Washington Square News | February 18, 2020

4 CULTURE

9 OPINION

Meet the LS Sophomore Calling For Fat Liberation

Confronting the Contradiction of NYU Abu Dhabi

7 ARTS

10 SPORTS

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’: A Masterful Exploration of Love

Wrestling Team Claims UAA Championship

VOLUME LIV | ISSUE 4

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

NYUAD Anniversary Riddled With Controversy

MEG NAKAGAWA | WSN

The Arts Center for NYU Abu Dhabi houses several studio spaces, workshops, and classrooms available for students. NYU Abu Dhabi as a whole recently celebrated its tenth anniversary.

NYUAD has launched its milestone project to celebrate the university’s first decade, despite controversy over academic freedom and labor law violations.

By AARUSHI SHARMA Staff Writer NYU Abu Dhabi is brimming with activity as the university prepares to celebrate its 10-year anniversary, but the milestone offers a chance to reflect on its legacy.

NYUAD opened in 2010 as Abu Dhabi’s first liberal arts and science institute administered by an American university — a joint effort be-

tween NYU and Abu Dhabi’s government. This has led to growing concern among the NYU community about NYUAD’s autonomy as a private university since grants from the United Arab Emirates government make up about 99% of NYUAD’s total revenue.

The campus welcomed 148 students its opening semester and today boasts 24 undergraduate majors spanning arts and humanities, engi-

neering, science and social sciences, in addition to several minor and specialization options. The university employs over 300 people and received more than 14,000 applications for the class of 2023; the administration plans increase enrollment by 40 percent over the next five years. NYU President Andrew Hamilton spoke on the university’s achievements.

“In the wake of NYU Abu Dhabi’s resounding success, other major

US universities have taken their own steps in global higher education, proving its appeal and reaffirming the value for higher education of preparing students to be leaders in this global century,” Hamilton said in a press release. “As we celebrate NYU Abu Dhabi’s first decade with pride, we look forward to its many achievements and contributions yet to come.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Washington Square News

2

NEWS

NEWS@NYUNEWS.COM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Edited by LISA COCHRAN and EMILY MASON

NYUAD Anniversary Riddled With Controversy CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Since 2010, major universities including Duke Kunshan University, University of Utah and the American College have established campuses around the globe including locations in China, South Korea and Spain.

To celebrate the anniversary, the NYUAD campus and the extended NYU global community will be putting together an archive of students’ and faculty members’ personal memories of NYUAD. The multimedia project will be available to view on the NYUAD website later this year.

Recounting her decision to accept her admissions offer, NYUAD junior

Xinyi Zou said it had been her dream school since her freshman year of high school, citing its diverse community.

“I can’t think of any other school where I can sit down at any random table with people speaking eight different languages,” Zou said.

NYUAD Vice Chancellor Mariët Westermann said the Abu Dhabi campus offers a glimpse into the future of global higher education.

“NYUAD has shown that higher education can simultaneously integrate the best of the old and the new, advance human creativity and societal development, and address the challenges facing the global

community,” Westermann said in a press release.

While NYUAD boasts innovative research, student achievements and a growing faculty, the site’s commitments to NYU values have been questioned over the years by faculty members and students amidst issues of violating labor laws and denying visas to faculty members on grounds of religion. Most recently, NYUAD has faced criticism for compromising academic freedom. NYUAD and its aff iliates have previously refrained from acknowledging these claims.

In 2015, an independent investigative f irm found that 10,000 of 40,000

laborers working on the construction of the Saadiyat Island campus were subject to labor rights abuses under the supervision of subcontractors hired by NYU. Two years later, the NYU Journalism Department boycotted the campus after two professors’ visa applications to teach there were denied.

The following year, New York professors hosted a forum to discuss what they saw as the university’s failure to hold the UAE responsible for upholding academic freedom. The forum was designed to deal with previous grievances against NYUAD, and more immediately address the UAE’s

detainment of Durham University doctoral student Matthew Hedges.

Incoming f irst-year Mauricio Lamoyi — who plans to NYUAD in the fall — said his decision to attend was influenced by his admiration for the UAE’s culture. He stated that he is concerned about these controversies, but they have not changed his decision.

“I don’t know if they are true or not, but I see attending NYU Abu Dhabi as an opportunity for students to make a difference,” Lamoyi said.

Email Aarushi Sharma at news@nyunews.com.

Three Professors Granted Prestigious Sloan Awards

CHELSEA LI | WSN

Daniele Panozzo, Christine Constantinople and Anna Choromanska received the Alfred P. Sloan award this year.

By LISA COCHRAN News Editor Three NYU assistant professors received prestigious awards from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, granting them $75,000 for research endeavors across a span of two years.

Tandon School of Engineering professor Anna Choromanska, Center for Neural Science professor Christine Constantinople and Courant Institute of Mathematical Science professor Daniele Panozzo are among 126 others named Sloan Research Fellows across the U.S and Canada in 2020. The awards are distributed annually, every February.

Recipients of Sloan awards are generally non-tenured researchers early in their careers — but several years past doctorate completion — in one of eight f ields related to education, science and economics, according to the foundation’s website.

“The Foundation believes that these f ields—and the scholars and practitioners who work in them—are chief drivers of the nation’s health and prosperity,” the organization’s mission statement reads. “The Foundation also believes that a reasoned,

systematic understanding of the forces of nature and society, when applied inventively and wisely, can lead to a better world for all.”

To receive a fellowship, researchers must f irst be nominated via a senior department member or researcher of the nominee’s respective f ield. Only one to three grant nominations are allowed per department. Recipients are chosen based on their creativity, research advancement and potential within the scientif ic community, the website states.

Founded in 1934 as a New York City-based non-prof it, it bears the name of its founder, the former CEO of General Motors Alfred Pritchard Sloan. The fellowship program itself was initiated in 1955 and since its founding, has produced 50 Nobel Prize winners and 69 National Medals of Science.

Daniele Panozzo Panozzo’s research at Courant — where he has been for the last four years — involves developing algorithms and tools to better form geometric designs.

“My research has been in computer graphics, which historically is

a discipline that works on f iguring out how to realize tools for modeling geometry and rendering geometry how to convert a mathematical representation of the world into images,” Panozzo said.

Panozzo said his technology could help people more easily design essential structures, such as tables or even airplane wings by allowing them to create digital simulations of the objects to test how they would behave if built in the material world.

“That was historically used for movies and [video] games, but as the f ield proceeds, it turns out that many of the problems that we were facing were really on ‘How do you acquire geometry in the real world?’ ‘How do you process it?’” Panozzo said. “You can think of it as sort of like managing the life of a shape, that goes from like a physical object to some other variant.”

He said that a key component of this investigation involved the use of partial differential equations used to simulate physical phenomena.

“These kinds of simulations have been used for a long time, Boeing has been using simulations for their design of airplanes for decades,” Panoz-

zo said. “Right now the situation is that these kinds of tools require a lot of expertise.”

But Panozzo wants these simulations to be available to a wider population. He and his group hope to develop tools for those without mathematical expertise to simulate how geometric shapes are formed.

Panozzo echoed the sentiment of the other two recipients, that he appreciated the recognition that came with the award and added that the grant would continue to support his group at the Geometric Computing Lab — an embodiment of all of his efforts — to continue research.

A third-year computer science doctoral student Yixin Hu, who is part of Panozzo’s team and was one of his f irst doctoral students, said his work in the f ield of geometry merited the grant.

“I would say his work is really solid so I think he deserves the prize,” Hu said. “I’m surprised because it’s hard to get the fellowship.”

Christine Constantinople Constantinople bears a degree in neuroscience from the College of Arts and Science. While she went on to get a doctorate from Columbia University and post-doctorate from Princeton University, Constantinople returned to NYU around a year ago to start her lab supported by the NYU Center for Neural Science.

Her research aims to understand value-based decision-making and how neural circuits facilitate the process.

“We’re interested in where in the brain we assign value to actions and to outcomes,” Constantinople said.

Much of her research on behavior involves the use of lab rats, a method she said will be further supplemented with the award funds.

“It’s generous support that can both help pay for lab expenses and just kind of support the research in the day to day,” Constantinople said.

She found there to be good institutional support for both her research and the award nomination process.

“NYU has been really supportive, we have this beautiful lab space,” Constantinople said. “We feel like we’ve really been empowered to pursue the true research questions that we think are the most fundamental

and the most interesting, and that freedom, I think, is part of why we’re being recognized at this moment.”

Anna Choromanska Choromanska’s research centers around machine learning, large data analysis and optimization, as they apply to innovations in artif icial intelligence and self-driving car systems.

She said the Sloan award was a recognition of efforts for research she has been exploring since her postdoctoral degree. The grant will allow her to investigate and develop algorithms for what she refers to as “loss functions,” the properties of which she said have previously not been well understood.

She did her postdoctoral research at Courant and has been faculty at Tandon since 2017. Choromanska cited her success to resources provided to her through NYU as well as the outgoing nature of other faculty.

“The NYU environment is extremely supportive and inspiring,” Choromanska said. “It’s very easy to collaborate, to discuss ideas.”

Third-year doctoral student Shihong Fang, who currently works with Choromanska, said her accolade was well deserved.

“She cares a lot about her students and she always says she’s my ‘academic mom,’” Fang laughed.

Choromanska said her initial reaction to the news was to recognize those who supported her research efforts.

“A lot of my success comes from a lot of people who have been believing in me and providing support and good advice,” Choromanska said.

“This was my f irst reaction really, [...] to make sure that those people who have been standing by my side are really acknowledged and know that I care about them.”

Besides the great minds and resources available to her through NYU, she further attributes her success to her family.

“Behind the success and all that is also very much my husband, my child and my brother because they’re all in New York,“ Choromanska said. “Family support is always the most important.”

Email Lisa Cochran at lcochran@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | News

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Tandon Professor Elected to National Academy of Engineering

By MINA MOHAMMADI Deputy News Editor Thomas L. Marzetta’s father always hoped he would be a doctor, but instead, Marzetta found himself teaching engineering 40 years later. This month, his work in the field earned him a nomination to the National Academy of Engineering, one of the highest professional honors available to an engineer.

