NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS welcomes the
CLASS OF 2018
MEET THE EDITORS
NICOLE BROWN
MICHAEL DOMANICO Managing Editor
Editor-in-chief
CAS ’16 | Journalism & Politics West Chester, PA
CAS ’15 | Politics Manhasset, NY
Nicole joined the WSN staff during her first semester as a freshman. Before becoming editor-in-chief, she worked on the news desk. She is in CAS studying journalism and politics. Nicole is almost always laughing and she loves hazelnut coffee, chocolate and pancakes.
Michael has been with WSN since his first semester, starting out as a copy editor and then transitioning to copy chief, news editor and now managing editor. He’s at his best when he’s dancing, thinking about dancing or talking about dancing. His idols are Tina Fey and his mom.
TATIANA BAEZ
JONATHAN
KESHISHOGLOU
Assistant Managing Editor
Assistant Managing Editor
CAS ’15 | Journalism & Environmental Science Bedford, NY
Steinhardt ’16 | Media, Culture and Communication
A rising CAS senior, Tatiana is studying journalism, environmental science and politics. She’s a bomb editor, as well as the staff’s main source of entertainment because she sings along to every song after 12 a.m. She also writes about culture, science, technology and sex, and her work has been featured in VICE, Motherboard, Elite Daily, amNewYork and others. She enjoys eating Thai food, reading fiction and binge-watching Netflix. And in case you were wondering how great she really is — “I just can’t get enough of Tatiana” is a direct quote from her EIC at WSN only moments ago.
Jonny is a rising junior pursuing a major in Media, Culture and Communication in the Steinhardt school, and a former Features Editor who has been writing for WSN since his freshman year. A native of Northern California, he enjoys creative writing, jazz music and other things that can make him look artsy at first glance. He knows that most people prefer to just say “Kesh” instead of pronouncing his full last name, but anyone who can say it right will likely earn his approval.
CICEK EREL
Creative Director
Los Gatos, CA
LYANNE NATIVIDAD Creative Director, Special Editions
Steinhardt ’15 | Media, Culture & Communication
Gallatin ’16 | Design, Music & Media Glendale, CA
Cicek has been with WSN since the first semester of her freshman year. After working as both a production assistant and a contributing writer, she now takes on the role of creative director. A rising senior in the Steinhardt school, Cicek is pursuing a major in Media, Culture and Communication. She enjoys sunflowers, pancakes and kangaroo onesies.
Lyanne has worked as creative director and copy editor on the design and copy desks, which she loves equally. A rising Gallatin junior studying design, music and journalism, she spends her time making mix CDs, Spotify playlists and color palettes. When she’s not crying over the fact that she will never have Amy Poehler’s disarming charm and wit, she’s playing around with Adobe InDesign/Kuler, telling corny jokes and laughing (mostly at her own jokes). If you ever have trouble finding her in the office, just follow the daintily cacophonous sound reminiscent of a hyena’s whoop.
Izmir, Turkey
FELIPE DE LA HOZ
Multimedia Editor CAS ’17 | Journalism Barranquilla, Colombia
Felipe De La Hoz is a Colombian national studying journalism at the College of Arts and Science. Having been born in Colombia and raised in the United States, Mexico and Brazil, Felipe is a trilingual travel aficionado and enjoys working in varied and difficult environments. Apart from his photography, Felipe enjoys investigative reporting and interviews, interviewing the likes of Colombian ex-M-19 guerrilla fighters and controversial politician Jimmy McMillan. He has covered everything from governmental conferences to full-blown riots, as well as portraiture shoots and dining photography. Having worked under Brazilian photojournalists for Reuters and AFP, Felipe hopes to one day work on demanding journalistic projects and contribute to the global news cycle.
PAIGE MANKIN
THOMAS DEVLIN
copy chief
copy chief
GLS ’17 | Contemporary Culture & Creative Production Scotch Plains, NJ
CAS ’17 | English
Paige is a rising sophomore in GLS concentrating in contemporary culture and creative production with a minor in business of entertainment, media and technology. Her dream is to one day become an entertainment lawyer. When she’s not at WSN, you can find her singing with NYU’s premiere all-female A capella group, the Cleftomaniacs.
Thomas is a rising sophomore in the College of Arts and Science and is technically an English major. Despite this, he still considers himself undecided because he has no direction in life. His free time is spent reading, writing, walking and complaining.
Douglas, MA
letter from the editor
F
Dear Readers,
irst of all, congratulations on your acceptance to NYU. You will soon be entering a new
KAVISH HARJAI
ANN SCHMIDT
news editor
news editor
Steinhardt ’17 | Media, Culture and Communication Binghamton, NY
CAS ’16 | Journalism and Political Science
Kavish is a rising sophomore majoring in Media, Culture and Communication and French. He started as a staff writer during his first semester. Kav enjoys listening to large amounts of Lana Del Rey and eating mozzarella sticks. When Kav isn’t trying to organize his emails, he’s dreaming of becoming the next Anderson Cooper.
Ann is a rising junior who lived in Florence during her freshman year. She is double-majoring in journalism and political science and is always busy. She is constantly making lists and she loves to laugh.
Signal Mountain, TN
CLIO
MCCONNELL arts editor
CAS ’16 | Journalism and Classical Civilizations Newburyport, MA
CAS ’15 | Dramatic Literature
A rising junior in CAS, Bryna is studying Journalism and Classical Civilizations with a minor in Creative Writing. Originally from Boston, MA, she has a soft spot for Dunkin Donuts and the Boston Red Sox. She’s a Pinterest addict, likes listening to Disney music at obnoxious volumes and enjoys watching Youtube videos of baby pandas.
Clio is a midwestern girl who was transplanted to the San Francisco Bay Area at a young age. She is a rising senior in CAS, majoring in Dramatic Literature and minoring in Classics, and has been a member of the WSN team since her freshman year. Clio served as the newspaper’s Arts Editor in spring 2014, and was thrilled to work with such a marvelous team!
Berkeley, CA
You have the chance to explore an incredible city, take classes you could have never imagined in high school, meet people from all over the world and constantly push yourself to step out of your comfort zone. Whether that means you join a new club, discover a place in New York you had never seen before, eat a new type of food or study abroad, it’s important to take advantage of all the opportunities NYU will offer you. You
The important thing to remember is that your experience is not set in stone and you may not have everything figured out right when you arrive at NYU, but that is okay. I came to NYU knowing I wanted to major in journalism, but I couldn’t have predicted that I would be the editor-in-chief of the school newspaper. Embrace your passions and curiosity and you will find your place, just as I did. While there are many adventures to come,
FRANK NAVAS
sports editor
CAS ’15 | Politics and Philosophy
Steinhardt ’16 | Media, Culture and Communication Rosario, Santa Fe
A rising senior double-majoring in Politics and Philosophy, Peter could have thought more about his future employment prospects. His interests include national and international law with a focus in human rights and transitional justice.
With a pure athlete’s build at 6’3’ and 200 pounds, Frank is not athletic enough (and too lazy) to excel at all the sports he writes about. Frank started with WSN since his first day at NYU and has stuck with the sports desk since. With an ardent passion for sports, which rivals his love of journalism, the choice to become sports editor was clear.
Houston, TX
sometimes scary, but most of all, exciting.
believe me, it can be amazing.
features editor
opinion editor
eye-opening, challenging and
are in control of your experience here, and
BRYNA SHUMAN
PETER KEFFER
stage in your life — one that is
enjoy your summer — your first semester will begin before you know it. Start by reading this issue of the Washington Square News. It is full of our best stories from this past semester, from an in-depth look at the new developments of the university’s expansion plan to a review of Childish Gambino’s concert to how to replicate the Top 5 New York City film scenes. We provide you with a taste of the news and voices from this huge university, and I hope you will find something in this issue that gets you even more excited to come to NYU in the fall.
Nicole Brown, editor-in-chief 42nd management team
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS presents
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS presents
While WSN covers the daily news that matters to NYU students, important events serve as milestones during each semester. Thanks to the WSN design team, we are able to highlight these events more than ever before with unique covers and page spreads.
Editor-in-Chief NICOLE BROWN Managing Editor
MICHAEL DOMANICO
g n i s u o h THE
GUIDE
Assistant Managing Editors
TATIANA BAEZ JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU Creative Director
THE
UP -and- COMERS ISSUE
CICEK EREL
Creative Director, Special Editions
LYANNE NATIVIDAD SENIOR STAFF
news KAVISH HARJAI, ANN SCHMIDT arts CLIO MCCONNELL features BRYNA SHUMAN sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia FELIPE DE LA HOZ copy THOMAS DEVLIN, PAIGE MANKIN web KIMBERLY HART, BENSON TSAI,
LAVYA YALAMANCHI senior editors TONY CHAU, ARIANA DIVALENTINO, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, NEELA QADIR, DANIEL YEOM
SPECIAL ISSUES
DEPUTY STAFF
news LARSON BINZER, VALENTINA
NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS presents
presents
WHILE YOU WERE HERE
vol. 42, no. 50 // monday, may 12, 2014
DUQUE BOJANINI, SCOTT MULLEN books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film IFE OLUJOBI entertainment BOB TEOH music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE features HANNAH TREASURE beauty & style DANA RESZUTEK violet vision blog GIANNA COLLIER-PITTS dining CHANDLER WEST sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia HANNAH LUU, LAWRENCE WU video ALEX LINZMEIER
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2014
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FRINGE VOL. 42, NO. 45 | THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2014
New York Fashion Week
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EMMA HOWCROFT, AMY LU, ANA SCHULER, BENJAMIN SWINEHART, JESSICA TIEN
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HANQING CHEN, JONATHON DORNBUSH, RACHEL KAPLAN, JORDAN MELENDREZ, JONATHAN TAN
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NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
University revisits past Coca-Cola ban
VIA FLICKR.COM
Ray Rogers pushes the university to ban Coke again. By JOHN AMBROSIO Five years after NYU lifted its ban on Coca-Cola products, union activist and Corporate Campaign, Inc. director Ray Rogers brings the debate over the soft drink company’s labor practices back into the public eye. Rogers sent a letter and a critical pamphlet to 130 university administrators last week, imploring them to reinstate the ban on Coke products. “We are reaching out to you hoping that NYU will do the right thing again and remove all Coke vending machines and products from campus facilities,” Rogers said in the letter. Rogers said the ban, which lasted from 2005 to 2009, was placed due to accusations that Coke was committing human rights violations in Colombia. He said the embargo was lifted prematurely and at the behest of those with interests in Coke’s profit margin in both his recent letter and on his website, Killer Coke. Specifically Rogers said, Arthur Tannenbaum, the University Senate member who introduced the resolution lifting the ban, attempted to protect the interests of Coke and Barry Diller, a member of both the Board of Coke and the NYU Board of Trustees. NYU spokesman Philip Lentz refuted these claims. Lentz said the decision to lift the ban was based on the corporation’s submitting to the demands made when the ban was issued. “[The] University Senate revisited the issue in 2009 and lifted the ban after Coke agreed to an independent assessment of its labor relations in Colombia by the International Labor Organization,” Lentz said. “The information distributed by KillerCoke.org strongly mischaracterizes how these decisions were made.” Tannenbaum also responded to the allegations and said financial gain played no part in his decision to in troduce the resolution. “I had no reason or stake in protecting Coca-Cola and never met Mr. Diller,” Tannenbaum said. “I didn’t know he was on the board at that time. My only objective was to be fair and impartial to all parties. The senate made the decision
both times.” Justin Lee, the chair of the Student Senators Council in 2009, said at the time that the decision to lift the ban, which passed 28 to 22, was somewhat disappointing to those who had supported the embargo. In a WSN article published on Feb. 9, 2009, Lee said people in the council who lifted the ban were tired of extensively talking about the issue and felt the ILO report was the best report they would receive. Lee said if there had been another independent investigation, then the council may not have settled for the ILO’s report. Some supporters, including Rogers, were disappointed NYU lifted the ban because the ILO investigation did not address the accusations that Coke was linked to the killing of Colombian union leaders in the 1990s. Rogers said statements made by Coke executives suggested these murders would be a part of the ILO investigation. GLS sophomore Ashley Slater said this discussion is closely tied to money. “If the ban was enforced once again, who’s to say that NYU won’t just lift it after a couple of years when they believe the clamor of the event has died down and the students involved have graduated,” Slater said. Rogers said he is concerned over the worsening human rights violations in Colombia. “My main complaint is that what the original resolution was asking for was never met,” Rogers said. CAS senior and current chair of the SSC Mariam Ehrari said she would vote to ban Coke if Rogers’ current allegations are true. “If this were to be introduced as an issue, I think we would discuss it and act on it,” said Ehrari. Rogers said he is going to put pressure on the university administration until they re-establish the ban. “The NYU administration is going to pay a price one way or another if they keep Coke,” Rogers said. “If nobody wants to heed the warning, then all I can do is say I warned them.” A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Feb. 12 print edition. John Ambrosio is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
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De Blasio, Bartiromo examine city issues at Skirball Center By JOHN AMBROSIO
New York City Mayor and NYU alumnus Bill de Blasio examined city issues in a discussion moderated by fellow NYU alumna and Fox Business Network anchor Maria Bartiromo on April 17 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. During the discussion, which was sponsored by the NYU Alumni Association and the NYU Leadership Initiative, de Blasio answered questions from Bartiromo about his first 100 days as mayor, his time at NYU and how he plans to overcome several challenges facing the city. Among the issues de Blasio addressed was improving public education, which he said is at the center of his vision for the city. “We need to do better at the high school level to prepare our young people,” de Blasio said. “We need to do more with CUNY, a great tool we have to reach a lot of people. I think the higher education complex in this city is going to play an even bigger role in this city than it ever has.” De Blasio went on to say that improving the city’s education system would create better qualified employees for businesses and more opportunities for higher paying jobs, especially in the tech industry. De Blasio also called on NYU to be part of this process, asking students, faculty and alumni
WARD PETTIBONE/WSN
Fox anchor Maria Bartiromo interviews Mayor Bill de Blasio. to use their connections to help their fellow New Yorkers. “Getting this university more deeply involved in our public schools is crucial,” de Blasio said. “Folks who are part of this university and are connected to companies and sectors that can be employment engines for folks that have been left out of the economy.” All of this, de Blasio concluded, will go a long way toward reducing the growing inequality between the rich and poor. “The challenge of inequality in our society is increasing,” de Blasio said. “There are a lot of good people who have said, ‘Can you approach this on a local level?’
