WSN022414

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 14

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014

nyunews.com

NY faces winter blood shortage

By VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI

STEPHANIE ZHENG FOR WSN

Citywide student group honors recent Chinese history at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The College Group at the Met hosted “A Brush with Asia,” an event that highlighted a museum exhibition on contemporary China. Students from New York City universities explored the exhibition after museum hours and were treated to a private tour and buffet dinner.

New York has experienced a particularly rough winter, having been covered by 15 rounds of snow. This extreme weather has had a potentially dangerous effect on the state blood supply, leading the New York Blood Center to declare a blood shortage.

The NYBC, which serves the New York state, is still struggling to replenish the blood supply quickly enough to maintain safe levels in its reserve.

An NYBC press release issued on Feb. 5 explained that, due to heavy snowfall, many blood drives have been canceled and donors have struggled to reach the drives that remained open.

Hospitals across the state always have a high demand for blood, the release said.

Jim Fox, director of corporate communications for NYBC, explained the importance of immediately remedying the issue.

BLOOD continued on PG. 3

STORY ON PAGE 4

Beatles return to New York NYU sports merger fails to score City in library exhibition

By MICHELLE TRAN

By MADELEINE BALL

Fifty years after their first visit, the Beatles have returned to New York City, this time in the form of an exhibition curated by the Grammy Museum at the New York Public Library. The exhibition, Ladies and Gentlemen… The Beatles! covers the history of the Beatles’ influence in America, from the band’s premiere on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1964 to their final full concert in 1966 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco.

Museum curator and NYU alumna Barbara Cohen-Stratyner said the items featured in the exhibition are a project of the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles that were brought to the NYPL. She said the tour of Ladies and

Gentlemen… The Beatles! complements the Beatles’ 50-year anniversary appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” on Feb. 9, 1964.

“The exhibit displays the profound impact of pop music in America,” Cohen-Stratyner said.

As museum-goers enter the exhibit, “All My Loving” plays over the speakers. The collection begins with the band’s influences and moves chronologically through the band’s time in the United States. The exhibit includes concert footage, newspaper headlines from the era and rare photographs. There are installations and interactive pieces such as a vocal

BEATLES continued on PG. 4

Despite its anticipated benefits, the merger between NYU and the Polytechnic School of Engineering backfired for Poly’s women’s tennis team, effectively disbanding their program.

Poly junior Fatima Khalid is speaking out about the effects the merger has had on her dissolved women’s tennis team.

Back in September, Khalid and her teammates were surprised by the news that their former tennis coach, Victor Caraballo, had left the Poly program due to fear of the merger.

“Our coach believed he

would have no job after the merger so he decided to take an offer from another Division II school, leaving us two weeks before the season started with no coach and less than six players,” Khalid said.

Without the right numbers and without a coach to lead them, Khalid and her teammates were forced to face the fact that their 2013 season had ended before it even started.

“What was infuriating was that me and my close teammates had been asked

by Coach Caraballo to come two weeks before move-in week during mid-August, and then we ended up not

even having a team to play with,” Khalid said.

Poly junior and member of the team Sabrina Pardus said the team had to decide what to do on their own.

“We were given the option to continue our season with a coach that had no experience in tennis or just play on our own time like a club,” Sabrina Pardus said.

Subsequently, the girls decided not to play their final season.

Pardus said some of the girls will try to play for the NYU team next fall.

Poly’s athletic director, Curtis Spence, explained

MERGER continued on PG. 8

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

NYU Reacts to Venezuela protests

Fraternity is right to expel racist members

Basketball team faces Emory and Rochester

Deaths in Venezuela antigovernment protests have caught international attention.

How should universities respond when faced with bigotry in fraternities?

NYU men’s and women’s basketball split games with the Eagles and Yellowjackets.

VENEZUELA on PG. 3

HOUSE on PG. 7

VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM

BASKETBALL on PG. 8

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

ON THE SIDE

COMPILED BY THE

WSN STAFF

THE MOSAIC MAN Exposure

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Jim Power, the Mosaic Man, is the creator of the Mosaic Trail, a series of mosaics that adorn aeries of light poles, sidewalks and storefronts in the East Village. I have spent time with Jim twice a week for about four months, helping him with a fundraiser via Indiegogo to support restoring his mosaics.