Marzetta teaches at NYU Tandon and is currently the Director of NYU Wireless Labs — the largest research lab at Tandon with a focus on wireless research.

Marzetta recounted his early interest in his field.

“I was introduced at a very early age to electronics and technology,” Marzetta said to WSN. “I initially wanted to be a chemist, but switched to electrical engineering. The [engineering] courses were just simply the most fascinating for me.”

Marzetta worked in the engineering industry for almost 40 years, specializing in petroleum exploration then switching to defense. Initially, he never planned to go into education.

“I was offered an opportunity for this new, great career at NYU Tandon,”

PHOTO COURTESY OF NYU TANDON

Professor Thomas Marzzeta was elected to the National Academy of Engineering.

he said. “I never taught or worked in education before, so it seemed like something I wanted to try.”

Since joining NYU in 2017, Marzetta held positions on the Advisory Board of Massive MIMO for Efficient Transmission and Coordinator of the GreenTouch Consortium Large Scale Antenna Systems Project. Both projects had a concentration on advancing wireless technology.

Each of these research projects have received accolades within the scientific community and led to his subsequent election to the National Academy of Engineering. Well-regarded academies like the NAE are on call for national service — if there is a pressing technical question, the government turns to these members for answers.

“Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education,” the press release reads.

Marzetta expressed his praise of the NAE and its recognition of his wireless technology research.

“It is genuinely thrilling to be part of an organization with such great contributors to the field of engineering,” Marzetta said. “It is also great to see my particular field of wireless technology being paid more attention to.”

Marzetta said prospective engineers should keep the importance of advancement in the field in mind.

“Don’t be afraid to think differently if you really want to make an impact,” he said. “Read everything with skepticism, because the biggest breakthroughs are from people that are not scared to question others.”

Email Mina Mohammadi at mmohammadi@nyunews.com.

3 CRIME LOG

Three Reports of Sexual Assault, One Referred to Title IX

By CRIME BOT Robot Reporter Content warning: this article mentions rape.

From Feb. 9 to 13, the NYU Department of Public Safety received two reports of Criminal Mischief, one report of Criminal Trespass, one report of Drug Law Violation, one report of Drug Law Violation/ Liquor Law Violation, one report of Fondling, seven reports of Harassment, seven reports of Larceny, one report of Liquor Law Violation and two reports of Rape.

Criminal Mischief On Feb. 9 at 10:29 a.m., an RA reported witnessing graffiti in Carlyle Court. The case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 7:51 a.m., a Public Safety Lieutenant reported graffiti outside of 238 Thompson St. The case is open and under investigation.

Criminal Trespass On Feb. 13 at 8:50 p.m., a student reported a criminal trespass in Founders Hall.

Public Safety escorted the person out without further incident. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Drug Law Violation

Washington Square News

On Feb. 10 at 9:17 p.m., an RA reported illegal drug possession in Founders Hall. The case is closed and referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Drug Law Violation/Liquor Law Violation On Feb. 12 at 9 p.m., an RA reported underage alcohol possession and marijuana possession in Carlyle Court. The case is closed and referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Fondling

@nyunews

On Feb. 10 at 8:55 p.m., a student reported a fondling outside of 726 Broadway. The case is open and under investigation.

Harassment

@nyunews

On Feb. 9 at 6 p.m., a student reported a harassment in the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 10:23 a.m., a student reported a harassment in Washington Square Park. The case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 6:04 p.m., a student reported a harassment on Broadway and Wash-

ington Place. The case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 10:27 p.m., a student reported a harassment on East 4th St. and Lafayette Street. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 12:45 p.m., a student reported a harassment on Broadway and Washington Place. A police report was filed and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 12 at 9:55 a.m., a student reported being harassed in Washington Square Park. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 13 at 9 p.m., a student reported being harassed as she was exiting University Hall. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Larceny On Feb. 9 at 6:15 p.m., a student reported a missing personal item in Founders Hall.

The case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 10:25 p.m., a student reported a missing phone in Rubin Hall. The case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 10 at 10:43 p.m., a student reported a missing wallet in Palladium Hall. A police report was filed and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 11 at 2:25 a.m., a student reported a missing ring in the Henry Kaufman Management Center. The case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 13 at 12:05 a.m., a student reported a missing personal item in Palladium Hall. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 13 at 1:27 p.m., a student reported missing medication in Lafayette Hall. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 13 at 6:09 p.m., a student reported a missing coat in Third North. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

Rape On Feb. 10 at 10:11 a.m., a student reported a rape in Third North. Police notification was declined and the case is open and under investigation.

On Feb. 12 at 7:15 p.m., a student reported a rape that occurred in 2019 in Palladium Hall. The case is closed and referred to Title IX. Email Crime Bot at news@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

4

CULTURE@NYUNEWS.COM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

CULTURE

Edited by BELLA GIL

Meet the LS Sophomore Calling For Fat Liberation

JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN

Liberal Studies sophomore Victoria Abraham runs an Instagram page called @fat_fab_ feminist. She aims to encourage the acceptance of all body types.

By MADISON SAN MIGUEL Staff Writer The establishment of a feminist club at her high school influenced Liberal Studies. sophomore Victoria Abraham to create her Instagram page, @fat_fab_ feminist. The then-junior sought to be heard in the small city of Boca Raton, Florida, despite the constant attempts from her peers to silence her. Now, she has over 26,000 followers, and the whole nation is hearing her.

As a feminist and “fat activist,” Abra-

ham uses her social media platform to communicate her message about fat stigma. This message includes the social acceptance of a fat body type as well as the liberation of “fat” as a derogatory term.

She also announces current events and shares her experiences as a fat woman.

At first society’s standards impeded her confidence. But then, she discovered a massive body-positive community on social media, and everything changed.

“When I first started my page, it was an escape for me and from the insufferable repetition of what it is like to live in Flor-

ida,’’ Abraham told WSN. “I was able to surround myself with people that I wish I could be surrounded by in real life.’’

Through social media, Abraham was able to connect with users who shared and acknowledged her beliefs. Not only did this spark her confidence to express her opinions, but it also brought a wave of self-love that continues to grow.

“The longer I have this page, the more confident that I get in myself,’’ Abraham said. “Not because of followers or anything, but because of people I follow — my feed is full of fat people.

Seeing people who experience what I experience, and who look like me, and I can see myself in them — that is the biggest impact for me.’’

According to Abraham, many are ignorant of fatphobia as a concept; this is why it is her goal is to educate her followers about the importance of fat liberation.

“If people do not have somebody who can help them understand what is going on, I try to give them a new perspective,’’ she said. “I know that for some of my friends, they did not get what fatphobia was, or any of that stuff, until I started to talk about it.’’

One of the various issues that cultivate systemic fatphobia is the fear and abuse of using the term “fat” to categorize bodies. Abraham finds that we need to halt the stigmatization of the term in order to normalize its use. This abuse is often

seen on her page.

Although she does not read the comments on her page, Abraham is aware of how often people use the term “fat” to ridicule her. This is why she believes in the importance of using the word to describe herself objectively.

“If I use that as a neutral term to describe my body, then when people use it, or try to use it as a way to offend me or hurt me, it means nothing,’’ she said. “I am taking away that power, and no power remains in that term.’’

Many of Abraham’s posts consist of political memes and images of herself, captioned with stories of her experiences as a mixed-race fat woman. With these posts, she strives to make her message of body-positivity and fat acceptance clear.

“You have seen ‘Pitch Perfect’; [the character] Fat Amy calls herself fat and she puts it out there,” said Abraham.

“I think that is like the same thing with me. I am fat, I am visibly fat. There is no way that you can look at me and say, ‘Oh, you’re not fat’. I am. I know that I am.

I live with my body every day and know what I look like. I am not, under any illusions, saying that is not what I am.’’

Although the body positive movement claims to fight for all body types, Abraham believes that there is a flaw in its crusade. As the movement became more mainstream, she saw a decline in fat acceptance from body activists.

“I am body positive, and I think that

it is important, but that is not where it should end,’’ she said. ‘’If you are an advocate for body positivity, you also have to be an advocate for fat liberation. You have to give voices for fat people, because they are not experiencing the same things as you are.’’

Being a fat activist is a label Abraham proudly identifies with. However, she is not fond of categorizing herself as an influencer, since she believes that the term contradicts her views. Regardless, Abraham is aware that people pay attention to her opinions no matter how she sees her status on social media.

“I just hope that maybe my page makes people question ideas they do agree with, and question their beliefs, and understand why they think the way they do,’’ she said. “I just think it is important that people should see another perspective that they do not see every day.”

Regarding the future of her page, Abraham hopes to continue expressing her beliefs on fatphobia and sharing her experiences for her audience to better understand the topic.

“I do not know if I have a real message or anything,’’ she said. “My entire goal in life is to leave the world better than I found it. After all, I am just a normal person who happens to have a large platform to talk about the things I care about.’’

Email Madison San Miguel at culture@nyunews.com.

The World Beyond Manhattan

By SABRINA CHOUDHARY Staff Writer When Washington Square Park students visit their friends at Tandon, they jokingly call it “going abroad.” For many, crossing the East River is not just entering a different borough of the city but stepping into a totally different world.

Tisch sophomore Deborah Shonack, a Gramercy Green resident, admitted that she only leaves Manhattan about once per month, but appreciates the diversity of the outer boroughs.

“I think each borough has its own different personality in a sense, and there are a lot of things you can’t find in Manhattan that are in the other boroughs and vice versa,” said Deborah Shonack. “All of the boroughs make up the city. Manhattan isn’t just it.”

There are many features of the outer boroughs that Manhattan can’t beat.

One of them is green spaces. Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, known for its world’s fair memorabilia and for hosting the U.S. Open since 1978, is one of Shonack’s favorite places in the outer boroughs to visit.

