NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 40, No. 6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012
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High School students join OWS
SexPosed bridges gender gap By Sydney Wu
By Emily Yang
Clothing as a vehicle for individuality and self-expression was the theme at last night’s second-annual fashion show, SexPosed. Following the success of last year’s event, the Gallatin School of Individualized Study hosted the show to emphasize the important role of gender in fashion. The 10 featured collections dismissed the notion that gender is communicated by what a person wears. “You don’t necessarily have to express your gender all the time,” said Rachel Plutzer, director of special events at Gallatin and organizer of the show. “We wear different outfits to express different sides of ourselves.” Plutzer added that the gender divide in both fashion and society is clearly evident.
New York City high school students walked out in solidarity yesterday afternoon against the city’s school closings and budget cuts. They converged with supporters from Occupy Wall Street in Union Square. Last month, Mayor Bloomberg announced he would close the 33 lowest-performing schools in the city and reopen most of them with new teachers and names. During his administration, classrooms have become overcrowded, and schools have experienced many budget cuts. Gregg Lundahl, the United Federation of Teachers chapter leader at Washington Irving High School, said Bloomberg made these policies to cheapen public education and lower tax burden. “We believe that the mayor ought to be shut down, not these
Kristina Bogos/WSN
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Gallatin entertained last night with a gender-neutral fashion show.
Spacey wows crowd and rules in ‘Richard III’ By Kayla Epstein
At long last, director Sam Mendes’ thrilling production of “Richard III” has come to conquer New York with Kevin Spacey leading the charge as the eponymous tyrant. “Richard III” is the last of Shakespeare’s eight plays chronicling the English War of the Roses. After nearly a century of conflict, the house of York has come to power and the dust seems to be settling. But the disfigured Richard, duke of Gloucester, isn’t ready to quit fighting, as evidenced by his vows to “prove a villain” and scheme his way to the throne. At its heart, “Richard” is the study of a psychopath. Thus, Mendes and set designer Tom Piper fashions the
English court into a setting fit for a horror movie. Walls lay bare save for decaying white paint. Myriad doors line the walls of the set, representing the lack of both privacy and escape. In the final two acts, the back wall is pulled away, revealing a tunnel of infinite darkness, evoking the sense that everyone in the play is slowly being swallowed by a black hole. Spacey is the deadly star around which the production orbits. Rather than treat the tyrant’s hump and withered limb as a handicap, Spacey’s jerks and contortions lend Richard an inhuman presence. He is also one of the funniest Richard III’s
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Alumni convert change for a cause By Jessica Littman It always feels like a waste to toss a MetroCard that still has any amount less than $2.25 on it, but there is little else to do with it. Three NYU graduate students have come up with a solution: a machine capable of donating that unusable change to charity. Stepan Boltalin, Genevieve Hoffman and Paul May, second year students in the graduate Interactive Telecommunications Program at the Tisch School of the Arts, have designed a machine that reads and recycles old MetroCards. The device scans the card’s magnetic strip and displays the remaining amount which the user can donate. “We thought that if we collected cards as donations, that the amount of small value collected at different locations had the poten-
Rachel Kaplan/WSN
MetroChange hopes to use old MetroCards for charity. tial at scale to really add up,” Hoffman said. MetroCard holders throw away cards with spare change adding up to $52 million per year. This statistic is the driving force behind the MetroChange organization, according to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
“The crux of the MetroChange platform is that small donations have the potential to add up with a system that makes donating easy,” Hoffman said. “We want to make it so that donating is part of people’s daily routine, just like taking R METROCHANGE continued on PG. 4
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Compiled by the
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Editor-in-Chief amanda randone Managing Editor
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Thursday | 6:30 p.m. | The Studio at Webster Hall | 125 E. 11th St.
Friday | 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The New Museum | 235 Bowery
Saturday | 12 to 6 p.m. | Rosenberg Gallery | 34 Stuyvesant St.
Sunday | 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. | South Street between Beekman Street and Peck Slip
The Dangerous Summer and Weatherbox
Museum as Hub: Beirut Art Center: Due to Unforeseen Events...
Imprint (NYC): The Evolution of Motifs in Fashion
This exhibition, ending soon at The New Museum, focuses on what happens to art when an original idea is somehow transformed.
This is the last day to see the exhibition that examines the resilience of certain prints in fashion through items by well-known designers. It is curated by Steinhardt graduate students.
Up-and-coming rock band The Dangerous Summer is playing at the intimate Studio at Webster Hall.
New Amsterdam Market The New Amsterdam Market is a return to old-school food markets with small, local vendors selling fresh products.
loughran special issues kristina bogos multimedia james kelleher copy jordan melendrez social media agent nicole gartside
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opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editor ATTICUS
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Python Attack
Thousands of Burmese pythons that live in the Florida Everglades are destroying the park’s ecosystem. Scientists believe the pythons were either set free by pet owners or escaped from exotic pet stores during Hurricane Andrew in 1992. In the warm, humid climate, these reptiles have reproduced, and scientists believe there are tens of thousands of them in the area. The pythons can swallow animals as large as alligators whole along with raccoons, opossums, bobcats and whitetailed deer. As a result, sightings of the python’s prey have greatly declined in the past eight years. Scientists worry these pythons could disrupt the Everglades’ food chain and environmental balance. — Fox News University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
“University invests $814.8 million in energy” —The Michigan Daily
A pair of M&Ms prepare themselves to see the sights at Times Square.
