NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 40, No. 24
tuesday, February 28, 2012
nyunews.com
Men’s hoops gets tourney invite
Protesters rally for ethical divestment
By John Axelrod
By Justina Lee
The conference room on the ground level of the Coles Sports Center changed from silence to pure chaos the instant “NYU” appeared on the screen during the Division III NCAA Tournament Selection Show. The NYU men’s basketball team was seated around the table watching intently, hoping their bubble would not burst. They learned around noon that they are part of the field of 62 teams that will compete for a National Championship. The Violets will face Misericordia University in the first round at home on Thursday night at 7 p.m. The winner of that game travels to Amherst College to face the Lord Jeffs on Saturday. “I’m very excited and happy for all of our players, coaches and managers,” head coach Joe Nesci said. “Our guys did a great job this year and won a tough game on the road to get in.”
R NCAA continued on PG. 8
JONATHAN TAN/WSN
Members of the NYU community protested against NYU’s financial services company yesterday.
Over two dozen students and faculty gathered in Washington Square Park yesterday to protest against the financial services company that manages NYU employees’ retirement savings. These members of the NYU community called on the company to stop relying on corporations that profit from Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. NYU Students for Justice in Palestine drafted an open letter to the university in January about the use of the financial services company TIAA-CREF. The company, which holds around $440 billion in assets, manages its employees’ retirement savings. Its retirement portfolio funds invest in approximately 30 companies that profit from the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. “The campaign started around a year ago,” Glen Pine, organizer
R PROTEST continued on PG. 3
‘This is Not a Film’ expands cinematic boundaries By Stefan Melnyk
The story behind “This Is Not A Film” is almost as intriguing as the work itself. Made in secret and smuggled to Cannes in a cake, this documentary by Jafar Panahi and Mojtaba Mirtahmasb would not have been made at all if the Iranian government had been able to enforce its will. In 2010, Panahi was imprisoned and banned from making films for 20 years because he supported the opposition party in the 2009 elections. That election resulted in President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad controversially clinging to power using transparently falsified results. For many long minutes in “Film,” Panahi can be seen moving restlessly around his apartment, going through the necessary motions but obviously straining at the leash. He convinces his friend Mirtahmasb to film him, expressing himself in the only way he can. The Iranian government has banned him from directing or giving interviews but not from serving as an actor, so he acts out scenes in his living room from a script that he was banned from filming. But what makes this performance feel so genuine is that it is not a calculated act of defiance but rather a cry for help. After only a short while, Panahi breaks off, admitting ruefully that the loophole he is exploiting is irrelevant. He knows that the Iranian government has a lengthy
record of ignoring laws and breaking agreements. This sense of fear and futility feels even more palpable later on, when Mirtahmasb has to leave to check on his family. Panahi, with increasing desperation, stalls him with questions, jokes, anecdotes — anything to delay his loneliness. This aching humanity evokes a strong sense of the title’s accuracy. It is not a film — at least not one like any other film ever made. There is no narration, no substantial editing, no artificial arrangement of elements and almost no concern for aesthetics. The message that emerges from the words and images reveals itself as if by accident. So little was recorded, but this very fact speaks volumes. Nearly all of the video is shot in Panahi’s apartment, but this confinement only helps to convey his feeling of restraint. “This Is Not A Film” is one of those works that reminds us that, no matter how much we may complain about our own problems, we still enjoy the luxury of living in a country in which free speech and open dissent are accepted. For Panahi and millions like him, this is not a luxury that their governments have seen fit to grant them. It may not be a film, but as a plea it is just as powerful as one. Stefan Melnyk is film editor. Email him at smelnyk@nyunews.com.
VIA THISISNOTAFILM.NET
Filmmaker Jafar Panahi was imprisoned by the Iranian government in 2010.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, february 28, 2012 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS House “House” is in its final season, and fans everywhere are curious as to how the producers will end the FOX hospital drama that has spanned eight seasons. Hugh Laurie stars as anti-hero Gregory House, who saves lives with his unorthodox methods and absence of manners. Despite losing steam in previous episodes, “House” seems to have picked up the pace again. Check it out before it’s gone for good. — Jiun-wen Teoh
Star Wars Blu-Ray Collection The new “Star Wars” Blu-Ray collection is worth checking out, despite being bashed by both fans and critics for lacking substantial new material. Those unfamiliar with “Star Wars,” however, will delight in George Lucas’s invigorating universe filled with such classic characters as Chewbacca, R2D2, Yoda and Han Solo. — Matt Chen
Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief amanda randone Managing Editor
jaewon kang Deputy Managing Editor
Amy zhang Assistant Managing Editor
james lanning Creative Director
selena chen senior staff
Louie Directed, edited, written and performed by comedic genius Louis C.K., FX’s “Louie” has had two phenomenal seasons. The first never lets up on the laughs except for moments of surprising poignancy. Season two presents Louie at his dramatic and comedic height, making you cry one moment before you double over in laughter the next. — Jonathon Dornbush
Lady in Satin “Lady in Satin,” Billie Holiday’s last album released before her death, is a fantastic study of melancholy. The lyrics are simple but potent, and the languid pacing emphasizes the depth of her voice. Holiday’s words, written from a perspective of remembrance, complement the age perceptible in her vocals. Periodic saxophones break through the strings, adding heat to the melodies — perfect for an afternoon of reflection. — Jason Bowers
Homeland Watch the first season of fall’s best new show. This multiple Golden Globewinner exhibits exhilarating performances from Claire Danes as an industrious yet mentally unstable CIA agent and Damien Lewis as a former POW who may not be the hero everyone thinks he is. Its mix of high-paced twists and turns and intense drama doesn’t make it the next 24. It’s much better than that. — Ana Lusia Crivorot all images via flickr
TODAY
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12:15 to 1:15 p.m. | Kimmel Center, Grand Staircase
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. | Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, 20 Cooper Sq.
