malfunction because a developmental program is becoming reactivated.” Fernandes said that although glial
cells make up over half of all brain cells, their role in brain development was previously a mystery. “Oftentimes glia have been excluded or ignored when people consider how the brain develops,” she said. “Our study shows a very clear, active role for glia in how these nerve cells develop, which has a major impact on people’s perspectives on brain development.” The researchers used fruit flies in their experiments because their cells have been extensively studied and mapped. By manipulating their brain cells and shutting off the expression of certain genes, researchers could directly manage the development of their embryos. “Working in vertebrate models like flies and worms allows you to really get to the meat of the subject and then point the work in future directions,” Fernandes said. “They are cheap and easy to keep in the lab, and it is not as ethically awkward as it would be with other vertebrate model organisms.” In the future, Fernandes hopes to start her own lab in the U.K. to research the role glial cells play in vision. Email Flavia Sinha at news@nyunews.com.
The union that represents 1,400 clerical, administrative and technical staff at the university, UCATS Local 3882, will begin contract negotiations with NYU Sept. 18. The current six-year contract between the union and NYU expires Oct. 31. UCATS Local 3882, which stands for Union of Clerical, Administrative and Technical staff, has had its current collective bargaining agreement in place since November 2011. “We’re hopeful,” UCATS President and Administrative Assistant Stephen Rechner said. “The indicators appear that both President Hamilton and Sabrine Alice, the Vice President for Human Resources, are interested and concerned about all members of the community.” However, relations between UCATS and NYU have not always been amicable. The last time UCATS met with NYU at the bargaining table was in 2011. “2011 was an extremely difficult year for us,” Linda Wambaugh, a lead organizer for UCATS, said. “Our team was treated very disrespectfully.” In 1988, UCATS staged a three-week strike against NYU. “Prior to the strike, the university did lots of legally hostile things to our members, almost as if to say that this union is temporary,” Rechner said. According to Rechner, who served as a captain during the 1988 strike, NYU was forced to “change its tone” and “accept that this union was here to stay.” UCATS leadership said that affordability of living, job security, family and childcare leave are some of the top priorities for the bargaining team as negotiations approach. “On childcare, NYU offers six weeks parental bonding leave to their administrators and research professional
staff, but they don’t to their clerical and technical staff,” Rechner said. “We have to ask the question, are our families worth less? Are our children less deserving? We believe they’re not. If they know how to implement it for one group of workers, they shouldn’t have a problem implementing it for ours.” Nearly 40 percent of current UCATS members are either current NYU students or alumni — including Rechner — who serves as an academic aid at NYU Law. “Most of them are in graduate school, which means their tuition remission benefit, while generous, is treated by the IRS as imputed income,” Rechner said. “So if you’re getting $20,000 of tuition, you are paying $5,000 in tax on them, in addition to regular taxes on your earnings. It’s as if you’ve added $20,000 to your income, so it significantly reduces their take home pay.” UCATS members work in all schools and divisions at NYU except for the School of Medicine. “Even before you get here, you have dealt with our members. We work in the admissions office, the bursar’s office, the financial aid office, the bookstore, as secretaries and assistants, in the labs,” Rechner said. “Everywhere you go, you’re dealing with UCATS members. We deliver educational services to the students. We don’t stand in front of the classroom and teach you, but we do virtually everything else. We’re proud to do it well. Our members can move mountains for a student, for a faculty member, or a manager because we know all the systems.” Sandy Dubin, NYU’s Associate General Counsel & Director of Labor Relations, did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Email Mark Sheffer at news@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
The union that represents a number of NYU staff will be negotiating contracts with the university on Sept. 18.
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HBO’s ‘The Deuce’ Has Grit By LILY DOLIN Staff Writer
PHOTO BY JORDAN REYNOLDS
“In the Blood” is inspired by “The Scarlet Letter” and is now showing at the Signature Theatre.
‘In the Blood:’ Hauntingly Modern By MATT MARKOWSKI Contributing Writer
Society, sex, oppression, poverty and more are all at the center of the haunting revival of Suzan Lori-Parks’s “In the Blood” at Signature Theater. The production ends Parks’ Residency One at Signature Theatre playing alongside a revival of her play “Fucking A.” Both plays were inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s renowned book “The Scarlet Letter.” Originally premiering the show in 1999, Parks creates a modern world that is dauntingly similar to the present. Her play is both haunting and thrilling for all of its intermission-free two hours. The play concerns Hester, played by Saycon Sengbloh with wavering resilience, a mother of five bastard children all living together under a bridge. Hester attempts to provide for her children the best that she can in order for them to lead prosperous lives. As times worsen, Hester looks to the fathers of her first-born and youngest for help and money. “The five-fingered hand of fate,” as Parks describes Hester’s life, constantly beats down this hero, ending in utter tragedy. Sarah Benson’s direction is simplistic, yet complex. Her spacing of characters and use of the two-level set creates tension that aids Parks’ poetic words. Benson’s use of projections and spotlights during the five confessions adds gravity to the already serious moments. Sengbloh creates a breath-
takingly horrifying portrait of a woman who attempts to balance her unbalanced life, yet fails in the end. She takes Hester on a complete journey from wavering strength to complete destruction. At times, Sengbloh pauses and the audience can see the thought processes of her character. She utterly devotes herself to her role creating a character that seems to have come on stage directly from her home under a bridge. The rest of the five cast members, especially Anna Reeder, Jocelyn Bloh and Frank Wood, are outstanding. Each plays one of Hester’s children and the corresponding father that led to their eventual birth. They all seamlessly transform from a young child not yet touched by the hand of fate into a tortured adult. Parks’ play is more relevant than ever. It illustrates the struggles that the world forces upon the poor. Her words ring with a poetic and genuine tone creating life like characters. She presents a woman whose story is true to all — after enough trial and tribulation from “the five-fingered hand of fate,” life explodes. One is reminded of Lorraine Hansbury’s “A Raisin in the Sun” in viewing Parks’ “In the Blood.” Both are true testaments to the pressures of the world and life. “In the Blood” is playing at Signature Theatre 480 W. 42nd St. through Oct. 8th, with an official opening on Sept. 17th. Email Matt Markowski at theater@nyunews.com.
The version of New York City portrayed in HBO’s new original series “The Deuce” is gritty. There are no SoulCycles or gourmet smoothie shops — only cigarette smoke and dirty sidewalk lines with peep shows. Set in the 1970s, “The Deuce” tells a story of prostitution and the emergence of mainstream pornography films. The subject of this series may turn some off, but the show does an excellent job of avoiding the pitfalls of either romanticizing or demonizing the sex trade, and instead provides real, raw stories for viewers to enjoy. The plot revolves around the pimps and women who work the streets. C.C. and Larry, two prominent pimps, oversee operations and manage people like Lori, a small town girl with an eager attitude, and Darlene, a sweet girl interested in literature. On the other side of the law are officers Alston and Flanagan, two policemen with deep ties to the local night life, who work in a precinct rampant with corruption. But it is Vincent and Candy, played by James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal, respectively, who drive the show. Franco, who is usually known for his roles in lighter, more comedic films
such as “Pineapple Express,” delivers a surprisingly solid performance as a disgruntled bartender struggling to pay off his twin brother’s gambling debts. Candy walks the streets alone, refusing the protection of working for a pimp. She is smart and knows that she does not need a man behind her to do her job. Candy’s independence and sharp dialogue provide a feminist undercurrent to a show that relies heavily, sometimes too much so, on female objectification. Gyllenhaal shines in this role, giving dimension
a complicated relationship with nudity and sex, but this series is about the “American Dream” and the porn industry. It is about making money and creating an empire from squalor. While there are a lot of great things about “The Deuce,” it moves slowly at times. The show jumps back and forth between multiple storylines, which is interesting, yet there is not always plot development within those vignettes. “The Deuce” provides an intriguing look into an elusive topic. There is not gratuitous
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It uses the worlds of pornography and prostitution as a platform from which to explore issues of capitalism, sexism and power.