PHOTO BY Kelsey Ledgerwood
University of California, Davis
“Incoming first-year students guaranteed student housing for two years” —The California Aggie
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jaywon choe kelsey desiderio russell steinberg KIRSTEN CHANG francis poon terka cicelOVa 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 Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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Meet the recipients of this year’s MLK awards By Julie DeVito
Five professors will receive the annual Martin Luther King. Jr. Faculty Awards on Feb. 8. Nominated by students and chosen by the Selection Committee, the MLK Awards are given to those professors who have made a positive contribution in the classrooms and to the NYU community.
Pedro Noguera, professor at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development Noguera has been active in social justice movements and has worked to advance education and protect rights of disadvantaged students. “My work as the director of a research center that works with urban schools and districts throughout the U.S. is a source of great fulfillment for me,” Noguera said. “It allows me to apply the knowledge I have gained over the years to the betterment of schools.” Mellie Torres, a Steinhardt doctoral candidate and former student of his, said Noguera helped her achieve her potential. “He helped me realize that I, too, can make important contributions for youth from marginalized communities by engaging in scholarship in the name of service and social justice as he does in his work,” she said.
Shankar Prasad, adjunct assistant professor at Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service At Wagner, Prasad teaches courses on political learning and behavior in immigrant communities and the use of technology in civic engagement. He is also a faculty affiliate at Broome Street residence hall and is co-founder and CEO of yourlist.org, a web service dedicated to making the political process more transparent through a forum. He hopes that his experiences in the private sector and academia will add value to his students’ learning experience, in addition to giving them an idea of the options available to them post graduation. “NYU does an amazing job of fostering a strong sense of community, and I love adding to this overarching mission as a teacher, faculty affiliate for the residential system and as an active participant in campus life,” Prasad added.
Joseph M. Salvatore, clinical assistant professor at Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development Salvatore’s courses and research focus on gender, sexuality and identity construction. Outside class, he works as a Faculty Fellow in Residence at Third Avenue North residence hall, playwright and director. He said he enjoys seeing people experience and question his works. “Dr. King’s use of non-violent protest as a way to create change has inspired so many people around the world to take action, and I try to embrace this notion in the work that I do as an artist and as a teacher,” he said. “I believe that enduring social change takes time and a lot of patience.”
Kim Taylor-Thompson, professor at NYU School of Law Taylor-Thompson works with public defenders to help them empathize with their clients who may reside in economically and racially subordinated communities. In her most recent work, she looked at how children are treated differently according to their race in court. “It is a tremendous honor to be recognized for doing something that I love so dearly,” TaylorThompson said. “It inspires me to continue finding ways to focus on issues of race and class as we look at what the law does and should do differently.” Taylor-Thompson said she hopes her teaching and scholarship have contributed to helping develop young leaders to understand that law can create social change.
Additional reporting by Emily Yang. Julie DeVito is university editor. Email her at jdevito@nyunews.com.
The dating game changes with shift in male-to-female ratio
VIA FLICKR
By Kelsey Murphy It may not be so hard for single girls living in New York City to find their man. According to a recent study by StatsBee from the New York City Economic Development Corporation, the number of single men and women between the ages of 20 and 34 in the city is almost equal. Using data from the recent census in 2010, StatsBee found that in New York City, 47 percent of men and 53 percent of women within that age group are single. Researchers also found that there are nearly 13,000 more never-married single males than never-married single females. The figures also varied in neighborhoods across the city. In Greenwich Village, for example, the number of women is nearly double that of men.
In contrast, many neighborhoods in Queens, men outnumber women two to one. Melanie Wallner, an NYU alumna and dating expert from DateMySchool.com, said the website has a higher number of male users. But there are more female active users. “I think safety has a deeper influence on where women will feel comfortable living,” Wallner said. “This translates to online dating as well. It makes sense that though DMS has a higher percentage of male users, more females are active users on DateMySchool.” Wallner, however, said the census results do not match her experience. “It also reports that the ratio of males to females changes depending on the neighborhood, so I was an NYU student living downtown for four years, always wondering where all the
Deirdre Royster, associate professor at Faculty of Arts and Science Royster joined NYU in 2009 after leaving her position as director of Black Studies at the College of William and Mary. Her teaching and research focus on economy, racism and gender and class studies. “Sharing with students the richness of sociology is really fulfilling because they can use what they learn as a tool outside the class,” she said. Sociology professor Jeff Manza said Royster’s work is a reminder of the racial discrimination that persists in American society many years after King’s death.
