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Monday, February 5, 2018
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Money Feature
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Syracuse Hockey Team Suspended After NYU Fan Punched in Brawl By MACK DEGEURIN, SAKSHI VENKATRAMAN, MADDIE HOWARD News Editors and Sports Editor
A
n altercation at Chelsea Piers’ Sky Rink last Saturday between Syracuse hockey players and NYU fans attending the game has resulted in the suspension of the Syracuse men’s club hockey team, according to Syracuse.com. According to NYU Hockey student manager Fred Moody and NYU Director for Sports Information Jeff Bernstein, the fight occurred immediately following the game, which NYU won against Syracuse in overtime. No NYU players were involved in the fight. That same evening, Barstool Sports posted a video on its Twitter page, which captured the beginning of the brawl. In the week since it was posted, the video has been viewed over 200,000 times. The video begins mid-brawl and shows several fully padded Syracuse players shoving fans. At least four rowdy attendees can be seen hurling ILLUSTRATION BY RACHEL BUIGAS-LOPEZ
punches and shoving bodies against the rink’s glass. A helmetless black-haired Syracuse player, identifiable only by the red 16 on his chest, can be seen wrapping his arm around the neck of a leather-jacket-clad fan, who quickly punches himself free. Regaining his balance, number 16 then delivers a direct blow to the fan’s face. Moody, who was standing in the bleachers when the fight broke out, said it occured after one of the fans mocked a Syracuse player. “A fan said, ‘hey 17, hey 17,’” Moody recalled. “And then another player from the Syracuse team came over and was just like, ‘hey back off man, back off!’ Then, the Syracuse played shoved him, and when he shoved him, they just lost it after that.” Number 16 is no longer listed on Syracuse’s active roster at the time of this report. WSN reached out to the Syracuse Athletics Department for comment, but was told that because of the team’s club status, the athletic department was not involved in any suspension or punishment. WSN also reached out to a man iden-
tified by others who attended the game as the individual involved in the fight with number 16. The NYU student declined to comment on the incident and requested that his name be left out of the story. When asked to speculate on those involved, Moody said he could not say with certainty how many Syracuse players were wrapped up in the fight or if all the fans involved were NYU students. “A lot of their players ended up in the scuffle,” Moody said. “It would be harder for me to pick numbers that weren’t in the scuffle.” Both Syracuse and NYU play in the Division I level of the American Collegiate Hockey Association. This was the second series of games the two teams have played against each other this season. The teams split their two previous games in Syracuse, and on Saturday, NYU looked to take a 3-1 lead in the series. “They were really intense games both times,” Moody said over a phone call with WSN. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 |
Students Pay Tuition through Cryptocurrency Investments By SAKSHI VENKATRAMAN News Editor
Less than a year after investing a $5,000 principal in cryptocurrencies, like Bitcoin and Ethereum, SPS senior Konig Chen has made enough to pay four years worth of NYU tuition, and then some. Chen made his initial investment by purchasing coins — the digital currency of many cryptos that have been exploding in popularity in recent years. After seeing extremely high returns in just a matter of months, he invested $45,000 more in August. By January 2018, he had accumulated over $300,000. “It’s definitely not the normal returns
you would get on the stock market,” Chen said. “Because it’s so new and so innovative, one could say that there is no clear price and that’s why it’s so volatile.” Among the popular cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin has been plagued by extreme instability in recent months, with the market price soaring and crashing in mere days or weeks. Between December 2017 and January 2018, the price of Bitcoin fell from $19,000 to under $10,000, according to Coinbase, a platform for buying and selling cryptos in the United States. But Chen wasn’t investing alone. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3|
GRAPH INFORMATION FROM COINMARKETCAP.COM
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Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
NEWS
Edited by Sakshi Venkatraman and Mack DeGeurin news@nyunews.com
In Conversation with the Homeless of Greenwich Village
STAFF PHOTO BY ALEX DOMB
Kayla, experiencing homelessness in New York City, discusses the challenges of living on the streets during the winter.
By ALEX DOMB Deputy News Editor
Below-freezing temperatures, snow, rain and numbing winds — January is the most difficult time of year for New York’s homeless. Winter weather makes living a day-to-day struggle. More often than not, the brutal cold forces people experiencing homelessness to spend their nights in subway trains, where their presence purportedly bothers commuters, and makes the homeless themselves feel deeply unwelcome. Many wonder why currently homeless people sleep on the streets and in the subways when government-run shelters are available. But it’s not always a viable option, let alone a desirable one. “I’ve heard a lot more negative than positive things about shelters,” explains Elizabeth, a young woman currently experiencing homelessness and suffering from spastic cerebral palsy living on the streets with her boyfriend, Richard. “If someone has stayed longer and they’ve made friends with the security guards, they have carte blanche to take whatever they want, and the security guard sides with whoever they’ve known, and you can just get kicked out.” Chris, another man who’s currently homeless, avoids shelters for a much simpler reason — he can’t get in. “Nine times out of 10, the shelters are backed up,” he said. But those in the currently homeless population must deal with an array of problems, many of which far outlast the need for warmth on the coldest nights of the year. For many of these individuals, both the most pressing and the most damaging problem they face is that of constant, ruthless
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stigmatization hurting their chances of getting help from others. “A lot of people don’t look at homeless people in a humane enough way,” Kayla, a woman who is experiencing homelessness, said. “Sometimes, I almost feel like an animal at the zoo.” Chris feels like these issues of judgement and stigmatization could be vastly improved by more communication. “Sometimes, if people took the time to talk to somebody and get to know somebody, then they could understand that there’s much more to a person,” he said. Ironically, many people experiencing homelessness have noticed that those who treat them with the most empathy — and, similarly, those who contribute the most money or resources — are those who have endured financial trauma themselves. “A person that can wipe their ass with a $100 bill and fling it out their car window — they won’t give you a nickel,” Kayla said. “But the person with a broken fender and plastic bag and cardboard as their back window … they’re the ones who are gonna give you the last $20 bill, because they know what it’s like to struggle and feel hungry.” Likewise, despite the struggle of living in the streets, Elizabeth and Richard always try to donate what they can to those in even greater need. “Even now, with us being homeless ourselves, I always try to give some sort of change or an extra cigarette or whatever I can to other people,” Elizabeth said. The issue of homelessness is hardly new to New York, nor has it gone unnoticed by the state’s resi-
dents and politicians. Yet the trend appears to be worsening. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, the rate of homelessness in New York is at its highest point since the Great Depression, the currently homeless population sleeping in municipal shelters has increased 78 percent in the past 10 years and the issue disproportionately affects African-Americans and Latinos. Although homelessness remains an issue which affects nearly every urban setting worldwide, New York struggles to take care of its currently homeless population more than its peer cities do. According to Forbes, New York harbors — by far — the highest homeless population of any city in the United States. Despite the city’s struggle in taking care of this part of its population, and despite the harsh reality of living in its streets, thosewho are currently homeless are just as enchanted by the multiculturalism that entrances New York’s residents and visitors alike. “When I flew back to New York [after hitchhiking around Europe for years], I realized how perfect a city it would be to settle down in,” Kayla said. “Here, I can still, at least, listen to different languages every day; I can go to an Eastern European shelter and buy real, authentic bread.” In addition to — perhaps, in tandem with — the stigmatization, one of the most pressing challenges homeless people face is the systematic difficulty in improving one’s condition, especially for those who were forced to the streets at a young age and lack the financial and emotional support of a loving family. “There have been opportunities and loss because of our lack of stability,” Elizabeth said. “There’s only lack of stability because we don’t have the chance to pursue the opportunities, so it’s just a vicious cycle that we’re trying to get out of. Once you get knocked down, it’s really hard, and it takes a really long time, to get back up.” For many of the people who are currently homeless, it may take several years before they are able to restructure and rebuild their lives. In the short term, their desire for basic human empathy has been elusive so far. “People as a whole should realize that we all have mothers, brothers, fathers, cousins, uncles and friends,” Kayla said. “That’s all I ask — don’t look at me as that stereotype of a homeless person, and just look at me as a person.” Read more from Washington Square News’ “Money” feature. Email Alex Domb at adomb@nyunews.com.
CRIME LOG
NYU Patient Hit in Arm, Police Report Filed By SARAH JACKSON Deputy News Editor
From Jan. 28 to Feb. 4, the NYU Department of Public Safety received five reports of larceny, five reports of alcohol violation, two reports of dating violence, one report of harassment, one report of trespassing, one report of forgery, one report of simple assault, one report of attempted larceny, one report of criminal mischief and one report of a controlled substance.
LARCENY
On Jan. 28 at 7:39 p.m., an NYU student reported that money was missing from his wallet left in a locker at Palladium Athletic Facility. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On Jan. 29 at 5:35 p.m., an NYU student reported that money was missing from his wallet in a locker at Palladium Athletic Facility. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On Jan. 29 at 8:17 p.m., an NYU staff member reported that a laptop was missing from a locked cabinet at 19 University Pl. A police report was filed, and the case is open and under investigation. On Jan. 31 at 8:15 a.m., an NYU student reported that her jacket and keys were missing from the locker room at the NYU Dental Center. A police report was filed, and the case is open and under investigation. On Feb. 1 at 11:00 p.m., an NYU student reported that his bike was missing from the bike rack in Schwartz Plaza. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation.
ALCOHOL VIOLATION
On Jan. 31 at 11:57 p.m., an NYU resident assistant reported that she recovered alcohol during her rounds in Broome Street Residence hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been closed and referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On Feb. 1 at 10:09 p.m., an NYU resident assistant reported that he recovered alcohol during his rounds in Third Avenue North Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been closed and referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On Feb. 1 at 10:27 p.m., an NYU resident assistant reported that she recovered alcohol during her rounds in Alumni Residence hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been closed and referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On Feb. 2 at 12:13 a.m., an NYU resident assistant reported that she recovered alcohol during her rounds in Third Avenue North Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been closed and referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On Feb. 2 at 12:54 a.m., an NYU resident assistant reported that she recovered alcohol during her rounds in Carlyle Court. Police notification was declined,
and the case has been closed and referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
DATING VIOLENCE
On Jan. 29 at 11:03 p.m., an NYU student reported that he was a victim of dating violence at Broome Street Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On Jan. 30, an NYU student reported that her ex-boyfriend grabbed her and took items from her during an argument at Brittany Hall. A police report was filed, and the case is open and under investigation.