and my answer is we are obligated to do all we can do.” Following Bartiromo’s questions, de Blasio took questions from students in the NYU Leadership Initiative. Poly senior Stephanie Serrano, one of the student leaders who asked a question, said she was happy to hear that de Blasio’s thoughts on education were similar to her own. “Having him — a mayor — have the same views as I do [is] very refreshing,” Serrano said. “I’m a chemical engineer, so the fact that he’s promoting STEM is fantastic.” John Ambrosio is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
NYU Reacts: Facebook adds list of 50 gender categories By ANJANA SREEDHAR
Social media giant Facebook announced its addition more than 50 new gender categories for users to identify themselves with this on Feb. 13. It also expanded pronoun choices from “him/his” and “her” to include “them/they.” CAS sophomore Amy Peterson said this is a positive change for identity on social media. “It’s important for people to use labels that best fit them and it’s important for social media to recognize that,” Peterson said. Facebook made the change after working with LGBTQ advocacy organizations, such as GLAAD, reportedly in response to hearing that Facebook users wanted more gender options. No other social media sites currently permit users this variety in gender choices. CAS sophomore Krystal Lawrence changed eir gender category from female to non-binary, which means one does not conform to male or female gender identification. Eir is Lawrence’s preferred gender pronoun. Before Facebook’s change, those who preferred to display the gender pronouns “they/them/their” had to go through a more compli-
cated process. “Before the expansion, I had my gender unlisted and was using a third-party extension to make Facebook refer to me as they/ them/their,” Lawrence said. “After the expansion, I have my gender listing set as non-binary and my pronouns as they/them/their for ‘the public’ to see.” Lawrence also said revealing correct gender identity on Facebook gave eir a sense of empowerment and made eir ecstatic. “I want to be out and stuff about my gender, but in day to day things, I’m usually too shy to share or correct for my pronouns,” Lawrence said. “The integration of genders other than male and female in Facebook itself encouraged me to display it proudly again, just like how any other person, cis or trans, would want to clarify their gender.” While some praised Facebook’s move, others, like Gallatin sophomore Holden Compton, said improvements still need to be made regarding gender identity on social media. “I think that the options are incomplete, given that you can only choose from their list of 50, I believe, labels and can’t input your own, though I understand that
restriction probably exists to prevent people inputting offensive words, slurs, profanity, et cetera,” Compton said. “The list is still restrictive. Plus, there are still only three pronoun sets when people use many, many more.” Multiple on-campus organizations such as SHADES, for LGBTQ students of color and allies, and T-Party, for transgender and nonconforming students and allies, continue to fight for equal representation of the LGBTQ community in public spaces. Tisch sophomore and co-leader of SHADES Mars Marson thinks that Facebook’s change, while necessary and important, should have been taken sooner. “Recently I’ve seen so many news reports about transgender women being assaulted and murdered,” Marson said. “One cause of transphobia is ignorance. A cause of ignorance is lack of representation. Having options for your gender and pronouns on Facebook lets its 500 million users know that trans people exist.” A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Feb. 19 print edition. Anjana Sreedhar is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
University responds to Students at NYU Prague respond to Ukrainian conflict claims of labor violations By MICHAEL DOMANICO
JORDAN MELENDREZ FOR WSN
Prague students organize a vigil for Ukraine. By EMILY BELL and JORDAN MELENDREZ Czech Republic President Milo Zeman expressed his disapproval of Russian military action in Ukraine on March 1, comparing the potential consequences of troop mobilization to the 1968 invasion of Czechoslovakia by Soviet and Warsaw Pact troops. Despite warnings from U.S. government officials, Russian President Vladimir Putin mobilized troops in the Crimean Peninsula on Saturday. In response, Ukrainian troops were placed on high alert the next day while NATO commenced an emergency meeting. Just under 900 miles away from Kiev, students studying at NYU Prague held a small vigil in Wenceslas Square and the Prague staff raised money for Ukrainians at a bake sale. Students gathered in two different residence halls to bake and sell treats on Feb. 25. The money was sent to Ukraine for items such as bandages, painkillers, paracetamol and sanitizers. Filip Chráska, a third-year student at the University of Economics in Prague and RA at Osadni residence hall, spearheaded the bake sale to
raise awareness of the crisis in Ukraine and provide assistance. “It is most importantly shocking that such bloodshed is happening in Europe of 2014,” Chráska said. “I don’t perceive any realistic [threats] for the Czech Republic. For me, the proximity to [Independance Square] rather means a commitment to help.” Beyond the NYU Prague community, tourists and Czech natives began a small vigil on Feb. 20. They placed flowers, candles and papers with photos of loved ones in Ukraine under the prominent statue of St. Wenceslas. Gallatin junior Meredith Korda heard about both the bake sale and the vigil, but was not able to attend because of scheduling conflicts. Though she feels safe in the Czech Republic, Korda said her desire to travel to Ukraine was curtailed by the violence. “It’s really interesting being this close because you definitely hear more about it, and it feels a lot more real,” Korda said. “It doesn’t feel so far away now.” Korda said she was not surprised by Russia’s military actions, but did find them troublesome. “The conflict was clearly always about Russia and the European Union to some extent, but I thought they would have kept
their involvement more fiscal and behind-the-scenes than [using the] military,” Korda said. For CAS junior Kelsie Blazier, the social and political upheaval in Eastern Europe was not surprising either — it was almost expected given the recent unrest in the region. As a broadcast journalism major, she wants to involve herself in these events. “I want to be on the ground with the protesters, taking photographs and filming,” Blazier said. “Now I have the urge to go cover the events because I am so geographically close, and I find the situation at hand both fascinating and frightening.” Chráska echoed Blazier’s sentiments about feeling a sense of obligation to the situation in Ukraine, despite the distance he said was present among his Czech peers. “One should feel obligation to any people in need,” Chráska said. “But this very case might [be] more sensitive because the scars of the history of the post-Soviet bloc are still here.” A version of this article appeared in the Monday, March 3 print edition. Emily Bell is a foreign correspondent. Jordan Melendrez is an editor-at-large. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
The controversy over the rights of migrant workers constructing NYU Abu Dhabi’s new Saadiyat Island campus continues with the release of a new report. Gulf Labor, a coalition of artists and activists working to protect the rights of migrant workers on Saadiyat Island, released its findings after visiting the United Arab Emirates in March. The group’s report listed several concerns with NYUAD’s workers’ conditions, including issues with passport accessibility, unwritten contracts, mandatory overtime, unpaid wages, deportations without due process and failure to increase wages as promised. There were also reports of substandard housing in the off-island camps where the NYUAD workers live. The Tourism Development & Investment Company, which is the main developer on the island, invited Gulf Labor to investigate. Andrew Ross, an NYU professor of social and cultural analysis and a member of Gulf Labor, explained that Gulf Labor looked into the conditions of NYUAD workers even though they are not lodged in the Saadiyat Accommodation Village. “Part of our mission was to visit off-island labor camps to investigate TDIC’s claim that all workers engaged on its projects were housed on Saadiyat Island,” Ross said. “It was in these camps that we met, and interviewed, employees who had worked on NYUAD, in addition to TDIC projects on Saadiyat.” There have been several recent articles about the poor conditions of NYUAD’s workers. The Mott MacDonald Group, the third-party auditor that has inspected the university’s workers’ conditions for three years, also released its third annual compliance report this week. The report, which monitored the conditions of workers in 2013, painted a different picture of the situation than Gulf Labor. “Overall, there is strong evidence confirming the NYUAD Project is taking workers’ rights seriously,” the report said. “The standards related to workers’ rights in Project contracts comply with the U.A.E. labor laws.” The report also noted that when violations did occur, they were dealt with swiftly. “Twenty-three issues, predominantly relating to [human resources] documentation, accommodation and pay were raised and closed promptly,” the report said. NYU spokesman John Beckman said the university took issue with the claims in the Gulf Labor report — such as problems with the contractor Robodh, which has not worked on the NYUAD construction for over a year — and that these discrepancies may have to do with local workers referring to the “university site,” which encompasses a broader area than just the new campus. “We take all such reports seri-
ously, and if any of their findings are confirmed, we will do what we always do when we gaps are identified — we’ll get them fixed,” Beckman said. He noted that several issues raised by the Gulf Labor report have already been identified by NYUAD’s monitoring mechanisms and were included in this year’s compliance report. He added that the university has set high standards for the conditions of its workers that are consistently monitored, and that NYUAD has instructed Mott MacDonald to allocate more resources to ensure standards are met during the final stages of construction. “Since the announcement of the creation of NYUAD, we and our partners have worked hard to ensure that the university’s construction and operational efforts have reflected the values of our communities,” Beckman said. However, there have been concerns about Mott MacDonald’s ties to the government. In 2006, the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority awarded Mott MacDonald a $27 billion contract to oversee the development of Saadiyat Island’s water and electricity infrastructure. Tamkeen, part of the government’s Executive Affairs Authority, appointed Mott MacDonald as an independent third party in October 2010, which caused controversy. Members of the Coalition for Fair Labor from the NYU chapter and the American Association of University Professors chapter protested the group’s appointment. Beckman said Mott MacDonald’s contract to develop infrastructure for Saadiyat Island does not affect its monitoring. “Their appointment as compliance monitor was made through a competitive process, and their contract contains provisions to ensure there are no conflicts-of-interest,” Beckman said. Ross noted that other independent investigations by Human Rights Watch and The Guardian uncovered violations Mott MacDonald did not report. “All independent investigations — by Human Rights Watch, The Guardian and now by Gulf Labor — have uncovered violations that Mott has not been able to find,” he said. “Clearly, their monitoring methodologies have been inadequate.” Nicholas McGeehan works for Human Rights Watch and was in the U.A.E. in January to conduct research. McGeehan said Gulf Labor’s findings were consistent with his own. “The findings of the Gulf Labor report tally with what I found when I carried out research in the U.A.E. in January 2014,” McGeehan said. Ross said he hopes the university will take the results of the report seriously even though construction on NYUAD’s Saadiyat Island campus is complete. Michael Domanico is managing editor. Email him at mdomanico@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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Space Priorities Working Group finalizes NYU 2031 proposals By KAVISH HARJAI
The University Space Priorities Working Group issued their final report, which featured their plan regarding how NYU should use space in and around Washington Square Park, on March 4. The Working Group hosted a press conference regarding the report the same morning. Ted Magder, Steinhardt professor and chair of the Working Group; Allyson Green, associate dean of the Institute of Performing Arts and chair of the space subcommittee; Laurence Maslon, Tisch professor and chair of the stewardship and quality of life subcommittee; and Lawrence White, Stern professor and chair of the finance subcommittee, hosted a press conference before the report was released to the public. Some of the main recommendations of the Working Group include redeveloping the Coles Sports Center to provide increased classroom and performance space, space for student life and study, a new athletic and recreation center, a freshman residence hall and housing for 100 NYU faculty. Magder said the discussion about how to allocate space began by addressing issues regarding the university’s space needs, available existing space on campus and feasible ways the space could be utilized. After considering various places to build in the city, the group came to the consensus that Coles would be ideal. “Financially, it comes free of charge,” Magder said. “It’s space that the university already owns. In terms of our commitment to undergraduate education, especially, the Coles site is the only large site that is close to the core.” According to the report, the core, which includes the area around Washington Square Park and Coles, is an integral social and academic aspect of NYU’s campus. “The Core is where the majority of undergraduate teaching and associated student activities take place,” the report said. “The Working Group believes that NYU should continue to concentrate its academic activities within the Core to the greatest extent pos-
sible and that increasing the density of activities within the Core improves the academic quality of the institution.” The Working Group said academic space is their utmost priority when allocating space and proposed to add at least 80 classrooms to the Coles site, ranging from small seminar classes to large lecture halls. “Over the last 10 years, the university has grown considerably,” Magder said. “The undergraduate student body 10 years ago was 15,000 — it is now about 22,000. Over that same period of time, the number of general classrooms in the university has remained the same.” In the last Working Group report issued in July 2013, less space was allocated for academic needs and more was allocated for freshman housing. The current report includes a proposal to add a freshman dorm that could accommodate 500 students. The group said residence halls work best when they are designed to accommodate 250 to 500 students, and decided that 500 would be the appropriate balance between student housing and already-ex-
isting faculty housing in the area. Along with general classrooms, the group also said performance space was a concern. According to the report, 22 to 24 percent of the space of the Coles site would be used for Tisch, Steinhardt and Gallatin performance space. Green said the group listened to student requests when determining space allocations. “[Student groups emphasized] student life space, student study space and commuter space,” Green said. The Coles site would also include a new athletic and recreational facility. Chris Bledsoe, assistant vice president for student affairs and director of athletics, said he is glad to hear that redeveloping Coles is a part of the project. Green said Coles was in discussion with neighboring gyms to create a contingency plan for students who wish to work out or use athletic and recreational facilities while Coles is being redone. No concrete decision has been made but Bledsoe said he is sure that NYU will accommodate students’ needs. “If the Coles Center is replaced I am very confident that the uni-
versity will be fully committed to meeting the sports and recreation needs of our students, faculty, staff, alumni and community and that all options will be thoroughly and vigorously pursued,” Bledsoe said. The new Coles site would also serve as an assembly space for students, faculty and community in case of an emergency. The Working Group said they want people to understand that the Coles site is one of a number of capital projects that NYU is planning over the next 10 years. In the report, the Working Group recommended the university construct an 819,000 to 899,000 square foot building, costing less than $900 million. This proposal is in response to the university’s original plan in December 2013 to build a 670,000 square foot building for $727 million, which the group said would not fulfill the recommended needs. White said with the Working Group recommendations, the capital budget, which includes the Coles building, would be around $3.2 billion. “The funding for this would come partly from budgetary sur-
pluses, partly from borrowing and partly from fundraising,” White said. The report said the university will not adjust future tuition fees or faculty, administrative or staff salary assumptions to cover the cost of the capital project. NYU spokesman John Beckman said the addition of a Stewardship Advisory Committee is a great way to maintain the quality of life for the surrounding neighborhood. “The report reminds the university that it has an important stewardship role to play going forward in how we maintain and improve the superblocks for our own benefit and that of the surrounding community, and that that role will be enhanced by ongoing input from a special stewardship committee,” Beckman said, referring to the area bound by LaGuardia Place and Mercer Street between West Third and West Houston streets. Mariam Ehrari, CAS senior and undergraduate representative for the Working Group, said she is proud of the report. “When the committee opened deliberations we were all worlds apart,” Ehrari said. “But once we agreed upon guiding principles and realized who our charge was really for — the entire university community — we were all able to work across boundaries. It is clear that student concerns were heard, resulting in study space, student life faculties and residential housing all being addressed.” Since the university needs to take up the Working Group’s recommendations, there are no dates put in place for the execution of the plan. Magder said his guess was that it would not start until a year from now. The Student Labor Action Movement and Faculty Against the Sexton Plan, groups that have protested the expansion plan in the past, did not respond to inquiries. *Percentages were rounded down from the executive summary’s recommended allocations for space. A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, March 5 print edition. Kavish Harjai is a news editor. Email him at kharjai@nyunews.com.
