NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 1
MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013
nyunews.com
Courses shift from Blackboard to NYU Classes By SU SIE PARK
Students are saying goodbye to Blackboard as NYU completes the transition to NYU Classes, a new online resource for courses. The university is currently in Phase 3 of the transition process, which involves developing and testing the Classes system.
Phase 1 of the transition began last January, and Phase 2 was carried out throughout the fall semester. Phase 3, the final phase, will continue through the spring semester, and will be complete by August 2013. Phase 1 involved testing the usability of NYU Classes with faculty and students, and developing
an effective content transition strategy for Blackboard users. The phase provided a teaching and learning service for selected courses both in New York City and at NYU’s global sites. Phase 2 worked to expand NYU Classes to thousands of professors and students in some NYU programs, including the Liberal
National campaign contest sparks student debt debate
Studies Program and some NYU Abu Dhabi courses. It carried out a full service support model, including documentation and training. Phase 3 will finalize the transition process. For the spring semester, Classes will work as the University’s primary learn-
CLASSES continued on PG. 3
KRISTINA BOGOS/WSN
In a contest refereed by distinguished guests including Chelsea Clinton, George Stephanopoulos and Madeleine Albright, students participating in “Up to Us” work to raise awareness of student debt. The winners will be announced in April later this year. STORY ON PAGE 4
Cuomo urges caution in flu crisis By SU SIE PARK
NYU students returning to the city after winter break should brace themselves for a particularly brutal flu season in New York this winter. This year, the New York State Department of Health confirmed 2,884 documented cases of the flu, compared to 1,169 in 2011. In response to this year’s serious flu season, Gov. Andrew Cuomo declared a public health emergency last Saturday in New York and issued an executive order allowing pharmacists to administer flu vaccinations to minors for the next 30 days. “We are experiencing the worst flu season since at least 2009,” Governor Cuomo said in a press release. “Influenza activity in New York State is widespread, with cases reported in all 57 counties and all five boroughs of New York City.” The executive order suspends a State Education Law which prohibited pharmacists from administering the vaccine to patients
FLU continued on PG. 3
Hathaway, Hoffman among NYU alumni seeking Oscar gold
By JOSEPH EHRMAN-DUPRE
NYU has an incredibly rich lineage of Academy Award winners, including — but certainly not limited to — Woody Allen, Martin Scorsese and Angelina Jolie. With the 85th Academy Awards coming up Feb. 24, this exclusive group of NYU alumni may welcome a few more into its ranks, with nominees Ang Lee, Lucy Alibar, Tony Kushner and Philip Seymour Hoffman, all graduates of Tisch School of the Arts. “What is gratifying is that these extraordinary artists are such an integral part of the Tisch School community,” Tisch dean Mary Schmidt Campbell said. Campbell noted that both Lee and Kushner screened their films, “Life of Pi” and “Lincoln,” respectively, for Tisch students, and that Hoffman often returns to teach.
“One thing I’ve always thought is that Tisch doesn’t just train actors or writers or directors, Tisch trains artists,” Tisch acting professor Laurence Maslon said. “Each of these folks is not just a leader in his [or] her respective fields, but an industry leader in terms of vision, commitment and bringing artistry forward into American culture.” Lee has already won an Oscar for Best Director for “Brokeback Mountain” in 2006, but in “Life of Pi” Lee uses his understanding of humanity and human nature to craft a meticulous rendition of a story once deemed unfilmable. Because of his efforts, Lee has once again found himself in the Best Director and Best Picture categories. Lucy Alibar and Tony Kushner compete against each other in the category for Best Adapted Screenplay. Alibar wrote “Beasts
of the Southern Wild,” finding rare awards success with an independent film. Her words capture the life of young Hushpuppy and her Louisiana bayou home, the Bathtub. Kushner, meanwhile, tackles the tale of Abraham Lincoln in Steven Spielberg’s biopic “Lincoln.” Kushner’s dense, lushly detailed and historically prescient writing keeps the dialogue-dense film engaging. Tisch’s only acting nomination this year is with Hoffman, who previously won Best Actor in 2006 for his role in “Capote.” Now nominated for Best Supporting Actor for “The Master,” Hoffman’s larger-than-life personality and intelligence blend into a likable but ultimately antagonistic character as the leader of The Cause, a group reminiscent of Scientology. While it is impossible to know
VIA WIKIPEDIA.COM
Ang Lee, Anne Hathaway, Phillip Seymour Hoffman and Tony Kusher have all received multiple Oscar nominations. whether these alumni will take home the gold, there is perhaps one surefire winner. According to most entertainment pundits, Anne Hathaway is poised to win Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “Les Misérables” as the tragic single mother Fantine. Hathaway, however, hails not from Tisch but from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study.
In what may be one of the most unpredictable Academy Awards in recent memory, NYU students should take pride in having their alma mater so widely represented. “Their work is the gold standard and inspires all of us,” Campbell said. Joseph Ehrman-Dupre is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
2
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
LETTER FROM
THE EDITOR JONATHON DORNBUSH EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
AMY ZHANG
Web Managing Editor
HANQING CHEN Deputy Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ Assistant Managing Editor
NICOLA PRING Creative Director
KALEEL MUNROE
I
Dear Readers,
f there is one aspect of NYU life students say we lack, it is the community you might find at many other colleges. Yet, in my two and a half years at NYU, I have been fortunate enough to be a part of a group that has been a creative outlet, a workplace and a home. Learning from my fellow writers and editors, the Washington Square News office at 838 Broadway has served as my community while at NYU. I rode the rickety elevator up to the WSN offices on the fifth floor, an unassuming building sandwiched between two store fronts, and found an assortment of not only immensely talented students, but a collection of dedicated and welcoming co-workers and friends. Devoting countless hours to continuing and expanding their legacy is an honor I will carry with me every day. I discovered WSN during my first week at NYU, but for others, finding an inviting environment can be difficult. One of the most important goals we want to accomplish this year is to assist NYU’s students in their search. WSN is becoming a 24/7 news hub for everything NYU students need and want to know. From breaking stories about our university to the latest movies hitting theaters to the victories of our athletic department, our committed and eager staff will be updating you every step of the way.
SENIOR STAFF
university TATIANA BAEZ city/state VERONICA CARCHEDI investigative NICOLE BROWN arts JOSH JOHNSON features KRISTINA BOGOS sports MARY JANE DUMANKAYA multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN copy MICHAEL DOMANICO, WICY
WANG foreign correspondent JULIE DEVITO senior editors GENTRY BROWN, DAN
HINTON, CHARLES MAHONEY, CLIO MCCONNELL, STEFAN MELNYK, LAVYA YALAMANCHI
DEPUTY STAFF
university KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR city/state EMILY BELL, ANDREW
KARPAN books/theater OLIVIA GEORGE film JEREMY GROSSMAN entertainment ALEX GREENBERGER music ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE the highlighter blog SAM RULLO features HELEN HOLMES beauty & style MICHELLE LIM dining ANGEL CHANG sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia REBECCA CLEMENTI, JOON
LEE
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
SAMEER JAYWANT deputy opinion editor
RAQUEL WOODRUFF, EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY
ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER
REBECCA RIBEIRO CIRCULATION MANAGER
CHLOE COFFMAN
UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOR
A revamped and constantly improving website at nyunews.com and four print issues a week does not suffice. Through social networks, breaking news coverage and interaction with the greater NYU community, we hope to provide you with news like we never have before. But, to do so, we’ll need you. We always want to interact with our readers on Facebook and spark debate in the comments section of our articles.
KAITLYN O’BRIEN
Hopefully we’ll even connect in person and see some of you take the same elevator ride I did. The WSN staff may act as one of NYU’s groups itself, but our interaction with the university is not complete once we publish. The news of NYU and our world can be a discussion — one in which we hope you’ll join us.
