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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 16
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015
nyunews.com HEALTH
CEO funds cancer researh By AMANDA MORRIS Contributing Writer
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
Chance the Rapper performed at Webster Hall on Tuesday. The show, presented by NYU’s Student Senator Council, marked the second day of Violet 100: The NYU Spirit Week. The school-exclusive event brought together hundreds of students who helped the Chicago artist shake the venue. The performance featured tracks from his 2013 mixtape, “Acid Rap,” and his 2012 album, “10 Day.” For more, read our story on nyunews.com.
Marvel CEO Isaac Perlmutter and his wife Laura Perlmutter donated $9 million as part of a grant to fund cancer research at NYU Langone Medical Center and the TechnionIsrael Institute of Technology. Of the total amount, $6 million will fund the creation of a research facility for Technion in Israel, and the other $3 million will fund six separate cancer research projects which have yet to be chosen. The projects will start in spring 2015. One of the key areas of research for these projects will be cancer metabolomics, which is the study of chemical processes in cells that regulate the breaking down of sugars and fats. Benjamin Neel, a professor of medicine and director of the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center, said a good understanding of cancer metabolomics will help advance cancer research. “Novel imaging approaches, early detection blood tests and new targeted drugs to fight cancer would all be facilitated with a deep and comprehensive understanding of cancer metabolomics,” Neel said. Collaborative efforts between NYU and the Technion are already underway, and requests for proposals of cancer-related research
CANCER continued on PG. 3
BEAUTY & STYLE
Furs, pastels take runway during New York Fashion Week By GRACE HALIO Contributing Writer
Guests of New York Fashion Week shows were swept away by ’70s vibes, piecey low ponytails and fresh faces for the upcoming Fall/Winter 2015 season — a continuation of trends seen in many Spring/Summer 2015 collections. Killer stiletto boots, plaid, feathers and furs dominated the runways. Shows across fashion week exemplified the ’70s vibe with wide leg trousers, sheer sleeves and bumped-up ponytails. Christian Siriano showcased ’70s silhouettes in iconic gold, while Altu-
zarra showed 70s inspired work wear. Hairstyles from the same bright decade also dominated the runways. Pamela Rolland featured high, flippy ponytails; Karen Walker showcased natural, flowy looks; and Ohne Titel chose super straight, modern hair. Carmen Marc Valvo’s collection was a notable one, showing fashionistas how to pull off plaid in a sophisticated way. His looks featured simple black and red combos with flirty skirts that offset the harsh lines of the pattern. Paired with a crisp white oxford shirt, the classic outfits got an updated twist. Because of the classic silhou-
ettes, these looks could easily be replicated on a budget using button-downs, circle skirts and plaid accessories. Fur is another failsafe staple for the upcoming season. A jacket, vest or scarf is worth the investment. Though Michael Kors has always incorporated fur into his looks, his new collection used furs to accent chunky knits and menswearinspired looks. Luxurious coats and vests both brought polish to an outfit. A less costly and less bulky option is to invest in a fur scarf, which is a perfect addition to a knit dress, tights and boots. Faux fur is another
great option. Carmen Marc Valvo and Christian Siriano featured furs in their collections as well, with the latter showing camel fur and more bold animal-printed furs. Helen Yarmak, a designer who specializes in furs, showed a collection full of cozy pieces that could transform from coats to vests, or hooded to not. Pastels — spotted at Helen Yarmak and Lela Rose — made a slightly out of place appearance in the collections, perhaps to remind us in the bitter cold of winter that spring will be shining on the horizon. When used as a pop of color or an interest
piece, pastel blue or pink can bring a youthful flair to an outfit. These colors can be easily incorporated into neutral looks through fun accessories. Simple stiletto boots were seen all over the runways. The pointytoed leather variety work especially well when paired with long coats, skirts or a tailored pant. Pamella Roland paired each look with a pair of suede Manolo Blahnik boots — a classic. Christian Siriano and Michael Costello put feathery looks on display at their shows. Siriano showed black gowns and skirts
NYFW continued on PG. 5
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Study finds disparity in cocaine arrests By ALEX BAZELEY Deputy News Editor
