WSN021412

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 40, No. 14

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012

nyunews.com

Petitioners push Apple to improve conditions

Warren Weaver reopens after leak

By Emily Yang and Cici Chen

By Julie DeVito

A series of campaigns protesting Apple employees’ poor working conditions in China has been spreading nationwide.

In response to this outcry, Apple announced that the Fair Labor Association will conduct special voluntary audits of Apple’s final assembly suppliers today.

Fan Yuan is the program assistant of China Labor Watch, a non-profit organization that educates Chinese laborers and conducts investigations on worker conditions. Yuan said Apple should take decisive action instead of simply conducting further inspections.

“Apple is trying to prove to the media and to the public [that they’re] doing something to improve the situation,” Yuan said. “Multi-national corporations should take main responsibility to improve living conditions in China because it is [they] who design the assembly lines and

R APPLE continued on PG. 3

David Lin/WSN

A Facilities & Construction Management worker swept out water after Warren Weaver Hall flooded on Monday morning. Classes that met in the building were cancelled for the day.

Japanese hotdog joint hits the spot OVERALL

Atmosphere

Affordibility

Quality of Food

Service

Menu Variety

Founded in 2005 by Japanese couple Noriki and Misa Tamura, Japadog first began as a humble food stand in Vancouver, Canada. During the 2010 Winter Olympics, the stand gained popularity, inspiring the Tamuras to open two additional food stand locations which now have 100 visitors lining up everyday. Today Japadog has four stands and two restaurants in Canada, and its newest location opened in early January in Manhattan’s Little Tokyo on St. Marks Place.

“We thought St. Marks would be a great place to open up our first U.S. location because there are always people passing by,” manager Toshiaki Tanaka said. “Especially young New Yorkers open to new things.”

Steinhardt freshman Carol Suh said she enjoyed Japadog’s most popular pick, the Beef Terimayo. The all-American hot dog is topped with sautéed onions, Japanese mayo, Teriyaki sauce and shredded seaweed — all for only $4.81.

“I am always looking for new places to eat around Third North, and I happened find Japadog on Yelp,” Suh said. “I was re-

Gloria Lee/WSN

Canadian Japadog is now on St Marks. ally curious as to how it would turn out because my two favorite things are Japanese food and hot dogs.”

Currently, the New York location offers 11 different menu items featuring rich Japanese cuisine in a toasted bun. There are also Shaked Fries, with popular flavors of Butter & Shoyu, and Age Ice, Japanese ice cream served in a deep-fried bun. And for those still unsure about trying this unique Eastmeets-West combination, Japadog’s chefs can fix up a traditional, all-beef frank.

Tanaka keeps Japanese rock tunes playing in the background and describes Japadog as a place where adventurous customers, both

R JAPADOG continued on PG. 4

R FLOOD continued on PG. 3

‘Cougar Town’ creator discusses future of show

By Bethany McHugh

By Michelle Lim

Students and faculty were evacuated from the Courant Institute Warren Weaver Hall yesterday morning after approximately 10,000 gallons of water poured through the ceiling from an upper floor.

According to NYU spokesman John Beckman, the leak emanated from the cooling towers above Warren Weaver.

“As I understand it, at about 8:45 a.m., someone on the 10th floor heard the sound of water rushing in a closet, which led them to pull the fire alarm,” Beckman said.

Shortly after 10 a.m., April Beacon, executive assistant to the Director of Courant, sent an email notifying professors that the building would be closed for the day. The email was followed by an alert sent by vice president of Public Safety

The first noticeable trait of Bill Lawrence, the creator of the television series “Spin City” and “Scrubs,” isn’t his wit or straightforward demeanor but his sincere humbleness about his career. “[Cougar Town’s third season] got cut from 22 episodes to 15, and it doesn’t affect me that much,” Lawrence said. “But it affects my 105-person crew, who’s working job-to-job.”

Lawrence, who stopped to speak to NYU Tisch’s Dramatic Writing students about working in the television industry last week, also spoke to WSN about his efforts to promote his current project, “Cougar Town.”

“I write shows that people like but [that] aren’t network-y,” Lawrence said of his style.

“Cougar Town” has had difficulty finding an audi-

ence since its inception. The show quickly abandoned its original concept, which featured Courtney Cox as a middle-aged woman chasing younger men; instead, it became about an endearing group of wine-drinking adult friends in the same quirky vein that made “Scrubs” a hit.

“Scrubs” found reasonable success, but “Cougar Town” has found itself in dire straits. Pushed from a September start to a late midseason premiere, “Cougar Town” might be looking at cancellation if Lawrence’s intense social media campaign does not prove fruitful.

Lawrence expressed the frustration he has experienced while promoting “Cougar Town,” noting that network TV is dying in an indirect reference to alternative methods of television watching like Netflix and Hulu, which have led to overall lower TV ratings in recent years.

Aside from starting a Twit-

ter account to connect with his online fan base, Lawrence has been hosting — and funding — various “Cougar Town” parties where members of the writing team and cast gather to meet with fans and screen new episodes.

Traveling across the country, he hopes to raise awareness for the show’s current incarnation and fight against any misconceptions people may have of it.

“We wanted the season premiere to be like a new pilot,” said Lawrence, who hopes to attract new viewers while satisfying loyal audience members.