Ask the Sexpert
Sexual health professional Alyssa LaFosse will answer any questions you have about sex-related issues.
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Blowing Minds: The East Village Other
This exhibition will explore The East Village Other, an underground newspaper that was published in the ’60s and ’70s.
7 to 8:30 p.m. | 16 Washington Mews
The Contemporary
Editors Tim Griffin and Lionel Ruffel will discuss how literature portrays the contemporary.
university Julie devito city/state emily yang investigative hanqing chen arts jonathon dornbush features jessica littman sports daniel hinton multimedia david lin copy maximilíano durón senior editor jack brooks,
BRIDGETTE DORAN
deputy staff
university eric benson, eliza-
beth maguire city/state tony chau, kristine
itliong, jessica schultz investigative feiye wang music josh johnson film stefan Melnyk entertainment jeremy grossman books/theater clio Mcconnell dining hannah borenstein beauty & style shannon
loughran sports John axelrod, cole
riley special issues kristina bogos multimedia james kelleher copy jordan melendrez social media agent nicole gartside
opinion page
opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editor ATTICUS
BRIGHAM, SANCHAY JAIN
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO circulation manager
chloe coffman
university sales coordinator
Emilia Mironovici
SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
Shocker: Pot makes you lazy A recent study revealed a link between marijuana smoking and laziness at work. The study was conducted on nearly 1,500 Norwegians over a 25-year interval, starting when they were in their late teens. The participants filled out surveys that described their recent drug use and feelings toward the importance of a job and hard work. Though the study does not prove a direct relationship, researchers believe the results speak for themselves. In other news, the sky is blue. — Reuters
Syracuse University
Rise in college student hospitalizations at SU due to underage drinking — The Daily Orange
An elderly man crosses Leroy street in the West Village with a bag of groceries.
PHOTO BY Lauren Strausser
Northwestern University
Northwestern professor co-authors study on LGBT suicide risk factors — The Daily Northwestern
sales representatives
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITORS-AT-LARGE
jaywon choe kelsey desiderio russell steinberg KIRSTEN CHANG francis poon terka cicelOVa About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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nyunews.com | tuesday, february 28, 2012 | Washington Square news
L train shutdowns cause problems for NYU commuters By Jessie Schultz Students may have some difficulty getting to campus this weekend while the MTA conducts maintenance on the L train. The line, which will be shut down on Saturday and Sunday, was also out of service last weekend, when MTA workers began the maintenance work. While workers repair service lights and conduct track repairs, the train connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn will only run between the Broadway Junction and Eighth Avenue stops on March 3 and 4. The closure will be a major hassle for some Brooklyn students. “I had plans to come and study in the library this weekend for midterms, but the MTA has once again let me down,” CAS freshman Sophia Frank said. Alex Kim, a Stern sophomore and commuter, said a weekend closure is probably ideal, but it is still inconvenient. “While it doesn’t seem right to completely shut down the train, I’m glad it’s on the weekend and not during the week,” Kim said. “If it were during the week, I wouldn’t be able to get to class.” The closure of the train this and last weekend has been a part of the MTA’s long-term project to prepare the line for the addition of more trains. Because the number of passengers on the line has increased by 141 percent since 1998, the MTA is adding trains to the route to alleviate congestion. By mid-2012, the MTA hopes to add 11 daily round trips to the L train’s route.
“While it’s annoying to not have a convenient way to get into the city this weekend, I think in the long run, it’ll even out,” said Maurice Evans, a Brooklyn resident who commutes into Manhattan five days a week. “When they add more trains we won’t have to wait as long or be packed into the train like cattle every day.” For those looking to make the commute to Manhattan this weekend, there are other options. The J and M trains run along similar routes between Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the MTA will also provide alternative service on free shuttle buses. Jessis Schultz is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at jschultz@nyunews.com.
FILE PHOTO BY CAROLINE ERRICO
The L train line will be closed this weekend due to maintenance work.
Grant to bring fashion gurus to Gallatin By Eric Benson The GUESS Foundation has awarded the Gallatin School of Individualized Study a $2.5 million endowment to fund the Guess Distinguished Visiting Professorship in Fashion and Fashion Business. Beginning this fall, an expert from the fashion industry will teach with Gallatin professors in areas like design, fashion business and the history of fashion. The expert, who will teach a course at Gallatin for one semester, will make at least one public presentation by giving a lecture, hosting a workshop or leading symposia on how to connect creativity, design and business. “Right now there is no course that combines both the creative, design component of fashion with the business side of it,” Gallatin dean Susanne Wofford said. “The gift is designed to find ways to bring these two aspects of the field together. Having access to very distinguished leaders in the fashion business world will also be an important opportunity for NYU students to gain first hand an understanding of the complexity of the industry.”
