Washington Square News November 12, 2018

5 CULTURE

9 OPINION

What It Takes to Be an Admissions Ambassador

On Press Freedom at NYU

6 ARTS

12 THE WALKILL JOURNAL

NYU Alumna Eva Hendricks on Tour With Death Cab for Cutie

Puppy Power and Human Healing

VOLUME LI | ISSUE 12

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

NYU Bans Director, Allows His Show Skirball employees and activist groups pressured NYU to cancel the performance of Jan Fabre’s “Mount Olympus” in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against the director.

By JARED PERAGLIA Deputy News Editor Performers took the stage on Saturday for “Mount Olympus: to glorify the cult of tragedy” in the Skirball Center for Performing Arts, but the show’s director was nowhere in sight. In fact, he couldn’t attend even if he wanted to.

Jan Fabre, the acclaimed Belgian multidisciplinary artist, was banned from Skirball after being accused of sexually harassing his performers.

Skirball premiered Fabre’s “Mount Olympus,” a 24-hour avante-garde performance piece, including dancing, singing and simulated orgies on-stage, to North America on Saturday evening.

The event came with a wave of criticism from anonymous employees afraid to lose their jobs and Belgian activist groups demanding the university shut down the event due to the severity of the allegations against Fabre.

Eight performers from the director’s past productions released an open letter last month accusing him of sexual harassment. Allegations included Fabre offering solos for sex and asking performers to masturbate in front of him.

VIA NYUSKIRBALL.ORG, PHOTO BY ALWIN POIANA

Suspended bulbs lowered over nearly naked performers who were enveloped in each other.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Trans Students Can’t Be Defined, Despite the Memo The recent government memo regarding how gender should be officially described proposes a strictly biological definition.

By ANNA MURATOVA Staff Writer Sweating and panting from a rehearsal with his dance crew, Keith walked over to his bag to dig out his phone.

He had a five-minute break to check if he had missed anything from the past two hours. He had: a friend of his sent him a link about a government memo, which would confine gender into a biological funnel. He skimmed as much as he could, told his friends to keep him updated, but had to quickly return to rehearsal. The feelings of devastation and worry were yet to settle in.

“For a lack of better word — it made me angry,” he said. CAS first-year Keith, who identifies as transmascu-

line and asked to only be referred to by his first name, had school, as well as rehearsals for a cappella and dance, with little time to process.

On Oct. 21, The New York Times published a memo obtained from the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It argues that gender should be determined “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” People’s gender would be defined by their sex at birth unless otherwise proven genetically. This proposed definition, if implemented, could ultimately lead to the denial of transgender, including non-binary, individuals’ identities on an administrative level.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 11

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY TONY WU AND RACHEL BUIGAS-LOPEZ | WSN

A recreation of the sign held by Steinhardt senior August at a trans rights protest.

Washington Square News

2

NEWS

NEWS@NYUNEWS.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Edited by ALEX DOMB, KRISTINA HAYHURST and SARAH JACKSON

Show Goes on Despite Director’s Alleged Sexual Harassment CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Twelve current members of his company, Troubleyn, have also endorsed the letter.

Several Skirball employees, who preferred to remain anonymous in fear of jeapordizing their jobs, told WSN they decided not to work Saturday evening due to the prevailing accusations against Fabre.

When WSN reached out to these employees, they declined to comment, citing an email from Skirball management that told them to not speak to members of the press.

“My boss sent out an email today saying that we have to say Skirball has no comment,” one Skirball employee said.

Skirball director John Wegman denied reports that employees declined to work at the performance.

“No employees are refusing to work,” Wegman said.

Wegman made the decision to book “Mount Olympus” at the start of his tenure at NYU. He said the show was booked before the sexual harassment allegations

were made public.

“NYU Skirball made a decision to host the North American premiere of Mount Olympus two years ago, before we were aware of the current allegations against Mr. Fabre,” he said.

Senior Director of NYU Executive Communications Shonna Keogan said Skirball ultimately let the audience make the decision on whether or not to support the show.

“The management at Skirball chose to give the audience the right to decide whether or not they wanted to support the performers and the production by attending,” Keogan said.

Skirball has taken criticism from Belgian groups for not being entirely transparent regarding the allegations against Fabre. The main criticism from activists is that information regarding the sexual harassment allegations was not labeled on Skirball’s main page nor at the top of the event page.

However, Keogan pointed out that Skirball has a section on its website dedicated to

informing theater patrons of these claims, even offering ticket refunds.

“We at NYU understand that the accusations were serious, and take the issue of sexual misconduct seriously and are not afraid to act on it,” Keogan told WSN. “However, we were concerned about taking steps that would penalize the performers and crew.”

Lianna Rada, a CAS junior, agrees. Rada was previously required to attend the performance for her Histories of Drama and Theatre course. After her professor, Brandon Woolf, learned about the severity of the allegations, he made attending the event optional, although Rada still decided to go.

“I decided I would separate art from the artist, as it seemed wrong to punish the dozens of other people working on the production that didn’t do anything wrong,” Rada said.

Email Jared Peraglia at jperaglia@nyunews.com.

Cyber Competition Draws Hundreds

By KRISHANG NADGAUDA Staff Writer With more than one in four organizations experiencing hacks and a predicted global shortage of two million cyber security professionals by 2019, NYU is working to train the future of cyber workers.

This past weekend, the NYU Center for Cybersecurity held its 15th annual Cyber Security Awareness Week at the MakerSpace at the Tandon School of Engineering. The event spanned from Nov. 8 to Nov. 11 and was simultaneously held at six global sites; participants from the United States and Canada competed out of the MakerSpace. The multifaceted event consisted of several competitions, workshops and an industry fair.

Although the event was a conglomeration of faculty members — not limited to Tandon — industry experts and 397 finalist competitors, most of the heavy lifting for the event’s setup was undertaken by the students. Members of the OSIRIS Lab, a student-led cybersecurity research lab affiliated with the Center for Cybersecurity, played a pivotal role in the event’s organization and created the majority of the challenges for CSAW’s flagship competitions.

Kyle Martin, a Tandon junior and president of OSIRIS Lab, highlighted the collaborative nature of the organization.

“Faculty comes in only for getting space, writing the competition rules, doing legal stuff,” Martin said.

“They get us [resources], they feed us, they book hotels; they treat us really nicely.”

This event, which has now garnered immense student enthusiasm, was created in 2003 by Nasir Memon, professor of computer science and engineering at Tandon.

While in awe of CSAW’s current global reach, he confessed the absence of any predefined vision for the event at its inception.

“It was not a vision,” Memon said.

“We were just having fun. It was just accidental.”

According to Doug DePerry, a Datadog recruiter present at the industry fair, the degree of self-initiative in students competing in CSAW is attractive to companies. However, he said hirers try to scout for humility among the abundant talent.

“There are very, very many intelligent people in this room, right?”

DePerry pointed out. “But you can’t know everything and so you have to be willing to learn, willing to listen, you have to be a self-starter.”

Professor Memon expressed that this quality is vital to growing as software and cyber engineers.

“I think students like to learn by sort of engaging in an activity that challenges them rather than passively listening to a lecture,” Memon said. “And security, es-

VIA NYUSKIRBALL.ORG; PHOTO BY ALWIN POIANA

Performers rear their heads back during a darkly-lit scene of the show.

pecially, is a discipline where you can’t learn about security by simply talking about it.”

This year, three all-girl high school teams competed at CSAW. On the expansion of the program outside universities, Memon recalled how CSAW had found direction when he realized that cybersecurity or computer science enthusiasts could fare better with deeper educational roots.

“If the country needs to address the shortage of cyber security professionals, they can’t be looking to [only] college students,” Memon said. “They have to start in high schools or maybe even middle school because that’s where people are making up their minds.”

Email Krishang Nadgauda at news@nyunews.com.

NYU Launches AI Hackathon

ALANA BEYER | WSN

A team presentation at the Super Hacks competition. Teams worked to create start up ideas involving AI.

By MANSEE KHURANA Staff Writer

VIA CSAW.ENGINEERING.NYU.EDU

Two participants of the 2017 Cyber Security Awareness Week hackathon.

This weekend, the NYU InnoVention Society hosted the university’s first AI hackathon at the Galvanize technology space in SoHo, putting business and engineering students together for a weekend of pitching, coding and mentorship.

The Hackathon, dubbed “Superhacks,” helped eight teams create and pitch their ideas to interview for the InnoVention Competition, which will take place in the spring of 2019.

In just two weeks, President of the InnoVention Society and Gallatin senior Tim Nugmanov was able to get Google and Red Bull to sponsor the event, find a venue and get around 60 people to attend the event’s kick-off on Friday.

“I was saying in my opening speech on Friday that we are audacious enough to make people believe that we are not just building products that are built, presented and then stored on the shelf,” Nugmanov said. “[The event] actually lets people build an idea that they can pursue using all the other resources that NYU has to offer.”

Among those working on Sunday were Tandon sophomore Tasmia Anika and Tandon Ph.D. candidate Alberto Chieri-

ci. They were working on Chierici’s second business venture, an AI called TOU which makes it easier for insurance agents to connect with their customers during difficult situations.

“We talked about this idea beforehand, but we were focused very deeply on specific parts,” Anika said. “Now that we actually have to present it, we have to focus on everything together. [The hackathon] has helped us view the problem that we are trying to solve as opposed to just someone who’s trying to build something.”

Chierici mentioned that the feedback provided by InnoVention Society’s mentors was helpful for creating their product, as the mentors provided insight that the team would not have been able to find by themselves.

“The mentors gave us a framework and ideas on how to research our idea,” Chierici said. “We were also put in an environment where we were forced to go around and ask for feedback, which was much more helpful than just doing this by ourselves.”

Another promising startup was On!Buddy, a chat box company started by first-year SPS student Yana Kim and second-year SPS student Sudaporn Vittayakul. Kim and Vittayakul found the hackathon to be the perfect opportunity to network with people who could help them bring their idea to life.

“I think it was great to find a team member,” Kim said. “Especially because we are from [the School of Professional Studies], we didn’t have a lot of connections in [the Tandon School of Engineering], which is really crucial to build a product.”

After the last two weeks of planning, and the three-day hackathon, Nugmanov felt grateful that everything went according to plan.

“It’s crazy to see it actually play out,” Nugmanov said. “I think that part — where everyone gathers around and everyone’s ready to start — is nerve-wracking, but it’s also one of my favorite parts because you can feel the energy and see that people are ready to go.”

Email Mansee Khurana

Washington Square News | News

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Gays Against Guns Mourns California

By SARAH JACKSON News Editor Over 30 people gathered in Times Square on Sunday afternoon, holding up a long rainbow flag, billowing in the wind, with the words “Gays Against Guns” printed on it.

No more than 50 feet from the base of the red stairs between West 46th and 47th Streets, members of Gays Against Guns, a group formed in 2016 after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, chanted, “Trump, Congress, NRA, 100 people dead each day,” referencing the 96 people who die every day from gun violence in the United States.

The group had gathered at the U.S. Army Recruiting Center on West 43rd Street and marched a few blocks north to Father Duffy Square with a purpose. They were there to celebrate the lives of the 12 people killed when a gunman opened fire at Borderline Bar & Grill in Thousand Oaks, California, on Wednesday, and to push for gun control reform.

For Kylie Vincent, who served as co-director of March for Our Lives in Manhattan, the shooting was personal. Vincent hails from Thousand Oaks.