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and depth to a single mom who later becomes enthralled with the allures of the pornographic film industry. At its core, “The Deuce” is about more than the sex industry. It uses the worlds of pornography and prostitution as a platform from which to explore issues of capitalism, sexism and power. America has always had
nudity, so if you are tuning into this show expecting it to resemble HBO’s late night selection, you might be disappointed. But if you are looking for quality television with decent acting, a lot of swearing and a few NYU shoutouts, this show is for you. Email Lily Dolin at entertainment@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF HBO PR
HBO’s “The Deuce” shows the grittier side of New York City with James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal.
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Dan Croll Explains ‘Adulthood’
By ROBERT FREZZA Contributing Writer
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Croll points to artists like Paul Simon and Prince as his musical inspiration and admires their popularity and uniqueness.
U.K. indie pop rock/folk act, Dan Croll, performed at The Brooklyn Bazaar Sept. 7 and displayed his folk meets electronica style. Born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, England, Croll moved to Liverpool when he was 18 and continued to pursue his love of music. While in Liverpool, Croll attended the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts, where he won the national Songwriter of the Year Award from the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund and had the opportunity to play one-on-one with Sir Paul McCartney, the founder of the school. “It was a good experience. It is an all boy school and I was lucky enough to get picked to play with him,” Croll said. Croll’s music has been described as a mix between Paul Simon and Prince. He says his goal is to become
as popular and mainstream as possible, but in an indie kind of way. “The main thing for me is I wanted to do pop,” Croll said. “I want to be in the commercial world and be played on the radio. I want as many people to hear my music as possible. At the same time I want to come out of a left field — kind of alternative, just so that it’s more organic than what is in the Top 20.” Croll was on a hot streak when his album “Sweet Disarray” was released in 2014. His single “From Nowhere” charted in the Top 20, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough through the eyes of his record label. They parted ways and Croll had to start from square one. It took him three years to put out his next project, “Emerging Adulthood,” which was released this past July. “It’s a tough industry,” Croll said. “In the UK and in the States, Disarray charted high, but not in the Top 10, so I got the chop from my
record label. I kind of was on my own for two years. I struggled a lot mentally. You have to be part of the machine to reach the masses. After a couple of years of trying to
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I want to come out of a left field – kind of alternative, just so that it’s more organic than what is in the Top 20. DAN CROLL
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re-gather trust and motivation, I found some brilliant people, who I started with back in the day,
and started to grow into this fabulous record label.” He is now touring behind “Adulthood,” but says this album is very different. When he put together “Disarray,” he and his friends were very fresh to the process. He felt the pressure to deliver. “We just finished university, but we were all very new to putting together a music project,” Croll said. “We were obviously very broke. We begged and borrowed equipment and found a location to record it for dirt-cheap. It was a bit of a learning curve. For the second album, I wanted to try the exact opposite. We went from doing a DIY project to a more clinical process.” You can find Dan Croll’s new album “Adulthood” on all major streaming services, and as a digital download through iTunes. Email Robert Frezza at music@nyunews.com.
‘It’ Will Hit Big, But Underwhelms in Every Way
By TYLER STEVENS Contributing Writer
Bursting out the backend of a dismal summer movie season and promising to draw massive crowds, “It” will provide headlines that don’t spell doom and gloom for the industry, leaving one to only wish it were connected to a movie more suited for praise. Adapting the childhood portions of Stephen King’s 1138-page opus, “It” trades in the 1950s action of the novel for the late 1980s, a period so overused that it’s hard to remember when the market wasn’t saturated with it. The story follows The Losers’ Club, a mismatched friend group looking to survive the summer while avoiding insults from their tormentors. One of them has more on
By TRISTEN CALDERON Staff Writer A three-hour documentary about the New York Public Library probably isn’t at the top of your must-see list, but don’t let this film’s length or subject dissuade you from watching. Though its subject is a building and the history within it, the film is a very subtly charming story of people. Frederick Wiseman’s “Ex Libris” supplies its audience with a unique journey from a contemporary yet nostalgic perspective. Its completely naturalistic exploration of humanity communicates many substantive ideas beneath the surface. The documentary is a simply-filmed and modestly-orchestrated compilation of vignettes spanning the numerous branches of the New York Pub-
his mind, though: Bill (Jaeden Lieberher) is searching for his lost younger brother who, unbeknownst to him, has been sucked into the sewers and mutilated by a monstrous entity just a few months prior. Bill wants nothing more than his brother back, leading his group straight into a confrontation with the terrifying entity known as It, which manifests itself mostly as a murderous clown named Pennywise (Bill Skarsgard). The dynamic between the kids is almost entirely missing from the first half of “It”’s ludicrous 135-minute runtime. While group-centric scenes allow the most talented performers (Finn Wolfhard, Jack Dylan Grazer and Jeremy Ray Taylor) to shine, the thinly written characters spend far too much time in their own specialized scare sequences.
Ripped of all fear and momentum by Chung-hoon Chung’s uneven and flat cinematography, these sequences become repetitive, tedious and bloated, only delaying the inevitable showdown between the kids and Pennywise. When confrontation does finally arrive, it arrives after nearly two hours of the same cycle on repeat. By then it’s too late for it to be anything but exhausting. It deserves to hit with a heartfelt gutpunch but instead simmers out with a whimper, partly due to the nearly unwatchable, dimly lit final battle. When it’s finally over, you breathe a sigh of relief — not because the horror is over, but because you can finally head for the exits. One only has to imagine what could’ve been if the film’s original director Cary Fukunaga had stayed
on and finished the job. Perhaps the film would’ve been more visually satisfying, more capable of eliciting terror from one of Stephen King’s most frightening characters, instead of the resulting micromanaged miscalculation. Pennywise, the centerpiece of the film’s marketing campaign should be a mysterious evil entity but is anything but. He is such a non-factor in the movie, given so little to do, that it’s hard to even properly judge Skarsgard’s performance. While “It” ends on a heartfelt note and the promise of an intriguing sequel set 27 years later, the most entertaining part of that follow-up will surely be in the casting. It’s hard to imagine what director Andy Muschietti could concoct to alter the unfortunate path this adaptation has gone down. “It” will surely light up the
‘Ex Libris’ Brings Books to Life
lic Library. The feature is interspersed with pedestrian views of the expansive library and seasonal glimpses of the astounding city itself. Wiseman shows brief fragments in the daily lives of countless patrons and employees of the library. And the anonymity,
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
“Ex Libris” is a charming three-hour documentary about the New York Public Library and its people.