Though it has not been decided how many visiting professors the endowment will cover, the first will be announced later this semester. This program will likely be for undergraduate students. Wofford said while most visiting professors will probably stay for a single semester, some may end up staying longer. She added that this grant will help Gallatin not only bring together different aspects of fashion but also teach students core necessities of the fashion industry. “Many of our students interested in fashion have many other interests that they want to integrate into their designs and their work in the fashion industry,” Wofford said. “So as a school interested in helping students integrate these different interests, and as a school interested in experimenting with ways to unite the world of practice with theory, Gallatin seems the right place for this gift.” CAS freshman Morgan Boyer said that this is a good start for a university that does not offer a major in fashion. “A school that is so intertwined with the city and
strong with industry connections ought to offer fashion courses at the very least,” Boyer said. “I think it will be a very valuable resource for fashion students, as our interest in the industry is primarily self-nurtured.” Gallatin sophomore Alyssa La Spisa, who is concentrating in fashion/marketing and art history, said there are not enough fashion courses for her to take at NYU. “This is going to give Gallatin students with interest in fashion a much greater opportunity to learn about the industry and will greatly benefit fashion students,” she said. As a member of a faculty committee appointed by Wofford, professor Karen Hornick will offer suggestions about the selection of the guests for the professorship. “This very generous grant will help Gallatin respond to the special needs of our sizeable number of students whose concentrations include some combination of fashion, design, theory and cultural history along with business and marketing,” Hornick said. Eric Benson is a deputy university editor. Email him at ebenson@nyunews.com
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PROTEST continued from PG. 1
Students, faculty protest against NYU’s retirement aid company of NYU Students for Justice in Palestine, said. “We were thinking of ways that we could help to end the occupation, and strategically a good way of doing that was to target corporations, primarily U.S. corporations that are involved directly perpetuating and profiting from the occupation.” The letter highlights five major corporations, including Caterpillar, which manufactures bulldozers used to demolish Palestinian homes, and Motorola, a producer of surveillance equipment for the Israeli government. “It’s one thing for each individual to voice [an] opinion, but when there are organizations that are helping the occupation either directly or indirectly, I feel like it’s my job to speak up,” said Michael Balter, an adjunct journalism professor who signed the open letter last fall. Pine said the rally was in celebration of the letter attracting over 200 signatures from university staff and faculty. His statement was followed by speeches from several participants, including Samantha Wischinia, a Gallatin freshman and descendent of Holocaust survivors. “People have asked me, ‘If you’re a direct descendent of Holocaust survivors, then why are you defending Palestine?’” Wischinia said. “I tell them that the Holocaust is a reason to defend human rights everywhere.” According to Pine, the campaign has
had unprecedented success in garnering faculty support though the NYU campus has never been too receptive of the Palestinian cause. “I think a reason for this is because we’re not asking for them to do anything beyond calling for the implementation of international law,” Pine said. “It’s a broad appeal.” The rally ended with a march through the park accompanied by chants. Along the way it also drew some dissenting voices. A man posed for a photo in front of the rally, holding up two pictures of the Israeli flag. “As an American citizen who has Palestinian parents, I feel responsible to speak out against crimes against Palestinians by Israelis, especially because it’s paid for and backed by American tax dollars,” Steinhardt junior Alaa Yousef said. “I feel morally obligated to be out here today.” But NYU spokesman John Beckman stated that TIAA-CREF is a totally independent entity from NYU. “NYU employees may deposit their retirement funds into TIAA-CREF or a variety of other funds,” Beckman said. “NYU has no say in TIAA-CREF’s investment strategy or policy. The University supports the rights of those who wish to protest and to express their views on this matter.” Justina Lee is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com
New York Attorney General presses EPA for reform By Jessie Morrison
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman recently filed a lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency, calling on the agency to revise national air quality standards and join 11 states that call for immediate action on the issue. As part of the Clean Air Act, which was established in 1970, federal air quality standards must be reviewed and updated by the EPA every five years in accordance with changing technologies. The air quality standards involve the acceptable level of fine particulate matters in the air, including dust, smoke, dirt and chemicals like sulfur dioxide. In a letter published last October, the EPA said it did not make any revision. This lawsuit is just one among a string of others with which the EPA is already grappling. Earlier this month, The American Lung Association joined the National Parks Conservation Association to file a similar lawsuit. A week after the lawsuit, researchers at the Paris Cardiovascular Research Center found polluted air may be linked to higher risk of heart attack. Their research looked at past studies that compared the risk of suffering a heart attack at different levels of polluted environments, according to Reuters. George Thurston, a professor of environmental medicine at the NYU School of Medicine, said the regulation of air quality is important because airborne particulate matter has severe effects on health. “Studies that we’ve done here at NYU have pretty definitively linked increased
exposures of particles in the air to adverse health effects,” Thurston said. “Over the long term, particulate matter can lead to cardiac disease.” Thurston also explained short-term exposure to diesel exhaust increases occurrences of asthma. Since moving to the city, NYU freshman Jimmy Bagley said he has felt differences in his asthma symptoms: “The city definitely makes it worse.” However, the air pollution does not bother some asthmatics. “I really can’t say that my asthma has gotten worse since I got to the city,” said CAS freshman Gino Urbano, who is originally from New Jersey. Jeremy Friedman, manager of sustainability initiatives at NYU, said the university tries to lead local environmental efforts. “Sometimes people forget to ask questions about the air quality locally, not just globally,” Friedman said. “Locally, the same efforts to reduce our energy use and clean up the energy we do use are also having a direct effect on local air quality and on local environmental health.” Stern professor Roy Radner believes that the world needs a drastic change in reduction of greenhouse gases. “Regulation principles should be revised with changes in technology and changes in technology conditions,” Radner said. “We also have to allow for a certain amount of pollution or we would bring the economy to a halt.” Jessie Morrison is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, february 28, 2012 | nyunews.com
DINING
edited by HANNAH BORENSTEIN DINING@nyunews.com
First siphon bar opens in NYC OVERALL
Nutritionist’s Notebook
Quality of Food
Snacks on a schedule
Menu Variety
By Marion Nestle
Affordibility Service Atmosphere
by Angel Chang When standing in line waiting for your coffee at Starbucks, you rarely witness the process that goes into engendering your rich, divine concoction, foam or no foam. At Blue Bottle Coffee, however, the secret to making flavorful delights is fully on display. Blue Bottle Coffee, a Californiabased chain, opened its Brooklyn location in 2010 and its first Manhattan cafe on Feb. 18. “The owner of Blue Bottle Coffee has relations in real estate,” Rachel BleiweissSande, manager of the Chelsea branch, said. “So he found this unique locale in Chelsea for its first Manhattan cafe.” The cafe houses Manhattan’s first siphon bar — an apparatus invented in the 1830s that utilizes vapor pressure, vacuum chambers and gravity to brew high-quality coffee. For a single siphon, water is heated to a boil in the glass carafe. Then coffee grounds are placed into the glass brewer, followed by a relay of stirring and filtering which produces a glass of concentrated coffee. The siphon menu offers Honduran, Ethiopian and Tanzanian brews, as well as brioche toast, assorted
Marion Nestle is the Paulette Goddard professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. She is the author of “Food Politics” and, most recently, “Why Calories Count: From Science to Politics.” Each week, she will answer student questions about nutrition, health, and food.