“It’s like, really, really huge and has the Queens Museum in it. My friends and I were enjoying the cherry blossom season last year, and they looked really pretty, and we had a picnic, and it was just a lot of fun,” she said.

Other students also seem to enjoy the parks in the outer boroughs. CAS sophomore Ian Miller is a commuter from East Flatbush and said that one of his favorite places is Prospect Park in Brooklyn. He believes that students who don’t explore the outer boroughs are missing out on learning about other communi-

ties in the city.

“An expanded worldview,” Miller emphasized. “If [students] just stay in this little bubble, they won’t see what life really is outside of the student view.”

Sebastian Anlas, a CAS sophomore from Forest Hills, raved about the outer boroughs. “[There’s] cheaper stuff, just less pollution, a little bit,” he said. “Something that I miss is just being able to go on long stretches of walks without having to en-

counter vehicles too much. Here there’s constant traffic.”

But the main draw for these students is the drastically more prevalent multiculturalism in the other boroughs.

Shonak said that she searched hard for Peruvian spots in Manhattan last year and didn’t find anything. Eventually, she ventured out and found what she was looking for in Queens and Jackson Heights.

“I just really like walking down Roosevelt Avenue,” she said. “There are a lot

of shops playing music out loud; it just seems very festive over there. They have a lot of colorful different shops, and I really like going into Latin American supermarkets and seeing all of the cultural things that they sell.”

“The minority populations are much more vibrant [outside of Manhattan],” Anlas agreed. “Like in Roosevelt, there’s a big Latino population; in Elmhurst where I grew up there’s a big Chinese population, stuff like that.”

The fact is that neighborhoods like Greenwich Village have everything a student could need — trendy food, a plethora of stores, entertainment and a secure campus community — and many students don’t feel the need to leave. But by branching out, students will discover that there’s so much more to New York than just Manhattan.

Email Sabrina Choudhary at culture@nyunews.com.

ALEX TRAN | WSN

The boardwalk at Coney Island quiets down as visitors dwindle for the day. Peaceful moments can be hard to find in Manhattan, causing students to branch out and explore different boroughs.

Washington Square News | Culture

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

5

First-Year’s Jewelry Business Encourages Inclusion

By NYA ETIENNE Staff Writer

KATHERINE HOLLIS | WSN

Nya Simone-Spann is a freshman at Stern who has her own jewelry business. Her brand is focused on creating pieces fit for a diverse range of customers.

Stern first-year Nya-Simone Spann is the founder and CEO of the fashion-forward accessories brand Simone’s Pieces. Her warm personality and firm belief in her business is testimony enough to how she has gone so far. Concentrating in entrepreneurship and marketing, Spann offered some helpful and interesting anecdotes about her design process, day-to-day operation and balancing school and social life.

When Simone’s Pieces launched in November of 2019, it had taken Spann three years to build in her hometown of Washington D.C. As a student at NYU, the company’s marketing, promotion and creative aspects take place in the city. But its physical operations such as packaging, printing, inventory and shipping are all carried out in D.C. with a partner on-location. When it comes to the designing process, Spann is very precise about the designers that she chooses to work with.

“I like to go for designers who have a specific definition of fashionable — someone

who loves to express themselves and is very open to expression,” said Spann.

This selection is evident in the pieces in the shop: asymmetrical earrings, minimalistic gold earrings and even headscarves with a mini ball, charm or intricate weaving.

Recently, Spann has been working on her own designs to launch later in the spring, and she described her creative process. “[It] happens very randomly,” she said.

“I might be anywhere, and I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh. Yes, that’s, that’s amazing,’ and then I try and jot it down. One of the key parts of the process is to write everything down.”

Another important aspect of the creative process behind Simone’s Pieces is the branding and visual design, which takes form across the business’ social media presence and item distribution. In terms of social media marketing, Spann has learned from trial and error, realizing which pages are best for exposure based on her target audience: “a natural hair page … empowerment pages … [and] pages that promote black businesses in general” are most successful.

In terms of her merch distribution, Spann said that she is planning two photoshoots for

Make Way for Mokyo: Asian-Fusion Tapas to Die For

By ADDISON ALOIAN Contributing Writer The question I’m constantly asked by friends and family is, “what’s the best part of living in New York?”

Without hesitation, one answer comes to mind: the food. New York City is filled with the best restaurants around, ranging from every creation and cuisine you could ever imagine. And you’ll never get sick of any one type because new, unique spots are always popping up on every block.

I had the pleasure of trying Mokyo for dinner this week with my older brother. A cozy spot on Saint Marks Place for Asian-inspired tapas and drinks, Mokyo just opened Feb. 5, and is the sister restaurant of Thursday Kitchen, another East Village Asian eatery.

Mokyo blends different elements together, featuring mostly Korean dishes influenced by South American and Spanish flavors.

After being seated, I first noticed the low-key atmosphere of the space. The lighting was dim, the decorations were quaint and the decor was brilliant, giving a modern and industrial feel with exposed brick walls. Although the dining area was small, it was separated from the bar, and gave off a cozy vibe that allowed me to relax and let go of my troubles for the next hour.

Our waitress came by shortly after we were seated, and after explaining a little bit about Mokyo’s story, she recommended that since the dishes are small, we should order two to three per person. Although I would prefer to have my own large-sized entree, I was still excited about the innovative dishes. Because I was with my brother, I figured we were going to feast, so we ordered four different plates: beef tartare, duck fried rice, corn dumplings and the pork jowl.

The dishes came out one at a time, arriving an appropriate amount of time after ordering. The first was the beef tartare, a food I’m a little obsessed with. Mokyo’s

version included a delicious beef laid over a thick parmesan cream sauce, sprinkled with green peppers, radishes, macadamia nuts and furikake, a Japanese seasoning.

The dish was absolutely wonderful: the meat was tender, but the toppings were crunchy. The taste combined with the opposing textures was extremely satisfying.

Next came the duck fried rice, paired with Asian sausage, cucumber and a black bean sauce. The meal definitely didn’t taste like your typical fried rice; there was something stunning about the two different meat tastes intertwining, but it wasn’t overpowering. The black bean sauce supplemented a salty but tasteful kick to each bite, and the cucumbers were a great refresher, adding juiciness to the already delicious plate.

The third plate ended up being our favorite: the corn dumplings — this dish is to die for. Savory and cheesy, the dumplings were stuffed with fennel and a truffle salsa verde and topped with parmesan cheese. Yes, it’s as delicious as it sounds and the taste is out of this world.

In fact, I would recommend Mokyo just for this course alone (trust me).

Last but not least was the pork jowl, matched with cauliflower and Kalamata olives, and doused with kabayaki sauce. The pork was phenomenal: perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside, but soft and chewy on the inside, melting in my mouth. The sauce was a wonderful culinary choice, adding a sweetness to the whole meal that made the cauliflower exceptional. This dish was so good that I ate every single olive and I don’t even like olives.

All in all, the food was unlike anything I’ve ever eaten, the ambiance was calming, and we had fantastic service with an attentive waitress. One of my favorite parts?

The fact that I didn’t feel overly stuffed walking home.

Mokyo is perfect for any type of evening out — great for a date, family dinner or a girls’ night.

Email Addison Aloian at dining@nyunews.com.

JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN

Mokyo, an Asian-fusion restaurant, is located along St. Marks Place. Though its storefront may seem plain, the dishes Mokyo offers are anything but.

a new roll-out coming in March, and her team is working to bring it all together. Part of the team includes Tisch first-year Destiny Brown, one of Spann’s photographers, and makeup artist Gallatin first-year Andrew Au. “When I talked to Nya about what look and feel she was going for, she wanted golds, nudes, neutrals (browns) and silvers for this particular campaign,” Au said. “She’s very smart in her promotion and management of the company.”

This attention to detail in her branding can be seen on the Simone’s Pieces Instagram, which follows a nude brown aesthetic and works perfectly with the company’s focus on brown women of color.

“Simone’s Pieces emphasizes the importance of diversity: being a brand for all shades and styles, and I aim to capture that essence in my photos of her jewelry,” Brown said. “Each piece, like her target audience, is unique and special. Starting a business in college is never easy, but she puts the work in to become knowledgeable about her craft.”

Indeed, juggling a business with remote headquarters and a business student’s workload is difficult with daily tasks ranging from

package coordinations, communication with influencers and customer service.

According to Spann, “the most frustrating and difficult part is when you feel so passionate about both things … I love what I do in school and also the business, but the most frustrating thing would definitely be not forgetting to take care of myself.”

Looking towards the future, Spann shared that “at the end of the day, the goal is to graduate with a degree.” However, she also wants Simone’s Pieces to be a brand that people know and recognize for “models [that] are very diverse, and [who] love to be inclusive and representative of all types of beauty.”

Surpassing 2,000 followers on Instagram and connecting with notable influencers, Simone’s Pieces can only continue to go upwards as long as Nya-Simone Spann is spearheading the company. The CEO’s drive, determination to learn more and collaborate, as well as focus on education can only return success.

Email Nya Etienne at culture@nyunews.com.

I Tried Trader Joe’s Meatless Meat — And You Should Too

By DANIELA ORTIZ Staff Writer With talks of all the environmental damage caused by consuming red meat, the appeal of veganism and vegetarianism grows with each passing day. While I still eat meat, I actively try to reduce my consumption, but the idea of cutting out meat completely can seem like an overwhelming and nearly impossible task. With all the meatless substitutes available, it shouldn’t be. If even a fast food chain like Burger King can release the impossible burger — a plant-based burger patty that “bleeds” like real meat — it’s no surprise that health food stores are buying into the lifestyle as well. After Trader Joe’s released its new version of the impossible burger — dubbed “Protein Patties”— I was inspired to try out some of their other meatless meat options. After consideration, I took up the meatless challenge for four days.

Night one consisted of spaghetti with artichoke sauce and Trader Joe’s Italian Sausage-less Sausage ($3.49 for a four-pack). Following the instructions, I pan-fried the soy-based links, cut them up and served them with the pasta. My first Meatless Monday wasn’t exactly off to a banging start. The texture was way off and despite an obvious effort with the Italian spices — which, I must admit, were prominent — it just tasted like soy. Putting my love for Italian sausage and my knowledge on the product aside, even if I had no idea what I was eating, I don’t think I would enjoy the taste. This might be the first time that Trader Joe’s has ever let me down.