Researchers from NYU’s Center for Drug Use and HIV Research published a study that concluded those from disadvantaged backgrounds have a higher tendency to use crack cocaine over powder cocaine. The study, published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence on Feb. 2, looked at data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health in an effort to determine who could be at a higher risk for imprisonment as a result of using these drugs. In the United States, penalties for crack users are 18 times more severe than those for powder cocaine users. The study highlighted that high education and social status were negatively associated with crack cocaine use, supporting the idea that powder cocaine use is associated with affluence. While racial minorities were found to be more likely to use crack cocaine, the study found that socioeconomic status was the overwhelming determining factor. Dr. Joseph Palamar, an assistant professor in the department of population health at NYU Langone, spearheaded the study and said it was necessary for the two drugs to be studied separately despite their usual incorrect conflation into one drug. Palamar added that it was necessary to look at the various risks associated with the drugs and the negative outcomes. “Being arrested for drug possession can prevent a person from getting a job, housing or school loans, so this study was needed to see which cocaine users are at greatest risk for experiencing adverse outcomes associated with this drug policy,” Palamar said. CAS senior and president of NYU Students for Sensible Drug Policy Ashley Frenkel said the results of this study only further prove that mostly wealthy
people use powder cocaine and are not punished as harshly as crack users. “A study like this is important because it highlights the hierarchy the American judicial system perpetuates, a hierarchy that is based on money,” Frenkel said. The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010 reduced the penalty weight ratio of crack to powder cocaine from 100:1 to 18:1. In 2013, the Smarter Sentencing Act was introduced in an attempt to eliminate all disparities, but it was not passed. Michael Bamford, policy director at NYU Students for Sensible Drug Policy, said the current policy is outdated, and that it reinforces the poverty cycle. “We at SSDP feel that punitive measures in drug policy are ineffective at solving the social problems drugs create, and ineffective at rehabilitating those harmed by these substances,” Bamford said. Palamar said the problem stems from the disparity in arrests which prevents impoverished people from moving up the socioeconomic ladder,while leaving the upper class unfettered. “People in poverty are already struggling to go to college and make good money, and this harsh policy actually keeps them in place, preventing them from going to college or getting good jobs if they get caught,” Palamar said. Frenkel said she believes addiction is a matter that should be treated as a public health issue, not a criminal issue. “Unfortunately, many people in lower socioeconomic brackets, often people of color, feel they have nothing else to turn to except drugs like crack,” Frenkel said. “And this is a huge problem that stems from years of social inequality.” Email Alex Bazeley at abazeley@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY CHRISTINE WANG
Mary Beth Altier explores why people support Paramilitaries during polls in a presentation.
Paramilitary discussion gets heated By CHRISTINE WANG Contributing Writer
Mary Beth Altier, a visiting clinical assistant professor at the Center for Global Affairs, discussed the popularity of paramilitary organizations at an event hosted by NYU Law School on Tuesday. The event was part of the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice’s weekly Conflict, Security and Development series, which covers topics including the challenges of security and surveillance and warfare development. Visiting clinical assistant professor at the Center for Global Affairs Mary Beth Altier explained her own reason for the rise in paramilitary groups. She said the more citizens lost trust in their government’s ability to protect them, the more they were willing to trust the dangerous control of paramilitaries. “I think support for these groups actually stems from a security crisis,” Altier said. “A belief that the state is unable or unwilling to protect one from undue harm.” Altier gave a presentation titled “Voting for Violence: Why Paramilitaries Fare Well at the Polls”
in which she highlighted the 2005 Lebanese election when Shia voters supported parties allied with the militant group Hezbollah. “Paramilitary parties even fare well against a backdrop of developed democracies,” Altier said. “This is problematic because paramilitary parties may subvert democracy through their use of force. And there are few incentives to abandon violence if constituents support its use.” Altier studied cases of paramilitary presence across numerous communities, including Palestinian territories, Spain and Northern Ireland. “Support for paramilitary were highest in communities that experienced high levels of state violence against civilians,” Altier said. Altier added that, in these troubled regions, she found a severe lack of faith in government passed down from generation to generation. “Promoting development and service provision may help on the margins,” Altier said. “But efforts to foster cross-communal contact are likely to have limited effects until the secu-
rity crisis is resolved.” After the presentation, attendee Charles Downs, an adjunct Wagner professor, brought up two points of contention. “Maybe these different paramilitary parties actually stand for a political platform and people are voting for the platform or against an opposing platform, rather than for the use of arms, which seems to be the implication here,” Downs said. Despite the controversial nature of the question-and-answer portion, GSAS student Roma Parhad said Altier’s research could potentially affect our relationship with other nations. “I’m working on my thesis right now, so it was helpful to see the way she laid out her research question, her research design, and the way she went through the data,” Parhad said. “The topic I’m looking at is actually the relationship between ethnic minorities and the state in Iran, so it was helpful thinking about the topics she was talking about — violence and what the state can do.” Email Christine Wang at news@nyunews.com.