HARASSMENT
On Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m., an NYU student at the intersection of LaGuardia Place and West 3rd Street reported that she was followed and questioned by an unidentified man. A police report was filed, and the case is open and under investigation.
TRESPASSING
On Jan. 29, an NYU student reported that another student entered her room without permission at Third Avenue North Residence Hall. A police report was filed, and the case is open and under investigation.
FORGERY
On Jan. 29 at 10:05 p.m., an NYU staff member reported a receipt with a forged signature for an instrument at Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation.
SIMPLE ASSAULT
On Jan. 30 at 10:24 a.m., an NYU dental patient reported that she was hit in the arm by another patient at Schwartz Lecture Hall in NYU Langone Medical Center. A police report was filed, and an arrest was made. The case is closed.
ATTEMPTED LARCENY
On Jan. 30 at 2:25 p.m., an NYU student reported that an attempted larceny was underway at the bike racks outside of Vanderbilt Hall. A Public Safety team responded, and an unidentified male ran away. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
On Jan. 31 at 8:55 p.m., an NYU student reported that a carving had been made on a bartop table at Lipton Hall. A police report was filed, and the case is open and under investigation.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE
On Feb. 1 at 4:15 p.m., NYU Public Safety responded to a report of an alleged controlled substance violation and recovered a small amount of marijuana at university residence halls. The case has been closed and referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. Email Sarah Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
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NEWS
Edited by Sakshi Venkatraman and Mack DeGeurin news@nyunews.com
Students Pay Tuition through Cryptocurrency Investments | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
He had the help of a group called Trace Capital, an organization started by Gallatin junior Leo Tulchin and his former roommate, who chose to be referred to simply as Brandon. Brandon is a former NYU student who dropped out to pursue other opportunities. Brandon, who was used to trading traditional stock, dipped his toes into crypto in 2015. Shortly after, he began heavily trading coins. In September 2017, Brandon adapted an algorithm for traditional stocks to predict market trends, using gathered information to gauge market risk. “I take a very unorthodox approach to trading and analysis,” he said. Brandon predicts spikes and crashes in the crypto market by gathering data and recognizing trends. “If news comes out in Hong Kong right now, when would that hit the [United States]?” Brandon said, posing a hypothetical. “When it hits, that’s when we would see the next drop.” He uses this information to advise his investors on when and where to leave their money, as well as when and where to pull out. “In a lot of cases, the market will fall and then spike back up,” Brandon said. “It’s
like dominoes, where is the next domino going to fall?” Through his analysis, Brandon was able to predict the massive Bitcoin crash in China in September 2017. After that, it only took him a week to start Trace Capital and get his friends involved. “I became friends with him and invested $1,000,” Leo Tulchin said. “In 10 months, that $1,000 grew to $18,000.” Brandon’s circle of crypto traders expanded in the following months; they exchanged advice and helped each other manage investments. Tulchin started reaching out to people he knew in the business and investment world to get them involved. “The good amount of these people are in our parents’ generation, who have been more traditional business people and investors,” Tulchin said. “They connected with Brandon, and our network started growing. We’re now managing around 15 people and working with a sizeable investment pool.” Brandon and Tulchin’s venture has peaked the interest of many venture capitalists and traditional investment firms. One fund even tried to buy Trace and Brandon’s algorithm. The offer was turned down.
Brawl Leads to Syracuse Hockey Suspension | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
The NYU team trailed 3-1, going into the third period but then scored two goals in 20 minutes to force the game to overtime. With tensions high, NYU Hockey won the game in the last second of overtime with a buzzer beater goal delivered by SPS sophomore Scott Mulligan. “It was pretty nuts, [the fans] just went wild,” Moody said. “They were celebrating in the corner, and we were all celebrating near the glass.” And while a wave of jovial excitement filled the air for some, members of the Syracuse team said all they could smell was alcohol. In an interview with The Daily Orange, Syracuse forward Keith Lambert commented on the fans who he described as, “belligerent.” “They had full bottles of Jack Daniels,” Lambert said. “[And] full bottles of Captain Morgan. They’re bringing 30 racks in there. They’re blacked out.” WSN reached out to multiple members of the Syracuse hockey team who said they were unable to comment on the record due to an ongoing investigation by Syracuse. A Chelsea Piers employe told WSN that fans are indeed allowed to bring in their own alcohol. Alcoholic beverages are not sold at the Chelsea Piers Sky Rink, but patrons bring their own beer and liquor.
“There definitely were some people who had been drinking,” Moody said. Moody described many of the non-university games held at Chelsea Piers as, “beer leagues,” and said that alcohol was allowed. The New York Liquor Authority’s website specifies that BYOB, or Bring Your Own Bottle establishments, which allow customers to bring and to consume beverages on the site’s premises must have a valid liquor permit. According to New York State Liquor Authority data, Chelsea Piers has several different liquor licenses. “Venues without a license or permit may not allow patrons to ‘bring their own’ alcoholic beverages for consumption,” the website reads. Bernstein said that the two universities had not previously experienced any notable altercations. According to him, NYU is currently working with Chelsea Piers to reevaluate certain security measures. Chelsea Piers staff was not immediately available to comment on what these new security measures entail. Multiple Syracuse players refused to comment, citing an ongoing investigation by the university. Email Mack DeGeurin, Sakshi Venkatraman and Maddie Howard at news@nyunews.com.
I’m playing with his money. At this point, if I break even or make a little profit, I’ll sell it and give my dad his money back.” LS freshman Karishma Mohan invested money in Bitcoin on her birthday a few months ago. She has since seen the value of her investment fluctuate greatly. “It’s very up and down,” Mohan said. “There have been times where I have lost thousands of dollars overnight. There was one drop that happened like a month ago where in 48 hours, it increased almost 50 percent; but like a day after, it basically dropped.” But the market’s instability hasn’t deterred students from investing their money in cryptocurrencies. Gautam described Bitcoin as the gold standard. “I think cryptocurrencies are the future,” he said. “I think it’s a good time to invest. Over break, I took a good amount of time to research and I’m a strong believer in blockchain technology. I believe in blockchain technology more than I believe in crypto.” Gautam’s beliefs stem from the fact that blockchain technology keeps a continuous log of all transactions made through online currencies. The system is supposedly unhackable. “Everyone is held accountable to the same standard because of the blockchain technology,” he said. “Everything is digi-
tal; it’s a like a ledger. Every transaction is the right transaction.” Gautam said he plans to invest in smaller cryptocurrencies in the future. “I’m planning on starting a company soon and when I start making money, I want to invest in smaller cryptos — not Bitcoin,” he said. Mohan described Bitcoin as worth it in the long run. “It’s basically just high risk, high reward,” she said. “A lot of people, even though they know it’s very volatile, go with that notion that they can cash out really big. A lot of people don’t know when to take it out — that includes myself.” Despite the risk, Mohan remains a believer in Bitcoin. “I have a lot of faith in Bitcoin,” Mohan said. “Bitcoin has a very long pattern of coming up after drops. For comparison, I have also invested in Ethereum and Litecoin and those tend to have a very short-lived peak and then drop. Those probably won’t increase again. I just trust Bitcoin more.”
Tisch Alumni Used Fake Bots to Boost Celebrity Status
Justin Cappos, a professor of Computer Science at the Tandon School of Engineering who studies cybersecurity, sees the danger in the possibility of Twitter users with fringe views buying a high number of Twitter followers. “It makes it possible for people with an agenda to push specific messages and make them seem more mainstream,” Cappos said. Cappos argues that seeing a large number of retweets or followers can have a psychological effect on the way their message is perceived by the public. According to the NYT investigation, Devumi users include Millie Weaver, a reporter at InfoWars; Jacobin Magazine, a New-York-based socialist publication and China Xinhua News, a Chinese government-run press agency. And it’s not just users with fringe views who buy Twitter followers on Devumi. Hilary Rosen, a Democratic political strategist and CNN commentator bought over half a million fake Twitter followers from Devumi, making more than a dozen purchases of followers over the span of two years, according to the NYT investigation. Even those famous for other pursuits may use their Twitter accounts to promote their political views. NYU dropout and Devumi user John Leguizamo frequently expresses his political views against Donald Trump on Twitter with Tweets like this: “Crazy trump is destroying our great country! One department and office and one amendment at a time!” Fareeha Mahmood, a CAS freshman studying economics, said she saw reason to tolerate people using Devumi. “If their intention is to … advance a political cause that will help other people then I think it’s okay,” Mahmood said before quickly qualifying her statement with a pointed question. “Who’s to judge whose intention is good and whose intention is bad? It’s really messy.”
Now, Trace focuses its trading in the cryptocurrencies Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple. “It’s really hard to predict the markets right now, and part of my success is because of Trace because Brandon gave me the tips,” Chen said. “We’re trend followers. If there’s a chance to make money, we’re there. It doesn’t matter if the underlying asset doesn’t have much value.” Brandon claims that Trace Capital is moving toward incorporation. But for students who aren’t being guided by an algorithm, the realities of volatile crypto markets have hit hard. Stern freshman Anurag Gautam invested $100 in Bitcoin and $100 in Ethereum about a month ago. “The market was really good at the time so I thought it was a good time to get in,” Gautam said. “I realized it wasn’t that great of an investment because $100 couldn’t make me a lot. My dad and I later put $750 into Bitcoin.” The recent dip in the value of Bitcoin has taken a significant toll on Gautam’s investment. “Recently, the markets have been really bad,” he said. “There was a day where it even hit $9,500. It’s kind of my dad’s money too, and I don’t like the fact that
By SUNANDA GASKINS Contributing Writer
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
NYU alumni Katie Lowes, John Leguizamo, Andrew McCarthy, Deirdre Lovejoy and John Leguizamo, are said to have bought Twitter followers from Devumi.