single, straight guys were,” she added. CAS junior Adam Weist said he was surprised by the results. “I feel like it would be the opposite because women in New York City are much more career-oriented than in other cities,” Weist said. “It seems like they would be less likely to date with their busy schedules.” But Elise Silvestri, a first-year student at Columbia Law School, said the neighborhood statistics highlight the divisions across the city. “The findings, in a way, confirm my thoughts that it is challenging to find men in this area,” she said. “As a college student, I probably wouldn’t be making my way to Queens to find love between my classes, but overall the statistics are very interesting.” Kelsey Murphy is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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NYC high school students walkout in solidarity schools of hard-working students and teachers,” Lundahl said. The walkout was created by Save Legacy, a student group from Manhattan’s Legacy High School that opposes the school’s closure by the Department of Education. Students from other high schools are facing closure, including Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn and Lehman High School in the Bronx, also attended. “We’re saying no more cuts to education and no more closures. We’re fighting back, we have a voice and we’re here to say no,” said Dinae Anderson, a junior from Humanities Preparatory Academy in Manhattan. “We should have an opportunity to defend our schools and be able to change, not just close it down,” she added. Students, teachers and OWS members spoke to a crowd of over 200 attendees about their experiences and struggles under Bloomberg’s education administra-
tion, according to Justin Wedes, an OWS leader and education advocate who spoke at the event. Occupy the Department of Education, the main faction of OWS present at the protest, has been active in education-related issues and has called for an end to school closings and government-controlled schools since Nov. 2011. “We want to end mayoral control so that principals, teachers, students, parents and community members can have more say in the way their schools are run,” Wedes said. Occupy the DoE plans to protest at the DoE’s panel on educational policy at Brooklyn Technical High School next Thursday. “We will take back the panel from Bloomberg and his education bureaucracy,” Wedes said. “We’ll take it back to the people.” Emily Yang is city/state editor. Email her at eyang@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012 | nyunews.com
features
edited by jessIca littman features@nyunews.com
Coed dance team modernizes Bollywood choreography By Anne Kehoe The energizing movement of Bollywood dancers — synonymous with films like “Slumdog Millionare” — is no longer limited to the big screen. Dillagi, NYU’s Bollywood-Hindi Film Dance team, was founded in the fall of 2010 by Mohit Chhatpar. Dillagi is a coed dance team that regularly performs in the city and has even traveled for competitions. The team performed at Hofstra University earlier this year. Next weekend, Dillagi will be traveling to Atlanta for a show called A-Town Showdown. This will be the first time the group travels outside the New York region for its biggest competition since the club was created. “People will be competing with dance teams from all over the country,” LSP freshman and Dillagi member Shaaranya Pillai said. “These types of national competitions are how you make your reputation and a name for yourself as a college Bollywood team.” In preparation for the event, the group has choreographed routines that incorporate Ghangra, another dance genre. Because the music is in another language, Dillagi has amplified Ghangra with more classical Hindi music and contemporary dance moves. “Most of the time we take our music straight from Bollywood movies,” Pillai said of the Dillagi performances. “Even though I was taught classically, I love doing other genres. In our upcoming competition, we’re going to have a Bollywood round and a fusion round.” This past Sunday, Dillagi presented an impressive showcase of Bollywood and Bhangra dance talent at Eisner and Lubin Hall in the Kimmel Center for Student Life. There were three performances from Bollywood dance teams:
Courtesy of NYU Dillagi
Dillagi dancers compete in New York. St. John Fisher’s RAAZ, Rutgers’ Ehsaas and NYU’s Dillagi. There was also one Bhangra performance from Mount Holyoke’s Raunak Bhangra. All four groups performed enthusiastic routines set to compilations of colorful music. Although most of Sunday’s action circled around these performances, the highlight of the afternoon was a highly anticipated appearance made by Imran Khan, one of Bollywood’s preeminent actors and celebrities. Fresh off a plane from Dubai, Khan was in town for less than 24 hours promoting his new film, “Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu,” but suspended his hectic schedule of New York appearances to attend the festival. In an interview with the event’s master of ceremonies Anil Daibee, Khan talked about a variety of topics, from his favorite New York City pizza place and his workout regimen to his upcoming film, which comes out in February. The congenial Khan, who was surrounded by a small flock of paparazzi and welcomed by several hundred adoring fans, gave the event a spirited and star-studded appeal. With events like the show on Sunday and the upcoming Atlanta competition, the Dillagi club is quickly expanding its activities. Anne Kehoe is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
METROCHANGE continued from PG. 1
Converting change for charity the subway to work.” While the system is not yet up and running, the team has built a prototype MetroChange machine. Using this simple model, subway passengers can swipe their card, press a single button and drop their card into a slot for recycling. The change on the card gets transferred to a central pool and donated to charity at the end of the month. The process is as easy as tossing the card in the trash. The MetroChange founders still have plenty of work in the development of their technology and in the forging of partnerships. “Currently we are seeking partnership with charities, transportation agencies and potential sponsors,” Boltalin said. “We are still in [the] process of reaching out to charities that would be interested in collaborating.” But MetroChange is struggling with how to pay for the system. Since all the money on paid MetroCards goes to the MTA, regardless of whether it has been used or not, MetroChange cannot simply take the spare change from a card.
According to the MetroChange blog, the organization may have two solutions: “The MTA returns this loose change, or somebody else matches the amount without involving the MTA.” Perhaps one of MetroChange’s biggest issues is garnering the support of the MTA. “Though it sounds like a good cause, unfortunately the MTA is in no position to lose millions in revenue,” MTA spokesperson Kevin Ortiz said of the proposal. “We encourage riders to reload their MetroCards.” Serena Adlerstein, a Gallatin freshman and frequent subway rider, said she thinks MetroChange is a great idea but impractical. “Most people are in a hurry when in the subway,” she said. “I doubt they would do it.” Nonetheless, the MetroChange founders are determined to push forward and hope their idea will take hold both with possible sponsors and with travelers. Jessica Littman is features editor. Email her at jlittman@nyunews.com.
