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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 17
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014
OSCARS 2014
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Oscar nominations overlook 2013 talent Find out who the Academy snubbed before the broadcast. OSCARS on PG. 5
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Mary Jane reeks havoc in residence halls By KAVISH HARJAI
Students living in Second Street residence hall and the C2 tower of Carlyle Court residence hall recently received emails addressing issues related to increased marijuana use. Melissa Davison, residence hall director at Second Street, sent an email to the residents of the dormitory on Feb. 20. “We would like to address an issue that has been greatly disturbing the community in our hall,” Davison said in the email. “There has been a significant increase in the frequency of mari-
juana being smoked in the building. Many residents have complained that it is not only unpleasant to live in an environment that constantly smells like weed, but it is affecting their overall well being.” Davison said people who have asthma, allergies and migraines may have their conditions aggravated by the increased presence of the smell of marijuana in the dorm. Dan Cassin, Tisch sophomore and Second Street resident, said he agrees with the RHD’s email.
Speaker urges administration to monitor worker conditions in AD
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Hockey team heads to Nationals By BRITTANY YU
After defeating the fifthranked University of Connecticut Huskies 7-2 last Sunday, NYU Ice Hockey cemented its spot in the American Collegiate Hockey Association National Tournament. Hosted by Northeastern University, the tournament will be held
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Freshman Evan Ripley aims for a shot.
in Marlborough, Mass., from March 21 to 25. Under head coach Chris Cosentino, the program has slowly but surely established its dominance in the league over the past four seasons, improving upon each previous season. “Our experience, mindset and overall depth are our biggest strengths as a hockey team,” Cosentino said. This marks the team’s first appearance in the National Tournament since 2007. The road to Nationals has not been easy, however, as the team has been faced with an onslaught of injuries to key players from the start. Despite the
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Members of Student Labor Action Movement protest outside of John Sexton’s office in Bobst. By JOHN AMBROSIO Nicholas McGeehan of the Human Rights Watch, author of a forthcoming HRW report on conditions for migrant workers at NYU Abu Dhabi’s campus and within the city, gave a presentation on Feb. 26 at the Kimmel Center for University Life. The report, which will be published next month, outlines the abuses of the Kafala system, the laws that regulate the freedoms and rights of migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates, as well as the failure of Western organizations with sites in Abu Dhabi, in-
cluding the Guggenheim and Louvre, to meet the labor standards they have set for themselves. “When [migrant workers] arrive in Abu Dhabi, the dream, as you’d like to call it, turns into a nightmare,” McGeehan said. McGeehan said when he visited workers’ living quarters in Abu Dhabi, he found fire-prone shantytowns with grime-coated kitchens and 12-person bedrooms. For McGeehan, the restrictions the Kafala system places on migrant workers are more troubling than the living and working conditions. Under the Kafala system, employers put workers from coun-
tries like India, Pakistan and the Philippines into debt by charging recruitment fees, paying wages considerably less than promised, withholding pay and confiscating passports so they cannot leave the country, McGeehan said. “You might say NYU has set up in a country whose labor system facilitates forced labor, which is engaged in a very aggressive crackdown on freedom of expression, which of course is the foundation of academic freedom,” McGeehan said. “[The Kafala system] puts an inordinate amount of control into
MIGRANT continued on PG. 3
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What was the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you? “It was my first time altar serving, and I was really nervous. As I’m walking in, I trip over a power cord, get tangled in the power cord, snag my foot on the end of the cassock, and then crash into the holy bells. And then, lo and behold, John Sexton walks through the doors of the Catholic Center and is asking for me. So that was the weirdest day of my life.”
What do you like most about yourself? “My faith. I actually like that it’s not an easy thing to hold onto. I like that it’s a challenge. On a slightly more vain aspect, I really like my teeth.”
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
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What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done? “My family, and especially my dad, has always been very big into racing cars. When I got my driver’s license, one of the first things my dad had me do was enroll in a track day. So I was driving my dad’s BMW M3 sports car on a racetrack at over a hundred miles an hour. And in that moment I broke the clutch of my dad’s car. In my defense it was old and needed to be replaced anyway.”