MADISON TODD FOR WSN
Blue Bottle Coffee just opened its first location in Manhattan. pastries and exotic teas. The siphon bar is on the second level, with more traditional coffee offered on the first floor. Espresso, macchiato, hot chocolate and various blends of coffee can be found on the menu. “Here at Blue Bottle we give quality over anything else,” Bleiweiss-Sande said. “We only sell coffee less than 48 hours out of the roaster to our customers so that they may enjoy the freshest taste of coffee.” There is something meticulous and specific about Blue Bottle’s entire image — not just its coffee. Within its white brick walls and light wooden decor, the cafe caters to an audience that finds beauty in the gradual coffee-brewing process.
“The cafe has a genuine feel and tries to put out quality products that don’t conform to the traditional ‘get in, get out’ attitude of coffee places,” Tisch freshman Nico Sahi said. “This place is laid back yet utilitarian.” True to this idea, an experience at the cafe is one reserved for those seeking novelty and specialty in a cup of coffee. Blue Bottle Coffee is located at 450 W. 15th St. The cafe is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends. The siphon bar is open daily from 9 a.m.to 4 p.m. Angel Chang is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Question: Do you have quick food recommendations for busy students who tend to skip breakfast/lunch or who don’t have time due to busy scheduling? Are there any grab-and-go options that you would recommend? Answer: From the perspective of nutrition, two principles apply to on-the-go food. Look for fruits and vegetables whenever you can get them, and choose foods that are as unprocessed as possible. The closer you can get to eating basic foods, the more nutrients they contain for their calories — in nutrispeak, they are of high nutrient density. To see what options might be available, I went to the dining hall at the Kimmel Student Center. Alas, chips are at every counter and cash register. You can do better. Some healthy choices are obvious: bananas, pears and five kinds of apples. Others are carrot
packs, yogurt, hard-cooked eggs, and hummus with pretzels. You have to search hard for the other interesting options. A helpful manager pointed to snack packs of organic dried banana chips, mangos and goldenberries. Goldenberries look like raisins, which would be another good choice, but I didn’t see any. I also didn’t find any packages of nuts. These are great as long as you don’t eat too many. If you want your dorm cafeteria to carry items like this, ask! Sandwiches work if they are not too big and unwieldy. The Pret a Manger on Astor Place offers half sandwiches in a stiff, thin cardboard. These are easy to eat on the run. I avoid power bars. They violate my “no more than five ingredients” rule and I don’t particularly like the way they taste. If I want something sweet, I’ll go for the dark chocolate Brazil nuts I found at Kimmel. If you just eat a couple at a time, they are worth the price. Marion Nestle is a contributing columnist. Email her questions at dining@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF MARION NESTLE
Brooklyn chocolate factory welcomes visitors By Cici Chen The Mast Brothers Chocolate factory is a bright, spacious place with a rustic vibe and a touch of Williamsburg chic. While the shop bears no resemblance to Willy Wonka’s and there are no oomploompas behind the counter, the sweet aroma of cocoa transports
MADISON TODD FOR WSN
Employees guide visitors through the process of turning cocoa beans into chocolate.