Lawrence has effectively balanced heart and comedy before, and “Cougar Town” has achieved that as well. Central to the show is the sweet love story between 40-year-old main characters Jules (Cox) and Grayson (Josh Hopkins).

“They’re an older couple,”

R COUGAR continued on PG. 5

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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

staff recommendations Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief amanda randone Managing Editor

P.D. James Like clever murder mysteries? How about the English countryside? Witty, literary detectives? P.D. James is the writer for you. Her chief inspector is the dashing Adam Dalgliesh (don’t ask how it’s pronounced), who moonlights as a famous poet. The series has been going strong for fourteen books, but the best thing about James is how she crafts beautiful sentences and weds them to intricate plots.

— Christopher A. Geller

“Downton Abbey” Looking for a British period drama filled with sexual tension, scandals and family feuds? Try “Downton Abbey.” Set in the English countryside circa 1900, this series depicts the trials of the esteemed Crawley family — featuring Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess of Grantham — and the servants on whom they depend. The first season is on Netflix; season two is currently airing on PBS. — Peggy Fleming

jaewon kang Deputy Managing Editor

Amy zhang Assistant Managing Editor

james lanning Creative Director

selena chen senior staff

university Julie devito city/state emily yang investigative hanqing chen arts jonathon dornbush features jessica littman sports daniel hinton multimedia david lin copy maximilíano durón senior editor jack brooks,

BRIDGETTE DORAN

Noahsdad.com This heartwarming blog chronicles the life of Noah, a 1-year-old with Down syndrome. With absurdly cute photos, this honest, touching blog by his parents brings to light the difficulties that Noah and others with DS face in being accepted by society.

Showing that the condition doesn’t define Noah, the blog serves as a social movement and a ray of hope for many.

— Ana Luisa Crivorot

“Cameo Lover” Refresh your current playlist with “Cameo Lover” by New Zealand singer/songwriter Kimbra. The talented vocalist embodies a retro Katy Perry combined with Florence + the Machine, or perhaps a more radio-friendly Björk. Upon hearing the catchy “Cameo Lover” and the sultry “Good Intent,” it took me all of two seconds to download the singles myself.

— Michael Ryan

“Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop” While the fallout between Conan and NBC has been well documented, this documentary gives audiences a glimpse into what the late-night host did in the wake of his “Tonight Show” loss. Following him on his cross-country tour, we see all sides of Conan, from his need to deliver jokes to his frustration from what transpired with NBC. For Conan fans, it is a fascinating glimpse into the comedian’s psyche.

— Jonathon Dornbush all photos via flickr

TODAY

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1 p.m. to 3 p.m. | Student Health Center | 726 Broadway, First floor lobby

6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. | Gould Welcome Center | 50 W. Fourth St., Barasch Theater

Health Promotion Office Valentine’s Day Tabling

Geoengineering Earth’s Climate: Crazy or Necessary?

In lieu of Valentine’s day, the Health Promotion Office will be teaching about consent and boundaries as well as safer sex. There will also be an opportunity to win a prize during their annual guessing game.

Climate scientist Ken Caldeira will speak at “Geoengineering Earth’s Climate: Crazy or Necessary?” as a part of NYU’s Educating for Sustainability lecture series.

7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. | La Maison Française | 6 Washington Mews

“Proust and Sainte-Beuve” French academic critic Donatien Grau has written for many French publications and teaches at the Sorbonne. He will be discussing his book on Proust and Sainte-Beuve, which will be published by Grasset in January 2013.

deputy staff

university eric benson, eliza-

beth maguire city/state tony chau, kristine

itliong, jessica schultz investigative feiye wang music josh johnson film stefan Melnyk entertainment jeremy grossman books/theater clio Mcconnell dining hannah borenstein beauty & style shannon

loughran sports John axelrod, cole

riley special issues kristina bogos multimedia james kelleher copy jordan melendrez social media agent nicole gartside

opinion page

opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editor ATTICUS

BRIGHAM, SANCHAY JAIN

advertising business manager

REBECCA RIBEIRO circulation manager

chloe coffman

university sales coordinator

Emilia Mironovici

SNAPSHOT

ON THE WIRE

Stinky love For couples trying to avoid the cliché of chocolates and roses on Valentine’s Day, a new alternative has presented itself. A New York City sewage plant is offering tours of its facility to couples on Valentine’s Day. Guests will get the opportunity to see how waste is broken down into methane gas and fertilizer, as well as many other features of the 53-acre Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant located in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn. If that alone doesn’t entice you, there will also be free Hershey’s Kisses handed out to visitors this morning.

— Associated Press

University of Southern California

USC explores adding Wi-Fi to all buses — The Daily Trojan

A heart sculpture installation at Times Square brightens as people gather around it.

PHOTO BY Lauren Strausser

Ohio University

Campus Shift offers student alternative textbook-rental system — The Post

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advising editorial adviser

keith leighty EDITORS-AT-LARGE

jaywon choe kelsey desiderio russell steinberg KIRSTEN CHANG francis poon terka cicelOVa About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.

Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

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nyunews.com | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | Washington Square news

APPLE continued from PG. 1

FLOOD continued from PG. 1

Apple’s labor practices spark petition

Carina Wong for WSN

Despite labor practices, NYU students continue to use Apple products. the speed and quality of what they have made.”