SEXPOSED continued from PG. 1
Event bridges the gender gap in fashion “I love high heels,” she said, “but I know that they were designed by men to make women’s legs look longer.” In a video presentation before the show, men who had been interviewed prior to the show voiced their opinions that nothing is sexier than a woman in men’s clothing. Confidence is key — a woman should dress in what reflects her personality and feels comfortable. The 15 talented student designers, some of whom collaborated on their collections, sought to evoke a story through each line. Models of both genders were in the show, but the focus was not on whether the model was male or female, but on who they were as a person. The room was crowded as
the models hit the runway that assistant director Theresa Anderson described as “beyond awesome and creative.” Supermodel Cheryl Tiegs served as master of ceremonies at the event. “Fashion should be an expression of your inner soul,” Tiegs said when she opened the show. “Think creativity.” Designers Megan Moore, Elyse Frenchman and Liza St. John, who created five looks together, concentrated specifically on this concept. “Our theme is androgyny,” Frenchman, a Gallatin freshman, said. “Everything is so divided now between genders that this event is trying to show that it doesn’t really matter. We identify ourselves through clothing.” While some designers wanted to showcase how masculinity and femininity
can be mutually transformed, others chose to define the shape of the human body using geometric shapes. Plutzer and Anderson said they hoped those who attended the show would walk away with a fresh perspective on fashion. They wanted audience members to see the looks not just as shirts, skirts and pants, but as stories composed of material, pattern, shape and structure. The positive reaction of the crowd indicated the accomplishment of this goal. CAS junior Julie Osmanski said her favorite part of the show was “seeing everyone’s interpretation of the overall theme of the show.” Sydney Wu is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Movement and music mesh in the walls of new exhibition By Emily McDermott Art, architecture and music intertwine in a new exhibition at the Storefront for Art and Architecture gallery. Dutch artist Allard van Hoorn has challenged the conventional form of art in the gallery’s 007_Urban_Songline installation. The space on 97 Kenmare St. has been transformed into a rare and interactive piece of musical artwork. The gallery’s facade is divided into 12 moveable panels, each rotating vertically or horizontally. Connected to the walls are strings that create sounds recorded by microphones in the gallery. When a patron moves one wall, the entire Storefront is activated, producing audible sounds not only for the participant, but those walking along the street as well. The curious passers-by soon enter the store to investigate as well. Visitors are encouraged to push the walls labeled “play me” while stepping through openings in the web of strings. They can create a personal score through touch and movement. The sleek and modernist design of solid gray, concrete walls open to reveal a vibrant red gallery space filled with white strings. The style simplifies the presentation but engenders curiosity.
Emily McDermott/WSN
Hoorn’s installation is an interactive experience. The invitation to play is boldly printed in navy letters, but instructions are missing. It is unclear how and what a passer-by should play. This could encourage creativity, but in general seems to intimidate unsure participants as many curious city wanderers peered inside the gallery. “The design is intriguing, but I had no idea what to do,” tourist Amy Radin said. But as soon as one person figured out the trick, the installation attracted
many visitors, happy to create unique, spur-of-themoment music in an unusual setting. Guests are invited back at 5 p.m. daily to hear a compilation of the music created throughout the day. StoreFront is open Tuesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The exhibition runs through Feb. 18. Emily McDermott is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012 | Washington Square news
ARTS
edited by JONATHON DORNBUSH ARTS@nyunews.com RICHARD continued from PG. 1
Kevin Spacey rules in ‘Richard III’ in recent memory. He wrings every line of verse for dark humor and indulges in Richard’s habit of confiding in the audience, easily winning them over. And it is this endearing quality that Spacey’s sporadic explosions of menace are all the more terrifying. The only drawback to placing such a maelstrom in the middle of the stage is that every other actor pales in comparison. Spacey’s performance, while magnificent, is also selfish. The greatest actors are those who not only give sublime performances but also elevate those of their cast members. Yet everyone in this production seems to be standing back in fear of being devoured by Spacey. The play’s strongest opposing force comes from Gemma Jones, who transforms Queen Margaret into a rueful sorceress. Her heartbreak and ire are the only forces capable of matching Spac-
ey’s fury. Chuk Iwuji, however, does make for an especially fervid Buckingham, Richard’s most trusted henchman. Blessed with a skilled director and a delicious villain, the play never loses its suspenseful edge despite Richard’s obvious fate. The cinematic grandeur of Richard and Richmond’s final clash showcases Mendes’ ability. Projected storm clouds cover the stage, and Mendes enlists the actors in a drumline that ramps up the tension to a level rarely present in a Shakespearean battle. Anyone familiar with the Bard’s stories knows from the outset that such a villain must perish at the end. But this “Richard” still makes us care, because it never lets us forget how much is at stake when the wrong person is given too much power. Kayla Epstein is a contributing writer. Email her at theater@nyunews.com.