CANCER continued from PG. 1
NYU, Technion partner for research
FILE PHOTO BY JIN CHOI
$9 million was funded to cancer research at NYU Langone Medical Center and the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology.
projects have recently been sent out. Neel said he is excited to work with Technion and, aside from the distance barrier, does not predict any future difficulties. “The benefits of collaboration include the fact that the Technion is very technology-based; as the ‘MIT of Israel,’ it brings substantial strength in engineering and computational biology to the table,” Neel said. “The Perlmutter Cancer Center has a breadth of expertise in the cell biology and physiology of normal cell proliferation and cancer, which complements the Technion’s strengths.” Neel said if all goes well the Tech-
nion and NYU Langone will continue to collaborate in the future. “As with any collaborative effort in science, if the initial collaborations are mutually beneficial, they will almost certainly continue in the future,” Neel said. Jillian Biegel, Gallatin sophomore and Greek Life team ambassador for Colleges Against Cancer at NYU, said she hopes cancer research will turn up promising results. “My long-term hope is that less people will be diagnosed with cancer each year, and treatments will improve for those who are diagnosed with cancer, and hopefully with the research being funded
in Israel, NYU’s funds will be put to good use and make these longterm goals a reality sooner rather than later,” Biegel said. CAS senior Rachel Kim, a biology major and e-board member of Colleges Against Cancer at NYU, said she was excited to see what would result from the collaborative research. “Cancer is the same no matter which country you are in, and this partnership acknowledges that this fight is one between cancer and the entire human race,” Kim said. Email Amanda Morris at news@nyunews.com.
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ARTS
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‘Children’ done well despite stereotypes By JOSEPH MYERS Contributing Writer
Roundabout Underground is currently hosting “Little Children Dream of God,” a play that discusses ideas including culture identity, faith and community. The play is centered on Sula’s (Carra Patterson) immigration from Haiti to Miami. As a pregnant woman, Sula makes the decision to immigrate in hopes of creating a better life for her child. Sula floats to Miami in a car tire, and, upon arrival, is taken in by the caring Joel (Maurice Jones) and the brazen Carolyn (Deirdre O’Connell), a mother of 11. Though haunted by memories of her past as a Voodoo priestess, Sula decides to create a new identity for herself. While creating a new identity, Sula escapes her former one by running away from her estranged husband, who is searching for her and their baby. Using Voodoo and demonic visions to portray a Haitian woman’s struggles relies on problematic stereotypes. This play’s depiction of Haitian culture seems to come from a place of fear. Haitian cul-
ture is represented in a negative light which contradicts the idea of acceptance that the play tries to communicate. In one scene, Sula’s husband follows her to Miami and confronts her, chants to her in a foreign tongue and causes her to become possessed. These aspects of the play stereotype and limit the depiction of Haitian culture. From an aesthetic perspective, the set and lighting are smart and effective. The seemingly simple set combines a run-down Miami apartment and Haitian-inspired art. The scene changes are quick and fluid because of the set’s minimalist nature. The set, which centers on key props such as a throw draped over a sofa, makes the different locations clear to the audience. The lighting design is very dramatic and adds suspense to the production. Cool blue lights are used in dreams and flashback sequences and fiery red lights are used in nightmare and possession sequences. The blue light adds an ethereal feeling to the environment, while the red makes the scene intense, unsettling and at times frightening. Despite the play’s flaws, the act-
PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Carl Hendrick Louis and Carra Patterson in “Little Children Dream of God.” ing is raw. O’Connell’s performance stands out in her careful portrayal of the blunt but sweet Carolyn. “Little Children Dream of God” is a well-executed play that features smooth, seamless set transitions and dynamic lighting designs that enhance
‘Canaries’ combines comedy, noir By CHRISTINA TUCKER Contributing Writer
The film “Wild Canaries,” directed by Lawrence Michael Levine, hearkens back to the genres of screwball comedy and film noir. Dark comedy and an examination of modern relationships intertwine in this comedic and modern take on the classic crime drama. Barri (Sophia Takal) and Noah (Lawrence Michael Levine) are an engaged couple in New York City who solve crimes together following the troubling death of their elderly downstairs neighbor Sylvia (Marylouise Burke). When the behavior of Sylvia’s son Anthony (Kevin Corrigan) at her funeral raises suspicion, Barri is determined to solve the events behind Sylvia’s death. Further complicating their relationship, Jean (Alia Shawkat), Barri’s roommate, and Noah’s ex-girlfriend Eleanor (Annie Parisse) serve as romantic distractions for the two main characters. The couple’s landlord Damien (Jason Ritter), a friend of Noah’s with his own complicated personal problems, becomes the prime
suspect in Sylvia’s death. Barri and Noah are young and charmingly bland Brooklyn residents, and consequently deal with run-ofthe-mill relationship issues that intertwine with the murder storyline. Their pursuit of the truth about Sylvia’s death serves as a powder keg that that eventually explodes, signaling a major turning point in their lives, signaling a turning point in their relationship. A trim runtime of 98 minutes keeps the plot moving and characterization succinct. The source of the tension flips quickly between the normalcy of jealousy and overdue credit card bills to the outrageous situation in which our protagonists find themselves. Similarly, the humor of “Wild Canaries” is equal parts slapstick and quick dialogue, both showcased in equal measure and performed with equal vigor. Levine has crafted a charming homage to classic comedy peppered with classic film references. For example, Noah originally brushes off Barry’s suspicion about Sylvia’s death as a side effect of her recent viewing of a Hitch-
the story and sincere acting. Despite the play’s positive aspects, there are some fundamental problems with the play’s content. However, the writing and acting of “Little Children Dream of God” presents a genuine, heartfelt portrayal of kindness between fellow humans of
disparate backgrounds. “Little Children Dream of God” is playing at The Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center For Theatre, 111 W. 46th St., until April 5. Email Joseph Myers at theater@nyunews.com
‘Everyone’s a Critic’ critiques criticism By CARTER GLACE Contributing Writer
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Wild Canaries will open in theaters today. cock retrospective. From the neon James Bond-style opening credits to Barri’s cliché disguises — complete with floppy hat, sunglasses and a trench coat — Levine uses these well-known tropes to create both humor and drama. Comedic yet startling jump scares and a suspenseful score adhere to the humorous tone and create sincere tension. Just as classic noir films were modestly budgeted but had no shortage of creativity, so too does “Wild Canaries.” The film employs its parity with care and generally effective emotional grounding to create an entertaining dark comedy. “Wild Canaries” opens on Feb. 25. Email Christina Tucker at film@nyunews.com.