Scores of celebrities, political figures and entrepreneurs are using an online service that sells fake Twitter followers to bolster social media accounts, according to a recent investigation published by The New York Times. Among those found to have used the service are four NYU Tisch School of the Arts alumni. The Florida-based company, Devumi, sells amplification bots programmed to promote their clients’ social media presences by following, retweeting and liking their tweets. The fake profiles are constructed using the names, photos, bios, hometowns and other personal details of real Twitter users. The NYU Tisch alumni who used Devumi’s services included “Scandal” actress Katie Lowes; comedian, filmmaker and director John Leguizamo; “The Wire” actress Deirdre Lovejoy
and Andrew McCarthy, an American actor known for his roles in 1980s films, such as “Pretty in Pink.” According to CNBC, as many as 48 million Twitter accounts may be automated bots. That’s about nine to 15 percent of all Twitter accounts. Although there are no explicit laws against the trade Devumi engages in, New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman opened an investigation into the company last Saturday, Jan. 27, citing concerns over fraud. Devumi claims on its website to be based in New York City. “Impersonation and deception are illegal under New York [state] law,” Schneiderman wrote on Twitter in response to the NYT expose. “We’re opening an investigation into Devumi and its apparent sale of bots using stolen identities.” Devumi’s founder German Calas has denied allegations that his company sold fake followers, has made over $2 million as of November 2017, providing over 200 million Twitter active followers to its customers according to the NYT investigation. The severity with which the act of buying fake Twitter followers is being treated may come as a surprise to Devumi’s users and non-users alike, as many may consider it a victimless crime. “Everyone does it,” NYU Tisch graduate and actress Deirdre Lovejoy said in an interview with the NYT. The four NYU alumni did not respond to requests for comment on their use of Devumi. However, Twitter is a platform for people with a wide array of views. The number of followers a Twitter user attracts is often seen as a barometer for the popularity of their opinions.
Read more from Washington Square News’ “Money” feature. Email Sakshi Venkatraman at svenkatraman@nyunews.com.
Email Sunanda Gaskins at news@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
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ARTS
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The Two Worlds of a ‘Cage Fighter’ By ALEX CULLINA Contributing Writer
Joe Carman has a secret. A retired mixed martial arts fighter and the subject of Jeff Unay’s new documentary “The Cage Fighter,” Joe has broken the promise he made to his family to stay out of the ring, sneaking out at night to train. But Joe’s secret can only stay hidden for so long. When he comes home from his first match since retirement with a black eye, his wife Norinda and his four daughters are incredulous and furious that he’s broken the
COURTESY OF SUNDANCE SELECTS
Joe Carman throws a punch in Jeff Unay’s new documentary, “The Cage Fighter,” now showing at the IFC Center on Sixth Avenue.
promise he made to them. Having just celebrated his 40th birthday, they worry about the physical toll fighting has already taken and will continue to take on his body. “What’s gonna happen when you’re 45 and in a wheelchair?” one of his older daughters asks. When Joe loses a fight to a younger up-and-comer, he initially shakes it off, but quickly grows obsessed with settling the score in a rematch. He promises his family it will be his last fight, but they’re not so sure. “You’re gonna do what you want and that’s that,” says Norinda. “The Cage Fighter” is a quite physical film and can be difficult to watch at times — like when Joe collapses during training and can’t get back up, or when, in a fight, his opponent punches him in the face over and over, relentlessly. But this physicality is primarily conveyed through sound. Watching Joe train and fight is one thing, but hearing the dull thud of a body being thrown to the ground, or the visceral, crunching thump of a fist connecting is something else entirely. The documentary is shot and edited much like a narrative film, and its subjects never address the cameras or the filmmakers’ pres-
ence, making one wonder, before the truth comes out, why Joe’s family thought they were there. During fight scenes, the camera, pressed up against the chain-link fencing of the cage, hovers close to the action. But Unay, who also shot the film, takes care to capture the facial expressions and emotions of Joe and his family when he’s out of the ring as well. Why does Joe keep fighting? He knows he’s hurting the ones he loves, but he can’t seem to stop, even after Norinda threatens to leave him and take the kids with her. She wonders if he’s trying to make his father proud, or if he’s trying to use fighting as a way to regain control of his life. But the film doesn’t try to explain Joe, simply using his actions and words to tell his story. Joe says that when he’s fighting in the ring it’s “the only time I like myself.” A moving and difficult meditation on the responsibilities we have for ourselves and for our families, “The Cage Fighter” is a knockout. “The Cage Fighter” is now playing at the IFC Center, a five-minute walk from Washington Square Park. Email Alex Cullina at film@nyunews.com.
‘A New Brain’ Is a No Brainer By ALEX CULLINA Contributing Writer
Award-winning theater company The Gallery Players channeled its right brain for a revival of the 1998 musical “A New Brain.” Conceived by William Finn and James Lapine, “A New Brain” is very personal, drawn largely from Finn’s own life. The story follows Gordon Schwinn (Jesse Manocherian), an embattled and creatively blocked songwriter, who is hospitalized with a mysterious brain condition. Awaiting a diagnosis, Schwinn is forced to reevaluate existing relationships with his loved ones and grapple with artistic legacy. Running 100 minutes without intermission, “A New Brain” is laugh-out-loud funny but refreshingly light during dramatic moments. Schwinn experiences vivid hallucinations of Mr. Bungee (Jim Roumeles), the star of a children’s show that Schwinn writes for. Mr. Bungee is an always-smiling foil for Schwinn’s cloudy character –– a projection of his psyche that can’t help but get under his skin. The audience is invited to peek into Schwinn’s head when the hallucinations and a surreal, extended dream sequence reveal the character’s worry that he has failed as an artist, a friend, a lover and a son.
Manocherian as Schwinn is the clear standout of the show, telegraphing Schwinn’s exasperation, incredulity, anxiety and worry from a hospital bed with equal aplomb. Whether he is rebuffing his chronically absent boyfriend Roger, trying to calm his obsessive and controlling mother, or despairing over what might be the end of his artistic career and his life, Manocherian is a tour de force. Other strong members of the cast include Schwinn’s brisk friend and coworker Rhoda (Alyson Leigh Rosenfeld) and a nameless homeless woman with a sardonic streak (Laura Cetti). But other members
of the ensemble fail to distinguish their characters, and director and choreographer Barrie Gelles sometimes seems to be at a loss for what to do with his actors in the space of the stage. A heartfelt and sentimental comedy tackling heavy themes in innovative ways, “A New Brain” is a musical in a category of its own, but The Gallery Players’ production doesn’t always have what it takes to realize the show’s fullest potential. “A New Brain” is running now through Feb. 18. Email Alex Cullina at theater@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF THE GALLERY PLAYERS
“A New Brain” is a 1998 musical based on the book of William Finn and James Lapine that follows the life of songwriter Gordon Schwinn who is diagnosed with a brain condition. Hosted by The Gallery of Players, the play runs until Feb. 18.
COURTESY OF MATT GALLAGHER
A scene from the documentary “Sled Dogs” by Fern Levitt shows the hardships of the dog sledding competition.
Documentary Advocates to Let the ‘Sled Dogs’ Out By TRISTEN CALDERON Staff Writer
If your only point of reference for dog sledding is the 2002 Cuba Gooding Jr. movie “Snow Dogs,” documentarian Fern Levitt wants you to know that it’s not all fun and games. For the dogs involved, dog sledding is an incredibly demanding sport that has crossed the line into animal cruelty. NYU’s Student Animal Legal Defense Fund and the New York City Bar Animal Law Committee co-hosted a screening of the documentary, “Sled Dogs,” about the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The screening was followed by a Q&A with Levitt, the movie’s director; Executive Producer Arnie Zipursky and Animal Legal Defense Fund Executive Director Stephen Wells. The 2017 documentary unveils the unethical treatment of sled dogs in the mushing business and the cruel truths of Alaska’s famous Iditarod — “the last great race.” Akin to “Blackfish,” this documentary aims to raise awareness about the mistreatment of animals. The film confidently reveals issues with the dog sledding industry. However, a few technical aspects and decisions are overlooked. Some elements of the film’s production, including cinematography and music, feel generic at times. Nonetheless, the way in which the documentary immerses the viewer in the dog sledding world is incredibly interesting. The film sometimes misses the point, an admittedly difficult feat when dealing with such a topic as severe and controversial as animal cruelty. As a documentary, the film doesn’t present anything technically or artistically outstanding, but it does deliver an important truth about animal cru-
elty in dog sledding. The Q&A portion of the event allowed for deeper insight into the documentary and the filmmaker’s personal activism. Levitt, Zipursky and Wells echoed that as a result of their efforts, more people are becoming aware of the sport’s cruelty. In fact, many big funders of the industry are dropping out. They went on to say that although politicians and legislation haven’t exactly met the public’s opinion on animal cruelty, local activism and city laws are helping to save more animals. One point Levitt addressed in the Q&A was people’s selfblinding nature. Her plan was to tackle this fault directly, to shock viewers into helping these animals and to connect it to the financial impacts of these choices. “Hit ‘em where it hurts,” Levitt said of her strategy. “In the pocketbook, spread the issue like ‘Blackfish’ so that these dogs can get help.” Levitt also acknowledged the distorted love between the dog owners and their dogs: to them, the dogs are closer to property than family. “Loving something is putting its well-being first and being aware enough to take care of it,” Levitt said in a Q&A session. “But at the end of the day, people are selfish and want what they want, sometimes without even thinking.” Levitt finished by noting the censorship she’s encountered in her attempts to spread her message — many of her screenings have been denied and she was almost sued — but she is steadfast and optimistic, ready to face those challenges because she believes in her cause. Email Tristen Calderon at film@nyunews.com.