so present in everyday life, takes on a cinematic expression. The viewer silently spectates people influencing the world, spreading their ideas, working, sleeping, performing, discussing, helping or trying to live meaningful lives; a tragedy, a song, an argument, a political statement or a speech is heard. There is no tangible narrative but the film does occasionally return to one board of directors of the library, though each subsequent time the viewer wishes they were watching anyone else. “Ex Libris” does not close on a particularly strong note, but it does circle back to its first vignette with this wholesome and honest thought: you can ponder something’s existence, but don’t ignore its creation, for that typically carries a lot of meaning. One expects very little sound in
a documentary about a library, even in New York. However, “Ex Libris” reminds the viewer that there are many voices in this world. There are walls of literature, volumes upon volumes — sometimes you catch the title, sometimes you flip through the pages, sometimes you do not even register the color of the book on the shelf. But each one is unique with its own subject, language and purpose, just like people. Wiseman made New York, and her citizens, the perfect parallel canvas to communicate this idea. Documentaries are typically either love poems or think pieces. “Ex Libris” manages to be both. It reminds of the wondrous mental orientation, realizing just how much one can accomplish. Then, the eventual tragic disillusionment that there isn’t
box office and scare middle-schoolers who sneak into its screenings, but the film feels a lot more like a continuation of this dour movie season than its savior. “It” opened nationwide on Friday, Sept. 8. Email Tyler Stevens at film@nyunews.com.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
“It” takes a different approach to Stephen King’s massive novel focuses on the children, rather than on Pennywise.
enough time and there’s too much information to know it all, too many people in the world to meet them all, too many dreams to reach them all. So, we compartmentalize, we find what interests us and we live our beautifully simple lives holding close the miniscule number of things we choose. And everything else becomes momentary faces or vague titles on a spine, masking immeasurable information. “Ex Libris” is full of quiet emotion and vocal thought, and offers different interpretations. It is difficult to recommend such a simple film that is also lengthy, but pieces like this are essential — they are so dense with knowledge and ideas that they hold a much-needed truth. Email Tristen Calderon at film@nyunews.com.
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Jesus Christ: Modern Fashion Icon By AMELIA REARDON Contributing Writer
The crowd — including several A-list celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Hailey Baldwin, the Kardashian-Jenner clan and Nick Jonas — is going wild as the band finishes its final song. It continues to applaud as a man in a leather jacket, skinny jeans and designer shoes takes the stage. No, this is not a high-profile concert or an award show; this is New York City’s trendiest new church, Hillsong. In this modern church, the parish imitate the pastor and his wife, and the congregation consists of celebrities who often promote the service. In past years, millennials have been leaving the church and organized religion in general. Modern churches are determined to bring them back, mainly through an aspect that has not been associated with religion in the past — on-trend fashion. What do millennials think of this new, modern take on church services? For some students, the idea of a trendy church is completely new. Others really noticed that fashion has a presence at their own church. CAS freshman Tommy Cefalu described his pastor as laid back and said that his more relaxed persona makes religion more relatable and inviting. Cefalu said encouraging involvement at the church is positive, but appearances are not everything. “What people wear or who shows up shouldn’t be the main focus,” Cefalu said, adding that there definitely is a line that should
not be crossed. Some churches may be in danger of crossing that line Cefalu describes, venturing into a mindset that is more corporate than pious. Several pastors have begun to sell personalized merchandise, similar to what you would find at a concert. Some even bring in professionals — Pastor Veach Zoe uses the same guy that Kylie Jenner uses for marketing her lip kit line. Overall this idea of marketing does not sit right with some students, whether or not they are religious. Tisch freshman Alexa Mareka described it as a bit weird, and Cefalu said the venture made the church sound more like a business than a mission. After learning what Hillsong was, Mareka’s reaction was likely the opposite of what the pastors are trying to go for. “That’s really weird and kinda culty,” Mareka said. Mareka grew up going to church, but no longer affiliates with a religion. While she agreed that the celebrities and fashionable atmosphere might make young people keener on the idea of religion, she expressed that the image the church is putting out is kind of messed up. This stance only intensified when she was told that the modern church still holds to its biblically authoritative stance against homosexuality, women’s reproductive rights and evolution. As a student who is involved in events at the Bronfman Center, Gallatin frehman Sophia Gallagher describes her experience with
modern religion as not really needing gimmicks. Growing up with a Jewish mother and non-Jewish father, she does not attend regular services at her synagogue, but still celebrates holidays and her Jewish culture. She said that of the people she knows who also practice Judaism, she does not know any wo attends synagogues that use contemporary tools to draw people in, as it’s very culture driven. Gallagher said people will stay attached to their religion in some way because it is a big part of their cultural identity. Due to this, she found it a very strange phenomenon to make church trendy. Modern and trendy churches like Hillsong keep Christianity afloat, but fast-paced churches could be a fad amongst this generation’s spiritual youth. Email Amelia Reardon at bstyle@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY ALYSSA CRAIG
18 Below is a new dining hall underneath Torch Club providing more gourmet options, like Indian food. By SAKSHI VENKATRAMAN Contributing Writer On Tuesday, NYU Dining debuted its newest space located on the lower level of the Torch Club. 18 Below, stylishly named for its address on Waverly Pl., is open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and boasts seasonal, authentic cuisine for the cost of a meal swipe. The small dining hall is restaurant inspired, featuring tables draped in white cloths and a waitstaff dressed as they would be at an upscale establishment. The walk-in hall offers three themed menus — grain bowls, barbecue and In-
The Green in the Concrete Jungle By LIV CHAI Staff Writer
Going to Washington Square Park has become second nature for many of us, as we mindlessly cross through for class, or go for a breather in between the monotonous school day. Here is a park list for the unashamed tree-huggers and for the ones hoping to see some more green. VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Hillsong is a trendy and modern church that is drawing celebrities and creating a new image around religion.
18 Below Falls Short
dian — rotated biweekly. Food is pre-prepared and served upon order from a small window near the back of the room. In its first week in business, the hall is serving Indian cuisine with the tagline,“Republic of Spice.” The menu consists of dishes such as channa masala, pork vindaloo and tandoori chicken, along with the customer’s choice of rice, naan or greens and a mango, mint or tomato chutney. As a first time visitor to the establishment, the menu options seemed rather narrow but I was hopeful that the quality of the food would make up for the lack of variety. Unfortunately, what the restaurant claims to be “authentic Indian” fell far short of my expectations. Renditions of Asian cuisine in the United States often fall short of satisfying the Western palate. They lack the rich flavor and spice that sets Indian food apart. The tandoori chicken salad — a dish that is not normally consumed in India — tastes hardly seasoned, making it a normal grilled chicken salad with a exotic name tacked on it. The channa masala lacks punch as well. This is not to say the meal was wholly bad; the chicken was per-
STAFF PHOTO BY VIOLA MAI
Abingdon Square Park is a little triangular park tucked away in the West Village where Hudson Street crosses Bleecker Street.
fectly grilled and the salad greens tasted fresh and pair well with the chutney and raita. What makes the dining experience seem incomplete, however, is the lack of beverage and dessert options. For Indian food, specifically, there is a variety to choose from. An ice-cold mango lassi would have been the perfect companion for the savory dishes, and the dessert options could have been endless. Overall, the restaurant dining experience was unique and enjoyable, but NYU Dining has shied away from spice and variety in this week’s past menu. Although the Indian food was lacking, 18 Below’s potential seems promising. I am looking forward to trying out their grain bowl, the extent of their menu and what sides, drinks and desserts they include. I would definitely recommend this location to someone looking for a formal, restaurant-style setting with an inexpensive price tag and an atmosphere distinct from other dining halls. For authentic Indian, though, maybe look elsewhere. Email Sakshi Venkatraman at dining@nyunews.com.