Robot cuts ribbon, School of Engineering merger official By SCOTT MULLEN
SCOTT MULLEN FOR WSN
Students and faculty celebrate the merger at a ceremony on Jan. 30.
University students, faculty, administrators and public figures gathered to celebrate the finalization of the deal between NYU and the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, now the Polytechnic School of Engineering, to merge. The reception took place in the Lepercq Space at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. “It’s been a long time coming,” said New York State Sen. Martin Golden, who has supported the merger since planning began. “For me, it brings a lot of joy that we see this
happening, we see everybody working together.” The event featured speeches from numerous university and public figures, including dean of engineering Katepalli R. Sreenivasan; NYU President John Sexton; NYU Provost David McLaughlin; Assemblywoman Joan Millman; Brooklyn Deputy Borough President Diana Reyna; New York City Councilman Stephen Levin and Golden. “Everyone is excited about the opportunities that the future holds,” Sreenivasan said. “The excitement is not simply about adding a new school to NYU, but in embracing the best
of Poly’s traditions.” Following the speeches, students and alumni from both the Washington Square campus and the engineering school accompanied Sexton and Sreenivasan back to the podium for a ceremonial ribbon cutting. Attendees watched a video of the ribbon being cut on Poly’s Brooklyn campus by a robot developed at Poly’s Mechatronics and Controls Lab. Jared Frank, a Poly doctoral student who manages the Mechatronics and Controls Lab and was one of the creators of the ribbon-cutting robot, said the most exciting part of the
merger is the prospect of collaboration between Poly students and students in NYU’s other schools. “Our goal is getting the dentistry students, the medical students, the art students, the business students and the law students to interact with the engineering students, and hopefully that will produce a whole new generation of products, projects and research directions that are more multidisciplinary [and] interdisciplinary,” Frank said. Scott Mullen is a deputy news editor. Email him at smullen@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
NYU President John Sexton sits down with WSN By NICOLE BROWN
On a Friday morning around 10:30 a.m., I attended a funeral with NYU President John Sexton. Sexton and I had previously agreed to sit down in his office for an interview on the same Friday. It was not until the day before that I found out I would be going to the funeral for one of Sexton’s friends instead. The interview began in his office on the 12th floor of Bobst Library and continued in a Public Safety van, which drove us to and from the funeral home on Madison Avenue and 81st Street. As we rode in the van with Big Mike, the Public Safety officer who typically drives Sexton, we had a conversation about some of NYU’s most discussed issues. “A huge change is happening in higher education,” Sexton said. “We’re going through a process of defining how decision-making happens at a university.” Sexton recognized that NYU and other universities across the country are struggling with this change. This past year, Sexton, who will serve as president until 2016, has become a polarizing figure, facing varying levels of discontent from both faculty and students. Faculty representation, student financial aid, expansion, the quality of education across the Global Network University, labor rights and student wellness are among the points of contention. Sexton said while he is committed to ensuring that everyone in the university has a voice, he has learned that not everyone can be pleased at a diverse institution and not all suggestions can become realities. He said the university is working to establish better ways for members of the NYU community to express their views, citing the recent University Senate decision to give contract faculty representation as an example of progress in this area. Sexton extended this sentiment into the discussion about the Wellness Center. He said since he has been president, the university has greatly invested itself in student wellness and is willing to put more resources where they are needed. “We will never be inclined to compromise in this area,” he said. “To the extent that anyone feels that we’re under resourced in any part of the system … I would urge them to get their ideas to the folks who run the Wellness Center.” A major issue Sexton sees in higher education is the growing gap between students who can afford full tuition and those who receive full scholarships. The challenge NYU and many other schools are facing is not leaving out the students in the middle. “In New York, obviously we’re going to do as much as we can to fill as much of that gap as we can, but it’s a huge effort,” Sexton said. “That’s what the Momentum Campaign’s about.” In addition to this $1 billion fundraising effort, Sexton said NYU can reduce the gap slightly by providing more full scholarships to NYU Abu Dhabi or NYU Shanghai for students who may not be able to afford to attend NYU New York. “Since those are relatively small schools, that doesn’t do as much as we would like to solve the issue,” he said. Sexton recognized that NYUAD and NYUSH’s more generous financial aid does not change the reality that many students have to work two, or even three, jobs to study at NYU, and others have to transfer or drop out because of the price of attendance. “That is a deep sorrow to me, but it’s a choice that I know some students have to make, and we’ll do all we can to minimize the number of those students,” Sexton said. However, Sexton said the university allots as much money as it can to financial aid but that there are other expenses to consider. “As important as financial aid is, it cannot be the only priority because the number one priority has to be providing our students with the highest quality education that we can,” Sexton said.
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Sexton opens up about budget, global network, representation and love of teaching. Part of providing the highest quality education is expansion, Sexton explained. NYU’s expansion includes global expansion, the NYU 2031 plan, the expansion of NYU Langone Medical Center and the expansion into Brooklyn. Sexton said the university’s projects benefit the NYU community and will ultimately bring in money for the university. He admitted that if money were not going toward the construction on the Coles Sports Center site, for example, it would go toward another element of the budget, such as financial aid. Yet he maintained that this is not practical for the university right now. “It wouldn’t be prudent management, and the trustees have said to us … we want to see that you’re spending a certain amount each year on the capital improvement and the addition of necessary space for programming,” he said. Another controversial topic has been the labor issues in the United Arab Emirates, where NYU has recently built a new campus for NYUAD. In the past few months, questions of whether NYU is meeting appropriate labor standards for the workers on Saadiyat Island have been raised. Sexton said the university is committed to the Statement of Labor Values listed on the NYUAD website. “This does not mean that we never encounter any issues, but it does mean we have made a commitment, which we and our partners have fulfilled, to actively seek out areas where our standards may not have been met, and then to work quickly to get them resolved,” he said. NYUAD, as well as NYUSH, has also received attention recently about academic freedom and freedom of expression. Sexton, who teaches at NYUAD and has begun teaching at NYUSH, said he knows there are flaws in both countries’ values. However, he said New York also has flaws and that should not change the education students receive at each of the sites. “I don’t teach the same way in my classes in Abu Dhabi or Shanghai because I have different students … but I don’t teach differently because I’m in Abu Dhabi or because I’m in Shanghai,” Sexton said. As the face of NYU, Sexton must make decisions that affect every aspect of the university. But he admitted that his true passion in life is teaching. He has always made teaching a priority as he has moved up the administrative ranks. “The professional position I was put on Earth to be is a teacher,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the next chapter of my life where I’ll be able to [do] that which I enjoy most, which is being in the classroom, in the world of thought with students.” The Public Safety van was once again pulling up to Bobst as our conversation came to a close. Sexton got off, and I was driven back to my room. A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, May 1 print edition. Nicole Brown is editor-in-chief. Email her at nbrown@nyunews.com.
Petitions circulate after eviction flyer scandal By KAVISH HARJAI
Both the NYU chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine and TorchPAC, a Jewish student organization, created petitions on change.org regarding their positions on the recent flyer controversy. On April 24, members of NYU SJP delivered approximately 2,000 flyers resembling eviction notices to thousands of residents in Palladium and Lafayette residence halls. NYU SJP created their petition in response to CAS sophomore and vice president of TorchPAC Laura Adkins, who wrote a piece in The Times of Israel accusing NYU SJP of targeting Jewish students, which was then picked up by mainstream national media outlets. The petition is titled “Stand in Solidarity with NYU SJP” and is directed toward the NYU community and community at large. “Accusations leveled against SJP claimed that the action targeted Jewish students; this is erroneous and no objective evidence has been cited to support these allegations,” the petition reads. NYU SJP said the dorms that were chosen were selected because of their sizes. “These dorms were chosen because they are two of the largest dorms on campus and were the most accessible for all our members,” an email statement from SJP said. Additionally, NYU SJP noted that the flyer distributors were from a range of backgrounds, including several who were Jewish. CAS junior Ellis Garey was one of the Jewish students who distributed the flyers with NYU SJP. “There is no reason for a Jewish student to be any less inclined to support human rights and equality than a nonJewish student,” Garey said. “I support the rights of Palestinians because I am committed to these rights.” TorchPAC created a petition, “Hold NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) Accountable for Incitement on Campus,” the next day. The petition is directed to NYU President John Sexton. “We ask that the University administration take firm action against Students for Justice in Palestine for violating university policy and engaging in hate speech so that we can ensure that our campus remains safe for all students and that no minority group feels unwelcome,” the petition reads. As of press time, the SJP petition garnered 843 signatures and the TorchPAC petition garnered 336. NYU spokesman John Beckman said the manner in which the flyers were distributed is not consistent with the university’s tradition of professional discourse. “A flyer titled ‘eviction notice’ anonymously slipped under doors at night is not an invitation to thoughtful, open discussion,” Beckman said. “It is disappointingly inconsistent with standards we expect to prevail in a scholarly community.” Beckman said the Residence Hall and Life Administration will be looking into the incident and taking further action after the investi-
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Palladium and Lafayette residents received fake eviction notices. gation concludes. CAS senior George Georgiadis signed NYU SJP’s petition. “Absolutely nothing should happen to SJP,” Georgiadis said. “What they did was a clever direct action that got the whole campus talking. It was an enlightening way to engage in dialogue.” Adkins said people should focus on the content of the flyer as opposed to where the flyers were distributed. She said TorchPAC is pressing for a formal apology from NYU SJP about the flyers, which the group has called anti-Semitic. “Anti-Semitic flyers cannot and should not be tolerated at a university that prides itself on being a safe haven for the free exchange of ideas and a safe space for students of all backgrounds,” Adkins said. The notion of solidarity that appears in NYU SJP’s petition is in line with one of the group’s reasons for distributing the flyers. “This was also an act of solidarity with [Northeastern University’s chapter of SJP] who were faced with suspension and other punishments from their administration for partaking in a similar action that is completely protected under freedom of speech,” NYU SJP’s email said. Northeastern briefly suspended its chapter of SJP following a similar distribution of flyers in addition to allegations that the organization vandalized school property and disrupted another student group’s event. Northeastern freshman John Pedro said the flyers at Northeastern caused less controversy than at NYU, but said the flyers were not a practice of free speech at either school. “I’m a pretty ardent free speech supporter, [but] I don’t think it’s right to distribute fake eviction notices,” Pedro said. “That’s kind of fraudulent.” President of Hillel NYU and Gallatin sophomore Zachary Schwarzbaum said the distribution of flyers was offensive, but he did not feel victimized. “The act did not target Jewish students and was not anti-Semitic,” Schwarzbaum said. “We are working to ensure that it is seen as an isolated incident and has little impact on broader campus climate.” A version of this article appeared in the Monday, April 28 print edition. Additional reporting by Ann Schmidt. Kavish Harjai is a news editor. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
EDITED BY CLIO MCCONNELL ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
‘Cosmos’ returns to primetime with bang By BOB TEOH
Over three decades ago, “Cosmos: A Personal Voyage,” hosted by the late Carl Sagan, inspired a new generation of scientific minds. Hosted by Sagan’s colleague and personal friend, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, the highly anticipated follow-up, “Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey,” returned to primetime on Fox with an ambitious attempt to touch the hearts of young scientists again. The monumental event was certainly deserving of its introduction, given by President Barack Obama himself. Noted for bringing hard science to the public through the use of innovative storytelling techniques, the first rendition of “Cosmos” was an adventure that resonated with the public and left an impact on the American consciousness. In a world where theories are thrown back and forth and arguments are launched over the smallest pieces of information, “Cosmos” stays true to its predecessor with its commitment to the facts. With gravitas and charisma, Neil deGrasse Tyson takes us through a tour of our solar system in a straightforward, matter-of-fact fashion. But “Cosmos” is nothing like your average middle school field trip to the science museum. Building on the strengths of the original series, the show immediately awes with gorgeous visual effects in its opening segment, revealing the Earth’s “cosmic address,”
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Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson hosts the primetime show on Fox.
Barrett Wilbert Weed stars as the angsty Veronica Sawyer in “Heathers.” By CAROLINE CUNFER
which refers to our specific location in the universe. The viewers tag along with Tyson as he zooms farther and farther away from the Earth, revealing the planet’s location in relation to other cosmic entities. The series’ extravagant displays take full advantage of modern cinematic technology and bombard the audience with a stunning visual conceptualization of Tyson’s lessons. “A Spacetime Odyssey” also makes numerous references to its predecessor. The “cosmic calendar,” which condenses the history of the universe into one year, is a segment that viewers will probably remember from the original “Cosmos.” The nifty device reveals that Jesus was born just five seconds ago on the calendar. However, the series also features some new material
tailored for a 21st-century audience. Tyson addresses the multiverse theory, an idea initially labeled as pseudoscience that is increasingly gaining traction as another vital key to unlocking the universe’s mysteries. The series premiere then launched into a charming animated sequence about Giordano Bruno, an Italian philosopher and mathematician who posited that the sun and universe are just a small piece of millions of other solar systems in the infinite universe. With Bruno voiced by Seth MacFarlane, the segment was a fun, fresh way to present a familiar story. Finally, the premiere ended with Tyson’s poignant speech about Sagan, his mentor and friend. He touched on Sagan’s legacy in modern science and astronomy and recounted the
close relationship the two had, including the touching tale about how Sagan helped a 17-year-old Tyson. The anecdote was the perfect ending to a very strong premiere, as Tyson reflected on his own inspiration to follow in Sagan’s footsteps. “I already knew that I wanted to become a scientist,” he said. “But that afternoon I learned from Carl the kind of person I wanted to become.” With “Gravity” and “Big Bang Theory” cemented in the mainstream consciousness, science is making a comeback. With Fox’s outstanding 13-episode series “A Spacetime Odyssey,” it is clear that it is here to stay. A version of this article appeared in the March 11 print edition. Bob Teoh is entertainment editor. Email him at bteoh@nyunews.com.
Fusion Film Festival honors women in film By MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE
The board of the Fusion Film Festival — launched 11 years ago — received a record-breaking 445 submissions this year. firmly establishing the festival as the premier student-run film event at NYU. The scale and magnitude are unparalleled by organizations across various media and disciplines. Next month, the success will continue for co-directors and Tisch students Natalie Erazo, Darian Lanzetta, Nicole Quintero and Lucy Ross, with support from faculty advisor Susan Sandler. The three-day festival will conclude by naming the first Fusion Film Festival Woman of the Decade — outgoing Tisch dean Mary Schmidt Campbell. During her tenure, Campbell has made great strides to increase the number of female students at Tisch. Before this closing ceremony, Fusion will host a variety of events, ranging from typical fes-
Off Broadway musical leaves no damage
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The festival was organized by four Tisch students. tival fare such as screenings and industry panels to pitch meetings and master classes. This year, one panel topic will be women in animation. Another panel will comprise writers and producers from the television shows “House of Cards,” “Nurse Jackie” and “The Americans.” Susan Margolin, president of Documara Entertainment Group, will discuss film distribution at a brunch. There will also be a screening of “Gregory Go Boom,” the Sundance
award-winning short by NYU alumna Janicza Bravo featuring Michael Cera. The co-directors agreed that there is a lack of recognition for women in film and that the festival’s mission is to change that. They noted that, while many women are involved in the film industry, there are not enough opportunities to honor their work. “[Fusion is a] necessary response to the disparity between genders in the film industry,”
Erazo said. Yet, while Fusion strives to recognize women in film, the codirectors stress that the festival wants to encourage collaboration in the industry. “We are the champions of gender collaboration,” Erazo said. “People still know us as the ‘women’s festival,’ when we really just want to be known as a collaborative festival.” The co-directors hope that audiences and those in the industry will begin to appreciate film the way their festival does. “One day, the industry won’t be so focused on the ‘who’ and will be more focused on the ‘what,’” Ross said. “Great work is great work, whether it’s made by a dude or a dame is irrelevant when the story is authentic and inspiring.” A version of this article appeared in the Feb. 26 print edition. Marissa Elliot Little is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
The mean girls of the ’80s are back — croquet mallets and all. “Heathers The Musical,” a brilliant adaptation of the 1988 cult film with the same name, opened March 31 at New World Stages. The musical follows the relatable story of high school misfit Veronica Sawyer who is taken under the wings of the beguiling and soulless popular girls of Westerberg High — the Heathers. The plot takes an unexpected, dark twist, and the teen angst of Sawyer’s senior year concludes with a few casualties. The electrifying spirit of this production emanates from lead actress Barrett Wilbert Weed, who plays an incredibly real and compelling Sawyer. Weed’s character is lovable and quirky, and her voice is raw and powerful as she flawlessly executes the musical’s natural dialogue. Alongside Weed, a talented Ryan McCartan plays J.D., a dark yet likable psychopath, as well as Sawyer’s love interest. “Heathers” is intimate and personal, an atmosphere that not all musicals are capable of producing. New World Stages is modern and trendy, and the small theater feels friendly and informal. The simplistic and humble set allows the impeccable acting and vocals to speak for themselves. The most powerful force in “Heathers” is the exceptionally catchy music. It leaves theatergoers shamelessly singing the same refrain after they leave the building, so audiences will appreciate the forthcoming cast recording. The music is refreshingly moving and uplifting, even in the midst of a rather dark story — an optimal mix of darkness and comedy that director Andy Fickman somehow succeeds in perfecting. From the powerhouse opening number “Beautiful” to the finale reprise of “Seventeen,” there is not one dull musical moment in “Heathers.” “Blue,” a drunken bluesy number sung by two “high school has-beens waiting to happen” leaves the audience in hysterics, and the gorgeous blend of Weed’s and McCartan’s voices in “Seventeen” is genuinely touching. “Heathers” is spunky, raunchy and moving. The curtain call, which involves the cast singing an upbeat reprise of the opening song “Beautiful,” is pure joy and leaves the audience on a musical theater high. Although it is absolutely unnecessary to have seen the film to be able to enjoy the musical, fans of the movie are sure to be satisfied with the inclusion of beloved lines. “Heathers” is set to run through Sept. 7. A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, April 16 print edition. Caroline Cunfer is a contributing writer. Email her at theater@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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ARTS
Unpublished works spark posthumous debate
By MICHAEL DOMANICO and CLIO MCCONNELL
When celebrated Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez passed away on April 17, his legacy included more than just his status as one of the most prominent magic realists. The Associated Press reported on Tuesday that, according to Penguin Random House Mexico, García Márquez left behind an unpublished manuscript. The publishing company said the author’s family had not yet made a decision as to whether it would release the tentatively titled “En Agosto Nos Vemos” manuscript. Some of history’s greatest literature consists of work published posthumously, from Mark Twain’s autobiography to Vergil’s “Aeneid.” All great authors die before their time — the longer they live, the more of their brilliance is imparted to the world. But when that writer passes away, whose responsibility is it to care for his unpublished wisdom? Readers will line up to buy a copy of their favorite au-
thor’s latest work, regardless of whether it was he or his family who approved the publication details. Yet, in most cases, posthumous works are unfinished. To read and compare an imperfect composition to the rest of a writer’s body of work is asking for trouble. On one hand, it could be considered disrespectful to compare such a novel to more polished publications. Criticism of David Foster Wallace’s posthumous novel “The Pale King” was generally laudatory, but most reviews mention that the book was not completed before the author’s suicide in 2008 and almost certainly was not as refined as the final product would have been. Yet, maintaining integrity is not always the highest concern in these cases. When Stieg Larsson passed away in 2004, he had not yet seen any book in his best-selling “Millenium” series published. “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo,” “The Girl Who Played with Fire” and “The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest” would go on to sell over 65 million copies worldwide, and at
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“En Agosto Nos Vemos” is García Márquez’s unpublished work. the time of his passing Larsson was working on more manuscripts in the series. Larsson’s family and long-time girlfriend fell into a legal dispute about who owned the rights to the manuscripts, with Swedish law ultimately coming down in favor of Larsson’s estranged brother and father. Currently, a ghostwriter has been hired to
publish the fourth book in the “Millenium” series, set to come out in August 2015. Larsson’s case monetizes the issue. After all, talk of literary legacy only goes so far — millions can be made from the last work of a famed author’s repertoire. The bitter dispute between Larsson’s romantic partner and his estranged fam-
ily exemplifies this issue. The flow of revenue becomes more important than the author’s vision, which should not be the case. Years from now, when the dispute becomes old news and the work is all that is left, the writer’s legacy will be misrepresented by greed. It is tempting for fans to read every last word their favorite author has written, and there is something appealing about reading a work-in-progress, but readers should be concerned about the creative integrity of posthumous publication. Unless the writer has given the go-ahead for his book to be published, it is fair to say that the piece is for his eyes only. To release an unfinished novel or autobiography after its creator’s death is to invite unfair criticism into the memory of an otherwise unsullied reputation. A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, April 23 print edition. Michael Domanico is managing editor. Clio McConnell is arts editor. Email them at arts@nyunews.com.
J.K. Rowling uses new media to Israeli film illustrates promote ‘Harry Potter’ series battlefield of adolescence By THOMAS DEVLIN
By IFE OLUJOBI
As any true sports fan knows, the 2014 Quidditch World Cup is currently underway. While this is an event most closely followed by the wizarding community, it also has the muggle world abuzz because it means there is more writing from J.K. Rowling. These wizarding sports stories appear on Pottermore, a website Rowling created to enhance the Harry Potter experience. They are set up in the format of sports coverage from The Daily Prophet, the Potter-verse newspaper, and written by Ginny Potter — née Weasley — who is the paper’s Quidditch correspondent. Three years ago, Rowling said all future writings about her fantasy universe would appear on Pottermore electronically. Despite this, it was recently announced that Rowling is writing three “Harry Potter” spin-off films. The trilogy, based on her short book “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” will be set 70 years before Harry Potter attends Hogwarts. However, Rowling is not alone in using different forms of media to expand a fantasy universe. “The Walking Dead,” a zombie survival story created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, began as a comic se-
When a country is at war it needs the support and involvement of all its citizens, from the soldiers on the front lines all the way to the people who handle the legal paperwork. This clerical side of the military is the setting of writer/director Talya Lavie’s debut feature “Zero Motivation,” winner of the Best Narrative Feature award at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. Shown in Hebrew with English subtitles, the film follows a unit of young girls who work in the human resources office of a remote desert base as they deal with boredom, violence and their own personal and emotional issues. The film narrows in on the saga of best friends Zohar (Dana Ivgy) and Daffi (Nelly Tagar) as their friendship fluctuates under the strict but caring rule of their unit commander Rama (Shani Klein). Amid military strategizing, Lavie plants us firmly in the world of teenage girls, showing events from their hormonal and self-centered perspectives. The first scene of the film shows a conflict between Zohar and other recruits, which starts when she attempts to save Daffi a seat on the bus to the base for another round of service. Moments like these show viewers the small scale of these girls’ priorities despite the turmoil going on around them. The film also tackles gender issues in the military, as some of the girls are abused by male soldiers. Rama struggles to be seen as an equal to her male counterparts at meetings, where she and her friends are responsible for pro-
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Pottermore continues legacy of Harry Potter series. ries and has been successfully adapted to both television and video games. Continuing on a comic book theme, the Marvel Universe has grown to an impressively comprehensive size. With TV shows, movies and, of course, comic books, Marvel has led a successful invasion into all aspects of pop culture. It is easy to see that expanding a fictional universe into new media is generally beneficial — it attracts new fans, delights old ones and makes boatloads of cash for the creators. Yet, it also has its detractors. Perhaps the largest, most convoluted and most controversial fictional universe is “Star Wars.” Including books, comics, movies, radio dramas, video games and TV shows, the “Star Wars Expanded Universe” has invoked several debates among fans. Most of these have been about what is
and what is not canon. To help resolve this, Lucasfilm revealed on April 25 that all of the Expanded Universe would be henceforth connected, creating one coherent “Star Wars.” It is a good idea for authors to branch out into new media, but they must be careful. Whenever a canon is expanded, it immediately attracts intense scrutiny from loyal fans. In the case of Rowling, putting the name “Harry Potter” on new work is sure to bring it attention. If she is able to bring back the magic with “Fantastic Beasts,” it will no doubt be a wonderful addition to her magnum opus. Unfortunately, it only takes one bad movie to destroy the entire universe. A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, May 1 print edition. Thomas Devlin is a copy chief. Email him at tdevlin@nyunews.com.
viding coffee to a room full of officers who ogle them as they are served. Essentially a dark office comedy disguised as a film about soldiers, “Zero Motivation” is wickedly funny and terrifying in equal measure. This is largely due to a colorful and well-developed cast of supporting characters, who all have their own internal demons and opinions, filling the fictional world with authenticity and pathos. The script is filled with laughs and heartbreak, and the realistic central characters are committed to every complex beat. Especially engaging is the shifting power dynamic between Daffi and Zohar, which culminates in an altercation that encapsulates Lavie’s film — two girls having a stapler fight in an office is a funny image, until the audeince sees staples draw blood. Lavie herself worked as a secretary in a similar office during her military service in Israel and, while most of the audience will never know what that is like, Lavie draws viewers into her genuine and unique portrait of war, adolescence and friendship. “Zero Motivation” marks the arrival of a fresh female cinematic voice on the international front — one that should be sought out by all viewers. The film does not yet have a distributor but, with any luck, it soon will. For more WSN coverage of the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival, visit wsnhighlighter.com. A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, April 30 print edition. Ife Olujobi is film editor. Email her at iolujobi@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
EDITED BY BRYNA SHUMAN FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Skirball ‘GoT’ premiere thrills
By BAILEY EVANS
By BAILEY EVANS
The Tisch School of Arts Department of Dance‘s Past/Forward 2014: Women at Work showing on Feb. 28 featured the works of seven different female choreographers, all of whom are Tisch alumnae. Cherylyn Lavagnino, co-chair of the dance department, said it was a dream of hers to create an annual concert celebrating successful female Tisch dance choreographers. “Women can often be underrepresented in the choreographic arena, particularly contemporary dance,” Lavagnino said. While the concert was a part of a regular series in the Tisch Department of Dance, it was specifically designed to showcase the works of notable Tisch alumnae who went on to succeed in the world of dance and choreography. “The alumnae were selected by our interest in the work they have made or are making currently,” Lavagnino said. Many of the alumnae featured are already well-recognized in the world of dance and choreography, at both national and international levels. “It’s exciting that so many of our graduates are active choreographers in the professional field,” Lavagnino said. Selina Chau, who graduated from the Tisch Dance MFA program in 2010 and had her choreography featured in the concert, said many women have other priorities.