In this process, I have learned a lot about him and gained his trust. I created a video project that captures Jim’s history with mosaics, his paranoia, his post-traumatic stress after leaving the war, his loneliness and the ways he manages his problems. It tells why Jim has spent 29 years making these mosaics for only himself. To see the project, go to www.facebook.com/JLanier.Photo — JUSTIN LANIER

Editor-in-Chief NICOLE BROWN Managing Editor

MICHAEL DOMANICO Deputy Managing Editor

CASEY DALRYMPLE Assistant Managing Editors

TATIANA BAEZ JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU Creative Director

CICEK EREL

Special Editions Director

LYANNE NATIVIDAD SENIOR STAFF

news KAVISH HARJAI, ANN SCHMIDT arts CLIO MCCONNELL features BRYNA SHUMAN sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia FELIPE DE LA HOZ copy THOMAS DEVLIN, PAIGE MANKIN web KIMBERLY HART, BENSON TSAI,

LAVYA YALAMANCHI senior editors TONY CHAU, ARIANA DIVALENTINO, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, NEELA QADIR, DANIEL YEOM

DEPUTY STAFF

news LARSON BINZER, SCOTT MULLEN,

JUSTIN LANIER/WSN

OPINION PAGE

TODAY ON CAMPUS Bella Quisqueya Learn about the culture of the Dominican Republic at Bella Quisqueya — “D” is for Dominican, a panel discussion featuring Dominicans who will share their unique backgrounds and explain what their heritage means to them. Food and refreshments will be served at the event, which is at the Kimmel Center for University Life from 6 to 8 p.m.

opinion editor

PETER KEFFER deputy opinion editors

Eating Poetry

Celebrated Authors Speak

Come see professors outside of the classroom at Eating Poetry, a vocal performance that will feature works by Russell Platt, Francis Poulenc and Ludwig von Beethoven.

The recital is at the Frederick Loewe Theater and starts at 8 p.m.

AFEEFA TARIQ books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film IFE OLUJOBI entertainment BOB TEOH music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features HANNAH TREASURE beauty & style DANA RESZUTEK violet vision blog GIANNA COLLIER-PITTS dining CHANDLER WEST sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia HANNAH LUU, LAWRENCE WU video ALEX LINZMEIER

Paul Rome, fiction and performance literature writer, and Adelle Waldman, journalist and book reviewer, will host a book talk. Rome will speak about his debut novel, “We All Sleep in the Same Room,” and Waldman will discuss her coming-ofage debut novel, “The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P.” The event is at the NYU Bookstore from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

CHRISTINA COLEBURN, OMAR ETMAN, NINA GOLSHAN

ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER

ELLEN MCQUEEN

CIRCULATION MANAGER

CHLOE COFFMAN SALES MANAGER

ALISON LIZZIO

TODAY’S EVENTS ARE FREE FOR NYU STUDENTS.

UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATOR

CLAIRE MAHANY

SNAPSHOT

OLYMPIC MEDAL COUNT The 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi ended yesterday. If you could not keep track of the winners, here are the final numbers.

RUSSIA

GOLD

SILVER

BRONZE

SALES REPRESENTATIVES

ARIANA DIVALENTINO GRAPHIC DESIGNER

JILLIAN BRANCHAUD SALES ASSOCIATES

EMMA HOWCROFT, ZACH MICHEL, ANA SCHULER

ADVISING UNITED STATES

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORS-AT-LARGE

NORWAY

HANQING CHEN, JONATHON DORNBUSH, RACHEL KAPLAN, JORDAN MELENDREZ, JONATHAN TAN

CANADA

This week’s snapshot theme is home. Here is today’s interpretation.

NETHERLANDS

PHOTO BY CHUCK KUAN

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About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.

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

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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

NYU Reacts: Protests persist in Venezuela

By KAVISH HARJAI and ANN SCHMIDT

Global attention is focused on Venezuela after an increase in demonstrations against President Nicolás Maduro’s socialist government last week.

Gallatin sophomore Daniela Franco said the discontent among younger Venezuelans has already been evident in protests for about a month.

“It’s been going on for longer that 10 days and it’s just finally getting attention,” Franco said. “The fact that the Venezuelan government has managed to shut down TV channels within their country to stop images of the riots getting out is quite frankly appalling. This is something that has been years in the making, long before [former president] Hugo Chávez’s death.”

Stern freshman Luisa Coutinho, who has family in Valencia, Venezuela, said the circumstances in the country are troubling.

“In the past year most of my family has had to flee the country due to safety issues caused by the corrupt governments that have plagued the country for the last decade,” Coutinho said.

The recent protests are a result of a decade of civil unrest as demonstrators demand freedom of speech, better security and fewer goods shortages stemming from high inflation. Maduro, formerly Chávez’s vice president, won the presidency in April 2013 in a close election following Chávez’s passing. Maduro won the disputed election with 50.6 percent of the popular vote to opponent Henrique Capriles Radonski’s 49.1 percent.

GLS sophomore Ashley Slater said the media fuel the violence in Venezuela and unfairly portray Maduro.

“Maduro’s ways of controlling the protests are reminiscent of

BLOOD continued from PG. 1

New York faces winter weather blood shortage, students give

a dictatorship, but he is not the only one at fault,” Slater said. “The media blow everything out of proportion, and most of the articles online attempt to portray an unbiased view, but honestly end up depicting him as a dictator pushing the country into the ground, which is obviously not true.”