“We’re so desensitized that I know that people don’t even care that these shootings are happening anymore, and it really doesn’t affect you until it affects you,” Vincent said.

“I can’t believe I’m standing here talking about my own town.”

Gays Against Guns supports common-sense gun control, which calls for measures such as bans on assault weapons, universal background checks and closing what is known as the “gun show loophole,” in which most states do not require background checks for the sales of firearms at gun shows.

Ken Kidd, an original member of Gays Against Guns and the director of Special Projects and Events in the Office of the Dean in CAS, was another one of several activists who spoke at the rally.

“We are afraid to come out of our homes for fear of being gunned down by military-grade weaponry,” Kidd said. “That is not freedom. That is not what this country was based on.”

Kidd traced the gun violence epidemic back to many politicians’ habits of accepting money from the National Rifle Association.

“The simple fact of the matter is that guns are big money,” Kidd said. “Guns are big profit. Politicians make their way in this world off of blood money, gun money.”

Tisch junior Jeff Lawless, who attended the rally, lives in Southern California and went to the Borderline when he spent time in Thousand Oaks this summer.

“When you hear of these things, they’re distant and there’s something between you

and the events,” Lawless said. “But this time, I was watching the news and I saw those steps that I walked up. I saw the map, the layout of the building, and I knew everything about it. The fact that I was there just months prior on College Night, and the people that were there were all college students — it hit me really hard.”

The rally coincided with Veterans Day, so it bore special significance for Marti Gould Cummings, a member of Hell’s Kitchen Democrats and the Mayor’s Nightlife Advisory Council.

“We stand here today to represent the lives lost on Veterans Day, where our service members are fighting for us to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,” Cummings said. “I feel that the pursuit of happiness means we can go wherever we want without the fear of dying.”

As the rally drew to a close, people read the names of those killed on Wednesday as 12 people, intended to represent these victims, lined up in front of the flag. The dozen were dressed in white clothing and veils, and each person bore a paper with a photo and short biography of one of the victims.

Finally, the group of people clutching the flag laid on the ground, draping the fabric over themselves.

“This is what the students at Parkland had to walk through,” Gays Against Guns member Brigid McGinn said, weaving through the protestors and calling attention to other recent mass shootings. “How many more have to die?” she yelled in unison with those on the ground. “How many more have to die?”

Email Sarah Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.

TONY WU | WSN

Kylie Vincent speaking during the protest. Vincent is a resident from Thousand Oaks, CA.

TONY WU | WSN

Demonstrators in veils hold photos of the victims of the Borderline mass shooting.

3 CRIME LOG

Controlled Substance Violations Spike Before Halloween

By CRIME BOT Robot Reporter From Oct. 27 to Nov. 8, the NYU Department of Public Safety received one report of burglary, one report of criminal mischief, 17 reports of controlled substance violation, one report of fondling, four reports of harassment, 13 reports of larceny, one report of simple assault, one report of stalking, one report of trespassing and one report of unlawful surveillance.

Burglary On Nov. 5 at 2:21 p.m., an NYU faculty member reported her phone and charger missing from her office in 665 Broadway. A police report was filed and the case is open and under investigation.

Criminal Mischief

On Nov. 5 at 12:22 a.m., an NYU student reported witnessing vandalism on a poster in Palladium Residence Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Controlled Substance Violation

On Oct. 27 at 12:53 a.m., a resident assistant reported that she witnessed underage alcohol possession in Brittany Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 27 at 1:39 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Brittany Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 27 at 2 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in University Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 27 at 11:09 p.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in U-Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 27 at 11:16 p.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Third Avenue North Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 28 at 12 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Third North. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 28 at 12:43 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Alumni Residence Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 28 at 1:22 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Alumni Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 28 at 1:25 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Rubin Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 28 at 1:47 a.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in U-Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 29 at 9:45 p.m., Public Safety reported to an alleged drug law violation and recovered a small amount of

marijuana in Founders Residence Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 31 at 10:30 p.m., an NYU Public Safety officer reported to Brittany Hall for an alleged controlled substance violation. A small amount of marijuana was recovered. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Oct. 31 at 11:12 p.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Founders Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

On Nov. 2 at 10:13 p.m., an RA witnessed underage alcohol possession in Founders Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

On Nov. 3 at 1:40 a.m., an RA witnessed underage alcohol possession in Weinstein Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

On Nov. 7 at 6 p.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Gramercy Green Residence Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

On Nov. 8 at 4:30 p.m., an RA reported witnessing underage alcohol possession in Coral Tower Residence Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

Fondling On Nov. 2 at 9 p.m., an NYU student reported that she was fondled in the Kimmel Center for University Life. Police escorted the perpetrator out of the building and the case is open and under investigation.

Harassment

On Oct. 30 at 2 p.m., an NYU student reported that she was harassed in line at Starbucks. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 3 at 9:36 p.m., an NYU student reported that she was harassed outside of the Tandon School of Engineering’s MakerSpace. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 5 at 10 a.m., an NYU Public Safety Officer reported that he was harassed in the lobby of Coral Tower Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

On Nov. 6 at 10:20 a.m., an NYU Dental student reported receiving harassing text messages in the Dental Center.

Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Larceny

On Oct. 26 at 6:07 p.m., an NYU alumnus reported that his bike was missing from a bike rack outside of 238 Thompson Ave. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Oct. 27 at 3:12 p.m., an NYU student reported that his medication was missing from his residence in Broome Street Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

On Oct. 29 at 12:25 p.m., an NYU staff member reported that her phone was missing from a locker room in Schwartz Hall. Police notification was

declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Oct. 30 at 4:22 p.m., an NYU student reported that her cell phone was missing from the cafeteria in Weinstein Hall. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Oct. 30 at 7:15 p.m., an NYU nursing student reported that her wallet was missing from her jacket in the Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 1 at 4:59 p.m., an NYU student reported that her bike was missing from scaffolding outside of Furman Hall.

A police report was filed and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 2 at 3:31 a.m., an NYU student reported that his bike was missing from scaffolding outside of Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 3 at 4:01 p.m., an NYU student reported his bike missing from scaffolding outside of Bobst. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 6 at 6:10 p.m., an NYU student reported that his skateboard was missing from outside a classroom in the Silver Center. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 6 at 9:47 p.m., an NYU student reported parts of his bike missing from a bike rack outside Meyer Hall.

Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 7 at 10:57 a.m., an NYU staff member reported that her phone charger was missing from her cubicle in the Education Building. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 7 at 12:08 p.m., an NYU staff member reported that his mouse charger was missing from his cubicle. NYPD was notified in the Education Building.

The case is open and under investigation.

On Nov. 8 at 2:15 p.m., an NYU student reported that a bag of clothing was missing from a classroom in the Waverly Building. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Simple Assault

On Nov. 6 at 7:59 p.m., an NYU faculty member reported being the victim of an assault outside of Warren Weaver Hall.

New York Police Department reported to the scene and arrested the assailant.

The case has been referred to NYPD.

Stalking

On Oct. 26 at 10 a.m., an NYU student reported being the victim of stalking in Bobst Library. Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to the Title IX Office.

Trespass

On Nov. 7 at 11:25 p.m., an NYU student reported that someone would not leave her dormitory in Weinstein Hall.

The person left without further incident.

Police notification was declined and the case has been referred to The Office of Community Standards.

Unlawful Surveillance

On Oct. 29 at 1:15 p.m., an NYU student reported witnessing unlawful surveillance in Schwartz Hall. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Email Crime Bot at news@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

4

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

CULTURE

CULTURE@NYUNEWS.COM

Edited by NATALIE CHINN

Enter the Pink Haven of Glossier’s New Flagship Store

By CAROL LEE Staff Writer At exactly 11 a.m. on Nov. 8, a Glossier sweatshirt-clad employee beckoned me toward a heavenly skylit and red carpeted staircase that led me upstairs. I felt as though I was floating as I sprinted up to the retail space on the second floor.

Immediately, my eyes met with Glossier’s signature millennial pink color scheme and elaborate flower arrangements. The products were laid out neatly on various count-

JUSTIN PARK | WSN

A display of Glossier’s “Lash Slick” mascara.

ers, with a myriad of brightly lit mirrors that lent themselves to both product testing and selfie-taking. Smiling sales associates — or as Glossier prefers to call them — showroom editors, were eager and ready to answer any questions customers had. As a matter of fact, their interactions with customers seemed more informed by a sense of friendship than salesmanship.

When Glossier announced on its Instagram page that they were opening a two-story permanent flagship store at its iconic address, 123 Lafayette St., (formerly home to its holy penthouse showroom), I knew I had to be first in line. I arrived an hour and a half before opening. The line grew behind me, anticipation growing.

The blurry and mysterious movement behind the frosted windows of the elegant, off-white storefront only added to the excitement.

In this space, customers can try illuminating their cheekbones with the crystal-infused Haloscope, enhancing their lashes with the highly anticipated Lash Slick, or finger painting on their own cheeks with the sunset-colored Cloud Paints.

I chose to spend most of my time with the new line of Generation G lipsticks, which were making their in-store debut.

I loved the newer, sturdier packaging and more moisturizing formula so much that I purchased three of the six beloved shades on the spot.

A nice touch to the main showcasing area is the presence of a red couch along one of the walls, a fixture the average notso-enthused tag-along visitor, such as the Glossier Boyfriend, is likely to appreciate.

Moving deeper into the millennial haven, I found myself in the wet room — a room fully equipped with working sinks, plenty of skincare products to test and the kind of bathroom lighting one imagines graces Gwyneth Paltrow’s visage each morning. Visitors could choose to try out the Moisturizing Moon Mask, or perhaps Glossier’s rendition of the chemical exfoliant, Solution.

But what’s even more exciting than the innovative wet room is the “Boy Brow Room.” As the name suggests, it’s a room wholly dedicated to the celebration of Glossier’s most in-demand product: the Boy Brow. In fact, at one point, there was a waitlist about 30,000 customers long to buy the brow enhancer. Having tried it myself, I can testify to its excellence, and am tempted to say it’s the only boy you’ll ever need. The room itself features human-size models of the eyebrow gel that

3D-Printed Guns: A Cause for Concern?

By ELISE BIRKETT Contributing Writer What do prosthetics, cars, rockets and guns all have in common? They can all be made by a printer.

It’s true that 3D printing has led to some amazing technological advancements and has allowed the fields of medicine, science and art to grow in ways we wouldn’t have dreamed of 20 years ago, but recently there have been concerns about the implications of 3D printing guns.

One specific concern has been that 3D printing guns could give people, who might otherwise be prohibited from owning a gun, access to untraceable firearms.

However, students don’t seem to be worried. In fact, some didn’t even realize there was a discussion happening at all.

“If I’m being honest, I didn’t even know it was an issue,” Srey Dasgupta, a junior in CAS said.

While students may not be fully

TIANNE JOHNSON | WSN

A sign in Times Square allows you to scan a barcode to demand regulations on 3D-printed guns.

aware of the issue, there was a protest in Times Square in October against the legality of 3D-printed guns. Using the hashtag #3DActivist, the father of one of the victims of the Parkland school shooting unveiled a life-size 3D-printed model of his son, Joaquin Oliver, to remind people what happens when we don’t have adequate gun safety laws.

Students didn’t harbor the same fears.

“I don’t think it’s a big concern,” Lyanne Lalunio, a junior at Tandon said. “Just because for 3D-printed anything, it’s not a material that would be feasible for printing guns because it’s just plastic.”