David Lyle’s collection “Everyone’s a Critic,” is his latest contribution to the broad field of photorealism. “Everyone’s a Critic” is currently on display at the Lyons Wier Gallery on West 24th Street. The gallery presents itself as a historic revisionism of sorts, presenting pictures reminiscent of the ’50s and ’60s that have been altered to add a dimension of subversiveness. One could easily assume that the gallery was created from photos that were simply painted over, but closer examination reveals that it is actually all painted. Lyle’s ability to create lifelike humans figures is astonishing, yet the paintings are just stylized enough to create a middle ground between the real iconic images and the realm of the surreal. The Lyons Wier Gallery is a rather small gallery, with 12 works placed in a single white room. Most of the pieces seek to comment on the process of critiquing and selling art. For example, a work titled “The Masterpiece” has three children taking notes for a canvas that only has the words “This is Important” on it. A standout piece was “The Forgery,” which depicts a monkey creating Pollock-like work The works’ angsty, antagonistic
vibe give the gallery the proper tools to make this type of modern art a success. In this sense, the works are angry and mostly hostile toward the traditional idea of art. The use of graffiti throughout the piece also contributes to the anti-establishment theme. Half of the works have some form of graffiti scribbled on them, which is bothapt and impressive, given that Lyle had to paint the artwork. In this context, it is fitting to make an extraordinary yet believable contrast with the real pictures. Most iconic images of the era — mostly in the 1950s and 1960s — always seemed to have this pristine, idyllic mood that captured the homogenized white-picket-fence attitude that came to define the post-war era. The use of graffiti art subverts that era with its outlandish, weird look. Despite its small size, “Everyone’s a Critic” presents immensely creative, energetic works. The entirely black and white exhibit succeeds in bringing forth its artist’s colorful personality, and Lyle definitely captures the mindset of this style. “Everyone’s a Critic” is on display in the Lyons Wiers Gallery on 542 W. 24th St. until March 14. Email Carter Glace at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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BEAUTY & STYLE
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Men’s fashion takes center stage
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Models line up for Ricardo Secco’s menswear show during New York Fashion Week. By VICTOR LEONARD Contributing Writer The traditional ideas of masculinity and gender in fashion are changing. Menswear has found itself at the forefront of fashion this year, with men’s looks appearing in traditionally feminine labels, and with the long awaited announcement of a menswear only fashion week. With the new emphasis on menswear in fashion, New York has finally adopted a Men’s Fashion Week. A biannual event, New York Fashion Week: Men’s will debut Spring 2016 on July 13 through 16. Held at Skylight Clarkson Square in SoHo, this event will be independent from NYFW. However, the shortness of this event shows that menswear in fashion has not yet garnered too much attention. The bold choices of menswear in high fashion influences how the world perceives notions of masculinity and defines gender roles based upon clothing. This is something that cannot be celebrated during a
three-day event. Amid a conventionally feminine fashion scene, menswear has only recently been brought into in the public eye, with new designers, such as Hood By Air, KTZ, and Patrik Ervell, placing a new lens on men’s street style and couture, as well as pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable for men to wear. In their FW15 collection, Hood By Air, a provocative menswear label, featured men in skirts, dresses and other styles usually seen within the womenswear category. Designers like these challenge societal views on fashion and what defines concepts of menswear and womenswear through an unconventional approach. Womenswear has also incorporated menswear cuts and silhouettes in their designs, with a sharp focus on suiting and structured tops. In the Tokyo Runway Meets New York show, designer Double Standard Clothing #NERO placed emphasis on the
power that menswear adapted for women can bring. Models clad in open suit jackets, pantsuits and sharply cut dresses owned the runway, showcasing the influence of menswear on the collection. In the same show, designer MASTERMIND featured a model in a navy double-breasted pinstripe suit and heels, sandwiched between two male looks, suggesting that this woman’s look stands equal with any man’s. High fashion menswear has played an integral role in the alteration of how we view clothing in relation to gender, and this interplay continues to evolve today. Young men are taking more risks in outfit choices, pairing pieces that feature feminine colors and prints with more masculine pieces like blazers and suits. In time, the way we view gender through outer appearance will warp completely. Email Victor Leonard at bstyle@nyunews.com.