Peaceful student protests began on Feb. 12 but were met with a violent governmental reaction, killing three demonstrators on Feb. 13. While the protesters are primarily students, oppositional political leaders have also joined the demonstrations.

Coutinho said she is ultimately optimistic for conditions in Venezuela to improve.

“College students like myself are taking to the streets, knowing the dangers of participating in these protests to get their opinions heard,” Coutinho said. “It is inspiring to see Venezuelans from all over the world gathering to support the cause, and I am still hopeful for a better future.”

Steinhardt freshman Sebastian Coloma urged the NYU community to stay informed.

“As a Venezuelan student living in New York, it pains me to see my country in such state of turmoil,” Coloma said. “The United States government must demand from the Venezuelan government to return to the democratic ways and to apply severe sanctions to the government officials who are involved in corruption of the system and in violations of human rights.”

Coutinho said NYU students have the chance to make an impact through gatherings and social media.

“I am optimistic that there will be good to come and that support will continue growing,” Coutinho said.

ON THE WIRE TEL AVIV

VIA FLICKR.COM

FELIPE DE LA HOZ/WSN

The NYBC has declared a dangerous shortage.

“Winter weather can threaten our community blood supply — simply because when it snows a lot people don’t go to blood drives,” Fox said. “But patients are still in the hospital, whatever the weather, and we need to keep blood on hand for when they need it for cancer treatment or in the emergency room.”

The NYU community has been putting forth collection efforts at locations such as the law school, Rubin residence hall and Gramercy Green residence hall.

Tisch sophomore and Gramercy’s director of service Sydney Eberwein decided to donate blood at the Feb. 20 drive, which attracted about 25 students.

“I primarily did it because I thought, why not?” Eberwein said. “I think it’s good to at least come and try to give blood. Some people aren’t able to … but I think it’s great for those who want to give back in some way.”

Fox underscored the fact that students are a crucial

Kavish Harjai and Ann Schmidt are news editors.

Email them at news@nyunews.com.

part of the solution to this blood emergency.

“About one-fourth of New York’s blood supply comes from students,” Fox said.

Gallatin sophomore Ethan Kraft, who donated blood at Gramercy, said students should not fear the side effects of giving blood or worry about the pain.

“People were saying that they thought that for weeks they would feel woozy or dizzy, but that’s not at all true,” Kraft said.

“I know some people are sensitive to needles … but it’s not that bad.”

Eberwein said the benefits of giving blood outweighed the ensuing discomfort.

“I get lightheaded when I donate blood, but I mean you can save three lives that way, and you never know who you’re going to help,” Eberwein said.

The NYBC continues to post updates on their website with information on upcoming blood drives.

Valentina Duque Bojanini is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.

Lady Gaga will be performing in September, as reported on Feb. 19. This is the second time Lady Gaga has performed in Israel.

— THE TIMES OF ISRAEL BERLIN

VIA FLICKR.COM

A 76-year-old woman was arrested for distributing cocaine to guests at her birthday party in the private bar she owns.

— THE INDEPENDENT FLORENCE

VIA FLICKR.COM

Matteo Renzi, the former mayor of Florence, was sworn in as the youngest Prime Minister of Italy on Feb. 22.

— BBC NEWS EUROPE LONDON

THE GAZELLE: NYUAD CONFERENCE BRINGS TOGETHER STAFF, STUDENT RESEARCH Published on TheGazelle.org on Feb. 22, 2014

By TESSA AYSON NYU Abu Dhabi’s inaugural research conference began on Saturday, Feb. 22 and will continue until Monday, Feb. 24. It aims to showcase the diversity and breadth of faculty and student research. Projects range from ‘attack of the gamma-ray

COURTESY OF THE GAZELLE

NYUAD’s annual research conference ends today.

space spiders’ to combinatory language processing in English versus Arabic. The presentations are open to anyone; according to David McGlennon, Vice Provost of Research Administration and University Partnerships, they are an excellent way of piquing the interest of the wider community.

“We wanted to … help showcase the research and scholarship across the university, and provide a forum so that the community can see what’s happening [here],” McGlennon said.

“It gives everyone a sense of the broad range of activities … that otherwise, within their normal work, they don’t necessarily see,” he added.

The research presentations are not limited to faculty; students are also invited to par-

ticipate. In this way, the conference encourages a culture of cross-pollination in which students and faculty from diverse backgrounds and with opposing views can create an entirely new breed of research.

Yet the conference was designed to showcase student research outside of the senior capstone projects.

“It’s not focused around [capstones] … the timing maybe is not perfect … and we’ve been trying not to cross over the divisions and avoid any conflict with [possible capstone showcases],” said McGlennon.