Yuan said, though other corporations also allow workers to manufacture products under unfair working conditions in overseas, Apple has been targeted because it is the most popular and is making the most profit. Apple recently reported a historical 13.06 billion dollar profit for the holiday quarter.

Protesters from Change.org, a free online platform that helps individuals start petitions that aim to promote social change, and SumOfUs, a lobbying group, delivered a petition containing a combined 250,000 signatures to Apple’s Grand Central Terminal store on Thursday. They demanded that the tech giant improve

working conditions in overseas manufacturing plants.

Sarah Ryan, a human rights organizer for Change.org, said their main goal is to urge Apple to establish a worker protection program ensuring minimum wage and fair working conditions for its Chinese workers.

“Everybody uses a computer [or] phone, probably made in China,” Ryan said. “We can’t separate the phones and computers in our hands with the human lives behind them and the struggle they face overseas. Even though they’re not American citizens, they are people with no less humanity and dignity.

“We can’t enjoy our cheap products in the face of their misery,” she added.

Ryan encouraged students to start their own campaigns on campus, noting that academic institutions are big customers of Apple products. She also urged students to call on administration to influence Apple with their buying power.

Yuan believes that Apple users have the power to make a difference.

“The customers are what Apple really cares about,” Yuan said. “Maybe we should consider not buying Apple products or buying less.”

However, some NYU students who use Apple products are not affected by the controversy.

“This is obviously really bad, [but] it is really common — this is how so many other companies make profit,” CAS freshman Lizzie Li said. “It wouldn’t affect my purchases.”

Though CAS freshman Lauren Kim sympathizes with the laborers and their harsh working conditions, she said she wouldn’t join the protest.

“It wouldn’t affect that I will still buy Apple products, but I would still think about it for a moment when I’m buying it or when I’m passing by,” Kim said.

Cici Chen is a contributing writer. Emily Yang is city/state editor. Email them at cstate@nyunews.com.

Fales to display East Village Other

By Claire Zajdel

The year is 1965. Lyndon B. Johnson is President, the Vietnam War is in full swing, and LSD and Marijuana are a common sight. An underground newspaper called the East Village Other, with its radical content, swirling graphics and large collages, has just begun production and is gaining circulation.

This month, NYU Fales Library & Special Collection added a brand-new compilation to their specialty library: the 1965 underground newspaper the East Village Other. This new piece will bring visitors back to 1960’s East Village in an exhibition that begins next week at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute.

Peter Leggieri, an editor of the EVO, donated the collection to NYU. “East Village Other is a very important collection for us,” Fales librarian Charlotte Priddle said.

“A lot of what the arts scene produced was very ephemeral in nature, and the acquisition of this newspaper helps us fill in all of the gaps about the scene that we have yet to learn about.”

The Local East Village, a collaborative blog be-

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tween NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Institute of Journalism and The New York Times, will celebrate Fales’ acquisition of the collection with the exhibition “Blowing Minds: The East Village Other, the Rise of Underground Comix and the Alternative Press” beginning Feb.28.

The exhibition kicks off with a panel of writers, editors and affiliates of the EVO and those involved in counterculture journalism, including Steven Heller, Alex Gross, Dan Rattiner, John McMillian, Claudia Dreifus, Peter Leggieri and Ed Sanders.

Brooke Kroeger, the former director of the Carter Journalism Institute and coordinator of this event, explained its unique significance.

“The exhibition is an effort to celebrate something that was an important milestone for the alternative press and offset printing,” Kroeger said.

“It really lowered the bar of entry for many writers. With so many of these people coming to celebrate with us, the unique spirit of the paper will undoubtedly embody the exhibition.”

Fales also received eight issues of the EVO’s 1969 comic edition, the Gothic Blimp Works.

“They are scarce, so we leapt at the chance to get a more complete run for our collection about downtown New York,” Fales director Marvin Taylor said.

The Local East Village has also invited the aforementioned panelists and EVO writers to post about their experiences on their website.

Acclaimed poet Ed Sanders wrote in a Jan. 22 New York Times article that EVO became a soapbox for citizens.

“It was part of a generation that fervently believed that important and longlasting changes would occur in the United States which would bring free medical care to all, affordable rents, great art and great music, plus an end to war and the growth of personal freedom and good vibes,” he wrote. “It also pioneered a brilliant collage/montage feel to the design and layout of the paper.”

When Fales finishes cataloging the collection, students and academics alike will be able to explore the psychedelic pages, edgy comics and bold headlines for themselves.

Claire Zajdel is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.

Water leak closes Warren Weaver

Jules Martin urging students and faculty to keep an eye on the alert page on the NYU Public Safety website.

The building remained closed to faculty, administrators and students yesterday. Classes were canceled for the remainder of the day.

Computer science professor Deena Engel said that, though she was in the building, her office was not affected by the flooding.

“I heard the fire alarm sound, so I grabbed my purse and jacket and ran outside,” she said. “We were told that it was due to a problem with the water tank on the roof and that the building was closed, so I went to the library.”

Beckman said the building needed to be closed for the day because water seeped into the elevator shafts and stairways.

“These conditions are incompatible with operating a building properly and safely,” he said. “In addition, wireless connectivity in the building may be off-line, and ceiling tiles in some space have become sodden and damaged.”

