NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014
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Professors honored with MLK award By SHARMEEN KHAN
Last night, five professors were awarded the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Faculty Award for their achievement in promoting the ideals of MLK’s teachings. The five professors who received awards included Tisch professor Yemane Demissie, Steinhardt professor Shabnam Javdani, CAS professor Elizabeth OuYang, Silver professor Marcella Hall, and Law professor Bryan Stevenson. Students were given the opportunity to nominate any professor with a written statement. The committee of Student Diversity Programs and Services only considered the written statements of students to determine the award recipients. The event opened up with speeches from Patricia Carey, associate dean for Student Services at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, and provost David McLaughlin. McLaughlin called the recipients a SHAWN PAIK FOR WSN
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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One Day in Abu Dhabi
CVS to cease tobacco sales
Winter Olympics kick off Friday
What do our desert colleagues wake up to out east?
Despite the inevitable loss of profits, the move is admirable and for the best.
Will the politics of Sochi hurt the spirit of the Games?
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STORY on PG. 7
STORY on PG. 8 IVAN SEKRETAREV/AP
Billy Joel not moving out of Madison Sq. Garden anytime soon By ALEXA SPIELER
Before an artist’s success was defined by YouTube views or Twitter followers, there existed a time when the music spoke for itself. A musician’s credibility was defined by the mastery of his or her craft. Though potentially a difficult concept for teenagers of the current generation to grasp, on Feb. 3 Billy Joel reminded onlookers
at Madison Square Garden that for the music to move you, sometimes all you need is a piano. The historic announcement came in December, with Joel and MSG unveiling the plans for him to perform once a month at the venue. The Jan. 27 concert was the first in the series, and dates are set through September with no official end to the residency. These shows mark the first time Joel is tour-
ing solo since 2008. Aiming to capture the essence of his powerful, passionate music, Joel transforms his set for every performance. Certain songs are kept for an element of consistency, such as “New York State of Mind,” “Pressure,” “Miami 2017” and “Allentown.” However, Joel did not hesitate to catch the crowd — one that peaks at an 18,200-person capacity — off guard, alter-
ing his set with numbers he doesn’t typically perform. Before delighted audience members, Joel performed both “The Downeaster Alexa” and “Captain Jack” in an unprecedented rarity. Since 1980, Joel has virtually removed “Captain Jack” from his setlist. The decision to include unexpected songs led to the removal of classics such as “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” but the
audience didn’t seem to mind. As Joel concluded the set with “Piano Man” and an encore featuring “Big Shot” and “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me,” the reverberating echoes of audience members’ voices synchronized with Joel’s heartfelt lyrics, reinstating the music’s power and reminding everyone of its ability to make thousands of
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Thursday, February 6, 1992
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Twenty-two years ago today, the article “New law does not affect NYU’s disability rules” appeared on the front page of the Washington Square News. Jack Gentul, the director of the Office for Student Disabilities in 1992, explained in the article that the Americans with Disabilities Act would not change the policies at NYU because the university had already been required to follow public accommodations for students with disabilities as a result of receiving federal funds. Gentul said the difference it would make on campus is an increased awareness of students with disabilities and more effort to include them in all activities. “You must be able to participate, and it’s up to all of us to figure out how to allow that,” Gentul said in the article, speaking to the population of students with disabilities at the time.
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TODAY ON CAMPUS “Carousel” Steinhardt will be staging six performances of the musical “Carousel” beginning today and ending on Feb. 10. Today’s performance will start at 8 p.m. at The Frederick Loewe Theater (35 W. 4th St.). Student tickets are $5.
MLK Week: University-Wide Event As part of MLK Week, a University-Wide Event featuring Melissa Harris-Perry — a professor at Tulane University and host of MSNBC’s “Melissa Harris-Perry” — will start at 7 p.m. tonight in the Eisner and Lubin Auditorium in the Kimmel Center for University Life. The NYU MLK Jr. Humanitarian Award will also be presented at the event.
“The Dreamers” A boat stands on a lot formerly occupied by a house destroyed by Hurricane Sandy in October 2012. Union Beach, New Jersey.
PHOTO BY MATTHEW GOLDMAN
A screening of “The Dreamers” will be at 6 p.m. at the Arthur L. Carter Institute for Journalism today followed by an open discussion. The documentary explores Orthodox Israeli women filmmakers.
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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 Michael Domanico at managing@nyunews.com
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Math employed in climate research By ANDREW SPOHN
A team from NYU’s Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences discovered evidence that rising temperatures in the North Atlantic influence Antarctica’s melting ice sheets. The research was part of the doctoral studies of Xichen Li, the study’s lead author, who specializes in mathematics and environmental studies. The study began as an assignment from Mathematics and Atmospheric Ocean Science professor David Holland. “The Courant started 20 years ago [in] a new direction — environmental science, but taking kind of a mathematical twist to it,” Holland said. “So this project used observations collected by others to develop some further theory into how our planet operates.” Li’s project falls under an umbrella of research on Antarctica sponsored by the National Science Foundation and NASA. The Courant Institute teamed up with NYU Abu Dhabi to use research funds from the foundation. Data for the study focused on world ocean temperatures, which were then mathematically applied to a global atmospheric model. “A key question in climate research is why the Arctic is changing very rapidly, but the Antarctic is not,” said Professor Edwin Gerber, one of the team members. “We initially were focused on the impact of the Atlantic on the Arctic. Xichen found that the model we were using, however, did a poor job simulating trends around Greenland. We were initially disappointed, but this motivated us to look southward, and this led us to discover something unexpected.” The discovery that elevated North Atlantic temperatures influ-
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Researchers visit the Arctic to study the effects of climate change. ence far-away Antarctica may be surprising. Most previous research focused on the Pacific Ocean, since its currents and temperatures are more variable. The NYU scientists chose the North Atlantic because of recent occurrences. “[The] North Atlantic Ocean just experienced the world[‘s] strongest long-term warming trend during [the] last years,” Li said. “We believed this most dramatically impacts our earth system.” Li said the ramifications of this discovery could increase understanding of the linkage between the world’s climate systems. He said Atlantic temperatures influenced the January Arctic vortex that sent North America’s temperatures plummeting. Antarctic ice-melting though, has larger implications for North Atlantic coastlines. “All New Yorkers probably know what can happen with three meter sea level rise,” Changhyun Yoo, another team member, said. “Changes in atmospheric condition and sea ice are important factors for ice
melting processes and hence must be understood.” Courant’s study has opened new avenues for exploring oceanic and atmospheric climate change. Li said that new hypotheses and university studies are already in the works for continued explorations into the Atlantic’s influence on global climate. Holland, though, is enthusiastic about his student and team’s accomplishments, and hopes other NYU students are encouraged to engage in the type of scientific inquiry offered by schools like Courant. “I find that we’re learning lots of things about the planet, but students somehow think they’re not capable of doing it and that other people have to — we’re just students ourselves,” Holland said. “There’s different ways to be involved. One way is very mathematical, so that group of people; the other is very observational, and that’s for another type of individual.”
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Professors lauded for promoting ideals of MLK testament to the diversity of the university. Following the opening speeches, students introduced the recipients they nominated. The professors that were awarded focus on different approaches to social justice and political activities, each providing leadership and inspiration. “I feel like Dr. King was a person, a flawed human being, learning and growing and trying to make each day better than the one before while balancing day to day life and huge political obstacles and expectations,” Runell Hall said. “I try to remember that, and if I am lucky, once in awhile embody some of what he and so many of the civil rights activists were also grappling with.” OuYang said she teaches from the perspective of a civil rights lawyer and takes specific approaches on this matter. “I teach a comparative pre-law constitutional course that compares and contrast the historical and present day struggles that African, Latinos and Asian-Americans face in the courts,” OuYang said. “I combine Dr. King’s multifaceted approach to ‘right the wrongs’ by challenging and empowering my students to participate in grassroots advocacy that help to reform unjust institutionalized practices.” These professors not only carry on the legacy of King through their classes, but also through additional commitments outside of NYU. For example, OuYang has spent much time advocating against military hazing. Her advocacy against the matter played a part in anti-hazing legislation signed by President Barack Obama. In addition to this award, the professors have been granted $2500 in order to continue conducting research that examines ways to better understand social justice. Sharmeen Khan is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
Andrew Spohn is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
Stop-and-frisk policy faces reform By LARSON BINZER
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio made the announcement in Brooklyn that the NYPD was going under reform to end the disputed stop-and-frisk controversies on Jan. 30. In the ruling on Floyd vs. City of New York last August, the stop-and-
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Police commissioner Bill Bratton discusses NYC policy.