Smorgasburg Smorgasburg is known as the gold mine for foodies — the perfect weekend destination for stuffing your face with decadent cheese and over-thetop fruit drinks. Once your food coma is over, check out the park in which the food festival is located on Sundays. Prospect Park has the last of Brooklyn’s indigenous trees and even a zoo.
Battery Park Amid the hustle and bustle of the Financial District and the Charging Bull, do not skip over Battery Park. Other than the truly swoon-worthy view of the Statue of Liberty and the direct ferry to Ellis Island, there is the underwater SeaGlass carousel with dreamy lights, whimsical music and adorable fish to ride on. The park has hidden quirks like a step xylophone between paths and Bosque Fountain that puts on a breathtaking light and water show at night.
Brooklyn Bridge Park Venture out to Brooklyn Heights for a day of of endless relaxation and fun at the Brooklyn Bridge Park. Other than a restored 1920s carousel — Jane’s Carousel — the 85acre park offers a skating rink and, in the summers, plays movies outdoors with the already scenic views of the city panned behind.
Sutton Place Park
For a stunning view of the Queensboro Bridge, stroll over to Sutton Place Park. Located by the United Nations, the park comes with a sandbox, playground and a rather interesting statue of a wild boar which is in fact a replica of an Italian boar statue now displayed in the Uffizi Gallery in Florence.
Sakura Park If you are from Washington D.C. and miss the cherry blossoms (or just love the beautiful flowers), head to Sakura Park in Morningside Heights. To see the cherry blossoms, you would have to go during the spring, but the gazebo stands year-round.
New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden A quite out-of-this-world (or city) experience, the New York Chinese Scholar’s Garden looks as if it is straight out of a Confucian poem. One of the two scholar gardens in the United States, the garden took about two years and a team of 40 scholars to make. A koi pond, waterfalls and a path of bamboo make the garden a calming oasis for many.
Atrium Atrium at the Ford Foundation is known as one of the hidden gems in New York. An overflowing greenery blooming in its full glory fills the 160-foot-tall glass atrium, minutes from Times Square. It is a surreal beauty that you have to see to believe. Branch out and check out these lush places in the city for a picturesque scene and well-deserved break from campus. Email Liv Chai at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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FEATURES
EDITED BY KAITLYN WANG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
CMEP Welcomes NYU Students Home
By NATALIE CHINN Contributing Writer
Finding a tightknit community in a massive school like NYU can be exhausting, especially for students in marginalized communities. But the
Center for Multicultural Education and Programs wants to make it easier. CMEP is dedicated to fostering social justice oriented communities for NYU’s diverse student body and empowering students to take on leadership
STAFF PHOTO BY VIOLA MAI
CMEP has created a space for students to find community and foster change.
roles as advocates and activists. “NYU CMEP is an important part of the NYU community as we hope to provide a space for students, staff and faculty to engage in dialogue,” CMEP Director Leah Lattimore said. “Whether we are supporting student clubs and organizations or co-educating with other departments, we believe in engaging the NYU community and fostering positive change.” CMEP offers a variety of opportunities for students of color to connect with each other and expand their knowledge of social justice. Some programs for this semester include the Students of Color Leadership Retreat, support group meetings called “Staying Well While Being Woke” and an abundance of discussion-based dinners and socials. The center also provides Zone Trainings, a way to introduce students, faculty and staff to a multitude of issues surrounding identity and diversity. These trainings emphasize social justice and encourage participants to incorporate what they learned in their everyday lives. For Steinhardt grad student Imani Wallace, a part of
the graduate student staff, CMEP’s programming for graduate students of color was essential to finding a community within NYU. “More than anything, being at NYU, I felt isolated and alone,” Wallace said. “So when I went to one of the socials, I was really blown away by how many people I met and could connect to.” Through events and trainings, CMEP attempts to create a welcoming atmosphere for students such as Steinhardt grad student Sonia Gonzalez, who works on programming as a part of the graduate student staff. “For me, CMEP is the most liberating space on campus to be a person of color and really acknowledge and celebrate all the different social identities I hold and facets of my being,” Gonzalez said. Wallace also said it has been inspiring hearing students call CMEP their home, and how they feel like they belong there. CMEP understands the struggles of being at a large university where it’s harder to find resources outside of the individual colleges or specific programs. “You want to feel like you
matter, that you belong at NYU,” Wallace said. “I think that CMEP does an excellent job at being a guidance and resource on campus for students and creating a community for them.” Both Wallace and Gonzalez are excited about the beginning of a new CMEP series called “CMEP in the City.” These events will take place off campus, in settings of historical and cultural significance. According to Gonzalez, the series aims to both expose NYU students to people and places outside of the Washington Square and Brooklyn campuses and support local communities. In addition to their events, CMEP welcomes students daily to hang out in the CMEP Lounge located in Kimmel 804/805. There are computers, a printer and space to relax. Next to the Lounge is CMEP’s office space, where all students can go to ask personal questions or pitch programming ideas. “We want students to know that we’re available to talk and support them individually,” Lattimore said. Email Natalie Chinn at features@nyunews.com.
Protect Your Environment and Wallet With Food For All
By JILLIAN HARRINGTON Contributing Writer
The new app “Food for All” seems to kill two birds with one stone, offering restaurant quality food at discounted prices while limiting food waste and, in turn, helping the environment. Food for All got its start in Cambridge, Mass., where its founders were looking for ways to reduce food waste. Their
Food waste is a major problem in the U.S., and Food for All directly targets this issue. According to the app, the U.S. ranked as the number one producer of food waste. Approximately 40 percent of all food produced in the U.S. winds up in a landfill. This is not only expensive, as it costs consumers and distributors billions of dollars, but it is also harmful to the environment as landfills release greenhouse gases
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Food waste is disrespectful on so many levels – to the hungry, to the people that spend their time cooking, and to our natural resource. SABINE VALENGA
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solution was to talk to restaurant owners to sell excess food at a discount instead of throwing it out after closing. In fact, the food is often sold at up to 80 percent off its original price. There are currently more than 60 participating restaurants in Boston and New York City, with plans to expand to more United States cities in the works.