Beckman said classes are expected to resume on floors 1 to 5 starting at 8 a.m. today. The elevators will remain shut down as the clean-up continues.

Students with concerns about particular classes should get in touch with their professors, Beckman said.

CAS freshman Noris Onea worked on his Java programming homework at the Student Academic Center after his class was canceled.

“Even though the computer science building is flooded, we are constantly working on computer science,” he said.

According to Martin, there were no injuries associated with the leak.

Jonathan Goodman, a math professor who teaches in the building, canceled his class yesterday. He noted that he was fortunate to live nearby.

“I’ve been working at home today,” he said. “I have office hours tomorrow, but we’ll see. So far we’ve only heard that it’s closed all day.”

Julie DeVito is university editor.

Email her at jdevito@nyunews.com.

Easter egg printing sites on campus

By Feiye Wang Lecture slides, course readings and essays.

There seems to be a never-ending amount of paper that we have to print out. Some of us are lucky enough to own personal printers and are able to print at any time we please.

Others must rush to a computer lab minutes before class to print under a limited printing grant per semester. Before the long lines and the cost of printing at Bobst start to drive you insane, check out these lesserknown free printing labs: The Academic Resource Center Ever find yourself heading to class in Silver and realizing you forgot to print out your assignment? Unless they live in Weinstein or Goddard, students usually do not have the luxury of running back to their dorms to print and still make it to class on time. The new Academic Resource Center not only offers a fresh place to study, and the printer underneath the staircase will also let you get to that last-minute print job before you run to class.

West Fourth After-Hours Printing By now, almost everyone is familiar with the Mac-friendly printing lab at West Fourth Street. But have you ever wondered about that printer prominently placed outside the lab? While the lab holds regular hours from 8:30 a.m to 10:30 p.m Monday through Friday, this printer remains on even after the lights go out. As long as you have ITS print service installed, you can print directly from your computer and use this after-hours printer at your convenience. To install the software on your computer: - Head to http://www.nyu.edu/its/print/ - Click on the Software Setup tab at the top of the page - Download the software according to your computer system

Kelsey Ledgerwood/WSN

Free printing sites are a rarity at NYU. - Follow the rest of the step-by-step instructions on the page.

- Just type in your NetID and voila ­— your document awaits you on the other end.

Steinhardt, 35 W. Fourth St. This is a printing station masquerading as a school building. With a convenient location right next to classes, you might just be able to squeeze in one last paragraph of that essay and still make it to your class on time.

The Wasserman Center for Career Development Finally, if you don’t mind a bit of a walk off campus and value your money, you should hit up the career services center. Hidden in the back of the Wasserman Center is a computer lab with completely free printing. While each print is limited to five pages and multiple printing isn’t allowed (so no flyers for that Occupy Wall Street protest), no NetIDs or university grant dollars are required.

Happy printing!

Feiye Wang is a deputy investigative editor.

Email her at fwang@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | nyunews.com

dining

edited by hannah borenstein dining@nyunews.com

JAPADOG continued from PG. 1

St. Marks hot dogs join East and West young and old, can experience a perfect Japanese-American fusion in a relaxed, casual environment. Although each order is grilled on the spot, there is very little wait time for the food and they rarely run out of seats.

“I am definitely coming back here with my friends to try all the different hot

dogs,” Suh said. “It’s beefy and hearty but also very Japanese. It’s a Japanese twist on an American classic.”

Japadog is located on 30 St. Marks Pl. in the East Village.

Michelle Lim is a contributing writer.

Email her at dining@nyunews.com

Original M&M makes public debut

By Po-chen Chang The matriarch of the M&M brood, the brown candy Ms. Brown — currently voiced by actress Vanessa Williams — is the original M&M of the iconic brand. And after spending 70 years backstage, Ms. Brown finally made her public debut on Super Bowl Sunday.

Ms. Brown has stayed behind the scenes during previous M&M campaigns, but this year she starred in her own commercial entitled “Just My Shell.” To celebrate Ms. Brown’s societal debut, professional party planner Jes Gordon and the Museum of Chocolate Art partnered to create a launch party that ran from Feb. 7 to Feb. 12.

The SoHo pop-up gallery featured different installations starring Ms. Brown, also referred to as the Chief Chocolate Officer. Pure milk chocolate sculptures by Jim Victor and Hakan Martensson included a 300-pound

statue of Ms. Brown wearing high heels, glasses and white gloves. Sylvia Maier, David Pfendler and Matt Mikas contributed milk chocolate paintings of Ms. Brown giving a commencement speech (“Graduation”), planting cocoa seeds in Brazil (“Center for Cocoa Science”) and posing for a group picture (“Family Photo”). The gallery also featured a depiction of Ms. Brown painting her own self portrait entitled “Self-Indulgence,” an audience favorite.

Ms. Brown is often described as highly intellectual, authoritative and articulate and, most prominently, self-indulgent. The gallery’s polished and plush décor gracefully surfaced beneath a dim-lit air of sophistication — everything showcased was indeed characteristically sumptuous.

Po-chen Chang is a contributing writer.

Email him at dining@nyunews.com

D.C. cupcakes come to SoHo

By Rachel Sanderson Despite the recent chilly weather, masses still lined up outside of Georgetown Cupcake in SoHo on Feb. 11 for the grand opening of the store.