CIRCULATION ASSISTANT
The world of NYU is an ever-changing one, and it can be tough to find a place to anchor yourself. You may not yet realize it, but believe me when I say there is a place you can call home. It might even be at the offices of 838 Broadway. Yet, whether it is with a small study group in the library, a sports team, an on-campus club or a study abroad site, you have a community. Wherever it is within NYU, Washington Square News will be there to cover every facet of it.
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
ELLEN MCQUEEN SALES ASSOCIATES
ARIANA DIVALENTINO, CHRIS ELWOOD, ALISON LIZZIO, SAM WANDER OMID GOLMOHAMMADI GRAPHIC DESIGNER
KALEEL MUNROE
ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER
KEITH LEIGHTY EDITORS-AT-LARGE
FRANCIS POON, AMANDA RANDONE, JAEWON KANG, MAX DURON, MERYLL PREPOSI, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Amy Zhang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
FLU continued from PG. 1
New York City prepares for widespread cases of flu virus
under 18 years old. Peter Constantakes, a spokesperson for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, said researchers are still looking into the reasons why this year’s flu season seems to be particularly threatening. One reason may be that this flu season began earlier than usual. “The flu season usually starts a little later and peaks around February,” Constantakes said. “A lot of times people would be vaccinated before it starts growing or when it just starts growing. This year I think it caught a lot of people off-guard.” Constantakes said the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated, but he also advised simple preventative methods for college students such as washing hands frequently and being careful when sharing food. This year’s flu emergency has even spurred the creation of a web app called Germ Tracker. Adam Sadilek, the app’s creator, explained how the app uses ‘geo-tagged’ statuses from social media websites to create a visual
map that documents areas of New York City with a high concentration of those affected by the flu. “As a result, we can track and predict the emergence of global disease epidemics from people’s day-to-day interactions,” Sadilek said. “For example, how would you count the number of sick people you have encountered yesterday? It’s hard. Germ Tracker allows you to do this by sifting through millions of tweets and showing you only the ones that are relevant to your health.” Su Sie Park is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
FIGHT THE FLU For tips and suggestions on how to get your flu shot for free and a map of locations to obtain a flu shot, visit the online version of this article at nyunews.com.
MTA considers platform barriers to curb deaths By ISAAC MARSHALL
In the wake of the recent spike in the number of deaths on New York subway tracks, the Metropolitan Transit Authority is once again considering implementing platform barriers. Fifty-four people were killed on subway tracks in 2012, a number that represents a five-year high. The MTA is evaluating solutions to the problem. “We are expanding our public education campaign to warn customers of the dangers of standing near the platform edge, we are studying how to install a pilot platform door at a station on the L line,” said Fernando Ferrer, the acting chairman of the MTA. A number of other subway systems in other cities including Shanghai, Paris and Dubai have already installed safety barriers. Some students believe that New York’s century-old underground transportation system is long overdue for automatic barriers as well. “I think installing barriers on the subway [has been] a long time coming and would greatly ameliorate everyone’s subway experience,” said Stern freshman Sarah Rothstein. However, installing barriers could be a costly endeavor for the MTA. Previous pro-
COURTESY OF CROWN INFRASTRUCTURE
Constructing subway barriers could cost one million dollars per station.
posals, such as one created by engineering company Crown Infrastructure Solutions in 2007, have estimated a cost of $1 million per station for each of the 468 subway stations in the city. Crown Infrastructure originally offered to pay for the construction of the barriers in exchange for advertising in subway stations to recuperate revenue, but the deal never materialized. Meanwhile, some commuters are concerned that further construction would obstruct their daily transportation. “I feel this endeavor, unless once again offered for free, is unnecessary,” Eiden said. “What might have been a great idea years ago might now become a heavy burden on tax-payers and commuters relying on the system.” The problem may go much deeper than funding, according Eric Galipo, an adjunct assistant professor of urban planning in the Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. “There are practical problems associated with putting barriers on train platforms,” Galipo said. “Not every train that runs on a single line is exactly the same. There are many makes and models of each train and over the years some doors may change locations, spacing, etc. So how do you decide where the openings in the barriers are? How do you make barriers that accommodate all makes and models of trains running on a line? And what happens when trains on one line are re-routed along a different line?” City Council Transportation Committee chairman James Vacca announced on Jan. 22 that he would soon call an emergency hearing about the recent subway deaths. He released an official statement calling on the MTA to take action. “It’s time for elected officials, the public and the MTA to say ‘enough is enough’ and actually do something about this problem,” he said in the statement. Isaac Marshall is a staff writer. Email him at cstate@nyunews.com.
3
Cuomo calls for tighter gun control
By VERONICA CARCHEDI
In his State of the State Address on Jan. 9, Governor Cuomo called on the New York State legislature to respond to recent “madness” in gun violence with tighter gun control legislation. “In the area of public safety, gun violence has been on a rampage as we know firsthand and we know painfully. We must stop the madness, my friends,” Cuomo said during his address. “It has been enough. We need a gun policy in this state that is reasonable, that is balanced, that is measured,” he said. In a swift bipartisan agreement, New York legislators enacted the New York Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement Act on Jan. 15. It is the first major bill signed into law since the Newtown, Conn. shooting and several recent incidents of gun violence, and is one of the most stringent gun control policies in the nation. The legislation includes a revamped system of background checks for gun purchases and requires mental health professionals to alert the state when they believe a patient is likely to engage in violent behavior. Dr. Shannon Frattaroli, of the Center for Gun Policy and Research at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, agreed with the bill’s provision for mental health providers to report potentially dangerous patients with severe illnesses. However, the mental health alert would have to be carried out carefully to avoid unintended consequences, she said. “This approach requires a throughtfulness in its implementation to minimize or eliminate concerns about privacy and to address concerns about worsening the stigma associated with people who suffer from mental illness,” Frattaroli said. The NY SAFE Act also broadens the definition of assault weapons that are banned in the state, which would make the gun used in the Newtown shooting illegal. New York State will also be the first state to ban carrying magazines with over seven rounds. However, the bill that was pushed through by lawmakers in a few days is encountering some
opposition. For instance, Kurt Mueller, Director of Strategy of Students for Concealed Carry, a student-run organization in favor of legal gun possession on college campuses for self-defense, objects to the new magazine restrictions. “The legislation is overly restrictive and kind of absurd in its details, for example with the magazine limits,” Mueller said. He emphasized that there are ways to get around certain policies. “Shooters will just buy more magazines, which can be changed in five seconds,” he said. Many questions remain unanswered by the new legislation, a problem some attribute to the the hastiness with which it was signed. Assemblyman Steven Katz reported to the New York Times that he felt “bullied,” as Cuomo opted to waive the constitutionally required three day deliberation period. The biggest question is whether law enforcement officers are exempt from the magazine limits, an issue the bill fails to address. Despite the ambiguities in the bill, gun control advocates hope the NY SAFE Act will serve as a model for national legislation. For instance, One Million Moms for Gun Control, a group formed in the wake of the Newtown shooting, voiced their support for the bill in a march on Jan. 21. Over 500 people crossed the Brooklyn Bridge to show approval of the NY SAFE Act and to call on Congress to enact a similar bill. “We think this New York law should be a model for the country. Mayor Bloomberg recently pointed out that about 85 percent of all guns used in New York City crimes come from out of state. That’s why it’s critical that we persuade the U.S. Congress to enact common-sense gun control laws at a federal level,” said Jaime Pessin, the New York City chapter leader of One Million Moms. Similar proposals to the NY SAFE Act are emerging in Maryland and Virginia, while states such as Mississippi and Texas firmly oppose any further gun restrictions. Veronica Carchedi is city/state editor. Email her at vcarchedi@nyunews.com.editor.