into the atmosphere and exacerbate climate change. The app’s services reached New York after a crowdfunding campaign in 2016 successfully met the projected goal of $50,000. Food for All is partner with several restaurants and cafes in Greenwich Village, meaning it is well suited for NYU students looking to be
both environmentally friendly and financially responsible. It is both easy to use and full of opportunities to make donations to food banks or register as an affiliated restaurant. Users can view restaurants by proximity or search for places they may know are participating. Though users are unable to view a menu or reserve a specific food item, the customer sees a list of what they may be able to choose from depending on availability. The customer then pays the discounted price and picks up their order just before closing. It may frustrate some to not know for certain what they will take home, even as they pay in advance. However, this method is most convenient for restaurant. Sabine Valenga, co-founder and CMO of Food for All, shared her thoughts on food waste in a press release. “Food waste is disrespectful on so many levels – to the hungry, to the people that spend their time cooking, and to our natural resources,” Valenga said. “Yet, it is a practice that is generally accepted and this is what makes fighting it so challenging,” she said in the company’s press release. “We want to provide a smart and simple solution for good
food that would otherwise be wasted, while also creating awareness around the social and environmental consequences of throwing it away.” According to Food for All, among the participating restaurants in NYC are Semsom Eatery, Whoops!, Abra-
cadabra Brooklyn, The Bean, Little Rascal, Magic Mix Juicery, Kopi Kopi, Ancolie, Carma Asian Tapas, Pita Grill, and Gimme! Coffee. For more information, visit foodforall.us Email Jillian Harrington at dining@nyunews.com
PHOTO COURTESY FOOD FOR ALL
The app Food For All displays partnering restaurants around Washington Square Park.
KYLER JAMES By NATASHA ROY Assistant Managing Editor
PHOTO BY JEMIMA MCEVOY
FELIX MORELO By JEMIMA MCEVOY Managing Editor
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PHOTO BY JEMIMA MCEVOY
I don’t need to know your language or who you are. I can tell everything I need to know from the face.
Have you ever accidentally had the course of your day influenced by a large chalk circle labeled “Good Luck Spot” in Washington Square Park? Or, regrettably, by an equally large but significantly less jolly “Bad Luck Spot”? After a brief stint in Colombia, Felix Morelo returned to his birthplace, New York City, on April 6, 1983. When he moved back to the states at the age of 11, he moved back alone. Morelo started drawing faces young, but his interest in street art developed later on, when he returned to New York. Now, the artist has been recognized for the thousands of small chalk faces that he draws around Washington Square Park and Union Square, which is where he developed his nickname: “The Face Guy.” “It’s a reflection of who you are,” Morelo responded when a passing couple questioned the story behind his artwork. “I don’t need to know your language or who you are. I can tell everything I need to know from the face.” His art was going to center around the tiny portraits, or “spiritual babies” as Morelo calls them, until his friends recommended adding something at the end of the trail of faces. That was the conception of Morelo’s iconic Good Luck Spot. “I don’t know how I came up with the idea for the Good Luck Spot,” Morelo said about this specific trademark. “I was going through a dark place and I wanted to take some time in my life to be positive. I thought, let me work on my relationships and be nicer to people.” He draws for hours on end and said that one time he drew 2,156 faces in 13 hours and started having hallucinations. I told him that it seemed like an awful lot of work for chalk stains that would be washed away overnight. “I do wish sometimes they were more permanent,” Morelo replied. “Take advantage of things while they’re here. Because nobody, nobody is gonna stick around.” Email Jemima McEvoy at jmcevoy@nyunews.com.
Kyler James, better known as “the Wizard of Washington Square Park,” is a staple member of the Washington Square Park community. Though he has been a practicing psychic for more than 25 years, his time in Washington Square Park extends beyond that. James attended NYU and studied acting through Tisch’s Stella Adler studio and graduated from NYU in 1976. He first started practicing magik when he was an actor doing extra work. He picked up a deck of tarot cards and started practicing on film sets between scenes. James said people would tell him he had real talent for reading tarot cards, and he decided to start practicing magik full time. He said he considers what he does to be more than simply magik since he puts together many different disciplines. “I consider what I do with my tarot readings to be more of an art,” James said. “I get so much artistic satisfaction out of my readings.” James said he practices positive witchcraft or white magic. It is important to him to stay true to his word and not claim to be 100 percent accurate all the time, though he said he gets quite close. “I keep my word, and I’m honest in my life,” James said. Email Natasha Roy at nroy@nyunews.com.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
By PAMELA JEW Deputy Copy Chief When in Washington Square Park, have you ever seen the man circling the fountain wearing the straw hat and a handmade sign slung over his back reading, “Ask me for a poem?” That’s Peter Chinman, better known as the Park Poet. Chinman, now 27, began writing poetry back in college after hearing that sonnets were the hardest form of poetry to craft. His infatuation with poetry led him to transition from chemistry to English at Pomona College. Post-graduation Chinman worked a remote job in customer service, barely leaving his apartment. One day, Chinman went into Central Park high on marijuana and with a notepad, taking people’s one-word inspirations and conjuring up poems on the spot. Seven months ago, Chinman took on the Park Poet as his full-time job, and he’s been wandering parks ever since. “People give me one word, and I write the poem from there,” Chinman said. “I usually try to come up with something original, but when they give me ‘love’ I just want to give them one of my heart-wrenching love poems to show what is real love.” Chinman tries to keep his poems on the lighter side as he takes only about five minutes to compose each poem. Catch the Park Poet around Washington Square Park before he retreats for the winter. Email Pamela Jew at pjew@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
BIRDMAN By RYAN MIKEL Entertainment Editor “It takes years of practice...and trust! I mean, I know their mothers and fathers,” Paul the Pigeon Man said in regards to the scores of birds surrounding him, Saturday afternoon. Paul, who is officially known as Birdman, has been a Greenwich Village local for almost 50 years and a Washington Square Park favorite for 16. The park and the birds are first and foremost in Birdman’s life, with Paul having spent
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Pigeons recived medals of honor in World War II, but now, since we have cellphones, we don’t need them anymore. BIRDMAN
” STAFF PHOTOS BY ECHO CHEN
PETER CHINMAN
the last two decades fighting for street performers’ rights at Community Board meetings and eliminating the stigma around these so-called “rats with wings.” “The birds don’t have diseases,” Birdman said. “They are actually one of the smartest animals around. Pigeons received medals of honor in World War II, but now, since we have cellphones, we don’t need them anymore.” Birdman can be found daily near Washington Square Park West, in conversation with locals and students, where he commonly lets visitors sit with him and share his unique relationship with the birds — but bring your own seeds! Email Rian Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM
OPINION
EDITED BY ANDREW HEYING OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
ECONOMY
A Post-Scarcity Society is Possible
By DYLAN SMITH Contributing Writer The definition of post-scarcity is thus: post-scarcity is a hypothetical economy in which most goods can be produced in great abundance with minimal human labor needed. The misconception is that this concept is a fantasy when in reality the material conditions necessary for this type of society already exist. For example, we have an extreme overabundance of housing. If every homeless person in the United States were given an equal portion of the current number of unoccupied houses, they would each receive five houses,
with 1.4 million houses left over. This is all based on data provided by the U.S. census. Luckily, we can easily feed all these homeless people, because we already produce enough food to feed 10 billion people, 2.5 billion more people than the current population. If we changed our habits to be less meat oriented, this number could as much as double. This is done at an extremely low labor cost. The United States, one of the leading producers of food, has only two percent of people working in agriculture. We could power these farms without significant effort, so long as we build the right sort of infrastructure. Only 0.6% of American land would
need to be covered in solar panels to power the entire United States. While the initial cost would be high, the benefit would be the entire end of fossil fuels in the U.S., creating a large number of jobs and infrastructure. The U.S., contrary to popular belief, is still the biggest manufacturing power in the world. We accom-
plish this status with only 12 percent of our country working in the manufacturing industry. Water is incredibly cheap as well. While this varies depending on where one lives, the price of a gallon of tap water is only $0.004 on average and is already something most people can consume without even thinking about. This is something to be incredibly optimistic about, because all this exists without an organized group attempting to make it happen. If our government, who spends more on healthcare than any other country can find ways to rationalize and better prioritize our spending, we could provide everyone with the means to
meet the basic standards of living We need to stop discussing post-scarcity like it is a pipe dream. Currently, within the realm of modern political discussions, it is. However, desperate times call for desperate measures. Global warming, income inequality, economic recessions, et cetera are only going to get worse from this point forward. The United States has the necessary resources to eliminate hunger and homelessness, and if we rethink the structure of our capitalist society, anything is possible. Email Dylan Smith at opinion@nyunews.com.