Sisters Katherine Kallinis and Sophie LaMontage opened their first cupcake shop in Georgetown, D.C., in February 2008. After four years and a reality series on TLC, Kallinis and LaMontage have found themselves with four locations, the newest addition being their SoHo bakery.

“My sister and I always wanted to open a bakery,” LaMontage said. “We quit our jobs in the corporate field and we baked cupcakes on our own. We had no idea it would grow into a big thing.”

As a part of the store’s inauguration, Georgetown Cupcake offered one free cupcake per customer. By noon, the estimated wait time for the delectable treats was nearly an hour and a half, and throughout the day it averaged thirty to forty-five minutes.

“We were completely overwhelmed and pleased with the opening,” LaMontage said. “Our philosophy is just to bake cupcakes fresh and make the shop a fun and interesting experience.

We are really excited to be here in SoHo.” As a self-proclaimed cupcake connoisseur, I patiently and eagerly waited my turn to step into the bouvia facebook tique cupcake shop. Upon Georgetown window cupentering the small but cakes entice customers. welcoming atmosphere, I was transported to a culinary fantasy. Large, vibrant New York instantly became cupcake artwork lined the our biggest city,” LaMontage wall in the front seating said. “It’s amazing to have area of the store, and each fans of Georgetown Cupcake table was adorned with in New York.”

Although waiting outside fresh bouquets of pink and on a brisk winter day was not purple flowers.

The store offers classic cup- ideal, the time spent waiting cake flavors such as vanilla, for one of their cupcakes was chocolate and red velvet, but completely justified by their for the SoHo opening they wonderful taste.

Georgetown Cupcake’s featured additional New York City-themed cupcakes, newest location is now at including the Big Apple 111 Mercer St. (between Crumble Cupcake, the Black Spring and Prince streets). and White Cookie Cupcake Rachel Sanderson is a and a cheesecake cupcake.

“When we started shipping contributing writer. Email our cupcakes nationwide, her at dining@nyunews.com.

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with chocolate kahlua trifles

By Hannah Borenstein It’s Valentine’s Day, and you aren’t prepared. Perhaps you forgot or didn’t prioritize well, but in either case you haven’t made any plans for the evening. When I thought about what I could eat this Valentine’s Day, I turned to the person who has probably loved me the most — my mom. In an attempt to spread the love, here’s a delicious dessert recipe for all of the procrastinators to make tonight. Here’s to my mom, to love and to not getting reprimanded for forgetting about your significant other. Enjoy!

Ingredients: 1. 1 box of brownie mix 2. 3 boxes (each with 4 serving sizes) of instant chocolate pudding 3. 6 cups of whole milk 4. 12 to 16 oz. of regular Cool Whip 5. 1 bag of toffee bits (Skor or Heath) 6. 1/2 cup of Kahlua Directions: Bake the brownies in a 9x13-inch pan and then cool for 10 minutes. Once cooled, poke holes in the brownies and pour the Kahlua over the brownies. Cover and let them sit for about an hour.

Cut 1/3 of the brownies off and crumble them into a large trifle bowl or container.

Mix one box of instant chocolate pudding with two cups of milk. Immediately pour this mixture over the brownies and let it set.

Spread 1/3 of the Cool Whip over the pudding mixture and then sprinkle 1/3 of the toffee bits over the Cool Whip.

Repeat twice and refrigerate until shortly before serving.

Hannah Borenstein is dining editor.

Email her at hborenstein@nyunews.com.

nyunews.com | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | Washington Square news

arts

edited by JONATHON DORNBUSH ARTS@nyunews.com

Sweet tunes for Valentine’s Day

By WSN Music Staff

On Valentine’s Day, people seem to experience one of two emotions: glowing euphoria or dejected despair. With that in mind, here are songs that either celebrate the wonder of love or help you wallow in your misery.

Celebrating Love: “General Specific” by Band of Horses One of the happiest songs ever written, “General Specific” is about finding that special place built “only for you and me.”

“True Love Waits” by Radiohead Nothing screams Valentine’s Day more than an acoustic love song.

Let Thom Yorke serenade you with love, lollipops and crisps.

“Come Close” by Common, feat. Mary J. Blige In this truly perfect Valentine’s Day song, Common’s promises of change and devotion warm the air. Mary J. Blige’s sultry coos of “Come close to me” only add to the sexy, romantic vibe, and the two share a true chemistry as this neo-soul classic unfolds.

“Paris” by Friendly Fires A song that will leave you wanting to do nothing more than drop everything and elope in Paris.

“I’ll Be Yours” by Those Dancing Days This Swedish indie-pop girl band is responsible for many twee tunes about love, but this one is the best thanks to a duet with The Maccabees’ lead singer Orlando Weeks.

Bright guitar riffs and prominent drums on the chorus keep it from going overboard with cuteness, but the lyrics are genuinely sweet enough for anyone’s Valentine.

Wallowing in Misery: “You Suck At Love” by Simple Plan Simple Plan has combined its poppy, upbeat sound with cynical humor in a song about falling for someone who is “good at hooking up” but can’t seem to grasp the concept of relationships.