CLASSES continued from PG. 1
NYU courses transition from Blackboard to new NYU Classes system online
ing system. Some Blackboard content will move to NYU Classes, and by fall 2013, Blackboard will be retired completely. David Ackerman, associate vice president for NYU’s Information Technology Services, has been involved in the migration from Blackboard to NYU Classes. Ackerman said he and his co-workers moved thousands of faculty and students during Phase 2. This semester, Ackerman will extend NYU Classes to the rest of the university with the exception of the Stern School of Business, the NYU School of Law and the School of Dentistry, all of which will transition by mid-August. NYU Classes is based on Sakai, an open source software program. “[Sakai] has numerous additional features and capabilities,” Ackerman said. “For example, it is easier to embed multimedia content throughout the system, navigation is more intuitive for both students and faculty, and faculty can make their course sites available to their students with a single click.” More than 300 universities around the
world, including Stanford University, Yale University and Duke University, use Sakai. Beau Gabriel, a junior at Yale University, finds the Sakai system accessible. Shaghayegh Harbi, an adjunct professor in the Liberal Studies Program, said there was little need to change the Blackboard system. “Unlike the Google migration, with Google Docs, Google Talk, greater storage space, et cetera, I see very little benefit in the Blackboard to NYU Classes migration,” Harbi said. “In phasing out the old email [and] communication services, the advantages of the Google migration were significant.” However, CAS junior Samuel Rolfe said Blackboard looked outdated. “The only problems that I had with Blackboard were the aesthetic qualities of the site. It wasn’t very attractive and seemed a little outdated to me, personally,” he said. “I think I am excited to see how they have changed with NYU Classes.” Su Sie Park is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
4
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES Use your noodle: creative ramen recipes By MARY HORNAK A bowl of ramen noodles is the quintessential meal for college students on a budget, but the conventional packaged version can get old easily. With a few extra ingredients and some creativity, you can transform packages of ramen from salty to spectacular. LETTUCE WRAPS After cooking a package of ramen noodles, drain any excess broth. Add chopped carrots and sliced onions to the noodles and let the residual heat soften the vegetables. Once softened, wrap the noodles and vegetables in leaves of iceberg lettuce and garnish with sesame ginger dressing. To add protein to the meal, serve with a side of edamame. SPRING SALAD Create your favorite mix of greens and vegetables using uncooked noodles. As an alternative to croutons, break up the noodles and sprinkle them over a bowl of spinach or romaine lettuce. Mix three tablespoons of apple juice and two tablespoons of oil with the ramen seasoning packet to create a simple salad dressing. Drizzle the mixture over the salad for a refreshing twist on a once-boring bowl of greens. LO MEIN Discard the seasoning packet in this recipe to avoid a high sodium intake. To keep the noodles flavorful, use low-sodium vegetable broth in place of water when cooking. Toss in microwave-steamed broccoli, bagged spinach and grated carrots for healthy nutrients. For a balanced meal, add slices of grilled chicken to the lo mein noodles. CRISPY CHICKEN TENDERS Combine ramen noodles with flour to make delicious baked chicken. Break apart the noodles and combine with crushed croutons and half of the seasoning packet. Mix beaten egg and flour with the noodle mixture. Roll chicken tenders in the ramen breading before placing in the oven. After the coating has browned and the chicken has cooked thoroughly, serve with mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables.
Campaign raises student debt awareness By HELEN HOLMES and KRISTINA BOGOS
While Sharon Chen, now a Stern senior, was sitting in a classroom at NYU’s London campus in 2010, British university students took to the streets to protest the government’s increase of maximum university tuition to 9,000 pounds. Thinking that British students did not have much to complain about, given high tuition costs at American universities, Chen was startled when her professor told her that the riots outside their classroom were aimed at preventing students at British universities from dealing with a debt crisis similar to the one American students face. “That really struck a chord with me,” Chen said. “It made me question the status quo.” Hoping to raise awareness about the student debt crisis, Chen decided to spearhead the NYU chapter of Up to Us, a student-led initiative that aims to inform students about the issue of student debt. The Clinton Global Initiative University partnered with Net Impact and the Peter G. Peterson Foundation to launch Up to Us this year as an opportunity
for students to educate their peers through campus events. The NYU chapter will compete against nine other universities, including Georgetown University and Brown University, for a top prize of $10,000, which will be awarded to the school that puts forward the most effective campaign. Chelsea Clinton, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and ABC anchor George Stephanopoulos will serve as judges. Today, a group of 25 Stern students will officially launch their campaign to raise student awareness at NYU. The first event of the semester will be a lecture presented by Jonathan Haidt, the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership in the Leonard N. Stern School of Business on Feb. 21. Haidt will address the politics behind the federal debt reduction debates. Other events for the spring semester will include a debate between NYU College Democrats vice president Andrew Slade and NYU College Republicans member Mike Heckmann, a “Jeopardy!” debt and politicsrelated game show and a YouTube video series featuring on-the-street interviews about the national debt.
campaign. “It isn’t our job to say what should be done about the national debt. We are simply trying to show that it is an issue, and give students the resources to draw their own conclusions from there.” Stern freshman Rob Paul is concerned about the debt crisis, but he has doubts about the Up to Us campaign as a vehicle to promote change. “I think that [the Up to Us events] will be very informative, but I don’t know how helpful educating such a small portion of the working and voting population will be,” Paul said. Students are encouraged to participate in the campaign and the group’s website features a Share Your Story forum where students can enlighten others with their personal hopes for their tax dollars in the future. The winning university will be announced in April and will be recognized by former President Clinton at the 2013 Clinton Global Initiative University. Helen Holmes is deputy features editor. Kristina Bogos is features editor. Email them at features@nyunews.com.
Bien Cuit bakery feeds and fosters community By ANGEL CHANG At Bien Cuit, the West Village’s newest bakery, owner and founder Zachary Golper serves the best of all dough in the city. Bien Cuit is known for its miche, a type of perfectly circular loaf made with a blend of rye and wheat flours. Each loaf is crunchy on the outside and soft and pillowy on the inside. It is this product of a 68-hour fermentation process that separates Bien Cuit from its competitors.
The bakery, which opened in December, is the first Manhattan outpost of the Bien Cuit’s original location in the Cobble Hill section of Brooklyn. “It first opened as a boutique bakery, bakery in the front, cafe in the back,” said Michael Dulle, director of operations. “Everything is still baked in the Brooklyn location. We start at midnight, finish at around 3:30 in the morning and bring it over to Manhattan.” Led by Golper and his wife Kate Wheatcroft, Bien Cuit
PIZZA To create a skillet noodle pizza, cook and drain a package and a half of any ramen noodle soup. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Once hot, add noodles to the skillet and cook until browned. Spread one-third of a cup of tomato sauce over the noodles and sprinkle with cheese, oregano and your choice of toppings. Let the pizza cool for five minutes before cutting it into slices. Mary Hornak is a contributing writer Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Chen believes that, by highlighting the fact that prolonged federal debt puts education programs that help pay for college tuition at risk, Up to Us will give students a voice in a matter of governmental concern. “The student body is the outlet to push for change because the negative repercussions of kicking the can down the road fall disproportionately on our generation,” Chen said. According to a survey conducted by Generation Opportunity, a non-partisan organization that aims to educate young Americans on the economic crisis, current students with loans will face repercussions when they start families, buy houses and plan for retirement down the road. “It will be a lot harder to go about these activities if interest and tax rates are higher and the United States’ lenders are pressuring the government to cut spending and raise taxes,” Chen said. “If our events cause one student to think about the national debt and how large of a problem it is, I consider that a success,” said Stern freshman Luke Shearin, a founding member of NYU’s Up to Us
RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN
Bien Cuit brings Parisian baked goods to the West Village.
uses a distinct fermentation process known as small batch mixing. The process includes the slow fermentation of all the dough and pre-fermented flour-water yeast. It is a meticulous operation that takes between 16 and 72 hours from start to finish. The process ensures consistency and balance in the acidity of the dough and creates tremendous flavor. “Parisians with a finer palate appreciate the more nuanced type of breads and order their baguettes bien cuit [well done and darkly baked],” Dulle said. “Usually bakeries separate their breads into the lighterbaked, which has less variation between crust and crumb, and the darker-baked, just as Bien Cuit has done.” Golper, who served as apprentice under multiple World Cup of Baking champions and partnered with great chefs like Georges Perrier, opened Bien Cuit because of his love for the ancient art of bread making. “His roots are in organic farming, in baking bread with no commercial yeast and working with nothing but candlelight,” Dulle said. No matter how authentic, all menu items include Gol-
per’s special twists. The double-baked almond croissant is baked with brandy, and other menu items like the traditional baguette, unique chicken and turnip and potato pot pie all contain secret ingredients. The bakery also offers quiches, cookies and frittatas. So far Bien Cuit has built a cafe clientele, but the staff wants it to become a place that feeds the community. They aim for Bien Cuit to be the bakery that offers customers things to take home and to share with their families. The boulangerie is also making an effort to be involved with its neighbors. “Traditionally [in Europe], the bakery was the center of the community, one of the first places that a household would visit in the day to get their bread,” Dulle said. “Ingredients from the earth were used to make bread. There was wheat on the farm, yeast from the air, salt from the ocean or salt mines and water from local sources. We want to keep this method intact.” Bien Cuit is located at 35 Christopher St. Angel Chang is the dining editor. Email her at achang@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
5
EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
P TO
5
Sweet spots to enjoy breakfast tradition By KIMBERLY SCHU Today marks National Blueberry Pancake Day, a holiday that celebrates a home-style breakfast tradition. Whether you are looking for a full meal or a quick breakfast, New York City is the perfect host for this delectable treat.
1
1. COZY’S DINER 739 Broadway, between Waverly Place and Astor Place. Conveniently located a few blocks from campus, Cozy’s Famous Soup ‘n’ Burger has several inventive pancake varieties. Some menu items may tease your taste buds, like the chocolate chip and banana walnut combination, but nothing can compete with their blueberry griddlecakes. Order a stack for $6.75.
2
2. HOLLYWOOD DINER 574 Avenue of the Americas, between 16th and 17th streets. At the Hollywood Diner, breakfast isn’t strictly a morning meal. Cooks will whip up a fresh batch of blueberry pancakes cooked to your taste within minutes at any time of the day. Order a short or tall stack, or take advantage of a stellar deal and order three griddlecakes with a side of two eggs for only $9.55.
3
4
5 1-4: RACHEL KAPLAN/ WSN 5: VIA FLICKR.COM
3. SILVER SPURS 771 Broadway, between ninth and 10th streets. This elegant yet comfortable restaurant specializes in a variety of famous flapjacks that are always flipped to perfection. Order a stack with blueberries and layer with butter, syrup or
whipped cream. If you’re feeling adventurous, order your pancakes with all of the above. 4. IHOP 235 E. 14th St., between Second and Third avenues. With a name that’s short for the International House of Pancakes, IHOP is a no-brainer stop to celebrate a day devoted to their specialty. Just a fiveminute walk from Union Square down 14th street, IHOP offers students a wide variety of breakfast pancakes cooked with a plethora of fruits. Start the first day of classes right and order the double blueberry pancakes, one of the restaurant’s most popular menu items. 5. DO IT YOURSELF: Homemade Blueberry Pancakes If you want to give your pancakes a personal touch, opt to make pancakes in the comfort of your own kitchen. Prepare a bowl of batter using water, eggs, oil and a box of either Aunt Jemima or Bisquick pancake mix. Carefully pour the designated amount of batter onto a greased pan and begin cooking with a low flame. When the pancakes show slight bubbles, throw in a handful of blueberries and allow them to simmer evenly. If concocting an extra sweet treat, top your pancakes with a swirl of whipped cream and an assortment of fresh berries or chocolate chips. Kimberly Schu is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? By ALISON WALLACH Steinhardt freshman Joe Aboud is a magnet for celebrity encounters. Aboud, a student with a passion for the entertainment business, has an archive of photographs of himself with celebrities including Channing Tatum, Rihanna and Lindsay Lohan from celebrity events. The Media, Culture and Communications student is currently working as a showroom intern for fashion designer Peter Som. With previous internships at Epic Records and PR Revolution already under his belt, and a growing pile of ticket stubs from concerts in and around New York City, Aboud is inching closer to the world he hopes to eventually join. CANON REBEL T1I CAMERA Although Aboud claims he is not artistic, photography is his outlet for expression. He captures his encounters with Hollywood’s finest with his Canon Rebel T1i camera. Scroll through Aboud’s Kodak moments and you will see photos of him with Lana Del Rey and Adam Levine, to name a few. He has also met Lady Gaga, one of his role models, backstage at concerts. SEPTEMBER 2012 ISSUE OF OUT MAGAZINE Out magazine is Aboud’s go-to reading material for his half-hour commute
to Chelsea for his internship at Peter Som. This particular issue, from September 2012, features cast members from the film “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” a movie Aboud loves. Out magazine focuses on LGBTQ issues, a topic that hits close to home for Aboud. “Being a gay man, I have strong opinions when it comes to LGBT equality,” Aboud said. “I don’t like categorizing issues under the heading ‘LGBT rights’ because these rights are human rights. Love is love. Having moved around to nine different places, I’ve gained insight into how ignorant and closeminded many people are and I’d like to play a role in changing that.” GREEN MARACA On a recent trip to Puerto Rico with fellow NYU students from the Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholars Program, a scholarship program for students from diverse ethnic backgrounds, Aboud received a 10-inch neon green maraca at the famous San Sebastian Festival. During the trip, Aboud, who is of Cuban descent, discovered similarities between Cuban and Puerto Rican food and customs while being immersed in Latin American culture. He described his excursion as an opportunity to experience new things in a culturally enlightening way. Alison Wallach is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
KRISTINA BOGOS/WSN
An aspiring entertainment businessman shows items he deems essential.
Quick tips for healthy New Year’s resolutions
By NICOLE SCHREIBER-SHEARER
As January comes to a close, many students’ New Year’s resolutions are already startng to crumble. While it may have been easy to indulge in homemade meals and spend winter break on the couch, it’s time to pencil in workout sessions and avoid dining hall cookies now that classes are resuming. Here are some tips on sticking to fitness and health goals without spending boring hours at the gym or mindlessly munching on raw veggies. GETTING INTO SHAPE If you are looking to spice up your fitness routine, look no
further than the Greenwich Village area for cheap options. A trip to Yoga to the People on St. Marks is both convenient and affordable, as workouts are donation-based. While the classes may be packed, the studio holds one-hour power sessions every day of the week, making a workout easy to fit into any busy schedule. For a more rigorous workout, enroll in a pilates class at Core Pilates on University Place. This celebrity-approved, core-focused fitness regimen is bound to help you build a six-pack long before summer. While classes are normally up to $50 each, there are special
$10 classes taught by apprentice teachers throughout the week. Peridance, a dance studio on 13th Street between Third and Fourth avenues, is a creative get-fit option that offers dance classes of all styles for $16 each. From hip hop to ballet, these hour-and-a-half to two-hour sweat sessions are the perfect way to tone up while picking up some fun new moves. Download or sign up for popular coupon websites like Living Social and Groupon to find great deals on classes. A new $20 for 20 classes deal at Just Keep Moving offers customers a range of fitness routines from a
kickboxing bootcamp to a discothemed dance party.
EATING WELL Just beyond Washington Square, there are plenty of cheap, healthy options for students who want to maintain balanced diets. The Union Square Greenmarket is a favorite for fresh and local produce. The market, which has outdoor stands at the north end of Union Square, is open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. It offers an array of seasonal fruits and veggies, artisanal breads, meat and dairy products. For a quick way to improve
your diet, check out vegetarian, vegan and organic kitchens near campus. The newly opened Hu Kitchen on 13th Street and Fifth Avenue is a restaurant with a pre-industrial diet in mind. The healthy cafe has a trendy, club-like air, and promises delicious, nutrient-packed food. From organic meatloaf with two sides for $9 to an array of healthful desserts ranging from $1 to $5, students can grab a nutritious meal without breaking the bank. Nicole Schreiber-Shearer is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
6
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ARTS ‘Bethany’s’ darkness weighs heavily on the heart By BRITTANY SPANOS
“You’ve turned your whole life around,” a social worker said to America Ferrera’s character, Crystal, toward the end of Laura Marks’ new play “Bethany.” The scene feels more poignant than the social worker intends it to be, and it is wholly bittersweet after everything Crystal has endured in her struggle to change the hand she has been dealt. The audience may feel transformed, too. From beginning to end, “Bethany” weighs heavily on the heart. Set in 2009, the play’s plot takes aim at the home foreclosures that swept across the United States over the past few years. Crystal, a Saturn saleswoman, pushes herself to the brink to win back custody of her young daughter. The supporting characters, from homeless conspiracy theorist Gary (Tobias Segal) to motivational speaker and prospective Saturn buyer Charlie (Ken Marks), serve as tests of will and endurance as the plot spirals to a tumultuous, revealing end that explores the lengths a person will go to survive. After a slow start, “Bethany” unravels darkly and leaves behind a trail of emotional carnage. Between the lighthearted banter, the unavoidable tragedies seep through the cracks in the lives of Crystal and others, which grounds the show in a depressing reality. Ferrera is exhilarating in the lead role. From the moment she appears on stage, Ferrera fits perfectly into the saleswoman mold, which her character embodies in all aspects of her life. With the support of a strong cast, Marks’ sharply written show palpitates evenly with a nearly
COURTESY OF CITY CENTER
sadistic flow between moments of lightness and darkness. By the end of the show, everything has fallen apart, but the plot keeps itself masterfully intact. After two shocking, climactic moments, the overlapping of Charlie’s motivational speech with Crystal’s choked sobs creates a sickeningly tense scene that reflects the same balance in the characters’ own lives. The tough realities of life shatter moments of hopeful contemplation. “Bethany” is not for the faint of heart but, like Crystal herself, begs for an understanding of life’s necessary struggles when it may feel too difficult to give. “Bethany” is playing through Feb. 17 at City Center Stage II, located at 131 W. 55 St. Brittany Spanos is a staff writer. Email her at theater@nyunews.com.
13 tunes to kick off a rocking new year
By ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE and JOSH JOHNSON
today’s most unique and creative bands.
We here at WSN know what you’re all thinking: it’s a shame the world didn’t end last month in a Roland Emmerich fever dream. Now we have another challenging and demanding semester ahead of us, sure to be fraught with stress, anxiety and even more poor decisions than those of years past. Thankfully, the future is not without a silver lining. Many of our favorite musicians, including Arcade Fire, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Justin Timberlake, are posed to release new, long-awaited albums this year. Additionally, the legendary David Bowie will grace us with his holy presence in 2013, and newcomer Azealia Banks looks to add something other than “participant in moronic Twitter feuds” to her resume. In celebration of this newly discovered reason to live, we’ve curated a Spotify playlist featuring 13 tracks from artists releasing new material this year to get you psyched for 2013. Your semester will probably remain stressful, but at least you’ll be listening to good music. Hopefully that will get you to the next doomsday with relative ease.
2. “ALEJANDRO” — Lady Gaga The heir apparent to Madonna’s throne reinvents the word “catchy” with “Alejandro.”
1. “HOW CAN YOU LUV ME” — Unknown Mortal Orchestra Ruban Nielson’s psychedelic pop project is one of
3. “GENESIS” — Grimes The WSN music staff named Grimes’ 2012 album the third best record of the year. 4. “EVERYTHING IS EMBARRASSING” — Sky Ferreira The buzzy singer-songwriter looks to release her third EP this year, named after this very popular track from 2012. 5. “& IT WAS U” — How to Dress Well Tom Krell successfully combines lo-fi and R&B with this TextSpeak-titled track. 6. “VAN VOGUE” — Azealia Banks Harlem’s rap princess plans to release her full-length debut, “Broke With Expensive Taste,” in 2013. 7. “SUIT & TIE” — Justin Timberlake feat. Jay-Z JT and Hov. It’s a wonder how the world is still standing after this star-studded collaboration. 8. “HEROES” — David Bowie
One of the most covered songs of all time, “Heroes” still sounds the best when sung by Ziggy Stardust. 9. “HEADS WILL ROLL” — Yeah Yeah Yeahs After working with Trent Reznor and creating an opera, Karen O is back with her art-punk bandmates. 10. “A-PUNK” — Vampire Weekend NYC’s smartest band looks to cement their status as indie rock all-stars with their third record. 11. “THE SUBURBS” — Arcade Fire The opening track from Arcade Fire’s Album of the Year Grammy winner established the Canadian band as an indie rock powerhouse. 12. “SOME NIGHTS” — fun. The band that was everywhere in 2012 hopes to be even bigger in 2013 with their follow-up to “Some Nights.” 13. “ANYTHING COULD HAPPEN” — Ellie Goulding After two albums in two years, Goulding may replace Adele as America’s favorite British pop-star. Alexandria Ethridge is music editor. Josh Johnson is arts editor. Email them at arts@nyunews.com.
Roundabout’s ‘Picnic’ offers voyeuristic look into small town life By OLIVIA GEORGE
In the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival of “Picnic,” William Inge’s classic play about love and lust in Kansas, Maggie Grace stars — alongside actor Sebastian Stan’s abdominal muscles — as the beautiful Madge. In the role of Hal Carter, the drifter who brings a whole new kind of heat to a sweltering small town, Stan struts about the stage, usually with a bare chest and an attitude that suggests no intention of reminding anyone where his eyes are, but his revealing costumes cause the production to border on pornographic at times. While it may seem in poor taste to discuss an actor’s appearance as opposed to his talent, Inge’s play functions on a level concerned with this kind of skin-deep analysis. The story centers on Madge, a blonde who has never been anything more than a great pair of legs. Utterly
unfulfilled in her relationship with a sweet, clean-cut rich boy in town, Madge inevitably falls for Hal. She finds a kindred spirit in the damaged man, who has never been valued for anything but his torso. It is difficult to feel for Madge, as she whines about wishing people could see something more than a pretty face. Any kind of deeper layer seems highly unlikely in a character who spends all of her time sunbathing and putting on make-up. Her immaturity may be appropriate, but it’s far from sympathetic. It isn’t until we hear from Reed Birney’s Howard that we begin to feel for Madge. His greasy declaration that God would only make something so beautiful for one reason, and that “it’s about time someone showed her what it was,” is enough to make every woman in the audience want to walk home with her arms crossed and her head down.
Sam Gold’s direction of the play creates a delicious sense of voyeurism that melds seamlessly with the themes of the show. The actors perform without microphones and without any acknowledgment of an audience. They often disappear inside the house on the stage, where the audience only catches glimpses of them through the windows, and enjoys a slightly muffled delivery of their lines. While many new wave performances come crashing through the fourth wall, this production keeps it firmly in place, giving spectators the feeling that they are spying on their neighbors, as opposed to watching a show. “Picnic” is engrossing in its naturalism. Mare Winningham, of ’80s film “Brat Pack” fame, plays Flo Owens, mother to Madge and to her smart-but-dowdy younger sister Millie. Flo operates with a kind of sincerity that suggests her feelings toward her daugh-
ters are the only source of real love that exists in the show. Everyone else is motivated by either lust or desperation. Winningham’s dialogue with the ever-endearing Ellen Burstyn, who plays the Owens’ neighbor, brings the show’s final scene to
a bleak and poignant close. “Picnic” is playing at the American Airlines Theater, 227 W. 42nd St., through Feb. 24. Olivia George is theater and books editor. Email her at ogeorge@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF ROUND ABOUT THEATER
Maggie Grace stars in the Broadway revival of “Picnic.”
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
7
EDITED BY JOSHUA JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Catch up on winter break’s best albums By PETER SLATTERY
The world of music waits for no one, let alone college students on winter break. Here is a brief rundown of highly anticipated albums released earlier this month that were too good — or bad — to ignore. “ANYTHING IN RETURN” — Toro Y Moi South Carolina artist Chazwick Bundick, also known as Toro Y Moi, released his third album “Anything in Return” on Jan. 22. A fresh blend of electronic and poppy funk, Bundick’s latest effort features echoed vocals, layered synths and tight percussion, which together create a colorful sonic palette. The upbeat mix flows easily, with the artist choosing aggressive-sounding’ material to start and finish the album while filling the middle with decidedly more relaxed songs. Although the album could have been anchored with more focused, crisp tracks like “Studies,” the overall result is solid. “LONG. LIVE. A$AP” — A$AP Rocky After a reported $3 million
deal with Sony, A$AP Rocky has made a strong return on the investment. One highly acclaimed mixtape and aggressive compilation disc later, we finally have Rocky’s long-delayed debut album, “Long. Live. A$AP.” The album’s strength comes from the rapper’s experimentation, and a lush production enhances Rocky’s impressively varied flows. Virtually everyone prominent in the rap genre is featured on “Long. Live. A$AP,” and Rocky extends the olive branch to other styles as well. However, the rapper’s lyrics still need work, and at 16 songs the disc includes plenty of filler, despite being a strong and interesting project. “BETA LOVE” — Ra Ra Riot Ra Ra Riot’s third album “Beta Love” marks a new electronic phase for the group as they transition from an orchestral alt-rock band. Synthetic drum kits and upbeat keyboards loop while the sometimes falsetto, sometimes auto-tuned voice of Wes Miles croons in the foreground. At the same time, there isn’t enough sonic subtlety for each element to coalesce — vo-
cals, percussion and synth all fight for prominence. The album’s best moments are when softer guitar riffs blend with the group’s trademark classical strings, but these moments are few and far between.
By MEGHAN RACKLIN “ALMANAC” — Widowspeak After their 2011 self-titled debut, Brooklyn indie rock group Widowspeak is back with a substantial sophomore effort, “Almanac.” Mellow guitars and restrained drums mix elegantly with singer Molly Hamilton’s smoky voice, and guitarist Robert Earl Thomas deftly incorporates western, southern and modern rock influences. A compelling nostalgic quality permeates “Almanac,” as well as an underlying ambitious nature. “We can never, stay forever,” sings Hamilton in standout track “Ballad of the Golden Hour.” Widowspeak’s latest effort succeeds through utilizing modern and vintage influences, and with a little more lyrical and sonic focus, the band could go very far. Peter Slattery is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
TV offers new haven for filmmakers By ALEX GREENBERGER
The announcement that Steven Soderbergh’s (“Contagion,” “Traffic”) final film would air on HBO, as opposed to being released in theaters, came as a surprise. The film, “Behind the Candelabra,” is a biopic starring Michael Douglas as the famed gay pianist Liberace. How does a film with such star power and such directorial promise find itself relegated to HBO? The answer is simple — Soderbergh recently revealed he initially pitched the film to Hollywood but studio executives rejected it on the basis that it was “too gay.” Whether Hollywood executives’ conservatism got the better of them or whether big studios are more interested in money than talent is not the issue. The most surprising aspect is that something ruled as objectionable content, notably something involving sexuality, was pushed to television. For so long, television has been a home to less risky content. “Two and a Half Men” and “CSI” reign victorious in the ratings and “American Idol” maintains a loyal following. Yet outside of network television, more creative and bold content exists, turning the medium into something many thought it would never be — a haven for content that would prove unacceptable for a mass film-going audience. This transition is evident in a number of ways. Most obviously,
VIA HBO
Matt Damon and Michael Douglas co-star in an HBO film. filmmakers have finally taken to television. Lena Dunham has quickly risen to the status of hipster goddess with “Girls,” and Oscar-nominated director Todd Haynes is working on an episode of another HBO show, “Enlightened.” New programs also embody a cinematic style. “American Horror Story” includes enough Dutch angles to make Brian De Palma’s head spin, and “Mad Men” brings cerebral characters and story lines to a mainstream audience. To say that the proliferation of cable television is fully responsible for the shrinking gap between television and film might be only partially true. HBO debuted over 30 years ago, but the space between the two mediums has only recently begun contracting. Still, HBO’s programming exudes a unique style, which has definitely inspired networks made in its likeness, such as AMC and FX.
Tegan and Sara album delivers bittersweet blend of pop, soul
Yet the true reason behind television’s emergence as a creative haven is the viewers themselves. Those who watch these shows — the very same who went to “Inception” and “Zero Dark Thirty” with the intention of being confused and intellectually stimulated — want entertainment that is smart and meaningful. Filmmakers can deliver serialized content that meets those criteria, and that is why television continues to command a dedicated audience. For these viewers, the future holds even more promise through television — FX’s “The Americans” asks us to root for the bad guys; Showtime’s “Masters of Sex” promises lewd content — and it seems that maybe one day, television and film might become synonymous content providers. Alex Greenberger is entertainment editor. Email him at agreenberger@nyunews.com.
Tegan and Sara have long served as the dark chocolate of pop music’s Willy Wonka factory of sweets. While their music is to some extent an acquired taste, it certainly inspires great ardor among the duo’s fans. In “Heartthrob,” the Quin sisters make use of a sweeter candy coating than their previous albums possessed. If 2009’s “Sainthood” was sticking a toe into the mainstream river, “Heartthrob” enthusiastically dives right in, with technosynths and power-pop hooks pervasive from the start. In album opener and lead single “Closer,” the sisters repeatedly chant, “All I want to get is a little bit closer,” making the song as infectious as the hook of any Top 40 hit. The persistent jangling of keyboards and electronic buzzing are present throughout the album, as the twins beautifully bridge
the gap between folk-rock and synth-pop. While “Heartthrob” is certainly Tegan and Sara’s most commercial album yet, the duo manages to maintain the quirky sound that first made them indie idols. Despite the album’s sugary pop flavor, many songs feature bittersweet tastes. These girls understand heartbreak. On “Now I’m All Messed Up,” both the lyrics and the austere electronic beats encapsulate the sensation of being left cold and alone, while the beautiful piano ballad “I Was a Fool” captures the feeling of being painfully proven wrong about someone. Though many may think otherwise about this concept, “Heartthrob“ is a shining testament to the belief that pop and soul don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Meghan Racklin is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
14T H
PL
13T H
IVE
RS
IT Y
12T H
STR
STR
STR
E ET
E ET
E ET
BROADW AY
UN
8
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPEN HOUSE
STOP BY OUR OFFICE!
838 Broadway, 5th Floor New York, NY 10003
' PHONE: 212.998.4302
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
|
TWITTER: @nyunews |
:
WEBSITE: www.nyunews.com
New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York,TIMES N.Y. 10018 THETheNEW YORK CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Monday, January 28, 2013
Crossword ACROSS
31 Credits over newspaper 1 Irish girls stories 7 Yacht, e.g. 32 Cake: Fr. 11 Thérèse, for one: 34 Regions Abbr. 35 Bonus for 14 The ___ State showing panache (New York) 38 Not a dry eye in the ___ 15 Roof extension 39 Cosa ___ 16 Rite ___ (drugstore) 42 Protections for inventors 17 Yesterday’s joe 45 They’re worth 19 331/3 r.p.m. half of TDs discs 46 Floor cover 20 Cocktail with an 47 What Jackie umbrella Robinson did, 21 Popular PBS famously, in the pledge drive first game of giveaway the 1955 World Series 22 Quick punches 49 Feeling, slangily 24 Scouring pad 50 Concert stage material equipment 28 Enthusiastic 51 Had an in-flight response to wedding? “Who wants 54 Captain’s journal cookies?” 55 Informant 29 Banned insecticide 60 East Lansing sch.
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE S T E E C A R B I S T A K E Y A B I D E
S A C R A
T R E E S
H E R A T
F A C D I S A E X E R N E A R
R I N G C O N F O O N D C O R S T D S E L A E S A Y I X A M R U N D E D R E R N A I A D P E T O O S T E R S C I S E T E S T R E
L E A R T P R I R E C T E S T
O F N T E D D
N I T E R
E N A T E
G H O U L
G A R N I
O N E I N
M S R U P P O R A I N L A T I
S A T E S
P R T E R V E
61 Unfreeze 62 Savanna grazers 63 RR stop 64 Big laughs 65 Snapple rival
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
14
8
No.1224 9
10
17
22
18
29
25
30
26
41
58
59
27
31
33
34
35
36
37
38 43
40
19
24
28
42
13
21
23
32
12
16
20
DOWN 1 “___ Misérables” 2 Tsp. or tbsp. 3 Automated in-box cloggers 4 Fictional weaver ___ Marner 5 “… ___ saw Elba” 6 Splinter group 7 Prove suitable for 8 Galoot 9 “___ Maria” 10 Golf ball raiser 11 Swinging-door establishment 12 Walk very, very quietly 13 1950s Ford duds 18 Brewing oven 21 Dances à la Chubby Checker, say 22 Lively Irish dance 23 Nabokov novel 25 Spain’s longest river 26 Scrutinizing 27 South American plains 29 The beginning 30 Minnesota city that shares a harbor with Superior, Wis. 33 Barrymore and Kennedy 34 Galoot
11
15
39
44
45
47
48
50
51 56
46 49 52
54
55
60
61
57 62
63
64
65
53
Puzzle by AUTHOR AUTHOR AUTHOR
36 Place to fill up in Canada 37 Loudly critical 40 Massage 41 Ice, Iron or Bronze follower 42 Source of “The Lord is my shepherd …” 43 No more than
44 1986 Tom Cruise blockbuster 45 Tumbled 48 Cat calls 49 “What happens in ___ …” 52 Tournament that takes all comers 53 Heap 55 Filthy digs
56 Wed. follower 57 Acorn bearer 58 Keats dedicated one to a nightingale 59 Secretive org.
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
POLITICS
Partisanship stands as U.S.’s biggest political flaw By MARIA MICHALOS Our forefathers, resistant to political parties, recognized the plight that would come to affect our government if partisanship arose. Today, our political world suffers from a lack of levelheaded communication. It is instead hindered by an inability to compromise. The core of our democracy — its citizenry — is disturbed by our current state, which discourages our nation’s people from being politically involved and informed. We continue to be unable to solve our gravest problems because of partisan alliances, an election process overridden with interest group money and an educational system that forfeits critical thinking. The semester I spent immersed in the sociopolitical and cultural arenas of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital, revived my commitment to political activism. I was an active participant in the making of history, as I rallied on the steps of our Supreme Court for affirmative action, raced to the White House on election night and listened to the insight of our modern day political leaders. Witnessing the merging of policy, power and politics, I garnered a deep appreciation for what our American political system is capable of doing — promoting LGBT equality, working toward immigration reform and establishing
a more just healthcare system, among other honorable policy enactments. Establishing such critical change can only occur when members from both sides of the aisle come together for the common good. In an interview with Bill Moyers, former Congressman Mickey Edwards (R-OK) pointed out that without compromise “we stop functioning as an American people working collectively to solve our problems.” What has made this country of 310 million people remarkable is the vast diversity that permeates our cities. Though we are diverse, with differing opinions, we must recognize that without compromise, we cannot “keep the bridges from falling down,” pay off debts, provide for the troops or do just about anything. We see the disjunction that exists within our campaigns — a series of negative advertisements, a saturation of interest group and corporate money. Our democracy has spiraled into a chaotic, polarizing state that necessitates change. Our democracy has suffered at the hands of a political frenzy that has often put aside the needs of the collective. It is our constitutional right and obligation as citizens to demand proper representation — democracy will only function when we the people have a voice in public policy. I have become further impassioned by those willing to challenge the status quo, those who advocate political
change for issues that once went unheeded. As Edwards stated, we “need to have a citizenship, one that is capable of operating in this kind of democracy.” It should be our priority to do a more effective job of teaching civics and critical thinking — of giving the American people the tools necessary to create informed opinions. What our political system requires is American engagement and zeal. There is a plethora of pessimism surrounding Washington politics, and events this past year have done a swell job of enforcing such an outlook. But by electing President Obama for a second term, perhaps the American people have conveyed their optimism, recognizing the opportunity to fix what is broken. The onset of change in Washington is imminent — it can be felt by the many activists and professionals, young and old, working toward change. Rather than viewing government as the source of our nation’s problems, we need to leverage its potential capacity as a champion of the people. Our political system needs saving, perhaps by a generation with the innovation and the heart to do so, because when the system works, it works beautifully. Maria Michalos is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
GUN CONTROL
Pre-crime proposal violates Constitutional rights By IAN MARK In the 2002 film “Minority Report,” Tom Cruise is, as usual, on the run. The film depicts a society that relies on “precogs,” psychics who can see the future to predict crimes so that a task force led by Cruise’s character can arrest and imprison the perpetrators of these crimes before they occur. If Cruise plays the hero in this film, why is he on the run? Because even in this fictional world, it is impossible to predict with complete accuracy who will commit a crime. Cruise is shown murdering a man, and he is forced to run before he is placed in prison with all the other “criminals.” The failure of this fictional system becomes particularly salient when considering many of the recent gun control proposals in the wake of the Sandy Hook shooting and others like it. A new focus on mental health has been called for. New laws passed in New York include increased authority for doctors and mental health professionals. The idea is that if they believe their patient may be a danger to others, they can notify the police, who will then either take the patient’s guns from them, or simply increase surveillance on them. This policy is wrong. It places an in-
SUBMITTING TO
9
ordinate amount of power in the hands of people who are not law enforcement officials. There is little supervision, and it is preposterous to believe there is such a high level of precision in certain mental health diagnoses. Many who are not a danger to others will have their rights taken away, and many who are a danger will continue to slip through the cracks. There is no doubt that there are some people who are insane, and such people must be committed to treatment facilities for both their own and society’s best interests. But every time the guidelines for diagnosing these people are loosened, we slip further down the slope to the point where pre-crime becomes acceptable to us. For as much discussion as there has been in recent weeks about the Second Amendment, the treatment of the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unreasonable search and seizure, is far more worrisome. It should suffice to say that a process that leads to seizure of your possessions because a doctor declares you insane should be watched very carefully. It should ideally occur as little as possible, as once you are declared insane, your life is over. Every-
thing you do to protest this fact can be understood as part of your illness. Even if you are released from the asylum to which you are committed, your chances of finding a job are irrevocably damaged by that gap in your resume. It is important to ask why so much of this country’s recent discussion has focused on mental health. The answer is clear — it is a distraction used by the National Rifle Association and pro-gun pundits to prevent us from having the conversation about guns we need to have. We cannot possibly identify everyone who may commit a violent crime before they do so. But what we can do is limit criminal’s access to have access to the kinds of weapons that make these attacks so devastating. An attack on a school in China that occurred on the same day as Sandy Hook was lost in the wake of the American tragedy. Twentytwo kids were injured, but not a single one died. Why? Because the attacker had a knife, not an AR-15. Restricting access to guns universally is the answer, not denying certain people their fundamental rights. Ian Mark is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Editorial Board greets NYU, anticipates new year
The WSN Editorial Board is looking forward to another semester of heated discussion and debate regarding the issues that affect us most as students. Over the course of the spring semester, our team of student writers will dissect the policies of our school, our city and our politicians, in the hopes of creating and contributing to a vigorous and substantive discourse. In the six weeks since the Editorial Board last convened, events both around the world and close to home have reshaped our nation and our way of thinking. The tragedy in Newtown, Conn., the second inauguration of President Obama, the controversy in the Benghazi hearings and the hostage crisis in Algeria have all had tangible impacts worldwide. We would be remiss in our duties as informed students and engaged journalists attuned to the critical issues of our time if we did not put forth wellreasoned and insightful commentary on the controversies that will present themselves over the next few months. This spring, we will explore a wide variety of issues from the rollout of NYU Classes to Super Bowl XLVII. We will also closely follow contentious debates such as the local NYU 2031 expansion plan and the national congressional gridlock over fundamental challenges to our nation like the debt crisis. We look to represent the Washington Square News’ views on current events as they arise. The Editorial Board is entirely studentcomprised and student-run, and we bring a unique student perspective to the issues. In addition to our contributions, our columnists will discuss their individual opinions on news and events even more varied than those outlined above. Op-Ed Live, our debate series, will continue this semester, bringing you video discussions of our most controversial columns. We will be expanding the Opinion section to bring you more online and multimedia content, and we look forward to sharing our perspectives and discussions with our readers.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co-chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair)
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
10
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
Interested in working for us? Come to our Sunday Pitch Meetings.