For night two, I went with a pretty popular Trader Joe’s recipe: the jackfruit pulled pork. The jackfruit ($1.99) comes canned in brine. When I purchased it at the store, the cashier ringing me up asked how I make the jackfruit. I sincerely replied, “I’ll get back to you on that.”

The idea behind using jackfruit as a meat substitute is that when it’s cooked and shredded, it does resemble pulled pork. I put this claim to the test and after draining, shredding, and sauteeing the contents of the can, I dumped an absurd amount of barbecue sauce on it. Once the jackfruit was cooked, I assembled my barbecue pulled pork sandwich on ciabatta bread. It totally made up for the disappointment of night one.

The texture and taste were so delicious that it doesn’t seem right to compare it to pulled pork, which I usually have a texture problem with because of the fat. Jackfruit is in a class of its own, and I will most definitely be returning to Trader Joe’s to tell the cashier exactly how to prepare it.

My most ambitious venture into the meat substitute world occurred on night three. I decided to make traditional Mexican papas con chorizo (pretty much just potatoes with chorizo) after the Mexican chorizo ($2.29) at Trader Joe’s caught my eye. Knowing that this was a soy-based sausage product as well, I hoped it wouldn’t

DANIELA ORTIZ | WSN

This vegetarian spaghetti consists of artichoke sauce and Trader Joe’s meatless sausage. Meatless options are becoming increasingly popular at stores such as Trader Joe’s, making it easy for anyone to substitute ingredients in their favorite dishes.

let me down like the Italian version did. After sauteeing the chorizo with diced onions and garlic and mixing in diced boiled potatoes, I served the mixture on corn tortillas and garnished with salsa verde and cilantro. I have to say, I’m pretty sure my Mexican father would approve. This chorizo actually tasted like chorizo. It was so good I had to serve myself again knowing it had nothing to do with my cooking skills, considering years of feedback from the victims of my cheffing. Rest assured: this is an item worth adding to your basket.

When night four rolled around, I went for the marquee dish: protein patty burgers ($4.49). It was definitely the quickest dish of all four options to make. These patties are made of pea protein, beets, and sunflower oil.

Just throw the patties on a skillet, cook them for three minutes on each side, and you’re ready to serve them to your liking. In all honesty, I slightly overcooked mine because I wasn’t aware that unlike meat, it’s normal for the protein patties to remain pink on the side once they are fully cooked.

If you don’t go into this dish expecting the taste of meat, you’ll enjoy it. The texture was extremely similar to any other beef burger I’ve had. The flavor, however, was definitely on more of the plant-based side, but it was tasty regardless. I wouldn’t hesitate to go back and purchase this item again, probably due to the simplicity of its preparation. As far as the meat substitutes went, it would be third on my list.

After trying four of the countless meat substitute options, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy and delicious they could be. That being said, whether you’re going for a lifestyle switch or just a new option for Meatless Monday, the environmental benefits of consuming less meat are scientifically indisputable. It’s an issue bigger than our taste buds.

Email Daniela Ortiz at dining@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

6

ARTS

ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Edited by KAYLEE DEFREITAS and ETHAN ZACK

Video Games: From ‘Pong’ to the Eighth Art

By NICHOLAS WEID Staff Writer A lot has changed in video games since their humble beginnings in the 1970s.

The matter of choosing what to play is no longer as simple as deciding between an action-packed game of “Pong” or an equally action-packed game of “Space Invaders.” The games, the market, the industry: every facet has been expanding rapidly. Sprawling franchises like “Super Mario” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” have become household names, with more and more franchises beginning to join them. The industry is undoubtedly still young, but its expansion has been rapid in its journey to the $120 billion powerhouse it is today.

Despite this change, there’s been a continuous and traceable thread: community.

From the well-represented arcades of the 70s to the underground grassroots tournament scene of “Super Smash Bros Melee” in the 2000s and now the Super Bowl-surpassing viewership of the “League of Legends” World Championship, video games have been forming communities ever since their inception and continue to do so.

Isiah Rosa, a Game Design senior and vice president of NYU’s Poly Gaming Network Club, a Tandon-based club where members play a variety of games, beginners and veterans alike, mentioned his own experiences with game communities.

“Some of my closest friends, I found through games,” Rosa said. “I love hosting tournaments and seeing people come out and meet one another, and then chatting even after those tournaments.”

The events that Rosa runs are a strong reminder of the physical spaces these games used to be bound to, a tradition that is still relevant despite the abundance

and ease of online communities. These experiences can truly be life-changing for some people, and while this can be true for any sort of hobby or fandom community, the massive amount of multiplayer games is especially conducive to forming closeknit and passionate environments.

With that being said, there is no denying the existence of toxic groups that have started under the pretense of games.

“Gamergate,” the problematic outcry from members of the gaming community protesting against women in the industry, is a much more concerning stain on the community as a whole. Criticism of the industry would be much more productive if it were focused on rectifying the presence of hate groups within the community instead of being funneled into the phantom threat of violent games.

Helping to counteract this is the fact that video games are, often unconsciously, educating their players. Even early text adventure games such as the aptly named “Adventure” or the less-literally named “Zork” undoubtedly could be useful for teaching vocabulary, reading and critical thinking. Newer games and the increasing possibilities inherent in their development are leading to experiences that can teach in the more nuanced way that other art can.

Further expanding the capacity for video games to teach is the recent genre of empathy-focused games. “Depression Quest,” “That Dragon, Cancer,” “Dys4ia,” “Freshman Year” — games about depression, grief, gender dysphoria, sexual assault and countless other sensitive and often deeply personal subjects are now being made. While these games obviously don’t have the audience of the more marketable “Fortnite” or “Call of Duty” and often have negative user reviews (“Freshman Year” on Steam, for example),

ISIAH ROSA | WSN

Computer stations designed for playing video games are characterized by brightly lit keyboards and high-backed chairs. The video game industry has been rapidly rising, forming a vibrant community of players, programmers and audiences.

they’re pushing the limits of what a game can and arguably should do. The negative reviews in particular shed light on the quickly-aging perception of video games’ purpose from not only pessimistic critics but consumers alike.

Game Design first-year Leo Current proposed a reason for this dichotomy.

“Art is something that has current events, but many players don’t seem to be ready for that in their games, despite the fact that they want them to be considered art,” Current said. “If they can accept games as art, then the rest of the world can follow along with them.”

It seems like common sense. These are games; they’re meant to be fun. But perhaps common sense should be thrown out the window here. These games are

using interactivity as more than a tool for entertainment and are beginning to explore the possibilities that the medium can facilitate.

“I encourage you to explore the weirder side of games,” Rosa said. “In doing that, you may be able to broaden your understanding of what a game can be.”

Video games in practice have moved past the simplistic origins which still seem to strangle their reception and identity.

Nowadays, there is a market saturated both with games calling back on nostalgia and games which are trying to fundamentally revolutionize the genre. For every triple-A cash grab, there seems to be a game pushing the envelope of technology and gameplay.

“That’s where fan games come in,”

Current said. “It’s not necessarily they want to profit off it — they’re showing their love and dedication for something and want to make it because of that.”

There are countless individuals like the “Sonic Mania” developers: passionate fans creating games they find important, and these are the games that are going to carry the industry into the future. While the games once created the community, the community itself is now a key player in the creation of games. When the power is in the hands of the player, games become a powerful medium for their community to form conversations about important social and personal issues.

Email Nicholas Weid at arts@nyunews.com.

‘The Slow Rush’ Is Tame Impala’s Most Introspective Album to Date

By ANA CUBAS Contributing Writer Tame Impala’s “The Slow Rush” was a full-bodied, mind-bending, psychedelic journey that I never wanted to end. Beginning with “One More Year”

and ending with “One More Hour,” time is undeniably the theme of Kevin Parker’s latest work. Both in a buoyant and resistive way, Kevin Parker is fiercely seeking answers both in the past and the future.

“One More Year” sets the vibe for the

ALEX TRAN | WSN

Time is a prevailing theme in “The Slow Rush,” Tame Impala’s newest album. Though many songs feature signature sounds from Kevin Parker, others showcase his diverse skills as a hip hop producer.

entire voyage. It alarmingly reminds listeners, “We got a whole year / Fifty-two weeks / Seven days each” as if saying, “Wake up! We only have so much time in this world!”

That said, the song does not scare listeners with its dismaying observation.

Instead, it dropped me into a black hole of morphed, dissected voices and ever-so-slowly introduced me to the unwavering drums that endure throughout the album. These drums are so consistent in each track that it felt like each strike pulsated from my ears straight to my brain all the way to the tips of my toes. It’s a song meant to put Parker’s vocals and lyrics on a pedestal, and it succeeds. It sets the scene for the rest of the album, laying the groundwork behind Parker’s fears of the future and the anxiety of time. Perhaps Parker’s lyrical abilities aren’t the most poetic, but they get the point across.

Once the trademark Tame Impala synths are out in full force, they’re there to stay. “Posthumous Forgiveness” delivered cosmic synths that made me feel like I was floating down a time-traveling, groove-filled river of Parker’s airy vocals with twists and turns of drum licks and song fragments of sirens.

Parker also makes it a point to exhibit his talents as a hip-hop producer

who’s worked with the likes of Kanye West and Travis Scott. In “Lost in Yesterday” and “Breathe Deeper,” Parker incorporates 90s R&B rhythm and bass, which award the tracks a certain fluidity that grants the album a particular conceptual cohesion.

“Lost in Yesterday” is pure nostalgia on Parker’s part, focusing on his desire to relive the past in fear of what the future might bring. He opens “Lost in Yesterday” with “When we were livin’ in squalor, wasn’t it Heaven?” and repeating in the pre-chorus, “if they call you, embrace them / If they hold you, erase them,” singing about his memories.