Lalunio has a point. Currently, most 3D-printed models are created using thermoplastics. The most common types are polylactic acid and butadiene styrene, and while real models of guns have been printed, neither material is strong enough to handle the force of a bullet. This means that, in their current form, there is little feasibility in using 3D-printed guns as real weapons.

Additionally, the cost of printing 3D guns is too high for the general public. Given the current lack of regulation, it is much easier — and cheaper — to get a traditional gun.

Victoria Bill, the director of the MakerSpace at Tandon, said that while the metal parts necessary for building this device are probably at least 10 years out from being attainable by the public, more than just the monetary costs should be considered.

“What’s important to remember is that current metal 3D printing machines themselves are not the only high cost to creating metal 3D-printed parts,” Bill said. “The metal powder material that these machines use is combustible, so the cost to safely

set up and operate the printers, aside from material costs, is very high.”

While some students don’t seem to be worried now, others feel it’s important to take steps now to prevent future issues.

“I feel like it’s probably not happening all the time, but I think it’s definitely possible,” CAS sophomore Nadine Stodolka said. “I don’t think people should be able to just randomly print a gun. That doesn’t seem right. You have to go through a process to get a real gun, so you should have to for a 3D-printed one as well.”

Dasgupta feels similarly but fears a lack of evidence that 3D-printed guns are dangerous means that politicians are less likely to take action.

“I don’t know how many representatives or senators would agree if there’s no evidence to support it,” Dasgupta said. “I definitely think there should be precautionary measures, but I don’t know if it’s feasible without evidence.”

Bill agreed that regulations for 3D-printed guns are essential, as are regulations for any potentially dangerous weapon or machinery, but thinks they could be addressed a little later down the line.

Lalunoi said that instead of focusing on future issues attention should be on recent shootings and the larger issue of traditional gun safety regulation.

“We shouldn’t be creating problems, but we should be trying to solve them,” said Lalunio. “When you try to attack the issue of 3D printing guns or something, you’re not really going after the real problem, and you’re ignoring the people who actually need help.”

Email Elise Birkett at culture@nyunews.com.

The first customers of the new flagship store try on Glossier products.

Showroom Editors encourage one take multiple selfies with.

It goes without saying that every angle of the entire store is Instagram-worthy.

Consequently, almost every customer, myself included, wandered the rooms with their phones out, documenting the full experience and sharing the content with hordes of envious followers. The Glossier team posted videos on its Instagram story as well, including one of myself racing up the stairs as the store opened. The founder, CEO and NYU alumna, Emily Weiss, reposted my Insta-

JUSTIN PARK | WSN

gram story to her 415,000 followers.

Glossier has created an immersive and interactive masterpiece that seems to transcend the average retail experience. It extends beyond just the purchasing of a product — the company has created the ultimate beauty destination that provides so much more than just serums and tonics. Everyone who visits will walk out enamored with the company if they weren’t already, proudly clutching at least one of those distinctive pink bubble-wrap pouches.

Email Carol Lee at bstyle@nyunews.com.

The Butcher’s Daughter Butchers Brunch

Customers eat at the window seats of The Butcher’s Daughter in Nolita.

By LUCY CHOI JUNG Contributing Writer Like any good millennial, my Instagram feed is chock-full of avocado toast. I’m swarmed by he bright green spread over a thick piece of toast, sometimes even crowned with a delicately poached egg. Because of this I was compelled to visit The Butcher’s Daughter to try the very dish, so I visited the NoLita cafe, expecting to try the best avocado toast of my life.

I was seated outside when I visited. It was pretty busy and a tight squeeze, so I was forced to sit at a small round table side-by-side with a friend. Despite the claustrophobia, I eagerly ordered the avocado toast as well as the pancakes and the egg sandwich.

The Butcher’s Daughter is all vegetarian. Despite this, the brunch menu is pretty diverse, but still has the typical brunch fare. A large portion of the menu consists of eggs, such as Monterey-style eggs with avocado and salsa.

All three of the dishes I ordered came out at the same time, and were as visually stunning as the photos online. Immediately, I grabbed one piece of avocado toast and took a huge bite.

The avocado-to-toast ratio was good, but it tasted disappointedly bland. I was expecting a fresh taste of avocado, seasoned to perfection, followed by the crunch of bread toasted just right. Instead, the avocado was devoid of flavor

JUSTIN PARK | WSN

and was excessively smushed to be unbearably smooth rather than naturally chunky. The bread wasn’t toasted and had far too much bite.

Nothing was special about it; it didn’t differentiate itself. It was literally just toast with avocado on it. This was my first disappointment.

The second came when I tried the pancakes.

They were made with rice flour and almond milk, so I knew that it would be healthier than usual. There was a sweet aftertaste but the pancakes were too charred. If you are imagining a fluffy stack of pancakes, forget it. The texture was firm and rice-like, akin to mochi.

The egg sandwich was the most familiar item on the menu. The classic sandwich with eggs, cheese and sourdough toast was topped with kale, avocado and a drizzle of harissa (a chili paste hailing from North Africa) mayo for a twist. The healthy take on a breakfast classic sounded good to me at first, but I didn’t feel like the combination of a harissa mayo and marinated kale went well with the egg and cheese.

I don’t know if I’ll be dining with The Butcher’s Daughter anytime soon. The shop is small and aesthetically pleasing, but the cramped seating and rushed food makes this place like any other bougie New York City cafe.

Email Lucy Choi Jung at dining@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | Culture

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

Vegan Pancakes to Power Your Day

By KATIE PEURRUNG Multimedia Editor Growing up with allergies means I’ve spent my entire life monitoring not only what I eat but exactly what goes into my food as well.

My egg allergy kept me from enjoying pancakes until early high school when I discovered vegan recipes that didn’t have eggs in them.

My version of pancakes not only uses up that one banana you grabbed from Palladium that is now going brown on your counter but is also completely customizable for almost any diet, including but not limited to: most common allergies, veganism and Celiac disease.

I like the pancakes the best after a Saturday morning workout, but I’ll just as soon find myself eating them at midnight after staying up late on a Netflix binge.

They’re really easy to make, and the high protein content keeps you full through your morning classes.

KATIE PEURRUNG | WSN

Time: 10 min prep, 5 min cook Makes 4 to 6 small pancakes, serves 1 Ingredients: • 1 overripe banana • 1 tsp baking powder • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 2 tbsp ground flaxseed • 3 tbsp milk or milk substitute • 2 heaping tbsp almond butter • 2 tbsp vanilla protein powder • 1 tbsp low-flavor oil • A pinch of sea salt • ¼ cup almond flour • ½ cup oats • Maple syrup to top Tools: Fork, medium mixing bowl, small bowl for flax “egg,” measuring cups and griddle or stovetop cooking surface

Steps: 1. Mix the ground flaxseed with four tbsp water and set aside to make a flax “egg.” For best results, wait at least two minutes before adding it to the rest of the mixture 2. Using a fork, mash the banana with the baking powder in a bowl 3. Add vanilla extract, milk, nut butter, protein powder, oil, salt and flax egg. Stir thoroughly, paying extra attention to fully mixing the nut butter into the mixture and avoiding clumps 4.Add the almond flour and oats 5. Scoop ¼ cup of the mixture onto a greased cooking surface. Brown on a griddle at 325 degrees Fahrenheit (160 Celsius) or on a stovetop at medium-low until the cakes can hold their shape (about 1 to 2 minutes). Flip until both sides are a deep brown but not blackened 6. Serve with a generous serving of real maple syrup. Other recommended toppings include warm honey, cinnamon sugar and berries Notes: • If you don’t have protein powder, substitute 1 tsp vanilla extract and 2 tbsp flour • For a smoother texture, substitute almond flour with regular flour • The riper the banana, the sweeter the pancakes • If pancakes get crispy edges, use more flour • If pancakes brown before they’re cooked inside, decrease temperature and cook for longer

Email Katie Peurrung kpeurrung@nyunews.com.

Local Brow Technicians to Trust

By BELLA GIL Contributing Writer A bad manicure is a disappointment, a bad haircut can feel like a nightmare, but a bad eyebrow appointment is unforgivable. Whether you prefer them thin or thick, it’s essential to feel comfortable with the person reshaping them. To expedite the search for your new eyebrow spot,we’ve compiled a list of estheticians who will shape your brows to whatever your heart — and wallet — desires.

Email Bella Gil at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Benefit Cosmetics Brows a Go-Go, 434 Sixth Ave. This studio may be pricier compared to the others — an eyebrow wax starts at $23, and a thread is priced at $28 — but the luxury brand association and retro atmosphere might be worth it. This location also offers waxes and threading to other parts of the face and sells a wide spread of Benefit Cosmetics beauty products. If you want to treat yourself, this beauty haven is only five minutes west of Washington Square Park.

Brows Zone, 8 W. Fourth St. This salon is so close to campus, you might be able to change your look between classes.

Brows Zone is another quick service brow studio that offers affordable prices (threading starts at $8) and trustworthy service. Following its motto, “A simple salon with sophisticated service,” Brows Zone not only offers typical services but intricate waxing and laser hair removal.

JULIA MCNEILL | WSN

Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio, 51 University Pl. Special to New York City, Joey Healy Eyebrow Studio offers an eyebrow experience unlike any other. Steps away from Weinstein and the Cantor Film Center, this luxurious modern studio requires a pre-booked appointment and only offers four options: eyebrow trimming, blueprint, tinting or shaping. This salon is for those who want to invest time and money into their brows with prices that range from $40 to $180 and appointments that last from 20 to 40 minutes.

JULIA MCNEILL | WSN

Maya Salon & Spa, 3 Greenwich Ave. This hole-in-the-wall studio is located on Sixth Avenue and Greenwich Avenue and is your classic beauty salon with hot pink walls and zebra ottomans to boot. Threading starts at $8 for eyebrows and ranges from $5 and up for other parts of the face. Maya also offers waxes of almost every body part, henna tattoos, facials and eyebrow tints. Although tiny, the salon is often crowded by eager clients. It’s worth the visit for your quick touch-up or long-term sculpting.

JULIA MCNEILL | WSN

5

What It Takes to Be an Admissions Ambassador

JUSTIN PARK | WSN

The NYU flags hang above the Bonomi Family Admissions Center.

By ANNA DE LA ROSA Staff Writer You see one at least every other day, clad in a violet jacket, marching around Washington Square Park with a flock of wide-eyed students and parents following closely behind — they are the NYU admissions ambassadors.

Admission ambassadors welcome prospective parents and students to the campus. For many students, this job is a dream come true. Whether it’s the bright purple jacket, the prospect of an entertaining on-campus job or the simple fact that you can unabashedly express your admiration for NYU, students swarm to fill out the admission ambassadors application. However, it’s not an easy one.

The new batch of ambassadors will receive notice that they’ve been accepted into the program on Nov. 16. These accepted students will have gone through two application phases. The first included the submission of basic information, a resume, two short answers and a YouTube video answering two more questions. If they were selected based on their applications, they moved onto the second phase — group interviews — with the Admissions Ambassadors Academy, coined by students as the Triple A. “The application is extensive because it needs to be,” said CAS alumna Jessica Joanne Smith, who worked as an ambassador for the majority of her time at NYU. “The ambassador position receives so many applications that often the acceptance rate for a new class of admissions ambassadors is around 10 percent, so the process of applying is made to weed out those who aren’t willing to put in the work for the job.”