frisk policy was found to racially profile blacks and Hispanics. “We are taking significant corrective action to fix what is broken,” de Blasio said in his announcement. “I am proud to announce today, that the City of New York is taking a major step to resolve the years-long legal battle over stop-and-frisk.” Newly appointed Police Commissioner Bill Bratton followed de Blasio with his own statement. “Stop, question and frisk as it’s been practiced in this city for the last several years, has not met [the] obligation or responsibility [to public safety],” Bratton said. “Instead of securing confidence, it instead has raised doubts and concerns about the police force in this city. And to that end, we need to have resolution.” The reforms to the policy include implementing an independent monitor of the FDNY. Several proposed actions — such as revising the policies on racial profiling and attaching videos to police officers to monitor their actions — have not received approval from the courts yet. Steinhardt sophomore Grace Plihal, who led a protest against
shop-and-frisk in November, said de Blasio’s actions will be beneficial in reforming stop-and-frisk policies but doubts his stance will make a significant change in ending the practice. “I believe that de Blasio’s reform is a step in the right direction,” Plihal said. “Simply changing a law won’t stop them from [using the stop-and-frisk policy].” Police officers stopped and searched Poly sophomore Justin Sutton in November while he was walking to school. “[Cops pushed] me up against their car and said that they got a report for a robbery and I matched the description,” Sutton said. “When I told them I was going to school they said they didn’t believe me. I felt violated and was offended by what happened.” Sutton is hopeful that the mayor will stay true to his words. “Well, he said he plans to drop the appeal against the case,” Sutton said. “I hope he follows through on his word, I have faith that he’ll do the right thing.” Larson Binzer is a deputy news editor. Email her at lbinzer@nyunews.com.
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Five professors accept awards at MLK event Feb. 5.
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Overlooked New York City museums to explore By KIMBERLY SCHU
Some of the greatest museums in New York City are not the big-name tourist attractions. Visitors love the MOMA and the Museum of Natural History, but this semester, expand your education by grabbing some friends and checking out some of these smaller, under-the-radar museums.
The Cloisters
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The Museum of Sex and the Tenement Museum are among underappreciated museums.
Many people are unaware of the Cloisters, a separate and absolutely breathtaking branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which recently celebrated its 75th birthday. This museum and garden devotes itself to the art and architecture of medieval Europe, and with a discounted student fee of $12 you have full access to walk the gardens and even hop on a guided tour. “I first visited the Cloisters last year with my friends and my whole perspective changed after I saw this new landscape and art,” LS sophomore Celine Sidani said. (99 Margaret Corbin Dr.)
The Museum of Sex The name alone should draw you in. Lo-
cated conveniently on Fifth Avenue, the Museum of Sex features intriguing collections along with a store that sells eyebrow-raising merchandise. The museum’s newest exhibit, titled “The Sex Life of Animals,” educates people on the sexual behaviors and reproduction of many animals, from dogs and monkeys to whales and dolphins. Students can purchase tickets for a slightly discounted price of $15.25. The museum offers the opportunity to engage in an experience that puts an educational and explorative spin on sexuality. (233 Fifth Ave.)
The Tenement Museum Located in a gorgeous 150-year-old building on Orchard Street, the Tenement Museum tells a collection of stories from the immigrants that left their homelands to reside in the Big Apple. Volunteer tour guides take groups around the building as well as the surrounding area of the Lower East Side. Interested students can sign up for a time slot, and explore the surrounding neighborhood until their tour time. Tours are offered between 10:15 a.m and 5 p.m. seven days a week and student admission is $20. (103 Orchard St.)
DAY ABROAD: ABU DHABI By HANNAH TREASURE Your day in Abu Dhabi begins at five in the morning, when you regain consciousness to the sound of singing that permeates the air: the first of five daily calls to prayer. There are no obnoxious taxis, no drilling into the concrete of Fifth Avenue — only the soft lull of Arabic while the morning is still cool and dark, before the desert sun has risen. By 8 a.m. or so you may choose to venture out into the city. Probably more like 8:30 a.m. After all, you are not even considered late until 45 minutes past your meeting time — every college student’s dream. Everything is “Insh’allah time,” rooted in the Arabic word Insh’allah which means “if God wants.” With a culture so fundamentally tied to religion, you will hear this phrase daily, a deep wish or hope for something to happen even though it is beyond your control. Abu Dhabi is filled with industrialized, concrete buildings, shops with neon sale signs and mosques with glowing green lights all coexisting right next to each other. You notice that most of these signs are in both Arabic and English, as you hungrily eye the shop which reads, “Shwarma.” Upon entering for lunch, the man behind the counter eagerly hands you a piece of falafel to try. Of course, your eyes light up, and you immediately order the falafel. It comes in traditional form, wrapped in pita bread, stuffed with pickled vegetables and topped with a spicy sauce. In the afternoon, you decide to visit one of the Arabic shopping markets, a souk. Although they are more commercialized than
their former traditional appearance, your eyes still widen in admiration of the antique jewelry, array of spices and hookahs that look like works of art. This is certainly not like the Williamsburg Flea Market you are used to, with its shoes from the ’90s and stands of wheatgrass juice. You cannot help but fall into a sense of relaxation, as if Abu Dhabi has slowed your usual New Yorker pace to match that of the Emiratis around you. Men in their anklelength, cloth, white kanduras and women in their black, covering, flowy abayas all appear to float so gracefully without any rush. Compared to the attitude in New York where everyone keeps to themselves and pushes their way through the crowded sections of the sidewalks, you are in utter shock at how many people have acknowledged you. Not only acknowledged you, but greeted you with, “Welcome to the United Arab Emirates.” There is a sincerity and genuineness to the tone of their voices that you would normally only find in a close friend or long-time professor. At night, the city comes alive again, echoing strange juxtapositions of traditional Arabic music and Justin Timberlake in the same store playlists. You sit outside in a patio area, spending the evening immersed in quality conversations with shisha, coffee and dates. In the heart of the U.A.E., it is impossible to feel like a stranger. Hannah Treasure is deputy features editor. Email her at htreasure@nyunews.com.
The Brooklyn Museum
Located on the Eastern Parkway, directly off of the 4-train, The Brooklyn Museum is New York City’s second largest art museum (following the Metropolitan Museum of Art). This impressive museum holds an art collection with approximately 1.5 million works. With over a dozen exhibitions, including American Art, Asian Art, Arts of Africa, Elizabeth A. Sackler Center for Feminist Art and Photography, this museum is sure to impress for everyone. (200 Eastern Pkwy.)
New York Aquarium Located in Brooklyn and open everyday of the week from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., this branch of the Wildlife Conservatory is available to all visitors for a new discounted price of $9.95. The New York Aquarium’s exhibits feature more than 300 marine species, including various marine mammals, birds, fish and reptiles. Make sure to stop by the ever-popular Aquatheater, home of the aquarium’s exciting, interactive sea-lion show. (602 Surf Ave.) Kimberly Schu is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
DAY IN THE LIFE By NIKOLAS REDA-CASTELAO Michael Bowen is a teaching assistant for the Film Theory undergraduate course in the Tisch School of the Arts, a graduate working on his dissertation in the Cinema Studies department and a film enthusiast whose work includes many hours spent collecting film antiques on eBay. 7:30 a.m. | After jolting himself awake with a cup of coffee, the first of many in the long day to come, Bowen will immediately power up his computer to check his emails, explaining that “a lot can happen in a night.” He scans through emails from eBay to update himself on the status of his acquisitions. Bowen studies New York independent filmmaking in the 1960s and ’70s. Much of his research revolves around collecting accessories, press books and actual footage of films from this time period, and Ebay has proved an exceptionally useful tool in his endeavors. 9 a.m. | Bowen begins his work for the day by organizing his film archives and attending to tentative interviews for his research. His collection includes hundreds of films, and he puts in his best effort to keep it organized. Because Bowen is a TA, drafting lesson plans, creating materials for his students and grading student papers take up the rest of his morning. Noon | Bowen often works through lunchtime, either on his dissertation or, for a change of pace, editing pages on IMDB.com. He is a frequent contributor to the pages of films that are under the jurisdiction of his research. He often finds quirky facts or trivia that make the film’s page on IMDB more interesting. Accordingly, he has made thousands of additions to the IMDB website. 3 p.m. | A surprisingly exciting part of Bowen’s day occurs in the afternoon, when the day’s mail arrives. Bowen receives his successfully acquired treasures on Ebay. A special sense of pride accompanies the arrival of these items that he beat out other collectors for. He compares it to a perpetual Christmas morning.
5 p.m. | With still so much to do, Bowen’s evening is never dull. Sometimes he ends up at the library, viewing microfilm and transcribing information to his large personal database. His research involves getting in touch with distributors and filmmakers, so he spends a lot of time making calls and returning emails. He also works to organize interesting film screenings for film students. 8 p.m. | Bowen cooks dinner as a “way of relaxing” after a trying day. He prefers to cook at home and does not go out to a restaurant unless he absolutely cannot cook with what is left in his kitchen. Midnight | After a long day, Bowen goes to bed already excited to get back to his research the next day. Nikolas Reda-Castelao is a contributing writer. Email him at features@nyunews.com.
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Bowen examines archives for his research on cinema of the 1960s and ‘70s.
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Bombay Bicycle Club comes ‘Find the Funny’ returns to into its own with ‘So Long’ Joe’s Pub, jubilations had By SAL MAICKI
Since its formation in 2005, London band Bombay Bicycle Club has been relegated to the mass heap of indie pop rock churning out of England in the new millennium. Aside from the whimsical lyricism of frontman Jack Steadman, Bicycle Club’s first two LPs offered little to distinguish them from similar acts emerging around the same time. On their fourth full-length release, “So Long, See You Tomorrow,” Bombay Bicycle Club has combined the unique subtleties from previous efforts to make a new sound that establishes the band as worthy of much more attention. Inspired by Jack Steadman’s treks through Turkey, India, Japan and the Netherlands, “So Long”
blends heavy influences from these countries. The album also features electronic music with the dreamy soft rock Bombay Bicycle Club has worked with on past releases. Steadman produced the album with the assistance of engineer Mark Rankin, notable for his work on albums such as Adele’s “21” and Queens of the Stone Age’s “... Like Clockwork.” A labor of love 18 months in the making, each track on “So Long” is polished and layered. Traditional structure is left behind in favor of a more experimental route on most of the songs. While none have the immediate appeal of previous singles like 2011’s “Shuffle,” the rich depth of sound on this LP is far more rewarding, exposing further complexity with every listen. Another standout, “Feel,”
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Billy Joel remains big shot in indefinite residency at MSG
strangers feel as if they are a unified body. Watching an artist like Billy Joel captivate thousands resonates with audiences on a greater scale than the average concert. While the acts that play at MSG are usually big moneymakers, Joel’s performance urges us to recall that music is not just about capital, fame or gimmicks. During his residency at Madison Square Garden, Billy Joel has reminded audiences of music’s core purposes — to heal, to move and to bring people together. Nowadays, it is easy to define an artist’s success by his or her social media presence. Yet Joel, in front of sold-out audiences once every month, demonstrates an immeasurable, intangible success to which social media presence simply cannot compare. Alexa Spieler is a staff writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
fuses Celtic and Indian instrumentation atop a bhangra-style beat, leading into a catchy chorus. Songs such as “Home By Now” and “Come To” maintain danceable rhythms while still remaining light and airy. Longtime collaborator Lucy Rose returns on “It’s Alright Now,” and newcomer Rae Morris contributes vocals to the second single, “Luna.” The crown jewel of the album, “Luna” combines lush Bollywood sounds with a groove worthy of a Talking Heads song. Morris’s angelic echoes splendidly complement Steadman’s wavering vocals, and the track showcases Bombay Bicycle Club’s full potential for crafting inventive pop music. Things only begin to flounder in the brief moments that the band slows down. Songs like “Eyes Off You,” while earnest and emotional, are not up to par with the band’s other songs. Still, these moments are few and far between — the cohesiveness of the album is impressive considering its diversity. “So Long, See You Tomorrow” reminds listeners that great music is about having fun. Finally having found a sound that suits them well, 2014 should be an extremely fun year for Bombay Bicycle Club. Sal Maicki is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
By DYLAN JARRETT
Comedy shows in New York City are always hit or miss. When they are good, they are good, but when they are even the slightest bit off, the show can be painful to sit through. Therefore, it is a serious relief when you find a standup act that is consistently excellent. One such show is Benjamin Walker’s “Find the Funny,” a Joe’s Pub favorite that always features a great lineup of comics and musical acts. Returning to Joe’s Pub after a yearlong hiatus, “Funny” is back and better than ever. Hosted by Benjamin Walker (star of “Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson”), “Funny” is a monthly show that offers its audience a mix of established comics and up-and-comers. Previous comics include stars like Hannibal Buress and Janeane Garofalo. After an opening video parody of Drake’s “Started From the Bottom” chronicling the history of “Funny,” which started in a basement during Walker’s college days, comic Ali Wong was the first to take the stage on Feb. 4. The audience was on board immediately as Wong established an easy back and forth. Coming up after Wong was “Funny” veteran Phoebe Robinson. Robinson, who hosts a weekly comedy show at Manchester Pub, is a favorite among the regulars in the “Funny” audience. Danny Deferrari, an actor who had never set foot on a comedy stage before the show on Tuesday, followed Robinson. As he introduced Deferrari, Walker told the audience to be enthusiastic but to show “no pity.” Despite his nerves, Deferrari smiled through his act, which focused on how this experience was his first time trying stand-up and his hope that it would go well, which it did. After Deferrari’s set, Chris Eldridge,
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Broadway star Benjamin Walker hosts “Find the Funny.” a musician best known as the guitarist of the Punch Brothers, took the stage. “I’m going to play you some hillbilly music,” he said, certainly inciting some apprehension among the New York crowd. But what he performed was much more than that. Eldridge’s incredible guitar playing and excellent voice complemented each other perfectly. As he riffed on his acoustic guitar, the audience continually broke into cheers, awed by his performance. Headliner Mike Lawrence, a comedian best recognized for his appearances on “Conan” and Comedy Central, closed out the night. He had the crowd in stitches, covering topics from sex to “The Lion King”— a strong end to a great night of comedy. The audience left with smiles on their faces and asking one another when “Find the Funny” would return to Joe’s Pub. Dylan Jarrett is books/theater editor. Email her at djarrett@nyunews.com.
‘SNL’ faces sweeping changes
By BOB TEOH
Last weekend, Melissa McCarthy proved her comedic prowess again when she hosted “Saturday Night Live” for the third time. Yet the episode was largely overshadowed by the cameo appearances of Amy Poehler, Bill Hader (as Stefon), Andy Samberg and Fred Armisen, in a heartfelt farewell to veteran cast member and “Weekend Update” host Seth Meyers. With Meyers’ departure, “SNL” faces yet another change in a bizarre season that serves as a transition between old and new. Prior to the start of the 2011-2012 season, “SNL” lost two beloved cast members, Andy Samberg and Kristen Wiig, and failed to renew cast member Abby Elliott’s contract. To fill their shoes, Vanessa Bayer, Taran Killam and Jay Pharoah were promoted to the permanent cast. Since Bayer, Killam and Pharoah were already big players on the show, the transition was relatively smooth.
However, following the conclusion of the show’s latest season, veterans Bill Hader, Fred Armisen, and Jason Sudeikis announced their departure from the show. Six new featured players took their places, and the “SNL” cast became much less recognizable. “SNL’s” trouble was far from over, however, as the show quickly drew criticism for its lack of diversity. Jay Pharoah and Kenan Thompson, the only two African-American comedians in a 16-person cast, voiced their displeasure with the addition of six white cast members. Pressure mounted on Lorne Michaels to add the first black female cast member on the show since Maya Rudolph’s departure in 2007. On Nov. 2, 2013, the problem was officially addressed, and a showcase audition exclusively for black female performers took place in December. In January 2014, Sasheer Zamata, a regular at New York’s Upright Citizens Brigade, known for her work on the Internet, was announced as SNL’s newest cast member. Zamata made her first appearance when Drake
hosted on Jan. 18, and though her performance was lauded, her on-screen chemistry with the other cast members needs time to develop. NBC officially announced Seth Meyers as the new host of “Late Night” long before the 2013-2014 season, giving the producers ample time to find a replacement for the anchor that has become synonymous with the “Weekend Update” fake news segment on “SNL.” Cecily Strong was brought up to co-anchor at the beginning of the season, and head writer Colin Jost is set to join the cast in March as Meyer’s successor on the desk. With so many changes to the show, “Saturday Night Live” is simultaneously torching the old and embracing the new. Though the loss of iconic cast members makes the future of the show uncertain, its willingness to make strides towards diversity is a sign that everyone’s favorite late-night sketch comedy program has survived and is as ambitious as ever. Bob Teoh is entertainment editor. Email him at bteoh@nyunews.com.
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The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, February 6, 2014
THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS
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support beams 6 100% 9 Key of Chopin’s Polonaise No. 6 14 Hit the highlights 15 Husband and wife, e.g. 16 Sponge 17 Food or drink dispensers 19 ___ to the top 20 First word in the English lyrics of “Frère Jacques” 21 Nick of “The Deep” 22 Kind of cartridge 23 Burning the midnight oil 25 Like virtually all gold medalists in Olympic table tennis 27 Science of light 28 Lads
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ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE E G B E R T
C H I M E R A
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C O N H E A R G D O 1 4 I S T I M E A O N N G
H O A R S E N
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C A L Y P S O
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Sea eggs Sci-fi novelist ___ Scott Card Taking liberties Mock attack “Star Trek” prosthesis Oceanward Tour de France stage Board member: Abbr. Full of spunk
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DOWN la Douce” to 3 Successful, as an applicant 4 Sound of support 5 Ingredient in Florentine dishes 6 “Someone Like You” singer 7 Hircosity 8 1968 #1 hit for the Supremes 9 Feeling romantic 10 Going without help 11 Car not in a garage 12 Gatekeeper’s grant 13 “Voilà!” 18 Forget-me-___ 24 Future court case 26 Mistreatment 27 ___ Mae (“Ghost” role) 28 Parts of clogs 30 Softened up, in a way
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Where Snickers, Skittles and Starburst are manufactured Crash pad? Frees It goes around the world Diplomatic agreement
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Red Sox Hallof-Famer Bobby
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Little bloom
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Charlie Chan’s creator Earl ___ Biggers
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“Grand Canyon Suite” composer
Company with a 1998 Nasdaq I.P.O. that hired its first employee in 1996
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For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY PETER KEFFER OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
WOMEN’S RIGHTS
STAFF EDITORIAL
Congress must fight global problem of violence against women By AARON LEVI
I am reluctant to call myself a feminist because, as a male, I am not subject to the same oppression which many women face on a daily basis. I acknowledge my gender as one of my privileges. The United Nations has released a report claiming that one in three women worldwide will endure physical or sexual abuse in a lifetime. In light of this startling statistic, we have a responsibility to ensure that all women enjoy human rights. Safe access to education, food and clean water, the ability to earn an income and the right to seek justice against abusers are necessary standards. The NYU community must collaborate on eradicating sexual and gender-based violence. Illinois Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky introduced the International Violence Against Women Act in Congress this past November. IVAWA augments the Obama administration’s existing U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence, a strategy which created a U.S. Global Women’s Issues Ambassador position to incorporate the often-ignored female perspective into American foreign policy. The strategy ensures that our country partners with local non-profits and nongovernmental organizations to empower women and other vulnerable groups — including LGBTQ, religious and ethnic minorities. During the winter recess I traveled to the Thai-Myanmar border with a cohort of graduate and rabbinic students through the American Jewish World Service, a human rights and international development organization, in hopes of understanding the equality divide that permeates South Asia. Each of the 17 participants came from a different background and had various professional aspirations. The shared goal of leveraging our communal positions in the hope of strengthening the world and the Jewish community united us. The Myanmar government has deprived its citizens of basic human rights and, since 1962’s
SUBMITTING TO
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military coup, has brutally suppressed dissent — especially among ethnic minorities residing in semiautonomous regions. The military dictatorship raped, tortured and conducted ethnic cleansing with impunity as corrupt leaders accrued power and profit. Hundreds of thousands of Burmese have fled as refugees to neighboring states. Many live in legal limbo, constantly wondering when conditions will become safe enough to return home. My colleagues and I met with Myanmar NGOs that attempt to manifest courage despite the intractable conflict choking Myanmar. One impactful experience involved the Karen Women’s Organization, which educates, empowers and organizes the Karen people to document the government’s human rights abuses while building community. A rural, mountainous region, the Kayin State has endured some of the most atrocious human rights violations due to its central geographic location. Even today, the Karen people face government-sanctioned land confiscation, threats from nearby land mines, military conscription and environmental exploitation by multinational corporations. All this continues despite a 2012 ceasefire as part of Myanmar’s ostensible transition toward democracy, its first chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and
an end in U.S. long-term sanctions. After becoming acquainted with KWO and its operations, I met one of its leaders. During a meal of rice and green curry at their Thai headquarters, Zion Dany described the abject condition of a refugee camp called Mae La, which holds 50,000 Myanmar refugees, of whom more than 90 percent are Karen. Some have called the camp home since its opening in 1984. Zion told me of a young women who had been gang raped and murdered in the camp only weeks earlier. Her ravaged, naked corpse, discovered after the incident, was promptly removed, cremated and disposed of without conducting even the most rudimentary investigation to identify and catch the perpetrators. For this reason, Zion advocated establishing protocols so rape victims receive equal justice and protection under the law. We can support Zion and the KWO in this dream. Rep. Schakowsky, in addition to four co-sponsoring New York representatives, plan to debate the IVAWA legislation during the 113th US Congress. With midterm elections approaching, Republicans and Democrats will seek to broaden their bases of support as much as possible. We must call for gender safeguards and equality — the treatment we demand for women in the United States should be the same treatment we demand for women abroad. We must hold the elected officials who do not represent us accountable for their lack of action. My initial reluctance of whether I can justifiably call myself a feminist is hopefully irrelevant in the face of continued violence against women. The targeted and their allies must push toward common goals while the time is ripe. Let us be blessed with right mind, heart and action to leverage our station as NYU students and transform the world as it is to create what it could be — a world of compassion, equity and righteousness. Aaron Levi is a contributing writer. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com
CVS takes positive leap forward, bans tobacco
In most of the nation’s pharmacies, there is a disturbing paradox with shelves full of health care products on one side and tobacco products on the other. On Feb. 5, CVS made a bold gamble to remedy this incongruity, resolving to abandon tobacco sales by Oct. 1, 2014. This decision seems to be already paying dividends. President Barack Obama hailed the announcement as a “a powerful example … ultimately saving lives and protecting untold numbers of families from pain and heartbreak for years to come.” CVS’s bottomline may report a drop in profits for the initial first quarter, but they will make up for it with an already visible increase in positive publicity and a clear distinction from other rival pharmacies who still sell tobacco products, the nation’s most dangerous public health concern. CVS made a historic first step, but there are still plenty of other retailers who stock cigarettes, including Walgreens, Duane Reade, Walmart and Rite-Aid. CVS’s decision captured the public sentiment where smoking is increasingly seen as a socially unacceptable practice. In outdoor public spaces in New York City, smoking is already banned. It would be a logical next step for City Hall to pass legislation to ban cigarettes from all pharmacies and similar outlets. The Food and Drug Administration recently announced that it will launch a $115 million ad campaign on Feb. 11 aimed at teens between the ages of 12 and 17, as 90 percent of smokers pick up the habit before they turn 18. In 2011 in the United States, almost 44 million adults smoked, a figure which does not include the young adult population. Although it is unlikely that the CVS decision will discourage anybody from smoking, if the action taken on Feb. 5 encourages other pharmacies to echo CVS, it may result in a positive shift in consumer habits. The announcement is a promising beginning. The reduction in availability combined with vast media campaigns from the FDA, Legacy Foundation for Health and the Center for Disease Control may make 2014 the year that cigarette usage finally drops among U.S. users. CVS made the first step to prove that cigarettes should not be an expected commodity and certainly should not be sold alongside health products. Other companies must now follow suit or be at the risk of appearing to trivialize the fatal effects of cigarette smoking. The tobacco industry, the largest killer in the United States, takes the lives of 480,000 Americans per year — the same customers the pharmacies claim to be helping.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Peter Keffer (Chair), Christina Coleburn (Co-chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Nina Golshan (Co-chair)
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Sochi Winter Olympics to commence amid controversy By FERENC PUSKAS and CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO
NYUNEWS.COM
The 22nd Winter Olympics kicks off this Friday, Feb. 7 in Sochi, Russia. This is the first Olympics that will be held in Russia since the fall of the USSR. Ninetyeight different events will be played across 15 different sports in this Olympics including three new events: ski slopestyle, snowboard slopestyle and snowboard parallel slalom. The United States leads all nations in the amount of athletes competing with 230 athletes. Russia and Canada trail closely behind with 225 and 220, respectively. The United States expects to once again perform well at the Olympics behind previous gold medalists like snowboarder Shaun White and speedskater Shani Davis. Unfortunately for the U.S. team, previous gold medalist and international skiing icon Lindsey Vonn will not be participating in the Olympics due to a knee injury.
A few major storylines have surrounded the games and, unfortunately for the Olympic committee, most of them are not about the competition. For example, the views of the Russian leadership toward homosexuality have led to criticism from many people in the international community. Police have jailed countless protestors for demonstrating against a law, passed in June 2013, that bans propaganda of “nonsexual relations.” More recently, the mayor of Sochi, Anatoly Pakhomov, fanned the flames. “We do not have them [LGBTQ people] in our city,” he said. LGBTQ individuals in the U.S. delegation include speed skaters Bonnie Blair and Eric Heiden and hockey player Caitlin Cahow. The security situation around Sochi has also been heavily criticized and poured over by the media. According to the Dallas Morning News, Sochi is expected to employ about
100,000 security personnel. The city has been under constant threat of terrorist attack from extremist groups ranging from “black widows,” or female Islamic suicide bombers, to political opposition groups in the region. On Feb. 5, a report was released that terrorists may use toothpaste tubes to smuggle explosives into Sochi. With the opening ceremony scheduled to take place on Feb. 7, Olympic officials hope the more exterior issues fade away and the world will be able to focus on the actual events, which are expected to feature some fierce matchups, both on the individual and team levels. Men’s hockey is sure to be a fantastic competition as some of the best players from the NHL will compete for their home countries on the world stage. Locally, Rick Nash of the New York Rangers and John Tavares of the New York Islanders will compete for annual powerhouse Canada and Rangers
players Ryan McDonagh, Ryan Callahan and Derek Stepan will take the ice for the United States. These two countries went toe-to-toe in a thrilling gold medal final in Vancouver in 2010. Fans were treated to a sudden death
overtime in the game. As always, the Olympics promise to be a great spectacle where the world can unite in the spirit of competition. In the case of Sochi, politics threatens to derail this unity. The media will attempt to strike a
delicate balance between these pressing issues and the spirit of the games. Ferenc Puskas is a staff writer. Chris Marcotrigiano is deputy sports editor. Email them at sports@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
Sochi’s gold medal uses a quilt design, representing the various cultures of Russia.
INFORMING YOU FIRST @nyunews