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Media Research: Bigger Than Ever Meet the president of Nielsen, Steve Hasker, as he discusses TV ratings, consumer data and the influence of the audience in the world of media. The discussion is at 239 Greene St. from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
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ADVISING
NYU Entrepreneurial Institute Speaker Series Join Brett Martin, a correspondent for GQ, who will be speaking on his piece, “Post-mortem of a Venter-backed Startup,” at the Kimmel Center for University Life from 5 to 7 p.m. in room 805. He will review key points of the impact of mobile worldwide apps.
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The Mosque in the Shadow of Church(es)
This week’s snapshot theme is home. Here is today’s interpretation.
Tonight at 6 p.m., the Hellenic Studies Center (eighth floor of 285 Mercer St.) will hold a discussion on the early medieval Syria that transitioned from Roman rule to Arab rule.
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MIGRANT continued from PG. 1
MARY JANE continued from PG. 1
Residence halls experience problems with overpowering marijuana smell “It is incredibly annoying to have that smell in the residence hall,” Cassin said. “I think that if a student smells it and it annoys them then they should report it to their RA or the RA on duty who should appropriately handle it.” Cassin said he does not consider smoking marijuana a normal part of college life and people who do smoke in dorms need to be mindful and respectful of others who are in the same area. Marissiko Wheaton, RHD of Carlyle Court, sent an email on Feb. 23 to residents of the C2 tower regarding similar issues. In the email, Wheaton said complaints and documentation of marijuana usage were specific to floors 6 through 10. “I would like to ask that if you have any knowledge of who may be smoking on or around your floor, that you contact me immediately so that I can address this issue directly,” Wheaton said in the email. “We will continue to investigate this trend until it stops.” Hosu Kim, sixth-floor resident of the C2 tower, said she is not affected by the smell of the marijuana unless it seeps into her suite, but she does notice it in the hallways. “I can understand that it is a part of college life and that there are limited places to smoke, but I also do think
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Residents complained about the strong odor of weed. it’s a little much that the hallways are smelling like weed 24/7 throughout the whole week,” Kim said. “I feel like, while the floor would smell like weed every now and then, it’s gotten bad enough to be brought to attention this semester.” Jolie Glickman, Tisch sophomore and sixth-floor resident of the C2 tower, said she does not smell marijuana on her floor. “Isolating the smell to floors 6-10 is ridiculous, as we all know that’s not how smells work,” Glickman
said. “[The smell of weed] certainly does not [affect] my daily routine.” Wheaton said there needs to be more respect for nearby residents in light of the recent increase in marijuana usage. “Please understand and respect that smoking in your room may affect your neighbors and their ability to study and maintain a pleasant environment in their room,” Wheaton said. Kavish Harjai is a news editor. Email him at kharjai@nyunews.com.
Groups advise university to take action against labor violations in Abu Dhabi the hands of the employers.” Several NYU student groups have taken up the cause, including the Student Labor Action Movement, who cosponsored the presentation. Gallatin sophomore Daniel Lightfoot of SLAM said the group hopes the university uses an HRC monitor rather than their own. “Human Rights Consortium has offered to independently monitor the labor standards but NYU chose to have their own monitor hired by themselves,” Lightfoot said. Lightfoot and McGeehan both said the monitor that NYU hired, Mott MacDonald, is misrepresenting the situation of migrant workers inside the U.A.E. and has repeatedly issued glowing reports of the working conditions at NYUAD. Andrew Ross, sociology professor and a speaker at the presentation, echoed these sentiments and said organizations like NYU were in a position to improve the conditions for all workers in the U.A.E. “The much larger goal was really to try and use the brand names, NYU, Guggenheim, Louvre, to leverage better regional labor standards for the gulf as a whole and to really try and break the Kafala system, which needs to be broken,” Ross said. Greg Bruno, director of Public Affairs and Community Relations for NYUAD, said NYU has and will continue to take steps to protect the rights of workers at their Abu Dhabi site. “Since the earliest days of NYU Abu Dhabi, we have committed to ensuring the health and safety of those building, maintaining and operating our campus,” Bruno said. “We take seriously any incident that appears to be in violation of these commitments. Any and
all such claims are investigated immediately and, where appropriate, are addressed promptly.” Luis Morales, an NYUAD sophomore who attended the event, said McGeehan’s findings were not surprising, and NYUAD students were very concerned about the conditions of workers. “I think that every NYU Abu Dhabi student is aware of the issues that are happening in the country,” Morales said. “I’ve been working on a project that helps some of the workers, and I can say there are students who are trying to do something.” Following the presentation, members of SLAM led a brief protest outside President John Sexton’s Bobst office. As they recited chants, students from SLAM handed out flyers and waved signs whose slogans included, “I’m paying for what?” and “Who’s building NYU Abu Dhabi?” John Ambrosio is a contributing writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
MATT CHU FOR WSN
McGeehan speaks about migrant working conditions in Abu Dhabi.