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The Misters Bring Fervor to Rockwood Music Hall By CONNOR GATESMAN Music Editor
The Misters took to the stage at Rockwood Music Hall on Saturday night, intent on showing everyone a good time, and they did not fail. The band is comprised of Michael Knitting, a Steinhardt senior in the Music Business program on vocals and rhythm guitar; Brent Crude, a CAS alumnus, on upright bass; Todd Martin, a Steinhardt sophomore in the Music Business program on drums and Jim White, a Steinhardt Music Business alumnus on lead guitar. The show kicked off with one of their signature tunes, “Trip.” The song is a dreamy jam with a definite groove. Knitting’s vocal prowess weaved through the ears of the audience from the first note, and continued to do so for the whole performance. The song had a contemplative vibe infused with a sunny tension. While it was a definite summer song, it nonetheless fit as the set’s introduction and proved itself to have a place somewhere other than your summer playlist. The guitar solo was both welcome and unique. Knitting’s singing was both controlled and powerful. The next track, “Make it Better,”
was another highlight. The band radiated a vibrant into the audience. At one point, Knitting walked through the audience nonchalantly, and began singing among the crowd. For a stunt like this to be pulled off, the band must commit to the crowd, which The Misters did seamlessly. Instrumentally, The Misters delivered here and throughout the set. The drums were punchy and on beat and combined with an agile lead guitar, which had plenty of melody to spare. The Misters also chose to cover Estelle’s pop classic “American Boy.” The band’s jazzy rhythm and blues influenced sound melded excellently with tune. It was, for the most part, an effortless and memorable cover for the band. The midpoint of the song fell victim to some tuning issues both vocally and instrumentally, but the band quickly remedied this before the next song started. The tail end of the track was also worthwhile, with an adept solo from Martin on the drums. The last song of the night, excluding the encore, was “Gsp.” The song’s title alluded to the New Jersey mall of the same name — Garden State Plaza — and elicited some definite recognition from the audience.
However, the tune amounted to much more than a mall. The song hinted at escapist desires and dreamy road trips leading to the unexpected. The plucked guitar interlude brought joy to the audience’s ears, with clean reverberation permeating the venue. The audience wasted no time in demanding an encore, and The Misters obliged. The last song “Off My Mind (In the Summertime)” came as a bittersweet close to the set. The song had a quick pace and infectious rhythm which combined with well executed jams and riffs to form an intoxicating concoction of music that was incredibly easy to imbibe. The show was a great display of talent for the band. The instrumentals, percussion and vocals were all fantastic. Song after song, the audience was in total sync with the music. It was a genuinely impressive experience all around from a band with a definitively distinct style. You can find their latest extended play, “Complicated People,” on iTunes and all major streaming services. Email Connor Gatesman at cgatesman@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY CONNOR GATESMAN
The Misters, a band comprised of all NYU students, performed at Rockwood Music Hall on Feb. 3. Michael Knitting (center), a Steinhardt senior in the Music Business program; Brent Crude (right), a CAS alumnus; Todd Martin, a sophomore in Music Business (right center) and Jim White, an NYU Music Business alumnus (left).
Thanks, You Too: Responding to ‘Have A Nice Day’ By TRISTEN CALDERON Staff Writer
Liu Liu’s second animated feature, “Have A Nice Day,” centers around Xiao Zhang (voiced by Zhu Changlong), a local gang driver who stole one million renminbi — the official Chinese currency — from his boss to repair his girl-
friend’s failed plastic surgery. The story is told sequentially, but from numerous perspectives as multiple characters stumble upon and track down the money. “Have A Nice Day” has been met with mixed reviews thus far; the film possesses a mixture of welcomed, creative instinct but also some unorthodox choices that may alienate
VIA TWITTER.COM
“Have a Nice Day” is a new animated film by Liu Jian that focuses on the life of a local gang driver Xiao Zhang, voiced by Zhu Changlong. The film is now playing at the Angelika Film Center.
moviegoers. The film’s narrative and atmosphere have a silent boldness which could be interpreted as devilish intelligence or alluring. The art direction is by far the movie’s most gripping aspect. Liu’s ability to establish a scene and design a character is remarkably fresh. The depicted locations feel real in a unique way. With solid lines, artistic detail and well-balanced use of light and shadow, Liu creates a somber and lived-in snapshot of China. The animation, however, does not maintain the appeal. Liu apparently completed most of the animation independently, resulting in the film’s three-year production time and explaining the noticeable lack of fluidity. Simple actions and motions became even more simplified, and the slow-burning, opening act did not benefit. Unrefined animation made it more difficult to become truly engaged in the film. The film’s sound design and sparse, but intuitive, use of music, however, does contribute to its bizarre charm. None of the vocal performances were outstanding; some delivery seemed a little too restrained. Regardless, simple sound effects were effective and did not divert attention from the narrative, and whether by choice or constraint, the film did benefit from tasteful violence. Also noteworthy is the film’s deviant dialogue; the majority
of interactions and observations made by characters have the same confident mystique and strange simplicity as the visuals. Liu’s writing presented perspectives only slightly skewed, enough to elicit reaction but not to distract. The film’s narrative of intersecting paths, fresh dialogue and independent vibe has drawn comparison to Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” Possibly inspired by or having no relation whatsoever, both films present a stylistic normalization of crime and criminals along with a view on the con-
Though people think themselves remarkably complex, these characters, with their simple motives and actions, deliver a simplified rendition of humanity. It becomes easier to find oneself reflected in their unawareness to the domino effects of human action. From its colorful and random music video scene, to the live action sequence of ripples on water, “Have A Nice Day” is laden with symbolism, imagery, commentary and plenty more to ponder. Liu’s simple story and unique style are what initially drew me
“
Though people think themselves remarkably complex, these characters, with their simple motives and actions, deliver a simplif ied rendition of humanity.
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cept of destiny. Like “Pulp Fiction” and other similar works, there are countless and often unknowable effects and consequences to one’s actions, and whether fate or humans decide how these actions lead to wealth, freedom, death and everything else, is a question to always keep in mind.
to the film; they are also what kept me intrigued and entertained throughout. “Have A Nice Day” is now playing at the Angelika Film Center, a five-minute walk from Washington Square Park.
Email Tristen Calderon at f ilm@nyunews.com.
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Who Served Looks at the Grammys By AMANDA BURKETT Contributing Writer
A few days following the Grammys, I have officially processed the award show and the stunning outfits that never fail to preface it. Today, I am offering up the red carpet ensembles that truly stood out in their originality — regardless of the fact that often, these events result in countless, forgettable outfits that leave us uninspired. After analyzing both men and women at the 2018 Grammys, I wanted to talk about the outfits I found to be crazy in good way. Although these looks may rub some the wrong way, they have certainly left their marks on the fashion world.
LANA DEL REY IN CUSTOM GUCCI
Lana Del Rey has walked her fair share of red carpets, but unlike her previous looks, this ensemble was out of this world. Usually the artist downplays her appearance, but this was an exception. For the 2018 Grammys, Lana Del Rey worked with Gucci Creative Director Alessandro Michele on a custom gown — seemingly inspired by the 1940s movie “Ziegfeld Girl.” This look
was almost comically in character with the star’s persona, embodying her romantic outlook on old Hollywood and stardom that is always present in her music and personal style. The star-covered crown on her head certainly boosted the ethereal aesthetic that Lana Del Rey always seems to own.
CAMERON DUDDY, MARK WYSTRACH AND JESS CARSON OF MIDLAND IN RBENNETT & CO.
Typically, music’s role in fashion is reserved for hip-hop and commercial pop artists, and it seems that country performers are often left out of the mix. One can assume this is because of the seemingly stagnant nature of country music’s style — Midland, however, is an exception to this rule. The band has earned buzz from the fashion community for its authentic, beautiful and brave ensembles at this year’s Grammys. The trio wore custom suits by RBennett & Co., with commissioned embroidery by a local artist, Ft. Lonesome, in Austin, Texas. What made this look so impressive was the attention to detail on each suit, as well as the unity of
structure combined with the unique qualities of each suit. In these outfits, the group not only stood out but also showed a borderline comic and stylistic loyalty to its craft.
ANDRA DAY IN VICTORIA HAYES
Andra Day is a red carpet icon; her style is ever-changing and limitless. Day often leans toward past stylistic periods instead of current trends, while never doing the same look twice. For the 2018 Grammys, Day was true to herself and stood out among a sea of typical gowns. Her decision to opt for a beehive hairstyle was a complete blast from the past, channeling Patsy Stone — a 1990s fictional character from the television show, “Absolutely Fabulous.” Her gown’s unique color combination of lilac and ruby red was also impossible to ignore. The structure of the gown was a flawless suiting silhouette, and consisted of sharp lapels, gorgeous buttons and perfectly sized shoulder pads. Suiting for women on the red carpet is a timeless and empowered look. The Victoria Hayes take on a classic ensemble incorporated sex appeal while
Starting Fresh after Hurricane Maria
STAFF PHOTO BY JENDAYI OMOWALE
Salome Ramirez, a CAS junior part of the Hurricane Maria Assistance Program, discusses the struggles her and her family went through during the national disaster. Ramirez continues her studies in journalism at NYU with a minor in Psychology.
By JENDAYI OMOWALE Staff Writer
Salome Ramirez sits among her cohort of fellow students, exchanging introductions, laughter and stories about their first few weeks in the city, effortlessly switching between English and Spanish. Ramirez and her friends were at
the Puerto Rican Student Mixer on Wednesday, an event held by the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs for visiting Puerto Rican students who have recently arrived at NYU as part of the Hurricane Maria Assistance Program. The program provided full scholarships for students at accredited Puerto Rican universities to attend NYU during the Spring 2018 semester. Although students still had to pay tuition to their Puerto Rican universities. “It’s like a whole new world,” Ramirez said. “If you would’ve asked me four months ago if I thought I was going to be in New York, or NYU, I would say that’s impossible, that can’t be, but now making this change, it feels like we can take our minds out of the disaster.” Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, 2017. Four months later, the island is still grappling with the destruction made in the wake of the category five hurricane, with many homes still lacking electricity and access to necessities like running water. She said that her refrigerator stopped working, trees fell in her backyard, water came into the house and ruined furniture, among other things. Ramirez said that her family and her home situation were OK in comparison to that of other people’s. “Water was coming from the walls,” she said. “It was crazy, it was like a fountain of water was coming out of the plugs.” Ramirez attended the Universi-
dad del Sagrado Corazon in Puerto Rico’s capital, San Juan where she studied Journalism. She said that her schooling was disrupted as a result of the hurricanes. “The air conditioning fell, trees fell, the roof of the basketball court, it fell too,” Ramirez said. “So we spent the last months of school [taking] classes in tents because there was no electricity in the university.” Graduating from high school at 15 in Colombia, Ramirez set her sights on a United States-affiliated school after taking a gap year. Her entire family only speaks Spanish, so she would go to an English academy after normal school hours to learn and perfect her English. “I’m the [social media editor] of a journalist group of an association, the press of the university.” Ramirez said. “I work for the university’s TV station. I was the host of a local morning show.” Ramirez is continuing her journalistic studies at NYU, while also minoring in Psychology. During her first two weeks in New York City, Ramirez enjoyed visiting the Museum of Modern Art, the Rockefeller Center and Radio City. She is especially fond of Queens. “A lot of Colombians are there, wherever you look there is a bakery or restaurant,” she said. “It’s like little Colombia. You go in there, you know you are going to find something Colombian. So it is really comforting knowing at any time I could just grab … some Colombian dish.” Email Jendayi Omowale at features@nyunews.com.