visitors to a chocolate wonderland. “By the end of this, you guys will be masters of chocolate,” said Rick Mast, one of the brothers who owns the business and offers factory tours. The tour shows the entire journey the cocoa beans take, from their arrival in large sacks to their production into elegantly wrapped bars with a Mast Brothers design. Interactive activities are embedded throughout the adventure, like smelling, crushing and tasting the roasted cocoa beans. Ari Nadin, a Stern graduate student in the group, hoped to learn a few things from the tour, as he is planning to start a chocolate company in Jamaica. However, the rest of the group’s main concern was eating anything they could get their hands on. Mast explained the history of the shop and how the brothers developed their passion for the craft. “Chocolate is arguably the most popular food on earth, but nobody really knows how it is made,” Mast said. “You go to a sandwich shop and you ask where all the ingredients
come from. No one does that for chocolate. You just eat it.” Derek Herbster, a soft-spoken and knowledgeable guide, helped lead the group through eight different stages of chocolate making. Even after two years of working at Mast Brothers, Herbster maintains an exuberant appetite for chocolate. Unlike mass-produced chocolate, the taste of Mast Brothers treats varies from batch to batch depending on the location and environment from which the cocoa beans come. Therefore, Herbster is responsible for tasting just as much of the chocolate during testing times as the visitors. If you are looking for a chance to learn about cocoa in its purest form and to try some delicious chocolate, the Mast Brothers Chocolate factory tour is a great experience. Mast Brothers Chocolate is located at 105A N. Third St. in Brooklyn. Tours will run Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 4:30 p.m. throughout March for $9.99. Cici Chen is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | tuesday, february 28, 2012 | Washington Square news
ARTS
edited by JONATHON DORNBUSH ARTS@nyunews.com
‘Multitudes’ revives and revises folk music By Daniel Fuchs Time has not washed away Woodie Guthrie’s legacy, which is perhaps second only to Bob Dylan’s in terms of pure lyrical power. From “This Land is Your Land” to “Dust Bowl Blues,” Guthrie captured the feeling of a hopeless, downtrodden America. Attempting to collect his lyrics — both published and unreleased — into a tribute recording is certainly a daunting task. On “New Multitudes,” however, Jay Farrar, Anders Parker, Will Johnson and My Morning Jacket’s Yim Yames are able to pay tribute to the longgone folk hero while still crafting a unique experience. “New Multitudes” succeeds where many tribute albums and posthumous releases fail. Farrar, Parker, Johnson and Yames smartly balance their own musical voices and perspectives with Guthrie’s. The group reveres Guthrie and his work, but they are willing to modernize his music to create a richer, fuller sound. Using lyrics like “One hand is on my pillow/ One hand is on my head/ I see a million nightmares/ Tearing around inside my head” from “My Revolutionary Mind,” the group truly captures Guthrie’s spirit while playing to its
own strengths. In this case, Yames weaves his famous harmonies and layering into the composition. As in any Guthrie recording, the lyrics are tight and focused. The group evidently took its time in searching through Guthrie’s notebooks for lyrical genius. “New Multitudes” also prevails from a strictly musical standpoint. All four band members take turns on lead vocals, but the highlight is “Fly High,” a Parkerled composition. A quiet, contemplative reflection on lost love, it features a saccharine, bright guitar warming the air around the quartet’s vocal harmonies. “My Revolutionary Mind,” sung by Yames, has an almost ephemeral tone. “VD City,” led by Johnson, is an oddly electrifying tale of a dirty, poverty- and diseasestricken city as well as a political statement about how the Great Depression ravaged communities. On “Talking Empty Bed Blues,” Yames’s vocals fill the air, contrasting with the isolation and despair conveyed by the lone acoustic guitar. Every track evokes another side of Guthrie, from the lonely rambler of “Chorine My Sheba Queen” to the oddly hopeful leader of “No Fear.” “New Multitudes” feels truly re-
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freshing in an age when the gritty, rambling folk music of Dylan and Guthrie has all but disappeared, save exceptions like The Tallest Man on Earth and Kurt Vile. More than any other genre, folk music has a tradition of capturing political ideas and intimate personal feelings. “New Multitudes” is hopefully a step forward for the genre, inspiring artists to examine their surroundings as Guthrie once did. Perhaps most importantly, “New Multitudes” proves that artists like Guthrie never die. They simply evolve with time.
Though pleasant, Oscars failed to impress
Daniel Fuchs is a staff writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com. COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES DIGITAL
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was the only upset of the Academy Awards with the win for Best Film Editing. By Jonathon Dornbush
COURTESY OF ROUNDER RECORDS
“New Multitudes” reinvigorates Woody Guthrie lyrics.
In short, predictability reigned supreme at the 2012 Academy Awards. The just-over-three-hour telecast held little surprise but came replete with familiarity and a sense of nostalgia. With acting categories filled with a virtual nursing home of acting greats and film nominees that revived classic genres, the Best Picture nominees celebrated the beginnings of the medium or simply recalled earlier, tension-filled times. The Oscars hoped to honor the present by recalling the past. The sad irony is that this collection of 2011’s best is unlikely to be looked on with the same fondness. Pete Hammond at Deadline Hollywood wrote an intriguing piece about the best films of 1961, from the Oscar-winning “West Side Story” to the snubbed but beloved “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Many of these critically and commercially successful films continue to be celebrated today, but for the most part, the 2012 Oscars celebrated artistry largely ignored by the public. Sure, “Hugo” and “The Descendants” performed respectably in theaters, but they were hardly blockbusters. This year’s Best Picture-winner, “The Artist,” has earned little over $30 million at the box office — a case reminiscent of 2010’s “The Hurt Locker.” All of these films may have been great — though debate will remain about why “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close” earned a nomination — but they have not seen much public exposure. And after Sunday’s mundane ceremony, little additional incentive was provided. Billy Crystal opened with the familiar gag of stepping into scenes from the nominated films. “Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol” was strangely included despite not receiving a nomination, most likely to have something recognizable to casual viewers. It was an enjoyable but safe sketch, and
Crystal started off the night with tepid jokes and only found his footing later on, notably thanking dull Academy representative Tom Sherak for “whipping the crowd into a frenzy.” Presenters and winners stole the night from Crystal. Whether it was Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis’s inept use of cymbals or Best Adapted Screenplay-winner Jim Rash imitating Angelina Jolie’s showy and revealing stance — though as a “Community” fan I loved this bit above the rest — laughter came in short, off-thecuff doses. Only a few speeches elicited true emotional responses, including Octavia Spencer’s stunned reaction to winning Best Supporting Actress despite its inevitability and Meryl Streep’s musing that America must be sick of seeing her nominated only to say: “But, whatever.” While these moments and several others were enjoyable enough, the lack of any real upsets combined with Crystal’s customary and unsuccessful hosting produced a boring air for the proceedings. When the biggest surprise of the night is “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’s” win for Best Film Editing, which usually belongs to Best Picture winners or nominees, you know what kind of show to expect. Though the Oscars often fail to arouse much suspense, this year’s ho-hum proceedings felt even more sluggish than usual. The Academy spent far too much time reminding the audience of how great films can be with seemingly random montages — I would never hold “Twilight” and “Jaws” in similar regard — and a Cirque du Soleil performance. It isn’t a radical idea, but a sharper focus on the nominated films of today may have made for a far more enjoyable three hours. Jonathon Dornbush is arts editor. Email him at jdornbush@nyunews.com.
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Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Brown, Penn or Harvard 4 Locale of Guantánamo Bay 8 Go without food 14 “The Good Shepherd” org. 15 Omani or Yemeni 16 Use a fan on 17 It twists underwater 18 He played JinSoo Kwon on “Lost” 20 “Through the Looking-Glass” character 22 Move, in realestate ads 23 Swings that result in strikes 24 “King” serpents 26 Doorbell sound 29 Site of Haleakala National Park
ANSWER M A L T A
A R O O M
W I C C A
E T H A N
U N I O N
L E N T I L
S L L E E E S T H A U D I B R I N E L A T
30 Pinkish 31 Some collectible toys 38 Everything 39 “That is to say …” 40 ___ Speedwagon 41 1941 Frank Capra film 44 Animal that can stand upright 45 One who saves the day 46 Lose it 47 Puts back to zero, say 50 Displays appetite, in a way 54 Wheels’ connector 55 Cornerstone of the American legal system 59 Some hippie wear 62 Had a bite 63 Writer of sad poems 64 Slangy turndowns
65 Instrument for Clarence Clemons 66 Show contrition 67 “Hey, sailor!” 68 Give a go
Down 1 “Cop Killer” singer who went on to play a cop on TV 2 Outlook 3 Alma mater for Bill and Hillary Clinton 4 Golfer’s assistant 5 They divide Europe and Asia 6 Bugaboos 7 Endure 8 Caesar of comedy 9 ___-la-la 10 Biting 11 Al of “Today” 12 “There you have it!” 13 St. ___ fire 16 Drink sometimes indicated in TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE comics by “XXX” T E R P M I R T H 19 Some tech grads A T I E I D E A S 21 TV award B O N O N O N E T 24 Social class 25 Unsafe? H A N D N A I L O S S Y N C F A A 26 Stay up all night before a test, O C H O A T E R S say F O O T I N M O U T H 27 Darned thing L A G E D I E 28 ___ of Man K B Y J O W L S E N 29 José’s hand A R R A I D 31 Some expensive dresses R A I N D R I L L S A N D O V E R F I S T 32 Modest “Methinks,” O A C I D F E A R online K H A D I E T T A 33 Poetic time after E O L A N R O S Y dusk
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No. 0124
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Classified Ad
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Puzzle by Alex Boisvert
34 Heel 35 › base x height, for a triangle 36 Gather in the field 37 Peeved 42 U2 guitarist 43 767, e.g. 44 Pear type 46 Photo finish?
47 Olympics judge, e.g. 48 Punishment for Napoleon 49 Catch 40 winks 50 “Well, obviously!” 51 Madrid’s ___ Sofia Museum 52 Noted talk show retiree of 2011
53 Straight: Prefix 55 Mar.-to-Nov. hours
56 Sunup direction 57 Play the lead role
58 Alluring
60 Yang’s counterpart
61 Superlative suffix
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
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nyunews.com | tuesday, february 28, 2012 | Washington Square news
OPINION
edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com
INTERNATIONAL
Bridging the gap with peace
By Ariel Sterman and Daniel Bronstein
This week, campuses across the world will thunder with chants of “Apartheid” and “BDS.” Baffled students will discover that “Apartheid” is not referring to the injustices of the South African regime and that the boycott being called for is against the only democratic country in the Middle East. The application of the term “apartheid” in reference to Israel is not only a gross misunderstanding of the facts, but also an affront to the millions who suffered under Apartheid in South Africa. And while those who support the movement to Boycott, Divest from, and Sanction Israel are doing so to “prevent injustice,” they are only widening the divide between Israelis and Palestinians and preventing potential peace talks. What personified the Apartheid in South Africa was the systematic segregation or discrimination based on race. When comparing Palestinian life in Israel to the lives of “refugees” living in other states, one can see the true nature of Israeli “Apartheid.” In Syria and Lebanon combined, almost one million Palestinians are kept in camps, segregated from the rest of society and unable to live normal lives. In Israel, the Palestinian Arab population can be seen living side-by-side from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv and throughout the country. They attend the universities and become doctors, lawyers and even members of Parliament. Since the establishment of Israel, Palestinian Arabs have always sat in the Parliamentary Assembly. Not only are these Parlia-
ment members elected by Arab men and women alike, an inherent right that is rare in the Middle East, but they also have the so-called privilege of meeting with known leaders of terrorist organizations. BDS is almost as destructive to the peace process as terrorism itself. Major BDS spokesmen, such as Ali Abunimah, head of Electronic Intifada, label Palestinian leaders who negotiate with Israel “collaborators.” Norman Finklestein, an anti-Israel advocate himself, “loath[es] the movement’s duplicity ... in hiding the fact that a large part of its membership wants to eliminate Israel,” and he does not see progress in BDS and its twisted platform. To boycott Israel on the basis of discrimination is humorous at best because it is an attempt to disrupt the economy of the only country in the entire Middle East that allows religious freedom to all. BDS is an attempt to economically disrupt the only country in the Middle East that has complete religious freedom. Its goal, to de-legitimize Israel’s right to exist as a democratic state with secure borders, inhibits the honest dialogue that will solve this conflict. With regards to the recent WSN op-ed, “U.S. perpetuates injustice in the West Bank, Gaza Strip,” let us clear up a few misconceptions of what “NYU community members” should strive for. NYU community members should pride themselves on reading the whole story. This means that if someone quotes numbers from a B’Tselem report on Operation Cast Lead, he should also read the end of that
report, which admits “Palestinian organizations that fire rockets at Israeli communities from inside or near populated areas ... show not only their desire to injure Israeli civilians, but also their indifference to the lives of Palestinian civilians.” NYU community members should strive to recognize true morality. Richard Kemp, former commander of the British forces in Afghanistan, said to the UN Human Rights Council, “During its operation in Gaza, the Israeli Defense Forces did more to safeguard the rights of civilians in a combat zone than any other army in the history of warfare.” NYU community members should be aware of current events. Recent statistics reveal Israel’s extreme caution for the lives of civilians. The Israel correspondent for Jane’s Defence Weekly wrote that the “IDF killed 100 Gazans in 2011. 9 civilians. That is civilian-combatant ratio of nearly 1:10. UN says world average is 3:1. Impressive.” We shouldn’t be speaking in derelict terms of “Apartheid,” divestment or some misconstrued form of justice. We should be speaking and preaching for peace throughout the Middle East. If we, as NYU students, are genuinely interested in seeking an agreement between Israelis and Palestinians, we need to bridge the gap by engaging others in meaningful and productive discussions about peace between the the Palestinians and their Israeli brothers. Ariel Sterman and Daniel Bronstein are contributing columnists. Email them at opinion@nyunews.com.
Abortion
Why the right will lose the culture wars By Ben Miller
It has been interesting to watch the recent flare-up of the culture wars — the most radical yet in a series of increasingly desperate attempts by the religious right to undo as much social progress as possible. Remember, these are people who honestly think that, to quote Jerry Falwell, founder of the Moral Majority, “the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle” were responsible for 9/11. The Old and New Testaments contain a total of 31,156 verses. More than 5,000 deal with alleviating poverty while not one verse deals directly with abortion and only a few reference homosexuality — in ways that are ambiguous to readers of the ancient Aramaic. Yet these are the two issues the right has declared most important. They pay little attention to other moral issues like the death penalty, war, torture, access to health care or justice for the poor. How are we to reconcile the content of Scripture with the political focus of the religious right? There is only one conclusion that can be drawn: The religious right doesn’t actually want to use its political influence to promote the values of Scripture. What they want is to punish anyone who has sex in ways that they don’t like because they themselves live in fear of their own sexuality.
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They don’t want safe and rare abortions; they want women who have nonprocreative sex to be punished with an unwanted child or an illegal and unsafe abortion. They don’t want smaller government; they want the state to penetrate the bodies of women who want to get abortion treatment via medically unnecessary ultrasound laws in Virginia and other states. They don’t want to find a cure or vaccine for HIV/AIDS; they want gay men and women to be punished for expressing their sexualities in any way. And all of that takes precedence over inequality, environmental degradation and our ever-more-fragile peace. Anyone who wants fewer abortions should support wider access to contraception. It’s not just supported by social science; it’s supported by common sense. Fewer unwanted conceptions will naturally lead to fewer women seeking to access abortion care. And yet, many on the religious right — even those who are not Catholic and thus are not doctrinally discouraged from being pro-contraception — oppose increasing access to and funding for family planning and contraception health services. They clamor to defund Planned Parenthood even though over 90 percent of Planned Parenthood’s work is in non-sexual women’s health care and contraception and family planning services. They take this position despite the fact that the NuvaRing prevents more abortions than the purity
ring. They want the state and insurers to spend money on unnecessarily penetrating women via transvaginal ultrasounds before they get abortions. This law is being considered in Virginia. On the issue of HIV/AIDS, the supposedly pro-life coalition has consistently supported policy that has lead to the unnecessary deaths of thousands of Americans. The first president elected with the support of the religious right, Ronald Reagan, did not even mention the words HIV or AIDS until the last year of his presidency, after 20,000 Americans had died and tens of thousands more had been infected. His administration repeatedly refused to fund the most promising research in HIV and AIDS, despite their funding of similar projects for other diseases. Why? As Falwell said in the articulation of his opposition to AIDS funding, “AIDS is not just God’s punishment for homosexuals, it is God’s punishment for the society that tolerates homosexuals.” Indeed, Reagen’s own surgeon general, Everett Koop, was not allowed to be part of administration discussions of HIV and AIDS because the president and his religious advisors believed that patients with AIDS were “getting what they deserved.” This is part one of a two-part series by Ben Miller entitled “Why the right will lose the new culture wars.” Part two will run next week. Ben Miller is a columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
staff editorial
Intelligence companies risk privacy of society When does protecting international intelligence turn into censorship? At what point does the public deserve to know? Can privatizing intelligence jeopardize national security? It was recently released that Stratfor, a private intelligence organization, has been collaborating with WikiLeaks and the hacking group Anonymous to collect and disclose highly sensitive international information. WikiLeaks, in releasing this information, is working alongside 25 international publications to redact or sift through sensitive data that needs to be protected. Stratfor makes a profit off of the private communications of national and international officials. The budding phenomenon of private intelligence companies is creating incentive for individuals and groups to make money off of the potentially harmful disclosure of important information. We have already learned that Stratfor is considering the possibility of even going public. According to Wired, Stratfor met with Goldman Sachs with plans to create an investment fund. If this company is allowed to grow and gain momentum through investors, the privatization of intelligence may become an uncomfortably ubiquitous business. This changeover of secret information from a governmental to a private venue presents an egregious model for making money. It is a plan contingent on an increase in collecting and selling the communications of private individuals and organizations that makes no room for public accountability. Driven by profit making, these intelligence companies may potentially collect and disclose information that they acquired on their own, even at the expense of possible harms to the nation. The growth of private intelligence companies compromises the privacy of society as a whole, as well as endangering the safety of documents that, when released, could affect national security. Despite the importance of the public’s right to know, inherent in WikiLeak’s mission statement, private intelligence organizations run the risk of encouraging the acquisition of sensitive information through illegal means. This would include information derived from contact with hacking groups like Anonymous, as opposed to the willful document releases Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.
Editorial Board: Olivia Gonzalez (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Sanchay Jain (Co-Chair), Chris DiNardo, Emily Franklin, Matt Kao, Ben Miller and Peter Murphy.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, february 28, 2012 | nyunews.com
SPORTs
edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com
Griffin vs. Luck: Who will make the better pro?
ROBERT GRIFFIN III
VS. ANDREW LUCK 40-yard Time Griffin: 4.41 sec Luck: 4.59 sec
The NFL Combine is in full swing and has reinvigorated the discussion about which highly-touted quarterback prospect will have a better NFL career. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III has performed exceptionally well, but many still predict the Indianapolis Colts will select Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the first overall pick in the NFL Draft. WSN’s Cole Riley and Sebastien Van Heyningen debate which of the two future quarterbacks will have a better NFL career. CR: I think Luck will be far more successful. He’s the prototypical dream prospect. He stands at 6-foot-4 and is insanely accurate, passing with a 70%+ completion rate in both his junior and senior seasons, and he is a bona fide winner. He reminds me of all-time greats like John Elway and Peyton Manning.
Vertical Leap Griffin: 39 inch Luck: 36 inch ‘11 Touchdowns Griffin: 37 Luck: 37 ‘11 Completion % Griffin: 72.4% Luck: 71.3% SELENA CHEN/WSN
SVH: Cole, it’s interesting that you call Luck a born winner when his last pivotal moments in college were losses. He lost the Fiesta Bowl to Oklahoma State, and he lost the Heisman to Robert Griffin III. Griffin played on a Baylor team not known for its pass catchers while Luck had star tight ends to catch his passes. Griffin played better than Luck with less help, which makes him the more promising prospect.
NCAA continued from PG. 1
NYU gets tournament invite
file photo by david lin
Senior center Andy Stein “The fact that it’s at home is awesome,” junior guard Kyle Stockmal said. “We play well at home, and we’ll be in our comfort zone.” NYU’s road to the tournament was not easy. After suffering a heartbreaking loss to Washington University in St. Louis at home last week, it needed to defeat Brandeis University on Saturday just to be considered for an at-large bid. After trailing Brandeis most of the game, the Violets were able to take the lead in the last seconds of regulation to keep their NCAA hopes alive. “I was thrilled that we had achieved something we’ve often been ruled out at accomplishing,” senior Andy Stein said. “Overall,
I’m just very happy. Our team has worked hard to get to this point, so now we get a fresh start in an awesome venue in sports.” “I was immediately ecstatic considering that making the tournament was a culmination of four years of hard work and dedication,” senior forward Ben Dorman said. “It is every college player’s dream to make the tournament regardless of what level.” As Selection Monday drew closer, many experts speculated that NYU would not make the dance. They criticized the Violets’ poor strength of schedule and struggles down the stretch against UAA competition. “We knew that we were on the bubble and just hoped for the best,” junior forward Carl Yaffe said. “When we saw our name on the bracket we went crazy. I guess luck was on our side. Now its back in our hands to prove that we belong.” “It’s exciting that my last game at home will be in the NCAA tournament,” Stein said. “We’re expecting huge numbers in attendance, and it’ll be great for the fans to have a tournament game happen in our city. The pressure is on us to perform well at home, but I think we’ve stuck together through the highs and lows of the season admirably and we’ll be sure to put on a great show for our fans.” John Axelrod is a deputy sports editor. Email him at jaxelrod@nyunews.com
CR: For players with a similar skill set to Griffin, being considered the best in the country doesn’t always translate to NFL success. There are multiple examples of failed dualthreat quarterbacks in the pros, like Troy Smith (Heisman) and JaMarcus Russell (First Team All-SEC). That’s why, when analyzing which player will be a better pro, we need to look beyond statistics and accolades. It’s all about pro-style vs. college-style offenses. Griffin benefitted from Baylor’s open offensive scheme — a scheme that litters college football — but Stanford implements a prostyle offense, which will allow Luck to transition to the NFL more easily than Griffin. SVH: You make a good point. But we’re talking whole career here, and Griffin has the tools that Luck doesn’t have. Griffin shined at the combine, posting the fastest 40-yard dash time of all quarterbacks. In a league where teams are dropping back 40-60 times a game, it will be important to have an elusive quarterback who can evade the blitz and run for first downs. Just look at MVP Aaron Rodgers, who excels at those types of runs. If Griffin plays in a re adoption offense like those of Cam Newton and Tim Tebow, I see him taking over the league in a few years.
CR: Luck isn’t a slow kid himself. He posted a 4.66 and a 4.59 in his 40-yard dashes. Not too bad for the best pure passing prospect of the past 15 years. And bringing up Rodgers only helps Luck’s argument. Andrew is the next Aaron. They carry a similar presence in the pocket, have quick throwing motions and can break off the occasional run. If I want to put my team in the best possible position to win over the next decade, I’m drafting Luck. SVH: As great as Luck seems, we have to remember the many times highly touted players have had terrible careers. The names of draft busts are many: Ryan Leaf, Jamarcus Russell, Tim Couch, the list goes on. Luck is under a lot of pressure and the cheers can turn to boos quickly in the NFL. He will not have much help on the Colts. Their running game is non-existent, and he will get little pass protection playing for a team that gave up 35 sacks last year. Cole Riley is a deputy sports editor. Sebastien Van Heyningen is a contributing writer. Email them at sports@nyunews.com.
