NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 6
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013
FALL OUT BOY RETURNS
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Panelists discuss Hedges v. Obama By NICOLE BROWN
BREEZY SMOAK/WSN
A reunited Fall Out Boy comes back in full force to a roaring crowd in the Studio at Webster Hall.
Pop punk band evokes nostalgia during reunion in New York City By BREEZY SMOAK
The angsty teenager in all of us was unleashed on Tuesday when Fall Out Boy officially ended their four-year hiatus with a show at the Studio at Webster Hall. News spread rapidly online when the beloved band posted its first single “My Songs Know What You Did in the Dark (Light Em Up)” from their upcoming studio album “Save Rock and Roll,” and fans were ecstatic to hear about the band’s highly anticipated reunion. The audience prepared for an evening of nostalgia as the band presented a dynamic setlist featuring their favorite tracks from albums “Take This to Your Grave,” “From Under the Cork Tree,” “Infinity on High” and “Folie a Deux.” The energy in the venue made the night feel like 2005 yet again, be-
fore “Sugar We’re Going Down” went platinum and Fall Out Boy became a household name. Once the last few people filed into the studio, the show began with “Thriller,” Fall Out Boy’s ode to their fans. The opener was followed by a rapid-fire set of fan favorites, including “This Ain’t a Scene, It’s An Arms Race,” a cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It,” “Dance, Dance” and the highly appreciated B-side “Lake Effect Kid.” The banter between Pete Wentz and Patrick Stump in between songs was jovial and quite a change from previous shows in which Wentz served as the designated leader. With a solo project now under his belt, Stump may be trying to redefine himself as the band’s new frontman. The 90-minute setlist was both volatile and engaging. Fans clearly
connected with the songs — the entire post-adolescent audience sang along with every word. One of the show’s standout tracks was the band’s aforementioned new single, which has a heavily produced pop resonance and highlights Patrick Stump’s unique, soulful vocals. Through their renewed efforts, Fall Out Boy hopes to revive today’s dying rock scene, but it remains to be seen if these pop-rockers can compete with the rising popularity of electronic dance music. Later this month, the band will head to Europe before their spring tour starts. For now, an impromptu show at the Studio helped whet the appetite of New York City’s Fall Out Boy fanatics. Breezy Smoak is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
Last night, a panel of lawyers, whistleblowers and the plaintiffs from the Hedges v. Obama case met at the Culture Project to discuss the lawsuit. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Christopher Hedges filed the litigation on Jan. 13, 2012 in response to Section 1021 of the National Defense Authorization Act, which allows the U.S. military to indefinitely detain anyone it believes is a supporter of terrorism anywhere in the world without charge or trial. Hedges and his co-plaintiffs said the section violates the First and Fifth Amendments. Judge Katherine Forrest ruled a preliminary injunction of the NDAA in May 2012 and a permanent injunction in September 2012 unconstitutional. Immediately following the ruling, the government appealed the court’s decision. Yesterday, the plaintiffs went to court again to counter the government’s appeal. The panelists included Hedges, journalist Alexa O’Brian, RevolutionTruth executive director Tangerine Bolen, Penta-
gon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, National Security Agency whistleblower Thomas Drake, whistleblower attorney Jesselyn Radack, filmmaker Michael Moore and Hedges v. Obama case lawyers Carl Mayer and Bruce Afran. The panelists made several points about their concerns regarding the NDAA. “The journalists on our panel are concerned about the illegal expansion of government power,” said O’Brian, who held back two of her articles related to the War on Terror because she felt she would not have enough protection if she was wrongly prosecuted under the NDAA. The Obama administration states that the section of the NDAA currently under scrutiny simply reaffirms the Authorization for Use of Military Force resolution, which was passed in 2001. Afran said, however, that the AUMF only permits the military to detain people of combat, while the section of NDAA does not limit the possible detainees. He also said that anyone could find himself or herself
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Tisch professor receives prestigious arts prize By KRISTINA BOGOS Anna Deavere Smith, actress, playwright and professor of performance studies at the Tisch School of the Arts, does things a little bit differently inside the classroom. Seated in a circle in a dance studio with a group of graduate students, sometimes with shoes and sometimes without, Smith encourages her pupils to get to know their fellow classmates. Pay close attention to their breathing, their bodily disposition, the ways in which breaks in speech happen, she tells them. But unlike professors in most academic settings, Smith does not want her
students to leave with their questions answered. “The magic of the classroom is for me, for acting, a human laboratory,” Smith said. “Hopefully something happens in the classroom where you leave with a new question, something newly unsettled that you can then use as a spark for the work you’re going to do.” Deavere, who is also an affiliate at the NYU School of Law, has successfully translated her love for theater into an educational tool. This accomplishment has spoken to students, professors and acclaimed artists.