VIA TWITTER.COM
Andra Day in a custom Victoria Hayes suit. The Grammys are an annual chance for celebs to show off their unique style, and this year did not disappoint. Cameron Duddy, Mark Wystrach and Jess Carson of Midland in an embroidered floral ensemble from RBennett & Co.
maintaining a powerful presence on the red carpet.
BIG SEAN IN SALVATORE FERRAGAMO
Big Sean’s red carpet look, although subtle, definitely made a statement. His stylist steered clear of the tuxedo option that many men cling to and went for a retro look instead. The turtleneck layered underneath a sports coat and topped with
an overcoat was a nod to the unique menswear of the ’70s. What made his outfit more current was his footwear, combined with his silver jewelry and the mix of black and blue. Black and blue together is often seen as a fashion faux pas, but the placement of the two colors in this look was far from awkward and undeniably fresh. Email Amanda Burkett at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Celebrating the Year of the Dog in Style By SHERRY YAN Staff Writer
The Lunar New Year, one of the most important holidays for China and other Asian nations, kicks off on Friday, Feb. 16. Chinatown and other neighborhoods in New York City are hosting many festive events for the new year, so keep your eye out for these upcoming celebrations. Ring in the new year with a bang by going to the New Year’s Day Firecracker Ceremony & Cultural Festival on Feb. 16, hosted by Better Chinatown USA. Fireworks are essential to celebrating the new year, since the loud bangs are meant to ward off evil spirits. It takes place at Sara D. Roosevelt Park on Grand Street at noon. Afterwards, you can experience a lively festival featuring lion dances, drumming, dance performances, giveaways and delicious food. If you are sensitive to smoke, attend the Lunar New Year Parade and Festival instead, which will be held on Feb. 25. The parade will start at the intersection of Mott and Canal Street at 1 p.m., then cross East Broadway toward the Manhattan Bridge and finish on Grand Street near Sara D. Roosevelt Park. The streets will be bustling with elaborate floats, marching bands, diverse performances — including traditional lion and dragon dances — magicians and acrobats. Make sure to hit up the food vendors selling delicious Asian snacks such as pork buns and rice cakes. New York City Lunar New Year Committee is presenting a series of events from Feb. 13 to 20. With the theme, Year of Dog, Leap into Happiness, the events will
run in many iconic New York City landmarks. The Empire State Building is going to display a light show on Feb. 13 and 15. At Pier 84 on the Hudson River, there will be a free Fireworks Spectacular at 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 14. From Feb. 15 to 19, you can also explore the Fantastic Art China exhibition in the Metropolitan Pavilion. The free student’s day at the Lobby of David Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center on Feb. 16 is another event to look forward to. Students from the five boroughs will collaborate with China’s Central Academy of Fine Arts, exhibiting the Lunar New Year Scroll. Hundreds of artworks by students will be presented on the scroll, generating a unique fusion of Chinese and American culture. Food is incredibly important to the Lunar New Year celebration, and many restaurants in New York are going to offer festive specials. Tuome at 536 East Fifth St. will prepare dishes only available on Feb.16 and 17, including spring rolls, lucky long noodles and whole fish dishes. Near the parade route, Xi’an Famous Foods, Spicy Village and Great N.Y. Noodletown are also good places to grab lunch and take a break from the crowds. Lunar New Year celebrations are happening all across the city, not just in Manhattan. Smaller Chinatowns are located in places like Flushing and Brooklyn, where you will find equally exciting celebrations. No matter how or where you celebrate the new year, make sure you take advantage of all the fun opportunities the city has to offer. Email Sherry Yan at features@nyunews.com.
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Learning How to Cook in New York City, Properly By ANAH OOZEERALLY Contributing Writer
From learning the basics to perfecting recipes, New York City offers classes which accommodate any level of culinary talents. Whether you are looking for an activity to do with friends or just trying to learn something new, there is something for everyone. Here is a list of some classes in the city that are quite popular.
FOR THE BEGINNER: THE BROOKLYN KITCHEN
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Rooney Mara with micro-bangs. Love them or hate them, micro-bangs have become undeniably trendy in the last few months, with many celebrities gracing the red carpet with the cut.
Fashion’s Biggest Hair Trend: Micro-Bangs By ZULEYMA SANCHEZ Deputy Social Media Editor
In fashion, less is more. But does this rule apply to hair trends? NYU students are notorious for their trendy and fashion-forward style. It’s not unusual to walk into a morning lecture and be in awe of the chic looks being sported with an enviable degree of effortlessness. Some looks become campus staples — Adidas Superstar, anyone? — while others are best left to the pros and admired from afar. The look currently making a recurring appearance on campus: micro-bangs. Micro-bangs, also known as baby bangs, are the latest hair trend to take over red carpets, runways and the streets of New York. Where traditional bangs skim right at or below the eyebrow, micro-bangs are characterized by a distinct bluntness and end much higher on the forehead. While the hairdo might seem like something only the most distinguished trend-setter can pull off, its diverse fan base has proven its versatility. At NYU, the trend was first noticed among the artsy and indie crowd — even coined as “Gallatin bangs” — but its proliferation into mainstream media has been picked up after celebrities such as Emma Roberts, Bella Hadid, Sofia Boutella and Beyonce have rocked the look. However, with growing popularity, it becomes increasingly difficult to pinpoint the trend’s origins or why the hairstyle is associated with certain places and people.
Online beauty publications such as Refinery29 have described the look as sci-fi — a result of the reiterated idea that it is a modern concept. On the contrary, fashion’s tendency to borrow inspiration from the past should make it no surprise that micro bangs can be traced to the 1930s and are irrevocably tied to style icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Bettie Page. The trend’s origins help reiterate its longevity in beauty culture while reinforcing the temporary nature of all hair trends which come and go with time. Perhaps the popularity of micro -bangs is best assessed within the context of the moments in time when they resurface. It is no secret that we are in a time when women are reclaiming power and reshaping femininity in all areas, including fashion. Therefore, whether one is a fan or a skeptic, the look — like all looks — must be regarded and considered as a bold statement of self-expression. At the end of day, micro-bangs add fearlessness to anyone bold enough to embrace it. Traditional bangs are already considered one of the riskier hair endeavors so, undoubtedly, micro-bangs are a powerful statement. And because signature style has always been a product of those who have dared to step beyond conventions, sporting micro-bangs can be seen both as an aesthetic choice or as a way of saying: I’m a risk taker, and I’m proud of it. Email Zuleyma Sanchez at bstyle@nyunews.com.
With two different locations, The Brooklyn Kitchen offers a copious number of classes for all levels of culinary skill. Classes start as low as $20 to learn basic knife skills, or you could take classes in different specializations ranging from making doughnuts to learning about Cambodian, Venezuelan or Moroccan cuisine. There is something for everyone here.
IF YOU LOVE ITALIAN FOOD: LA SCUOLA DI EATALY
The cooking classes offered by Eataly near the Flatiron Building specialize in every aspect of Italian food. Most classes are focused on different kinds of pasta, starting at $50.
IF YOU MISS A HOME COOKED MEAL: LEAGUE OF KITCHENS
The League of Kitchens is a unique, intimate cooking experience that actually takes place in someone’s home. Located all over the city, immigrants will teach you how to make food from their own cuisine. Not only will you get an immersive cultural experience, you also get a home-cooked meal. Chefs come from countries like Nepal to Bangladesh and more, so you can learn about a new type of cuisine or just get a taste of home starting at $110.
IF YOU LIKE SWEETS: L’ÉCOLE VALRHONA BROOKLYN
In these classes you will be able to work closely alongside renowned pastry chefs to create all types of sweet treats from handmade candy to decadent cakes, cookies to pastries. Prices range between $99 to $429.
IF LOOKING FOR A FUN BIRTHDAY SPOT: MILK BAR
Classes depend on the type of cake you want to make, but in each class, you learn what makes the cakes so special. Milk Bar is a great spot to have a birthday celebration or just to hang out with friends. For $95, you can make their famous Crack Pie and B’day Truffles.
IF YOU LOVE COFFEE: TOBY’S ESTATE OR BLUE BOTTLE COFFEE
If you ever wanted to learn what characteristics good coffee has, Toby’s Estate offers an intimate hour and a half coffee cupping — the practice of observing the tastes and aromas of brewed coffee — class for only $10. The class is cut at a maximum of five people, so you’re sure to get attention and personal feedback from the chef. Blue Bottle Coffee offers free coffee cupping classes in its Park Slope cafe in Brooklyn. On the flip side, you can take classes led by one of the baristas in its Greenwich Street location for $20 to learn the ins and outs of making the ultimate cup of coffee. You even get to take home a bag of coffee beans.
IF YOU LIKE VEGETARIAN OR VEGAN FOOD: NATURAL GOURMET INSTITUTE
Classes are focused on cultivating flavors from all natural foods. It specializes in vegetarian and vegan meals. In each class, you create a multi-course meal that you get to enjoy once you’re finished cooking. This class costs $135. Although some of the prices are somewhat steep for an introductory class on cooking, perhaps it is worth it to go through the basics. So next time you miss a homecooked meal, perhaps a cooking class could serve as the perfect remedy. Email Anah Oozeerally at dining@nyunews.com.