‘Pants’ can’t shake mediocrity
By Jeremy Grossman
MTV’s recent forays into scripted programming have been hit or miss. While “Awkward” and “Teen Wolf” were well-received by audiences, “The Hard Times of RJ Berger” and the American remake of “Skins” disgraced the network’s already lackluster schedule. “I Just Want My Pants Back” feels shockingly reminiscent of “Skins.” Both feature bed-hopping, drug-hungry youngsters frolicking around cities, too untroubled for the world they inhabit. But unlike the Baltimore teenagers of “Skins,” the characters of “Pants” are college graduates in Brooklyn, trapped in awful jobs. Despite a degree from Cornell, Jason Strider, played by likable newcomer Peter Vack, is stuck cleaning toilets at a casting agency. No matter how much the show believes it, Jason and his friends are not “cool outsiders,” but rather Urban Outfitter-drenched fashionistas with Ivy League educations to boot. Thus far, it is impossible to sympathize with the characters, as they wake up in their beautiful apartments, attend the trendiest parties and complain about their jobs when, realistically, most others their age are struggling to pay rent. Consequently, the overarching plotline for Jason’s character, in which he tries to reconnect with a one-night stand who stole his pair of pants, feels shallow. What makes this girl so special, and why is this boy’s quest to find her so impor-
tant? “Pants” fails to set the stakes and gives its characters ample time and opportunity to whine about the most mundane problems. This may be the network that broadcasts “Jersey Shore,” but audiences still deserve a show with a more mature, self-aware outlook on life. Regardless, “Pants” is surprisingly capable of witty one-liners and situations. “Do you need a pregnancy test?” a convenience store owner sarcastically asks Jason’s hungover friend Tina (Kim Shaw). A subplot in the second episode involves engaged couple Stacey (Elisabeth Hower) and Eric (Jordan Carlos) attempting a four-way with a married couple to spice up their relationship. The absurdity of the situation and the total compliance of the actors combine for an energetic story worthy of television’s finer comedies, like “How I Met Your Mother” or “Modern Family.” These rare clever moments are in sharp contrast to the rest of the show that comes off as the product of an MTV executive’s research on hipster culture. MTV should be less concerned with seducing an audience using low-brow characters and more willing to let writers speak with their own unique voices. Still, “Pants” finds ways to prove that it’s better than its MTV predecessors – if given free reign by MTV, it could transform into a bold, intelligent program with its own distinct personality. Jeremy Grossman is entertainment editor. Email him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.
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‘Big Miracle’ simply average By Clio McConnell From the trailer for “Big Miracle,” audiences might hope for a big filmmaking miracle, for the movie to be a worthwhile experience. While “Miracle” never excels, it is not nearly as bad as the preview may suggest. Based on Tom Rose’s book “Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World’s Greatest NonEvent,” the film depicts Operation Breakthrough, a 1988 effort by the U.S. government to rescue three whales trapped in a gridlock of Alaskan ice. Billed as a romantic drama, “Big Miracle” is refreshingly platonic. With Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski playing the lead duo, viewers may anticipate a love story. But what they will find is that the whales steal the spotlight. Nicknamed Fred, Wilma and Bam Bam, these three gray whales are stranded five miles from the open sea by a block of solid ice. Adam Carlson (Krasinski) is covering an inane local news story when he spots them, confined to a small open-air patch of water. He calls in a local whale expert, who determines that the animals likely have
via everybodyloveswhales.com
John Krasinski and Drew Barrymore star in the film. only a few days to live. Adam reports the story, and the coverage makes its way onto national television as a filler piece. The whales’ sad tale wins the hearts of Americans, including Rachel Kramer (Barrymore), an avid Greenpeace worker and Adam’s ex-girlfriend. Rachel heads to Alaska and manages to publicize the situation, dragging Ted Danson as oil driller Liam Peterson into the rescue mission. Kristen Bell rounds out the suitable — if uninspiring cast — as Jill Gerard, the bright-eyed, ambitious newsgirl that Rachel might have been in another life. The acting in “Big Miracle” sadly keeps the actors in their familiar, typecasted roles — Krasinski is still the easygoing straight talker
from “The Office,” and Barrymore is as impulsive and stubborn as ever. The other members of the ensemble all serve their purposes, but none of them manage to bring depth to their respective roles. Indeed, the plight of these animals was a story important enough to make the national news in 1988 and to warrant the involvement of President Reagan and the Soviet Union. With clips of real footage from Operation Breakthrough, “Big Miracle” has just enough historical intrigue and veracity to disguise that it — like the story’s inspiration — never amounts to anything. Clio McConnell is theater and books editor. Email her at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.