Poly, Scientific American Magazine bring education online By CASSANDRA CASSILLAS
Polytechnic School of Engineering and Scientific American Magazine have teamed up to bring online continuing educational programs designed for mid-career scientists, business people and technical personnel
to keep their credentials up-todate and competitive. The classes will be presented as “Active Learning Modules” and will run Monday to Friday, but students will have access to the classes 24 hours every day. Active Learning Modules are high-quality production vid-
eos and graphics coupled with interactive elements to enrich the experience and retain flexibility and convenience. The first of these classes, Cognition and the Aging Brain, is set to start March 17 and will end on March 21. It will be taught by University of Toronto neuropsy-
FILE PHOTO BY RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN
The School of Engineering’s online courses begin in March.
chology professor Brian Levine. Although these courses are designed for mid-career professionals, they will still be open to the public, Levine explained. “I believe scientists have an obligation to translate research findings to the general public,” Levine said. “This program provides a rapid and convenient way for users to get familiar with cutting edge topics.” Scientific American approached leaders in many scientific fields to teach classes such as Disaster Management, Quantum Mechanics and Information and Sustainable Agriculture: How to Feed the World. Don Lincoln of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory will teach Mysteries of the Universe from June 16 to 20. “For my particular program, the benefit will be to be able to talk with a public that is interested in the big questions,” Lincoln said. “Long term, like all of my science popularizations, I hope to not only tell the audience about my own little corner of science, but to let people know that scientific inquiry is an unparalleled way to answer timeless mysteries.”
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine professor Jonathan Pevsner will teach Bioinformatics: How to Analyze the Human Genome, which will run from April 7 to 11. Pevsner has high hopes for the program’s success. “I agreed to teach this because it’s a great opportunity to learn — every time I teach a course it’s a huge learning experience,” Pevsner said. “In the longer term this form of learning is likely to be successful because it’s flexible in terms of format and schedule, it’s versatile.” Robert Ubell, vice dean of Online Learning at Poly, said he was excited for both the program and the partnership. “We are among two of oldest scientific and technological institutions in America,” Ubell said. “We are deep into the history and proud to now be at the forefront of scientific learning and technology.” Enrollment is now open for the March 2014 class session. Cassandra Cassillas is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
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P O T
By ILONA TUOMINEN New York City is the backdrop of many popular films, and some audiences may have been inspired to come to New York after watching them. Become a movie star for a day by visiting one of these film’s iconic sites.
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) Pay homage to this Audrey Hepburn classic. Stop by Macaron Café on 59th Street and Madison Ave-
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Ways to bring iconic film scenes to real life nue to grab a chocolate croissant ($2.75) and a cafe au lait ($2.25) before strolling past the historic Tiffany windows. Pearls and sunglasses are a must. (Tiffany & Co., 57th Street and Fifth Ave.)
“Night at the Museum” (2006) Although the likelihood of chatting with a statue of Theodore Roosevelt or playing fetch with the atrium’s dinosaur skeleton as Ben Stiller did in this comedy is slim, there is still something magical about the American Museum of Natural History. The museum offers five floors of exhibits to explore, in addition to a butterfly conservatory, IMAX theater and planetarium shows. Currently the IMAX theater is playing “Mysteries of the Unseen World” in 3D,
COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX
showcasing phenomena that cannot be seen with the naked eye. (Natural History Museum, Central Park West and 79th Street. The suggested admission price is $17 with student ID.)
“Sex and the City” (2008) Channel your inner Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte or Miranda by picking up cupcakes to go from Magnolia Bakery and heading up to midtown to study at the New York Public Library. The NYPL, the site of Carrie and Big’s would-be wedding, offers a change of pace from the monotony of Bobst Library. Enjoy your cupcake while studying in one of the library’s beautiful reading rooms. On your way home, swing by 66 Perry St. to visit the iconic exterior of Carrie Brad-
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DAY IN THE LIFE By ILONA TUOMINEN While many NYU students spend their Sundays at Bobst Library catching up on work before their dreaded Monday classes, Tom McNulty, a librarian for Fine Arts, comes to work. McNulty will often sit behind the resource desk on the first floor, offering help to confused students trying to navigate the grand library. 6 a.m. McNulty wakes up bright and early to start the day. 12 p.m. McNulty heads to Bobst. He lives close to campus, so he likes to walk to work. 1 p.m. McNulty begins his shift. When he is not organizing books or answering students’ questions,
one would most likely find him helping a student with research in the contemporary fine arts, his area of expertise. The library also offers a series of classes ranging from basic research skills to more advanced, specialized topics, which McNulty assists with. “Research skills are important for student work, but true research proficiency can be one of your most marketable professional skills,” McNulty said. “Regardless of your chosen field, gaining advanced research proficiency might lead to your dream job upon graduation.” 7 p.m. McNulty’s shift ends. However, he likes to stay at Bobst longer to catch up on work. He can often be found in his office
ILONA TUOMINEN FOR WSN
on the M-landing between the first and second floors reading a book. McNulty is currently doing background reading for an article he plans to write. “My current research focuses on valuation issues related to the early work of major twentieth century artists,” McNulty said. “My most recent publication is a book titled ‘Art Market Research: A Guide to Methods and Sources (second edition).’” McNulty loves to read — when asked what his favorite book is, McNulty is unable to answer. With all the reading he has done for his job, He simply has too many favorites to choose from. 8 p.m. After a long day working in the library and meeting multiple students for research help appointments, McNulty will leave the library. Although an entire day of his weekend is spent at Bobst, he enjoys his job and finds it relaxing. “I love being a librarian,” McNulty said. “I work with creative students and faculty members on a wide range of topics, and there is never a dull day.” Ilona Tuominen is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
shaw’s apartment. (Magnolia Bakery, West 11th Street and Bleecker Street. New York Public Library, 42nd Street and Fifth Avenue.)
“Big” (1988) If a little kid trapped in an adult’s body is not symbolic of the average college student, who knows what is. Follow in Tom Hank’s footsteps by visiting F.A.O. Schwartz and playing the giant piano that requires you to hop from key to key. Pose for a picture with the reallife toy soldiers outside and stock up on candy for late-night study sessions at the candy store on the first level. Maybe your Stern degree could even land you a job in toy marketing. (F.A.O Schwartz, 58th Street and Fifth Avenue.)
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“Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992)
Little Kevin famously encounters a terrifying pigeon lady at the Gapstow Bridge in Central Park midway through the film. One of the most beautiful spots in Central Park, the bridge offers picturesque views of Wollman Rink, Victorian Garden Amusement Park and New York City skyscrapers no matter what time of year. Take a seat at one of the many benches surrounding the bridge to do some people watching. (Central Park, 59th Street and Fifth Avenue.) Ilona Tuominen is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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UVL CONTESTANT Name: David Bologna Hometown: Austin, Texas Year: Gallatin freshman Dorm: Rubin residence hall Act: Original tap dance What is your biggest inspiration? My biggest inspiration has always been old Hollywood moviemusicals. There’s something so fun, enjoyable and artistic about them that is so unique. How long have you been performing, and what made you interested in performing in
the first place? I’ve been performing since I was seven. I started Irish dancing then got into musical theater. Then at 13 I started doing more tap and conventional dancing. It’s always been something that has intrigued me. It’s a rush that’s unlike anything else. What made you decide to participate in the UVL Prelims? Well, I attended the Rubin general assembly meetings, and they announced the event. It sounded like a great opportunity to perform, so I decided to try. What was the first thing that went through your mind when you found out you were advancing to the finals at Skirball? I was completely excited. It’s going to be so fun. What would winning UVL mean to you? Winning UVL would be amazing, but honestly the night is really more of a celebration of everyone who has made it! I can’t wait to see all the other acts and be a part of such a big event.
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David Bologna is a staff writer for the Washington Square News.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
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OUTSTANDING OSCAR OVERSIGHTS By WSN FILM DESK This year’s Academy Awards ceremony, on Sunday, March 2, will showcase a talented group of actors, directors, writers, cinematographers, composers and more. These artists have done fantastic work on some of last year’s most memorable and applauded films. However, each year there is great work that falls through the cracks, whether it be due to logistical issues, lack of promotion, a difficult release date or lack of voter support. Whatever the reason, we are highlighting some of the best non-Oscar nominated work of the past year to remind readers of the excellent films and performances they may have missed in the craziness of Awards season.
BEST PICTURE
BEST ACTOR
BEST ACTRESS
BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR
“Inside Llewyn Davis”
Oscar Isaac & Joaquin Phoenix
Emma Thompson
As evidenced by the 10 nominations and zero wins for “True Grit” in 2010, Joel and Ethan Coen’s films are notoriously nominated, but are rarely victorious at the Academy Awards. For “Inside Llewyn Davis” to be their first film in five years without a Best Picture nomination is a major oversight. While Hollywood is overrun with high drama and special effects, “Llewyn” is subtle and smart, making audiences think without preaching at them. The film asks us to grapple with the existential crises of an unlikeable protagonist, a challenge that is easily undertaken thanks to the sharp wit and enlightened sadness depicted in this recreation of 1960s New York. — CLIO MCCONNELL
The Best Actor category is one that often exposes the politics of Academy voting, and this year is no exception. Performances such as Oscar Isaac’s Llewyn Davis in “Inside Llewyn Davis” and Joaquin Phoenix’s Theodore Twombly in “Her” have garnered praise from critics and other groups alike, but were completely rebuffed by the Academy this season. The publicized and extravagant roles of this year, like Christian Bale in “American Hustle” and Leonardo DiCaprio in “The Wolf of Wall Street,” are stealing the spotlight and acclaim, but actors like Isaac and Phoenix should receive respect for their portrayals of unassuming heroes. — NORA BLAKE
It is one thing for an actor to be good in a good movie and another thing entirely for an actor to be great in a mediocre film. Emma Thompson accomplished this feat in “Saving Mr. Banks.” The main draw of the film was Tom Hanks as Walt Disney, but the “Mary Poppins” creator P.L. Travers is the focus of the story. Thompson could have played Travers as the shallow, unlikable caricature she was written as, but instead she made Travers three-dimensional, preventing Hanks from stealing the show. Amy Adams was fine in “American Hustle,” but her Best Actress nomination belongs to Thompson. — MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE
Whether you think “Spring Breakers” is self-indulgent pop art or poignant commentary on youth culture, many can agree that James Franco’s performance as Alien, a rapper and arms dealer in the seedy underbelly of Miami, was a brave undertaking. The role could have gone horribly wrong, from his ugly countenance to his obnoxious voice. But Franco uses those traits to make Alien a fascinating character, a man with a crass lifestyle who still has a soft spot. By the end, audiences realize how much he cares for those titular spring breakers while never forgetting his lack of common sense. — ZACH GRULLON
BEST DIRECTOR
Jeff Nichols
BEST ANIMATED FILM
“Monsters University”
BEST DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
With “Mud,” Jeff Nichols stakes a claim as one of Hollywood’s most promising directors. Nichols’ work is outstanding, from its unlikely blend of delicate romance and outlaw suspense to the startling emotional openness of his 14-year-old lead Tye Sheridan. The film draws us between the rich earthy hues of the Mississippi River and the weathered scuffing of a small town. Yet most exciting was the way Nichols guided his movie star lead into a sweaty, ambiguous fugitive, firing a liberated Matthew McConaughey into the stratosphere and forgoing the traits we know him best for. “Mud” is an authentic, vibrant American film and Jeff Nichols is a great American artist. — J.R. HAMMERER
“Monsters University” is one of only two Pixar films to not receive a nomination for Best Animated Feature, a category invented in 2001 (the other is the abysmal “Cars 2”). Despite earning critical acclaim and $743 million at the box office, “Monsters U” lost its nomination to the less commercially successful “The Croods,” leaving the world to wonder if Pixar has lost its magic. Yet anyone who has seen the film can attest that this is not the case — just look at the hundreds of unique monsters created to portray a realistic depiction of college life. The Academy may have ended its love affair with Pixar, but Pixar’s golden age is far from over. — MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE
A film that made the Oscar shortlist but not the final cut, Sarah Polley’s “Stories We Tell” is one of the most unique, personal and well-crafted documentaries in recent memory. The film deals with the memory of Polley’s own childhood, as told by her brothers and sisters, her father and family friends, all leading up to Polley discovering a shocking and lifechanging revelation about her heritage that forces her and her family to face some buried truths. An examination of family, marriage and the varying versions of the stories we tell, Polley’s film is an emotionally resonant achievement in documentary filmmaking. — IFE OLUJOBI
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS
Margot Robbie Margot Robbie’s turn in Martin Scorsese’s “The Wolf of Wall Street” is nothing short of a powerhouse performance. Playing Naomi, the trophy wife of the Wall Street millionaire Jordan Belfort, Robbie could have easily made her character a caricature. Instead her performance has an intriguing depth, as seen in the film’s prolonged argument scenes. Not to mention Robbie’s superb Brooklyn dialect, which makes it hard to believe that the actress hails from Australia. Perhaps it was the abundance of sex and nudity that turned the heads of the Academy in the other direction, but she certainly deserved a nomination for her work. — DANIEL LIEBERSON
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James Franco
“Stories We Tell”
GRAPHIC BY CICEK EREL | ART BY CASEY DALRYMPLE | INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS - COURTESY OF CBS FILMS | OSCAR ISAAC - COURTESY OF CBS FILMS | JOAQUIN PHOENIX - COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES EMMA THOMPSON - COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES | JAMES FRANCO - COURTESY OF A24 FILMS | MARGOT ROBBIE - COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES JEFF NICHOLS - COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS | MONSTERS UNIVERSITY - COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS MOTION PICTURES | STORIES WE TELL - COURTESY OF ROADSIDE ATTRACTIONS
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY PETER KEFFER OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
GLOBAL ECONOMICS
High taxes hurt small businesses in Europe By VITTORIO BISIN
In a campaign speech last month, Leader of the Labor Party Ed Miliband promised to raise the income tax rate among England’s wealthiest from 45 to 50 percent if elected prime minister. The Economist jokes that his tax hike will only bring in the amount of money needed to buy a few English Premier League strikers. Although Miliband’s pledge seems to be politically motivated — he might be vying for support from the working class at the expense of the elitist conservatives — his move may have unintended consequences. By raising taxes on England’s wealthy, the damage to businesses could be significant. The same problem afflicts continental Europe, specifically France. Last month, President Francois Hollande, who famously declared, “I don’t like the rich,” received court approval to tax salaries over 1 million euros at a rate of 75 percent. Like those of Miliband, Hollande’s political pet projects are strictly political. However, France is tiring of Hollande’s leadership. Hollande has finally been asked to answer for his country’s stagnant
growth. In response, the conflicted president took a political U-turn, promising a “pact of responsibility” going forward. The “pact” entails heavy cuts in government spending rather than his administration’s usual increases in taxes and subsidized job creation efforts. Considering the liberal platforms that he ran for president on, his supporters feel betrayed. Miliband and Hollande aside, there is a rising trend among European nations to overburden the rich, hurting attempts at capitalism. For all companies, higher taxes yield higher product prices for consumers. Aside from the standard incentivization argument — workers taxed more have less incentive to work hard — the greater worry is that firms will
begin to leave Europe in search of more business-friendly economies. With growth in emerging markets occurring much faster than in developed countries, the choice is becoming easier to make. How many French bosses (let alone Chinese ones) would rather launch a company in France than in China, or countless other countries for that matter? In a survey of 148 countries conducted by the World Economic Forum, Spain, France and Italy were ranked 125th, 130th and 146th, respectively, as having the most burdensome government regulation. A different study that determined the ease of doing business in a country ranks Spain one spot below Tunisia, France one spot below Armenia and Italy two spots below Belarus. If European officials want to improve their global standing, they must alter their economic trajectory. Businesses will move abroad if they do not. Vittorio Bisin is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
ADAM’S ANGLE
Detroit locals must collaborate for recovery By ADAM FAZLIBEGU
Federal Bankruptcy Judge Steven Rhodes introduced a timeline on Monday for Detroit’s bankruptcy plan. The timeline, which calls for a hearing to decide the plan’s approval in mid-June, has received strong backlash from both pensioners and bondholders. The proposal would reduce Detroit’s debt to its creditors and allow the city to invest $1.5 billion dollars on improvements over the next 10 years, but instead of caring for the city’s financial sustainability, Detroit’s pensioners and bondholders are worried about their individual prosperity. Instead of focusing on personal gains, they should take balanced cuts now in order to save the city in the long term. Detroit’s economy has long been fueled by manufacturing and continues to serve as the home of the recovering American automobile industry. The city’s history is as unstable as its current economic state. Though prosperous through the midtwentieth century, Detroit slowly began losing manufacturing jobs in the city to opportunities in the suburbs