Soul Food and the City By FRANZISKA WINTERLING Contributing Writer
Let’s face it: February is here, and our Jan. 1 clean eating resolutions have already dissolved. Between deadlines and freezing cold days, we need one thing to keep us going: soul food. Nothing wards off the biting weather like a nice warm dish that reminds us of our childhood, of coming home after playing in the snow or of snuggling up by the fireplace. No food meets that criteria quite like mac and cheese. Just to be clear, I am not talking about weirdly colored, boxed pow-
PHOTO BY FRANZI WINTERLING
Fresh & Co. is collabing with Beecher’s Handmade Cheese for a special edition, super cheesy Beecher’s Cheesy Mac & Cheese, available at all 15 locations in New York City. The seasonal special debuted on Jan. 9.
ders but the real thing. I’m referring to stringy-creamy cheese sauce, pasta cooked to just the right point and everyone’s favorite topping — bacon. Are you hungry yet? Well, I’ll take you along to our newest, cheesiest discovery in the city. The hottest new mac and cheese destination is — insert drumroll please — Fresh & Co. Freshly debuted on Jan. 9, is an exciting new addition to the popular chain’s menu. Now, I know what you might be thinking. A clean, fast-casual restaurant with sparse arrangements of shrubbery and plenty of salads — how could that simultaneously house creamy, comforting mac and cheese? The secret is its current seasonal cooperation with Beecher’s Handmade Cheese. Combined with locally and sustainably sourced ingredients, Fresh & Co promises super cheesy mac and cheese between $4.95 and $6.95. Of course, I had to try it. The moment that the bowl of pasta, cheese sauce, extra cheese curds, thick-cut maple-glazed bacon and Trees Knees spicy maple syrup found itself before, I already felt a little more at home. And that smell. Cheesy for sure — thanks to Beecher’s flagship cheddar— and on top of that, I was excited by the sweetness of maple syrup and the, well, bacon-ness of the bacon. And not just me. With a slight un-
dertone of jealousy, my table neighbor remarked, “That mac and cheese looks so good,“ looking down at her own salad with disappointment. That’s how New Year’s resolutions come an end. I have to admit, eating at a healthyish fast-casual chain, I felt the need to add some greens to my meal as well. I went for the Winter Foragers’ Cobb Salad, which was just delicious with rainbow carrots, brussel sprouts, apple, walnuts and Beecher’s ‘New Woman’ cheese. However, this is about mac and cheese, so here is my take on that: my neighbor was right, when her expert glance said “so good.” My favorite part? There was plenty of flavorful, cheesy sauce to really indulge in. And I am not just talking cheese-flavor, but actual cheese in the sauce with curds on top. The maple syrup was also a perfect complement, adding a hint of sweet and spicy to the mix. In short, soul food heaven. Even as I’m writing, I can’t help but crave it, so let me keep this short: if you love mac and cheese, give the Fresh & Co seasonal dish a try. Take it to go for your lunch break or enjoy it in the coziness of your room. And make sure you think of your roommates, too — you don’t want too many jealous glances shooting in your direction. Email Franziska Winterling at dining@nyunews.com.
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OPINION
nyunews.com Edited by Tyler Crews opinion@nyunews.com
CULTURE
Don’t Call Off ‘Call Me By Your Name’ By JULIA ELIA LESCHI Contributing Writer
LGBTQ representation in mainstream media has improved drastically. Not only have we seen more gay movies, but these movies have also dominated award ceremonies. The most recent installment of this streak of success for LGBTQ films is Luca Guadagnino’s movie adaptation of the novel “Call Me By Your Name.” The movie has garnered undeniable success inside and outside of the LGBTQ audience group. Despite this, a dissonance has emerged from within the gay community itself. While many wish to see LGBTQ actors cast in LGBTQ roles, the battle for gay visibility isn’t one that will be won
by casting homosexuals in homosexual roles; it is one that will be won by fighting to get more gay people working in the industry and behind the camera. Some have declined to watch “Call Me By Your Name,” a story of the romantic relationship between 17-year-old Elio and graduate student Oliver, whose paths meet one summer in Italy. This is because Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, who play the protagonists, are presumably straight. The justification is related to representation and visibility. LGBTQ artists are still being oppressed by systemic injustices, and need to show the world that they are here. However, the issue for gay representation is very different from
that of transgender representation, or representation of people of color. Casting a man to play a transgender woman, like Eddie Redmayne in “The Danish Girl,” or whitewashing a character of color by casting a white actress, such as in “Ghost In The Shell,” raises very different questions. These instances erase certain bodies from the visual landscape of entertainment. But when a straight actor performs the part of a
gay person, they are doing exactly what is asked of them: acting. In the same way gay actors can believably play the role of a straight person, like Ellen Page did in “Juno” and “Whip It,” straight actors can successfully take on the role of a gay individual. The notion that, in order to believably act out a love story between two men, one needs to have experienced such love in real life undermines the very concept of acting. That is concerning because despite the rise in queer content being produced, the number of gay characters in film and TV is, while increasing, still dramatically inferior to that of straight characters. In an industry in which coming out remains a risky career move, gay actors and actresses shouldn’t have to fear be-
ing restricted to playing gay roles. For this to not be an issue, straight actors should not be prevented from accepting gay roles. In our own Tisch School of the Arts, students are preparing to take on the world of entertainment. Future gay actors should not be caged into any roles, and future gay directors and writers should produce the stories that matter to them with the knowledge that the casting is truly open. Chalamet and Hammer’s performances in “Call Me By Your Name” were admirable. If you still want to boycott “Call Me By Your Name,” don’t do it because of the casting. Email Julia Elia Leschi at opinion@nyunews.com.
UNIVERSITY LIFE
A Puerto Rican Perspective on Coming to NYU By IGNANGELI SALINAS-MUÑIZ Contributing Writer
Speaking Spanglish in one of the dining halls, sitting next to you in class or walking by you with a GPS app pulled up on their phones, eyes searching: new Boricuas are here at NYU. When Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, it severely damaged the island’s universities and left students in a state of desperation. However, out of the disaster came an opportunity when NYU announced the Hurricane Maria Assistance Program, a semester-long scholarship for a select number of students. Thanks to the program, this spring semester, NYU has received an influx of more than 56 visiting Puerto Rican
students ready to take on New York City, and I am one of them. On Sept. 20, I was in Washington D.C. as part of the Córdova and Fernós Congressional Internship Program, a program funded by the Puerto Rican legislature to promote relationships between the two governments. On Sept. 19, I called my mom and promised to talk the next day. I would never have imagined that all communications systems would crumble and that I wouldn’t hear her voice for over a week, after Hurricane Maria hit on Sept. 20. With communications, electricity and water systems non-operational, the island blacked out and was unreachable. Most of the universities remained closed until Oct. 31. I was lucky because
the electricity arrived at my house a day before I returned to the island from D.C. People lit fireworks in the neighborhood when they saw the light bulbs turn on because they had been without power for 78 days. Others were not so fortunate. Many students in NYU’s Hurricane Maria Assistance Program still don’t have power back home and had to face the difficulties of submitting an online appli-
cation without access to electricity or the internet. Even before the hurricane, our pursuit of higher education was a struggle. Last spring, Puerto Rico’s Fiscal Control Board decided that it would cut more than half of The University of Puerto Rico’s budget. Students from the 11 campuses met in an assembly, and the majority decided to hold a strike that lasted 54 days. When the strike ended, students continued their semester until mid-July and started school again in August. Then, in September, Hurricane Maria hit the island. Libraries were flooded, classrooms were destroyed and paths were blocked. As a result of these challenges, students were delayed in their schoolwork. Many of my friends back home are still finishing their fi-
nals and their fall 2017 semester, and the scholarship recipients at NYU are balancing their schoolwork here with finishing their courses back home. The emotional and physical stress that these students have been through is enormous. They have been showered with rainwater, they have picked up bits of their home, they have traveled hours to make a call and they have seen political officials, for whom they had no power to vote for, decide how much help they would receive. However, they and I have felt the kindness and support of the NYU administration since our feet touched campus, and for that, we are grateful. Email Ignangeli Salinas-Muñiz at opinion@nyunews.com.
POLITICS
Three Takeaways from Trump’s State of the Union Address By ALISON ZIMMERMAN Deputy Opinions Editor
On Tuesday, Jan. 30, President Donald Trump delivered the annual State of the Union address on the Senate floor. Trump primarily offered slightly watered down, and remarkably coherent, versions of his greatest hits — build the wall, America first, blame Barrack Obama for anything and everything. The speech also offered some important insight into Trump’s dark American vision. Here is a list of three things I took away from the State of the Union address.
CHRISTIANITY AND PATRIOTISM ARE TRUMP’S STANDARDS FOR AMERICANNESS
For the president of a country with a constitution that claims no national re-
ligion, Trump spoke an awful lot about God. “As long as we have confidence in our values, faith in our citizens and trust in our God, we will never fail,” was a thematic sentiment throughout his speech. Trump also took pains to celebrate overt displays of patriotism, citing his guest 12-year-old Preston Sharp, who undertook a project to place 40,000 flags on the graves of veterans as an example of “why we proudly stand for our national anthem.” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) slammed the charade, insisting “whenever somebody pulls out patriotism, uses it in a way to condemn people for their patriotic acts, how they choose to show their patriotism, this is a divisive way to go about it.”
TRUMP IS COMPLETELY INSENSITIVE TO IMMIGRANTS
Trump laid out his so-called
immigration stances: “Americans are dreamers too.”