POLITICS
Being Indian-American in Trump’s America
By SHRADDHA JAJAL Contributing Writer
Where are you from? Such a simple question, but I never know the answer. Born in India, brought up in the U.S., finished high school in India: where do I fit in? I was still in India when Donald Trump started his campaign for President. From 8,500 miles away, I did not anticipate the consequences of this. I thought Trump would lose the election, but I was wrong. From November onwards, all I heard in India was, “Wow, look how stupid America is.” That statement was hurtful to me because both America and
India are my homes. But nothing hurt more than when Indians residing in India started claiming that Trump’s presidency was going to benefit them because of his alleged friendship with Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India. One hug and a few handshakes do not make up for a thousand insults and a country full of bias. Over the years, many young Indians have immigrated to the U.S in search of a new home and life, and a large majority of these immigrants have entered the country using the H-1B program. This program was dissolved when Trump signed the executive order, Buy American,
Hire American. My father entered this country with an H-1B visa. I would most likely have never been here if there were no H-1B program in place. For some Indians, this is in line with Modi’s Made in India campaign, which aims to attract foreign companies to set up shops in India. I can see
how many people would think that Trump and Modi’s policies would be beneficial as less people would leave the country, but what about people like my father who want to leave to better their own families’ lives? It is not just people trying to enter the country — a Trump presidency is hurting Indian people in this country today. Srinivas Kuchibholta was shot to death in Kansas earlier this year by a white man who spoke these words before firing on Srinivas and his friend: “Get out of my country.” Today, I wore a traditional Indian dress while going grocery shopping. People stared at me as if they were seeing something out of place — as
if it did not belong there. I wanted to hide my face and go back to my room. Perhaps there was a lack of education regarding how to differentiate Indians, Arabs and Pakistani. Just because we have a similar skin tone, we are not the same people. To the Indians who think a political affiliation means power and prosperity for our people, look around you. See what I am seeing. Every person in this world should have the right to be in any country they choose and not be hurt, judged or even killed for being a certain color or religion. Email Shraddha Jajal at opinion@nyunews.com.
CULTURE
Neighborhood Association Threatens Village’s Artistic Integrity By THEO WYAT Contributing Writer
A valley in the metropolitan mountain range of Manhattan, tucked between the skyscraping peaks of Midtown and the Financial District, Greenwich Village, with its tree-lined streets and low(er)-rise buildings, is a comparatively calm, welcoming refuge. For more than a century, our neighborhood has attracted preeminent academics, activists and artists from all around New York City and the world. Consequently, the Village is an extremely desirable place to live, with soaring rent forcing out many of the free-thinkers that made the area so remarkable in the first place. But people who cannot afford exorbitant rent for a closet-sized walk-up — or an overpriced NYU dormitory for that matter — should still maintain the right to witness and participate in the progressive activity that has long defined the Village. The center for this inclusivity has been, and should continue to be, Washington Square
Park — the Village’s centerpiece, a verdant public park created with all New Yorkers in mind. In the past, resident groups like The Washington Square Association have nobly maintained our park and neighborhood by blocking a Fifth Avenue extension through the center of Washington Square and preventing a sizable portion of the West Village from being raised. But with its righteous battles won, The Washington Square Association, bored and lacking any substantive challenges, has now turned self-destructively inward. Instead of continuing to revel in the artistic open-mindedness that initially made the Village worth defending, the group is now targeting Chinese dissident artist Ai Weiwei’s temporary piece in Washington Square. Ai’s project, “Good Fences Make Good Neighbors,” is an upcoming citywide series of around 300 installations that will call attention to issues of immigration and incarceration. The pieces vary in scale: Brooklyn bus shelters will be accented with
chainlink fencing; the facade of The Cooper Union will be obscured by security-barricade material; and, most controversially, the space underneath the Washington Square Arch will be enclosed by prison-like bars. At the center of the piece, which is reminiscent of an oversized birdcage, will be an opening in the shape of two embracing humans. According to Mr. Ai, the installations will serve to remind viewers of our common humanity — “while barriers have been used to divide us, as humans we are all the same.” The Washington Square Association, an organization of decidedly privileged citizens dedicated to “the quality of life enjoyed by residents
and visitors alike,” vehemently disagrees with Ai. They repudiate this alleged responsibility to do more — they won’t even tolerate his art. In the words of President and Spokesman Trevor Sumner, who helped pen the association’s letter of condemnation, “the parks themselves are for people to get away, to seek some escape from the city and there’s going to be a giant political thing in their face the whole time.” In other words, the association is claiming that the park — a space created for the public to communicate, is not a place for political speech. Their letter elaborates: “we have no objection to Weiwei’s piece in itself, but only to its placement on the arch.” Is objecting to the public display of this artwork not the same as objecting to the artwork itself? If Washington Square Park, the focal point of our allegedly artistic, openminded, socially-aware community is not the place for this timely political expression, what could possibly be? Despite the temptation for the
privileged among us to ignore uncomfortable realities — how many of your friends just don’t really care about politics? We do not live in an era in which social awareness should be optional. Thousands of disproportionately poor and nonwhite people sit behind bars on Rikers Island, less than ten miles from Greenwich Village. Millions of people worldwide seek escape from gruesome, American-made wars. Poverty, conflict and disenfranchisement of real humans are side-effects of our way of life, and the vast majority of Washington Square park-goers, and WSA members, are complacent in this one-sided system. Fellow humans are separated from us by bars, fences and walls explicitly designed to keep them away, and if we cannot tolerate an artistic reminder of their plight, a mere piece of fencing that in no way inhibits our own well being or physical movement, we have lost our humanity. Email Theo Wyat at opinoin@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY ANDREW HEYING OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
POLITICS
STAFF EDITORIAL
Trump is Wrong on DACA
By MELANIE PINEDA Staff Writer
The Trump Administration announced Tuesday that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program will be phased out and most likely terminated by March 5, 2018. This decision has been met with outrage from several congressmen and politicians. President Donald Trump is expected to replace DACA with a program that focuses on strengthening the callous methods of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Journalists and the general public have strongly disagreed with Trump’s decision as well, with protests ongoing throughout New York and other metropolitan cities. Some news outlets, however, have weighed in on the DACA decision by detailing the amount of money the economy would lose if efforts to deport all undocumented youth were successful. While these details are crucial facts that all supporters of this announcement should consider, the focus should be more humanitarian: on the lives of the children. The majority of DACA recipients are students. One of the predom-
inant goals of the DACA program is allowing recipients a pathway to education. Students are receiving opportunities that most could only dream of back in their home countries, all while improving the commonwealth of their U.S. schools as well. In fact, more than 640 universities have signed a letter of support for DACA, praising the talent and community that DACA students bring to their respective campuses. All of this indicates that most NYU students may very well be sitting next to DACA recipients in their classrooms or seeing them on campus — students who are vigilantly working toward the same goal as the rest of NYU’s student body: getting a degree. It is irresponsible to consider DACA recipients as statistics. Trump’s decision has already affected the lives of
thousands, such as one study abroad student who chose to return to the United States before the end of his semester, for fear of being unable to re-enter the only country he has ever considered home. The negative consequences of this announcement are endless: many people could lose state-sponsored health coverage, their driver’s licenses or even their professional credentials. Each and every one of these statistics stands for something greater. The deportation of even one student means fear and heartbreak unlike any other for an entire family and community. DACA recipients may be your classmates, doctors, neighbors or friends. The common factor is that they are all human. It is vital that Americans remember this quality above any other when weighing in on Trump’s controversial decision. To strip undocumented children of this program is to strip them of their humanity, and to ignore the issue is blatant support of the cruel actions Trump’s administration has brought against these bright, courageous children. Email Melanie Pineda at opinion@nyunews.com.