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GOV. CHRISTIE DISSATISFIED WITH FLOOD INSURANCE Three months after floods from Hurricane Sandy dealt a major blow to New Jersey’s shoreline, Gov. Chris Christie and displaced residents expressed their disapproval with the National Flood Insurance Program’s recovery efforts.
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AMY ZHANG NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM’S HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM GALLERY ANNEX IN GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, E. 42ND STREET Ever wondered what New York City looked like from above, but couldn’t afford the helicopter ride? Never fear — nothing makes you feel like a giant more than being surrounded by miniature barns, rolling hills and, most importantly, trains. At the New York Transit Museum’s 11th annual Holiday Train Show, nary a locomotive is left unrepresented. Take a ride over the Brooklyn Bridge, past the Empire State Building and into a fantasy land of nostalgia and wonder.
PUPPY BOWL IX CUTE, EFFECTIVE Since Super Bowl Sunday, when Animal Planet aired the Puppy Bowl IX, all of the featured animals — more than 80 pets, including 21 kittens from a shelter in New York — have been adopted nationwide.
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NORTH KOREAN VIDEO SIMULATES DESTRUCTION OF NEW YORK CITY A video depicting a North Korean attack on Manhattan, originally posted to a Korean website, has gone viral on YouTube. The video is accompanied by an instrumental version of “We Are the World” and contains images of the burning city taken from the video game “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.”
CITY MUSEUM COLLECTING HURRICANE SANDY IMAGES FOR UPCOMING EXHIBIT The Museum of the City of New York will be gathering hurricane photographs from the public until March 3 for an exhibit that is scheduled to open in April. The display will commemorate the resiliency of the city and its people.
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GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW STARTING THIS SATURDAY, FEB. 9: 11 A.M., 2 P.M. AND 4:30 P.M. NEW WORLD STAGES 340 W. 50TH ST., NEW YORK There are many things about New York City that keep us young: the nightlife, the 5 a.m. bagel runs, the easy Netflix access to Disney movies, etc. But if you’ve ever truly wanted to return to your toddler days, the Gazillion Bubble Show is for you. Promised attractions include giant bubbles, lasers and strobe lights. Grab a friend and take a time machine back to the sandbox this Saturday! ($49.50-$69.50)
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SCORSESE HELPS COMMEMORATE CLASSIC BOOK REVIEW MAGAZINE Director and producer Martin Scorsese mingled with some of the world’s greatest writers on Monday while filming an event celebrating 50 years of the New York Review of Books.
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VALENTINE’S DAY CRAFTING PARTY 3:00 P.M., FEB. 10 BROOKLYN BRAINERY 190 UNDERHILL AVE. NEW YORK, NY 11238 Your significant other may say that he or she doesn’t want anything for Valentine’s Day, but this is a test: what is really hoped for is a handmade token of your ever-present affection. Check out this adorable crafting class run by Sarah Goldschadt (author of “Craft-a-Day: 365 Simple Handmade Projects”) and make everything from garlands to greeting cards for your sweetheart. Problem solved! ($27)
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MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.
Visitors outside the Getty Museum in Los Angeles admire the building’s impressive exterior.
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HEDGES continued from PG. 1
Journalists, lawyers defend freedom of press at Culture Project in a situation that the government could claim is worthy of incarceration, which is the reason Hedges and other journalists who are in contact with groups on both sides of the war fear they could be wrongly accused of supporting terrorist groups and stripped of their basic rights. “What this comes down to is, are we going to have a civil justice system in the United States or a military justice system?” Mayer said. Some of the panelists suggested that the government has exaggerated the threat of terrorism to expand its power. “The government has been using fear-mongering to basically get away with doing all sorts of unconstitutional things,” Radack said. The panelists do not know what the ultimate decision of the case will be, but they are confident in their argument and believe in the necessity of awareness. “Every American should be concerned about this because it affects every American,” O’Brian said. Nicole Brown is investigative editor. Email her at nbrown@nyunews.com.
Hedges v. Obama questions the executive’s jurisdiction.