TRUMP IS READY FOR WAR
“four-pillar plan” on immigration with the usual promises — building the wall, cracking down on visa lotteries, ending chain migration and offering citizenship to some undocumented immigrants. But no quote better summarizes Trump’s complete lack of empathy for illegal immigrants, particularly the hundreds of thousands of “Dreamers” who were brought here illegally as children, than his buffoonish justification for his hardline
The second half of Trump’s address took on an ominous tone as he spoke in vague terms about North Korea, Iran and military power in general. His claim that “unmatched power is the surest means of our true and great defense” was resonant. Perhaps the most startling point of the whole speech was Trump’s announcement that he signed a new executive order to keep Guantanamo Bay open. In the past, United Nations human rights experts have urged the United States to close the military prison, which uses torture to obtain information from prisoners. The Obama Administration made strides to free hundreds of abused detainees incarcerated in
Guantanamo Bay, but Trump made clear his intentions to reverse that progress. He was even more hawkish in addressing North Korea. He argued that “complacency and concessions only invite aggression and provocation,” and knocked North Korea’s “depraved character.” Some points more surprising than others, Trump’s State of the Union was a profound look into his priorities and philosophies as a leader. And for the most part, they were hardly satisfactory. As young people and as voters, we must be attentive and critical of the words spoken by our elected leaders — and the implicit meaning behind them — and set higher standards for our politicians. Email Alison Zimmerman at azimmerman@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
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OPINION
Edited by Tyler Crews opinion@nyunews.com
UNIVERSITY LIFE
STAFF EDITORIAL
Syllabi Feature Cookie-Cutter Diversity By DIYA RADHAKRISHNA Contributing Writer
NYU is diverse, statistically speaking. With more international students than any other school in the United States, being global becomes more than a fact for the university — it is a responsibility. This responsibility for global representation extends to academics as well and is acknowledged in the university’s mission statement for diversity. As an international student in the Global Liberal Studies program, I am impressed to see efforts toward diverse representation in my own syllabi, which included both Plato and Confucius, both Nizami and Shakespeare. On paper, NYU seems to believe that all people, and all texts, are created equal. However, flaws in the system become apparent when one looks at the fine print, or beyond the syllabus and into the classroom. Despite reading texts from all over the world, from what we classify as the East and the West, discussions on these texts differ in their timing, tone and content. The way texts from parts of the world that are not considered Western are handled during discussions shows a reluctance to jump to conclusions that inadvertently creates a plethora of unanswered questions. For a professor to say,
“I can’t answer that question because it is not my area of expertise” is a perfectly logical, even respectable thing to do. But the fact remains that the question is still unanswered — and this is where a systematic imbalance comes in. The current de-focus on Eurocentric texts, the effort to study the foundation of more than just Western civilization, is a very recent one. We are the generation with the most education in cultural inclusivity. While our professors may be very well-educated, the definition of well-educated, until a few years ago, by default has meant well-educated in foundational texts and ideas of Western society. This means that while current faculty try to teach works from Asia, Africa and Europe, their area of expertise is still usually Europe. Because of this we spend more time on Homer than on Confucius, simply because the professor knows more about Homer. There are more unanswered questions regarding Kalidasa than Plato because no one
wants to make sweeping generalizations about the Hindu religion, and not many have as thorough an understanding of ancient India as they do of ancient Greece. As students, we see the Western world with more clarity than we see the East — which also inadvertently perpetuates the stereotype that anything Eastern is mystical and exotic, as compared to the more rational and traditional West. The fact is that representing diverse works in one’s academic agenda is more complicated than simply inserting a text from South East Asia or Latin America into a designated slot on a syllabus. In our attempts to diversify our syllabi, we sometimes forget that cultural representation is more than different names on the same page — it consists of equal focus on each of those names. What we have today is a kind of cookie-cutter diversity in our course outlines. In trying to make sure all parts of the world are equally represented, in trying to treat all texts the same, the lack of expertise and experience creates a situation where the unique shape and flavor of every culture on that syllabus is not truly savored. As a university, we are finally in a place where we have all the right ingredients — but it is the way we use them that counts. Email Diya Radhakrishna at opinion@nyunews.com.
HEALTHCARE
Flu Shots Should be Contagious By TYLER CREWS Opinion Editor
This flu season was declared the worse flu epidemic — with the child death toll now reaching 53 people — since 2009’s swine flu, an H1N1 virus. However, there seems to be no concrete cure to stop the spread. Although NYU has not been too affected so far, our community is at risk because the flu has yet to peak. NYU’s Student Health Center offers free vaccinations for all students, but this vaccination has never been on the list of compulsory vaccinations for student attendance. The severity of this flu season begs the question, should the flu vaccination become mandatory? This season, people have doubts surrounding the vaccination, seeing that the 2017 to 2018 effectivity rate has been estimated at 17 percent. Flu vaccinations usually turn ineffective since the vaccines are viruses grown in chicken eggs and then killed, making them inactive. The body is then trained to prevent the virus from attaching to cells, without any serious risk since the virus is inactive. The problem is that during their growth in the egg, the vaccines are given time to mutate from their original structure. The H3N2 strain mutates at a faster rate than others, and
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does not have the same structure as the virus it was designed to replicate. While the current effectivity rate may sway some otherwise, this year’s H3N2 strain should come as a sign that flu shots should be mandatory for NYU students. This influenza is so threatening because it has simultaneously hit everywhere in the country. NYU’s diverse student population doesn’t just come from all over the country, but from all around the world. Our students are practically vessels for virus transaction, especially considering that we all have returned from our winter breaks bringing back memories and germs galore. Last spring, NYU School of Medicine Psychiatry Professor Leonore Tiefer was fired because she had not yet been vaccinated, which is against NYU Langone’s
policy. This demonstrates that requiring the flu vaccine is not a foreign concept within NYU administration. NYU also requires that students receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccines, as well as the meningococcal meningitis vaccine, showing that the university not opposed to making vaccinations mandatory for students. Yes, the flu vaccine is not as consistently effective as those aforementioned vaccines; however, if it improves the chances even marginally better that members of our community will be healthy, then why shouldn’t NYU require it? According to The New York Times, even if a flu vaccine reaches only one percent of absolute risk reduction, one in every 100 people will be immune. With around 56,000 students, faculty and staff members, a vaccine would hypothetically prevent 560 members of our community from getting the flu. If we combine mandatory vaccination with increased sanitation efforts, we will have at least some protection against future waves of the flu, rather than leaving the NYU community out in the cold.
Email Tyler Crews at tcrews@nyunews.com.
Let’s Shed Light on Addiction Services at NYU
While NYU offers numerous addiction services, they are difficult to find since they’re not listed under NYU’s campus or student resources. Although NYU has zero tolerance for illegal substances on campus, it should remain aware of the fact that many still struggle with substance abuse and addiction. Therefore, treatment services should be made much more visible. Resources available for students battling addiction include support groups and a sober living community; however information on the groups is difficult to find and the sober living community has limitations. Students who need these services should not have to search for help, but rather should have help made available to them at the beginning of their time at NYU. Substance abuse and addiction is highly prevalent on college campuses, but many of the symptoms go undetected and are instead written off as a part of college culture. Common symptoms of substance abuse are drastic changes in grades and academic performance, unexplained changes in behavior and recurring memory loss — what many students call “blackouts.” On average, 31 percent of college students report symptoms of alcohol abuse. In addition, on an average day in 2016, 11,338 full-time college students used cocaine, 9,808 students used hallucinogens and 4,570 used heroin. The need for recovery services is evident, and NYU does offer resources for students struggling with addiction or mental illness, but hardly anyone knows about them. There are two weekly groups that meet to help students with their recovery. Recovery and Me is a group for sober students who meet weekly, and offers an opportunity to speak openly about substance abuse. Choices and Change is another support group for students to discuss their substance use and identify concerns with their own behavior. While both of these groups are a positive resource for students battling substance abuse, NYU makes little effort to inform students of their existence. Information about the groups can only be found deep within the Wellness Center’s website, and it is unlikely that they are advertised at all on campus. We have yet to see a flyer. A great way to publicize these resources for incoming NYU students could be to require confirmation of receipt after they take the compulsory AlcoholEdu course. Another resource NYU offers to students is CHOICES, a substance-free residential floor in Coral Tower to help students recovering from addiction in a supportive environment. Although on the list of themed engagement communities, as well as in the guide to first-year living, CHOICES is no available to freshmen, seeing that it is located in a solely upperclassmen dorm. Living in CHOICES requires an application, which means that students seeking help can be turned away or the program could run out of space. NYU’s efforts to help students struggling with addiction should be recognized — many other schools don’t offer resources or aid for students in this position. However, to reach the maximum potential of these services, NYU must make them widely available and easily accessible. Addiction is shrouded in stigma, and, although unintentional, NYU plays into that stigma by keeping these programs under the radar. NYU has the responsibility to take a more proactive approach in promoting these programs; this can be done via social media, large event gatherings and more. In addition, a publicized open position on recovery may encourage more people to utilize the support groups that NYU provides. Email the WSN Editorial Board at opinion@nyunews.com EDITORIAL BOARD: Tyler Crews (Chair), Paola Nagovitch (Co-chair), Alison Zimmerman (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
Send mail to: 75 Third Ave. #SB07, New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title. WSN does
not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
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SPORTS Keeping up with the
Edited by Maddie Howard sports@nyunews.com
BOBCATS
Men’s Volleyball Feb. 8
Women’s Basketball Feb. 9
Wrestling Feb. 10
vs. Baruch College
vs. University of Chicago
vs Case Western Reserve University
UConn Men’s Basketball Undergoes NCAA Investigation By WARNER RADCLIFF Contributing Writer
The University of Connecticut’s men’s basketball program is under an NCAA mandated investigation for rules violations. The university has not officially announced the reason for the inquiry; however, internal sources have informed media outlets that the focus regards to recruiting. UConn President Susan Herbst confirmed the NCAA’s inquiry into the program and assured that the university will fully comply with the investigation. “UConn is absolutely committed to a culture of compliance and intends to fully cooperate, as always, with the NCAA,” Herbst said in a statement. “We will do so in a thorough and transparent manner reflective of the model athletic and academic institution we continually strive to be.” Similarly, head coach Kevin Ollie has not provided any information beyond the confirmation of the investigation and acknowledgment of the university’s compliance. Following a blowout loss to conference rival Temple University on Jan. 28, Ollie claimed that the program’s priority of athletic excellence, regardless of the underperforming season, has not been inhibited. “With regard to the inquiry directed at our men’s basketball program, I want to express that we will cooperate fully with NCAA as this process moves forward as we are committed to promoting an atmosphere of compliance with NCAA regulations,” Ollie said in a statement. “As we head into the final weeks of the season, our total focus will be on helping our team improve and reach its highest potential. To that end, we have no further comment on this matter.” This is not the first time the program
has undergone investigation for its recruiting practices. Prior to Ollie’s tenure, the 2011 to 2012 season marked the start of a three-year probation for the program due to the discovery of text messages, phone calls and financial incentives that were exchanged between program representatives and recruits in a noncompliant manner. As a result, the NCAA placed sanctions on UConn, which included scholarship reductions, a booster dissociation and a three-conference game suspension of former head coach Jim Calhoun. Although the program has a history of improper recruiting practices, there appears to be no association between Calhoun’s case and the ongoing investigation. In an effort to comply, the university has retained its contract with the Alabama-based law firm, Lightfoot, Franklin & White to serve as an external legal consultant for the investigation. The firm has a history of working with collegiate athletic programs, notably with top tier programs such as the University of Southern California, Texas A&M University and Ohio State University in NCAA cases related to similar compliance matters. This is not the first investigation that the law firm has represented UConn in, as the two parties worked together in the FBI’s fall 2017 investigation into the corrupt practices of numerous college basketball programs. In respect to the subject of NCAA compliance, NYU Senior Associate Director of Athletics Janice Quinn confirmed that NYU complies with all policies set by the NCAA. “As for NYU rules compliance, as a member of the NCAA, New York University complies with all aspects of that organization’s constitution and bylaws,” Quinn said. “These are set forth in the NCAA Manual and cover the entire scope of intercollegiate competition in-
WEEKLY SPORTS UPDATE Jan. 27 to Feb. 2
By MADDIE HOWARD Sports Editor
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
VIA TWITTER.COM
UConn basketball head coach Kevin Ollie.