Days before its much-anticipated release, the “Game of Thrones” season four premiere screened at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on April 2. The screening was packed, with an entrance line of dedicated fans that extended around the block. Many students waited in line for the premiere for several hours outside of Skirball, passing the time by sharing their excitement over social media and using a special “Game of Thrones” hashtag. “It’s been about a year since we’ve seen the show, so we’re pretty pumped,” Poly sophomore Christian July said. In addition to the exclusive premiere screening, event attendees were treated to DVD giveaways, show trivia and exclusive photo opportunities with props from the show, including the iconic Iron Throne. Roberta Cutillo, a Program Board member and LS freshman, said she was impressed with the large turnout at the event and the enthusiasm of the attendees. “It was really successful,” Cutillo said. “It’s a really popular show, and because we got it before the release of the fourth season it helped [the turnout] a lot.” The dramatic fantasy series, based on the books by George R.R. Martin, has received attention for its dedicated and passionate fan base, a large portion of whom are college students. “Game of Thrones” is known for its cliffhangers and the frequent, often violent, deaths of favorite characters, so fans were eagerly awaiting for the premiere to re-
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The showing emphasized the work of female choreographers. “I think we see fewer female dance choreographers not necessarily because we are less represented, but that women are more likely to spend time in motherhood after their dance career, so they have less time to concentrate on the choreographic path,” Chau said. Chau said she drew inspiration for her piece from her time spent in New York City, and she contrasted this experience with her time spent with the Hong Kong ballet. “My idea came from New York City, the rhythm, the pulse, the noise and the silence of this city together with the history of classical ballet,” Chau said. “Where does classical ballet stand in this city? And what is its artistic value now? … In Hong Kong, the dance scene is quite limited, so living here not only gives me the opportunity to experi-
ence different styles of dance, but also see the other arts.” The concert featured a diverse set of pieces choreographed by Suzanne Beahrs, Rachel Hagan, Allison Schieler, Kristin Schwab and Chihiro Shimizu. Additionally, Second Avenue Dance Company, Tisch’s student dance company, performed a piece and Mary John Frank’s film “Contemporary Dance” was screened. “Having so many different choreographers in one show was great because the audiences gets to see different styles in one evening,” Chau said. “I think it was a great opportunity for alumni to give each other support and share our artistic voice.” A version of this article appeared in the Monday, March 3 print edition. Bailey Evans is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Tisch senior brings film crew to California By SIDNEY BUTLER
Tisch senior Nora Unkel raised enough money to fly the cast and crew of her thesis film to California to shoot in the Sacramento-Davis area. The team filmed footage for “The Goblin Song,” a fantasymusical based on a 19th-century poem, “The Goblin Market.” The production received a multitude of donations from the community surrounding Unkel’s hometown, Davis, Calif. “We got $15,000 in kind donations from the businesses of the Davis area,” Unkel said. “I’m so grateful to my incredible community at home.” In addition to donations from her hometown, Unkel utilized resources on the web to reach out to others, as well as using her own savings. “We raised $11,000 on Indiegogo and I provided $11,000 myself from the last four years of working various jobs,” Unkel said.
Unkel’s film is a musical fairytale with a dark twist. It tells the story of two sisters who fall under the spell of the alluring Goblin King, but must break free when things take a dark turn. The fantasy world of the film left lots of room for creative interpretation by film cinematographer Cory Fraiman-Lott. “So often the cinematographer, especially on student films, [is] limited to real-life resources, but this genre opened a lot of doors for me to make the scenes look as interesting as possible,” Fraiman-Lott said. “In the goblin’s lair I had a lot of fun playing with the moonlight and the texture of the goblin’s skin.” Beginning this project when she was a freshman, Unkel collaborated with her current crew early on in her film career. She had no trouble convincing friends and classmates to help fulfill the other crew positions for this next step of the project. Unkel’s narrative film professor, Ezra Sacks, also supported the project. “She had a terrific crew, I
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The film draws inspiration from a centuries-old poem. didn’t know how it would turn out, but I knew it would get done and done well,” Sacks said. Although Unkel overcame the location problem, “The Goblin Song” did have another challenge — having the actors sing live on set. Film composer Tisch senior Ben Nel-
son drew inspiration from “Pan’s Labyrinth” and “Sweeney Todd” to compose songs that accurately reflected the mood in each scene. “Performance played such a role in the music that we thought it would be best to have live singing on set,” Nelson said. The performances in “The Goblin Song” played as big a role as the set design and costumes for the film. The goblin costumes and the production design consisted of romantic elements of Victorian England. “After three years of preparation, it was as if my idea was taken from my imagination and put on screen,” Unkel said. “It was one of the best moments of my life to hear, ‘That’s a wrap on “The Goblin Song.”’” “The Goblin Song,” which will be completed by Aug. 15, will be submitted to various film festivals. A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, April 3 print edition. Sidney Butler is a contributing writer.
solve many of the unanswered questions from the third season. “I think the storyline itself is great, but also you really get attached to the characters, and they’re not afraid to kill them off,” July said. Many students, such as Steinhardt junior Megan Dan, were excited to see the premiere of season four in a theater and to have the chance to bond with other die-hard fans of the show. “I love that we got to see it in such a big audience,” Dan said. “I’ve never watched an episode of anything with such a big crowd. I wish they would do this more with a lot more shows.” The popularity of “Game of Thrones” seems to be indicative of a bigger trend found on college campuses today — students are often eager to share their new pop culture obsessions, in the form of a television show, book series or band, and they quickly gains popularity across campus. There are certain qualities present in “Game of Thrones” that many of these trends seem to share. “It’s got the sex, the setting, the beauty, it’s got everything,” July said. “It’s not afraid to push the limits.” As for the premiere screening, the end of the episode was met with loud cheers and a roaring wave of applause. Fans left Skirball with new “Game of Thrones” merchandise and high hopes for the upcoming season, which will premiere on HBO at 9 p.m. A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, April 3 print edition. Bailey Evans is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM
Spotlight shines on Tisch alumnae’s choreography
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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FEATURES
Museum displays Nazi-era paintings By SARAH MYERS
Classical Apollonian artwork from Adolf Hitler’s Great German Art Show and Adolf Ziegler’s 1937 “Entartete Kunst” exhibition is on display on the Upper East Side. “Degenerate Art: The Attack on Modern Art in Nazi Germany, 1937” is a new exhibition at the Neue Galerie that runs until June 30. Hitler commissioned Ziegler, a painter, to collect work he deemed degenerate from German museums in 1937 to curate an exhibition devoted solely to displaying and mocking the artwork. “Entartete Kunst,” or the “Degenerate Art” exhibition, opened a day after Hitler’s Great German Art Show at the Haus der Deutschen Kunst, which displayed artwork revered by those in Hitler’s regime. “Entartete Kunst” reflected the contempt with which such art was regarded by Germans at the time — artwork was sloppily hung and crowded by degrading and slanderous texts. Now, curator Olaf Peters has constructed an exhibition that unites and contrasts these two 1937 German art shows, giving viewers a glimpse into a darker time in art history. When first entering the exhibition, visitors are guided through a narrow hallway with a photmural of the line outside “Entartete Kunst” in 1937 on one wall and a photomural of a line of Jews who have just arrived to Auschwitz-Birkenau on the other.
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The exhibit on the Upper East Side runs until June 30. Throughout the rest of the exhibit, the haunting dichotomy is continuously highlighted. The first of the exhibit’s four rooms is divided in two. Half of the room is painted pure white and displays the great German artwork, while the other half is painted off-white and displays the degenerate artwork. The curatorial influence is heavy handed but helps unite the opposing aesthetics and politics of the time. The demonization of art echoes the horrific rise of Nazi Germany and reminds viewers of the toxic nature of propagandist ostracism. “I really like how there was a clear
comparison between the degenerate artwork and the great German artwork that Hitler handpicked,” LS freshman Erica Lee said. “It was easy to walk through the exhibit and be able to grasp the absurdity behind branding Modern art, like that of Paul Klee, degenerate.” Comparative pieces are aligned on both sides. Max Beckmann’s dark and sadistically allegorical painting “Departure” is a reactionary piece to Hitler’s Germany and is now displayed in close proximity to Zeigler’s painting “The Four Elements,” which hung over Hitler’s fireplace. Viewers are challenged to strike a balance between a purely aesthetic evaluation and appreciation of the pieces and one that is formed by the historical context and the pieces’ histories. The irony of Hitler and the Nazi party’s agenda is not lost in this exhibit. The majority of the artists represented in the show was not Jewish. The exhibition focuses on the arbitrariness behind the exclusivity — Emil Nolde, who was a Nazi party member and sympathizer, was also labeled as a “degenerate” artist. Hitler, the Nazi agenda and “Entartete Kunst” ultimately played a critical and ironic role in the success of the modernist movement. A version of this article appeared in the Monday, April 21 print edition. Sarah Myers is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
5 Iconic film scenes to recreate
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TIFFANY’S — COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES | MUSEUM - COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX | SEX AND THE CITY - COURTESY OF NEW LINE CINEMA | BIG - COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX | HOME ALONE - COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX
By ILONA TUOMINEN New York City is the backdrop of many popular films, and some audiences may have been inspired to come to New York after watching them. Become a movie star for a day by visiting one of these film’s iconic sites.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) Pay homage to this Audrey Hepburn classic. Stop by Macaron Café on 59th Street and Madison Avenue to grab a chocolate croissant ($2.75) and a cafe au lait ($2.25) before strolling past the historic Tiffany windows. Pearls and sunglasses are a must. (Tiffany & Co., 57th Street and Fifth Ave.) “Night at the Museum” (2006) Although the likelihood of chatting with a statue of Theodore Roosevelt or playing fetch with the atrium’s dinosaur skeleton as Ben Stiller did in this comedy is slim, there is still something magical about the American Museum of Natural History. The museum offers five floors of exhibits to explore, in addition to a butterfly conservatory, IMAX theater and
planetarium shows. Currently the IMAX theater is playing “Mysteries of the Unseen World” in 3D, showcasing phenomena that cannot be seen with the naked eye. (Natural History Museum, Central Park West and 79th Street. The suggested admission price is $17 with student ID.)
“Sex and the City” (2008) Channel your inner Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda by picking up cupcakes to go from Magnolia Bakery and heading up to midtown to study at the New York Public Library. The NYPL, the site of Carrie and Big’s would-be wedding, offers a change of pace from the monotony of Bobst Library. Enjoy your cupcake while studying in one of the library’s beautiful reading rooms. On your way home, swing by 66 Perry St. to visit the iconic exterior of Carrie Bradshaw’s apartment. (Magnolia Bakery, West 11th Street and Bleecker Street. New York Public Library, 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.) “Big” (1988) If a little kid trapped in an adult’s body is not symbolic of the average college student, who knows what is. Follow in
Tom Hank’s footsteps by visiting F.A.O. Schwartz and playing the giant piano that requires you to hop from key to key. Pose for a picture with the real-life toy soldiers outside and stock up on candy for late-night study sessions at the candy store on the first level. Maybe your Stern degree could even land you a job in toy marketing. (F.A.O Schwartz, 58th Street and Fifth Avenue.)