By the time “Lost in Yesterday” ends, Parker’s grown to accept his nostalgia with self-assurance. “It Might Be Time” does not fear time, it embraces it, providing an optimistic break from uncertainty. This is much needed, considering the entire album bred a ponderous state of mind that made me reflect on how I’ve spent every breath of my life.

Following “It Might Be Time,” “Glimmer,” a disco-EDM compound, acts as the vessel for mental and emotional catharsis before the album comes to an end. It is lighthearted, full of bass and begins with “Crank the bass up.”

Despite the cheesiness of the phrase, I couldn’t help but listen and dance to

Parker’s joyous disco spirit.

“The Slow Rush” is 57 minutes of controlled chaos: of intricate, fervent, production-heavy sounds creating a tie-dye dream wrapped in nostalgia and uncertainty. It makes you feel like a space alien or a hippie — probably a mix of the two. This album is much more diverse in influences than “Currents” or any of Parker’s past albums.

Even though Parker remains true to prog-rock he’s known for, the synthheavy sections can be mistaken for techno. And, at times, Parker’s acoustic guitar in “Tomorrow’s Dust” plays like an homage to folk rock. While “Currents” also speaks of self-transformation, Parker proves his growth not only as an artist, but in himself with “The Slow Rush.” The duality shown between his dreading of time and his appreciation for memories allows the experience of growth to be seen as a process, with each setback and realization proven in lyrics and melody. Tame Impala did not waste any time in those five years of production, and the outcome was more introspective and intoxicating than I could have imagined.

Email Ana Cubas at music@nyunews.com.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

Washington Square News | Arts

7

‘Portrait of a Lady on Fire’: A Masterful Exploration of Love

By KAYLEE DEFREITAS Arts Editor Content warning: this article may contain spoilers.

A group of women hum different notes around a fire. As they get closer, they begin to hum in harmony, chanting “fugere non possum,” Latin for “we cannot escape.” In the darkness, a female face is illuminated as she gazes at a blonde woman across the fire.

Subtle desire fills both of them. As the music reaches a crescendo, the blonde steps away to reveal the bottom of her dress is on fire. The two continue their staring match as the blonde stands completely still, an exquisite image, a living painting.

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” follows Marianne (Noémie Merlant) as she is commissioned to paint a portrait of Héloïse (Adèle Haenel) to be sent to her future arranged husband. Héloïse refuses to sit for the painting, so Marianne must work secretly, creating a face from only glances on daily walks.

From this, the two fall into an impassioned, affecting romance that allows them to find their inner freedom while also highlighting the limitations of the world they live in.

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is one of the most magnificent love stories to be put to film in recent memory. The film looks at the way love can be defined in how one is seen in the eyes of another, and more specifically, without the male gaze present. When Héloïse insults the first portrait, she says, “Is this how you see me?” and it is the inquiry that seems to bother Marianne the most. The film argues that having the person you desire find your perception of them false is the worst insult. It argues that real love means being fully seen by another

and not as just a still life but as a living breathing entity.

This movie is not just about love between women; it also delves into the intense bond that women share.

This bond is highlighted through a third character, a maid named Sophie (Luàna Bajrami), whom both women help throughout the film. The power of the film is in this shared connection that all the women have as they all face different circumstances that they wish they could escape from.

Céline Sciamma’s screenplay is so intricate and lush in its phrasing that one would think it came from a classic 18th-century romance novel. The poetry of the lines is something that creeps up on the audience and does not always make itself known. One such series of lines appear in a conversation the three women share over a book they are reading aloud about Orpheus and Eurydice.

“He doesn’t make the lover’s choice, but the poet’s,” is what Marienne says when talking of why she thinks Orpheus turns and thus sends his lover, Eurydice, back to the Underworld.

It is to live with the memory of how Eurydice was instead of who she is now. What initially started as an exciting sharing of theories turns into a poignant exchange that reveals the women’s personal understandings of love and the impending separation from each other.

All performances in this film are nuanced, and it is hard to single out just one of them as the star. The fire and intense life each woman brings to their role makes it feel like these characters are existing individuals. They bring such energy to them that one never feels that these people were just dropped into the film and instead had an extensive life before, during and af-

KAYLEE DEFREITAS | WSN

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” is now playing in cinemas. The film explores the blossoming relationship between two women in the 18th century.

ter the film has faded to black. Adèle Haenel is so restrained in her emotions, but in every scene, one can feel the desire that lies behind the wall she has put up. Noémie Merlant is dominant in the independence she portrays, but also the impending awareness of her circumstance as a woman. Both women are brilliant, and it is a spiritual experience to watch the two fall fast into love.

The cinematography of the film works in tandem with the narrative.

Each shot in the movie could be a painting within itself as the landscapes are breathtakingly gorgeous, and the

staging of the scenes is so intentional in the visual they are trying to achieve.

The staging isn’t done with just visuals in mind either; many scenes are placed so that one can tell what is happening emotionally between characters or to draw the audience in. While the acting, direction and screenplay are all stunning in their own right, it is the cinematography that helps round out this film and makes it a true masterpiece.

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” exudes beauty in every second of the film. It draws the audience in with the visuals but holds onto them with the passion-

ate prose that makes up the script. The film has lingered on my mind since I saw it on limited release in December, and on second viewing, I only found even more to be in love with in it. It is a romance for the ages that is deeply moving in its portrayal of love through the eyes of an artist.

“Portrait of a Lady on Fire” opened February 14th, 2020. It is being shown in French with English Subtitles.

Email Kaylee Defreitas at kdefreitas@nyunews.com.

Support Your OG Bookstores

By DESTINE MANSON Staff Writer

JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN

Now in their 30th year, Mercer St. Books & Records continues to carry new and used books, as well as LPs. Local bookstores like this one are small businesses that are often overlooked in the city.

From James Baldwin to E. E. Cummings and many more, there was a time when literary icons roamed Bleecker and Broadway. Many of them sat in the East Village and pondered the world before becoming textbook topics. The atmosphere of a classic neighborhood bookstore is like no other, but the one that holds a special place in my heart is Mercer Street Books & Records.

The neon pink “BOOKS” sign in the window invited my inner child to enter. When I was younger, I loved trips to Barnes & Noble. At the time the franchise was new to my area. The children’s section was equipped with bean bags and brightly colored decorations that told me that I must read another book. Mercer Books & Records is the adult version of that experience. The endless stacks of new and used books make you feel as if you are buried alive in literature. It’s a place where I feel comfortable ignoring the vibrations on my phone while perusing through the sections.

What stands out to readers in a neighborhood bookstore is the opportunity to discover a new read without algorithms or programming.

Neighborhood bookstores like Mercer Street Books & Records offer a rare escape to solitude without enduring hours of travel to connect with yourself by leaving the city limits. To

all the aspiring writers, bookstores give you a place to chat with other book enthusiasts about what they’re reading now and what you should be reading next.

All of the books inside Mercer are reasonably priced and showcase decades of literature. The different sections from biographies to science clump together in an endless array of information.

The cashier sets the tone of the store’s atmosphere as well. His demeanor is always quiet and observant yet appreciative of each purchase. As with other conversations that happen between book lovers who come in and out, his knowledge of the thousands of books decorating the shelves is unmatched. Person-to-person contact in this city can seem intimidating for some, but the comfort of the stacks makes it easy.

Mercer is where I developed a new love for Toni Morrison novels. Reading her work outside of a classroom environment during quiet evenings in my dorm ignited a fire in me to want to write fiction again. Even after leaving the store, finding the book destined for your shelf brings you a sense of calmness in your own space. Thank you, Mercer Books, for constantly reminding me why I came to this city and giving me something to cherish while I’m here.

Email Destine Manson at books@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

8

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

OPINION

OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

Edited by JUN SUNG

GOVERNMENT

Are Caucuses Hurting Our Democracy?

By SAM O’DONNELL Contributing Writer Dating back to the 1800s, caucuses have been essential to the U.S. electoral system. The presidential race begins with caucuses in Iowa where the nominee for the two major parties

is narrowed down. However, after the miscalculation and mass confusion that occured just two weeks ago in the 2020 Iowa caucuses, the importance of caucuses in the voting process must be questioned.

Caucuses are run differently than primaries. In a primary, one can simply fill out a ballot indicating their candidate of choice. However, when one casts their vote in a caucus, they must announce who they support in front of friends and neighbors, making it awkward if one chooses to support a candidate who is not popular in the community. The main purpose of the caucuses is to create

an open dialogue among locals; however, it fails to do so because of its outdated methods.

Since caucuses require citizens to spend hours talking in local meeting places, the process also removes them from designated family time and draws them away from their jobs.

Longer hours mean wealthier voters are at an advantage, as they can afford to leave work early and pay for childcare. The actual process of counting voters takes a long time as well, which can result in lower voter turnout numbers.

This outdatedness was seen in the 2016 election when Sen. Bernie Sand-

ers (I-Vt) wanted a recount against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s narrow victory, but there was no paper trail with the results. In the most recent Iowa caucuses, Democrats tried to create a voting record using an app to keep track of the winner. However, this app led to chaos as the technology crashed and precinct leaders couldn’t input the data.

As time has proven that caucuses are outdated ways of collecting votes, primaries have become a much more viable option. Primaries provide a more traditional idea of voting where one gets to keep their vote private. In addition, primaries only take a matter

of minutes to complete voting, depending on how long the line is. While there is still room for error, primaries provide a much more organized and efficient structure than caucuses.

Though the caucuses may create a feeling of unity within the major political parties, the fact that so many citizens are pushed away from participation hurts the spirit of democracy.

The primary system, which has higher voter turnouts and is more inclusive of all Americans, is the better alternative to the outdated caucus.

Email Sam O’Donnell at opinion@nyunews.com.

CITY

The Uncomfortable Issue of Bathroom Accessibility

By EMILY DAI Deputy Opinion Editor Imagine this: you’re stranded in Midtown and you’re starting to feel the chai latte you chugged an hour earlier. Or maybe you and your family are trying to hit up all the NYC hotspots, and suddenly your little sister needs to go to the bathroom.

Or maybe you’re somewhere uptown and the frat house has already kicked everybody out. Regardless of the situation, you’re somewhere where your NYU ID can’t be your saving grace.

Where can you go to the bathroom?

You probably can’t. Unless you purchase something — an overwhelming amount of available restrooms are for customers only — a

private bathroom is completely inaccessible. Restroom accessibility has had a long and tortured history in New York City. In the 1930s, NYC dramatically expanded its public restroom infrastructure, and everything has been done since to curb this public good. Pay-toilets were outlawed in 1975 on the belief that they were discriminatory against women.

The problem quickly became so rampant that in 1990, a group of homeless people sued NYC for access to public restrooms.

Clearly, we don’t want people to relieve themselves on the streets — in 2015, the NYPD issued 17,744 summonses for public urination.

Yet, NYC has only 1,103 public restrooms for its 8.5 million residents, and nearly 63 million tourists a year.

Only two of these facilities are open 24/7, making going to the bathroom late at night a near impossibility.

This lack of public restrooms is as representative of NYC as the Empire State Building, and our recent mayors have tried — and failed — to tackle this issue. Mayor David Dinkins, who

promised 100 public toilets to be installed following successful experimentation, eventually abandoned the concept. His successor, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, attempted to build 30 public toilets through a comprehensive “street furniture” plan, which would have also included bus stop shelters and newsstands. Giuliani shelved this idea in 1998. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who had commented that public restroom accessibility “does have a need, and most other cities, or many other cities, have solved this problem,” could only plan to install 20 restrooms in the city after his 12-year tenure. Bloomberg’s successor, current Mayor Bill de Blasio, has done nothing and has attempted nothing to stop this sanitation crisis.

In fact, 15 automated public toilets were purchased with taxpayer dollars, and have simply been collecting dust in a warehouse somewhere in Queens since 2006. De Blasio continues to ignore their existence.

This isn’t just an issue of convenience. The severe lack of available toilets poses serious health risks.

The absence of basic sanitation facilities results in an unhealthy environment contaminated with human waste and contributes to the spread of many diseases. Outbreaks of infectious disease associated with poor accessibility to restrooms are risks to public health everywhere. 12 U.S. states have experienced outbreaks of hepatitis A, which is spread through person-to-person contact and exacerbated by poor sanitary conditions, and has resulted in 2,800 hospitalizations and 60 deaths. According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, a majority of these cases occurred among people experiencing homelessness who felt the brunt force of NYC’s public bathroom scarcity.

Those not fortunate enough to wield an NYU ID and enter one of the ~90 NYU buildings on the Manhattan campus or able to scrounge up enough loose change to buy a small coffee to use the bathroom at a local cafe have it even worse. Every issue caused by a lack of public restrooms disproportionately affects the homeless. The homeless people

who f iled a class-action suit against NYC explained that they are “forced to endure continual embarrassment, humiliation, physical injury and hazardous conditions” as a result of the state’s failure to provide accessible public bathrooms. So far, de Blasio’s strategy for alleviating the homeless population, thus lessening the demand for public restrooms, is simply to ship them out of the city.

Access to a safe and sanitary restroom is a human right; it is fundamental to human dignity. The inherently uncomfortable nature of restroom accessibility has kept the issue as an afterthought in the minds of politicians and privileged New Yorkers alike, while those without access to proper sanitary facilities are forced to face this daily hurdle. It is in the interest of basic public health and human decency for NYC to build proper bathroom infrastructure (and in one case, f ish it out of storage), and incentivize private businesses to open up their restrooms for everyone.

Email Emily Dai at edai@nyunews.com.

CULTURE

NYFW Highlights an Unhealthy Body Image

By LUCIA KASSELA Staff Writer New York Fashion Week is a semiannual string of shows which take place in September and February used to showcase international fashion collections. New York serves as one of four locations in the world to hold a ma-

jor fashion week, others being Milan, London and Paris. The gravity of this week-long event occupies the city and highlights the sense of style which already seems to embody the Big Apple.

New York City has an image shaped by shows like “Sex in the City” or “Gossip Girl” where young, beautiful people move through the city with an effortless elegance. This expectation that men and women are meant to be as skinny, fashionable and beautiful as their on-screen counter parts creates an unrealistic image for young students living in the city. Now underscore this impractical, not to mention unhealthy, ideal with a week centered around a fashion industry which has

historically proven to promote unhealthy body image.

I recently had the opportunity to attend a New York Fashion Week event.

Beautiful women modeled designer clothing on a staged set. A broad array of ethnicities and ages was present, but each and every woman was indisputably thin. This isn’t to say that every model present was following an unhealthy diet or workout regimen, but NYFW’s attempt to create diversity only highlighted the single characteristic that every model shared.

We must look not to the models — who are compelled by expectation to remain gaunt — but the designers themselves, who create and cast mod-

els with progressively petite frames.

Though it should be noted that the societal pressures that influence young members of society begin at ages where individuals are not likely to be flipping their way through fashion catalogs, designers — as the driving force behind contemporary fashion imagery — must be held accountable for their role in the perpetuation of unhealthy body image.

As another year in fashion is marked by the first semiannual NYFW of 2020, we are reminded of the negative effects of fashion media. Unfortunately, the industry shows little movement towards a progressive, healthier body image. However, there continue to be small victories in the movement for a

societal rethinking of body image. After receiving backlash concerning complaints that include the well-being and lack of diversity of its models, the 2019 Victoria’s Secret fashion show was cancelled as part of a decision to “evolve the marketing of [the company].”

While we slowly progress toward a more inclusive and healthy image, this fashion week serves as yet another reminder to subscribe less to the unhealthy image promoted by NYFW, and more towards one that ensures an industry that not only promotes a healthy image, but healthy models.

Email Lucia Kassela at opinion@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | Opinion

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

9

POLITICS

OK Bloomberg

By ABBY HOFSTETTER Managing Editor This past Thursday, at least 23 popular Instagram accounts — including @fuckjerry, @kalesalad and @fuckadvertisements — posted campaign advertisements for presidential candidate Michael Bloomberg, all of which are disguised as memes. While each advertisement is different, they all take the form of a fabricated direct message from the candidate. Each one is deeply ironic and hyper self-aware, and each brands Bloomberg as distinctly out-oftouch — not an out-of-touch Washington elite, but out-of-touch like the memes your grandfather sends you. He tries to come across as well-intentioned — and for a second, it works. But only for a second.

Young voters are spoken about so frequently that it seems almost pointless to reiterate why they matter so much. But Generation Z is officially the U.S.’ largest demographic — and Millennials are the second-largest, beating out the boomers by a population margin of over 13 million.

Gen Z is also widely overrepresented on the internet — if you use social media as your main point of reference for what the U.S. thinks, you’ll largely get the opinion of its younger demographic.

Young voters also have historically low turnout rates. College students frequently change their place of residence, which leaves them the option to either mail in an absentee ballot or re-register in their new district, which is a tedious and extensive process in most states. There are also frequently roadblocks in the registration process: one young voter told New York Magazine that she hasn’t voted in years because she doesn’t own a printer or stamps, and her heavy workload frequently causes her to miss the deadline to mail in her absentee ballot. Many states have been pushing for ease of access to voter registration and voting in general, but until legislation is passed, young voters remain largely ambivalent — unless someone incentivizes them.

Politicians often mistakenly see memes as a cheap means of connecting to younger voters. But the sad reality of campaign memes is that if they’re not done exactly right — and by the right politicians — they’re bound to fail, and fail spectacularly.

Mike Bloomberg failed spectacularly.

The backlash to Bloomberg’s campaign memes was (and is) so strong that several of the accounts that originally posted advertisements have since become private. @thefatjewish, an Instagram account similar to the ones that posted Bloomberg’s sponsored content, commented on @tank.sinatra’s post, saying that the candidate had approached him, asking to post an advertisement, but he had declined because “Bloomberg is a colossal sh-tbag.” Bloomberg’s ad on @golfersdoingthings’ account was met with a sea of “TRUMP 2020” comments; responses to @doyouevenlift’s overwhelmingly agree

Submitting to

that Bloomberg “sucks lol”; comments on @fourtwenty’s ad suggest a conspiracy theory; responses to @neatdad’s post simply read “unfollow.”

The complaints aren’t unwarranted. It’s not only that Bloomberg is openly pandering to young voters, it’s that he’s ostensibly attempting to whitewash his background.

One only needs to think of Bloomberg’s track record: the 64 women who have sued him for sexual harassment; the blatantly racist audio clip that circulated social media this past week, where he explained the so-called logic behind the blatantly discriminatory stop-and-frisk policy; his use of prison labor for his campaign; the time he blamed the 2008 recession on the elimination of redlining; the fact that he has no donors but himself; the healthcare plan that calls death panels to memory.

A meme doesn’t let you forget a list of misgivings this long — no matter who’s pandering to you.

Campaign memes are made with the explicit goal of garnering the youth vote, and in that, Bloomberg failed. But he achieved something else — something, perhaps, entirely unintended.

Not everybody hated Bloomberg’s campaign memes. Daniel Arsham, a white, 39-year-old influencer, responded to @fuckjerry’s post with a single clapping emoji. Carole Radziwill, a white, 56-yearold Real Housewife of New York City, responded to the same post with a handsup emoji. Adam Padilla, a white advertising executive in his early 40s, responded to @tank.sinatra’s sponsored post with a simple “Perfect.”

The pattern continues. Melissa Joan Hart, Adrian Solgaard, Selby Drummond and Alison Brod enthusiastically responded to @fuckjerry’s, @sonny5ideup’s, @gaybestfriend’s and @mrsdowjones’ sponsored posts, respectively. Many more positive comments from white, upper-class members of Generation X were made, and have since been deleted; in addition, since so many of the accounts that originally posted advertisements are now private, it’s hard to gather the exact number of supportive reactions. But almost every positive comment came from the same demographic.