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in the 1960s, leading to a reduction in its working class. Later, Detroit faced the infamous 1967 riots and a growth in its drug trade, pushing the remaining businesses and middleclass families out of the city. Since 1950, Detroit has lost nearly 60 percent of its population. Now, seven months after Detroit filed for bankruptcy, the city has come up with a solution to its insolvency. The proposal would grant certain unsecured creditors only 20 cents on the dollar. Retired cops and firefighters would only receive 96 percent of their pensions and other retired municipal workers around 74 percent of their pensions. It also includes a plan to invest $1.5 billion dollars in infrastructural improvements. But Detroit’s creditors do not want
to hear it. Leaders of a planned protest in favor of pensioners gathered in a church on Sunday and promised to shut the city down if the proposal is approved. They offered an alternative plan that entails cutting payouts to banks and bondholders. What the pensioners do not understand is that the proposal they are opposing is hostile enough to bondholders. The damage they are suggesting be done creates more risks and could increase future borrowing costs. Detroit is bankrupt and $18 billion in debt. It simply cannot afford to pay off everyone. The faster its pensioners and bondholders come to a reasonable agreement, the sooner the city can rebuild and improve. If the involved parties cannot reach a consensus, much more will be at stake than pension payments. This proposal may decide Detroit’s fate. If the city and its people aim to restore Detroit to its former glory, they must come together. Otherwise, Detroit will sink into further financial ruin. Adam Fazlibegu is a staff columnist. Adam’s Angle is published every Thursday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Federal push required for infrastructure repair
President Barack Obama proposed a major infrastructure plan in Saint Paul, Minn., yesterday, finally addressing the United States’s aging roads and bridges. The president’s proposal is a four-year, $302-billion initiative that will receive its revenue from closing tax loopholes, a measure both parties can support. But more than fixing roads, the undertaking crucially creates jobs. This proposal is a less-than-subtle method from the White House to usher in a new wave of stimulus through a program which gives the promise of tangible results. The state of America’s infrastructure is so bad that of the country’s 607,000 bridges, over 65,000 are “structurally deficient.” More simply, one in every nine bridges needs significant repair. This deficiency is largely because most bridges were built decades ago and have outlived their expected lifespan. While the bridges are not near collapse, they are in need of dire repair and are evidence of the poor state of American infrastructure. Without immediate action, the United States’s infrastructure will fall behind that of other developed nations. The United States is home to some of the worst traffic congestion in the world and has a road fatality rate 60 percent higher than the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average. The investment in infrastructure will help fix the structural rigidity of roads and bridges and improve traffic congestion across the nation. In the original stimulus bill of 2009, the Obama administration created a new program within the Department for Transport — the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery, known as TIGER, which allows the DoT to fund a range of capital infrastructure projects. The program has been a notable success for the White House, with $3.5 billion spent across 270 infrastructure projects in all 50 states. Obama’s announcement yesterday that a further $600 million would be given to the TIGER program demonstrates the high regard the Administration has for this initiative. TIGER grants are able to fund a broad spectrum of infrastructure projects at both the local and state level that are not eligible for other forms of federal funding. Crumbling roads and unstable bridges are the new norm across the nation. Obama’s announcement yesterday quietly ushers in a new wave of stimulus for the nation’s decrepit infrastructure. This advancement is a relief for state budgets that are reticent to spend on expensive, long-term infrastructure projects when more immediate demands require attention. Moreover, this is a welcomed announcement from Obama, using the bully pulpit to refocus the nation toward the decaying roads and bridges which they traverse each day.
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.