“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992) Little Kevin famously encounters a terrifying pigeon lady at the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park midway through the film. One of the most beautiful spots in Central Park, the bridge offers picturesque views of Wollman Rink, Victorian Garden Amusement Park and New York City skyscrapers no matter what time of year. Take a seat at one of the many benches surrounding the bridge to do some people watching. (Central Park, 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.) A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Feb. 27 print edition. Ilona Tuominen is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
‘La Soirée’ merges circus acts, cabaret
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The comedic show plays in Union Square Theater. By LOUIS SLADE-CAFFAREL From the moment visitors step into the Union Square Theater and find themselves in what resembles a 1920s circus tent, they know they are about to experience something unique. “La Soirée,” a show that merges spectacular circus acts, cabaret and risqué humor, has become an international phenomenon and established itself in various cities around the world. Currently showing simultaneously in Australia at Sydney’s Opera House and in New York City at Union Square Theater, “Soirée” takes on a global audience like none other. Creative Producer Brett Haylock provided insights to how the show has become an international success and how it continues to establish itself in different cultural contexts. “It was created back [in 2004] as a kind of alternative, midnight cabaret,” Haylock said. “We thought we had an interesting show, but no one could have ever imagined that here we are, 10 years later, with one show playing in the Opera House and a show here in New York City. It really did explode from the very beginning.” The show has since performed in London and Paris, has had homes in Scandinavia and most of Europe, has built a base in Sydney and is now playing there for the sixth time. With so many locations to perform, the show inevitably changes. Haylock explained its adaptation for an Australian audience. “It’s sold in Australia as a kind of European cabaret concept,” he said. The Australian attraction to an idea of European eroticism and class makes the show unique there. However, the same approach does not work for the Parisian crowd, and Haylock confessed that when they took on Paris in 2007 many people thought the show would not survive. “The French certainly have a different way of appreciating the show,” he said. “They’re very guarded and don’t give anything away, and largely our format requires immediate feedback from the audience.” “Soirée” went on to do nine months in Paris and Haylock said he believes the show’s unique form contributed to its success there. “I have no interest in telling a story or any kind of narrative but it needs to have an energy and an emotional arc,” he said. “‘La Soirée’ took an old age format of a variety show but made it entirely relevant to a new generation. It made it faster and sexier, which appealed to a younger crowd. Most of this show is universal.” When questioned about New York audiences, Haylock expressed the excitement of being in an entertainment mecca. “New Yorkers have seen a lot and while it’s always hard to shock them, they’re incredibly generous and they have a huge investment in the moment,” he said. Haylock does not plan to stop moving at any moment. He and many cast members fly between Sydney and New York every two weeks. He wants to keep taking “Soirée” to new places and shocking different cultures, doing their first Buenos Aires show in May. Louis Slade-Caffarel is a contributing writer. Email him at features@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
EDITED BY CHANDLER WEST DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Freegan revival Cafe blends tea taste with cappuccino brings back dumpster diving By CHANDLER WEST
Though increasing tuition costs make students’ budgets tighter each year, most incoming students at NYU probably do not envision themselves spending their evenings on the city’s streets, digging through trash bags for food. However, with the recent rise of freegan culture, some students are doing just that. Freeganism, a movement centered around finding meals in dumpsters, began in the mid-90s in radical anti-consumerist circles. Recently, freegan practices have become more widely accepted, with some NYU students finding that dumpster diving is not as gross as it sounds. LS sophomore Katie Fustich has participated in freeganing on several occasions. She said she is most successful when she comes equipped with gloves and plenty of bags. “It’s definitely as sanitary as you put in the effort to make it,” Fustich said. Nonetheless, dumpster diving is frowned upon by many. It is often viewed as dangerous, since dumpster divers can never be certain the food they find will be safe to eat. There is also a stigma attached to digging through garbage. GLS sophomore Lola Harney experimented with freeganism last semester. “At first I was embarrassed to be scrounging through trash bags, but soon I forgot my fear of germs and dug in,” Harney said. Harney said she was surprised to find out how much of perfectly good produce and pastries were being thrown away. Because grocery stores and pharmacies cannot sell products after the labeled sell-by date, many items that still have not spoiled must be disposed of anyway. “I personally found containers full of slightly soft avocados, trash bags full of barely bruised bananas, every type of vegetable you can imagine and calcium vitamins,” Harney said. “Outside of Starbucks, I found individually wrapped pastries that normally sell for four dollars each.” Fustich also found an abundance of food when she tried freeganing. “When you get into it, it’s surprising to see the types of things you can find,” Fustich said. The best time for freeganing is early evening, between trash pickup and when stores take their bags to the curb. Seasoned freegans get to know the general trash schedules of stores in their neighborhoods. A detailed plan and route can make a big difference in the successfulness of freeganing. Stores known for their fruitful trash bags include Le Pain Quotidien, D’Agostino, Duane Reed and Panera Bread. Grocery stores, pharmacies and bakeries usually throw away the largest amounts of salvageable food. So large are these amounts that freegans often find far more food than they can consume themselves. “Witnessing the extremes of mankind wasting things, especially food, is really disappointing and makes you want to do something about it,” Fustich said. “I hope that it spreads and becomes a less taboo concept so that people who are actually in need of food can take advantage of the possibilities of freeganing.” Harney agreed and said she gained a new perspective from freeganing. “Freeganing forced me to reconsider my daily routines and reliance on material objects,” Harney said. A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, March 11 print edition. Chandler West is dining editor. Email her at cwest@nyunews.com.
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Press Tea offers a variety of drinks including rose black teappuccinos. By DAVID BOLOGNA Press Tea, recently opened on Seventh Avenue, serves uniquely delicious teabased drinks, enticing curious Greenwich Village Residents. Located just a few blocks from Union Square, this innovative cafe has created a drink of its own. Allison DeVane, Press Tea’s marketing director, explained the drink that co-founders Richard Chen and George Kuan created. “The idea behind our concept is that we wanted to fuse the concept of both tea and coffee,” DeVane said. The secret behind the tasty teas is the machine that was invented and tweaked for nearly three years. De-
veloped over a long period of time and through a process of brainstorming in a garage, travelling around the globe and hand-picking teas, the final product is a mechanism that utilizes the same technology of a cappuccino maker to create teas. With four signature blend offerings — black, chai, green and rooibos — the level of caffeine starts highest at black, with as much caffeine as a cup of coffee, and declines with each following blend. Mixed with a choice of milk and flavored syrups like vanilla and rose made inhouse, the teas are then made into the final macchiatos, lattes and other drink forms. “These [signature blends] have always
been our base,” said DeVane. “Most people don’t understand the concept, so we say to think of it as [the blends being] your espresso, and from there you can make your drink.” The signature hot blends by Press Tea come in an array of flavors from the rose black teapuccino to the green tea latte. They are delicious and reasonably priced. Iced teas are equally irresistible, especially the refreshing passion fruit Formosa. Some of the iced drinks are even topped with the cafe’s thick mont blanc crème made with a mix of fresh berries. When paired with a delectable tea-infused pastry, some of the drinks’ flavors are amplified. Flaky croissants or Earl Grey infused cookies are certainly worthy complement to the drinks. Press Tea has been taking extra measures to educate their customers on who they are and what they do, especially to the NYU community. Press Tea is now accepting Campus Cash, and students can text “Campus” to 99000 for alerts on discounts. LS freshman Leopoldo Gracia said he likes Press Tea’s tasty array of treats. “My favorite tea is the Caramel Rooibos Latte,” Gracia said. “It’s the perfect amount of sweetness, and you still get the flavor of the tea. The setting was really cool too, so I may go there to do homework.” Press Tea is located at 167 Seventh Ave. and is open Sunday through Thursday 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, March 4 print edition. David Bologna is a staff writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com.
WSN Recipes: Roasted parsnips, asparagus By LINDSAY LEBOYER
Take a sun-soaked stroll through the Union Square Greenmarket and you will notice an abundance of seasonal produce. The spring harvest offers an array of delicious fruits and vegetables that may not have been available during the New York winter. While slaving over the oven would be a waste of a warm day, seasonal meals can be prepared quickly and eaten al fresco. Shopping seasonally can also be budget-friendly, as you will not face the added costs of importing produce from faraway growing regions. Ordinary vegetables often have more varieties, too. Asparagus can be found in green and purple, with April being peak season for both. Purple asparagus, rich in vitamins A and E, is a fun way to add some color to your plate. Stop at a local grower’s booth and you will find bunches of fresh asparagus stalks for a steal. You might also notice a white, carrot-like vegetable on display. The parsnip is a root vegetable known for its creamy texture and sweet taste. While these cousins of the carrot are typically grown in the fall, they have an even sweeter flavor in the spring after the winter frost has converted their starch to sugar. Unlike carrots, parsnips must be cooked before they can be enjoyed. Roasting them along with aspar-
Ingredients • 1 large parsnip • 1 small bunch of purple asparagus • 1-2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil • Fresh herbs • Sea salt (optional)
2. Rinse the parsnip and asparagus in cool water, removing any dirt. Using a large knife, chop the parsnip into cubes by slicing horizontally and then halving the resulting chunks. 3. Place the parsnip and asparagus on the baking tray and drizzle with olive oil, being sure to thinly coat each cube and stalk. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired. 4. Once the oven has preheated, place the baking tray inside and let the vegetables begin to roast. After 30 minutes, stir the pieces around to prevent one side from burning. Allow the parsnip to slightly char around the edges for a richer roasted flavor. After another 20 minutes, check the vegetables by piercing them with a fork. The asparagus should be nice and tender while the parsnips should be soft and easily punctured. 5. When ready, remove the baking tray and allow it to cool off for a few minutes. 6. Plate the dish by placing eight to 10 stalks of asparagus on a plate and layering the rest on top with their tips pointing perpendicularly. Toss the parsnip cubes over the bed of asparagus and garnish with fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary. Pour yourself a drink and toast to spring.
Directions 1. Start by preheating your oven to 375 degrees and lining a baking tray with tin foil.
A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 15th print edition. Lindsay Leboyer is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
LINDSAY LEBOYER FOR WSN
Roasted parsnips are freshest during the spring season. agus adds a rustic quality that complements this light and tasty spring dish. Add one or two extra parsnips to make this a hearty meal, or simply share it with friends as a healthy side.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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BEAUTY & STYLE
EDITED BY DANA RESZUTEK BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
Students raise money for cancer research at fashion show By BENNY SEDA GALARZA
Dancing lights and electronic music filled Kimmel Center for University Life as a diverse group of people celebrated the Asian Cultural Union’s 31st annual fashion and benefit gala. The show was titled “Asian Cultural Expressions: ECHO” and took place on April 11. ACU allowed people to give back to the community by donating the proceeds from the event to the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention. The show’s fashion presentations featured collections from brands such as Superdry, Zoa Limited, Pull-in, Maison Jules, Spectre & Co., Dahlia Boutique, Carson Street Clothiers and Artisan de Luxe, among others. Outfits included cocktail dresses with metallic textiles, silky jumpsuits and casual
short dresses. The collections featured black-and-white color combinations in addition to vivid hues such as bright pink and yellow mixed with shades of blue. Floral prints proved a must-have for this season and were printed on everything from shorts and shirts to sunglasses. For the men, tailored classic suits in gray with pops of color in pink, blue and green were popular. The best way to accent these pops are with print socks, bandanas or ties. The military jacket with pastry color boardshorts and a pair of comfortable sneakers presented cool and casual looks. Key pieces included seethrough fabrics and loose garments, which are an excellent way to stay fashionably fresh during the spring. Additionally, pantsuits proved to be a great
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The Asian Cultural Union hosted its 31st annual fashion show. way to maintain comfortable without compromising style. During the show there were captivating performances by rap-
Fashion trends prove dangerous to health By HANNAH TREASURE
“Beauty is pain” is not a new concept. Suffocating corsets of the Victorian Era, precarious walks in high heels, eyebrow waxes that leave our faces red and risky plastic surgeries are proof that we tend to treat our bodies like clay that can be molded into any form we want. But with new studies revealing that shapewear, like Spanx, can actually cause internal damage to the wearer’s organs, it may be time to recognize that we’re literally shaping ourselves away from reality. The purpose of shapewear is to squeeze oneself into an outfit, but recent research has shown it is doing much more than just smoothing out the wearer’s body. “Wearing constricting clothing can exacerbate acid reflux, causing symptoms like heartburn, upper abdominal pain and regurgitation,” said Rebekah Gross, a gastroenterologist at NYU Langone Medical Center. “Severe gut injury from occasional shapewear use is likely uncommon,” Gross said. “That being said, any garment that brings out symptoms when worn is probably best left on the shelf.” Similarly, the currently trending Corset Diet requires participants to wear a corset at all times which inhibits stomach expansion and interferes with normal digestion, all in an effort to decrease appetite. Although the Corset Diet plan’s website refers to the constriction as “a pleasant hugging sensation,” there certainly is no comfort in cramping the stomach so tightly that it cannot fit normal amounts of food inside. Even the quintessential high heels are known to disfigure our bodies. According to the American Osteo-
pathic Association, high heels bend toes into unnatural positions, causing weight to shift forward which places more pressure on leg tendons and knees. It also affects muscles from the feet up to the lower back. CAS sophomore Jillian Branchaud said she usually avoids painful fashion decisions. “I’m willing to do things like not wearing a hat when it’s cold outside to preserve my hair or walking long distances in high heels, but for the most part I’m a stickler for comfort when it comes to fashion,” Branchaud said. Research, including these discoveries, never cease to shock us. however, that doesn’t mean people are immediately willing to modify their habits. Although painful practices like wearing shapewear and corsets are unsustainable for everyday wear, when used on occasion, the negative effects are not permanent. But of course, neither are the intended positive effects, even if the items are worn long term. Ultimately, the risks of keeping up with our society’s beauty standards are determined by the individual. “Is it worth it?” is not a question that can be answered by any amount of research, facts or figures. The real question should be who or what are we going through this pain for — ourselves, or to obtain an unrealistic ideal? It is time to start changing our own expectations because being more comfortable with who we are can transform our physical comfort as well. (Disclaimer: Jillian Branchaud is a member of the WSN staff.)
A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Jan. 29 print edition. Hannah Treasure is deputy features editor. Email her at htreasure@nyunews.com.
per AWKWAFINA and the audience-pleaser Dumbfoundead. Many of the sponsors gave away coupons and raffles to members
of the crowd. CAS junior Jessica Shoo said she appreciated the event’s purpose. “I found it wonderful the way students united for a beautiful cause and their ideas for an organized event,” Shoo said. Steinhardt freshman Jonathan Tsou said he was surprised by the fashion show. “From the models to the clothing and also the staff, everything was very professional and well put together,” Tsou said. The crowd applauded as the ACE team took their bows, marking the end of a successful evening and signalling a sure continuation of their charitable tradition. An version of this article appeared in the Monday, April 14 print edition. Benny Seda Galarza is a contributing writer. Email him at features@nyunews.com.