A 2019 study by the Pew Research Center reported that more than half of Generation X voted in the United States’ last midterm election — higher than the nationwide average. Another study concluded that while voter turnout among racial and ethnic minorities spiked during the 2018 midterm elections, U.S. voters are still overwhelmingly white. A recent study

by EconoFact reported that “voter turnout in the United States is vastly unequal: richer people are more likely to vote than poorer people.”

Bloomberg’s memes may have failed to raise his favorability ratings among young voters, and may have even turned them farther away from him than they already were.

But they did incentivize those who were already incentivized: white, upper-class members of Generation X. The youth are still left unaccounted for, and Mike Bloomberg wasted approximately $350 million on an ad campaign to get the attention of those who were already listening.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Confronting the Contradiction of NYU Abu Dhabi The year 2020 marks the 10th anniversary of NYU Abu Dhabi’s campus. To celebrate, the university is planning various events that give members of the community the opportunity to share stories about their experiences.

But it is doubtful that these events will mention the darker aspects of the campus.

In its short history, NYUAD has been mired in controversy. During the construction of its campus, migrant workers were victims of wage theft, excessive work hours and other forms of labor abuse — all while being housed in “isolated, squalid encampments.” When the workers decided to strike against these conditions, they were brutally suppressed by police.

There have also been cases of restrictions on academic freedom. During the 2017-18 academic school year, Professor Lauren Minsky’s books for her class were censored by the United Arab Emirates government. In 2015, Professor Andrew Ross, an outspoken critic of labor conditions in the UAE, was barred from entering the country. In 2017, Professors Mohamad Bazzi and Arang Keshavarzian were also denied entry into the country because of their religion and the nature of their research. In the first two cases, NYU pushed back, claiming academic freedom was still unrestricted on campus.

NYU’s partnership with the UAE is deeply contradictory, considering the university’s own established guidelines on academic freedom. NYU’s faculty handbook says that “academic freedom is essential to the free search for truth and its free expression. Freedom in research is fundamental to the advancement of truth. Freedom in teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the teacher in teaching and of the student in learning.”

How can NYU uphold these rules when its own professors are barred from entering the country and censored by the government?

This question is important in understanding why NYU is engaging in these shady practices. In a way, they are explained by the Board of Trustees’ connections and financial involvement with NYUAD. WSN’s Editorial Board has written in the past on the problematic aspects of the Board, specifically on Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak — a member of the Board of Trustees and CEO of the UAE’s sovereign wealth fund.

Al Mubarak was a key figure in the creation of NYUAD and was directly complicit in the labor rights issues in the construction of the campus. Considering these elements, it is clear that Al Mubarak’s financial and governmental position contradicts the university’s supposed goal of supporting academic freedom of speech on the campus.

Despite these serious issues in both NYUAD and on the Board of Trustees, the only department to fully cut ties with NYUAD is the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. The Gallatin School of Individualized Study’s faculty has also taken action, as its faculty voted to encourage colleagues not to teach or participate in Abu Dhabi classes or events. This begs another question — why haven’t more schools and departments severed ties with NYUAD? To put it bluntly, it is unsurprising that NYU holds these problematic ties with NYUAD. Because of this, the onus must be on the individual schools and departments within the university to address these issues and to promote the highest form of academic standard and freedom. Cutting ties with NYUAD should come hand in hand with this.

Email the Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

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Ronni Husmann, Paul Kim, Anna-Dmitry Muratova

Email Abby Hofstetter at ahofstetter@nyunews.com.

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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

SPORTS

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Edited by ARVIND SRIRAM

Wrestling Team Claims UAA Championship

CHARLIE DODGE | WSN

By ARVIND SRIRAM Sports Editor Men’s Wrestling On Saturday, Feb. 15, the men’s wrestling team defeated Case Western Reserve University and the University of Chicago, winning their first UAA Championship since 2017.

Against Case Western, the Violets slaughtered the Spartans 43-6, only losing two bouts. The match was closer against the University of Chicago (28-11), but with the Violets winning the first three bouts, Maroons never posed as a threat. Stern senior Sean Lyons was named UAA’s Most Outstanding Wrestler and the Violets’ coaching staff were named UAA Coaching Staff of the Year.

The Violets return to action on Feb. 23 for the Futures Tournament, hosted by Muhlenberg College.

Men’s Volleyball The men’s volleyball team continued its winning streak with victories against The Sage Colleges and Nazareth College. On Wednesday, Feb. 12, the Violets swept The Sage Colleges, winning 25-21, 25-13 and 25-16. The first set was back and forth, with each team trading leads until it was tied 19-19.

NYU never looked back, going on a 3-0 run, and ultimately winning the first set. After the close set, the Violets slaughtered the Gators.

Leaders of the match included Stern senior Alex Li with 12 kills, CAS senior Matin Bikdeli with 35 assists and CAS sophomore Race Agcaoili with six digs.

On Friday, Feb. 14, the Violets defeated

Nazareth College 3-0, winning 25-20, 25-18 and 25-19. The team won their first set, in a close battle. The Violets led 15-13, creating distance with a 3-0 run. Their lead grew to six points, and the Violets never looked back. In the second set, the Violets trailed early (4-3).

Down one, NYU scored six straight points and maintained their lead the rest of the way.

In the final set, the Violets led the entire way and finished the sweep. Team leaders included Li with nine kills and Bikdeli with 27 assists and five digs.

The Violets play Bard College on Feb. 19.

Women’s Basketball With a 2-0 record this week, the Violets are now tied for the top seed in the UAA conference. On Friday, Feb. 14, the Violets defeated Emory University 54-50. The game was close going into the fourth quarter, with Emory holding a three point lead. NYU clawed their way back to a 45-45 tie with 2:53 left in the game, until CAS senior Annie Barrett hit a key jumper, giving the Violets a two-point lead. The Violets led the rest of the way and won their third straight game. Team leaders for NYU were Steinhardt first-year Jenny Walker with 20 points, Steinhardt junior Janean Cuffee with eight rebounds and CAS senior Annie Barrett with four assists.

On Sunday, Feb. 16, the women’s basketball team defeated the University of Rochester 73-47. The Violets’ defense was particularly strong, allowing only 19 second-half points and limiting Rochester to shoot 28.1% from the field. Team leaders included Cuffee with 16 points, Stern senior Lauren Gast and Rory Meyers junior Katie Foos with eight rebounds and Barrett with eight assists.

The Violets compete against the University of Chicago on Feb. 21.

Men’s Basketball The men’s basketball team went 0-2 this week, with losses to Emory University and the University of Rochester. On Friday, Feb. 14, the Violets lost to Emory 99-81. NYU struggled on defense, allowing Emory to shoot 52.9% from the field and 38.5% from the three-point line en route to 50 points in

the first half. Team leaders for the Violets were CAS junior Bobby Hawkinson with 22 points and nine rebounds and SPS junior Jaden Narwal with three assists.

On Sunday, Feb. 16, the Violets fell to the University of Rochester 72-64. In the first half, NYU struggled on offense, shooting only 39.3% from the field and 27.3% from the three-point line, which lead to a 39-28 deficit. In the second half, led by Stern sophomore Cade Hoppe’s 14 points, the Violets battled back and cut the deficit all the way to three points. Team leaders for NYU were Hoppe with 18 points, Hoppe and CAS sophomore Nick Macarchuk with six rebounds each and Macarchuk and Hawkinson with three assists each.

The Violets face the University of Chicago on Feb. 21.

Women’s Fencing On Wednesday Feb. 12, the Violets went 2-1 in the George Kolombatovich Memorial Meet at Columbia University, losing to Columbia (18-9), defeating Vassar College (14-13) and blowing out Sacred Heart University (19-8). For NYU, Stern first-year Chiara Codazzi and CAS sophomore Sarah Prilutsky shined in foil with 7-2 records each, CAS junior Liz Sweetra led the Violets with a 6-3 record in sabre and Stern firstyear Anna Lanzman stood out with five victories in epee.

The Violets return to action on Feb. 29 for the NIWFA Women’s Championship hosted by Drew University, after select Violets finished competing in the Jr. Olympics Championship from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17.

Men’s Fencing On Wednesday Feb. 12, the Violets went 3-0 in the George Kolombatovich Memorial Meet at Columbia University, defeating Columbia (16-11) and slaughtering Vassar College (18-9) and Sacred Heart University (26-1). For NYU, Stern senior Eric Zobel won seven bouts in foil, CAS senior Grant Williams, Stern first-years Jamie Ren and Zachary Schindler all finished 5-1 in sabre and CAS sophomore Liam Carpenter tailed six victories in epee.

The Violets return to action on Mar. 8 for the NCAA Men’s Regional Championship hosted by Cornell University, after select Violets finished competing in the Jr. Olympics Championship from Feb. 14 to Feb. 17.

Men’s Swimming and Diving The men’s swim and dive team competed in the UAA Championship from Wednesday, Feb. 12 to Saturday, Feb. 15. NYU placed in third place, behind Emory University and the University of Chicago.

For the swim team, SPS first-years Thomas Pritchard and Salvador Perez, CAS sophomore Graham Chatoor, Tandon junior Josh Rine, Stern junior Elan Oumarov, Gallatin senior Giorgio DelGrosso and CAS firstyear Erik Truong all earned NCAA cuts.

The men’s diving team swept the one-meter board, earning NCAA cuts, as Steinhardt senior Nick Lemieux, Rory Meyers sophomore Cole Vertin, and CAS first-year Hunter Whitbeck finished in first, second and third place, respectively.

The Violets return to action on Feb. 22 for the NYU Last Chance Meet.

Women’s Swimming and Diving The women’s swim and dive team competed in the UAA Championship from Wednesday, Feb. 12 to Saturday, Feb. 15. The Violets ultimately finished in second place, behind Emory University.