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
HOCKEY continued from PG. 1
Despite many injuries, teamwork and practice bring success many setbacks, this has allowed the younger players on the team to step up. Echoing Cosentino’s sentiments, assistant captain and CAS senior Tim Gumear cites the team’s depth as part of its success. “Know[ing] that if someone goes down with an injury and we have someone just as good to fill in for them in the short term — that saves us the mental strain that most teams experience when someone gets hurt,” Gumear said. Having the ability to run four lines on both forward and defense sets them apart from most opponents who are only able to run two lines, which means the opposing teams are likely to burn out more quickly. CAS sophomore and forward Henry Thomson-Smith said another key to success has been the team’s cohesiveness and chemistry in the face of adversity. “I feel that the character in the locker room has brought our team a long way,” Thomson-Smith said. The players have managed to turn the obstacle of injures into a learning experience. “They have been able to create great chemistry throughout the team, which is something that I feel will be valuable in the postseason,” Cosentino said. Cosentino’s ultimate goal is to bring NCAA hockey to NYU and New York City. After finishing the regular season with an 18-4-2 record and ranking number four in the Northeast region, as well as going 11-2-1 in the Super East Collegiate Hockey League and ranking number two, it looks like the program is well on its way. In addition to a national presence, NYU Ice Hockey is making itself known around campus. One of the highlights this season for
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Senior Paul Zazarnovsky stays focused on the ice. Gumear has been the newfound support of NYU students. “Throughout my entire career here at NYU, I have never seen so many fans as we have had on a nightly basis,” Gumear said. “It’s great to see people take the effort to get to the rink to cheer us on day in and day out. Creating that presence in the NYU Community has truly made me proud to be on this team.” NYU has been seeded in Pool A with Lindenwood and Utah State, as well as Florida Gulf Coast, who is ranked #1 in the Southeast division and the team’s first opponent in the tournament. Brittany Yu is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
NYUminton hones in on skills before upcoming tournaments By KATHRYN JONES
Despite injury and lack of practice time, the birdies of the NYU Badminton team flew past their competitors this season. NYUminton, as the players call themselves, dominated matches against Princeton and Rutgers universities at Rutgers on Saturday. After losing their first game, first-time mixed doubles pair graduate student Qian “Tina” Ma and CAS junior Karan Baweja adapted to win the last two games of their match. Stern freshman Andy Xia said although singles player and graduate student Dong Wu lost against one of Princeton’s best players, the match was exciting. “The level he played at that game was very impressive, consistent, explosive and patient,” Xia said. NYUminton earned second place on Feb. 2 at the 2014 YONEX Northeast Collegiate Team Badminton Championships. During the premier year of Boston Badminton’s tournament, 16 schools from the northeast region competed in two divisions in Westborough, Mass., from Feb. 1 to 2. NYU played in Division I and qualified for the finals but lost to Drexel University, the one team they did not defeat in the regular season. Matches against Syracuse University and Drexel left the players injured and fatigued the first day. Relying on IcyHot and team massages, NYU improved the next day. CAS senior Mingqi Wu braved the second day of YONEX with a sprained ankle, and NYUminton reversed the upset of falling behind new opponent
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Members of the badminton clup prepare to receive the birdie. Cornell University with 4-5 to qualify for finals. Since the team went to YONEX during the first week of the semester, Head Coach Devin Dobrowolski and the team captains, Stern sophomore Wanmeng Zhang and Baweja, held a one-day practice session and team scrimmage in Flushing to prepare. “One thing that the team has constantly struggled with is adequate practice time,” Dobrowolski said. “It’s hard to become better than your competition when they can practice two, three or four times more than you can every week.” NYUminton practices at Coles Sports and Recreation Center, sharing court space with the volleyball, basketball and tennis teams, as well as other club sports. The players have one team practice each week on Sundays and a recreational practice for all club members on Fridays. To keep up with other schools, Dobrowolski dedicates the first 30 minutes of practice to intense conditioning. Practice also helps Dobrowolski select the top 10 men and women to make the official team, out of NYUminton’s 75 active members.
Typically, the team competes with about six schools per academic year, as well as other tournaments, playing against schools from across the nation in the Intercollegiate Badminton Association. The season ended with a record of 4-0-1. With only five matches this semester instead of six, NYUminton came close to the same record as last year, 5-0-1. Kunta Wu, who spent six and a half years on the team before graduating from the Graduate School of Arts and Science in January, said the team’s closeness is essential for success. “I think the fiercest weapon of our team is our trust and team bonding,” Wu said. “We believe that as long as we are together, we can beat anyone.” The team prepares for their first New York City Badminton Team Invitational Tournament on April 19 and the IBA championships in May. The captains look to improve the players’ accuracy and stamina before then. Kathryn Jones is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.