La Petite Coquette boutique provides bra advice By MAGGIE O’NEILL
There is a popular belief among French people that one should dress from the inside out, meaning one’s lingerie should be a top priority when getting dressed, coming before the other garments of one’s outfit. The truth is that a solid, well-fitting bra can do wonders for the rest of the ensemble. Making sure a bra fits can be a complicated process, but women should prioritize their own comfort and confidence. While chain lingerie stores tend to have step-by-step processes to discover the customer’s bra size, more intimate local shops, such as La Petite Coquette, which is on University Place and 10th Street, can be better for receiving more individual assistance. After ensuring their comfort level, the saleswoman will physically adjust the customer in order to visually assess which size bra is appropriate. Saleswoman at La Petite Coquette, Maria Torres said she never uses measuring tapes because the customer will not receive a correct reading. “It’s never accurate because [measuring tapes] tell you one thing and you end up spilling out,” Torres said. Torres said different styles of bras constitute different sizes. In other words, a woman who is traditionally a 34D in a push-up bra may be a 32C in a T-shirt bra. In order to avoid this con-
FELIPE DE LA HOZ/WSN
Sales associates help customers find the right fit. fusion, it is best to approach each bra differently, being fitted for each style without a preconceived size in mind. After an employee decides which size the customer needs, she brings a basic bra and advises the customer about which hook to use. Next, the sales associate instructs the customer to pull her breasts forward and pull the underwire backward into the armpit area. One rule to keep in mind is that one should wear a new bra on the loosest hook for a period of time before using the middle hook and finally the tightest hook. As the bra expands through the wearand-tear process, it will feel brand new for a longer time if one adjusts the hook this way. The back of the bra, where the hooks are located, should support 90 percent of the
weight the bra is supporting, and the strap should support only 10 percent. Make sure to avoid what is known as the seesaw effect, which occurs when one is wearing the wrong bra size and and tries to adjust the bra by tightening the straps, only making the back of the bra ride up. Remember that a good bra should look and feel the same when one puts it on in the morning and when they take it off at night. Nothing should have shifted or moved during the day. Finding a good, reliable bra can elongate a torso and portray a confident, lifted look. A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, April 9 print edition. Maggie O’Neill is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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Crossword ACROSS 1 Secret stash 6 Doorframe’s vertical part 10 Water, in Latin 14 Buenos ___ 15 Dial button sharing the “0” 16 Big oafs 17 Samsung Galaxy or BlackBerry 19 1953 Leslie Caron musical 20 Number after Big or top 21 Two cents’ worth 22 CBS police drama that debuted in 2003 23 Be hot under the collar 26 Green ogre of film 28 Carriage puller 31 Where oysters and clams are served 34 It’s beneficial
37 Beneath 39 “___ your head!” 40 “That’s rich!” 41 Devious trick 43 When repeated, a Latin dance 44 Turkish official 45 Jimmy who works with Lois Lane 46 Worker with an apron and a white hat 48 Go carousing with a drinker, say 50 Archaeologist’s find 52 Trails 54 “Sic ’em!” 58 Makes a pick 60 Book of the world 63 Guy’s date 64 It’s beneficial 65 What an optimist always looks on 68 ___ of Sandwich 69 Comfort
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70 Witty Oscar 71 Unit of force 72 “___ the night before Christmas …” 73 Does as told DOWN 1 Selects for a role 2 ’Til Tuesday singer Mann 3 Machine at a construction site 4 “Tell Laura I Love ___” (1960 hit) 5 Suffix with winning 6 Chief Justice Roberts 7 Individually 8 Hostess’s handouts 9 Fellow members of a congregation 10 Never-beforeseen 11 Easily made profit 12 Hybrid citrus fruit 13 In its existing state 18 Dockside platform 24 Start of many band names 25 Hurry, with “it” 27 Melted cheese on toast 29 Figure (out) 30 Go in 32 Tennis legend Arthur 33 Backside 34 Vengeful captain
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35 Long, involved story 36 Abrupt left or right 38 All over 42 Kindergarten learning 47 Statute 49 Give a hard time 51 Mascara target
53 Something to stick in a milk shake
58 Newspaper think piece
55 Able to move well
61 Bart’s intelligent sister
56 G.M. luxury car, informally
62 Years on end
59 ___ on words
66 Number of points scored by a 57 Some German/ safety Swiss artworks in MoMA 67 Bro or sis
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EDITED BY PETER KEFFER OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
UNIVERSITY ISSUES
NYU Wellness Center inadequate for student needs
By NINA GOLSHAN and DAN MORITZ-RABSON
In its most recent report, released in spring 2013, the American College Health Association detailed the overall health and well-being of college students across the country. The study found that sometime within the past 12 months, 31.8 percent of undergraduate students had felt “so depressed that it was difficult to function,” while 51.3 percent had felt “overwhelming anxiety.” With statistics like these, universities should be among the institutions most prepared to deal with mental health issues. Depression and anxiety can be at their peak after tragedies, and recent deaths within the NYU community have highlighted the inadequacy of the current care offered to students who are affected by tragic events. Despite responding appropriately to the death of freshman Titan Lee-Hai, NYU failed to offer the necessary services for those affected by the death of Rowen Altenburger. The email sent out to the NYU community following Lee-Hai’s fall from Third Avenue North residence hall stated that there were “crisis counselors at the residence hall working with the students” to “help those who feel shaken or vulnerable by this loss.” However, in Altenburger’s case, there was no indication of whether any extra services were offered, and it soon became clear that there were none. Gallatin
freshman Jade Gardner, a close family friend of Altenburger since elementary school, said “it would have been nice if [NYU] could have provided psychiatrists or counseling” for the people affected by her death. By offering services in Third North following Lee-Hai’s death, NYU set a precedent in terms of responding to deaths in the community. When no services were offered in Altenburger’s dorm, Brittany residence hall, students were unsure of what to do despite the Student Health Center’s proximity. Although NYU offers counseling services, these services are often quite busy and overbooked. In times of crisis, such as in the event of a student death, these services become even more crowded. The LiveWellNYU program states that in 2009 “22.5 percent of NYU students reported that anxiety had impacted their academic performance in the past 12 months, 55 percent reported that emotional or mental difficulties had hurt their academic performance on one or more days in the past month,” and that
“59 percent demonstrating symptoms of depression reported that problems resulting from these symptoms had made it difficult for them to do their schoolwork, take care of things at home or get along with other people.” Given the prevalence of these numbers, presumably NYU would have a copious amount of employees to deal with the many students who, at some point, wish to use their counseling services. However, on the staff page for the Student Health Center, only 46 employees are listed as Counseling and Wellness workers. Of these, 34 service the New York campus, while the rest work at abroad sites. Of those listed as working in New York, only five are certified psychiatrists and only seven are certified psychologists. When considering that the majority of cases involving mental health issues require individual care, there appears to be a problem for students at NYU in need of immediate aid. When a student suffering from suicidal thoughts or anxiety approaches the Counseling and Wellness Services and receives anything less than immediate, comprehensive medical attention, the responsibility for any action the student takes to harm himself lies with NYU. When Tisch sophomore Jackie* went to the NYU Wellness Exchange at the beginning of last semester, she indicated that she did not want to live anymore. On her first visit, Jackie met with a coun-
selor who made an appointment for her to return in three weeks. The next day, feeling worse, she went in again. After waiting for hours, she was prescribed antianxiety medication and was again told to come back in three weeks. The Wellness Exchange uses a brief survey to gauge the immediacy of a person’s mental health needs. Individuals who score above a 10 on the survey are deemed to be in urgent need of help. Tisch senior Tyler* suffered a panic attack during class and went to wait for a walk-in appointment on February 10. He took the survey and scored a 17. When he saw a counselor, she confirmed that he would need immediate attention and scheduled an appointment for February 26. Unable to find another doctor covered by his insurance, Tyler had to wait. If he had gone to see a doctor complaining of chest pains or a similar physical ailment, he would not have been asked to wait for treatment. While there is a lack of appropriate care for those dealing with mental health issues, those suf-
fering from mental illnesses are also not suitably supported. The stigma attached to mental illness makes reaching out for help a difficult step for an individual to take, and more support should be given to those in need. Rather than scorning individuals struggling with mental illnesses, those who can help should strive to convey that chemical imbalances are nothing to be ashamed of and to encourage struggling individuals to seek help. The NYU Wellness Center has previously received recognition for providing outstanding mental health care for its students. In 2013, it received the JedCampus seal and a federal grant to develop the LiveWellNYU program. While NYU students are lucky to have an award-winning mental health center, the university must establish a dependable place where students can consistently receive immediate care. Many students lack the funds to see a private psychiatrist and the emotional support needed to carry them through weeks of waiting for an appointment. For many, the services offered by the Student Health Center are the only option. *Names of students were changed to protect privacy. This is a companion article to Op Ed Live: Mental Health on Campus. Nina Golshan is a deputy opinion editor. Dan Moritz-Rabson is a contributing writer. Email them at opinion@nyunews.com.
OMAR’S ORATION
Sense of community can help heal wounds
By OMAR ETMAN
My friend’s mom committed suicide on the first weekend after winter break. Upon hearing the news, I ran back to Rubin Hall, hoping my presence would somehow console her. My fingers and toes went numb as I sprinted home. Before I entered Rubin to hold the girl whose mom had become a memory, I stopped to sit atop the grates that line the brick exterior on the building’s 10th Street side that were warmed from below by gusts of laundry room air. I wiped a few tears from my face, recognizing that I was supposed to be a member of the strong, comforting party that night. The next day, I rode the 4 train in a direct trip from Union Square to Fordham Road. I was headed to Fordham University to visit a friend, hoping to escape the omnipresent sadness. The car I entered made the still air of the station platform seem cool. It smelled like
a bathroom without ventilation. A man, sweaty and visibly uneasy, stood alongside me, panting as if attempting to expel bad news. I wondered what had upset him, but was too concerned with my own unhappiness to dwell on his. The subway car had mostly emptied by 125th Street. Only nine, including me, remained. From my vantage point, I was able to examine my surroundings. I inspected one face for a few seconds before moving on to the next, assigning a probably untrue story to each mug. As I moved down the line, false narrative after false narrative, I detected a theme. When I reached the last face — it belonged to a small boy, maybe four years old, with round, defeated eyes — my observation was cemented. Sadness everywhere. I started crying on the 4 headed to the Bronx, overcome by struggle that was shared but unexpressed. When the train neared the Fordham Road station, a young,
fit woman in neon running shoes — the sixth in line — dropped a piece of paper she was holding. A younger man, probably in his early high school years, reactively pulled out his earbud and bent over to grab the paper. The woman, who kneeled in a way that suggested she was not going to be helped without first helping herself, nearly banged her forehead against the man’s chest. But he beat her to the paper. She smiled when he handed it back, and her hazel eyes lit up with rejuvenated excitement. She was relieved, as if she had, until the connection of that mo-
ment, given up on humanity. I absorbed the scene once more, straightened my back, cleared my face and exited the train. During the 10-minute walk from the station to Fordham University, wobbling with emotional unpredictability, I recognized the absurdity of my inaction. Why did I say nothing to the faces that I shared a space with for what felt like so long? I should have explained the cause of my sadness, giving them reason to do the same. My honesty could have liberated theirs. A half-hour later, after returning to a state of stability, I recognized the absurdity of my self-perceived absurdity. In what world do strangers express their problems to other strangers? I was drowning in La La Land. And while I still do not know if the emotion I detected in others was a reflection of the heaviness I was experiencing myself, I knew that the compounded sadness only served to amplify my own. I returned to NYU later that day, try-
ing to remember why La La Land is considered such a bad place. When individuals become strong enough to accept and express the often depressing realities of their own lives, we grow better suited to help others confront their own. At a university that is derided for its disjointedness, the unity that can come from the communication of shared struggle might be enough to reconnect an isolated student body. My friend who lost her mother gained a strong support system this semester, and though the warmth her friends provide may never equal that which her mother afforded, she has found solace in the recognition of our attempt, a reminder that healing happens more quickly and more effectively when it happens together. A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 29 print edition. Omar Etman is a deputy opinion editor. Omar’s Oration is published every Tuesday. Email him at oetman@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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OPINION CHRISTINA’S CASE
Townhall misleads on voter indentification By CHRISTINA COLEBURN Two editors at Townhall, a conservative news outlet, recently touted a local NBC report that found rare instances of voter fraud in Florida. Using the report, its staff made a misguided case against individuals who oppose voter identification laws. In a March 19 article, Senior Political Editor Guy Benson wrote that the left faithfully believes that “voter fraud does not exist beyond the imaginations of racist right-wingers,” and he reduced objections to voter ID laws as “race-baiting nonsense.” Benson then tweeted that opponents of such laws “effectively support voter fraud,” inciting an online debate with Michael Czin, national press secretary for the Democratic National Committee. Townhall News Editor Katie Pavlich chronicled the exchange, insinuating that Czin’s “[failure] to condemn non-citizens voting” was somehow related to DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman-Schultz’s position as a Florida congresswoman. Townhall columnist Kurt Schlichter echoed Pavlich’s sentiment, tweeting that opposition to voter ID was an election “strategy” for Democrats. The argument Benson, Pavlich and Schlichter make is dishonest. While
sources indeed demonstrate that voter ID laws disproportionately disadvantage groups that are more likely to vote for Democrats — including minorities, women and youth — there are many rationales against the ID mandates that are rooted in economics and constitutionality rather than race and political party. North Carolina officials estimated that between voter education efforts and providing free photos to residents without driver’s licenses, implementing a photo ID law would cost the state about $3.6 million. When striking down Pennsylvania’s proposed law in January, a Commonwealth Court judge ruled that voter ID lacked a compelling governmental interest, unreasonably burdened the right to vote and failed to further fair and free elections. Furthermore, Republican representatives have explicitly stated that the GOP stands to benefit from voter ID implementa-
tion, invalidating Benson, Pavlich and Schlichter’s sentiment that the politics of the laws are exclusive to Democrats. Without question, any instance of voter fraud is serious, undemocratic and should be punished to the fullest extent of the law — traditionally five years in prison when in connection with a federal election. However, occurrences of the fraud Benson noted are exceedingly rare, and the few existing cases do not warrant a policy that could potentially prevent millions of citizens from voting. According to a George Mason University study, only 58.2 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in the 2012 election, one of the lowest turnouts among comparator nations. Legislatures should encourage — not deter — citizens to exercise this constitutional right, which Americans have valiantly marched, fought and died to protect. Benson, Pavlich and Schlichter should have considered the extensive range of voter ID opposition before they callously reduced resistance to race-baiting and petty politics. A version of this article appeared in the Monday, March 24 print edition. Christina Coleburn is a deputy opinion editor. Christina’s Case is published every Monday. Email her at ccoleburn@nyunews.com.
