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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM
Applicant Record Topped Again By TEGAN MOSUGU Contributing Writer
For the ninth straight year, NYU has broken its own record for number of applicants with 63,702 for the class of 2020. In 2015, 32 percent of applicants were admitted, as compared to 35 percent in 2014. Just last year, NYU set another record by enrolling its largest international population comprising 21 percent of the class of 2019. All throughout the country, more applicants leads to a lower acceptance rate. This trend is one that is seen throughout all campuses. Just last year the Princeton Review even deemed NYU as the third dream college for students and the sixth for parents. Whether it is the university’s locations in the heart of various global metropolises or the academic offerings across schools, demand for the institution is at an all-time high. Homestead High School senior Hannah Goh said a large applicant pool brings more diversity to NYU’s campus. Goh also said the larger pool allows admissions counselors to seek out the
truly unique talents that are out there. “The competition in college applications prepares applicants for the competition that exists in the work force,” Goh said. “Those who are able to surpass simply the selectivity of NYU and find balance between competition and recreation are the ones that I think will succeed.” Assistant Vice President and Dean of Admissions Shawn L. Abbott said the larger pool of applicants will affect the extent to which the admissions process would become more competitive. “We do expect that the increase in application volume will make admission to NYU more competitive this year, but it is safe to say that this will likely be the most competitive year for admission in NYU history,” Abbott said. And while graduate standings might not affect the undergraduate application rate, the increased prominence of NYU’s graduate programs could be responsible for the increase in applications. In January, NYU was ranked as the fourth best graduate school in the nation by Grad School Hub, which cited the university’s
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NYU is becoming an increasingly popular university as once again, their applicant record has been broken. New York City location and ample resources and connections to potential employers. Every graduate program at NYU is ranked considerably high in comparison to its competitors. For example, the graduate busi-
CRIME LOG By CHRISTINE WANG, DIAMOND NAGA SIU AND GRETA CHEVANCE Deputy News Editors The NYU Department of Public Safety received seven reports of larceny, one report of harassment, six reports of controlled substance between Jan. 24 and Jan. 28.
Larceny
back of a chair while she used a Bobst Library restroom at 10 a.m. She returned at 10:10 a.m. to find her coat missing, but she declined notifying the police. On Jan. 26 at 4:20 p.m., a student discovered that his backpack containing his laptop was missing from the Hayden Dining Hall. He left it there on Jan. 25, but denied notifying the NYPD.
On Jan. 24 at 1:15 p.m., a student reported that she left a makeup bag with $150 in cash in her Rubin Residence Hall room on Jan. 21. She returned on the next day to discover the money missing. Police were not notified.
On Jan. 28 at 4:05 p.m., a patient at the Dental Center filed a police report about her wallet, which was missing from her handbag. She left it in a treatment cubicle at 2:45 p.m. to get x-rays, but it was no longer there when she returned at 4 p.m.
On Jan. 26 at 1:35 a.m., a student reported that two pots were missing from her Carlyle Court dorm room. Police notification was declined.
On Jan. 28 at 7:15 p.m., a student reported the disappearance of a black cloth coat from her Othmer Residence Hall closet.
On Jan. 26 at 9 a.m., a Dibner Library staff member reported that an Aeron desk chair of a $1000 value was missing from the library during an inventory check on Jan. 18. On Jan. 26 at 12:15 p.m., a student reported that she put her NYU ID in a coat, which she left lying on the
Harassment On Jan. 25 at 8:04 p.m., when a Public Safety Officer asked a photographer to stop taking pictures of students at 1 Washington Place’s lobby, the Public Safety Officer was pushed. A police report was filed.
Jan. 25 to Jan. 28 Controlled Substance
On Jan. 24 at 10:43 p.m., in Goddard Residence Hall, a small amount of marijuana was found after Public Safety responded to a report of a controlled substance. On Jan. 24 at 3:49 a.m., a small amount of marijuana was found at a Clark St. Residence Hall dorm after Public Safety responded to a report of a controlled substance. On Jan. 26 at 8:10 p.m., Public Safety found marijuana in Coral Towers Residence Hall after a report of controlled substance. On Jan. 27 at 11:30 p.m., marijuana was found in Greenwich Hotel Residence Hall after Public Safety received a report of controlled substance. On Jan. 27 at 11:55 p.m., Gramercy Green Public Safety found marijuana in the residence hall after a report of controlled substance. On Jan. 28 at 10:50 p.m., at Goddard Residence Hall, marijuana was found after Public Safety acted on a report of controlled substance.
Email the news team at news@nyunews.com.
ness, economics, law and public policy programs are in the top 15 of national rankings. NYU consistently attracts students to its stellar academic programs and draws them in with an unbeatable campus. The number
of undergraduate applications has been on a steady rise since 37,000 students applied to the Class of 2012.
Email Tegan Mosugu at news@nyunews.com.
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NYU Calls Out Common App
By ANNE CRUZ AND LEXI FAUNCE News Editors
In response to student demands to remove questions concerning disciplinary action and criminal history in NYU’s undergraduate application, NYU sent a letter to the Common App on Wednesday, advising the organization to evaluate the value of disciplinary and criminal history checkboxes in their application. NYU’s Vice President for Enrollment Management MJ Knoll-Finn previously addressed this topic in a March 2015 press release. The statement read that applications would now be initially read without knowledge of whether a student has checked the box indicating that they have been convicted of a crime. “Once an initial admissions determination is made, a team of admissions officers — specially trained on fact-based assessment and issues of bias — will evaluate whether a past criminal offense would justify a denial of admission,” the release stated. Since Knoll-Finn’s 2015 statement, the Silver School of Social Work became the university’s first graduate school to no longer require applicants to disclose whether they have been convicted of a crime. Yet NYU, as a member institution of the Common App, still must ask students to reveal this information — a point of
concern for the university. Knoll-Finn wrote the letter to Common App’s CEO and board chair on behalf of NYU. The letter questions the validity of these application checkboxes on the basis of racial inequity in the criminal justice system. “Especially in the context of high rates of school discipline and incarceration among people of color, it seems vital to pose two questions about the checkboxes: do they, in fact, have any predictive value, and does their presence work against universities’ mission as engines of social mobility and diversity either by discouraging applicants or by resulting in unjustified denials of admissions on the grounds of safety or integrity?” the letter reads. In addition to this, the letter also proposed a possible meeting in February between NYU and the Common App to discuss selecting a principal investigator to research how including the box on applications affects admission rates. The letter stated that the university hopes to have some preliminary data before the next admissions cycle to accurately judge the checkbox’s legitimacy on applications. Knoll-Finn said the university does not think there has been enough objective research done to identify positive or negative consequences of including
the checkboxes. “We believe it fitting to strongly urge the Common App to take the lead rapidly in organizing a welldesigned, objective study involving several universities on the impact of the two checkbox questions: whether they discourage applicants, whether they provide schools with information of predictive value and whether their effects align with member schools’ principles and admissions objectives.” NYU spokesman John Beckman said the decision by the School of Social Work demonstrates the growing concern across NYU and its schools about the checkbox and its consequences. “Against the backdrop of growing questions about the fairness of the criminal justice system, NYU thinks sound questions are being raised about the presence of the ‘checkbox’ on higher ed applications,” Beckman said. “Most importantly, does the checkbox have any value in terms of keeping a campus safer, and does its presence create an unfair hurdle to applicants who are trying to turn their lives around by getting a degree?” A complete version of the letter sent to the Common App can be found at nyunews.com.
Email Anne Cruz and Lexi Faunce at news@nyunews.com.
Black Diaspora Icon Stresses Education By DANIELA COBOS Contributing Writer By the time France’s former minister of justice, Christiane Taubira, took the stage in Vanderbilt Hall Friday morning, there were no empty seats in Tishman Auditorium. Attendants included politically inclined university students and international press crews, all gathered to listen to Taubira’s thoughts on politics, education and justice. While in office, she gave her name to a law which recognized the Atlantic slave trade and slavery as a crime against humanity and in 2013, she helped legalize same-sex marriage in France, allowing same-sex couples to adopt children. Manthia Diawara, director of NYU’s Institute of African American Affairs introduced Taubira to the audience. “Madame Taubira is known in the black diaspora as a formidable poet, playwright and activist,” Diawara said. He expressed admiration and gratitude towards her on behalf of his department and on behalf of NYU. As Taubira introduced herself in English, the audience grew silent. She seamlessly transitioned from speaking English to speaking French. For those who did not speak French, simultaneous English translation of the lecture was available. Taubira began her speech by recounting the inception of NYU. Taubira said Albert Gallatin wanted to increase knowledge
for the working classes, explaining her belief in the importance of education. “It is a privilege to be in the university,” Taubira said. “It is a privilege because that knowledge is precious.” She connected the establishment of the university to the French Enlightenment. Throughout her lecture, Taubira placed a tremendous emphasis on how education is the basis for any type of social change to occur. “Equality is not a slogan,” Taubira said. “It is something which is at stake and is challenged. You know everything. You know what’s happening in the world. You cannot say you don’t know about inequality or injustice.” Throughout the lecture, the audience was particularly receptive to her statements on how to combat injustice. CAS freshman Halsey Hazzard commended Taubira’s lack of neutrality when discussing injustice. “Her dedication to her convictions is extremely admirable,” Hazzard said. “I wish more politicians were similarly devoted to education and to its relationship to activism.” As the lecture shifted from education spurring social change to areas requiring social change, Taubira emphasized how essential it is for citizens to find their place in this world, citing the Harlem Renaissance as an important social movement of the 20th century. She then quoted “The White City,” a poem by Claude McKay, a prominent figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
“I will not toy with it nor bend an inch,” Taubira read. “Deep in the secret chambers of my heart / I muse my life-long hate, and without flinch / I bear it nobly as I live my part.” Among her concluding remarks, Taubira said millennials should be comfortable in their own skin and be fearless when it comes to taking on the world. “As a generation, you need to learn to think of yourselves as an individual,” Taubira said. “Remain conscious of your individual responsibility to the world.” Email Daniela Cobos at news@nyunews.com.
