NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 11
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013
nyunews.com
Rally calls for cleaner energy
INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
By COSTANZA MAIO
CHUCK KUAN FOR WSN
STUDENT IMMIGRATION MAY SOON BE EASIER
Bipartisan support for reform could relax restrictions on NYU’s international students IMMIGRATION on PG. 3
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LINK BETWEEN VIOLENCE AND VIDEO GAMES REMAINS THIN In the wake of the tragedies at Sandy Hook and Atlanta, displays of violence in artistic media have come under fire. But this criticism relies on little evidence and ignores important causes of criminality VIOLENCE on PG. 5
HYDROFRACKING CAN ALLEVIATE ENERGY WOES While it has risks, hydrofracking has potential to reduce pollution and fuel economic growth OPS on PG. 7
Chinatown hosts Lunar New Year parade
RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN
On Sunday, Feb. 17, the Year of the Snake was celebrated in Chinatown. This year was the 14th Chinese Lunar New Year Parade and Festival, which is organized by the Better Chinatown Society.
On Sunday, 40,000 people converged on the Washington Monument to urge President Barack Obama to keep his promises on environmental issues. The Forward on Climate rally was coordinated by 350.org, the Sierra Club and the Hip Hop Caucus, three of the largest environmental justice organizations in the United States. According to protesters, the first and most significant step in protecting the environment in the long term is to reject the Keystone XL pipeline plan. This plan, proposed last year by the company TransCanada, concerns extending an existing pipeline from tar sands in Alberta, Canada, to the Gulf Coast. Tar sands are sources of unrefined, toxic oil. Due to the danger of spills and leaks, this presents harmful environmental risks.
RALLY continued on PG. 3
‘Girls’ star branches out with writing, directing By WILL LANDMAN
Alex Karpovsky is a very busy man. In addition to starring in HBO’s “Girls” as Ray Ploshansky, Karpovsky directed, wrote and starred in two movies — “Rubberneck” and “Red Flag — which will be premiering as a double feature this Friday at the Film Society of Lincoln Center. But he does not find his schedule overwhelming. “Usually I’m on [a project] for one or two to three days,” Karpovsky said. “So it really doesn’t take up that much time. At least it doesn’t feel that way.” Despite the large number of projects and characters that he takes on, Karpovsky makes sure to fully commit to each endeavor. “My big thing is to make sure I understand what I’m doing in a fundamental, comprehensive sense,” he said. “I want to know if I totally understand what this character’s about, what his motivation is during the scene [and] how this will seem appropriate to the bigger picture. I just want to make sure I get it, that I get everything.” In “Rubberneck,” Karpovsky plays a Boston research scientist named Paul. Months after a weekend fling, Paul continues to lust after his coworker Danielle (Jamie Ray Newman). This role came naturally to Karpovsky. “My
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Alex Karpovsky has lept onto the silver screen with two new directorial efforts. dad’s a scientist,” he said. “I grew up in a community of scientists, so it was easy for me to draw from that and the general personality traits from these scientists.”
In “Red Flag,” however, Karpovsky’s part reflects his own personality. In the film, he is a newly single indie filmmaker who is traveling to promote his film “Woodpecker,” a film he actually directed in 2008. Alex is forced to suffer through a series of humiliations, each one more absurd and comical to watch than the last. “I took my genuine fears and insecurities, basically amplifying them for comedic effect,” Karpovsky said. “I find that stuff funny. Woody Allen used to do that. Louis C.K. kind of does that with his show. At this point, I feel I know a portion of who I am and I have enough perspective on some of my traits to caricature myself for comedic effect.” Karpovsky was also eager to share his advice for the aspiring writers, directors and actors of NYU. “I think, right now, more than any other time, there is no excuse not to make your film,” he said. “There are many ways to raise money, and we don’t have to bend over to executives as much anymore. The resources are there, your excuses are empty. Go out and make your movie. Take your time, do it right, but set a deadline.” Will Landman is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.