DOUBLE X
Christian colleges need to report sexual assaults By LENA RAWLEY
Christian abuse consulting group GRACE revealed in February that Bob Jones University — a well-known fundamentalist Christian college in South Carolina — had been sweeping cases of on-campus sexual assault under the rug and pinning the blame on the victims of the assaults. Prior to the investigation, Bob Jones claimed it was a chaste college. Fearful of bad press, the university terminated GRACE’s investigation, only to later reinstate the group after enduring heavy criticism. The university’s decision to allow for the continuation of the investigation is crucial — the pattern of leaving sexual assaults on campus unreported and not properly caring for victims is an awful practice that has plagued America’s Christian colleges. The obsession with having young men and women remain virgins until marriage causes Christian colleges to cover up instances of rape. Indeed, a selling point for Christian colleges to prospective parents and students is the ability to maintain their student’s chastity. Therefore, a report of a sexual assault on campus would compromise any sort of chaste appeal a college may possess.
SUBMITTING TO
In addition to not reporting instances of sexual assault, the administrations of these schools will typically shift the blame of the assault to the victim. In 2009, Samantha Fields, a student at Pensacola Christian College in Florida, was allegedly raped by a fellow student. When Fields went to a counselor for help, she was immediately scolded and told that her rape, which violated the school’s morality code that prohibits physical interaction between males and females, was grounds for her expulsion. Fields was then forced to apologize to the school and to forgive her attacker. Similar situations have arisen at other Christian colleges like Bob Jones and Patrick Henry. Women are told that the sexual assault is their fault because they were acting promiscuously or wearing suggestive clothing. This reasoning perversely distorts assault into acts of seduction. Victims may be
accused of lying and told that reporting rape to the police will hurt Jesus. By alienating, scolding and ignoring victims, these colleges are creating not just an environment in which rape victims are alone in their struggle, but also one that leaves rape unpunished, allowing for it to happen again and again. Unfortunately, sexual abuse is rampant in a great number of Christian communities — occurring not just in colleges, but churches as well. However, the element of sex makes the issue too taboo to deal with. No church, college or mission wants to compromise the illusion of purity. Bob Jones’ reinstatement of GRACE has prompted change and shed light on an issue that has remained in the dark for far too long. The university is setting an example for other Christian colleges across the nation. If a fundamentalist institution can make changes regarding sexual assault, so can other Christian colleges. There should be no stigma surrounding sexual assault, and Christian colleges should work to create policy that creates actual safety and purity, not just the illusion of it. Lena Rawley is a staff columnist. Double X is published every Friday. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
NYU should refocus on current renovations
The University Space Priorities Working Group released its final report and an executive summary in an email to the NYU community yesterday. Created by NYU President John Sexton in October 2012, the Working Group comprises 26 faculty representatives who give guidance to the administration on the “existing, pressing space needs of academic units and programs” and listen to the “implications of the NYU Core Project for members of the University community.” After so much focus on the expansion plan, the administration should return attention to restoring the quality of current facilities on campus. In its final report, the Working Group recommended the construction of 80 new classrooms and 40,000 gross square feet of student study and meeting space, in addition to specialized performing arts spaces. The group also suggested that the Coles Sports Center site be remodeled to include student residence halls that could accommodate 500 freshmen and about 100 units of faculty housing. In the email, group members expressed confidence that their recommendations were consistent with the NYU academic mission. The Working Group discussed fiscal responsibility in the executive summary and advised that NYU should not adjust future tuition fees to cover capital costs. A more detailed section on financing recommended that NYU preserve current tuition assumptions and commit to an increase in fundraising, replacing the $136 million target with a substantially higher goal. Some say this target is not feasible. While the construction of new facilities may be necessary to support the students currently enrolled at NYU, the proposed expansion project overshadows other construction projects already in progress. According to the university’s website, a number of buildings are under renovation, including the Waverly Building and the Silver Center for Arts and Science. The administration could better serve the NYU community by focusing more on these renovations and restoring other antiquated facilities including the Tisch Dance Builing on Second Avenue and the Barney Building on Stuyvesant Street. The administration should update the NYU community on the progress of the current renovations and ensure that older buildings on campus are receiving the same attention as the expansion plan. A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, March 5 print edition.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Peter Keffer (Chair), Christina Coleburn (Co-chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Nina Golshan (Co-chair)
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Table tennis team slams competition By SEAN BILLINGS
NYU’s table tennis team ended another successful year after finishing fifth in the nation at the 2014 TMS College Table Tennis National Championships in Monroeville, Pa. This season marked the third consecutive year the team qualified for Nationals and the second consecutive year the team entered as unbeaten Northeast Regional Champions. The fifth place finish was the highest the co-ed team has placed since it was founded in 2006. The team remained undefeated the entire season at the regional level and was ranked 19th last year. This year’s final rankings will become available after the results from Nationals. The team was led by Stern sophomore Michael Landers, who was one of the final eight male competitors in the tournament. CAS senior and captain Kenneth Lim and CAS freshmen Li Guangyue and Da Tang finished in the top 32 of the tournament. CAS sophomore Michelle Leung led the women’s team by finishing in the top 24 of the women’s tournament. The women’s team also won the New York City Divisional Tournament.
By FRANCISCO NAVAS
JONATHAN TAN/WSN
The NYU table tennis team finished fifth at the 2014 national championships. “Our women’s team maintained their dominance in the country by once again making top eight in the nation,” Lim said. Lim, who has led the team for the last three seasons, said making the national tournament cements NYU’s position as one of the top teams in the country and shows the dedication of the team. “Even though we’re a club
sport, we’re nationally ranked, and I think our success for the past few years shows how committed we are to making a name for NYU Athletics in the country,” Lim said. The team competes in the Downtown New York City Division and Northeast Region of the NCTTA. Lim said NYU’s rivals include Princeton and Harvard, which the team beat in the semifinals and finals, respectively, of
the Regional Tournament. Lim, who has been on the team since 2010, said the team is at the top of its game. “This season has been our best season in NYU table tennis history,” Lim said. A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, April 17 print edition. Sean Billings is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Baseball seniors remark on Division III status By SYDNEY PEREIRA
As the school year comes to a close, spring sports are also concluding. Although this end means a relaxing time without classes for most, it is bittersweet for seniors finishing their final sports games. On April 27, Tisch senior Jackson Krule and Stern senior Josh Coonin played their last game on the NYU club baseball team. The score was close until the second-to-last inning, when Monmouth hit a three-run homer. “We had solid starting and relief pitching from two younger pitchers on the team, but the
Education first, then athletics
offense was brought fittingly by the seniors,” Coonin said. “Unfortunately, we fell short … in the end of the game, but it was a strong effort against the number one seeded team in the league.” The final score was 7-3, but the team did not focus on scoring big as much as enjoying the opportunity to play. For Krule, who joined the team his sophomore year, the team allowed him to play the sport he loved while forming great friendships. “I was very appreciative that we had baseball at all,” Krule said. “It was such an honor to be able to play and wear a jer-
COURTESY OF JACKSON KRULE
Baseball will become a varsity sport next semester.
sey that said NYU.” In Krule’s final speech to the team, he spoke about the “ineffability of baseball,” a concept he learned in NYU President John Sexton’s class about his book, “Baseball as a Road to God.” “Certain aspects about baseball transcend this universe, it’s hard to put into words,” Krule said. “Even if we would lose, which we did often this year, you got to find the parts of the game that are the real reasons you play. You can still have a lot of fun, and I think that’s something we did a lot of this year.” Krule’s sentiment resonated with Stern freshman David Sohn. Sohn began practicing with the team when he arrived at NYU in the fall, and he said the team helped him find spirit in a school often criticized as lacking heart, particularly in athletics. “I have felt a strong sense of school spirit and pride while representing NYU against other schools, [even] at the club level,” Sohn said. Despite enjoying the game, Sohn said there were downsides to playing for a club team. “Being a club sport at NYU, we are limited in the amount that we can actually practice,” Sohn said. “Although we have free access to the batting cages on the roof of Coles whenever
we want, during the season the only significant time we have on an actual baseball diamond is, for the most part, at the games themselves.” The last time baseball was a varsity sport at NYU was in 1974. It has been a club sport for years, but in the fall of 2014, the team will be officially recognized as a Division III varsity team again. Since Poly officially became the Polytechnic School of Engineering on Jan. 1, 2014, the two baseball teams plan to merge this fall as well. Doug Kimbler, head coach of NYU-Poly’s baseball team, will become head coach for the alluniversity varsity baseball team. The many changes facing NYU baseball will give future students more opportunities to continue their love of the sport in college. But, like most changes, there are advantages and disadvantages. “I have mixed feelings about baseball becoming an official varsity sport next year,” Sohn said. “While the program would receive ample funds and access to fields, the team would also rely heavily on recruits, leaving little room for club players like me.” A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 29 print edition. Sydney Pereira is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
The Greek philosopher Aristotle wrote that sport and education should co-exist, as sport is one of the highest of human activities and the closest a person can come to contemplation. Any athlete can attest to a feeling of being out of body while performing at a high level. Perhaps American universities founded their athletic departments on the basis of that idea. Yet, in today’s university environment, sports create unequal opportunities and are detrimental to a university’s primary mission of educating its students. The common belief is that universities provide athletes, many of whom come from lower-income homes, the opportunity to receive an education as they pursue their dream of going pro through athletic scholarships. But this is a flawed idea. According to the NCAA, less than 2 percent of college athletes are drafted — the exception is baseball, in which 11 percent are drafted. In the college sports world, athletes are defended and professors are coerced by athlete handlers into passing those “student” athletes who have grade-school reading levels. These athletes are exploited by the universities for which they perform for four years, putting their bodies at stake without having to exert their minds and without making any money. For example, Shabazz Napier, one of the stars of UConn’s basketball team, recently told reporters he cannot afford food. While it is hard to be certain about what the 98 percent of football players who are not drafted go on to do, many of them did not take advantage of the education they could have received if they had taken academics seriously before and during college. They trained their bodies but not their minds. As a result, they are not as competitive in the labor market for high-skill jobs as other graduates. This mindset undermines the value of education as a whole in society, and of the college degree that non-athlete students pay for. Universities graduate unprepared students, which reflects negatively on their educational standards and tarnishes their prestige. Because the institution of college sports is far too ingrained to change, all universities should follow the model set by schools like Harvard and Stanford. In order to be an athlete at either of these schools one must have the grades necessary to be accepted, just like any student whose application goes through the admissions office. Athletes at those universities are not awarded athletic scholarships. This rule ensures that the university’s educational standards are maintained and change the view that nurturing one’s intelligence is not important when chasing the dream of being a professional athlete. A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 8 print edition. Francisco Navas is sports editor. Email him at fnavas@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
21
SPORTS
Ice hockey team heads to national tournament
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Freshman Evan Ripley aims for a shot. By BRITTANY YU After defeating the fifthranked University of Connecticut Huskies 7-2 last Sunday, NYU Ice Hockey cemented its spot in the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament. Hosted by Northeastern University, the tournament will be held in Marlborough, Mass., from March 21 to 25. Under head coach Chris Cosentino, the program has slowly but surely established its dominance in the league over the past four seasons, improving upon each previous season. “Our experience, mindset and overall depth are our biggest strengths as a hockey team,” Cosentino said. This marks the team’s first appearance in the National Tournament since 2007. The road to Nationals has not been easy, however, as the team has
been faced with an onslaught of injuries to key players from the start. Despite the many setbacks, this has allowed the younger players on the team to step up. Echoing Cosentino’s sentiments, assistant captain and CAS senior Tim Gumear cites the team’s depth as part of its success. “Know[ing] that if someone goes down with an injury and we have someone just as good to fill in for them in the short term — that saves us the mental strain that most teams experience when someone gets hurt,” Gumear said. Having the ability to run four lines on both forward and defense sets them apart from most opponents who are only able to run two lines, which means the opposing teams are likely to burn out more quickly. CAS sophomore and forward Henry Thomson-Smith said an-
other key to success has been the team’s cohesiveness and chemistry in the face of adversity. “I feel that the character in the locker room has brought our team a long way,” Thomson-Smith said. The players have managed to turn the obstacle of injures into a learning experience. “They have been able to create great chemistry throughout the team, which is something that I feel will be valuable in the postseason,” Cosentino said. Cosentino’s ultimate goal is to bring NCAA hockey to NYU and New York City. After finishing the regular season with an 18-4-2 record and ranking number four in the Northeast region, as well as going 11-2-1 in the Super East Collegiate Hockey League and ranking number two, it looks like the program is well on its way. In addition to a national presence, NYU Ice Hockey is making itself known around campus. One of the highlights this season for Gumear has been the newfound support of NYU students. “Throughout my entire career here at NYU, I have never seen so many fans as we have had on a nightly basis,” Gumear said. “It’s great to see people take the effort to get to the rink to cheer us on day in and day out. Creating that presence in the NYU Community has truly made me proud to be on this team.” NYU has been seeded in Pool A with Lindenwood and Utah State, as well as Florida Gulf Coast, who is ranked #1 in the Southeast division and the team’s first opponent in the tournament. A version of this article appeared in the Thursday, Feb. 27 print edition. Brittany Yu is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
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