In the 1,650-yard freestyle, CAS sophomores Rachel Reistroffer, Ashley Brodnick and Allison Kapostasy, Rory Meyers senior Jamie Robinson and Steinhardt first-year Tillie Lewis finished in the top 10. Other notable standouts were CAS junior Sydney Catron, who finished first in the 200-yard backstroke, CAS first-year Jessica Flynn, who finished third in the 100-yard freestyle and Stern senior Honore Collins and Steinhardt first-year Isabella Brosvik, who finished first and third, respectively, in the 200-yard butterfly. Finally, CAS first-year Victoria Saliba, Catron, Flynn and Collins finished second in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The Violets return to action on Feb. 22 for the NYU Last Chance Meet.

Men’s Track and Field On Saturday, Feb. 15, the men’s track and field team competed at the Valentine Invitational, hosted by Boston University.

For the track events, standouts were CAS junior Dillan Spector, who ran a personal-best (8:44.81) in the 3,000-meter, finishing in 47th place and the 4x400-meter medley team of SPS senior Julian Montilus, CAS first-years Daniel Akande and David Obwaya and Stern sophomore Brett Asay, who finished in 27th place with a time of 3:22.65.

For the field events, SPS sophomore Landon Edwards placed 23rd in the high jump and Gallatin sophomore Owen Mountford finished in 33rd place in the shot put.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, a subset of the men’s track and field team competed in the Monmouth Winter Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Monmouth University. Stern sophomore Sunmakin Orafidaya finished in 18th place in the 200-meter and 31st place in the 60-meter.

The Violets’ next meet is the Last Chance Meet on Feb. 21.

Women’s Track and Field On Friday, Feb. 14, the women’s track and field team competed at the Valentine Invitational, hosted by Boston University. For the track events, standouts were CAS and SPS senior Milly Ames, who finished in 40th place in the 5,000-meter and the 4x400-meter medley team of CAS first-year Isre’al Conerly, Tandon graduate student Rebecca MacLeod, Liberal Studies sophomore Gabby Lozano and CAS first-year Brianna King, which finished in 42th place.

On Saturday, Feb. 15, a subset of the women’s track and field team competed in the Monmouth Winter Collegiate Invitational, hosted by Monmouth University.

CAS first-year Nathalie Shoji and Stern senior Alaris Dayzle finished eighth and ninth in the pole vault and CAS first-year Andrenae Jones placed 20th in the 60-meter.

The Violets’ next meet is the Last Chance Meet on Feb. 21.

Email Arvind Sriram at asriram@nyunews.com.

NBA All-Star Weekend Is Fun

By BELA KIRPALANI Editor-at-Large Celebrity Game The NBA made ESPN sports personality and meme-famous Stephen A. Smith a head coach for this year’s Celebrity All-Star Game and boy, he did not disappoint. Receiving the first technical foul in the history of the Celebrity AllStar Game, Stephen A. got to live out his coaching dreams on the sidelines.

Next year, I want more Stephen A.; I want a camera feed dedicated solely to covering his every reaction and blowup. Put Stephen A. on all my screens!

Youngsters Shine Bright Like a Diamond Our young stars were on full display on Friday night, throwing down dunks, launching shots from beyond halfcourt and nutmegging opponents.

Also, sidenote: New Orleans Pelicans rookie Nicolo Melli was selected to replace the injured Deandre Ayton in the Rising Stars Game — here’s the kicker: Melli’s 29 years old.

Miles Bridges took home MVP after

Team USA’s win, but Ja Morant’s under-the-leg pass for the Zion Williamson slam might have been the highlight of the night. The future feels bright with these kids.

Bam! Can’t Stop This Man Miami Heat big man Bam Adebayo has been on a roll this season, making a case for Most Improved Player with an average of 15.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

In the Taco Bell Skills Challenge on Saturday night, Adebayo once again shook expectation in a competition many assume to be favorable for guards.

He didn’t miss a single pass, he cruised up and down the court and sank those three-pointers when it mattered the most. Moral of the story: I love Bam.

truth is, Gordon did clip Fall’s head — if you’re going to make life difficult for yourself by jumping over a giant, then you better jump over the giant. Aside from the tough loss, let’s give Gordon major props for his performance Saturday night — he always puts on a show and he made this year one to remember.

However, Derrick Jones Jr. deserved this win. The announcers dubbed his first dunk a reverse tornado through the legs! Say that three times fast. In one dunk, he jumped over a guy, caught the ball off the backboard, passed the ball between his legs mid-air and windmilled it with authority. I’m sorry Aaron, but the birthday boy pulled out all the stops to win the Dunk Contest.

Catch me watching this year’s highlights on loop for the rest of time.

Sorry, Aaron Aaron Gordon — and most of the internet — felt he was robbed for the second time in the NBA Dunk Contest. Look, attempting to jump over the 7-foot-5 Celtics center Tacko Fall is no small feat, after all, Fall is currently the tallest player in the NBA. But the

New Rules, More Fun For some, the NBA All-Star Game usually loses its charm after a few minutes of play, with barely anyone playing defense, teams running up the score and virtually nothing to play for. This year, everything changed as the league announced some modifications to the

game’s format.

The clock was reset after each quarter and the winning team received an extra $100,000 for a charity it chose in advance. The total score of the game at the end of three quarters was added up and instead of having a traditional 12-minute game clock, the fourth quarter was played until one team scored 24 more points than the other as a tribute to the late Kobe Bryant.

The result was an energetic game that felt more like a down-to-the-wire playoff game than a soon-to-be-forgotten night during All-Star Weekend with each of the players eager to win money for their charity.

But fear not, it still had all the fun elements of an All-Star Game; we got to witness 34-year-old Chris Paul dunk, Kyle Lowry drew not one but two charges in the fourth quarter of the AllStar Game and having LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard on the same team was like watching the real-life version of the Monstars.

The end came down to a pair of nerve-wracking free throws and Chicago native Anthony Davis aptly won

SOPHIA DI IORIO | WSN

the game for Team LeBron 157-155.

Players and fans alike seemed to enjoy the changes to this year’s competition and it was the closest All-Star Game since the Eastern Conference topped the Western Conference 141-139 in 2010. Good game, I say. Let’s do it again next year.

The Sports Girl is a weekly column that features a girl’s take on sports. Yes, a girl.

Yes, on sports.

Email Bela Kirpalani at bkirpalani@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | Sports

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2020

11

CAS Fencer Grant Williams Aims to Compete in 2020 Olympics

Interested in working for us?

CHELSEA LI | WSN

CAS senior Grant Williams is the co-captain of NYU’s fencing team. He hopes to qualify for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

By KEVIN RYU Contributing Writer Coming into his first year, current CAS senior and co-captain of the men’s fencing team Grant Williams targeted one of the four spots on the United States’ 2016 Junior World Championship Team in the sabre division. Seven months later, he not only made the team but also finished the tournament 26th out of 145 fencers, second among the four representing the U.S. For Williams, competing at the Junior World Championships confirmed that he could fence at the highest levels of the sport. Williams soon set his sights on the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.

“Coming into college, I knew that the Olympics were something that I would hopefully one day be able to shoot for,” Williams said. “My freshman year, [making] the junior national team gave me the resolve to continue with the sport.”

Patrick Durkan, who has been Williams’ private coach since he arrived at NYU as a first-year, noted his unlimited potential and helped encourage Williams to pursue the Olympics.

“The understanding was: if you can [qualify for the Junior World Championships] in one year, what can you do in five?” Williams said.

Five years later, Williams is as close as he can be to qualifying for a place in the U.S. Olympics team this summer. With four qualifying events left, starting with a tournament in Varsovie, Poland on Feb. 21, Williams is ranked f ifth among the senior U.S. fencers in the sabre division; only the top four earn a spot on the U.S. Olympics Team.

Steve Mormando, the head coach of the men’s and women’s fencing teams at NYU, has confidence in Williams’ ability to compete with any opponent in the remaining qualifiers.

“Grant is a spectacular athlete,” Coach Mormando said. “He’s probably one of the most talented athletes that we’ve had. Grant is on the level of any Olympian that’s out there right now.”

To give himself the best chance to qualify, Williams took a leave of absence from NYU for the 2018-19 academic year.

During the year, Williams trained six days a week, taking 90-minute commutes to New Jersey to train with his private coach and bouting at fencing clubs around the city.

The break from school gave him the time to concentrate on all facets of his game —

cardio, footwork and even psychological training — to raise his comfort level in high stakes competitions.

“The hardest part of qualifying for the Olympic team in sabre fencing are the international competitions,” Williams said. “So last year, when I was off school, I was able to really focus on traveling to all those international competitions and that opportunity gave me the ability to be relaxed enough to compete to the best of my ability.”

Showcasing more confidence in international competitions, Williams steadily positioned himself closer and closer to Olympics qualification. As of February 2019, he rose to the eleventh spot in the national standings.

“All of last season I didn’t make a single international result,” Williams said. “This year, I made two. I see that as a result of the work that I put in over the course of last year, training and just getting the reps in, as well as developing the right mindset for international competition.”

The heightened level of competition often entailed facing opponents with more daunting resumes than Williams’. In the second round of the Moscow Grand Prix, Williams faced Giovanni Repetti, an experienced fencer who was a gold medalist for Team Italy in the Baku 2015 European Games. Overcoming a sprained ankle down 12-11, Williams proceeded to register the next four touches to win 15-12. The ensuing round matched him against Junghwan Kim, a 3-time World Cup winner and an Olympic bronze medalist. Williams lost 15-9.

“He lost to [Kim], but he did a very respectable job,” Coach Durkan said. “You talk about a 23 year old against someone six, eight years older who’s been a [bronze medalist], that was pretty impressive.”

As he prepares for the final qualifiers, Williams has the support of his NYU teammates. Upon returning to campus, Williams has been a vocal leader, cheering on his teammates and imparting the insight he has gained through his international experience. His eagerness to connect with his former and current teammates from both the men’s and women’s teams has earned him a pretty big group of supporters.

“It’s a lot easier when you’re with a gang,” Coach Mormando said, “and Grant’s got one of the best gangs out there, a Top 10 NCAA championship team that he plays with daily. That’s a good gang.”

Email Kevin Ryu at sports@nyunews.com.

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