Hannah Brückner, Associate Dean of Social Sciences at NYUAD, was eagerly anticipating learning more about the projects of her colleagues outside of the Social Sciences

department. This is an important facet of the conference.

In future years, McGlennon hopes that the conference can be extended in order to include a wider demographic. He said that this year the conference is limited almost solely by space restrictions and that it would have been productive to open it up to a larger audience.

“Next year though, once we’re at Saadiyat, we’ll most definitely open it up to the wider community … We can see the value in doing this annually, making it open to the public, inviting presentations from other universities … opening up to a wider audience,” he said.

Tessa Ayson is features editor at The Gazelle. Email her at tessa@thegazelle.org.

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

A couple who won a Supreme Court challenge was the first couple to marry in a Church of Scientology chapel on Feb. 23.

— BBC NEWS ENGLAND PRAGUE

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Demonstrators gathered on Feb. 20 in Wenceslas Square to protest the violence in Ukraine.

— THE PRAGUE POST

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

FEATURES

EDITED BY BRYNA SHUMAN FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

BEATLES continued from PG. 1

WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG?

By KATE MARIN Zhanna Kugotova, a Tisch sophomore studying film production, reveals an interesting assortment of treats and supplies inside her bag. From film tools to chocolate bars, Kugotova’s small but mighty purse offers more than what one would expect.

“This bag is basically my safety kit,” Kugotova said. “It’s all about backup memory, backup food and being ready for the unexpected.”

Backup battery and battery charger Kugotova is always ready should a disaster strike. After once having to end a shoot in Battery Park early because of a dead camera battery, Kugotova never leaves for the day without a backup battery and battery charger.

“I usually have multiple memory cards, too,” Kugotova said.

“Sometimes I am shooting one thing and see something else that I want to shoot, so I have to switch cards.”

cloth and the great thing about it is that I can use it for every lens.”

A Twix bar It is important to be prepared with the right equipment before a shoot, but having the right snacks is also essential.

Kugotova carries chocolate with her at all times — Twix is her favorite candy bar.

“I never leave my room without sweets in my bag,” Kugotova said. “You never know when you need to cheer yourself up with a little boost of happiness.”

Chapstick Filming outside for long hours can be harsh, both mentally and physically. Kugotova stays prepared for the dry winter wind with a tube of mint-chocolate chapstick to protect her lips from the elements.

“Most people assume that just because I am Russian I am resistant to the cold,” Kugotova said. “But in the winter weather my lips get chapped just like everyone else.”

Journal One of Kugotova’s most valued possessions is a small white notebook where she stores random drawings, contact information, notes and filming plans. She carries it with her at all times to preserve her ideas and keep track of inspiring things around the city because she never knows when inspiration will strike.

“After a while I realized that I always have ideas to write down,” Kugotova said. “I need somewhere to keep my thoughts because they can always serve as inspiration for my future work.”

Kate Marin is a staff writer.

Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Lens cleaning brush and cloth New York City presents many challenges for filming outdoors.

Dirt, dust and water can all be detrimental if they build up on the lens. In bad weather, it is essential to be prepared with the proper cleaning equipment to keep the frames clear.

“Not only do I have to worry about keeping the lens on my camera clean, I also need to keep the lenses on my face clean,” Kugotova said. “I always have a lens

Public Library displays history of Beatles influence

STEFANIE CHAN/WSN

A lens cloth and a Twix bar are among Kugotova’s essentials.

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

The Beatles wave as they arrive in New York City in 1964. booth, a replica of a 1964 teenage girl’s bedroom and audiovisual history lessons.

One of the most notable items is George Harrison’s guitar.

“People tiptoe around it,” Cohen-Stratyner said.

The exhibit also features an interactive lesson on drums from Ringo Starr.

Neil Offen, from Chapel Hill, N.C., visited the museum and said he was most fascinated by the interactive drum.

“It makes you feel like you’re a part of the band,” Offen said. “[The exhibit] combines memorabilia, music and Beatle fandom all in one.”

Myra Yousef, a New York City resident and exhibit visitor, said she was impressed by the details included in the

replica of a teenage girl’s bedroom, including catalogues and posters by the nightstand.

“I love [the recreation],” Yousef said. “It’s accurate.”

Offen said the showing could have benefited from expanding the exhibit’s scope.

“The exhibit is focused on only [a] few years,” Offen said.

“You don’t get a sense of how the band started or, more interestingly, ended.”

The exhibit will remain at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center, 40 Lincoln Center Place until May 10. Admission is free.

Madeleine Ball is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Students celebrate contemporary China at Met Museum

By MIMI MCCANN

The atrium of the Metropolitan Museum of Art was awash with a lively sea of red on Feb. 20.

The College Group at the Met, an organization comprising students from several New York City

universities, hosted a student event, “A Brush with Asia,” at the Met in honor of the exhibition “Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China.”