‘Innkeepers’ delivers true chills By Alex Greenberger
While other horror filmmakers have been busy churning out found footage and unrated cuts, Ti West has been crafting horror films. His “House of the Devil” was exceptionally well-made, complete with riffs on ’70s demonic possession films and long, wordless sequences. “The Innkeepers,” West’s sixth feature film, loses some of the fine filmmaking of “House of the Devil,” but the result remains largely the same — a horror movie that actually frightens. “The Innkeepers” seems outwardly familiar, as West intends. Sara Paxton stars as Claire, a caretaker at the Yankee Pedlar Inn. She dislikes her job, but the inn is closing soon. In her spare time, Claire is also obsessed with catching the inn’s supernatural activity on tape, but she has never been able to see a ghost. Luckily for her, the ghosts begin to make their presence known during the inn’s final days. “The Innkeepers” manages to do away with just about every horror cliché that exists. The movie’s heroine Claire may be blond, but rarely does she conform to stereotypes by making poor decisions. The film’s setting initially appears trite as well. “The Shining” has explored the physical and psychological terrain of a haunted hotel before, but that movie’s hotel was large and spooky. The Yankee Pedlar is quaint and seemingly harmless. These off-putting variations in horror
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tropes add to the film’s surprising scare value. West’s restraint in “The Innkeepers” also amps up the frights. The horror in “The Innkeepers” burns slowly — the initially lethargic pace increases, gradually upping the tension. The first hour of the film involves few thrills, consisting mostly of banter between Claire and another caretaker. Though enjoyable for its comedy, this period may lower your expectations of the remainder of the film. “Innkeepers” relies on a few cheap scares, but in the last half hour it reveals itself to be much more. When all the ghosts from the first hour collide in the final ten minutes, the film becomes unbearably intense with a series of potent and unrelenting scares. “The Innkeepers” proves again that West’s films deserve to be held up as models of modern horror, especially in a genre that is dominated by half-naked sorority girls and bland jump scares. His movies work well because of his reliance on older horror movie techniques, as evidenced by his throwback to ’80s horror films. West knows that filmmakers should continue to look back so they can learn and borrow from the old masters. True to this philosophy, “The Innkeepers” is at once a successful tribute to long-forgotten horror films and a remarkably effective one in its own right. Alex Greenberger is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012 | nyunews.com
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 500 new Seventh Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 The york times crossword & daily sudoku For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, February 02, 2012
Edited by Will Shortz Across
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nyunews.com | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012 | Washington Square news
OPINION
edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com
ELECTION 2012
Romney defense more effective than offense By Brittany Sherman
A news report by The New York Times on Jan. 29 recounted Newt Gingrich’s fight in Florida where he labeled Mitt Romney a liar, wealthy supporter of Wall Street and an enemy to Jewish people. This is nothing new for Gingrich. Up until this point, he has characterized his campaign as extremely anti-Romney, taking every chance to slander his opponent from any angle. Whether or not it brought about his victory in South Carolina, this conduct came through as a defamation of his character. To me, it seemed excessive and slightly debasing. On the other hand, Romney has always been good at remaining far from the scenes of Gingrich destruction. He largely left the task to his own supporters and to his Super Political Action Committee, choosing instead to use his energy in the fight against President Obama. But it wasn’t long before Romney got pulled in. Days before the Florida primary, when polls
projected Gingrich in the lead, Romney chose a new strategy. He decided to shift his purpose from an antiObama campaign to an anti-Gingrich campaign. There would be no holes barred. And indeed, there weren’t. Romney immediately began publicly classifying Gingrich as “an erratic, unreliable Washington insider” in mailings and television advertisements. He was finally fighting back, and the result was nothing short of bad political tactics. While I understand the need for Romney to rally support and acknowledge the debilitating effects that would result from a Gingrich victory in Florida, I see his new strategy as a turn in the wrong direction. I do not think that Romney should sit back and accept the accusations that Gingrich is throwing at him. That would definitely be a sign of weakness. However, there are ways to deflect this criticism and turn it on its head. This is exactly what Romney successfully accomplished when he responded to Gingrich’s accusation
of his connection to Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae with the equal accusation that Gingrich, too, had funds in the company. But there is a clear difference between responding adeptly to allegations and making an anti-Gingrich strategy the forefront of his campaign. Romney would have been much better off sticking to the former and avoiding the latter. Romney should continue with his prior goal of uniting Republicans who have a primary interest in defeating Obama. Keeping a focus on this strategy as well as promoting an understanding of what his central views are would have been much more effective to his campaign following his recent victory in Florida. Anything else would be truly detrimental to his character. If anything, this would portray him in a similar light to Gingrich, which I doubt is what Romney is hoping to accomplish. Brittany Sherman is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
ELECTION 2012
Modern politics the sport of today By Atticus Brigham Newt Gingrich’s decline began last Monday when debate moderator Brian Williams told the Tampa debate audience not to applaud. Though Mitt Romney’s early investments in Florida’s expensive media markets and direct attacks on Gingrich surely helped him win Florida’s delegates, the unheard played a larger role than anything that was said. In the 17 debates preceding the two held in Florida last week, Gingrich goaded, undermined and vilified moderators and opponents alike. I delighted in watching the part-time Bustopher Jones impersonator bask in the guttural bellows that greeted his every acerbic slight. By comparison, the debates in Jacksonville, Fla., were dull. Their opinions echoed through an auditorium that seemed to have more people on the stage than in the seats. Gingrich, constrained by contrived censorship, became more of a sideshow than a showman. His ideas on moon colonies, open marriages and closed borders were met with a silence signaling the death of exciting presidential debates. Throughout his campaign, Gingrich has sought the label of an outsider running a grassroots campaign. He attacks Romney’s big business endorsements, record in finance capital and support from the Washington Establishment. Even Gingrich’s campaign’s post-Florida press release said, “On Romney’s side, we have John McCain
SUBMITTING TO
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... On Newt’s side, we have Chuck Norris and the Tea Party.” Whether or not there is any truth to Gingrich’s Ford-Reagan dichotomy, or if he has merely mobilized white anger under the guise of populism is debatable. Yet, nothing has contributed more to Newt’s outsider status than the new debate rules squarely aimed at taking away his best weapons and introducing a new candidate: Mute Gingrich. The lack of howls and hoots made the debate feel like watching a blowout baseball game resumed after rain delay, or Archie Bunker’s rants without a laugh track. Debates provide a forum absent from the choreographed campaign appearances, television ads, stump speeches and rallies replete with unopposed spin. These face-offs showcase the candidates’ oratory skills and are the lifeblood of popular political involvement. Would those distracted by the loud crowds at earlier debates rather have a dry dialogue on sonorous subjects? As Rick Perry will attest, audience involvement heightens the debate’s stakes. Gaffes are instantly met with low regard — as they would be in any performance — and fierce rhetoric is embraced. These audience reactions necessarily cue viewer responses. Viewers do not lack the capacity to differentiate the opinions they are developing in reaction to the debate from the reactive cues provided by the audience. Voters in the prejudicial environment that is America and their choices, however socially shaped, must be made
within that framework. Viewers must merely maintain a self-awareness any eligible voter should possess. If these unpredictable conditions are removed through crowd control, there remains little reason to watch the debates. Though candidates can evoke telling reactions from each other, without a live audience, candidates just continue to parrot the same positions impervious to mass criticism. For example, fans in Honolulu booed throughout the first quarter in reaction to the players’ obviously lackluster efforts at the Pro Bowl, resulting in a more exciting game. Modern politics is, to an almost equal degree, a sport. This has been especially true of the circus that is the 2012 Republican primaries. There is no more tangible affirmation of the consent of the governed than hearing their roars in response to conflicting views. However appalling to the sensibilities, debate audiences have the right to boo gay soldiers, wolf-whistle bigotry and give standing ovations for the venomous, divisive and purely outlandish statements Gingrich utters. In a country eager to defend the First Amendment rights of Super Political Action Committees, little attention is being paid to real free speech. As neither candidate stands a real chance of stopping a second term, the censure of the last modicum of democracy in debates may be Gingrich’s only lasting impact on Presidential politics. Atticus Brigham is deputy opinion editor. Email him abrigham@nyunews.com.