cluding, but not limited to: A. Principles for the conduct of intercollegiate athletics B. Ethical conduct C. Conduct and employment of athletics personnel D. Amateurism E. Recruiting guidelines and restrictions F. Eligibility: Academic and general G. Awards, benefits and expenses allowed for student-athletes H. Playing and practice season allowances and restrictions.” As of now, nothing more can be said about the investigation beyond its inquiry into recruiting violations. NCAA bylaws require all universities to keep investigations confidential as part of their compliance. For the near future, UConn will finish the remainder of its uncharacteristically poor season with the investigation looming in the background. If finished before or shortly after season’s end, any sanctions placed on the program will most likely be implemented for the 2018 to 2019 season. Email Warner Radcliff at sports@nyunews.com.
Women’s basketball completed a sweep this weekend of its University Athletic Association conference play. The team defeated opponents Carnegie Mellon University and Case Western Reserve University, improving its overall record to 12-8. On Feb. 2, the team traveled to Pittsburgh, Pa. to take on CMU. The Violets beat the team the previous weekend, but this time the two competitors were tied 48-48 through the third quarter of the game. In the final period, the Violets were able to break through and seal the deal in a 68-63 victory. On Feb. 4, the Violets went on the road again to Cleveland, Ohio to play Case Western Reserve University. Once more, the Violets came out victorious, ending with a final score of 67-62.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Men’s basketball suffered a split outcome this weekend of its conference play. The Violets earned the win against CMU but suffered a loss after playing
CWRU, bringing their current season record 10-9. On Feb. 2, the team played its opponent, CMU, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Violets led the score for a majority of the game, even breaking its biggest winning streak to leading CMU by 19 points. The game ended in a 8365 win for NYU. On Feb. 4, the Violets suffered a loss in Cleveland against CWRU with a final score of 57-73. The team lost to CWRU the previous weekend as well.
WRESTLING
Wrestling suffered two team losses this weekend when they traveled to Worcester, Maryland to face Roger Williams University and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. The loss was in part due to the three forfeits NYU was forced to concede. In the four other competing weight classes, NYU came out victorious. The team ultimately fell in a 31-15 to RWU and in a 27-16 decision to WPI. The Violets will return to the mat at the University Athletic Association Championships on Feb. 10 in Chicago, Illinois. Email Maddie Howard at mhoward@nyunews.com.
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
SPS freshman Catherine Gould scored seven points in 13 minutes for the women’s basketball team on Feb. 4 in a match against Case Western University.
US Gymnastics Board of Directors and Michigan State President Resign By HELEN XIE Staff Writer
VIA INSTAGRAM.COM
A sign from the Michigan State protest against sexual assault in support of the victims of the Nassar case.
United States Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar has now been accused of molestation by an astronomical 265 women, and has been sentenced to up to 175 years in prison. His crimes against gymnastics and adjacent communities have hurt and caused psychological trauma among those molested. He often disguised his crimes under the pretense of a regular doctor’s visit to treat injuries. Most women who have come forward have not only felt disgusted, but betrayed. They often thought of Nassar as a confidant or a trusted friend in the competitive and intense gymnastics field. One woman
recounted how, instead of calling her parents to help her decide whether to end her gymnast career due to an injury, she called Nassar instead. While Nassar’s crimes were a revolting reflection of his own character, bystanders did not get off scot-free either. The tight-lipped community of Michigan State University and U.S. Gymnastics covered up these abuses, claiming that Nassar was their most trusted physician and ignored his actions. MSU President Lou Anna Simon recently resigned amid accusations of mishandling complaints and reports of sexual misconduct by Nassar. The Title IX investigation conducted by MSU on Nassar in 2014 cleared him of sexual assault allegations, yet they
continued to come in after the report, leading others to question whether MSU ever accurately assessed Nassar’s danger to the community. Simon’s accusers believe that at least 14 university representatives were aware of accusations against Nassar, including Simon herself. Furthermore, MSU allowed Nassar to still see patients for 16 months while the university investigated his behavior. It took MSU until August 2016 to drop Nassar from his clinical position and later that year the administration eventually fired him. This large time gap of neglect forced Simon to step down as it showcased her failure as university president to protect her students, though she claims in her resignation
letter that she resigned due to the fact that as “tragedies are politicized, blame is inevitable ... as president, it is only natural that [she is] the focus of this anger.” This domino effect hit the U.S. Gymnastics board as well, as it announced its entire board of directors and president has resigned. The organization handled sexual misconduct poorly and was required by the U.S. Olympic Committee to completely overturn its leadership and create a new, safer organization. This hopefully paves a way for a new culture in the gymnastics community — one that values members over prestige. Email Helen Xie at sports@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
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EXPOSURE
Edited by Echo Chen multimedia@nyunews.com
A City Through Its People By ECHO CHEN Multimedia Editor
Every city is rich with history and narratives that individuals carry with them in their everyday actions and gestures. One of my favorite things to do when visiting a new city is to walk around and slowly take in the culture of the city through the small but beautiful things. Here’s a collection of street photos looking to capture the warmth and relationships of Florence, Italy — enjoy.
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Washington Square News | Monday, February 5, 2018
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Washington Square News Staff
MONDAY, FEB. 5
Editor-in-Chief Jemima McEvoy
BLOGS
Managing Editor Sayer Devlin deputy Pamela Jew assistant Veronica Liow
ADVERTISING
Creative Director
Rachel Buigas-Lopez abroad Laura Shkouratoff deputy Arvind Sindhwani, Jessie Zhou
Copy Chiefs
the highlighter Anubhuti Kumar under the arch George Hajjar,
Danielle Matta
Business Manager Rhea Nayak Sales Manager Brian Christensen Zapiecki Circulations Manager Allison Lambdin
Fernanda Nunes, Cissy Yun deputy Tarra Chen, Viral Shanker, Alejandro Villa Vasquez
Creative Director, W Media Group Grace Rogers
Multimedia
Content Specialist, W Media Group Alex Hanson
Echo Chen deputy Sam Cheng photo Corey Rome video Julia Saliba senior Polina Buchak, Anna Letson, Euan Prentis
Social Media and Marketing
University Sales Manager Makena Mueller Sales Associate Apoorva Nori
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Audio Engineer
ADVISING
SENIOR STAFF
Director of Operations Nanci Healy
Tom Miritello
news Mack DeGeurin
Sakshi Venkatraman
investigative news Caroline Haskins features Yasmin Gulec arts Ryan Mikel sports Maddie Howard
DEPUTY STAFF
news Alex Domb, Sarah Jackson,
Kristina Hayhurst
film Natalie Whalen books and theater Emily Fagel music Connor Gatesman entertainment Matthew Holman features Natalie Chinn dining Liv Chai beauty and style Thomas Chou abroad Carine Zambrano photo Katie Peurrung video Alana Beyer humor Louis Rodriguez
OPINION PAGE
editor Tyler Crews deputy Paola Nagovitch,
Alison Zimmerman
UPCOMING
Editorial Adviser Rachel Holiday-Smith Editors-at-Large Natasha Roy, Taylor Nicole Rogers, Kaitlyn Wang, Jordan Reynolds, Abigail Weinberg, Andrew Heying, Miranda Levingston
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published in print on Mondays and throughout the week online during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact the managing editors at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302
At the Intersection of Art, Neuroscience and Perception FREE 6:30 p.m. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts 566 LaGuardia Pl., New York, NY 10012 A roundtable conversation moderated by Lynn Gumpert and Eric Klann with speakers Teresita Fernández, Eric Kandel and Robert Whitman, who will discuss the relationships between mind, brain, perception and art. This talk is offered in conjunction with “The Beautiful Brain: The Drawings of Santiago Ramon y Cajal,” exhibition on view at NYU’s Grey Art Gallery. RSVP at tinyurl.com/skirballtalks
TUESDAY, FEB. 6
Bennett Muraskin — Jews in the American Labor Movement FREE 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. The Tamiment Library Room: 10-03 70 Washington Square South, New York, NY 10012 Bennett Muraskin will discuss the pamphlet “Jews in the American Labor Movement: Past, Present and Future.” A reception with wine and cheese will follow the lecture. This event is sponsored by the Frederic Ewen Center. FRIDAY, FEB. 9
Spring Welcome Week: Safety in the City Presentation FREE 12:30 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Washington Square News
12 Waverly Pl. Room: G08 New York, NY 10003 Join Associate Vice President of Public Safety Fountain Walker and Assistant Director of Transportation Greg Rivas for a presentation about staying safe in New York City and the services provided by the NYU Department of Public Safety. SATURDAY, FEB. 10
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Black History Month: Celebration Through The Arts FREE 4 p.m. Frederick Loewe Theatre 35 West 4th St., New York, NY 10012
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NYU Steinhardt Music and Performing Arts features the programs in drama therapy, dance education, music education, jazz studies and vocal performance. NEXT WEEK
the Email tips@nyunews.com to report stories
Love & Sex feature Online Feb. 12