The semiformal event allowed students to privately tour the exhibit after museum hours at no cost

STEPHANIE ZHENG FOR WSN

Chinese teapots are on display at the Met Museum.

and provided them a dinner buffet and several exhibition activities.

Students were encouraged to wear red for good fortune and the Lunar New Year, in line with the theme of contemporary China.

Stern sophomore Michael Eichert, who serves on the College Group as the co-coordinator for publicity, helped organize the event.

“The purpose of the College Group is to drive student awareness and engagement in exhibits here at the Met,” Eichert said.

In addition to a private tour and dinner buffet, the event also featured a photo booth and a tattoo artist demonstrating techniques used in the artwork.

Katherine Nemeth, college marketing associate at the Met, worked with students in the College Group to plan the night’s events and develop the evening’s theme.

“The students were thrilled about the exhibition ‘Ink Art: Past as Present in Contemporary China,’

and we worked closely with the curators of the exhibition to develop the event,” Nemeth said.

Several artists featured in the exhibit were also present at the event to discuss their work with students and to answer questions.

Katharine Boris, a freshman in CAS who had never been to a CGM event before, said she liked that she was given the opportunity to learn more about the art.

“What I found most interesting was the talk before with some of the artists and the curator,” Boris said. “I had been to the Met before, but this visit was completely different.”

Eichert said opportunities like this event are only available to students through College Group events.

“Regular Met events and parties are often closed to the public and open only to members,” Eichert said. “CGM events are open to all college students.”

In addition to promoting student awareness of the happen-

ings at the Met, College Group events also work to build bridges between students from different local colleges, Eichert said.

With a turnout of just over 1,000 students, “A Brush with Asia” attracted students from NYU, Columbia, Fordham, Hunter, Juilliard and Pace, among others.

Nemeth noted that the College Group offers a variety of programs for students. Along with large events like “A Brush with Asia,” CGM also organizes programs such as drawing classes, workshops, film screenings and special tours.

“The events are a tremendous way for students from all the different schools in the area to gather and celebrate a common interest and to better understand one of the most significant cultural landmarks in the city,” Eichert said.

Mimi McCann is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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FEATURES

EDITED BY BRYNA SHUMAN FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

INTRODUCING UVL CONTESTANTS CORAL: THE STOIC POETS Name: The Stoic Poets Members: Pat Birk, Camille Getz, Ned Stevens and Henry Vaughn Dorm: Coral Towers residence hall Act: Band What is your biggest inspiration?

Pat: I don’t really have one. I love The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, Led Zeppelin and really a ton of other stuff. I’m inspired by my dad,

who taught me to play guitar, and my mom, who encouraged me to try music in the first place.

Camille: I’m inspired by musical child prodigies because they make me wonder what I’m doing with my life.

Ned: My biggest inspiration is probably my dad. He’s a musician and he has always made it possible for me to love music while still

taking it seriously.

Henry: Satan.

How long have you been performing and what made you interested in performing in the first place?

Pat: I’ve been performing since I was 4 years old, when I started playing piano. I didn’t sing with a band until I was 14. It just looked like it

COURTESY OF THE STOIC POETS

was a lot of fun, so I figured I’d try it. Also, I wasn’t good at sports.

Camille: I started playing violin and viola when I was four because I had a friend who played the violin and I wanted to try it too.

I started performing with string quartets and youth symphonies beginning in middle school.

Ned: I’ve been playing since I was a little kid and started performing with my dad at an early age, so it’s something that’s always been a part of my life.

Henry: I’ve been performing for my whole life. I do it for the honeys.

you found out you were advancing to the finals at Skirball?

Pat: I was pretty excited. But it also made me hope that we had just gotten the ball rolling on something that would go beyond UVL. Camille: “Now I have to figure out what to wear.”

Ned: Just pure excitement. It’ll be probably the biggest audience I’ve ever played for, which is probably the thing that excites me most as a performer.

Henry: I joined the band after that happened. So basically a tower of money.

What made you decide to participate in the UVL Prelims?

Pat: I went to UVL last year and was super impressed and I decided I wanted to try and play in it this year.

Camille: Pat told me that he was entering UVL and I thought it’d be fun to join.

Ned: I participated in the prelims last year, but my group didn’t prepare nearly as much as we should have, so when Pat asked me to do it this year I decided it would be fun to try again.

Henry: I was forced to.

What would winning UVL mean to you?

Pat: Winning would be great, but I’m really more excited to try and put on a great show and reach as many people as possible.

Camille: My parents are coming out from California to see me, so winning would just make me really proud.

Ned: Winning UVL would be simultaneously so gratifying and so motivating. It’s a wonderful feeling to see all the work you’ve put in as an individual and as a member of a group start to yield tangible results.

Henry: It would mean that we won UVL.

What was the first thing that went through your mind when

BROOME: WES MIDDLETON Name: Wes Middleton Hometown: San Diego Year: Tisch senior Dorm: Broome Street residence hall Act: Singer/songwriter Who is your biggest inspiration?

Regina Spektor.

How long have you been performing, and what made you interested in performing in the first place?

I’ve been playing the piano since I was seven, but frankly I’ve never been that much of a performer. I’ve always wanted to, and I enjoy it whenever I get the chance, but it’s not that often that I end up on stage.

What made you decide to participate in the UVL Prelims?

I did UVL two years ago and loved it. I don’t really get to perform that often, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to show off a new song.

What was the first thing that went through your mind when you found out you were advancing to the finals at Skirball?

I really needed a bathroom at that point actually.

What would winning UVL mean to you?

I tend to hate my own stuff, which is probably why I don’t showcase it to the world that often. Winning would mean a lot to me and would probably motivate me to write or share a little bit more than I do right now. Also, maybe it will make the ladies fancy me.

COURTESY OF WES MIDDLETON

HAYDEN: SASHA ATLAS Name: Sasha Atlas Hometown: Brooklyn Year: CAS Freshman Dorm: Hayden residence hall Act: Original song with piano accompaniment What is your biggest inspiration?

I can’t say I have anything that I consider my “biggest” inspiration. Really, I am inspired by the things around me and the people I meet.

There are people whom I admire for their work, such as Andrew Lloyd Webber and Pink Floyd, but I can’t say that my inspiration comes from them. Instead, I am truly motivated to create as a result of my relationship with people and life as a whole.

How long have you been performing and what made you interested in performing in the first place?

I have been performing for as long as I can remember, though I only began accompanying myself on the piano several years ago. I decided to start playing for myself so that I could perform

independently. Being own accompanist gives far more freedom with songs and also benefits in writing music.

my me my me

What made you decide to participate in the UVL Prelims?

I saw a sign on my door that said I could win $1,000 for singing a three-minute song, so I decided to try my luck.

What was the first thing that went through your mind when you found out you were advancing to the finals at Skirball?

Relief.

What would winning UVL mean to you?

One thousand reasons to spend the weekend in Atlantic City. Or pay for my tuition.

COURTESY OF SASHA ATLAS

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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 Modern set in the family room 5 Family name of Henry VIII 10 Canine newborns 14 Suffix with buck 15 Tehran native 16 Samoa’s capital 17 Site of a 1963 speech by 38-Across 20 Asparagus unit 21 Matchmaker’s match-ups 22 George Eliot’s “Adam ___” 25 Allow 26 Boston ___ Party 27 Boeing 747, e.g.

30 Cause associated with 38-Across 33 Docs’ org.

34 Enthusiastic 35 Actress Saldana of “Avatar” 36 “Morning Joe” co-host Brzezinski 38 Annual Jan. honoree

41 Vampire’s bedtime 44 When a plane is due to take off: Abbr.

46 Long narrative poem 48 Three on a grandfather clock 49 Repeated phrase in 38-Across’s speech at the 17-Across 53 Genetic stuff 54 Super ___ (game console) 55 Employ 56 Seize 58 Aggressive campaign TV spot 61 New arrangement of tracks on a recording 65 Famous closing words of the 49-Across speech 68 “Rule, Britannia” composer Thomas

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69 Muscat citizen 70 Poet ___ Khayyám 71 “Star Wars” sage 72 Pulls apart 73 Muted trumpet sound

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37 Dunes transport, briefly 39 Emailed pic, often 40 Niagara Falls sound 42 Take home the gold 43 Actress Long of “Boyz N the Hood”

45 Score before ad in or ad out 47 Brainy 49 More or less 50 Prefix with sexual 51 Request 52 “My goodness!”

57 Under 59 Zone 60 College adviser

62 Papa’s mate 63 What “vidi” means in “Veni, vidi, vici” 64 Bonus, in commercial lingo 66 Conclusion 67 “___ for apple”

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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY PETER KEFFER OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

HARRY’S TAKE

U.S. obligated to step up in Puerto Rican crisis

By HARRY BROWN

Puerto Rico’s Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla will not want to relive this past month. After credit-rating companies Standard & Poor and Moody’s both downgraded Puerto Rico’s debt to junk level, murmurs of economic collapse quickly followed. A federal bailout, which has not been properly considered by the White House, must now be deemed a viable option. It is in the interest of the United States to ensure that this once prosperous island returns to previous levels of growth.

The economic tailspin of Puerto Rico is easy to catalogue. It is a potent blend of a prolonged recession, a massive accumulation of debt and an extended period of high unemployment. As Deepak Lamba-Nieves, a research director at the San Juan think tank Center for a New Economy, stated forcefully to The Guardian, “You cannot pay daily expenses with your credit card, and that’s what Puerto Rico has been doing for years.”

In Puerto Rico, 15 percent of the budget goes toward paying down its colossal debt, three times the

amount spent on infrastructure development. To add to the crisis, long-term issues pervade the economy — the population has decreased considerably since the recession began in 2006 and the birth rate has fallen, which has created an old-age population without the capacity for economic development. Last year, there was a 1 percent drop in the population — seven times higher than the fall in West Virginia, the state with the sharpest population reduction. For many years, Puerto Rico had benefited from an incentive within the U.S. tax code for corporations to do business in the region. In 2006, however, these tax breaks expired. Coupled with the global economic crisis of 2008, businesses have all but stopped turning to Puerto Rico as a

financial haven. There has been an exodus of the few remaining businesses and middle-class Puerto Ricans to the streets of Miami, which claim to hold the promise of economic success.

Currently, a bailout is not on the table for discussion. But it should be. It is in America’s interest to ensure that Puerto Rico does not default on its debt obligations. The White House has sent an economic advisory team to monitor the current situation and see whether the latest series of reforms for the bloated budget will have any positive effect. A further exodus of Puerto Ricans to the United States may have negative domestic repercussions. The comparisons between Detroit’s economic collapse and Puerto Rico are not unfounded. Both were once-prosperous hubs for corporations and now both have followed a similar path to economic collapse. But, unlike the Motor City, Puerto Rico is too big to fail.

Harry Brown is a staff columnist.

Harry’s Take is published every Monday.

Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

CHRISTINA’S CASE

Obesity should not be classified as disease

By CHRISTINA COLEBURN

University of Richmond professors Crystal L. Hoyt and Jeni L. Burnette discussed whether the American Medical Association was correct in categorizing obesity as a disease in a Feb. 23 New York Times article. Although the June 2013 decision has no legal authority, significant ramifications still exist for obesity treatment now that the nation’s largest physician group has given the health problem this classification. While proponents of the recognition maintain that it will make insurers and physicians more likely to emphasize treatment for the rising issue, detractors find fault in this rationale. Skeptics argue that obesity is not necessarily a disease in itself, but rather a risk factor for other health conditions.

The decision and its ensuing backlash have reignited the conversation about the dangers of overreaching medical classification. According to recent estimates by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one-third of adults in the United States are obese. Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and tripled in adolescents

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within the last three decades, leading some researchers to predict that obese children today will live shorter lives than their parents. The CDC furthermore estimated that the annual medical cost of obesity in the United States was $147 billion in 2008, and the medical cost of obese Americans was $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

While few would disagree that obesity constitutes a pressing public health epidemic that certainly necessitates attention from physicians and insurers, classifying obesity as a disease is likely to cause more problems than it solves. By categorizing over one-third of adult Americans as having a disease that can largely be alleviated by weight management, the American Medical Association has created a superfluous stigma around

obesity. Although some individuals may require prescription drugs to help them lose weight, the decision could create an unnecessary reliance on medications that can counteract basic lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and a healthy diet.

In the study that prompted their editorial, Hoyt and Burnette came upon a striking yet anticipated conclusion.

While labeling obesity as a disease enhanced body satisfaction among obese participants, the designation also made weight management efforts seem futile and undermined concern for health-focused dieting. Although it is important for individuals to feel at peace with their physiques, a fine line exists between encouraging positive body image and enabling a practice that can reap devastating health consequences. To counter this epidemic, the American Medical Association should categorize obesity as a dangerous condition, not a fullfledged disease.

Christina Coleburn is a deputy opinion editor. Christina’s Case is published every Monday. Email her at ccoleburn@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Frat acted responsibly in members’ racism charge

Last week, three students at the University of Mississippi and members of the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon placed a noose around the neck of a statue honoring the first black student of Ole Miss. Sigma Phi Epsilon quickly announced that the three members have been expelled from the fraternity, and the university itself signaled the possibility of criminal charges. These events mark an important step forward in the growing inclination for universities to regulate and govern the behavior of students in meaningful ways. A private and internal university judicial system is not apt for persons deserving of a criminal prosecution before a public court. Anything less than a criminal procedure would fail to deter prospective criminals.

An investigation examining the three perpetrators is underway. While the students will be charged in the university’s judicial system, the prospect of outside prosecution is still unknown. Regardless of the legal decisions reached, the overt racism marks an unfortunate step backward for a university that has exerted much effort to distance itself from its segregated past. This action hurts Sigma Phi Epsilon as much as it does Ole Miss — weakening the already unsteady foundation upon which the public image of America’s fraternities rest. The expulsion of the three members from the fraternity is a good first step.

Greek life in America, notoriously unresponsive to bad press and consistent reports of injuries and deaths as a result of hazing, is now coming under greater scrutiny.

Universities are not able to tackle fraternity culture at its source — it is a problem deeply rooted in racism, misogyny and classism. Nevertheless, fraternity members should be subject to strict regulations and disciplinary action that extend beyond the purview of the university’s campus police.

The fact that these members have been expelled from their fraternity is commendable, yet we should turn a critical eye toward the environment that fostered their behavior.

In an age when fraternities have become synonymous with excessive drinking, sexual assault and dangerous hazing practices, it is refreshing that Sigma Phi Epsilon took appropriate action in disciplining its fringe members. Fraternities across the nation should mimic the procedures that the University of Mississippi chapter followed. Though the foolish actions of three students are not indicative of the character of the entire university, the news surrounding the incident does damage its image. A strong and public legal process will bolster their intolerance for senseless behavior.

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

EDITORIAL BOARD: Peter Keffer (Chair), Christina Coleburn (Co-chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Nina Golshan (Co-chair)

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.

WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.

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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Men’s, women’s basketball split games with Emory, Rochester

By CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO

Men’s basketball split their slate of games this weekend against UAA competition. The team traveled first to Atlanta to face the Emory University Eagles on Feb. 21. The Violets were outscored by 11 points in the first half and fell by a final score of 86-77.

While the Violets faced a large deficit, the team stayed in the game and cut the Eagles’ lead to four with five minutes remaining in the game.

CAS senior guard Ryan Tana dropped 31 points in the game, which is the highest total of his career. The Violets also saw contributions from LS sophomore forward Evan Kupferberg and SCPS sophomore center Costis Gontikas, who chipped in 15 and 13 points, respectively.

The team looked to bounce back against the University of Rochester Yellowjackets as they traveled upstate on Feb. 23. Despite a two-point deficit at halftime, the Violets dominated the second half and defeated their hosts by a score of 81-64.

Tana once again led the team in scoring with 24 points. He also chipped in three assists and picked up two steals. Kupferberg scored 16 and Gontikas scored 15 to help Tana lead the Violets to the victory and improve their record to 16-8.

Gontikas addressed the dichotomy in the team’s performance in the last two games.

“There was some technical stuff that we didn’t work well on [at Emory],” he said. “But [at Rochester] we really did a good job executing within our offense.”

Women’s basketball also played against Emory and Rochester this weekend. Like the men’s team, the women had their own career performance in Atlanta.

CAS freshman guard Kaitlyn Read recorded a double-double by putting up a career high 26 points and a staggering 17 rebounds. Read cleared 14 defensive rebounds, which prevented the Eagles from getting many second-chance opportunities on offense. CAS sophomore forward and co-captain Megan Dawe also scored in the double figures with 19 points. The Violets defeated Emory by a score of 82-73.

The team’s fortunes changed for the worse against Rochester. Despite a six-point lead at halftime, the Violets were outplayed by the Yellowjackets in the second half and fell by a score of 71-62.

Dawe led the scoring attack for the Violets with 19 points and Read

registered another double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, but the Yellowjackets out-rebounded the Violets 55-33 overall, which contributed to the loss. Dawe said the team is talented enough to beat tough teams in the future.

“This team has the drive to continue to play hard through anything,” Dawe said. “It unfortunately just wasn’t the outcome we wanted against Rochester.”

The team’s record now stands at 19-5 after losing three out of four games and dropping out of the NCAA Top 25 rankings. Dawe is looking forward to the next competition.

“Going into the final week of conference, we are just going to use that fire and competitiveness to get one more win against Brandeis on their home floor,” she said.

Chris Marcotrigiano is a deputy sports editor. Email him at cmarcotrigiano@nyunews.com.

VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM

The Eagles outscore the Violets 86-77 in Atlanta.

MERGER continued from PG. 1

Poly merger compromises success of tennis team

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

VIA GONYUPOLY.COM

The merger hit some bumps in the road. the reasons why Poly could not field a women’s tennis team in the Skyline Conference this season.

“The most important [reason] was that not enough students came out for the team this year.

This was partly affected by the merger, because it was difficult to recruit competitive tennis players, knowing the program would be merged with the NYU athletics’ program next fall,” he said. “In addition, our academic schedule at times conflicted with scheduled match dates and times.”

In order to meet Poly’s standards for varsity teams, Khalid and her teammates found out that they had a two week period to field a roster of at least 12 players. But despite efforts to build interest for a women’s tennis team at club fairs and around campus, they ended up with only half the amount of girls.

“We have no shadow program here at Poly for interested recruits so it was difficult to attract any tennis players in the first place,” Khalid said.

After being denied by NYU Poly, Khalid contacted the NYU tennis captain in hopes to try out for the NYU team after hearing about the upcoming merger, but was denied the chance to play in the fall season because the merger only took effect in January.

“I feel it was a lot of miscommunication between both the NYU and [Poly] administration,” Khalid said. We didn’t even hear about the merger until our coach left right before the season started, and the girls and I had little notification.”

As of press time, Caraballo had not yet responded for comment.

Michelle Tran is a staff writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.

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