Debts after death: student loans remain burdensome By TATIANA BAEZ
Yesterday afternoon, journalists called from around the country to listen in on a press call about families dealing with student debt after death. The call, organized by online petition platform Change.org, featured Ella Edwards of Ypsilanti, Mich., and Angela Smith of Chesapeake, Va. Both started petitions for debt forgiveness after students’ deaths. ProPublica reporter Marian Wang also spoke during the call. Change.org maintains dozens of active petitions through their website. “Change.org’s team of campaigners supports some petition creators by helping them connect their stories to audiences who’ll want to hear them,” said William Winters, senior organizer for the website. Currently, federal student loans are excused after death but private student loans become their families’ responsibility. Smith opened the call by relaying the story of the violent death of her son, Dante, on July 6, 2008. He was shot and killed in a college town in West Virginia on his brother’s 16th birthday. “Imagine having to deliver that news on his birthday,” she said. “We explained to [the bank] that we couldn’t afford the additional debt,” Smith continued. “I’ve lost my business after my son’s death because I could no longer handle the things that I needed to do on a daily
Significant changes coming to student housing policy By DEBORAH LUBANGA
COURTESY OF TOM BACHTELL ILLUSTRATION
[basis] ... so we now only had one income.” “This is just not the natural order of things,” she added. “Your child is not supposed to die before you. So we didn’t even think to ask a question about that situation when we borrowed the money.” Smith is advocating for a clearer policy from First Marblehead Corporation about what happens in the event that a student dies. Andrew Ross, an NYU professor who works with the group Strike Debt, an offshoot of the Occupy Wall Street movement, does not support current policies. “It’s a highly immoral practice and would be outlawed in a humane society,” Ross said. “All the evidence shows that our legislators are too beholden to the interest of the finance industry to do anything to resolve the crisis. People will have to seek debt relief for themselves by any means necessary.” Eric Ives, a CAS sophomore, agrees that lenders do not always have the public interest at heart. “A government forgives the debt because they lend to invest in the future of the country, while a corporation does not because they are interested in profit,” Ives said. “It’s short-sighted for a bank but underscores that corporations don’t necessarily have a national allegiance to goodwill.” Tatiana Baez is university editor. Email her at tbaez@nyunews.com.
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After death, college students’ unpaid loans can become a burden for families.
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Freshmen living in NYU housing next semester will experience some drastic policy changes. Starting in fall 2013, roommate requests will be a thing of the past, as the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services opted to focus on fostering interaction among the university’s diverse student body. Vice President of Student Affairs Marc Wais said encountering diversity should be the main focus of all students’ college experience. “A key experience of a college education is the opportunity to live and study with people from diverse backgrounds,” Wais said in an announcement on NYU’s website. “This is uniquely true at NYU, where students are prepared to enter an increasingly global society by studying at campuses throughout the world.” Starting with the class of 2017, geographic diversity will be a variable when determining roommate assignments, although freshmen can still make certain housing requests such as low-cost housing and placement on exploration floors. Emory Parker, a senior at Manhasset High School, applied to the Tisch School of the Arts and welcomes the housing changes.
“It’s good that they don’t let you choose your roommate because [students] get to meet new people that way,” Parker said. NYU Residential Life plans to implement gender-neutral housing this fall for upperclassmen only. This choice will allow students to share rooms with individuals of the opposite sex. This policy change is the result of a student-led initiative that began in 2011 called the Gender-Neutral Housing Coalition. “I am intensely excited to see this policy change hap-
man Kendall Hill. With an opportunity for co-ed dorm rooms, there may be concern about students rooming with their significant others and then having a bad end to the relationships. Steinhardt junior and Rubin RA Chyti Kompala said the problem already exists. “We have a large enough homosexual community in NYU that they could [room with their significant other] already,” Kompala said. “I think it’s important that NYU makes it clear that we really are not advising people that are in a romantic relation-
I am intensely excited to see this policy change happen. This is a major step forward pen,” GNH co-founder CAS junior Doug Keeler said. “This is a major step forward in reshaping NYU into an institution not simply tolerant of, but accessible to, a diversely queer and/or transgender student population.” Keeler no longer lives on campus, but other students are equally excited to take advantage of the option. “As someone who typically gets along better with guys rather than girls, it will be nice to have the option to live in a suite with a mixed group of people,” said Gallatin fresh-
ship together to room,” she said. NYU sociology professor Paula England, who has researched hookup culture, agreed with Kompala. “[There is] plenty [of] opportunity for that anyhow,” England said. The Gender-Neutral Housing Coalition is working on expanding the gender-neutral housing option to first-year students in light of the aforementioned changes. Deborah Lubanga is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
LSP master teacher José Vázquez dies at age 50
By VERONICA CARCHEDI
José Vázquez, a professor in the Liberal Studies Program, passed away last weekend due to natural causes. Vázquez was 50 years old. He was a teacher for 25 years, and began his career at NYU in 2001. In 2010, he won both the Liberal Studies Excellence in Teaching Award and the Liberal Studies Faculty Mentor Award. Vázquez taught Life Science, History of the Universe and Environmental Studies. His colleagues and students said he will be sorely missed. Fred Schwarzbach, LSP dean: “José was a dedicated faculty member who was utterly and completely devoted to his students. He was an inspiring teacher, always finding ways to help his students succeed, no matter how much of his time and energy it might take.” Louis Pataki, fellow LSP science teacher: “He was a wonderful, talented colleague and a great
friend. The Liberal Studies science teachers have always been a very close team, friends as well as colleagues. José’s passing leaves each of us who knew and worked with him with a deep sense of loss.” Lori M. Nicolas, LSP professor who Vázquez mentored: “José truly loved teaching and cared very deeply for all the students he taught, from high school kids in Puerto Rico and the Bronx to college students in Chicago and here at NYU. Teaching science was his calling, and he was excellent at it. He was the kind of teacher, really the kind of person, that once you met him you couldn’t forget him. I remember him getting emails and visits from students that he had taught over 20 years ago. “One thing I remember was that he was never still. He was always working on something. Writing a book, reviewing articles, serving on committees, writing textbook chapters, developing curriculum, trans-
lating teaching materials into Spanish, completing a Ph.D. and an M.P.H., and he did all this while teaching full time. ” Edward Radzivilovskiy, LSP sophomore, student of Vázquez: “He had a great sense of humor and he was really open. He really wanted to be a friend for all his students, and that’s something you definitely felt. “We had really good conversations that extended beyond what we learned in the classroom. He was someone who, even though he taught science, you could talk to about anything. He should be proud of the things he’s done at NYU.” A memorial has been planned for José Vázquez, though the date has yet to be confirmed. (Disclaimer: Edward Radzivilovskiy is a member of the WSN staff.) Veronica Carchedi is city/state editor. Email her at vcarchedi@nyunews.com.
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FEATURES
EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
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Deavere Smith recognized for devotion to academics, arts
On Feb. 13 the Tony-nominated actress will be named the 19th recipient of the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize, one of the most prestigious awards in the arts. The award grants $300,000 to an individual who has contributed “to mankind’s enjoyment and understanding of life.” Famous for her one-woman shows, Smith impersonates individuals undergoing social change in the hope of bringing to light problems relating to race, genocide and the debate over healthcare. In a statement released on Jan. 9, Rebecca Roberston, a judge on this year’s selection committee, praised Smith for her ability to combine theater with commentary and social activism. “We selected performer-writer-teacher Anna Deavere Smith for creating and delivering work that allows us to assess current events and issues in a way that is immediate, brilliant and funny,” Roberston said. “Her words ... inspire us to understand with wit, compassion and clarity ... and to better appreciate the complexity of the human condition and how to improve it.” Growing up in a period of cultural upheaval in ‘60s-era Baltimore precipitated Smith’s inter-
est in social change. Peace, racial identity and anti-war movements sprouted on her home turf as the United States fought in Vietnam and segregated communities fought for equality. As emotionally charged and uninhibited citizens took to the streets to voice their concerns, Smith discovered it was the perfect time to perceive the true colors of individuals. “I saw within my own racial community ways that there were divisions and notions of where you could go and not go and be and not be,” Smith said. These heated and thoughtprovoking performances were the reasons NYU President John Sexton asked Smith to teach at NYU back in the ’80s, and why she continues her position today. “As Dean of the Law School, I thought it important that lawyers, our society’s communicators, learn to listen, especially to voices that are new to them,” Sexton said. “Anna has been remarkably effective in doing all that we hoped she would do and more.” Kristina Bogos is features editor. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Vanity Fair’s Jonathan Becker discusses career as photographer By REBECCA BROWN
Jonathan Becker, the iconic photographer for Vanity Fair, shared experiences of his expansive career last night at “Jonathan Becker: 30 Years at Vanity Fair,” an event held at the New York Public Library’s Stephen A. Schwarzman building. Becker, dressed in a light gray suit and a crisp white-checkered shirt, talked openly about his career with current Vanity Fair Editor-in-Chief Graydon Carter. Becker’s lens has captured important political figures, from the Prince of Wales and glamorous stars to rebellious artists like Ai Weiwei and members of the Yanomami tribe located deep in the jungles of the Amazon. “People turn to me. I don’t know why. Maybe it’s the camera,” Becker said lightheartedly. The friendly, conversationalbanter between Carter and Becker was entertaining — Carter’s insightful questions and quick wit created a light atmosphere. Through all of his photographs, Becker manages to capture aspects of his subjects’ personalities, breathing life and human vulnerability into
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Anna D. Smith will receive the Dorothy and Lillian Gish Prize.
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Jonathon Becker receives acclamation for his work. ture he took of a man caught off guard in his underwear: “That’s when I get to them, when they are changing.” Rebecca Brown is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Hidden quirks, perks at Grand Central Station
By BRYNA SHUMAN
COURTESY OF ANNA DEAVERE SMITH
still pictures. During his discussion with Carter, Becker spoke about his photographs as if they are his old friends. “She is very theatrical,” he said, referring to a picture he took of New York socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein. “She has so much energy, but it was perfect.” Becker has also photographed controversial subjects, including Dr. Jack Kevorkian, who was accused in the 1990s of assisting his patients’ suicides. Arezoo Moseni, the senior art librarian and events coordinator at the library, noted the significance of the event. “[Tonight is] the first time Carter and Becker shared their behind-the-scenes conversations that shaped some of the most iconic and poignant social imagery of our time,” Moseni said. “The daring assignments, the landmark headlines and some aspects of the 30 years of unforgettable moments.” During the question-and-answer session, Becker shared the secret to becoming an expressive photographer. “You talk to people. You sit with them and you truly talk to them,” he said seriously, but then jokingly referred to a pic-
Grand Central Station celebrated its 100th birthday this week, after opening precisely at midnight on Feb. 2, 1913. Approximately 700,000 people pass through Grand Central Station each day, making it America’s busiest train station. But even with that amount of traffic, travelers might miss some small details about Grand Central. Here are five secrets the station holds that are hidden from the eyes of everyday passersby. THE WHISPERING ARCHES — Dubbed the “whispering gallery,” this set of low arches is located in front of the famous Oyster Bar. When two people stand in opposite corners of the arched entryway and whisper into the wall, they can hear the other person as if they were standing right next to each other. The arches allow a person’s voice to carry across the curved, domed ceiling to the other side of the terminal. THE MIRROR ZODIAC — The main concourse’s ceiling is a mural featuring 2,500 stars and depicting the Mediterranean sky as it appears in
October. It is believed that Paul Helleu, the artist, painted the zodiac backwards to show how it would look from the perspective of the gods. SKY’S THE LIMIT — Look carefully above the zodiac’s fish constellation, and you can spot a small hole, which was made to accommodate a rocket that NASA displayed in the terminal in the 1950s. Due to a measuring mistake, the rocket turned out to be six inches too tall for the concourse, and the hole was made to help it fit. Next to the constellation Cancer, a small, black rectangle remains from the days prior to renovation to show visitors how dirty the ceiling once was. In fact, when the black rectangle was analyzed, scientists found that it was mostly tar from cigarette smoke. DEPARTURE TIMES — Running late to catch your train? You may have a few more minutes than you think. Every time displayed on the departure boards is ahead by exactly one minute. According to Yahoo News, the reason behind this inaccuracy is to keep people from rushing to meet their train and consequently falling and injuring themselves.
THE WEST STAIRCASE — The main concourse at Grand Central has two identical staircases, which share the same design, masonry and marble, directly across the room from each other. However, to be able to differentiate the original staircase from the one was built during renovations, architects designed the west staircase to be exactly one inch shorter than its eastern counterpart. Bryna Shuman is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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Grand Central is filled with mysteries and hidden gems.
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ARTS Hilarious star performances redeem Disturbing new play poor plotting in ‘Identity Thief ’ leaves audience cold
EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
By GUS CONSTANTELLIS Judging by the trailer for “Identity Thief,” the new comedy starring Melissa McCarthy and Jason Bateman, the film looked like it would epitomize the hit-or-miss film. It could either be a disaster starring two otherwise excellent actors, or it could be a surprise hit, reaffirming our trust in McCarthy and Bateman. In reality, “Identity Thief” falls somewhere in the range of Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s “Baby Mama” — not a catastrophe, but not quite classic in the vein of “Bridesmaids” or “The Hangover.” Despite being mediocre cinema, the film is certainly entertaining. “Identity Thief’s” plot is simple — McCarthy plays Diana, a stealthy identity thief who steals the persona of Sandy Patterson, played by Bateman. The film follows the duo’s tumultuous road trip to Denver in Patterson’s attempt to clear his name. The unlikely pair hit many speed bumps along the way including gangs, snakes and other dangers. It is all lighthearted fun, but do not watch “Identity Thief” expecting a well-thought-out plot. The film does a terrific job of displaying the best of McCarthy and Bateman’s comedic talents. Many of McCarthy’s hilariously bizarre monologues like the ones in “Bridesmaids” are used here, including a particularly memorable scene in which Diana compares her body to the Bermuda Triangle. Bateman uses deadpan humor, including many great one-liners spoken
under his breath, in the spirit of his “Arrested Development” character. The two stars are so delightful to watch that they make up for many of the film’s weaknesses. Nobody can argue that a scene featuring McCarthy singing along to Kelis’ “Milkshake” isn’t comedic gold. Several television actors make appearances in the film, including Amanda Peet, Morris Chestnut and John Cho. “Modern Family’s” Eric Stonestreet, who plays a rich Southern widower in search of love, is responsible for some of the film’s best scenes. Seeing Stonestreet tease Bateman’s character with a belt while completely disrobing is well worth the price of the ticket. Unfortunately, character actor Robert Patrick — recently featured
in Ruben Fleischer’s “Gangster Squad” — disappoints in a subplot that falls flat, playing a bounty hunter who is not given much to do. His character is not very funny and fits poorly into the rest of the movie. “Identity Thief” cannot compare to “Bridesmaids,” but at the very least it is a vast improvement over similar failed comedies such as “The Guilt Trip” and “Date Night.” Audiences must be prepared to abandon any expectations of plot, and enjoy the film as a showcase of McCarthy and Bateman’s talents. If that is enough for you, then “Identity Thief” will be a treat. Gus Constantellis is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
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‘Lore’ takes unstable look at fascism By J.R. HAMMERER
“Lore” deals with provocative, deep subject matter — coming of age, fascism and the Holocaust — but is maddeningly vague about its own stance. It is possible to make a good movie on this issue while being graceful and thoughtful, but that requires thematic clarity. “Lore,” however, is muddled throughout. It seems to equate the loss of innocence with the collective trauma of World War II, which is not a bad idea — or a new one, as Spielberg pulled a similar stunt with the Pacific War in “Empire of the Sun.” But finding meaning in “Lore” takes guesswork, and this isn’t a film that aims for ambiguity. The film’s first 20 minutes are promising. The 14-year-old title character (Saskia Rosendahl) is moving out of her Austrian home with her family to another location. Her father is an SS officer. Patriotic German music pipes in from everywhere, and everyone expresses certainty that the Reich will be victorious soon.
Lore, however, sees her father as destructive and abusive, establishing her family as an allegory for Nazi Germany. Sadly, this interesting idea is instantly abandoned once the war ends. Her parents are then mysteriously called to Hamburg, and Lore and her siblings must embark on a trip to their grandmother’s house by themselves. The journey, which takes up most of the film, confounds more often than it illuminates. Lore and her siblings eventually find out about her country’s atrocities, and, like others under Nazi rule, doubt the authenticity of what they hear. But then they run into Thomas (Kai Malina), a Jewish escapee from a concentration camp who joins their group and serves as a guide through a dangerous post-war landscape. Lore develops a strange relationship with the young man, alternating between rabid anti-Semitism and sexual tension, as they both form a strange surrogate parenthood to the younger children accompanying them on their trek.
By ALEXANDER TSEBELIS The tagline for the off-Broadway production “The Man Under” at 59E59 Theater reads, “An urban love story about four people in New York City who struggle with what they want and how to express it.” It sounds like the description of a romantic comedy, which, at first, doesn’t seem far off. Two roommates and their neighbor hang out in the simulacrum of a New York City apartment, complete with The Beatles posters, an IKEA love seat and a guitar amp with a Sleigh Bells sticker. Then the audience learns what the group wants and starts to understand how they express it. Jeff (portrayed by playwright Paul Bomba) is struggling with what he calls “suicidal impulses.” When a subway passes by, “the impulse is to jump [onto the tracks], but the thought is to grab onto a pipe.” He meets a girl who seems to be experiencing the same feeling, and the two share a moment reminiscent of the standard, random encounter leading to romance — with a twist. For the next half an hour, one believes that the girl, Lisa (Briana Pozner) is your average Manic Pixie Dream Girl, with slightly more morbid interests. As the play continues, that belief is shattered. Lisa’s interests are significantly more disturbing and include lying under passing trains. We learn that Lisa is a dead ringer for Jeff’s fiancé, whom he lost to cancer. Symbolically, she’s death incarnate,
a Freudian zombie with a predatory agenda. Lisa’s proclamation to Jeff, “I’m yours now,” is an extremely frightening moment. Jeff and Lisa’s macabre romance is contrasted to the relationship between his roommate, Martin (Curran Connor), and their neighbor, Jennifer (Veronique Ory). The two watch Yankees’ games together while Jeff and Lisa run around, hiding in ditches to avoid getting decapitated and have sex in dark, graffiti-filled subway tunnels. However, Martin and Jennifer do little more than illuminate the difference between romance at its most dangerous and destructive and a more normal courtship process. Their relationship functions more as a distraction than as a poignant counterpoint to Jeff and Lisa’s. Bomba’s script and Benjamin Kamine’s direction are both competent, but they do little to alleviate the audience’s discomfort with the material, which may be the point. That point is moot, however, since Jeff’s only interests seem to be his suicidal thoughts, and that leaves very little to root for. “The Man Under” elicits little other than distaste and discomfort. And, after all that, you have to ride the subway home. “The Man Under” is playing now through Feb. 17 at 59E59 Theater C, 59 E. 59th St. Alexander Tsebelis is a contributing writer. Email him at theater@nyunews.com.
Unfortunately, “Lore” adds up to much less than the sum of its parts. Newcomer Rosendahl has a decent screen presence, but her character’s development is choppy and confusing. The same goes for Malina — Thomas is a cypher, all brooding and thousand-yard stares. Director Cate Shortland, an Australian helming a Germanlanguage film, adopts the handheld camera style currently in vogue, but her editing and staging fail to develop space or mood. The scene where the kids first learn of the Nazi concentration camps is meant to be a pivotal moment, but the camera is so shaky and the focus is so shallow — in slow motion, to make things worse — that it’s unclear afterward if the characters understood the situation. “Lore” needs to be clearer about its intentions, because in script and staging the picture stutters in the face of the historic horrors it wants to reveal. J.R. Hammerer is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF THE ATHENA THEATRE COMPANY
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Crossword Note: Four answers in this puzzle are incom-plete. The missing part can be found in four other places in the grid.
ACROSS 1 Start
of a motto first published in an 1844 book 7 1967 disaster 13 Lazy sort 15 Criticize cattily 16 Unwakeable, say 17 “No use arguing with me” 18 It took 70 years to complete, in brief 19 Vintner’s need 20 Cockney abode 21 Chateau ___ Michelle 22 Tex-Mex order 24 Swimmer 26 Go beyond
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Hit hard, as the brakes
Some map lines Old guitarlike instrument Tight situations Country where marinated bear is a specialty food Serious rap Sports coup
Was on tour, in a way
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San Francisco mayor Joseph 2 Make a hard, 46 Most light low hit that’s 48 Earthen caught casserole dish 3 Causes 49 Susan of “L.A. 4 Univ. body Law” 5 Inversely egg50 Not just shaped threaten, say 6 Like “The 51 Japanese Karate Kid” and vegetable “Total Recall” 52 Group of 7 Enliven whales 8 It helps one get a grip ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 9 Special ___ F R O O T K W A I I C B M L O R N A N A S T R A R A 10 Three-pronged fishing spear O H A R E O G L E O N I N R E L A B E L R U N W A Y 11 Steve Martin romantic M O S L E M S E E N comedy P C P A S S A Y E R A L A S S T R A N S E C T 12 Bewhiskered animals Y E P O D O R I Z E Y A H S A N T A A N A T O R R E 14 Purchase with a cell phone E P H E D R A T E R 15 Priory in “The J A N E C A E S A R Da Vinci Code” S O R A R E N O N A R A B E A R N P O E T S N O R E 23 Kitchen meas. G N A T U V E A E T T A S 25 Alias O N U S B O L L L O O P S 30 Diamonds 43
Edited by Will Shortz
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
IMMIGRATION
STAFF EDITORIAL
Cuban immigration reforms prove ineffective By CARLOS ESTEVEZ Have you ever met a Cuban at NYU? Perhaps you know someone of Cuban decent, but meeting a student who grew up in Cuba remains almost as unlikely as meeting one from North Korea. This is mainly due to the formerly restrictive immigration policies of the Cuban government, which rendered traveling outside the island virtually forbidden without government approval. In recent months, the Cuban government unveiled its biggest immigration reforms of the past 50 years. The new measures, which took effect Jan. 14, included extending the period of time Cubans can visit other countries and easing restrictions on Cuban émigrés’ returns to the island. The most significant difference is the abolition of the Cuban exit visa. This travel document posed a serious barrier for Cubans wishing to leave the island. Not only did it cost a substantial amount of money, but the government could withhold it from anyone they wished. In practical terms, it also resulted in large numbers of Cubans attempting to immigrate illegally. Over the years, Cubans discov-
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ered many escape routes, some of which included taking rafts through the dangerous Florida Straits, or even shipping themselves by mail service. Needless to say, thousands have died trying to escape the Cuban regime, which makes immigration reform all the more imperative to address. Not surprisingly, this shift in policy has resulted in widespread optimism from the U.S. media. Most journalists have viewed this move as a step toward Cuba’s liberalization and perhaps democracy. They couple these immigration reforms with recent efforts to liberalize the economy and see a positive trend which leads to freedom for Cubans. Most of the articles written on the subject fail to consider the possible implications behind this new immigration policy. The most overlooked aspect is the possible response from the U.S. government. The United States has a set of laws in place which give Cuban immigrants political asylum and a fast track to citizenship. Cubans have profited from these laws since they were created in the 1960s as a response to Cuba’s oppressive regime. It fol-
lows logically that easing Cuba’s travel restrictions would result in a tightening of U.S. laws with regard to Cuban immigration. In essence, Cuba’s shift in policy could result in fewer opportunities for Cubans who wish to leave the island if they no longer enjoy special legal benefits in the United States. Such dramatic reversal in U.S. policy seems unlikely from a divided Congress, especially given the influence of the Cuban-American lobby. Nevertheless, other countries such as Ecuador have already adjusted their immigration policies in anticipation of an influx of Cuban immigrants. Even without the exit visa, Cubans still face a huge financial hurdle if they wish to leave the country. They still need a visa from the country they wish to visit and the few countries that do not require entrance visas stand in similar economic predicaments. This leaves Cuba with an immigration policy that makes it only slightly easier to leave the country at the risk of far more severe repercussions.
President must protect right of due process despite security concerns
Yesterday, the Culture Project at Bleecker Street hosted Michael Moore and the plaintiffs of the Hedges v. Obama lawsuit filed against the Obama administration, including Christopher Hedges himself. Their case contests the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2012, which allows the federal government to detain terrorist supporters indefinitely. The detention section of the NDAA was permanently blocked by a U.S. district judge in September of last year. But a month later, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals reversed the decision, allowing usage of the powers until a final judgment is rendered, which is expected to happen this June. The plaintiffs argue that the loose language of the measure gives the government power beyond their constitutional authority to detain individuals who they suspect of sympathizing with
terrorist groups without due process. These individuals may include investigative journalists and bloggers. Further, proponents of the lawsuit contend that the government can too easily violate basic rights of prisoners and get away with shoddy or potentially non-existent evidence that indicates substantial support for terrorist networks. At the very minimum, military tribunal hearings should be held to determine if the federal government has enough compelling evidence to justify the indefinite detention of an individual. Obviously, there must be a certain amount of privacy in matters of national security, particularly concerning classified information and government operations. But an extension of due process must be afforded to those prisoners being held in limbo, if only to avoid the detention of innocent civilians.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.
Carlos Estevez is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co-chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Nickhil Sethi
SPORTS
Knicks threaten to make serious playoff run after hot streak By EVAN KENDALL
The New York Knicks are in an interesting place in the NBA’s Eastern Conference as they prepare to enjoy their All- Star break. They’re fighting the Miami Heat for the Eastern Conference’s top seed, a major leap from last year’s finish as the No. 7 seed when they had to play Miami in the first round. Star forward Carmelo Anthony is the Eastern Conference’s leading scorer with over 28 points per game, and his shooting percentages are way up from last year. He had a .450 field goal percentage in the 2012 to 2013 season and .430 in 2011 to 2012. For 3-pointers, he
SUBMITTING TO
shot a .412 percentage in 2012 to 2013 and .335 in 2011 to 2012. Last year’s Defensive Player of the Year, Tyson Chandler, is leading all eligible players in field goal percentage by a substantial margin; he has .673 and the next best is .605. Additionally, his 11.2 rebounds per game rank sixth in the NBA, and he has continually impressed since the beginning of February, posting three straight 20-rebound games. Chandler’s enduring presence on the defensive end has been a major help to the Knicks’ success, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him snag Defensive Player of the Year honors again.
With the successes of the individual players on the Knicks this season, what will it account for come playoff time? As a top four seed, they will be given home-court advantage at least through the first round, if not longer, which will prove advantageous for them. They have posted a 19-6 record when playing in Madison Square Garden — one of the best home records for any team in the Eastern Conference. Coach Mike Woodson has brought discipline to these players and seems to have finally figured out the best team and oncourt chemistry. There’s no doubt that the Knicks have more than enough
talent to win in the postseason, but questions still linger about both the Knicks and their potential competition. Although Miami and New York are neck and neck for the Eastern Conference title, the Chicago Bulls are in a not-so-distant fourth place and are still awaiting the return of former MVP Derrick Rose. Could it be that Chicago is the team to watch out for come playoff time? It’s possible, but one thing is for sure: New York fans should expect more success this April than last year. Evan Kendall is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
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Solid efforts from each player buoy the Knicks’ playoff bid.
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