“Nicest Thing” by Kate Nash Nash’s “Nicest Thing” is the best song for wallowing in the misery of unrequited love. Accompanied by a heartbroken string orchestra, Nash’s lyrics brim over with raw honesty and genuine pain: “I wish you couldn’t figure me out/ But you’d always wanna know what I was about.” This song will be your go-to track for when you really just want to be alone with your sadness.

“Last Night I Dreamt” by The Wombats Having dreams about dying alone?

You’re not the only one.

“Almost Blue” by Elvis Costello & The Attractions Costello’s somber, harrowing tale of lost love is achingly fleshed out as a declaration of a soul-shattering separation. As he croons, “There’s a part of me that’s always true” over a truly ephemeral, sorrowful piano, we’re left so distraught by his loss that the idea of love simply seems too painful to even consider.

“Dressing Room Walls” by Old 97’s According to this song, Rhett Miller hasn’t believed in true love since “Reagan was king.” Listen and join him as one of misery’s new friends. all photos via AMAZON

‘Yosemite’ doomed by plot, stage

Courtesy of Sandra Coudert

Siblings hide family secret.

By Christopher A. Gellert Mystery, emphatic subtlety and symbolism are what might be expected of Daniel Talbott’s new play “Yosemite,” which follows three siblings determined to bury a family secret in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Unfortunately, Talbott fails to intrigue with a play that is beset by flighty character development and a cramped stage.

At the onset, the family’s secret is exposed as siblings Jer (Noah Galvin), Jake (Seth Numrich) and Ruby (Libby Woodbridge) bury a baby. This neglected child, wrapped in a plastic garbage bag, is the progeny of the three siblings’ mother and stepfather.

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Seeing an actor dig a hole into the stage and come up with soil begs more questions than the dialogue. Oddly enough, the makeshift grave is the most compelling aspect of the play and an impressive technical accomplishment.

Frustration prevails, and the three siblings begin to argue and curse as they continue to dig. Talbott unenthusiastically weaves angry obscenities into the dialogue as he strives to stay true to life, but the script fails in its lackluster attempt at realism. The back-andforth affair is more distracting than anything else and is ultimately irritating in its impoverishment of language.

Eventually, their negligent matriarch of a mother, who remains the most balanced character in the play thanks to Kathryn Erbe’s portrayal, appears to assess her children’s progress on the dig. Erbe’s powerful performance comes despite the little she ­— along with the rest of the cast­ — is given to work with. The length of the stage at Rattlestick Playwrights Theater confines the actors, and on a few occasions Jake is actually forced into the corner.

“Yosemite” is also plagued by its unquestioning faith in the characters’ fantasies. As the siblings reminisce about the good old days when their father was alive, the audience is forced to believe that Jake, Jer and Ruby lived in a utopia. Life with their father was undoubtedly preferable to their current situation, and their previous existence sounds simply too good to be true. The dead father simply looms too large in his saintliness.

The ending is heavily foreshadowed, and the play offers no real resolution. Nothing appears to have been gained from the characters’ experiences. Arguably, the show raises an interesting question about how to distinguish between a melodramatic sob story and a tragedy, but it hardly inspires enough curiosity to mask its many lingering issues.

“Yosemite” is playing at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater at 224 Waverly Pl. through Feb. 26.

For tickets and more information, visit rattlestick.org.

Christopher A. Gellertis is a contributing writer. Email him at theater@nyunews.com.

COUGAR continued from PG. 1

Lawrence speaks of his ABC comedy Lawrence said. “There’s no point in playing ‘will they or won’t they.’”

Yet the show always finds ways to be hilarious. For example, actor Dan Byrd’s refusal to cut his hair led Lawrence to give his character a helmet for eight episodes.

“We asked him and he said no,” he said. “Maybe next time he’ll just do it.”

“Cougar Town” is an appealing program from a man who understands his craft. As he told Tisch students, he knows “if you work hard,

chances are [you’ll find success].”

Lawrence’s recent efforts display a man working exhaustively for his project. When the show premieres today, we will find out if his campaign has paid off. WSN will be reviewing “Cougar Town” every week on the Highlighter blog at wsnhighlighter.wordpress.com. Check back every Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.

Bethany McHugh is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.

Venue: Terminal 5

By Josh Johnson If you have been attending concerts in New York City, chances are you’ve heard people complain about Terminal 5, the biggest general-admission venue owned by NYC’s premier concert promoter, The Bowery Presents. T5 has a bad reputation amongst concertgoers and attending just a few shows gives you enough reason why.

There are some positive aspects to the venue. In terms of finding quality bands to play, T5 is among the best in the city. The bands that play are usually established acts that are not big enough to headline seated theaters like Radio City Music Hall. Bands in this category are often proven acts, such as The Hold Steady or The Kills, instead of unestablished buzz bands. T5 has also hosted multi-night performances by well-known acts, including Bob Dylan, My Morning Jacket and LCD Soundsystem. But while T5 has no problem getting quality bands in the door, the venue has trouble with almost everything else.

Sound quality, or lack there of, is a major issue. The venue’s sound is muddled, with vocals suffering in particular. Many have labeled the venue a “black hole” for sound.

Lead singers are almost impossible to hear if you don’t have a song memorized.

Terminal 5’s location is bewildering. Located on 56th Street between 11th and 12th avenues, T5 is somehow in the city and simultaneously in the middle of nowhere. The only nearby noteable places are car dealerships, so unless you’re in the market for a new Infiniti, you’ll find

nothing interesting in the area.

The most irritating aspect of T5, however, is the way the staff mishandles the line to get inside. If you don’t need to be in the front to have a good time, then this may not concern you. If you are one of those crazy people (I include myself in this group), then T5’s line management illustrates how poorly the venue is operated. People will always form a single-file line if left alone. Yet the staff at T5 destroys that line to form four, which then turns into a disorganized block of people, encouraging line-jumping and ruining the previously established order.

If this had been T5’s only line vice, it may have been forgiven, but the staff continues to aggravate its patrons with unnecessary chaos.

After forming the block line, the staff then directs the crowd into the venue, but not towards the stage.

Instead, they are led up three flights of stairs and up to the roof to wait for another hour before entering.

How is this a good idea? The only purpose appears to be to frustrate the crowd, leaving a group of angry hipsters to charge downstairs as security guards lazily request they stop running.

Despite T5’s mind-boggling practices and poor sound, it remains a prominent venue because it is the only one of its size to regularly hold shows. While places like the Roseland Ballroom can compete in size, they don’t hold enough shows to compete for talent. Until they do, enjoy stewing in anger on the rooftop of NYC’s most annoying concert venue.

Josh Johnson is music editor. Email him at jjohnson@nyunews.com.

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57 Brazilian port of 1.4 million 58 Backup group for Gladys Knight 61 Blacktop again, e.g.

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37 Part of a play 38 “He & ___” (1960s CBS series) 39 Singer with the Heartbreakers 41 New Age Grammy winner 44 Hindu wrap

46 A-C on a filing cabinet, e.g.

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nyunews.com | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | Washington Square news

OPINION

edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com

Election 2012

Mitt Romney exemplifies American Dream

By Brittany Sherman

Immigrants wishing for a more comfortable life look longingly for a future in the great United States.

They want more — so much more — than their current lives could ever offer. People travel thousands of miles in search of the one place that they can make something of themselves. That place is this beautiful country where you don’t need to be born wealthy, you don’t need to have a lineage of miraculous wealth, to rise from the status of unknown to the very top of the financial ladder. “This is the country where anything is possible,” they tell themselves. “This is where I can make a home for myself and for my children. Where my race, religion and ethnicity won’t matter. I put all that behind me when I arrived in America. I have a fair chance — an equal chance — at success.” That is what they hope for themselves.

Everyone wants the opportunity to be successful. They want to give their kids a life that is better than their own. They want to show any-

thing is possible through hard work and incredible perseverance. We all want to achieve the dream. But God forbid we have a president who did just that. God forbid Mitt Romney lead the country with the proud mantra that he achieved success for himself. God forbid we have a leader who is a living example of what we all hope to accomplish.

It is nonsensical that most Americans hope to live this so-called dream and yet won’t elect a president who has. But worse than that, they use this fact against him. Newt Gingrich attacks Romney for being a successful businessman. He accuses him of accumulating so much wealth that he cannot identify with the common American. Last I checked, Romney did not just sit back and relax as his ultra-rich family threw bags of money at him. He did not do absolutely nothing to become the rich guy that Gingrich accuses him of being. He went to college, worked hard, and earned a J.D. and M.B.A. He became a success — a prominent figure ­— because he worked for it.

Americans want a presidential candidate they can relate to. They

want someone who represents the country, someone who can lead the country based on ideals they feel match their own personal goals. Whether or not Americans relate to Romney’s social and political agenda is something we can sit here and debate. But looking at his wealth and saying that he is out of touch with citizens as a result is simply ludicrous. He may be rich by Gingrich’s standards and well-off by most Americans, but he is not impossible to relate to.

Romney proved himself to be the example of an American dream come true. He represents what most of us want for ourselves, for our children and for our future generations. What Americans should do, and what they need to do, is to start looking past the money and into the story behind it. Because if they want the coveted American dream for themselves, there is no reason they should detest a presidential candidate who desired nothing but the same.

Brittany Sherman is a staff columnist.

Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

pop culture

Society consumed by reality TV raises concerns

By Liz Beras

It appears that our society has lost sight of what constitutes a matter as significant. On Oct. 31, 2011, quite a few stories emerged in the papers, from Herman Cain’s sexual harassment scandals to the bankruptcy of financial brokerage MF Global. However, the headlines that day revolved around something seemingly more important to the public — reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s divorce from basketball player Kris Humphries. In the last decade, our society has become engulfed by all matters associated with reality television, but this must stop now.

Reality television began as the occasional game show, contest or docudrama on respectable networks such as CBS and ABC. But with the development of shows like “Survivor” and “American Idol” came unprecedented viewership. Networks used this wide interest from the public to advance the reality television genre. Before long, reality television included shows about everything, including dating, weight loss, home renovation, childcare and even cooking.

SUBMITTING TO

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The public’s demand for these shows has caused the industry to adapt. For example, as of late the Emmys have added a category for “Outstanding Reality Program.” It is ineffably disgraceful that a show like Kathy Griffin’s “My Life on the D-List” is in the same award show as respectable programs like “The Office” or “Glee.”

Viewers may argue that reality television is unscripted and thus has a real element to it. However, this is not the case. Viewers are tuning in to shows that are outlined by producers and behind-thescenes writers. Hours and hours of footage are shot with characters in extreme situations being told how to feel or act. Networks like Bravo and MTV have created franchises out of reality TV shows. But where is the line drawn?

Bravo’s “Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” cast member Russell Armstrong committed suicide late last year, and it was reported that the show “pushed him to the limit.” Such pressure exists on all of these programs, from “Jersey Shore” to “Keeping Up With the Kardashians.” Viewers feel the need to live vicariously through

these characters and lust after their lifestyles while disregarding more important things in society.

President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address in January received 37.8 million viewers — only slightly more than the 36.4 million American Idol received during its season finale in 2007. By watching these shows, which are an absolute joke, viewers are giving networks the green light to continue making them.

It may seem entertaining in the moment, but take a step back and observe what this industry has become. One cannot watch TV without stumbling upon a reality show on every other channel. These stars are making thousands of dollars per episode by displaying vile, dramatic, violent and ultimately meaningless programming. Viewers cannot allow themselves to be caught up in this fantasy of reality TV. Next time you find yourself watching MTV or Bravo, do yourself a favor and change the channel.

Better yet, go live your life instead of watching somebody else’s.

Liz Beras is a columnist.

Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, fifth floor, New York, NY 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title. WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.

staff editorial

Contraception proposal unwarranted In the midst of the American Catholic outcry in response to the lack of exemption from a contraceptive mandate for Catholic institutions, the Obama administration announced a compromise last weekend. The plan requires that insurance companies pay for contraception themselves using no premium dollars for the transaction, when Catholic organizations object morally to providing it for their employees.

The policy is legally questionable, and the Obama administration should not have acquiesced in the first place. Opponents of the original rule love to cry out slogans regarding religious freedom, but what about freedom from the religion of one’s employer?

Are non-Catholics employed by Catholic institutions (such as hospitals, charities and schools) obliged to comply with Catholic dictations on their sexual health even after the work day is over?

Based on legal precedent dating back to the Founding Fathers, freedom from religion is as important as the freedom to practice it. The Supreme Court has repeatedly reaffirmed religious affiliation has never been a legitimate excuse for not complying with the law. In the court’s decision in Employment Division v. Smith (1990), Justice Antonin Scalia (a Catholic and conservative himself) wrote, “We have never held that an individual’s religious beliefs excuse him from compliance with an otherwise valid law [...] When followers of a particular sect enter into commercial activity as a matter of choice, the limits they accept on their own conduct as a matter of conscience and faith are not to be superimposed on the statutory schemes which are binding on others.” The Obama administration’s original policy decision clearly followed this mandate, complied with this legal precedent and, thus, should have stood as written.

On the larger moral question regarding the acceptability and use of contraceptives, we think opponents of the Obama policy are misguided in their application of the aforementioned legal policy.

The Catholic Church and its related institutions would, in light of recent scandals, benefit from examining their own moral priorities and redirecting their focus towards the critical inequalities of the poor and marginalized.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

Editorial Board: Olivia Gonzalez (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Sanchay Jain (Co-Chair), Chris DiNardo, Emily Franklin, Matt Kao, Ben Miller and Peter Murphy.

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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2012 | nyunews.com

SPORTs

edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com

Rangers, Lundqvist lead NHL

By Dan Hinton Lost among the “Linsanity,” the New York Rangers have established themselves as the best team in the NHL. They have won seven of nine games including a thriller against the Boston Bruins.

The Blueshirts should be the favorites to win the Stanley Cup thanks to head coach John Tortorella’s philosophy of gritty play — they hit, block and fight better than any other team in the league. The Rangers lead in fights per game and have allowed the second fewest goals.

Without defensive leader Marc Staal for the first half of the season, others have stepped up. Defenseman Dan Girardi has played all 54 games and leads the league in ice time (27:17), culminating in a spot on the All-Star roster. Girardi blocked the most shots in the league last year while fellow defenseman Ryan McDonagh currently leads the team with 139.

Meanwhile, goaltender Henrik Lundqvist, who has received team MVP honors every year since 2007, is enjoying the best season of his career. Lundqvist is on track to receive his first Vezina Trophy for goalie of the year as he leads the league in save percentage (.939), is second in goals against average (1.81) and fourth in wins (26).

New York’s scoring has strongly improved compared to past seasons. Right winger Marian Gaborik is an elite scorer but team captain Ryan Callahan epitomizes the Blueshirts’ tough game style. Callahan is top five among the Rangers in points, goals, assists, average ice time, penalty minutes, hits and blocked shots. With this year’s Stanley Cup Playoff picture shaping up, the Rangers will rely on players like Callahan to survive.

Most importantly, the Rangers ascended to the top of the East by dominating division rivals. Their seven-game win streak against the Philadelphia Flyers dates back to last March. On Saturday, the Rangers earned their second 5-2 victory over the Flyers within a week. And so far this season, they are 6-3-1 combined against the New York Islanders, New Jersey Devils and Pittsburgh Penguins.

If the Rangers can seal a decisive victory against the Bruins on Tuesday night, they’ll create a nine-point lead in the conference. Like Jeremy Lin, the Blueshirts have performed well under pressure; but unlike Lin, they have not been the source of praise and excitement that they should be.

Let’s change that, New York.

Dan Hinton is sports editor.

Email him at dhinton@nyunews.com.