POLITICS
DACA Decision Shows Lack of Leadership By ALLISON DE LA BASTIDA Contributing Writer Last Tuesday, President Donald Trump’s administration announced that the decision announced they would end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA. Since 2012, the program has provided relief to young undocumented immigrants by supplying them with legal work status and protection from deportation. Considering that, on average, these kids were roughly six-and-ahalf when they immigrated to the United States, it would be hard for them leave a life they’ve built for one that is only a distant memory. While most DACA recipients are Latinx, they are not the only ethnicity that faces an undetermined fate. As the Washington Post states, “seven of the top 24 countries with the highest acceptance rate for DACA applicants are in Asia, Europe or the Caribbean.” It is reported that 90 percent are employed. So, if a partial goal of ending DACA is to substantially decrease the pop-
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ulation with criminal records or tendencies, then the government might have to go further than blaming an ethnicity or even DACA. Immigrants benefiting from DACA still contribute to the country by paying taxes and supporting different sectors of the government. Yet, they face difficulties because of their desire to achieve the American dream: to have a better life than their parents did. We can’t blame an unaware sixyear-old for moving to the United States. I think it is also to be highlighted that no one is to blame here — not even the parents. Just like them, most people would do anything for their family to provide them better future. DACA has made the lives of un-
documented immigrants infinitely better. It protects them by providing better paying jobs and improved work conditions. Congress now has the chance to to make up for failing to pass the DREAM Act, which would have resolved the undocumented immigration issue years ago. This is the time to make all the voices supporting DACA join together and defend the 800,000 kids that are counting on them. While we are in the midst of recovering from a hurricane and are preparing to tackle another one, it seems to me that right now, the American public needs to encourage comfort and compassion to all members of the country as we deal with the aftermath of a disastrous storm. We’re no longer just divided politically, but it seems as if nature is giving us a physical representation of what those Facebook comments look like — a force to be reckoned with. This decision does nothing but further this. Email Alison de la Bastida at opinion@nyunews.com.
DeVos’ Speech Needs Clarification
For many years, sexual assault has been a hot-button issue on college campuses. In 2011, the Obama administration sent out a letter to all colleges laying out new guidelines to more easily achieve justice for victims of sexual assault. However, many on the right have been critical of the Obamaera policy, saying it denied the accused due process of law. In response to this criticism, last week President Donald Trump’s controversial Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos announced a troubling shift in policy that would supposedly make the rights of the accused and the accusers more balanced. Yet her speech gave no specific details or guidance, raising many concerns. According to the National Sexual Violence Resource Center, one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted while in college. Thus, the issue affects millions of Americans, and it should not be taken lightly. The Obama administration recognized this and made it a top priority. In fact, it was one of former Vice President Joe Biden’s main focuses. An issue that was ignored for years was brought into the spotlight, in part thanks to the previous administration. This ultimately led thousands of victims to come forward and tell their stories. However, Trump’s administration seems to want the country to regress decades. In her speech, DeVos stated that the Obama administration has “failed too many students.” Throughout the speech, DeVos attempted to follow the usual strategy of the Trump administration’s vague criticism of Obama-era policies without offering a practical solution. In the speech, she criticized the current policy, saying the process “lacked the sophistication required for such sensitive matters,” without suggesting how she would change the issue. And while this speech has received immense attention, the Department of Education has not yet released any formal rule changes or guidelines. Instead, they have merely sent the message that they are restoring the rights of the accused. Of course, there are instances in which people have been wrongly accused of sexual assault. However, simply alluding to the idea that the entire process with which thousands of colleges deal with sexual assault should be changed without any concrete plan does not help any falsely accused students. Instead, it simply sends a message to victims that the government is more focused on a few falsely accused students than the thousands of sexual assault survivors. In light of DeVos’ heavy-handed speech, an announcement from NYU regarding its sexual misconduct policy would be helpful. In the past, NYU has firmly asserted its stance against sexual misconduct and its Title IX compliance. Since the current administration has left colleges in limbo, it is up to NYU to reaffirm that its policy will not change.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM
SPORTS
EDITED BY MADDIE HOWARD SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Freshman Kate Glavan Excels in Women’s Volleyball By BRIANNA DAVIS Contributing Writer
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Robert Shellow and Maxi Rodriguez celebrate their second goal.