staff editorial
Falsified data discredit college ranking sites
Despite the sphere of prestige that surrounds certain high-profile American universities, the origins of their distinction largely remains a looming question mark in the world of academia. When exactly does a university reach the level of prowess that transforms it into a sweatshirt school? What entices prospective students to become consumers of both the school’s brand name and the educational product they offer? For better or for worse, the existence of university rankings has played a large — albeit untrustworthy — role in the public’s evaluation of American universities. But the hazy sources of these numbers, evaluations and comparisons cast a shadow of doubt on the college ranking system. The most ubiquitous producer of these college rankings was the U.S. News & World Report until their numbers were called into question by The New York Times this week when the statistics of several participating schools were proven fallacious. Although these rankings were never assumed infallible or absolute, it is an unsettling thought to consider the impact these nebulous rankings have had on the monumental decisions of college-bound high school students. These rankings and reviews are composed of categories like selectivity, peer assessment and graduation rate. Conclusively, these statistics have been falsified, stretched and altogether bent into a pretzel by universities concerned about their reputation. It is clear that the cons of having these college rankings have outweighed the pros, proving them more misleading than informative. Claremont McKenna College’s recent number-fudging on the rankings sends an important message to all prospective college students and members of the academic community. It warns them not to put excessive weight on these statistics, whose numbers and their ambiguous authority have distorted the perspectives of college shoppers. Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.
Editorial Board: Olivia Gonzalez (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Emily Franklin, Nicolette Harris, Matt Kao, Ben Miller and Peter Murphy.
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, fifth floor, New York, NY 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.
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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2012 | nyunews.com
SPORTs
edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunewS.com
Head to Head: Giants vs. Patriots breakdown By John Axelrod and Cole Riley
The New York Giants and New England Patriots will meet in the Super Bowl for the second time in four years. WSN sports staff writers John Axelrod (Giants) and Cole Riley (Patriots) debate the strengths, weaknesses and x-factors of their favorite teams.
Riley: Hey, John. I haven’t been this excited for the Super Bowl since — oh yeah — 2008. The last time, the Patriots faced the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, left tackle Matt Light and left guard Logan Mankins were dominated by defensive ends Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. However, the game plan must change in Indianapolis this Sunday. The Patriots offense is the best in the league at spreading out defenses. Slot receiver Wes Welker and tight ends Aaron Hernandez and Rob Gronkowski are able to line up in five-receiver sets and force zone coverage. Although a high ankle sprain limited his practices this week, Gronkowski will remain a consistent target with his huge frame and ability to break tackles. Expect quick two-step drops by Tom Brady and quick flares to Welker and Hernandez, drop-offs to tailbacks BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead and possibly a deep post to wide receivers Deion Branch or Chad Ochocinco. If Brady gets the ball out of his hand quickly and with accuracy, he will stay on his feet and avoid the apocalyptic pass rush of the Giants.
Axelrod: I definitely agree that this could be a match-up for the ages. The Patriots have one of the all-time greatest passing attacks with Brady at the helm, and although Gronkowski will play on a bum ankle, their receiving corps will challenge the Giants’ secondary. But have you watched these playoffs? The Giants’ pass defense has played well under pressure. They held quarterback Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys to 14 points in the last game of the regular season to win the division, completely shut out the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Wild Card round and held quarterback Aaron Rodgers to his lowest passer rating of the season in their upset victory over the Green Bay Packers. Let us not forget, the secondary also intercepted Brady twice in Big Blue’s victory at Foxborough in Week 9. Brady’s new two-step drop supposedly will allow him to get the ball out of his hands before the Giants’ pass rush gets to him, but this is not likely. The Giants have three Pro-Bowl caliber pass rushers — Umenyiora, Tuck and defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul, who have been major reasons for New York’s postseason run since fully recovering from injuries at the end of the regular season. Brady will be under pressure the whole game, as he was when the Giants upset the Patriots last time.
Riley: Of course I’ve watched, and New York’s defense has impressed me at times. Nonetheless, expect Green-Ellis and Woodhead to play a huge role in Sunday’s game. With screens, quick handoffs and pass action plays, these two provide a ground game for a pass happy offense. And surprisingly, the Giants have allowed 361 rushing yards this postseason to the Falcons, Packers and 49ers. The Patriots lack a deep threat, however. Neither Branch nor Ochocinco scare defenses anymore and both remain uninvolved in the game plan. Without a target down the field, New York’s safeties can move forward on most plays and cover the Patriots’ short-yardage schemes. New England’s secondary also makes me nervous. They finished the regular season 31st in passing yards allowed (293.9), and most telling of all, last in the league in yards allowed per game to opponents’ number-one receivers (77.8).
Axelrod: Your last point is what makes me confident for Sunday. Eli Manning established himself as an elite quarterback and has continued to do so in the playoffs. He leads in passing touchdowns through the first three rounds and outplayed MVP-favorite Rodgers two weeks ago. Led by wide receivers Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks, the Giants arguably have the best receiving corps in the league. Cruz is electrifying and led the NFL in touchdown receptions over 50 yards, including a 99-yard touchdown against the Jets in Week 16.
Axelrod: The Giants’ frontline has struggled in the postseason, so you may be on to something. In the NFC Championship, Manning was sacked six times and hit 12 times. Not only was Manning under pressure the whole game, but the Giants couldn’t run the ball either. Tailbacks Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs averaged only 3.7 and 2.6 yards per rush, respectively. New England’s pass rush was effective against the Baltimore Ravens in the AFC Championship and 325-pound Vince Wilfork, the Patriots’ veteran nose tackle, will create a mismatch for Giants center David Baas. If the Giants’ front line struggles, their offense will have difficulty finding a rhythm. You, too, are forgetting something. While the Patriots’ offensive line will focus on stopping the Giants’ fearsome defensive front, linebacker Michael Boley can get to Brady on blitzes. Boley was able to do the same against the Packers when he sacked Rodgers twice and recorded a team-high nine tackles. There is also going to be a lot of pressure on Boley and his fellow linebackers to contain New England’s short-yardage passing game that you brought up earlier. When Brady throws those five-yard passes to Welker and his tight ends, the Big Blue linebackers will have to tackle them short of the first down marker. These high-powered offenses should put up a higher total than they did in Super Bowl XLII. NYG 34 - NE 27
Riley: You, and everybody else, are forgetting about the Patriots’ linebacker corps. In the past two games, they’ve combined for 44 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Outside linebacker Rob Ninkovich is enjoying a breakout season with 74 tackles and 6.5 sacks for the year. Along with inside linebacker Brandon Spikes and defensive captain Jerod Mayo, a consistent blitz package may bail out New England’s weak secondary.
Riley: Avenging Superbowl XLII has probably been Brady’s top priority. The Giants have been a fantastic story the past two months, but the fairy tale ends on Sunday. Enjoy. NE 37 - NYG 31 John Axelrod and Cole Riley are staff writers. Email them at sports@nyunews.com.
DINING By Hannah Borenstein
edited by HANNAH BORENSTEIN DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Top 5 Subs to Survive the Superbowl
As the week progresses, anxieties about the Super Bowl rematch on Feb. 5 are sure to escalate. To ease the stress of Super Bowl party planning, consider these sandwich joints for some of the biggest, meatiest submarines to suit one of the greatest events of the year.
1. Joe Dough An extra yard away is this new place in the East Village. They’ll be making six-foot sandwiches that they claim will feed between 30 and 45 people. The menu may also give you a good laugh with specialities including “Stoner’s Delight,” a seriously upgraded grilled cheese, and “The Conflicted Jew,” which mounts liver, bacon, and onion on challah bread. 135 First Ave. between Ninth Street and St. Marks Place
via chefjoedough.com
2. No. 7
Although this restaurant is out in Brooklyn, it may be worth the trek. Opened just last week, the new restaurant is having a Super Bowl special in which every sandwich is six-feet long. From their vegan fried broccoli sandwich to pork and shrimp sausage, they will be taking orders until Feb. 3 at 6 p.m. 931 Manhattan Ave. at Kent Street, Greenpoint, Brooklyn
3. Parm This new joint has been getting extensive buzz over the past few weeks. They had a popular stand at Yankee Stadium and just branched off their restaurant, Torrisi. The meatball, chicken and eggplant Parmesan subs are considered some of the best in the city, and The New York Times, NY Mag and others have been raving about the opening. 248 Mulberry St. at Prince Street
via parmnyc.com
4. Alidoro This Italian specialty sandwich shop in SoHo is a venue for variety and has over 40 fresh sandwich options made on a daily basis. The service is slow, so order early, but the fresh prosciutto, mozzarella and arugula are worth the wait. 105 Sullivan St. between Prince Street and Spring Street
5. Porchetta This little spot in the East Village aims to emulate traditional street food from Central Italy. The sandwiches are stuffed with crisp pork and are as tall as they are wide. They have slightly-burnt side potatoes that are bursting with flavor. If you can finish one of these sandwiches by the 4th quarter, you can claim an individual victory that evening. 110 E. Seventh St. between First Avenue and Avenue A Hannah Borenstein is dining editor. Email her at hborenstein@nyunews.com.