NEWS: 5 P.M. FEATURES: 6 P.M. MULTIMEDIA: 6 P.M. SPORTS: 6:30 P.M. ARTS: 6:30 P.M. OPINION: 7 P.M.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, JANUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY MARY JANE DUMANKAYA SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Kaepernick triumphs for 49ers
By NISHAAD RUPAREL
Colin Kaepernick is a controversial player with an equally temperamental beginning. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback enjoyed his first start in week 11 of the season, substituting for injured quarterback Alex Smith. At the time, Smith was the league’s leader in completion percentage and the third highest rated quarterback in the NFL. During week 11, Kaepernick went 1623 with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions, leading the 49ers to a 32-7 victory over the Chicago Bears, the NFC powerhouse. The next week, Smith was cleared to play, but head coach Jim Harbaugh elected to give his star player more rest before rushing him back to the field. Kaepernick seized the opportunity — he recorded a passing and rushing touchdown in place of Smith and carried San Francisco to a 31-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints. Then, something unfathomable happened. Harbaugh, riding high on the team’s success, benched Smith, who was 19-5-1 as a starter in the last two years.
Sports commentators and fans were left scratching their heads. At a time when connoisseurs and amateurs alike contested the decision, Harbaugh insisted that he made the right call. He saw in Kaepernick a young, dynamic and two-pronged quarterback, equally strong in the rushing game as in the traditional passing game. Harbaugh did what he has always been known to do, what he was hired to do: take a risk. Kaepernick’s image blinded us from his talent, and we were all too captivated to look beyond it. We laughed at his 115-pound tortoise and ridiculed his post-game interviews. We agreed with media outlets who labeled him “an inmate.” We all scowled at the idea that one of the league’s most clean-cut and well-spoken quarterbacks, Smith could be replaced by, essentially, a “human canvas.” Only Kaepernick knew the true story. Only he knew how difficult it is to grow up an orphan. Only he knew what it was like to pass up an MLB Draft selection so that he could pursue his true passion in the NFL. Only he knew
11
about the letter he wrote to himself in the fourth grade, in which he promised his future self that he would be 6 feet 4 inches tall and be the quarterback for the Niners. We can see now that both of these dreams have come true. He did not blast the media as we expected him to, and he did not let his temper get the best of him, as many expected. Colin Kaepernick just kept his head down, absorbed it all and won some football games. This Sunday, Kaepernick has the chance to win one more game: the Super Bowl, against the Baltimore Ravens. The game will certainly be the biggest of his career. He will fly mostly under the radar, distant from the spotlight focused solely on Raven’s linebacker Ray Lewis. On Sunday, I imagine he will be thinking about the tattoo on his right arm. In fact, after I have started to understand Kaepernick, I imagine he thinks of it quite often. It reads, “Carpe Diem.” Seize the day. Nishaad Ruparel is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Spring season to present
challenges for NYU teams By MARY JANE DUMANKAYA
From senior fencer Jackie Leval’s third-place finish at the North American Cup Division II Women’s Sabre to freshman Matt Powers’ 200-meter dash NYU record of 22.18, NYU athletes continue to strive to accomplish new goals. There are currently six different sports and 10 NYU teams in season. Violets range from seniors playing their final games to freshmen making their college debut. Here is a snapshot of where each of the NYU teams stand. MEN’S BASKETBALL The men’s basketball team is currently on a four-game losing streak while on the road, most recently losing to Emory University 61-80. “We have been struggling on the road during UAA play, but we are looking to turn it around with a stretch of home games coming up,” said junior captain Carl Yaffe. The Violets’ record is 12-6 so far with seven games left in the regular season, including the University of Rochester on Feb. 1 at Coles Sports Center. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Women’s basketball had quite the shake-up this season, with only two returning players and nine new teammates. Understandably, the Violets are 8-10 as they try to find their groove. The next game for the women is Feb. 1 against the University of Rochester at Coles. MEN’S FENCING Men’s fencing is 4-10 after they suffered losses five colleges at the NYU Invitational on Jan. 27. NYU was victorious over Wayne State University 23-4. They will be attending the upcoming Eric Sollee Invitational on Feb. 3, in Cambridge, Mass. WOMEN’S FENCING Women’s fencing is currently 4-11, having just competed at the NYU Invitational on Jan. 27. While the Violets did lose to Ohio State, St. John’s, University of Notre Dame and Northwestern University, they were victorious against Wayne State and Division I Yale University. In the close match against Yale, NYU won 1512. The Violets will also be competing alongside the men at the Eric Sollee Invitational. MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING The team has gone 3-7 this season. Co-captain and senior Dan Isaacson was honored at the last home game of the season on Jan. 26, when the Violets won 149-65, against the Vassar College Brewers. Sophomore Jerry Crowley won the 50-yard freestyle and the 500-yard freestyle against Vassar. “We’ve held up well against some of the best colleges in the nation, and I expect us to be very competitive in our conference meet in February,” Crowley said. The Violets have the University Athletic Association Championships on Feb. 14 to 16 at the University of Chicago.
WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING The team recorded its fourth win this season against Vassar College on Jan. 26, 147-76. Their record is now 4-5, with the UAA Championships at the University of Chicago on Feb. 14 to 16. MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD Men’s track and field has gotten the season off to a solid start, finishing ninth of 16 teams at the NYU Team Challenge and ninth of 14 teams at the NYC Metro Championships. Freshman Matt Powers has had a very strong collegiate debut, winning the 200-meter dash at Metro. “I am very happy to have such early success, but I also just want to remain focused on getting better as the season progresses,” Powers said. The Violets will return to the track on Feb. 8 at the Boston University Valentine Invitational in Boston, Mass. WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD The women’s track and field team has been breaking NYU records left and right. At the NYU Team Challenge, where the team finished sixth, sophomore Caroline Spring set a new school record in the 500-meter with a time of 1:18.58. At the second competition of the season, junior Emily Cousens ran a recordbreaking 9:53.51 in the 3,000 meters, while the 4x800-meter relay team recorded a time of 9:43.21. The Violets will also compete at the Boston University Valentine Invitational. MEN’S VOLLEYBALL Men’s volleyball is 1-1 after winning their second game of the season against Ramapo College to make up for the season opener against Division I Harvard University. The Violets dropped the first set 24-26 but took the next three 25-23, 25-16 and 25-22. Freshman Drew Steiner led the teams in kills with 12, while freshmen Nick Benson and Colin LaPorte contributed 11 kills each. “It was good to get the win, but we need to play a lot cleaner if we expect to have a successful season,” Steiner said. The Violets return to the court on Jan. 29, against Hunter College. MEN’S WRESTLING As of Jan. 26, the Violets were ranked 20th nationally by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Division III Poll. “Despite the bumps I’ve experienced in the season, the end goal remains the same, to win regionals then win nationals.” Senior David Rice, who is seventh in the NWCA individual rankings for the 165-pound weight class The wrestling team will compete next at Muhlenberg College on Feb. 2 in Allentown, Pa. Mary Jane Dumankaya is sports editor. Email her at mdumankaya@nyunews.com.