NYFW continued from PG. 1
Past decades inspire NYFW shows
STAFF PHOTO BY MATHILDE VAN TULDER
Georgine’s Fall/Winter ’15 was just one of the dominant shows to utilize ’70-inspired looks.
dotted with hundreds of white feathers that had incredible movement on the runway. The closing look of Pamella Roland’s collection had a cropped white overcoat, while Lela Rose’s collection included a breathtaking look consisting of a white feathered top with pink skirt. The feathers used in each collection added a little bit of fun to a cold and dreary season. The trends for the Fall/Winter 2015 season shared some of the inspiration and success of the Spring collections, and the must-have pieces promise a cozy yet bright upcoming Fall season. Email Grace Halio at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Kanye West and Adidas’ most recent collaboration launched at New York Fashion Week.
Celebrity fashion collabs unaffordable By VANESSA HAUGHTON Contributing Writer
The Kanye West for Adidas Originals runway show during New York Fashion Week met mixed reviews and sparked a conversation about celebrities and their fashion credentials. Celebrity collaborations are a growing trend in the fashion industry, usually because big names with established fan bases draw a lot of attention to the designers and their lines. More and more shoppers are being bombarded by these collaborations — Zooey Deschanel, Kate Moss and Kendall and Kylie Jenner have all tried their luck in the designing world in the last year. Many stars strive to attach their names to products or brands, but many fail. Kanye West’s clothing line Pastelle failed in 2009, just three years after its release. He then attempted to launch DW in Paris in 2011. It was a major flop. A collaboration project is safer than launching a personal brand. Working with an established designer assures celebrities more support and a higher chance of success. Not everyone has the success that Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B label or the Olsen twins’ The Row have achieved. Celebrities want their fans to have access to the clothing, not just other celebrities. An established brand such as BaubleBar can often afford to sell collaborative lines at lower prices than a fledgling clothing company would. In an interview with style.com, Kanye West said he wants his line to be accessible to everyone, though the $350 price tag for the signature Yeezy 750 Boost shoes suggests otherwise. In response to a question about
the exact price of the clothes, Kanye said, “Not as cheap as I would like it to be. We’re working on the prices now, I don’t have the exact prices. But what I will tell you is that we’ll eventually get them super-inexpensive. And it will be all about everyone having them.” For college students on a budget, these collaboration lines might not be practical. Model Cara Delevingne designed her own line of casual, ready-to-wear clothes with DKNY last year. Though the beanies, slouchy pants and crop tops were priced accessibly, the $375 sticker on the signature leather jacket was not. These collaborations generate a lot of interest among fans of the celebrities. “I think celebrity collaborations are particularly interesting when there is a personal relationship or friendship between the head designer and the celeb,” Gallatin junior Daniela Franco said. “In a way, the pieces reflect that interaction so it can give [the fans] a unique perspective into their lives. It’s also fun when they seem to have completely different tastes and come together to create unique pieces.” However, they are rarely affordable for college students. “I honestly haven’t really found celebrity collaborations to be affordable,” Franco said. “They are usually over $100 and for a student like myself who has to take out a ton of loans and has a scholarship in order to come here, I window shop but never actually purchase anything unless it’s been discounted quite a bit.” Email Vanessa Haughton at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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33 Not at all hidden 36 Pointless 38 Defense grp. since 1948 39 J.F.K. Library architect 40 Chem. unit 41 Catty remark? 42 “Rocky III” actor (and an apt answer in this puzzle) 43 Wheat bristle 44 Sta-___ fabric softener 45 Suffix with ethyl 46 Trees with triangular nuts 48 Alarm clock’s purpose 50 Following the nine black squares in the center of the grid, a hint to five pairs of answers in this puzzle 52 With 54-Down, song with the same name as its album 55 Exiled Amin
56 With 57-Down, meal for which everyone pays his or her own way 60 Bruins legend Bobby 61 Totally befuddled 63 A. A. Milne hopper 64 Shows the way, biblically 67 Heat or Thunder 70 Performance extras 71 Something in brackets 72 Adopt, as a stray 73 Incite to action
DOWN 1 Thriller set on Amity Island 2 College course part 3 Joint action 4 Small excerpt 5 Beats the rap 6 “Three Men in ___” (Jerome K. Jerome novel) 7 See 5-Across TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 8 Roman O L D H A T C M A J magistrate R O W E N A L A N E 9 Scout’s mission, C A E S A R S A L A D for short M E S P H I A L 10 Socialists, on the political H Y B E D E M M Y S spectrum O O D D U Z I G E E N E E T E S 11 Lago or río contents S T A L G E Y S E R 12 Witty bit C U D M O C C H E Y A R D S 13 Texter’s button R R O C K O P E R A 24 Ally of the Cheyenne: Var. O T R A N E V I L C R E L I E F E V A 25 Chitlins, ham hocks, etc. I R O N E R R E M S A N E L Y E L I 26 Enola Gay’s payload, in brief
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27 Roadside attention-getter 28 See 26-Across 30 See 29-Across 31 Justice Kagan 32 Handrail support 34 Built later 35 Some sheet metal workers 36 Fidgety 37 Michael of “Flashdance” 47 North-of-theborder grid org.