Second Straight Victory for Men’s Soccer Team By ALEX DOMB Contributing Writer
NYU Men’s Soccer continued its winning streak on Saturday, defeating the Hunter College Hawks by a final score of six to one. The Violets dominated the match throughout, scoring four goals in the first half and not allowing a goal until the 80th minute. The game marks the second straight victory for the Violets and improved the team’s record to 2-0-1. The Violets’ first goal of the match came from Stern freshman Richie Rambarran in the 28th minute off an assist from fellow classmate Pedro Goldberg. Rambarran’s goal opened the floodgates for NYU, as the Violets went on to score three more goals in the next 13 minutes heading into the halftime break. While the Violets were not able to sustain this rapid success rate throughout the second half of the game, they did manage to hold pace and cruise to an easy victory. CAS junior Robert Shellow led the way for the Violets, scoring both of his two shots on goal. Shellow and fellow teammate Jake Velvel, a CAS freshman, scored his first goal of the season in the match. The men’s team dominated the game offensively, scoring twice on penalty kicks and outshooting the Hawks 29-6. Junior goalkeeper Frank Engel did not allow a single goal in his 72 minutes of action. “We played very well in our game versus Hunter,” Head Coach Kim Wyant said. “We have been working on attacking principles, especially the final third part of the field and how to break the final line of defense to get a good quality shot at goal. We also took the approach
of being more aggressive in the penalty box by taking players on, and that has resulted in some penalty kicks and quality free kick opportunities.” Senior captain Tristan Medios-Simon, of CAS, echoed Wyant’s sentiment. “As a team we’re starting to put a lot of what coach has been teaching us together and we see those things lead to good results,” Medios-Simon said.. “It was a game that we should have taken care of and we did,” Sophomore Owen Smith said. “We lost to this team last year and won this year six-to-one, showing our improvement from last year.” However, Wyant is careful not to be complacent with the team’s performance, and he recognizes several aspects the team can improve upon. “I was disappointed we didn’t get the shutout,” Wyant said. “There are several big areas the team can improve on including being better at converting our chances in our attacking final third, and [limiting] the number of shots another team gets on us.” However, Wyant remains confident in the team’s ability. “Our biggest goal of the season is to get better game by game,” Wyant sad. “There is no doubt we’d like to be in the postseason, and we get there with game-bygame improvements.” The Violets hope to remain undefeated on Tuesday Sept. 12 when they face off at home against The College at Old Westbury. Email Alex Domb at sports@nyunews.com.
Five matches played, five matches started and a total of 39 kills and 35 digs. This is just a simple glance at the start of the greatly anticipated college volleyball career of freshman Kate Glavan. Glavan’s relationship with volleyball began in the fourth grade. Her mother, an All-American volleyball player at the University of Nebraska and her sister, also an All-American at the University of Massachusetts, were key influences in her development as an athlete. Glavan’s roots have always been deeply embedded in a love for volleyball and a desire for a “deep connection with [her] mom and sister through sports.” From Edina, Minn. Glavan describes the culture surrounding volleyball and recruiting as very competitive. “There are tons of great Junior Olympic clubs to play at in the area and competitive college programs,” Glavan said. “As a result, I’ve grown up playing against Division I recruits, thinking nothing of how talented they all were, which has shaped me to be the player I am today.” Glavan describes herself as having high volleyball IQ. “I know how to minimize our weaknesses by adjusting the players next to me, along with making strategic plays on my own to score points in court locations where the other team isn’t,” she said. Head Coach Jolie Ward could not agree more. Ward knew Glavan would be valuable to the university’s program. “Kate is a talented player that is steady and smart when she plays,” Ward said. “[She has] very high game IQ so she
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Kate Glavan is a Gallatin freshman who is continuing her family tradition of playing volleyball.
reads the game well.” Glavin’s steadiness and knowledge of the game are evident to any spectator, whether on the court or off. “Her confidence allows her to be a significant contributor to the team, especially in high pressure situations,” Glavan’s teammate Sabrina Krebs explained. A trait like confidence is typically something rare among freshman athletes beginning a college career, but, for Glavan, confidence is her greatest strength, and teammate Rayne Ellis agrees. “Typically freshmen enter college sports with a certain level of uncertainty,” Ellis said.
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[I want to] continue empowering young girls and [use] volleyball as a vessel to do so. KATE GLAVAN
”
“They are usually unsure of our system, how we work together [and] what our coach wants from us,” she said. “Somehow Kate jumped right in and looked calm and confident. It’s a testament to her playing ability.” As a student-athlete, balancing the schoolwork, practice and lift, while also trying to squeeze in a minute of time to embrace all that New York City has to offer can be a daunting task. Furthermore, being more than 1,000 miles away from home and reliving the stresses of the label “freshman” can make the college transition seem nearly impossible — but this is not the way Glavan sees it. She said settling into campus a week before the rest of students arrived was a relief for her as it allowed her to get to know the area without too much chaos. “It’s been easier to get acclimated to college sports than I thought,” Glavan said. “All of the upperclassmen have been super helpful with organizational tips to find the balance between classes and volleyball.” However, she said the biggest difference between high school and college sports is that there is more free time now that she is not bound by the standard seven-hour high school day. As her time at NYU progresses, Glavan will be studying in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study and embracing career opportunities that come with living in New York City. After graduation, she plans to continue a relationship with volleyball as a coach for the club her mother directs in Minnesota. “[I want to] continue empowering young girls and [use] volleyball as a vessel to do so,” Glavan said. Email Brianna Davis at sports@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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SPORTS
EDITED BY MADDIE HOWARD SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Women’s Volleyball Splits Double-Header
By MADDIE HOWARD Sports Editor
Women’s volleyball started off its matches in the Kean University Cougar Classic tournament on Friday, Sept. 8. The women ended their weekend with split results, finishing 2-2. This is an improvement
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These matches revealed to us our team’s ability to dig and fight in longer matches of four or five sets. DARYL MITCHELL
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from last weekend, when the team lost all of its games. They first matched up against the host team, Kean University, finishing with a loss in four sets. In their second competition, the Violets battled against SUNY Platts-
burgh in five back-and-forth sets. The Violets came out victorious in the end and senior Rayne Ellis completed a career high of 20 kills. Team member and Gallatin freshman Kate Glavan explains that this weekend was one they can look back on with positivity. “This weekend we were able to develop more trust and we learned how to push through long matches that went to five sets,” Glavan said. “Hitters and setters were able to work consistently with one another, which was really beneficial. I feel that as a result from this weekend of games, we’ve showed so many improvements since last weekend.” Glavan has started in every game for the team this season and has seen action in 32 sets. On Saturday the Violets battled Hood College, beating them three out of five sets. They won their first two 25-7 and 25-18, but fell short in the second two losing 26-28 and 20-25. In their fifth and final set, they came back to win 159, taking the game in five sets. Their last game was against University of Scranton, to whom they lost in four sets.
In the final game CAS sophomore Kelsey Kraetz recorded a career high of six blocks. “It feels great [to gain a career high],” Kraetz said. “Our coach has been pushing me to work on my blocking technique so it’s nice to see that she’s helped me improve.” Kraetz has played and started in every game for the Violets this season. Reflecting on the weekend as a whole, CAS junior Daryl Mitchell explained
that the team members come out of these matches with a newfound knowledge of their strength. “This weekend’s tournament may have been in the same gym as last weekend’s, but we had a different showing in a positive way,” Mitchell said. “These matches revealed to us our team’s ability to dig and fight in longer matches of four or five sets. We now know the power we have in those types of situa-
tions and can move forward with a newly realized assurance and confidence going into future matchups.” Mitchell has recorded starts in all of the Violets’ games thus far. Women’s volleyball will see the court again this coming weekend in the Ducks Classic hosted by Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. Email Maddie Howard at mhoward@nyunews.com.
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Women’s volleyball split its two matches at the Cougar Classic hosted by Kean University.
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