Smith cites the video component as one of the most important aspects of the application as it shows the applicant’s personality, energy and public speaking abilities. These are important attributes because ambassadors need to be able to sell NYU to prospective students and their families. Though this component may seem intimidating to some, students like CAS junior Liam North, a current ambassador, are actually drawn to the idea of creating a YouTube video.

“I thought that was kind of fun,” North said. “It reminded me of when I tried to do YouTube in the seventh grade and I epically failed.”

While not everyone is a natural vlogger, North said it really comes down to understanding the ability of

the candidate’s public speaking skills.

“I guess it was just to get a feel if you like public speaking or not,” he said. “I do, and it’s something I have a lot of experience in. It’s just a personal preference.”

LS first-year Sarah Elizabeth Gajasinghe is currently in the interview stage of the application. Gajasinghe has always been impressed by admissions ambassadors.

“It’s as if they have this NYU encyclopedia in their heads,” Gajasinghe said. “It’s crazy.”

In addition to leading engaging tours of NYU and working at the Welcome Center as representatives, ambassadors also work in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the Student Link Center and have the opportunity to work closely with the admissions counselors, visitor relations team and the dean of admissions.

While the application may seem daunting, those who have been through the arduous process offer this key to success — be yourself.

While this may be a frustratingly simple piece of advice, North explained that it’s fairly easy to tell when an applicant is pretending to be someone they’re not.

“We’re not looking for like 200 perky-eyed stereotypes — we want to represent NYU as a whole,” North said.

Even though the process is lengthy, Gajasinghe said that it’s worth giving the application a shot if you’re interested.

“Although I had to pull together my resume and awards and look back at my Common App [to answer application questions], which brought up bad memories, it was definitely worth it,” Gajasinghe said.

Even if you receive a rejection letter, it isn’t the end. Smith emphasized the importance of being persistent and, if it doesn’t work out, considering other options of engagement.

“My advice is even if you apply and you reapply, whatever it is, definitely do it if you’re committed about NYU,” Smith said, also pointing out that it’s a great job to have.

“There’s also a lot of other ways to get involved at NYU if you’re not an ambassador. You can apply to be an RA, which a lot of ambassadors are, and you can also get involved in CAB, which is class activities board.

You can take part in the 600 clubs and organizations here.”

Email Anna de la Rosa at culture@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

6

ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

ARTS

Clive Alumna Eva Hendricks on Tour With Death Cab for Cutie

Edited by RYAN MIKEL and DANIELLA NICHINSON

‘Overlord’ Mashes Zombies and WWII

By GURU RAMANATHAN Film & TV Editor

Eva Hendricks of Charly Bliss on tour with Death Cab for Cutie.

By NICOLE ROSENTHAL Music Editor Swinging a guitar over her shoulder with ease, Eva Hendricks adjusted her half-up, half-down blonde ponytail. Her overwhelmingly sunny grin seemed to cause the house lights to flicker, illuminating the crowd of over 3,000 people waiting patiently in their seats. She switched the pedalboard on as blue lights shimmered over the audience.

In came the guitars. She strummed wildly, emanating chord progressions reminiscent of 20th-century garage rock. The crash of her brother’s drumming followed soon after, jarring the audience with a hammering crescendo.

“Cardboard cereal, eating me inside,” she squeaked the opening verse, simultaneously capturing the essence of a Disney princess and a lethal toddler at the same time. Larger-than-life, hyperbolic and infectiously energetic, Hendricks bounced across the stage. In her signature high-pitched squeal, she sang, “From across your room, I saw second cousins kissing on the lawn, we will never speak again.”

At the King’s Theatre in Brooklyn, I watched what I can only call the future of alternative rock.

A Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music alumna, Hendricks started her band Charly Bliss while studying at NYU, recruiting her brother Sam, childhood friend Spencer Fox and ex-boyfriend Dan Shure. I caught up with Hendricks over the phone as she prepared to begin her tour with Death Cab for Cutie. I could almost hear her grin through the receiver.

“I really believe there’s no better place to play than here, and I’m sure part of that is because, of course, if we’re on a tour there’s the energy of getting to see your family and friends and everybody but also — I just love New York,” she laughed, recalling her relocation to Manhattan to pursue music.

However, the move from her hometown of Westport, Connecticut to the Big Apple was not without obstacles. Hendricks soon learned that the New York City college music scene was heavily competitive, cutthroat and dominated by men.

“We felt really out of place,” Hendricks recalled. “Every band we played with was fronted by men ... I always felt really embarrassed about fronting our band. That felt like I was kind of holding us back. I felt like I was singing about the wrong things, like my lyrics are wrong, my outfits on stage are wrong. I just felt [that] maybe if someone else was fronting the band, maybe we’d be doing better.”

But in the past three years, this changed. Hendricks’ femininity was embraced, not rejected as Charly Bliss began to garner a fanbase enthralled with their unique combination of grunge guitar riffs and high-pitched romantic evocations.

She reflected on the first album. “On ‘Guppy,’ I think I was really making fun of myself a lot. I think I was almost brave enough to be telling the truth about my feelings, but in a way that I was also making fun of myself because a lot of the lyrics on ‘Guppy’ are really sad,” she said. “They’re really upsetting and I think [are] about me kind of navigating anxiety, depression, breakups and and all the great stuff the world has gone through.”

Although she never anticipated much travel in her life, Hendricks caught a glimpse of the nation throughout Charly Bliss’ last national tour with Death Cab for Cutie.

“It’s been so incredible getting to see more of America but … it’s kind of upsetting in some ways because, since [Donald] Trump got elected, it’s definitely been crazy seeing more of the country and some upsetting things once you leave the New York

VIA INSTAGRAM.COM

bubble,” she said.

On their last tour, the band introduced one of their most high-energy hits, “Ruby,” a catchy riff-driven tune with an acoustic twist. “This song is about my therapist,” Hendricks remarked onstage.

While the distortion-driven track is typically played concurrently with audience members jumping around or even moshing, its acoustic rendition allowed the lyrics to be heard in a different light. Instead of evoking an attitude of indifference or rebellion, Hendricks softly uttered the lyrics which call back to a time riddled with desperation, passing out on the subway and references to cognitive behavioral therapy.

“Ditch me, gone to see Ruby, keep me afloat on call,” Hendricks sang, half choked-up and swaddled in blue lights from the stage.

“For a song that inspired me to dance around my bedroom, whipping my hair and throwing fists into the air, this rendition seemed only to provoke goosebumps.”

Peeling back the churning guitars and voracious drums, this version truly allowed Hendricks’ lyricism to shine through, revealing the uncomfortable pain that fuels the essence of Charly Bliss. “She’s a pro, I’m not that bad though, maybe I’ve gone too far.”

“A lot of those songs are so dark and remind me of bad moments in my life,” Hendricks said. “I think it feels superhuman to have a performance that’s so full of energy and joy. It makes me feel like I’ve kind of moved past those things that I was writing about. I have more confidence and I’m more brave. I’m kind of looking at myself and laughing at all of the things that are really painful to me.”

While all the songs she has formulated are autobiographical, Hendricks explained that her use of exaggeration and hyperbole is simply in her nature. By assuming an exaggerated, caricatured version of herself, Hendricks felt that she could easily talk about these haunting themes.

“It’s like my version of the truth, my version of what felt [it] like to be me,” she added. “I think I used a lot of the time in the lyrics on ‘Guppy.’ I think I used a lot of hyperbole and exaggeration and stuff because in some ways, I tend to talk like that a lot sometimes.”

In her songs, Hendricks seems to ruminate on love throughout most of the band’s discography. From “Love Me,” off of their 2014 EP “Soft Serve,” to the band’s latest release “Heaven” — Hendricks’ self-proclaimed “first love song” — romance has certainly been a topic of interest for the songstress.

“I remember at an early show someone compared my lyrics to Taylor Swift,” Hendricks laughed. “They were like, ‘oh my god, all you sing about is breakups, you’re just like Taylor Swift.’

And I think that’s so stupid. I mean, I guess I just can’t think of anything that’s more interesting to me in the world than like people’s internal worlds and also, sure, romance and having your heart broken.”

Writing about this, says Hendricks, is nothing to be ashamed of.

“It’s all things that connect people and make people understand each other,” Hendricks continued. “I remember feeling really hurt by someone when they first said that to me. Then I’m laughing now by going to the extreme opposite and being like, “f-ck you, you want Taylor Swift? Bring it on!”

Trailers can be deceiving, and the J.J. Abrams-produced “Overlord” is perhaps the best example of this in recent memory. The initial trailer was a compilation of different genres, combining the war and zombie subgenres with a rock song underscoring half of it, ultimately leaving audiences confused as to what they would be seeing. Perhaps that is what Abrams and the marketing team wanted, but director Julius Avery seemed to have a crystal clear vision of the f ilm he was trying to make: a B-list war flick with an A-level budget and a touch of zombies for good measure.

Set on the eve of doomsday, the f ilm follows a group of paratroopers who crash land behind enemy lines and have to destroy a radio transmitter on a church to help U.S. troops the next morning. They inf iltrate a Nazi-occupied village but soon realize the Nazis are conducting sinister experiments to bring back the dead.

“Overlord” begins in a loud, patriotic nature, showcasing bomber planes soaring through the sky and soldiers shooting jokes at one another in a claustrophobic and wildly aggressive space. But from the opening sequence, the f ilm def ies expectation. Its dialogue is aggressive but witty, and the cinematography is sharp and motivated. The f ilm wastes no time getting into the action as it quickly erupts into a pulse-pounding parachute sequence that rivals the one in “Mission: Impossible - Fallout” earlier this year.

Perhaps the most surprising aspect of “Overlord” is that it really is a better action-war movie than it is a zombie movie; the f ilm uses most of its runtime to develop the soldiers’ mission and establish its period setting. In fact, horror fans should brace themselves because the living dead only show up halfway through the f ilm. When they do, the scares are earned, but if they were removed, the

f ilm still could have worked.

Still, the zombies help in further suspending the audience’s disbelief toward the f ilm’s inevitable, explosive climax. While some of the f ilm’s CGI is lackluster, most of the action sequences — with or without zombies — are well-directed and avoid the irritating shaky-cam technique that plagues many action movies today.

The ensemble cast is lead by

“

Its dialogue is aggressive but witty, and the cinematography is sharp and motivated.

”

“Fences” actor Jovan Adepo, who plays the good-hearted rookie archetype with deft skill. While his character goes through a predictable arc, it, and perhaps the movie as a whole, is an example of how executing a formula exceptionally well can still be satisfying. Many of the other actors are f illing in basic roles that are elevated by great performances and infectious chemistry.

“Overlord” has a ridiculously fun concept that Avery conf idently executes with enough seriousness to turn it from useless shlock to a movie that is gripping the whole way through.

Email Guru Ramanathan at gramanathan@nyunews.com.

Charly Bliss’ debut album “Guppy” is available on all streaming services.

Email Nicole Rosenthal at nrosenthal@nyunews.com.

Wyatt Russell in “Overlord.”

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Washington Square News | Arts

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

7

Can a Show Go on Without Its Star?

By TAYLOR STOUT Staff Writer Frank Underwood, the fictional congressman-turned-president played by Kevin Spacey on Netflix’s “House of Cards,” was one of television’s most twisted protagonists. From his shady political manipulations to his scathing asides to the camera, he represented a disturbing duality common in U.S. politics: a man who can nobly represent the country in the public eye, but acts villainously when the cameras are turned off. When sexual assault allegations came out against Spacey people pointed to his characters as a sort of auxiliary evidence — no wonder he’s so good at acting morally bankrupt.

Netflix ousted Spacey and produced the sixth and final season of “House of Cards,” which was released Nov. 2. The season shifts focus to Underwood’s wife, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), and has his character killed off. Spacey’s own fall from grace eerily mirrors that of his Underwood’s own arc — a man who accumulates more and more power and is ultimately struck down by the resurgence of his past wrongdoings.

“House of Cards” is not the only example of a television show or film franchise that has had to redefine itself recently. For example, “Roseanne” has also unseated its main character and been transformed into spinoff series “The Conners.” These attempted transitions lead us to question whether it’s

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Robin Wright in “House of Cards.”

possible to entirely heal the blemish left on a project by the condemned actions of one of its key figures.

In recent months, bolstered by the #MeToo movement, consumers are now more morally conscious of the media they’re consuming. Woody Allen’s project “A Rainy Day in New York” was canceled by Amazon in August, even though the public continued to watch and support his films for years after the allegations of his sexual misconduct ini-

tially came out. But as a director, Allen was at the helm of his projects. Spacey, at least in “House of Cards,” was merely a player. If the bad apple is plucked from the project, can the series be restored to its former glory?

In the case of “House of Cards,” season six is still largely stuck on the legacy of the deceased Frank Underwood.

According to Entertainment Weekly, “various subplots and storylines do little to add anything meaningful to

what should be the story of Claire as president.” A review published by Mashable echoes a similar concern.

“Gazing at the powerhouse that is Claire, it’s hard to see Spacey’s departure as anything other than a monumental gift. Or it could be, it they’d let her out from under the shadow of her husband’s specter.” Robin Wright is a powerful and formidable actor, yet her Claire Underwood is never allowed to fully exist outside of Frank’s story,

even after his death.

Perhaps it is possible for a series or franchise to move past the removal of a problematic key figure. However, in this case, the most compelling aspects of “House of Cards” are strangled by the troublesome events of its recent past.

Before the allegations against Spacey came to light, “House of Cards” was one of my favorite shows on television.

The moment Underwood slams his fist on the Oval Office desk after claiming the presidency is of the most impactful television scenes for me in recent memory. Upon initial viewing, it represented the exciting, the unexpected. But in today’s political and cultural climate, it has taken on a different resonance.

That shocking bang is the sound of villains taking power, of unjust political processes, of men with appalling misbehaviors staying in charge and mercilessly beating everybody else down. Back then, classic anti-hero Underwood’s shadowy manipulation felt exciting and provocative. But now, the fictitious political games seem all too real.

Maybe it is best to move past by creating new television series and films that embody the lessons our culture claims to have learned from pushes like the #MeToo movement. A clean slate is what’s necessary, just as a political revolution rarely succeeds by ousting just one politician.

Email Taylor Stout at arts@nyunews.com.

To Boycott or Not to Boycott: Jan Fabre’s ‘Mount Olympus’

By CLAIRE FISHMAN Staff Writer Last Tuesday, my Theater professor, Brandon Woolf, steered the discussion away from my performance class’s group projects to talk about “Mount Olympus: to glorify the cult of tragedy.” Although the performance was optional, most of the class had expressed interest in going. “Mount Olympus” was having its North American premiere at the Skirball Center for Performing Arts and almost everyone wanted to see the 24-hour, one-nightonly performance.

“

Within minutes, actors were on their knees performing oral sex on each other.

”

So when Professor Woolf told everyone that the director, Jan Fabre, had been accused of sexual harassment by his former company members, the class fell uncomfortably quiet.

The former company members of

Troubleyn, the group that performs “Mount Olympus,” had alleged in an open letter in the magazine Rekto Verso that Fabre had verbally abused female company members on set, adopted a “no sex, no solo” working environment and punished female company members who refused him by forms of “stalking, verbal humiliation, aggression and manipulation.”

Six members of the company have resigned in the past two years citing complaints of sexual harassment.

Skirball informed Fabre that he was not invited to attend the performance, but that they would not cancel the show as to not punish the cast and crew members.

One by one, my classmates denounced the actions of Fabre and lamented the working conditions that were employed to create “Mount Olympus.” Could a piece of art ever be valuable enough to overlook the suffering involved in making it? My classmates decided it couldn’t and boycott the performance. I decided to go anyway.

“Mount Olympus” took my breath away. Watching the f irst act was like watching an unrated music video in real time. Within minutes, actors were on their knees performing oral sex on each other. During the several obscene scenes, the audience did not giggle nervously; they laughed wholeheartedly. “Mount Olympus” did not take itself seriously — even in scenes f illed with bloodshed and rape, there was comedic relief. The production’s vulgarity, nudity and gore was well-advertised on the Skirball website.

Cast members got tired and gave up jumping chain-link rope in the middle of an Ancient Greek gym class; men wore bras and panties f illed with raw meat and twerked;

RACHEL BUIGAS-LOPEZ | WSN

a woman in a wig and high heels mimed performing fellatio on two different men in a hilarious solo act.

There was plenty of symbolism to be interpreted, but more importantly, watching “Mount Olympus” was an absolute blast. The cast was outstanding and their endurance was remarkable. But if I had boycotted the show, I never would have been able to experience it.

Do I condone Jan Fabre’s behavior? Absolutely not. And when I read Skirball’s program and saw Fabre likening human beings to simple animal bodies, I was revolted. Yet, it is the truth; those are Fabre’s thoughts and opinions, and they played into the contents of the show.

The only place that Skirball addresses the accusations against Fabre

is on its website, and the information is hidden at the bottom of a secondary page for the event. If Skirball had included an addendum to the program with the context of the performance, or perhaps even a copy of the letter in Rekto Verso, it would have better served its audience.

But, even now, aware of the fact that I am writing an article to rationalize my attending the controversial performance, I am falling into the same trap as the very institutions that I hope to condemn. In discussing the #MeToo context of “Mount Olympus” and Fabre’s sexual harassment allegations, I am allowing Fabre’s name to overshadow the names of the performers and cast in the Troubleyn company that did such an outstanding job tonight.

More than 45 people are responsible for the making of “Mount Olympus” in the NYU Skirball program.

Three are given prof iles in the very back — Fabre, Jeroen Olyslaegers, and Dag Taeldeman. One of the three is accused of abusing his directorial power. Should the other 46 other people involved suffer from the allegations against Fabre?

I want Jan Fabre to be blacklisted from the theaterœ establishment and to never harm a person under his direction ever again. But in boycotting pieces that have already been produced by sometimes hundreds of people, you are not just hurting the perpetrator; you are hurting the survivors.

Email Claire Fishman at theater@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

8

OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

OPINION

Edited by JANICE LEE

POLITICS

I Grew Up in England. I Don’t Understand Gun Culture.

By NATASHA JOKIC Staff Writer As I sat in my regular spot in a local coffee shop, my daily writing session was interrupted by yelling. It appeared that a homeless woman was being asked to leave the cafe, escorted by a flustered barista whose job description likely didn’t include dealing with raspy threats

of violence. It was a heartbreaking encounter, as few of us can even imagine being forced into the bitter cold in New York City, that brought the rest of the shop to an awkward silence.

That is, until the woman loudly declared, “If I had a gun, I would shoot you all.” I looked around in a pure panic, but if the other customers were as perturbed, they didn’t show it. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was as alien an experience for everyone else as it was for me.

Now, it’s important to note here that I’m not American. I grew up in the United Kingdom, which has suffered only one mass shooting in over two decades. I’ve never held a loaded gun, and I think I can count on both hands the number of times I’ve even seen one. While this is also likely

true of many American students and many of my peers here, the thought or threat of guns never even really crossed my mind while growing up.

That’s why my gut reaction to the woman’s statement was one of disbelief. Then I remembered that I was sitting in a coffee shop in the United States. The same day as a shooting in California killed 12 people.

Of all the aspects of American culture, guns are the most baffling to me.

I’ve otherwise been quite good at assimilating; I drink out of red solo cups, say “soccer” instead of “football” and pretend to like Drake. Much to the surprise of many Americans who seem dismayed by the somewhat vitriolic political environment, I do actually like it here. However, much as I have tried, I

cannot understand the desire for guns.

After all, I’ve lived a pretty good life until now without them.

Guns are absolutely terrifying. The fear of gun violence was one that I, like many other international students, simply never had before coming to the U.S. Now, I see shootings in the news every week. More disturbing are the days where mass shootings don’t make the front page and are presumed to be a somewhat ordinary occurrence. This is not normal.

I’ve begun to fear school shootings when I hear loud noises in class because part of me has started to associate guns with daily life in the U.S. Now, it’s clear that the woman in the coffee shop was clearly under some kind of mental duress. It deeply concerns me that

New Yorkers facing such conditions aren’t given the help they need. It also concerns me that precedent suggests that getting a gun while suffering from a mental illness isn’t exactly difficult. While I know that this incident was a mild disturbance of my otherwise relatively easy existence here, there’s a part of me that can’t help but wonder that if the situation were slightly different, would I be dead? For that reason, I cannot understand American gun culture. I likely never will.

Something as horrific as culturally embedded gun violence should never be something we respond to with desensitization or complacency — it should never be something we simply accept.

Email Natasha Jokic at opinion@nyunews.com.

INTERNATIONAL

Nigeria Is Watching Us, and We Are Letting Them Down

By SARAH JOHN Contributing Writer Last week, the Nigerian military used President Donald Trump’s words to justify shooting Nigerian protestors armed with rocks. After firing on the Islamic protestors, the army received criticism from human rights organizations like Amnesty International, and in response, the army released a video on Twitter of Trump saying that throwing rocks is

comparable to being armed with guns.

Afterwards, John Agim, spokesperson for the Nigerian military made an official statement saying that, “We released that video [of the rock comment] to say if President Trump can say that rocks are as good as a rifle, who is Amnesty International?”

These comments may seem bizarre to some Americans, but the admiration some Nigerians hold for Trump’s rhetoric is alarmingly high; his hateful message is being absorbed by the people of Nigeria, and because of that, his casual words can hold a lot of weight — enough weight to send bullets flying.

These are effects that Americans should be more aware of, as they debate the merits of Trump’s politically incorrect, incendiary platform.

Without viewing it yourself, it can be hard to recognize the extent to which

some people in Nigeria believe in the American ideal. I can picture long talks in rural Nigeria with cousins who knew every American reference I made instantly. I can remember being nervous to speak in public because people would eagerly flip their heads around, strangers sometimes even running up to me just to ask if I was American. At times in Nigeria, excitement, respect and admiration were given to me because of nothing more than the fact I was an American citizen. I can’t imagine the adoration heaped on the president by these same people, but this shooting has given us some inclination.

Trump is very popular among many Nigerians. Polling shows that 58 percent of Nigerians believe that “President Trump would do the right thing in world affairs.” Fifty-five percent believe Trump is someone who “cares about or-

dinary people,” the highest out of any of the countries in the survey.

There’s debate about why this is the case. Some speculate that Nigeria, a country that only had its first democratic transition of power during 2015, enjoys forceful leaders. In fact, current President Muhammadu Buhari previously maintained power in a military coup in 1983, but was still welcomed back and elected president in 2015.

For people who support Trump, or even those who hate Trump but support his commitment to politically incorrect speech meant to cause controversy, I urge you to reflect on the ramifications of his actions that may be harder to see. We can’t just consider actions in a vacuum, or through a singularly American lens.

The reason Trump’s failure to condemn dictators or verbally recognize human rights abuses is so troubling is not just

because of some abstract idea of what’s right or wrong. It is because leaders in Nigeria’s newer, more rocky democracy are watching intently, waiting to take to their cue.

As a Nigerian-American, I am constantly worrying about the effect of Trump on both of the countries I call home. Nigeria, a new democracy, has a lot of potential, and the world should be investing in its success. Incidents like this recent shooting have shown us that something as small as an offhand comment from a U.S. president can have major repercussions in Nigeria. Now it is just a matter of whether Americans choose to keep that information in mind next time they are at the ballot box.

Email Sarah John at opinion@nyunews.com.

GOVERNMENT

The U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Should Be in Prison

By COLE STALLONE Staff Writer As the story of the so-called MAGA Bomber begins to unfold, one of the most interesting pieces of information to come out of the investigation is about the foreclosure of the attacker’s home in 2009 by OneWest Bank. Interestingly, the former chairman of OneWest was incumbent Treasury Secretary Steven “Foreclosure King” Mnuchin which

brings back to light Mnuchin’s past legal wrongdoings. Not only did his bank oversee more than 36,000 foreclosures in California between 2006 and 2015, but his bank was also accused of refusing to give out loans to minorities. However Mnuchin’s criminality is not confined to his tenure at OneWest Bank but rather is present throughout his entire professional career.

The accusations mounted so heavily against Mnuchin that in 2013 the Attorney General of San Francisco called on the California Attorney General, now Senator Kamala Harris, to prosecute him and his bank. Harris, without explanation, declined to do so. She did, however, receive a campaign donation from Mnuchin during her 2016 Senate race, the only Democrat to receive a donation from Mnuchin. Despite Senator Harris’s failure to prosecute, it is hard to see how

Steven Mnuchin is not a criminal, especially if one is not financially motivated to see otherwise.

During the Great Recession, IndyMac Bank, a well-known mortgage bank, failed and was taken over by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. The bank was sold to Mnuchin and his partners who renamed it to OneWest Bank and, after running it for six years, sold the institution for a $1.5 billion dollar profit.

To turn this former failing bank into the profitable company it became, Mnuchin acted ruthlessly, operating the bank as a “foreclosure machine.” Mnuchin’s bank resulted in nearly 40 percent of all foreclosures nationwide, despite only servicing 17 percent of mortgages.

Aside from the clearly corrupt and disproportionate number of foreclosures, the process Mnuchin used to facilitate these foreclosures was blatantly

illegal. In a court deposition, Vice President of OneWest, Erica Sec, admitted to “robo-signing” nearly 750 per week, looking at each document for no more than 30 seconds and not signing them in the presence of a notary. She also admitted to being one of eight employees who followed this practice.

To understand the corruption behind Mnuchin’s actions, it is important to contextualize his actions within his career. Mnuchin’s first job out of college was at Goldman Sachs, where his father was also conveniently a partner. The younger Mnuchin would become a partner as well, in 1994, when he also became head of the mortgage securities department.

Mnuchin had worked with that department since starting at Goldman, selling mortgage-backed securities. Given the number of foreclosures Mnuchin oversaw during his time at OneWest and his

extensive career in Goldman’s mortgage department, it is extremely likely that he profited off of foreclosures on homes that he helped mortgage.

It is not just one particular event or wrongdoing that makes Mnuchin a criminal, but rather, it is the fact that he built his entire career and personal net worth off of corruption. And it is the consistent ruthlessness and disregard for the law with which Mnuchin and his bank acted that makes them deserving of prosecution.

Mnuchin’s bank profited from over 16,000 foreclosures, depriving many people of their homes and ruining their lives. As the individual responsible for this systematic injustice, Mnuchin, much like many other white-collar criminals who frequently evade punishment, must be punished.

Email Cole Stallone at opinion@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | Opinion

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

9

GOVERNMENT

War of Words: How Rhetoric Can Turn Ugly

By EVAN VEHSLAGE Contributing Writer Benito Mussolini, the infamous Italian fascist, once said of his country’s press, “Italian journalism is free because it serves one cause and one purpose, mine.” He was shot to death in April 1945. His body was beaten, abused and hung on meat hooks in Milan’s public square by a resentful mob of citizens. More recently, Brazil’s newly elected President, Jair Bolsonaro, described the influx of immigrants in the country as, “The scum of the earth is showing up in Brazil, as if we didn’t have enough problems of our own to sort out.” He had a knife driven five inches into his side by a radical left-wing opponent at a Sept. 6 campaign rally.

Citing these extreme cases demonstrates how the political system in a country can devolve into a more radical and even violent state. These are but two examples of a simple political logic: strong-arm tactics and hateful rhetoric will produce a response from not only from those who are abused and slandered, but also from the public opposition as a whole. American political leaders today must realize that the same action-reaction pattern affects them: when they target certain groups with hateful speech or discriminatory policies, those groups will understandably take action to defend their liberty. History has shown that resistance will often increase proportionally to the oppression, and therefore, our country’s politicians cannot allow the current language of falsehoods and hateful rhetoric to grow unchecked.

This is not a strictly partisan concern either. Prominent Democratic leader and former Attorney General Eric Holder has said of Republicans, “When they go low, we kick them.”

Yet the obvious and primary promoter of this heated discourse has been the president. Although the purpose of comparing the rhetoric of Mussolini and Bolsonaro with that of our president is not to suggest that Trump or Bolsonaro rise to the level of a dictator like Mussolini, nor to encourage any form of retaliation to Trump similar to that faced by either of these men, there are similarities which must be acknowledged. The Washington Post reports that President Trump made 1,419 false claims in the seven weeks before these past crucial midterms — one of which was accusing George Soros, a liberal billionaire and Holocaust survivor, of funding the migrant caravan.

Submitting to

And Trump, with great vitriol, also repeatedly calls the press the enemy of the people.

As Trump’s incendiary tone increases in the U.S., we have also seen a rise in violent acts by individuals.

A 2018 study by Scientific American found a statistically significant correlation between Donald Trump’s anti-Muslim tweeting habits and the national rise in anti-Muslim hate crimes. Just in the past few weeks, pipe bombs were dispersed, supposedly by Trump fanatic Cesar Sayoc of Flordia, to prominent Democrats, including two former presidents, an event that preceded the horrific slaughter of 11 Jews in their place of worship by a deranged and prejudiced murderer, Robert Bowers.

These crimes, to use an often-repeated news phrase, belong solely to the perpetrators of them, but one cannot deny that their motivations matter. Sayoc was an avid Trump supporter and many of his actual targets lined up with the President’s favorite verbal ones. Though Bowers — according to CNN — believed that “Trump was surrounded by too many Jewish people,” he also wholly believed the current portrayal of the migrant caravan as an invasion, another one of President Trump’s recent rallying cries.

In the face of this hate and bigotry, the United States has every right to expect our leaders to prioritize healing the egregious wounds that polarizing language, and the radicalization of both major political parties, have ripped open. Yet sadly, even after the multiple tragedies cited above, our president has chosen to continue to level vitriolic attacks at individual Democrats, such as claiming that Maxine Waters has a low IQ. Further, he has disregarded any calls to cease the demonization of the Latin American migrants. It must be acknowledged that the administration did condemn each of these acts after they happened, but to quote kindergarten teachers everywhere, “Actions speak louder than words,” and President Trump’s actions scream that all those not in his party, in his select base, fail to reach the standard of true Americans.

I opened this piece quoting two men — an infamously divisive fascist dictator and an alienating new president yet to be judged by history, both victims of extreme forms of political violence. Both gambled that they could rise to power by belittling and repressing others without consequence and both lost. So when President Trump calls to “lock her up,” to “build that wall” or refers to journalists as, “lying, disgusting people,” he plays a dangerous game, and we have only to look backwards to see how it can end.

STAFF EDITORIAL

On Press Freedom at NYU This past Thursday, two of our reporters attended the Liberal Studies town hall that was held to address students’ concerns about Milo Yiannopoulos’ canceled visit to campus. One of them was told by Monroe France, the NYU associate vice president for Student Affairs and Diversity Initiatives, that he was not allowed to take pictures of the event, despite the town hall being promoted as a public event in a public space available to all LS students. Part of what happened can be attributed to a misunderstanding, which calls for clearer language on NYU’s part when describing the nature of its events.

But during a time when the freedom of press at large is being scrutinized, we are concerned by the fact that this instance isn’t an isolated one — WSN has previously been asked to not photograph events or to refrain from quoting certain administrators even when they’re speaking publicly. Any infringement on the freedom of press must be taken seriously, as it serves as a litmus test for transparency within our university.

It is important to note that the town hall was intended to cater specifically to the audience which was to be affected most by Yiannopoulos’ visit — LS students. NYU spokeswoman Shonna Keogan told WSN that this was “billed as a closed event” only for LS students. But if this were the case, then the event should not have been advertised as a town hall, which indicates a public forum rather than a private, closed conversation. Keogan agreed that the name was misleading, but that it was meant to serve as “essentially a dean summoning students to discuss a sensitive issue.”

Spokeswoman Keogan told WSN in an email that France felt the need to prohibit photography because several students present had indicated beforehand that they did not feel comfortable having their photos taken. The initial email that invited all LS and GLS students to the town hall did not state in any way that press or photography was prohibited at the event. After our reporters were told by France not to take photos, they observed only one student at the event admitting to not feeling comfortable having her picture taken.

Many resolutions could have been discussed in order to rectify this problem. Students who felt un-

comfortable could have moved to the other side of the room and not been photographed. They could have also been warned of the possibility of photographs being taken during the event. Spokeswoman Koegan even admitted to WSN that she doubted whether any of the students would have actually outrightly opposed to being photographed should they not have been warned in advance. But rather than attempt to reach a solution during the event, any sort of discussion was shut down until after the fact.

The university’s inability to better communicate the nature of an event is a problem that has occurred more than once. In a town hall event held at Gallatin to discuss the Being@NYU survey results, one of our reporters was not given a clear answer as to whether or not she would be allowed access to coverage of the event. When she arrived at the event, she told the event moderator, Gallatin Associate Dean of Students Patrick McCreery, that she was there for press coverage, but she was told she should not quote anyone who does not want to be quoted, despite it being a public event.

Our role as a publication is to increase openness and understanding between our community leaders and the student body. But the administration’s vague and somewhat contrived directions in regard to media access could lead to the potential restriction of our ability, as journalists, to provide our student body with accurate, unbiased information.

There is some irony in the fact that the limitation of free speech occurred during the event — which was held in order to discuss the limits of free speech on campus. As student journalists, we have the right to report on campus events that affect the student body.

LS is one of the bigger undergraduate programs at NYU — that they were discussing a topic so controversial and important on campus indicates its relevance to our publication.

We uphold our responsibility to inform the NYU community in a professional and transparent lens. But if the NYU administration itself continues this troubling pattern of limiting our ability to report on our institution, then our right as a publication to increase transparency for our student community is put at risk.

Additional reporting by Sam Klein.

Email the Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

JANICE LEE Chair HANNA KHOSRAVI Co-chair MELANIE PINEDA Co-chair

Email Evan Vehslage at opinion@nyunews.com.

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

10

SPORTS

SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

WEEKLY UPDATE

Volleyball Advances to ECAC Semifinals

By ZACH HAN Sports Editor Men’s Soccer Men’s soccer was rewarded with an NCAA Tournament bid after finishing 12-41 over the regular season.

The underdog Violets held their own against the Centennial Conference champion Haverford College in a hard fought matchup that went down to the wire, as they narrowly won the game by a single penalty kick 5-4 after 110 minutes of deadlocked gameplay at one apiece. Haverford drew first blood as it scored early in the second half to gain a one-goal lead. The Violets fought to tie up the score, which came when SPS junior Sergio Monton scored with less than three minutes in regulation. The following three overtime periods were characterized by strong defense by Haverford’s goalkeeper and NYU’s CAS senior and goalkeeper Grant Engel. With penalty kicks knotted up at 4-4, Stern first-year Isaiah Boyd scored a penalty kick in the seventh round while Engel denied the potential tying Haverford goal.

NYU will look to continue its postseason push when they host Montclair State on Nov. 11.

Women’s Soccer Women’s soccer received a bid to compete in the NCAA Tournament after going 10-53 in the regular season.

Unfortunately for the women’s team, its postseason march was cut short after losing a heartbreaker against Virginia Wesleyan University in overtime 1-0. The game was scoreless through 90 minutes of regulation where both teams’ offenses looked stagnant. Virginia Wesleyan caught NYU off-guard to begin the overtime period, resulting in a quick goal less than two minutes into the period, ending the game and NYU’s season. Stern sophomore and goalkeeper Meghan Marhan was stellar on defense for the entire game, but her one miscue proved to be the team’s downfall.

The women concluded the 2018 season with a 10-6-3 record and an NCAA tournament appearance.

Men’s Basketball The men’s basketball team opened up the 2018 season strong with a win against Purchase College in Head Coach Dagan Nelson’s debut on Nov. 9.

After trailing Purchase 31-43 by halftime, the Violets began to show signs of life as they stormed back using a 15-2 run to knot the score up at 55. The game stayed close but NYU found a way to pull away with the lead in the closing minutes of regulation. CAS first-year Alex Casieri, CAS sophomore Bobby Hawkinson and SPS senior Jule Brown all finished the game with 21 points apiece. Overall, the Violets shot 51.8 percent from the field and 44.4 percent from three-point range.

The men will look to continue their hot start when they host the NYU Tip-Off Tournament on Nov. 17. Their opening-round opponent will be Sarah Lawrence College.

Women’s Basketball Women’s basketball fell short in its season opener and Head Coach Meg Barber’s debut on Nov. 11, falling 43-53 to the College of Staten Island.

The biggest issue of the game for NYU was on the offensive side of the ball, where the Violets seemed to be unable to gain any kind of flow. While CAS sophomore Lauren Koyama carried a bulk of the offense on her shoulders by scoring 15 points, the Violets struggled as a team from the field, shooting only 23.5 percent from three-point range.

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

CAS junior Annie Barrett did it all on the floor, leading NYU with seven rebounds and seven assists.

The women will look to bounce back in their second game of the year when they take on the College of Mount Saint Vincent on Nov. 17.

Men’s and Women’s Cross Country The men’s cross country team competed in the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship 8K on Nov. 11, finishing ninth out of 44 teams with a score of 233. Leading the way for the Violets was Tisch senior Ben Haderle, who finished 18th out of 307 runners. Haderle’s performance garnered him All-Region honors and earned him a spot to run as an individual in the NCAA Division III National Championship on Nov. 17. This is Haderle’s first appearance at the National Championship, which will be his final race in his collegiate cross country career.

The women’s cross country team finished with a 24th-place finish at the NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship 6K on Nov. 11.

Leading the way for the women was Gallatin first-year Valentina House, placing 52nd out of 305 runners.

This meet marked the conclusion of the NYU cross country season.

Women’s Volleyball After compiling an 18-16 record over the regular season under first-year Head Coach Andrew Brown, women’s volleyball was selected to compete in the Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Championship after finishing sixth in the UAA. To begin the tournament, NYU hosted Mount Saint Mary University on Nov. 7, where the Violets put on an absolute clinic and won the match in three convincing sets (25-12, 25-17, 25-16). Leading the offensive attack for the Violets were CAS first-year Emily Kleck and Gallatin first-year Maddie DeJong, finishing together with seven kills. Overall, NYU had a balanced offense that worked cohesively and drove it into the quarterfinals.

The women’s dominant start to the ECAC Tournament continued in the quarterfinals when they shut out Misericordia University in another three convincing straight sets (25-17, 25-21, 25-18). Tisch firstyear Abby Amusus led NYU with nine kills, Tandon first-year Stella Alverson led the team with 15 assists and CAS sophomore Jacqueline Kupeli had a team-high 16 digs.

NYU will host Cabrini University in a semifinal matchup on Nov. 11. The winner will advance to the championship on the same day.

Wrestling NYU accumulated 93.5 points en route to a fifth place finish out of 12 teams at the Roger Williams University Invitational on Nov. 10.

Leading the way for the Violets was Stern junior and team captain Sean Lyons, who took home the 157-pound title after he won all of his five bouts, one by way of fall and two by way of major decision. His highlight of the weekend was obliterating Roger William’s Tyler Gazaway in the championship 18-4. Going into the tournament, Gazaway was ranked seventh in the nation in his weight class. Other than Lyons, NYU had four other grapplers making it into the finals of their respective weight classes, all finishing as runner-ups.

NYU wrestling returns to action on Nov. 18 when the team travels to Ithaca to partake in the New York State Championships.

Email Zach Han at zhan@nyunews.com .

Edited by BRENDAN DUGGAN and ZACH HAN

Dan Klores, the Mastermind Behind ‘Basketball: A Love Story’

VIA VARIETY.COM

Dan Klores’ “Basketball: A Love Story” premiered on ESPN Oct. 9, and the final part will be airing Tuesday, Nov. 13.

By BRENDAN DUGGAN Sports Editor Recently, WSN’s sports desk had the privilege of sitting down with award-winning filmmaker and director Dan Klores.

He talked about his most recent project, “Basketball: A Love Story,” which is a 20-hour, 10-part documentary that encapsulates basketball as a global common denominator in today’s complex world.

The documentary is broken down into 62 short stories that explore the two-sided love of the game while offering perspectives and insights on issues like race, gender, politics, business and more. The documentary features 165 industry legends, including some of the best players, coaches, and journalists in the history of the game. Responsible for the revival of the NY Renaissance — a youth basketball organization that competes in New York City — Dan Klores prioritizes academic achievement, community building and commitment to core values in this leadership role.

WSN: You brought together all these basketball legends — from the NBA, ABA, NCAA, WNBA and the international scene. What was it like recruiting the players and basketball personalities that represent the entire basketball world?

Dan Klores: First of all, when I started this, the film was originally going to be 10 hours and five parts. But I had known in my mind the short stories I wanted to tell, because the film isn’t chronological or linear. The stories, like you said, stem from the NBA, college, the Olympics, and involve politics, race, media and business. So I made a list of stories which I edited over the course of multiple years, but I knew who I needed to tell the stories. If I was going to do a scene on “The Decision,” well clearly, I needed LeBron. If I was going to do a scene on San Antonio, I needed Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and those guys. If I was going to do a scene on Geno Oriamo versus Pat Summit — well Pat was very ill — but I needed Geno and a bunch of his players, as well as players that played for Pat. I knew who I needed and who I wanted to get and I also understood that the film was going to take a number of years, and some of these players were older, and a few were ill. I needed Dolph Schayes, who was an NYU graduate. Greatest player in NYU history — not even close — and top 50 of all time in the NBA. He had been retired a long time and living in Syracuse,

where he played professionally, and he passed about a year after I interviewed him. So I had to go there before I started talking with the younger, more contemporary men and women. Do you know Dolph Schayes?

WSN: I’ve definitely heard the name but I don’t know much about him.

DK: As a kid, I grew up in Brooklyn a huge NYU fan. They were fantastic.

WSN: I know they used to play games at Madison Square Garden.

DK: All the time. And they produced many All-Americans and players that went on to play in the pros, and they were my favorite team as a kid. But college basketball really got decimated in New York City because of the gambling scandals.

NYU decided in the late ’60s to minimize their programs. They were one of the top teams in the country year after year.

WSN: You talked about getting over 500 hours of interview footage while creating “Basketball: A Love Story.” How do you go from over 500 hours of interviews to the 10 hours that were used in the film?

DK: It’s part of telling the story. Some of the interviews were six hours. Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson were six hours each. The average interview was two hours and 25 minutes. The process of deciding which segments make the final cut lies within the storytelling. The process I use involves tracking all of my interviews within a book, and I underline in red the parts I might be interested in, which is usually two-thirds of each interview. To focus on a story like the gambling scandal in the 1960s, I will first look to see who spoke about that. I will then write the dialogue from the interview, so that’s the order of how a story becomes a scene.

There’s a logic to it, and then when you’re editing, it’s like a puzzle — you try to figure out which lines work best and at what point, while also keeping in mind the visuals. It’s a very disciplined undertaking. You lose a lot of stuff but you have to be. You must be ruthless. After a while you lose a lot of lines that you love, but if it doesn’t help tell the story, you’re out. Gone.

WSN: In the “Patriots to Protest” episode, basketball players were boycotting the 1968 Olympics, right around the time the Civil Rights movement in [the United States] was starting to gain attention. I think a lot of the power within the documentary is how basketball

can be used to shed light on social issues involving race, politics, gender and more.

DK: Absolutely.

WSN: Without getting too political, it’s accurate to point out that our current president has criticized football players for taking a knee, and has also taken shots at LeBron James and Steph Curry, arguably the two most influential leaders in today’s NBA. There’s also been journalists who have told LeBron, who recently opened his I Promise school, to “shut up and dribble.”

How do you think your documentary responds to these threats of people trying to use sports to attack and divide others?

DK: Thank you for asking that. The film is about basketball as a global common denominator, as one of the few common denominators that can bring people together. If you travel the world and go to Ireland, Croatia, China, Nigeria, you can use only a few global common denominators to relate to people. Think about it. Food, music, God, sex, basketball. In my mind, basketball represents a common place for people to celebrate and begin to talk about the shared love, and through that, how else do we grow? You can’t grow if you’re angry.

You have a professor at NYU who teaches in the Sports Management department.

His name is Dave Hollander. Just the other day, after watching the film, he announced that he is introducing a four-credit course at NYU, with my film “Basketball: A Love Story” as a central point to his summer session course called “How Basketball Can Save the World.” So that’s my view. I have a not-for-profit organization called NY Renaissance basketball association. It’s for inner-city kids who play hoops. Three years ago, we started an anti-gun violence campaign. All 250 kids in the program, from third grade to eleventh, wear an orange emblem on their uniform to raise awareness.

So that’s what I think basketball can do. I don’t know if it can change the world, but it can certainly help make the world a better place. And I love these younger athletes now because they’re taking a stand. What’s going to happen in the 2020 Olympics?

Could something similar happen? It’s a legitimate question.

WSN: What would you say to a current undergraduate student about watching the documentary? Does it appeal to more than just basketball or sports fans? How so?

DK: To me, it’s not really about sports AT all. It’s about this universal language, this global common denominator. It’s a love story. Each story in the 62 stories involves both sides of love. The joy, the wonder and the embrace, but also the despair, the loss, and the betrayal. It’s so much deeper than basketball. It’s about the art of the game. The genius of the game.

The scandals of the game. It’s about race in [the U.S.]. This is also a story about “The Outsider.” Young people, I’m astounded, love the history part. There’s something pleasing about that. It’s not chronological — I don’t open with James Naismith discovering the game, but I get to that part eventually. This isn’t a history, but it is historical.

Email Brendan Duggan at bduggan@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | Under the Arch

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

11

Trans Students Can’t Be Defined, Despite the Memo CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

The new definition is slated to be part of Title IX, a federal civil rights law that protects against gender discrimination in education programs.

Following the flurry around the memo, protests advocating for trans rights have popped up around the NYU campus. The night of the memo’s release, a rally was held in Washington Square Park in which students, notable trans advocates and New Yorkers came together to stand up against the outdated concept of the binary, seemingly on the verge of being set in stone. Later, on Nov. 2, 50 people gathered in Union Square to further protest the memo. From Nov. 12 to 20, NYU’s LGBTQ Student Center plans to host events for Trans Awareness Week.

Keith has only recently came out to his brother, friends at NYU and Instagram followers. He said his mother still does not know; until he starts hormone therapy, Keith has decided to remain silent about his identity with her.

“I don’t want her to have an opportunity to somehow block that,” he said.

“Once it’s happened, she doesn’t have a choice but to acknowledge it.”

Gender and Sexuality Studies and Performance Studies Professor Ann Pellegrini said the memo is imbued with “cruelty” and “stupidity” because the lives of trans, and even intersex individuals, could be further erased. The lack of acknowledgement from the Trump administration not only feeds into the rhetoric of American society but can affect lawmaking. The memo suggests that changes in health care coverage, undermining a rule made by the Obama administration barring doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies from refusing service to trans individuals.

Pellegrini believes these modifications to past rulings speak to how the current administration views trans individuals.

“The Trump memo says: we do not see you, we will not even imagine

“

you, and we will certainly not protect you,” Professor Pellegrini wrote in an email to WSN. As news of the memo surfaced, Tisch sophomore Bee Franklin chose to be vocal with their response. Posting on Facebook, they attempted to start a conversation about the issue. “It’s not that they [the United States government] don’t believe we exist; they just don’t care about our experience. How do you teach government to be empathetic?”

Franklin wrote. Their post ended with “let’s talk” and urged people to attend the subsequent protests.

The initial protest on Oct. 21 in Washington Square Park brought together many NYU students, including Sol*, a non-binary Gallatin first-year. Huddled in the crowd, Sol and their friend barely exchanged words — they just hugged.

“We simply understood each others’ feelings,” Sol said.

Steinhardt senior August, who is trans and didn’t want to disclose his last name for personal privacy, attended the Nov. 2 protest in Union Square Park. Standing up for his community’s rights, August took to the park with a sign that read, “Your Silence Will Not Protect You,” in bold red lettering.

At NYU, he is the president of the T-Party club, which provides a safe space for trans and gender non-conforming students, and helped organize the LGBTQ Center Trans Awareness Week. Through this week, he hopes to provide more of a space for conversation and wider acknowledgement of the trans community.

“There needs to be more education available for the general public, but the most important thing right now is to support your trans friends,” August wrote in a message to WSN. The path to figuring out one’s gender identity isn’t an easy one; it’s hard to navigate and often lonely. Individuals denied legal and societal acceptance have a hard time becoming their authentic selves, and garnering acceptance

afterwards can often be even harder.

Tisch first-year Noah Witke Mele, who is non-binary, said that allyship is one of the most important tools in fighting the continuing injustice.

“We must stay angry. We must stay loud. We must stay heard,” Noah said in regard to continuous activism for trans lives.

Trans people often experience deadnaming and misgendering, acts in which they are referred to by a name or pronouns with which they do not identify.

As a trans individual, Keith encounters these challenges daily, comparing such instances to simply mislabeling colors.

“Imagine wearing a blue sweater. You know it’s blue, right?” he said smiling. “But everyone else tells you it’s brown. But you know, you know it’s blue.”

Trans people have a wide variety of views on transitioning. For Keith, living as the gender he was assigned at birth would mean not fulfilling his potential. He believes his potential doesn’t lie within the binary.

“I hate how I look right now,” he said. “I hate what it feels like.

This [is] wrong.”

The process of identifying as non-binary is a subject of discussion within the trans community. The debate centers around the extent to which certain standards — from experiencing dysphoria to seeking gender-affirming surgery — must be met to identify as such. Franklin struggled with their identity for over two years before coming to the realization that they’re non-binary. During their senior year of high school, Franklin was told that they seemed non-binary.

“Oh? I’m allowed to do that?” they recall saying to that first person who introduced them to the possibility. To them, being non-binary means a little bit of everything — they don’t conform to the binary.

“I felt the pressure of not being trans enough because I’m not on hormones

Imagine wearing a blue sweater. You know it’s blue, right?

But everyone else tells you it’s brown. But you know, you know it’s blue.

KEITH CAS first-year and transmasculine individual

Keith, a CAS first-year who is transmasculine, poses in Christopher Park.

”

ALANA BEYER | WSN

ALANA BEYER | WSN

Tisch sophomore Bee Franklin, who identifies as non-binary, poses on the High Line.

“

Feeling helpless right now is not a solution. Letting other people do the work is not a solution.

BEE FRANKLIN Tisch sophomore and non-binary individual

and I’m not interested in hormones,” Franklin said.

Franklin said they do not see hormone therapy and gender confirmation surgeries as necessary and that they shouldn’t serve as a criterion to validate one’s identity.

“It’s about how you self-identify and not what’s actually happening in your body,” they said.

Sol has been considering going on testosterone more recently. For them, it’s an opportunity to reach the level of androgyny which with they are comfortable. However, they’ve encountered numerous obstacles along the way, including their family’s refusal to validate their identity. “[My parents] really think that my gender identity is a combination of my mental health, and me having trans friends and wanting to relate,” Sol said.

In an ideal world, Sol would do away with the construct of gender entirely so that people could live without labels. “More realistically, however, it’s the little things that tell us [non-binary people]: you have the right to exist,” they said. Some of these, Sol said,

”

are legal gender markers that correspond with a person’s identity rather than their gender assigned at birth as well as all-gender restrooms.

Franklin encourages others to use people’s chosen pronouns and names.

But allies can go beyond using proper rhetoric and language: Franklin believes people can further advocate for these targeted communities.

“Don’t be silent in these times.

Trans people are listening,” Franklin said. “Be there for your trans friends, ask them what they need, walk them home, do the work behind the scenes to back it up.”

However, they added that members of the LGBTQ+ community can’t give up and allocate the work solely to allies even if the government is pushing back on them.

“Feeling helpless right now is not a solution. Letting other people do the work is not a solution,” they said. *Some names have been changed to protect the privacy of these individuals.

Email Anna Muratova at underthearch@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

12

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2018

The Wallkill Journal was created and published by individuals incarcerated at the Wallkill Correctional Facility, in collaboration with the NYU Prison Education Program and the WSN staff.

Puppy Power and Human Healing

By JOSEPH BEER Contributing Writer Traffic comes to a standstill in the jampacked hallway at Wallkill Correctional Facility, and a warm smile spreads across my face as I notice Charlie and Dutch trotting along with their handlers. They are both Labrador retrievers — Charlie, a threemonth-old midnight-black female, and her companion, Dutch, an eight-month-old cinnamon-brown male. As they enter the housing unit, all motion comes to a halt, everyone’s attention glued to the puppies.

They’re adorable. Charlie’s face gleams with pure innocence as I scratch behind her ear.

She’s the newest member of the “Puppies Behind Bars” program, and so far, she seems to be adjusting well to prison life.

Launched in 1997 by Gloria Gilbert Stoga and based in New York City, Puppies Behind Bars is a nonprofit organization that raises service dogs for wounded war veterans and explosive-detection canines for law enforcement. Inspired by a similar program in Gainesville, Florida, PBB schools prison inmates in dog training, providing skills to incarcerated men and women while training the puppies to be service animals. After starting at Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women, the program arrived at Wallkill in 2017. Clipper and Freedom, the founding puppies of this program here at Wallkill,

finished their training in July 2018. They then went on to join the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, agency for six months of extensive training to become explosive-detection canines.

Not only does this program provide a valuable resource to society, but it also gives inmates a positive vocation to pursue once released. As an incentive, participants become eligible for Limited Credit Time Allowance, which allows them to go home six months early. But seeing them interact with the puppies, it seems many of the trainers would do the job simply for the fun of it.

“This is an opportunity for me to actually do something positive with my life,” says Charlie’s handler, Carlos Rivera, as he brushes Charlie’s lustrous coat. “It allows me to give back to the society I once harmed.”

One of his favorite aspects of the program, he adds, is the chance to bring Charlie with him to family visits.

“They are very proud of the changes I’ve made while locked up and my accomplishments with this program,” he says of his family. “Honestly, that’s what matters the most.”

Participants consider the program truly life-changing. This program reinforces an inmate’s sense of responsibility and leaves them feeling accomplished. This can be essential when an incarcerated individual is released.

For someone who has broken the law and been condemned as a criminal, the puppy

program offers a shot at redemption — a chance to make a good impression on society.

“These dogs are out there saving thousands of lives,” says Dutch’s handler, Paul Parks, as he beams proudly, walking Dutch around the yard. “They’re really making a difference in the world. It is amazing to be a part of something like that, to know my volunteering directly influenced a person’s life in a positive way. This goes a long way towards repaying my debt to society.”

Asked to name the biggest reward he’s gotten from the program, Parks has a ready answer.

“Honestly, I just love being around Dutch all day,” he says sincerely. “It is great just having a happy, innocent puppy following you around.” He pauses, gathering his thoughts.

“The only bad part is when you have to let them go. After caring for these puppies from when they’re eight weeks old, you develop a strong bond with them. You have a companion who listens to you wholeheartedly. Even though you know he doesn’t understand you, it’s comforting. The hardest part is losing your one true friend in this lonely environment. It sucks when they leave, but they deserve a life outside of these walls.”

After doing 10 years in prison, Parks is about to be released. I ask how he hopes to apply his training on the outside.

“Ideally, I would like to open up a dog training business,” he says, explaining that he’d

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begin with what is called special-play-finding training, using the puppy’s favorite toy to reinforce their searching skills. “You begin by hiding the toy in easy accessible places, and then command the dog to search for it. By gradually increasing the difficulty, making the toy harder to find, the dog becomes an expert in search and find commands.”

You need serious commitment to work in this field, but its rewards are numerous — and they’re not only emotional. Participants leave with a marketable skill, helping reduce recidivism by giving inmates a legal and lucrative opportunity to focus on when released.

The dogs provide a boost of morale in the housing unit as well — especially during those fleeting moments when faces line the windows watching two black

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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.

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Joseph Beer is a student in NYU’s Prison Education Program. Email him at prison. education@nyu.edu.

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and brown blurs chase each other in their yard. It may seem ironic, the way people labeled as hardened criminals crumble in the puppies’ presence, showing them nothing but adoration. The tough facades tend to disappear when the inmates see Charlie and Dutch, allowing them to display the compassion we’re all capable of. It helps that the dogs reciprocate with faces of pure joy and love — devoid of any judgment.

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