49 First Burmese prime minister 51 YouTube video lead-ins 52 Sign of availability 53 “The Faerie Queene” woman 54 See 52-Across 57 See 56-Across 58 Kinkajou cousin 59 Go yard, in baseball slang
61 “… ___-foot pole!” 62 Simple quatrain pattern 65 Buck passer, maybe 66 Verdi aria “___ tu” 68 Hacker’s need 69 ___-80 (classic computer)
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY TESS WOOSLEY OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
ENTERTAINMENT STAFF EDITORIAL
Oscars lack diversity, audience
By ANNIE COHEN Deputy Opinion Editor
Deep in the doldrums of winter, there is one event that is always hotly anticipated: the Oscars. The annual awards ceremony marking cinematic achievements consistently delivers on the entertainment front, even if some jokes or moments occasionally fall flat. But despite its heavy presence on Twitter, this year’s telecast drew the smallest audience in six years. While the Academy likely expected choosing Neil Patrick Harris as host would draw in younger viewers, the low viewership highlights the need for the Oscars to change. Despite its poor viewer performance, this year’s Oscars produced an unusually large shadow of controversy, perhaps due to the lack of diversity among the nominees. This problem was not ignored throughout the ceremony — Harris managed to humorously address the issue in his opening monologue, mentioning that the Oscars honored “Hollywood’s best and whitest — sorry, brightest.” But the lighthearted ribbing and selfawareness did not help the show’s falling ratings, especially considering that
younger generations tends to be more accepting of diversity. Every nominee in every acting category this year was white, which caused such a backlash that it inspired a viral hashtag on Twitter, #OscarsSoWhite. Perhaps this should not have been so surprising — the voting members of the Academy are a staggering 94 percent white and 77 percent male. The demographic discrepancy between the Academy voters and actual moviegoers should not be so vast. If the Academy included a more balanced array of voters, perhaps their selections would be more in line with the general consensus of viewers. To remain relevant, more changes must be made. Last year’s viewership was bolstered by the inclusion of many commercially successful films; this year’s films included six
independent features that ordinary moviegoers were less familiar with. While it is important that nominations be of exceptional quality, the Academy allows for up to 10 films in the best picture category. This number increased from just five in 2009 to allow for more mainstream films to be considered. This year, films like “Gone Girl” and “Interstellar” were notably snubbed, despite the fact that they were critically acclaimed as well as commercially successful. People may not have tuned in to the broadcast due to a lack of knowledge about the films being celebrated, and the Academy would do well to learn from this when considering which films to honor next year. Flaws aside, the Academy Awards ceremony continues to be the epitome of Hollywood glamour and success. The show appeals to many young adults wishing to enter into a world of cinema, but its exclusivity may turn out to be its downfall. But Sunday night proved, the Oscars can shed light on world issues and perhaps even inspire change for future years. Email Annie Cohen at acohen@nyunews.com.