VIA FRANCEBLEU.FR
Former French Justice Minister Christiane Taubira spoke to NYU students about equality and justice on Friday.
VIA NYU.EDU
NYU’s Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration week takes place from Feb. 1 to 6.
Meditation, Ballet and Theater at MLK Week By RAVEN QUESENBERRY Contributing Writer
Activism, advocacy and awareness seem to be the recurring theme in Greenwich Village this week as NYU launches MLK Week 2016. Titled “There Comes A Time...” in reference to Martin Luther King Jr’s speech at the Montgomery Bus Boycott, this is a weeklong series of events put on by the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs as a means of remembering and furthering the MLK legacy. The week will kick off with African Heritage Month’s “Night of Unity,” as well as a guided talk and meditation on the importance of justice and nonviolence put on by the Global Center for Art and Spiritual Life. The following five days will feature everything from a theatrical performance inspired by King and Malcolm X to conversations about advocacy and tolerance. The most advertised of these has been Thursday’s universitywide event consisting of an interview with Misty Copeland — the first African-American female principal dancer with the American Ballet Theater — and a series of speeches from other highly influential figures in the community. Many student organizations have been involved in the planning of the week, including the Black Student Union, Gentlemen of Quality and Women of Excellence, Strength and Tenacity. CAS senior and president of the Black Student Union Arielle Andrews said the club was looking forward to being involved in multiple events, as well as using the week as a platform for the sort of community involvement that King preached. “We’re partnering with the MLK Week Committee to raise
money for our ‘NYU for Flint’ initiative at both the Janet Mock and Misty Copeland events,” Andrews said. Students across the NYU community similarly stressed the importance of King’s legacy, especially on a campus so rich with advocacy and a passion for social change. CAS junior and committee chair of the Black and Brown Coalition Juan Manuel Calero Canaval said the legacy of MLK was a complicated one, but CMEP was doing a particularly good job of upholding its multiplicity. “Especially in light of this past semester when dozens of organizations and a significant group of the student body simply had enough of what currently is and demanded NYU change,” said Canaval. “It is that root, that exhaustion, and the change that grows out of that place of suffering and hope that is especially important for a place like NYU that prides itself on its diversity. CAS freshman and MLK Scholar Sarah Salvatierra said this was particularly refreshing coming from an institution. “It says that they care about marginalized groups, whereas other universities often don’t give that attention to all of their student populations,” Salvatierra said. “That’s why his legacy was so important: it reshaped, or at least started to reshape, a lot of narratives for those marginalized groups.” As King expressed, there comes a time when people must speak out against the wrongs done to them and the injustices they have suffered. This week at NYU, there comes a time to come together as a university and do just that.
Email Raven Quesenberry at news@nyunews.com.
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NYU Knows They Can Dance By SYDNEY RAPPIS Contributing Writer
NYU kicked off the new semester with Spring Welcome 2016, launching with the second annual “So You Think NYU Can Dance competition. Structured to mirror the hit FOX reality television show, the Student Resource Center got four guest judges — including Season 11 “So You Think You Can Dance” finalist Bridget Whitman — to come in and comment on all nine competitors. Ranging from a hard hitting hiphop group to a self taught jazz fusion soloist, all brave competitors were a joy to watch. With more than 450 people in attendance, the night encapsulated some rarely seen talents of NYU students — including abstract under-the-sea interpretations and hip-hop freestyle dancing. The goal of Spring Welcome is to celebrate the arrival of the new students on campus, as well as to foster community in the students returning from break. “So You Think NYU Can Dance,” created last year by current CAS junior Ashley Holyfield, was created to be an event where anyone interested in dance — casually or professionally — could come and meet others with similar interests. “We provide something for all students,” said Isabella Vil-
COURTESY OF SPRING WELCOME MEDIA TEAM
NYU students took to the stage to compete in the 2016 Spring Welcome week’s “So You Think You NYU Can Dance” competition. lacampa, a Program Administrator in the Student Resource Center. “We had people compete from all years, including a masters student, coming from a variety of schools with all different levels of training.” During the night, the audience enjoyed a wide variety of dance, from rhythmic hip-hop groups to interpretive, postmodern styles. SPS freshman Junting Mao gave an outstanding jazz-fusion solo
performance in red heels, and student MC Shawn Thibault attempted a Swan Lake dance. Second place went to Tandon freshman student Jed Colman, who is currently studying Integrated Digital Media. Colman came out on stage with stellar confidence, dancing in a smooth robotic freestyle to musical mashups. Colman had a great connection with the audience. His fun-loving, easygoing personality was transparent
throughout his performance. In first place was Steinhardt junior Nasrin Jafari. She performed a heartwarming contemporary solo, which told the story of her journey to rediscover dance. Through dance, she communicated how and why she chose her major in Politics of Education and what extracurricular sacrifices arose out of this decision. Nasrin is currently trying to find a better balance between academics and
dancing, especially hip hop. “So You Think You NYU Can Dance” is one of several marquee events during Spring Welcome Week which includes more than 200 others. The last event will be the Spring Welcome Concert headlined by Betty Who on Feb. 18.
Email Sydney Rappis at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Amis: ‘Social Realism Has Won’ By BERTRAM PROCTOR Contributing Writer
On Thursday, Martin Amis mustered his sardonic wit for the first of this semester’s “The New Salon: Writers in Conversation” series, put on by New York University’s Creative Writing Program. Amis, one of the distinguished writers-in-residence at NYU’s Creative Writing Program, is a British novelist best known for novels including “Money,” “London Fields” and “Time’s Arrow,” the latter of which was shortlisted for the Booker Prize. He was introduced by fellow member of the creative writing department, Darin Strauss, who quickly asked him his opinion on the current U.S. election. Amis scored some early points with the crowd by recalling his experience at the last Iowa caucus, Rick Perry’s now infamous “oops” gaffe, as well as a moment where he likened Mitt Romney to a porn star. Strauss then probed
him about his interest with Stalin and Hitler, both of whom Amis has written about considerably. This prompted Amis to separate Stalin and Hitler cleanly. One was, in his estimation, entirely obvious: Stalin. The other was incomprehensible: Hitler. He espoused a theory that Hitler had managed to come to power by glorifying his own failure, which boggled him. Then, perhaps in an effort to acquaint already committed Amis fans with some of his less obvious canon, he read from his 2012 effort “Lionel Asbo: State of England” instead of one of his more esteemed works. As preamble, he asserted happiness is “usually very dull” and that it “writes white” on the page. His chosen reading, an extract describing the birth of a central character’s daughter, was an impressive counterexample to this very assertion. During the Q&A portion of the evening, a member of the audience
asked Amis to elaborate on an earlier moment when, in an almost offhand manner, he mentioned that in fiction today, social realism is “the thing and everything else is froth.” This comment caused a minor ripple of distress among an audience composed predominantly of hopeful MFA students. Amis, in reply, remained quite convinced of his view, saying “in the long historical struggle, social realism has won.” It does strike an unexpected note, however, considering that he is a writer more often compared with Nabokov than Dickens. Not to mention that he is the author of a novel written entirely backwards. “The New Salon: Writers in Conversation” series continues on Feb. 11th at 7:00 p.m. at the Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House with Samantha Hunt and Christopher Sorrentino.
Email Bertram Proctor at arts@nyunews.com.
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NYU Faculty and Alumni Shine at Sundance Festival By ZACH MARTIN Arts Editor
Every January the film industry descends onto Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival, the preeminent showcase in the United States for independent film. It’s a massive and prestigious affair where the Hollywood establishment can meet emerging talent and everyone will probably run into Robert Redford. This year’s festival was a particularly strong showing for NYU alumni and faculty. 30 percent of the films screening were affiliated with artists from the NYU community, with 11 of the films in competition were written, directed or produced by Tisch alumni. Here were a few of the highlights. Tisch alum Kenneth Lonergan (“Margaret,” “You Can Count on Me”) directed one of the biggest hits of the festival with the heartbreaking family drama “Manchester By The Sea.” Starring Casey Affleck as a man who must take care of his nephew after his brother’s (Kyle Chandler) sudden death, the film was an instant sensation and generated heavy Oscar buzz after its premiere. Subsequently, Amazon acquired the film for nearly $10 million in one of the most expensive deals of the festival. In the U.S. Dramatic competition, Tisch alum Antonio Campos (“Afterschool”) debuted his new film “Christine.” Produced by Borderline Films, a company Campos formed with fellow alums Josh Mond and Sean Durkin during their time at NYU, the film is a dra-
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matization of the life of Christine Chubbuck, a TV journalist who committed suicide on air in 1974. Borderline Films also premiered the first film produced by the collective but not directed by one of their original members. Tisch alum Nicolas Pesce’s film “The Eyes of My Mother” played in Sundance’s NEXT program, a section specifically dedicated to highlighting new and innovative directors. The black-and-white horror film is divided into three segments about the life of Francisca, a lonely young woman who encounters a psychopathic stranger in her isolated farmhouse. Plot details have been vague, indicating the less you know before viewing Pesce’s nightmarish vision the better. NYU journalism faculty member Shimon Dotan showed his new film “The Settlers” in the World
Documentary competition. The doc explores the conflict between Israeli and Palestinian populations in the disputed territory of the West Bank. Dotan explores the controversial subject on an expansive geopolitical scale as well as an intimate one. Tisch alum, graduate film professor and legendary filmmaker Spike Lee premiered “Michael Jackson’s Journey From Motown to Off the Wall,” his second documentary about the deceased pop singer after the 2012 film “Bad 25.” The film, which will play on Showtime on Feb. 5 at 9 p.m., chronicles the singer’s journey from the Jackson 5 to his breakout as a solo artist and includes a track-by-track breakdown of the 1979 album “Off the Wall.”
Email Zach Martin at zmartin@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
This year’s Sundance Film Festival showcased the works of many NYU alumni.
‘Madoff’ Doesn’t Steal the Show By TONY SCHWAB Contributing Writer
If Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” met “The Big Short” in a mediocre fashion, you would have something very close to the ABC TV film “Madoff,” produced by the Tisch Undergraduate Chair of Film & TV, Joe Pichirallo. As with those films there is a mixture of glorification and contempt for the financial industry that is undeniably hypocritical. But in this case there is not enough talent at play to cover up for this shortcoming. The first part of two of “Madoff” premiered last Wednesday at the Skirball Center. The movie stars Richard Dreyfuss as Bernie Madoff, the Wall Street trader who was named chairman of NASDAQ before being exposed for the largest Ponzi scheme in American history. Dreyfus aims for the jaded coolness of a Scorsese character, but comes across as apathetic. His manner doesn’t seem to match the crimes he committed. The supporting characters are played somewhat more successfully. As Madoff’s wife, actress Blythe Danner is fragile from a life devoted to someone who has lied to her for so long. Peter Scolari and Tom Lipinski portray the Madoff sons, both devoted to playing by the strict rules their father has set for them even as he betrays their trust. The only jarring casting error is the role of Harry Markopolos, played by Frank Whaley. Harry is the man who uncovers Madoff’s fraud. Whaley plays the part mostly for laughs, acting as a crazed conspiracy theorist. The
point seems to be that only an outsider could catch on to the crime, but this point is made at the expense of having a realistic character. Like many TV movies, “Madoff” attempts to have a cinematic feel without the budget it requires. The result is a style that feels forced and unprofessional. The movie fails to build tension other than with a loud, thumping soundtrack. The lighting is often either abnormally light or dark in order to establish mood, but this comes across as silly. The editing is sometimes overly rapid, especially in early scenes in which the Madoff’s are vacationing. The ways in which “Madoff” is derivative of Scorsese’s great 2013 film increase throughout its runtime. There is a very similar style of voiceover narration. There is a core group of loyal and deluded cronies who help the antihero commit crimes. In “Madoff,” there is an attempt at the dark humor of “Wolf,” but this fails under the censors of network television. There is the same basic implication that the lead character is simply the product of a culture that values money above all else. Condemnations in film and television of the immorality in the financial world, coming from a group of wealthy Hollywood actors, have become very common since the economic crisis in 2008. It seems to impress academy voters a great deal, as evidenced by the awards success of “The Big Short.” But a cheap moralism is no replacement for talent. As a TV film, “Madoff” is a failure.
Email Tony Schwab at arts@nyunews.com.
‘Song Exploder’ Host Dissects Songs, Interviews Artists By ZANE WARMAN Contributing Writer Each episode of “Song Exploder” features a guest songwriter to lend insight on the ideas and decisions behind one of their compositions. Hrishikesh Hirway is its perceptive host who since 2014 has analyzed hallmarks of modern music — Wilco, the Magnetic Fields, Ghostface Killah and beyond. Despite the insight the show provides, Hirway doesn’t consider himself a music journalist — the objective, rather, is to provide perspective on how each individual artist writes a song. WSN reached out to Hirway to talk about his beginnings, the art of television themes and future interviewees. WSN: In less than two years, you’ve been able to speak to some of the most important, innovative musicians that have recorded in the past twenty.
How did the guests come together at first? HH: I’ve been making records and touring [with The One AM Radio] for over a decade, so at first, I just asked my most famous friends in my circle to let me interview them. Jimmy Tamborello is a good friend I’ve know for years and The Postal Service was such an influential record that it made sense to ask him. Having him as the first guest helped open the door to ask artists I didn’t know as well, or didn’t know at all. WSN: How have these explorations on “Song Exploder” affected your own music? HH: When I talk with other musicians or visit another musician’s studio or see them on stage, I naturally get excited about wanting to try new ideas out myself. I feel like I have just saturated myself with that experience now. So there’s inspiration all around. Ironically,
the problem is that I’m spending so much time on the podcast, I don’t have as much time to work on my own music. WSN: What led you to start examining opening theme songs? What fascinates you about that process? HH: I love film scores. That’s why I moved to Los Angeles, and I’ve scored a couple of films and worked on films for another composer. So that music is part of my listening library naturally. But unlike a film, you hear the opening music for a TV show over and over, even for series with only a couple of seasons. So we have a different kind of relationship to it. It’s almost like a song that’s always on the radio. It becomes part of our cultural fabric. But in addition to making a great piece of music, you have to establish a tone for something outside of the song itself. I think that’s a very difficult problem to have to tackle. And
fundamentally, that’s what I’m interested in taking on with “Song Exploder” — how do you solve a creative problem? WSN: You said in an interview that one of your dream guests was Björk. Did your episode with her on “Stonemilker” live up to your expectations? HH: It exceeded my expectations, honestly. Given her stardom, I was surprised by how open and honest she was. She was able to access the fundamental emotional underpinnings for her creative ideas very easily. It was impressive. There’s still a long list of dream guests: Portishead, Kanye West, Radiohead, Noah “40” Shebib and Drake, Aphex Twin, Pharrell — I could go on. But I’m so happy I got to do an episode with even one of my dream guests.
Email Zane Warman at arts@nyunews.com.
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Hrishikesh Hirway is the musician/journalist behind the music podcast “Song Exploder.”
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The Life of a Public Safety Officer Everyone has seen the NYU Public Safety security guards around campus. They check your ID when you walk into class. They sign in your friends from out of town. They pick you up when you’re too far from your room late at night. But many students are confused about their actual job description. Officer Parker, a guard who works at Palladium Residence Hall, said that NYU Public Safety is about customer service. Parker added that his job mainly consists of regulating the coming and going of people in buildings so that a safe environment stays intact. Another Public Safety employee, Officer Segure, could be seen giving directions to students and visitors to the career fair on Jan. 28. When asked about daily duties, he said that each NYU building represents a unique job. “We have the same purpose, but
each building has its own personality, depending on occupancy,” he added. Segure said that the Public Safety staff has extensive training in CPR, fire safety, first aid, customer service, crime prevention and loss prevention. “We’re always taking training courses,” he said. “We always try to stay current with the city environment.” Segure also said that Public Safety stays in close contact with the New York Police Department, the Department of Homeland Security, the Mayor’s office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to monitor for safety. In addition to their more visible duties, Segure said that NYU Public Safety officers also assist the homeless by working with agencies that provide them services. “We help with placement, treatment and relocation of the homeless in partnership with the agencies,” Segure said.
Although the department works hard to keep NYU safe, Segure emphasized steps students can take to assist Public Safety’s mission. “We have all the utilities in place, but it only works when you stay within that safe environment,” Segure said. “Always be conscious of your surroundings. Take a snapshot of the block and look for anything out of place.” Segure also described an amenity available to students called the Safe Haven. Various buildings near campus that are not owned by the university are participating in the Safe Haven program. Students who feel unsafe walking around the city can enter those buildings and call for public safety to escort them to wherever they need to be. You can identify Safe Haven buildings by the NYU sticker in the window. Students can then call Public Safety to get an escort to their dorm. In addition to safety tips and
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NYU Public Safety officers in all NYU buildings work together to create a safe and positive environment for all students. alerts, the office uses their Facebook page and Twitter to post a weekly “Get to Know Your Public Safety Officer” feature to help students learn more about
Exhibit Explores History of the Supernatural By RILEY STENEHJEM Contributing Writer
The language of the birds is a mythical, magical language by which birds communicate in various mythologies. This and other supernatural beliefs are the subject of the art exhibition “Language of the Birds: Occult and Art,” which is currently on display in the 80 Washington Square East Steinhardt gallery. Its curator, Pam Grossman, graduated from NYU in 2003. Her childhood fascination with magic led to her curatorial role at the gallery. “I often say that most people grow out of that phase, but I have just grown into it,” Grossman said. “As I got older, that led me to people like Jung and Joseph Campbell. It led me to studying art history and falling in love with the surrealists, and the journey kept going from there.” Though she has curated numerous shows about the occult, this is the first that explores the history and lineage of the magical art. The gallery is split into five rooms, each with a different theme. The first room, “Cosmos: Portals, Systems, Maps,” features works of art that look at the concept of space. The second gallery, “Spirits: Forces, Entities, Deities,” uses the creatures represented to explore systems and ideologies of belief. This is a unique collection of artwork, and its austere subject matter has captured the attention of students. This second room, in particular, was captivating for its unusual artwork. “It’s really cool to see these kinds of pieces because a lot of other art museums don’t feature this kind of work, at least not that I’ve seen,” Gallatin student Melissa Ley said. The third gallery delves into the
magicians of the occult. “Practitioners: Magicians, Witches, Seers” represents the images of the witch archetype and of other types of magic-makers, but it also features work by artists who believed themselves to be magicians. Aleister Crowley, one of the artists featured here, founded his own religion, Thelema, after he claimed that a supernatural being presented him with the sacred text “The Book of the Law” in Egypt in 1904. The polytheistic religion emphasizes devotion to the self and to love. Crowley’s self-portrait represents his magical self, a mystic named Master Kwaw. The final two rooms represent physical connections to the occult. “Altar: Seligmann, Donati, Bransford, Salmon,” the fourth gallery, is an active altar space designed as an homage to Kurt Seligmann and Enrico Donati, two surrealists
whose artworks focused on magic. The central piece, created by Jesse Bransford, is a recreation of a magic circle Seligmann and Donati once used for a ritual. The room is filled with a spooky vibe, as viewers are forced to face a physical, largescale altar, a shrine to a culture that is frequently both feared and ridiculed. The final room, “Spells: Conjuration, Divination, Transformation,” showcases artworks created as spells intended to cause change or manifestation and are meant to work not just on the artist, but on the viewer as well. Though the idea of the occult may be unfamiliar or even uncomfortable to many, the gallery aims to illuminate the unrevealed spiritual connections people have with the occult. “The word occult just means hidden,” said Grossman. “This is art that tries to explore realms that you can’t see with the
naked eye, so my hope for the show is that it inspires people to connect to art in a spiritual way, to really trust their emotion and their instinct around art, in addition to also trying to think about it and analyze it.” The exhibition coincides with The Occult Humanities Conference, a weekend-long event held Feb. 5-7 at the NYU Steinhardt Department of Art and Art Professions. The sold out conference was co-founded by Grossman and includes lectures and performances that delve into the lasting effects of the occult on history, the arts and culture. The exhibition runs until Feb. 13, and a lecture featuring several of the artists showcased will be held at Steinhardt on Feb. 10.
Email Riley Stenehjem at features@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY DANIKA LAM
Found within the 80 Washington Square East Gallery, the exhibit “Language of the Birds: Occult & Art,” curated by Pam Grossman, is open to the public until Feb. 13, 2016.
the officers they see on campus every day.
Email Yeho Hwang at features@nyunews.com.
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By YEHO HWANG Contributing Writer
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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BEAUTY & STYLE
EDITED BY GABRIELLA BOWER BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
Coddington Steps Down at Vogue After 28 Years With one final flash as fiery as her orange hair, the flame that Grace Coddington brought to Vogue fades into the background. On Jan. 20, it was publicly announced that the creative director of Vogue would be stepping back from the fashion magazine and take the title of creative editor at large. While she will continue to contribute her creative eye on several shoots a year, her role at the magazine will lessen. No bridges burned, but the 74-year-old creative director is known to have expressed burned-out feelings due to the demands of the job. The lighter workload allows her to explore other creative ventures of her own. The vacancy of her position certainly raises the question of what direction in which Vogue will be taken. Coddington helped define her and editor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s legacy at Vogue. The magazine is considered to be the fashion bible by many, and Coddington assisted in writing it. Both she and Wintour began running the magazine in 1988. The magazine has thrived under their influence, but perhaps over the exponentially growing digital age, a disconnect has grown between the top of the industry and the consumers. Coddington’s departure also
resurfaces questions about the fashion industry and the seismic shifts occurring recently. Raf Simons leaving Dior. Alber Albaz withdrawing from Lanvin. Linda Wells of Allure magazine being replaced. Such substantial changes have left large roles in the fashion industry vacant and in a state of limbo. This brings about the question of losing substance and success, for fashion houses and the industry as a whole, as newcomers are soon to flood in. Hopefully not, but any changes will bring a transition period of uncertainty and acclimation. Her uncoupling from Vogue elicited strong reactions from both industry professionals and followers. In an article for the New York Times, Vanessa Friedman said, “The tectonic plates of fashion are shifting.” Other articles echoed the same sentiment. Dedicated readers of Vogue took to Twitter to express their appreciation and a bittersweet sense of loss. Fashion and culture website Man Repeller tweeted a reassuring message to the fashion community saying, “Don’t worry. She’s not going far #GraceCoddington.” While most are sorry to see her go, Coddington’s choice could allow Vogue to renew and refresh. Any opportunity for the magazine to take a less traditional approach would be welcome.
This is not to say that Coddington was traditional at all in an artistic sense. Despite any commercial pressures, Coddington stood her ground and always chose art over clothes. That is, she showed how fashion becomes art, and how the clothes the models wore were more significant
than ad deals. Her work displays how the artistic value of fashion surpasses the monetary value of clothes. Her photoshoots told stories and inspired. They invited the viewer to connect with the pages. Coddington had an ability to create these bonds whether she styled avant garde or minimalist.
Her fearlessness and vivacity allowed her to express the imagery with a clear vision, resulting in iconic and whimsical storytelling. She lit a flame that gave life to the magazine.
Email Sophie Fay Shaw at bstyle@nyunews.com.
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Grace Coddington, who recently announced her retirement, has been the creative director of Vogue since 1988.
Men’s NYFW Goes Gender Neutral By COURTNEY MARINO Contributing Writer
NYUNEWS.COM
By SOPHIE FAY SHAW Contributing Writer
Alexander McQueen told NYMag in 2009, “It’s a new era in fashion — there are no rules.” This sentiment rings true once again. The looks and styles from various men’s fashion weeks all over the world have certainly supported McQueen’s proclamation that there truly are no rules tied to the art of fashion. Within this contemporary realm of men’s fashion, preconceived masculine norms have been pushed aside. This year, renowned designers seem to be refuting the traditional sense of men’s fashion. Trends and fabrics that are classically considered to be quite feminine have dominated men’s runways so far this season. Women’s fashion staples such as floral prints, long and elegant overcoats and draping tunics have been appropriated into menswear collections. Even opulent silks and furs are no longer reserved solely for the ladies. Alexander McQueen, Versace, Fendi and Giorgio Armani all notably incorporated a layer of shag into certain
looks, tastefully denoting an air of femininity. In addition to lots of fur, subdued details related to nature have also been prominent. From Gucci’s floral suits to Valentino’s embroidered feathers, Mother Earth has certainly served as a popular muse this season. Other trends to look out for include plaids, bomber jackets, jumpsuits, metallic chrome accents and western-inspired details. We should expect to see a continued and strong presence of androgynous styles gracing the Men’s New York Fashion Week stages in the upcoming weeks. It would not be surprising to see female models strut alongside the men down the catwalk, invading the men’s runways in New York. In fact, Balmain, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Givenchy and Gucci all incorporated women into their respective shows this season. This may seem too unconventional to some, but fashion has never abided by conventions of any kind.
Email Courtney Marino at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM
Is NYU Dining Healthy?
By ANGELA LIAO Contributing Writer
For many students, NYU’s various dining halls are the main source of food throughout the school year. However, while cafeterias offer a range of healthy options, it’s not as simple as a calorie count to tell if you’re making the right choice with your meal swipe. We looked at two typical meals from the Hayden and Third North dining halls — including a main entree, two sides and
dessert — and compiled their total nutritional information to determine whether this food was in line with the USDA’s recommended nutritional intake. Looking at balanced meal from two different dining halls, WSN purchased a meal at Hayden with a hamburger, Moroccan chickpea soup, garden salad, cucumbers and a chocolate chip cookie. From Third North, the meal consisted of brown rice with spinach as well as chicken and vegetable stir-fry.
According to the USDA’s dietary guidelines for 2015-2020, on a 2,000 calorie diet for women and a 2,400 calorie diet for men, people should be consuming about 46-56 grams of protein, 130 grams of carbohydrates and 2,300 milligrams of sodium per day. The meals from Hayden and Third North both contained about 86 grams of carbohydrates, over half of the recommended daily intake. How-
ever, their total calories — 590 for Hayden and 900 for Third North — and amount of sodium — 770 for Hayden and 880 for Third North — stayed in line with the amount recommended by the USDA. Dr. Marta Fiorotto, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Nutrition at Baylor College of Medicine, said that analyzing a single meal for its nutritional value is dependent on what else the person eats throughout the day. When looking at the two meals from Hayden and Third North, Fiorotto noted that they were a bit high in fat
and calories, and don’t provide much calcium. The fat content for the Hayden meal was high despite the fact that it didn’t include fries. “This is too high in calories, especially fat,” Fiorotto said in an e-mail about the Third North meal. “Both brown rice and spinach are very good, but the preparation seems to have a lot of fat that makes them more caloriedense than they could be.” Dining hall meals can be healthy as long as students watch their portions and balance their diets. Ultimately, Fiorotto said students should be conscious about the food choices they make when eating at a dining hall and regulating what they eat throughout the day. For example, Fiorotto suggests putting mustard rather than mayonnaise on a burger, or choosing an oatmeal raisin cookie over chocolate chip. “Nutrition education of the students is important,” Fiorotto said. “Depending on what else one eats, these meals could be just fine, or not so fine.”
Additional reporting by Ankita Bhanot and Kendall Levison. Email Angela Liao at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
What You Can Get for the Price of a Meal Swipe in the Real World By TAYLOR NICOLE ROGERS Contributing Writer
It is almost impossible to step into any dining hall without hearing complaints from freshmen about the high cost and quantity of meals they are required to purchase. All freshmen are automatically assigned the 300 Flex meal plan priced at $2,466, which provides $150 Dining Dollars and 300 meal swipes at $7.72 each. But if you’re tired of the dining halls, try one of these local favorites for comparably priced eats.
A. Vanessa’s Dumpling House — 220 E. 14th St. Inspired by street food in Beijing, Vanessa’s Dumplings provides easy access to everyone’s favorite Chinese comfort food. One can enjoy eight boiled vegetable dumplings for only $5.49 or a grilled chicken sesame pancake sandwich for $2.99. Their 30 piece bags of frozen dumplings are perfect for nights in with friends at less than $12 a bag. Vanessa’s also offers free delivery until 10 p.m.
B. Mamoun’s — 119 MacDougal St. This conveniently located falafel restaurant has long been a late night favorite of NYU students. Albeit a crowded hole-in-the-wall, Mamoun’s is the oldest falafel restaurant in New York City and their traditional recipes have earned them a near perfect rating on Yelp.com. Mamoun’s famous falafel sandwich — along with three other vegetarian sandwich options — is just $3.50. Their popular shawarma sandwich is $6.00.
C. Fuku — 163 1st Ave Fuku, one of the latest ventures of the team behind Momofuku Noodle Bar and Momofuku Milk Bar, has quickly become a favorite of those seeking an alternative to Chick-fil-A, even though it’s on the pricier side. Fuku’s signature spicy chicken sandwich features a large, sustainably sourced deep-fried chicken thigh marinated in habanero purée, buttermilk and spices inside a Martin’s potato roll with pickles and butter. The sandwich is $8 and is best paired with fries or slaw, both $3.
D. 2 Bros Pizza — 319 Ave of the Americas Due to the massive size of its slices, many NYU students rank 2 Bros Pizza a step above the average dollar pizza place. With a minimalistic menu and a cash only policy, 2 Bros is the ideal snack after a night on the town. The beloved pizza place offers a combo that includes two slices of pizza and a canned drink for only $2.75.
Palladium
Kimmel Kimmel is another student favorite, as demonstrated by the excessive lines around lunch hours, and for good reason: variety! You have a pasta bar, you
A.
STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
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VIA FACEBOOK.COM
E. Tortaria — 94 University Place Tortaria, a casual Mexican sandwich shop, is well known for its party-like atmosphere. Menu favorites include the $7.81 Mexican grilled cheese with Oaxaca cheese, tomatoes and salsa and the $7.35 Tacos al Pastor with grilled pork and sweet and sour pineapple salsa. Tortaria also has a full bar and sells a variety of Mexican pantry staples.
D.
Email Taylor Nicole Rogers at dining@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY JAKE QUAN
NYU Dining Halls Ranked In terms of overall experience, Palladium is the clear winner. They’ve got the best salad bar in the biz, solid pizza, Indian food, sushi— and a menu that is constantly changing and offering variety. What’s great about Palladium is you can eat healthy or be utterly indulgent. Oh, and there’s actually room to sit. Of course, the real star of the show is Palladium brunch. They bring out all the stops for this meal. The dining hall’s beloved Sunday feast is a weekly reminder that Palladium is the best of the bunch — the chocolate fountain is all it took to win me over. The best thing you can get at Palladium: Sunday brunch, Indian food, sushi What you should avoid: Watered-down soda fountains
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have Mexican, you have deli sandwiches. Also, how cute is Chloe’s Soft Serve station? Kimmel is centrally located, always buzzing and even has outdoor seating. Plus, the Peet’s Coffee on the second floor is a nice alternative to the excessively long lines at the Starbucks down the block. The best thing you can get at Kimmel: Variety, healthy ice cream, quesadillas What you should avoid: Bumping into people
Upstein Quiznos. Chick-Fil-A. That random breakfast corner called Over Easy. A salad bar. Jamba Juice! What more do you need? Bland tasting pizza? Go downstairs for that. Upstein is where it’s at. Sure, there’s never enough seating and the Chick-Fil-A doesn’t serve their full menu, but at least Upstein tries. Of course, don’t rule out the Kosher cafeteria. Zoe Siegal, a junior, says, “Jews love it. And some non Jews.” So, there you have it.
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STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
By MONICA HANNA Contributing Writer
The best thing you can get at Upstein: Smoothies, popular chain restaurants, kosher options What you should avoid: Trying to bribe the staff for more than two Chick-Fil-A sauces
Downstein Downstein — also known as “Weinstein Passport Dining” — also gets variety points. I can’t imagine going to Downstein when you have Upstein right upstairs, but apparently some people do it. You can choose from pizza, pasta, vegetarian options, deli choices and a grill. Downstein is a little random, and there’s something kind of depressing about eating underground, but it is definitely not the worst. The best thing you can get at Downstein: Pretty much anything What you should avoid: Having high expectations
Hayden Hayden — the mecca for social freshmen. It’s your basic dining hall, with a salad bar, grill, pastas, deli sandwiches and horrible bagels. Like a lot of the other dining halls, there’s a good chance you’ll find what you’re looking for at Hayden, but it won’t be the best meal you’ve ever had. However, it does have a great atmosphere. The best thing you can get at Hayden: Cookies, a new freshman friend, breakfast What you should avoid: Questionable looking vegetables
U-Hall To give an example of how irrelevant U-Hall is, I’ve been spelling it UHaul up until a few days ago. It’s far, random, and also underground, but the Burger Studio at U-Hall is not horrible — you can customize your own, get a veggie version and use a cute little machine. The ability to order from your phone is also a plus. But overall, U-Hall has about as much
variety as this Oscar nominations. The best thing you can U-Hall: Burgers What you should Pretty much anything than burgers.
year’s get at avoid: other
Third North The Third North dining hall is like that aunt who can’t cook but still tries. Despite being decently sized, there aren’t that many options and the menu is pretty boring. But every once in awhile the grill serves something mildly exciting. And by the way, do not even try walking in just to look around. Swipe or go home. The best thing you can get at Third North: Grilled cheese, ice cream (if the machine is working), bacon What you should avoid: Everything else
Email Monica Hanna at dining@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM
OPINION
EDITED BY RICHARD SHU OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
HEALTHCARE
Prizes not Patents: Racing for the Cure Requires Teamwork By AKSHAY PRABHUSHANKAR Contributing Writer At a press conference on Thursday, the World Health Organization described the Zika virus as “spreading explosively,” with the potential to affect four million people in the Americas alone. The mosquitotransmitted virus is prompting panic similar to the Ebola outbreak of 2014. While Zika exhibits only mild symptoms for most people, experts believe that infected pregnant women have a higher chance of giving birth to babies with microcephaly, a rare neurologic birth disorder. Some suspect there is also a link between Zika and GuillainBarré syndrome, a form of paralysis. Zika, which had been limited
to equatorial Asia and Africa until recently, has spread to Brazil and the United States. Since October, 3,500 cases of microcephaly have been reported in Brazil since October, and there has been at least one Zika-related death in the United States. In a world that continues to grow more connected every day, global outbreaks are somewhat unavoidable. Nonetheless, changes to our global healthcare and pharmaceutical industries can substantially reduce the possibility of a serious outbreak. Despite the resources now being devoted to research, experts say it could still take up to 10 years to develop a vaccine or treatment for the virus. Considering that we have known of Zika’s existence for
decades, it is shameful that we only regard it as a serious concern once it begins to threaten thousands. This flawed reasoning perpetuates the current cycle of widespread panic followed by officials scrambling to control a predictable situation. In our globalized world, where mosquitoes do not recognize borders, one reported case is already halfway to one thousand. It is easy to blame pharmaceuti-
cal companies for neglecting some diseases, but we cannot expect them to invest in research that would just not pay off. However, private corporations have access to the best resources, which leaves governments responsible for making the economics work for them. Many politicians, including President Obama, have expressed interest in reforming the system so that pharma is not given patents for their developments, but monetary prizes instead. This provides an incentive for companies to competitively fund research on many more diseases, including ones with serious infectious potential that currently only affect fewer or poorer people. It also has the added benefit of preventing monopolies that
can lead to treatments costing $750 a pill. The financial burden of these prize funds may fall on citizens of wealthy countries, but it must be embraced as the cost of a safer, healthier planet. The ethical argument is even stronger. It is disgraceful to let people suffer or seek out black market medicines simply because it would not be profitable to treat them. Our governments and organizations like WHO need to recognize that a prudent shift to prizes is worth trying in order to gather a hesitant public’s support. This new system will reward innovation — not greed.
Email Akshay Prabhushankar at opinion@nyunews.com.
UNIVERSITY LIFE
NYU Should Not Look to Students for Donations By TOMMY COLLISON Contributing Writer The recent $10 million donation to the Tisch School of the Arts is welcome news, and will give NYU’s actors, dancers and set technicians a new performance space to hone and showcase their many talents. The donation comes from philanthropist Iris Cantor, who has already given generously to NYU through her support of the Iris & B. Gerald Cantor Film Center. Generous donors, such as Leonard N. Stern, Michael H. Steinhardt, Chandrika Tandon and Robert F. Wagner have given money to other schools at NYU and were recognized accordingly. These donations often
run into the millions of dollars and help the school provide students with an education that is world-renowned. However, as well as taking donations from generous philanthropists, NYU calls on students to donate to other students in the form of The 1831 Fund, which former President John Sexton called “scholarships for students, by students.” Given that many students asked for money receive financial aid themselves, the university surely has no business asking them for donations, and shouldn’t have to regardless. As he begins his tenure as president of this university, Andrew Hamilton should continue to look toward alumni and donors,
rather than current students, to finance NYU. The reasons for this should seem obvious. Just three percent of NYU students have their full financial needs met by the school. The financial aid website for Columbia University, our spirited uptown rivals, on the other hand, promises to meet “100% of the demonstrated financial need for all first-years and transfers pursuing their first degree.”
This is certainly a striking difference from NYU’s administrative attitude, characterized by its regular dismissiveness of current and prospective students’ concerns; when asked about an application fee waiver, Tisch Director of Graduate Admissions Dan Sandford responded that “If $65 is a hardship for you how will you be able to pay the tuition of $60,000?” For the sake of good press and practicality, NYU must look beyond students for additional funding. Naturally, no course of action will please everyone, and some NYU students and alumni will invariably look gift horses in the mouth. Last fall, when the university changed the name of the engineering school after a $100
million donation from the Tandons, students and alumni were outraged at what is a startlingly common practice. A Change.org petition calling on the administration to not change the name from NYU Poly garnered some 1,500 signatures. But by looking to alumni and other generous donors, NYU can reduce the financial burden on students. I cannot imagine a petition calling on the administration to raise tuition fees and lower financial aid for students being popular, but if NYU does not accept and encourage outside donations, they may not have much choice.
Email Tommy Collison at opinion@nyunews.com.
GOVERNMENT
Flint Officials Must Value Lives Over Their Pockets By ABRAHAM GROSS Deputy Opinion Editor The ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan, has prompted some to blame the situation on the government and its disregard for minorities and the poor. While this may help to explain the inaction of local officials, another possible reason can be found in the origin of the crisis. Flint’s switch in water sources, from their original supply to unsafe Flint River water, was primarily motivated by the opportunity to save millions of dollars for the city’s citizens, a seemingly noble goal. However, despite the widespread complaints and the mounting evidence of health hazards, the officials were
reluctant to transition back to the old Detroit water source due to the cost of reconnecting. City officials clearly valued money above all else. The ongoing crisis in Flint proves that government officials across the country regularly value cost before people, often with disastrous consequences. For instance, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has failed to issue a recall or even an advisory that urges drivers to replace allegedly unsafe Takata airbags that are used by several major car manufacturers. The NHTSA’s inaction leaves millions of drivers with potentially lethal time bombs inches away from themselves and their loved ones. It is a worrying state of affairs when the
lives of citizens are entrusted to companies rather than regulators tasked with the job of safety. Government officials have often seemed reluctant to intervene or even address in cases where is would threaten a major company’s public image and bottom-line. During the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, arguably the most infamous environmental health hazard
in recent memory, government officials were criticized for consistently underestimating the size of the disaster and spreading misleading information as to the extent of recovery. More recently, in California’s San Fernando Valley, a gas leak spewed several million metric tons of methane – a greenhouse gas more potent than carbon dioxide – forcing thousands to relocate as many have reported health problems. Despite official knowledge of the gas leak for over 100 days, California Governor Jerry Brown only declared a state of emergency beginning in January. On a more reassuring note, the action of some California officials exemplifies a proper government
response to public emergencies. The Los Angeles attorney’s office has sued the Southern California Gas Company, the owner of the leaking gas well, for its insufficient response to the ecological and health crisis, and forced the company to continue funding temporary housing for those affected. These are the actions of civil servants whose primary responsibility is to maintain the safety and wellbeing of the public, not profits and savings. Officials and citizens alike would do well to learn the lesson that Flint residents have to swallow.
Email Abraham Gross at opinion@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RICHARD SHU OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
INTERNATIONAL
STAFF EDITORIAL
Denmark Refugee Policy Deplorable By RICHARD SHU Opinions Editor At the outset of the refugee crisis in Europe, Denmark was one of many progressive nations that stood up to the challenge of accepting displaced peoples. But the Danish government recently enacted a policy that significantly bumps down their nation’s humanitarian standing: if any refugee carrying more than 10,000 Danish kroner — $1736 — worth of possessions with them, the Danish government will confiscate the excess. The proponents of the bill claim that it is designed to help pay for the costs of processing and hosting refugees. But if the ultimate goal of accepting refugees is to protect them and to keep them healthy and safe until the situation improves in their homelands, stripping them of their cash helps no one. Refugees who have money have the means to settle down, become productive and contribute to the economy — a better investment in the long run. Refugees with nothing turn to crime, fall into poverty and place an even greater burden on the welfare state.
If the nation’s finances are truly under duress, skimming nickels from the poorest contingent possible is not going to be the solution. The thought-killing cliche of pragmatism masks a more insidious motivation. In the wake of the refugee crisis, xenophobic and anti-Muslim parties like the Front National in Paris and the Danish People’s Party in Denmark exploited the growing sense of unease by fingering blame at refugees, calling for them to be turned away for the sake of security. They care not for the efficacy of the bill, nor do they care to actually pay for humane treatment in the first place. The confiscation measure is merely a way to scare refugees away from Danish borders. It is certainly no coincidence that the measure came on the heels of a widely-publicized string of sexual as-
saults by refugees in Cologne. Rightwing nativists used the attacks to rally popular opinion against the migrants, who were labelled threats to ordinary people and the stability of the nation at large. Their exhortations of civilizational collapse are, of course, all overblown. One highly publicized incident cannot stand for a whole group any more than these extremist political parties stand for the nation as a whole. By passing the confiscation bill, the Danish government is allowing the loud, inhumane voice of a few take precedent over the understanding and welcoming many. If there is an aspect of Danish culture that is worthy of protecting, it’s that same social consciousness and desire to protect the world’s weakest that created the welfare state in the first place. It’s an awareness of the dangerous nature of fear and an ever-present desire to avoid the mistakes of the past. No European nation can afford at this moment to give themselves to paranoia — too many lives hang in the balance.
Email Richard Shu at rshu@nyunews.com.
RACE
Asian-Americans Deserve Racial Nuance By EMILY FONG Deputy Opinion Editor In the United States, to be “AsianAmerican” is to be everything and nothing at once. The term itself is so nebulous, often encompassing ethnic groups with little to no relation to each besides the fact that they originate from the same gigantic continent. Race relations and notions of privilege in the United States have always been tempestuous, but many fall into the trap of believing that the main conflict has always been between all people of color and their white counterparts. In reality, racial privilege operates in a much more complex way. The Asian-American community occupies an odd spot in the American racial hierarchy, and its members often find themselves embroiled in issues that are unique to them. For instance, there are serious problems that AsianAmericans face from established institutions and from less formal social norms. The most famous idea is probably the “model minority,” a myth that serves to invalidate Asian-American accomplishments, homogenize an extremely diverse group and pit Asian-
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Americans against other minorities. The “model minority” idea also hides the severe disparities that exist in Asian-American communities. For example, the overall poverty rate for Asian-Americans in the US sits at about 13 percent. But that number changes once the “Asian” umbrella term is removed: people of Hmong descent are impoverished at a 38 percent rate, Cambodians 29 percent, and so on. These disparities originated from the practice of racializing Asian immigrants into the United State’s blackwhite racial binary, according to historian Evelyn Nakano Glenn’s book Unequal Freedom. Certain groups — such as East Asians — were “whitened” and elevated while others got the opposite effect. Even so, AsianAmericans still find themselves perennially “othered,” not just by white
institutions and norms, but by other minorities as well — Asian-Americans report being told that they don’t get to count as people of color. Still, it is important to consider the ramifications of the privilege Asian-Americans are afforded. AsianAmericans are not targeted by law enforcement at anywhere near the rates blacks and hispanics are. Within Asian-American communities there exists significant racist sentiments, especially against African-Americans. There is a perception that when the black-white racial binary is evoked, Asian-Americans more naturally side with whites — even at NYU, when the creator of the White Student Union page said that they garnered support particularly from East Asian students. Asian-Americans can neither look past the grievances caused by primarily white institutions, nor can they ignore the problematic tendencies within their own communities. It is crucial that all citizens dialogue with and attempt to understand each other, and Asian-Americans are no exception.
Email Emily Fong at efong@nyunews.com.
Accountability for Cops Should See No Color
Before his trial began last week, all we knew of Peter Liang was that he was an inexperienced police officer who fatally shot 28-year-old Akai Gurley in a Brooklyn stairwell in November 2014. We have since learned that Liang and his partner, while on a patrol against their commander’s wishes, failed to administer first aid or call for emergency health services well after the bullet from the allegedly accidental discharge of his weapon ricocheted into Gurley. From the gung-ho expedition up the shadowy stairwells of the infamous Pink Houses to the lack of help that could have saved Gurley’s life, the Liang case screams for serious reform of NYPD training protocol. Issues regarding police brutality have long plagued New York law enforcement, with multiple recent cases making national news. Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who killed Eric Garner with a banned chokehold in 2014, was cleared of all charges despite a viral video capturing the ordeal. Liang is one of the few police officers recently indicted for killing an unarmed person. Unlike in the case of Pantaleo — whose courtroom was flooded with fellow cops — few of the members of the Patrolman’s Benevolent Association were present at Liang’s trial. The obvious difference between Pantaleo and Liang is that Pantaleo is white and Liang is Chinese-American. And, discouragingly, some groups have taken this difference and run with it. For instance, a mostly Chinese-American crowd turned out for a pro-police rally led by Joseph Concannon, a white former NYPD captain. A protester justified his participation by saying that white officers “haven’t faced this when they’ve killed people.” This belief is rooted in the idea that racial dialogue in the United States is always beholden to an us-versus-them narrative. Supporting broken and corrupt institutions does not benefit any minority group. But the rhetoric of police officers is meticulously engineered to pit communities against each other, all while police brutality continues unchallenged. The problem at hand in the Akai Gurley case pertains to more than just one racial group. It extends deep into the way that NYPD officers are trained and disciplined — white, black or Asian. Anyone could have been dead at the bottom of that dark stairwell. The Akai Gurley case is not about race as much as it is about defending communities of all stripes from officers incapable of properly serving the people — whether it be out of nervousness, aggression or bigotry. The Asian-American community has nothing to gain by rallying to Liang’s defense. They have everything to gain from holding all officers more accountable, including white officers, no matter what pro-police political manipulators may say. Every community has a stake in creating a more accountable police force. Only when they unite together can they exercise that stake.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Richard Shu (Chair), Emily Fong (Co-chair), Abraham Gross (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM
SPORTS
EDITED BY MICHAEL THOMPSON SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Promising Weekend for Basketball By BRANDON HERRERA Contributing writer
The effects of momentum in basketball are sometimes overemphasised, but no fluke. It’s a game of runs, where a few good possessions put together can immediately change the course of the game. Unlike football, it doesn’t take a herculean effort to come back from a double-digit deficit, no matter who the opponent is. In this weekend’s basketball action for the Violets, momentum was the key, for better or for worse. On Friday, the men’s squad was defeated at home by Carnegie Mellon 85-80 in their first game. The Violets held a 14 point lead early on, but Carnegie Mellon was able to quickly climb out of the hole, finishing the first half up 39-37. In the second half, the Violets stormed ahead once more but were not able to hold on to their 11-point lead as Carnegie Mellon surged ahead for good. De-
spite the loss, senior center Costis Gontikas joined the university’s 1000-point club, becoming the 31st player to achieve the milestone. On Sunday, the team bounced back with a great offensive performance, blowing out Case Western Reserve University 100-82. Senior captain Evan Kupferberg led all scorers with 25 points while senior forward Patrick Burns posted his sixth double-double of the season as the Violets improved to an overall record of 14-3. Now ranked 22nd in the nation by d3hoops.com, NYU dominated the Spartans, shooting an impressive 59.7 percent overall from the field. The Violets turned on the jets in the second half as they led their opponents by as much as 25 points late in the game. Freshman guard Doug Gertner is looking to the upperclassmen as March fastly approaches. “We have a senior-heavy team with postseason experience so they know what it will take to grind out
this last month and put us in a position to make a run in the post season tournament,” Gertner said. Meanwhile, the women’s team — ranked seventh in the nation by USA Today — extended their current win streak to four games as they took down both opponents. Carnegie Mellon gave NYU quite a scare on Friday as their 17-point lead in the second half was erased late in the game. Carnegie Mellon had only held the lead once midway through the first quarter before they retook the lead with under two minutes left. Down one, senior captain Maya Wasowicz answered right back by converting on a game-winning three-point play as she was fouled attacking the basket with a minute remaining. The Violets came out victorious, 75-74. In their game against Case Western, NYU beat the Spartans 82-70, improving to 17-1 on the season — a record good enough to put them in first in the University Athletic Asso-
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NYU Women’s Basketball won against both Carnegie Mellon and Case Western University, where Megan Dawes (pictured) led with 25 points. ciation. Senior captain Megan Dawe led the Violets in scoring with 25 points while junior guard Kaitlyn Read tallied her sixth double-double of the season. NYU increased its lead to as many as 18 points late in the third quarter, but Case Western would not go away, cutting the deficit to only six with under four minutes remaining in the contest. The Violets, however, were able to keep a strong mentality throughout and
never let their advantage slip away. The NYU men’s basketball team will return to the floor this upcoming Tuesday, Feb. 2 as they face Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey at 7:00 p.m. The women will continue play this Friday, Feb. 5 against Carnegie Mellon University at 6:00 p.m.
Email Brandon Herrera at sports@nyunews.com.
Resilience Pivotal in Hockey Wins in Dramatic Fashion Wrestling’s Big Day By RACHEL RUECKER Deputy Sports Editor
By ELI EDWARDS Contributing Writer
The NYU men’s wrestling team had to compete in two different locations on the same day, but that did not stop them from sweeping Gettysburg College 31-6 and Johns Hopkins University 27-10 at the Gettysburg Quad before beating Muhlenberg on their home turf 44-3. The three consecutive Centennial Conference wins are pivotal for the NYU Grapplers’ push towards competing in nationals and ending the season on a positive note. Playing at two different locations in one day is challenging, but the Grapplers showed poise, improving their record to 9-4 in dual meets this season. The first match of the day was at the Gettysburg Quad in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania when the 22nd-ranked Grapplers defeated the host, Gettysburg College in a dominating performance led by junior Nathan Pike and sophomore William Gockel-Figge. Gockel-Figge, who usually wrestles at 184 pounds, defeated Gettysburg’s Anthony Puca with a convincing 5-3 victory in the 197-pound weight class. Junior Nathan Pike has been instrumental in the Grapplers’ success this season, and went 3-0 on Saturday. “I set a goal to win my matches by tech falls and I was able to meet that goal,” Pike said. “As for the team, we won all our matches today and everyone wrestled hard. We even had some wrestlers wrestling above their respective weight class and still coming out with wins.” After beating Gettysburg handily, NYU soon faced Johns Hopkins in the second leg of the Gettysburg Quad. The Grapplers had a key per-
formance by sophomore Raymond Jazikoff who beat his opponent, Tommy Grifa, with a major decision 12-2. Jazikoff is now 23-6 in the season. NYU also had a standout performance from sophomore, Austin Day, who was first at the Jim Aguiar Invite in New Hampshire a few months ago. Day was successful again on Saturday, winning his decision 9-3. Though it took two hours for the Grapplers to travel to Allentown, PA, the team did not take their foot off the gas pedal against the Muhlenberg Mules. NYU lost only one of its individual matches throughout the dual meet, showing that even after a long day they still had enough motivation to finish strong. Senior captain Dylan Lojac led the team to victory, winning all three matches of the day, improving his record to 14-11 in the season. Lojac won his match against Muhlenberg sophomore Logan Laughlin, pinning him at 3:53. Even with a schedule made more tiring after Winter Storm Jonas, Lojac was impressed at his team’s response. “It was a little unusual, because we had to make up a match with Muhlenberg, which was cancelled due to the blizzard,” Lojac said. “Our team showed their resilience by winning that match 44-3, despite the circumstances.” The NYU wrestling team will be back in action on Wednesday, Feb. 3 against the United States Merchant Marine Academy in another Centennial Conference match as the team looks to improve their already stellar 9-4 record.
Email Eli Edwards at sports@nyunews.com.
After back-to-back wins on the road last week to start 2016, the NYU hockey team began a three-week homestand before the best time of the year — playoff hockey. On Friday, the Violets met their rival William Paterson University Pioneers, to whom they dropped an earlier matchup in a 4-2 decision. Freshman Matthew Welch was slotted into the lineup to account for injured freshman Hamilton Whyte. A walk on from “midget hockey” (minor league hockey for children between ages 15-17), he felt “ready to go” mentioning the team’s earlier defeat to the Pioneers. NYU got an early chance on the power play when the Pioneers got dealt a cross-checking penalty early in the first period, but ultimately could not capitalize. A couple of minutes later, senior forward Denis O’Hara was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct. Then quickly, the Violets were down two men as senior defenceman Gabriel Gollette got added to box. This proved to be the first frame’s turning point as WPU got the go-ahead goal on the two-man advantage. An early quarrel of sorts in the second threw defencemen freshman Gabe Regan and junior Charles Arsenescu to the box along with a couple of WPU players to deliver some 4-on-4 action, but the score remained intact. The game went into the third with the Violets still down by
one, but Arsenescu quickly got the tying tally to make the game viable once again. The Violets successfully killed a couple more before the end of regulation to send the game into overtime. A moment that’s sure to be looked back on as a classic by the season’s end came when sophomore forward Mike Conslato scored the game-winning goal, unassisted, helping the team to successfully avenge their earlier season loss to WPU. Frequently penalized flyer Regan felt great about the game’s exciting overtime finish, especially given the opponent. “In my opinion it’s huge,” Regan said. “We felt like we were on top of the world after that win and hopefully that feeling and the confidence we gained from it can stay with us and help us in our playoff push and run for a national title.” The Violets took to the Sky Rink ice again on Sunday to face
Boston College, who they beat in a 5-3 contest in Newton, Massachusetts earlier in the season. It didn’t take long for freshman forward Mason Gallegos to score to put NYU in front. Then, a minute into the second, freshman standout John Kowalewski doubled the lead with a goal assisted by junior forward David Shaby and sophomore forward Steven Esposito. Freshman forward Keaton Baum got another at 5:27 to put the Violets ahead 3-0. Another goal by Conslato extended the Violet lead to 4-0. And to cap things off, freshman forward Jack Orne scored NYU’s fifth of the night, his first ever as a Violet. After the second period onslaught, the Violets comfortably cruised to a 5-1 win. The Violets are home again next weekend, starting things off Friday at 8:30 p.m. against Montclair State.
Email Rachel Ruecker at rruecker@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY TATIANA PEREZ
NYU men’s hockey beat William Paterson University 2-1 on Friday and continued on to defeat Boston College 5-1 on Sunday at Chelsea Piers.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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SPORTS
EDITED BY MICHAEL THOMPSON SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Fencing Thrills in Dominant Wins By MICHAEL THOMPSON Sports Editor
With the regular season winding down, NYU’s men’s and women’s fencing had an actionpacked weekend highlighted by the men’s most thrilling performance in recent memory. Most of the competing took place at the Eric Solee Invitational in Waltham, Massachusetts. Both teams faced a long list of opponents on Saturday, including a number of familiar foes. The men’s portion of the event featured a remarkable performance by the Violets as they tore through their competition. After defeating Boston College in their closest match of the day 17-10, the Violets were unstoppable, defeating their final five opponents by a combined score of 110-25. They went down in order, as Violet sabres, foils and epees made quick work of school after school. Brown University, Haverford College, MIT, Hunter College and host Brandeis University were all overwhelmed by a Violets team peaking as the
season reaches its climax. Dominant performances were commonplace on Saturday, especially in foil, where numerous Violets quickly racked up wins, led by sophomore Philip Shin’s 16. Sophomore Yash Srivastav and freshmen Siegfried Gokea and Kyle Welch further anchored the team at foil, with a combined record of 22-1. Not far behind Shin was Daniel Sconzo, who racked up 15 wins of his own. Strong performances also carried over to sabre and epee. Sophomore Hans Engel led the charge at epee with 14 wins, just ahead of junior John Cramerus’ 12-4 mark. Freshman Grant Williams was the best at sabre, finishing with 14. The women’s team was a bit busier, competing on Sunday against Tufts University in addition to the invitational. The weekend was a mixed bag for the women’s team, who were able to come out of a mid-invitational lull to finish Sunday strong. The Violets went 2-4 in Waltham, with victories coming against Haverford and Hunter College. The momentum the Violets gained with their victory over
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Williams went 3-0 in sabre on Sunday, when NYU took on Boston College, Brown University, Haverford College, MIT, Hunter College and host Brandeis University at the Eric Solee Invitational in Waltham, MA. Hunter carried over to Sunday’s action against Tufts, where the team finally seemed to be coming together. Freshman foil Alisa Traskunov has seen the growth first-hand. “I think we have a great group of students — both the new freshmen recruits and the upperclassmen — and to witness all this talent on a regular basis is inspiring,” Traskunov said. Even with an uneven win-loss mark, numerous Violets stood out on Saturday. Like the men, the
women’s team was strongest at foil. A pair of freshman, Traskunov and Anastasiya Muravyeva were the star performers, combining for a solid 25-10 record. Muravyeva’s success continued into Sunday, where she finished 3-0 against Tufts. At sabre, the Violets relied on a trio of combatants as junior Cydney Williams and freshmen Maria Free and Jacqueline Tubbs totaled 27 wins on Saturday. Hannah Bennett’s 9-7 record over the weekend was the team’s best in epee.
“I think the most important thing for me to remember for the championships and in general is that I remain calm on the strip, show good sportsmanship, and think about my actions,” Traskunov said. Both teams are back in action on Feb. 10 at Columbia University for the Historical Meet, two days before the U.S. Junior Olympic National Championships.
Email Michael Thompson at mthompson@nyunews.com.
Women Dominate, Men Lose Close Call in Swimming By ASHLEY ARNOLD Contributing Writer
With championship season looming, the men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams both competed in Pennsylvania against West Chester University on Saturday in the final dual meet of the year. The men lost a competitive 178121 battle, while the women dominated with an emphatic 204-82 win. Sophomore Chad Moody was primed for another big day and delivered, taking first place in the 100-yard freestyle. He also finished in third place in the 100-yard backstroke. Moody competed alongside sophomores Adam Betts, Tim Kou and Junior Daniel Tay in the 200-yard relay race where the men placed second. Betts is looking forward to the season’s home stretch based off this weekend’s performance. “We knew that it was going to be a close meet and many of our swimmers really stepped up and achieved some good times,” Betts said. “This is our last dual meet of the season and I’m excited to go into our championship season with the results we posted this weekend.” In the three-meter and onemeter competitions, sophomore diver Dylan Adler landed in third and fourth place, respectively, while freshman diver Max Falb placed in fourth and fifth place. Junior Max Phillips was victori-
ous in the 200-yard freestyle and also finished in second for the 100-yard freestyle. “It was the second time I had raced in the 100-yard and 200yard freestyle since I was out with an injury for November,” Phillips said. “I was quite happy with my results and I’m glad to see being gone for a month didn’t have as big of an impact on my races as I thought it would.” There were also a number of solid performances on the women’s side.
Freshman Haley Wen was in top form, winning the 500-yard and 1000-yard freestyles. “The meet was our last meet before championship season,” Wen said. “I think based upon both my swims and the swims of my teammates we are in a great position to do some amazing things in the next few weeks.” Freshman Noel Leung finished first in the 100-yard freestyle as well as the 200-yard freestyle. She also placed in second for the 100-yard butterfly.
“I am proud to see our team pushing through every event even [if ] some of us have started tapering,” Leung said. Sophomore Isabelle Kitze won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly. She was also part of the winning 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard medley relay teams. Junior diver Ashlie Pankonin placed first in the one-meter and three-meter competitions with two NCAA-qualifying scores. Pankonin did not let the
reputation of the other team affect her performance in a negative way. “The West Chester divers are really talented,” Pankonin said. “Instead of letting that talent discourage us, we let it inspire us to do the best that we could this weekend.” The Violets will be hosting the NYU Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 5-6.
Email Ashley Arnold at sports@nyunews.com.
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Both men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams competed in Pennsylvania against West Chester University on Saturday, where the men lost 178-12, while the women had a 204-82 win.
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