TECHNOLOGY
Digital decay must be prevented
By RICHARD SHU Deputy Copy Chief
Google Vice President Vint Cerf issued a grave warning on Wednesday to a world reliant on digital communication — our online legacy is at risk of decaying. Technological advancement means that digitally produced data, photos, emails and tweets may become completely unreadable within a century because software moves so fast, and the ability to open older file-types is lost. Cerf’s advice to those fearing the worst is simple — print out the documents and photos that are most important. However, the smaller-scale preservation Cerf advocates may not be enough to preserve the reams of data that Internet users produce every day — 2.5 million terabytes worth. Users now share thoughts and feelings with the click of a button, all while trumpeting the rise of the technology as the catalyst for revolutions. But this unprecedented change comes at the price of our past. Before we know it, vacation selfies and family photos could be lost. Every change in technology has the
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potential to bring us closer to a unified society. What a shame it would be, then, if such a society had no memory of its past. The problem of historical preservation is not new. During the medieval period, preservation was the foremost scholarly pursuit. Illuminated manuscripts became the legacy of Christian scholars, and they remain the primary means by which historians look back on that era. But in our modern STEMfocused culture, more people are focusing on how we will move forward than how we will be remembered. We think of ourselves as more enlightened than the Middle Ages, yet we ignore our crumbling technological infrastructure. We need to treat libraries kindly lest history forget us. Universities and libraries like
Bobst can play a major role in preserving the digital present. With just a little planning, keeping our vast stores of research and user data alive can be a relatively simple process. Turning a few resources away from convenience technology and toward preservation technology, like devoting more of NYU’s budget toward supporting the Bobst Library Preservation and Conservation Department, would help keep our silicon age from disappearing. As a society and a community of students, we must commit more to the act of digital preservation. Libraries, librarians and technicians committed to the preservation of historical documents will play an increasingly important role in determining our digital history. A modern librarian must become more invested in the technology of the present. A modern socio-technological landscape must include an understanding of our relationship with our future selves. Otherwise, modern day history may become even darker than the Dark Ages. Email Richard Shu at rshu@nyunews.com.
NYU fundraising choices ridiculous
NYU’s paltry approach to financial aid is no secret: only 3 percent of students have their full financial needs met and graduates have student debt over $5,000 higher than the national average. While the administration should be rightfully proud that record numbers of students apply each year, more must be done to ensure that all students can afford to come here and graduate without a financial anvil around their necks. Last October, NYU President John Sexton emailed the Class of 2015 and encouraged them to contribute to the 1831 Fund, an initiative to “create scholarships for students, by students.” Given that NYU students consistently graduate with a large amount of debt, it is unreasonable to ask seniors who have not yet graduated to donate. NYU must meet the needs of existing and incoming students before all other endeavors, including and especially continuing its wild expansion. Under the 1831 Fund, seniors are encouraged to give a donation of $18.31 or more. On their website, the Fund gives reasons why seniors should donate even if they did not receive financial aid as an incoming freshman. “It kind of makes you a hero,” begins one answer. Given that so many NYU students struggle to make ends meet, this comment — and this entire campaign — comes across as tone-deaf and oblivious to students’ financial realities. Despite having a significantly smaller endowment than universities like Columbia or Harvard, NYU’s stands at $3.5 billion. The 2031 expansion plan has been estimated to cost $6 billion, one of the many reasons it has been so vehemently opposed within the NYU community. This type of financial mismanagement can also be seen in the university’s allocation of loans to administrators. The New York University School of Law Foundation gave Sexton a $1 million loan, which he used to purchase a beach house on Fire Island. This use of the university’s funds is unbelievably inappropriate. It is unsurprising that Sexton is appealing to this year’s graduating class — NYU consistently ranks highly on lists of schools with the wealthiest alumni pool. The NYU Medical Center on First Avenue was renamed NYU Langone Center in 2008 after a second $100 million donation from Kenneth Langone, cofounder of Home Depot. Sexton would do well to tap into these sorts of resources rather than treating existing students as profit centers. NYU is one of the most expensive private universities in the nation. In 2012, it had a tuition net price of $37,656 per year, well over the national average of $20,247. It is inexcusable for NYU to solicit donations from its students while simultaneously charging them exorbitantly high tuition costs.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tess Woosley (Chair), Annie Cohen (Co-chair), Tommy Collison (Co-chair), Matthew Tessler (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS