NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 17
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013
nyunews.com
Made in NY promotes local tech startups By LESLEY GREENBERG
Last week, Mayor Michael Bloomberg launched a new Made in NY initiative to help support growing tech startups in the city. Bloomberg’s Made in NY brand had already been used to promote the city’s entertainment industry, and now helps bolster the city’s technology industry. Now, digital companies that base at least 75 percent of development in New York City, have at least one employee working in the city and a user base of 10,000 are eligible to advertise with the Made in NY logo. Currently, the project hosts 900 city startups. The Made In NY initiative will provide resources that list tech job opportunities and provide links for free and low-cost digital education training. The initiative also includes an extensive citywide ad campaign featuring the Made in NY companies. “Growing our local tech industry is an important part of our economic development strategy to bring new businesses to our city and more job
TECH continued on PG. 3
Collaborative, multi-genre theater company delights at the Mercury Lounge
CAROLINE LE VIET FOR WSN
PigPen, a versatile performance group with experience in film, theater and writing, played its first concert to a full crowd on Tuesday night.
STORY ON PAGE 7
Studio art students call for renovation By KOMAL PATEL and NICOLE BROWN
Artists expect their studios to be havens for creativity. But for students in Steinhardt School for Culture, Education and Human Development’s Studio Art Program, the Barney building has become a contentious topic instead. First acquired by the univer-
sity in 1939, the Barney Building is located on Stuyvesant Street between Ninth and 10th Streets. The building houses the majority of Steinhardt’s studio art classrooms. In recent years, multiple students have complained of heavy toxic fumes due to a lack of proper ventilation, fallen plaster embedded in the carpet, and lack of space for students to
‘Oldboy’ director breaks new ground with first English film By BOB TEOH
In his first English-language feature film, director Park Chan-Wook, the mastermind behind the internationally acclaimed “Oldboy” and The “Vengeance” Trilogy, channels Alfred Hitchcock in the gorgeously realized psychological thriller “Stoker.” The film follows India Stoker (Mia Wasikowska) and her enigmatic uncle, Charlie (Mathew Goode), who moves in after India’s father dies in an accident. Though initially suspicious of her uncle, India and her emotionally unstable mother (Nicole Kidman) find themselves drawn to him, and the Stoker family’s mysteries begin to unravel. Though the story displays clear influences from its predecessors, such as Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt,” Park’s brilliant storytelling makes the thriller uniquely enthralling. Widely known for his immaculate framing and unconventional cinematographic techniques, the director builds a steady pace early on and continues to pile on the suspense with each twist and turn. The use of shots, for example, highlights India’s
COURTESY OF FOX SEARCHLIGHT
STOKER continued on PG. 7
create and display their work. Over the past two years, the university has tried to address these concerns through patchwork renovations, but students are still voicing the same concerns. “The building overall is old and completely uncared for and obviously neglected by the university,” junior Renel Sun said. There are approximately 220
undergraduate students in the Studio Art Program. Additionally, there are about 20 graduate students and 200 students pursuing an art minor — all of whom use the Barney Building. Junior studio art student Rebekah Birkan also expressed concern for students’ health because of exposure to fumes
BARNEY continued on PG. 3
Freshmen trio reinvents NYU Greek life with co-ed sorority By DEBORAH LUBANGA
CAS freshman Logan Foreit and Gallatin freshmen Dottie Gill and Jackie Lebovits consider themselves a far cry from stereotypical sorority girls. They never imagined themselves joining a sorority, let alone creating one. A desire to experience the sense of community within Greek life — on their own terms — led the trio to form Pi Pi Pi, an unofficial, co-ed sorority, in early February. The group is seeking to become NYU’s first all-square, co-ed Greek organization. “Tri Pi [is] a co-ed social sorority focused on celebrating individuality,” Lebovits said. “Pi Pi Pi promotes seizing life opportunities and enriching members’ perspectives through new experiences, with a group of supportive, open-minded individuals.”
According to Allison Harris, assistant director of fraternity and sorority life at the Center for Student Activities, Leadership and Service, Tri Pi cannot become an official Greek organization because no national chapter of Tri Pi exists. In August, Tri Pi can apply to become an all-square club. Although Tri Pi was created with the intention of being co-ed, the founding sisters purposefully chose to give it a sorority name rather than a fraternity name. “We would like to update what we feel is an outdated tradition, emphasizing male dominance in a co-ed culture, and [instead] create a truly 21st century Greek community that blurs gender confines,” Gill said. Tri Pi has yet to host any formal events, but the group has garnered a following
TRI PI continued on PG. 5
2
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE WEEKEND AGENDA
5
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
IN AND OF
THE ORCHID SHOW Yearning for a little springtime fun in the midst of rain and mush? The New York Botanical Garden’s 11th annual Orchid Show, which opens March 2, is going to be a floral explosion. Take in the thousands of blooms on display, and remember that this year will incorporate an entirely fresh idea. The exhibit’s design, dreamed up by Francisca Coelho, fittingly showcases trees destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.
THE CITY
34
12
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
AMY ZHANG Web Managing Editor
HANQING CHEN
It’s a big city and a widespread university. Catch up with our daily updates on university and city/state news headlines other publications are covering.
Deputy Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ Assistant Managing Editor
NICOLA PRING Creative Director
KALEEL MUNROE SENIOR STAFF
university TATIANA BAEZ city/state VERONICA CARCHEDI investigative NICOLE BROWN arts JOSH JOHNSON features KRISTINA BOGOS sports MARY JANE DUMANKAYA multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN copy MICHAEL DOMANICO,
WICY WANG foreign correspondent JULIE DEVITO senior editors GENTRY BROWN, DAN
HINTON, CHARLES MAHONEY, CLIO MCCONNELL, STEFAN MELNYK, LAVYA YALAMANCHI
VIA FLICKR.COM
WINTER STINKY CHEESE FESTIVAL From March 1 to 11, French spots like L’Express and Marseille will be offering more than 20 cheeses at the Winter Stinky Cheese Festival. Snag a spot at the event’s kickoff at 404 Event Space, where all nine participating restaurants will be serving their delicious delights, including blue cheese ice cream. Check out tourdefrancenyc.com for more information.
DEPUTY STAFF
university KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR city/state EMILY BELL, ANDREW
KARPAN
VIA FLICKR.COM
VIA FLICKR.COM
VIA FLICKR.COM
NICK OFFERMAN: AMERICAN HAM For those obsessed with “Parks and Recreation,” Ron Swanson is like the golden idol of Leslie Knope’s humble office of mortals. On Saturday, March 2, the actor who plays Swanson will be performing at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m., delivering the dry, laconic humor that has made him famous. The shows will be held at The Town Hall, which is located at 123 W. 43rd St. Tickets are $31.50.
SNAPSHOT
ADOLFO CARRION JR. ANNOUNCES MAYORAL RUN Former Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. announced his intentions to run for mayor of New York City. Some suspect that Carrion, first a Democrat and then an Independent, may intend to run on the Republican ticket, a strategy previously used to great effect by current New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. — News 12 Bronx
books/theater OLIVIA GEORGE film JEREMY GROSSMAN entertainment ALEX GREENBERGER music ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE the highlighter blog SAM RULLO features HELEN HOLMES beauty & style MICHELLE LIM dining ANGEL CHANG sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia REBECCA CLEMENTI,
JOON LEE
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
SAMEER JAYWANT deputy opinion editors
EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, RAQUEL WOODRUFF
ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER
REBECCA RIBEIRO
TITANIC WILL GET SECOND CHANCE WITH REPLICA SHIP On Tuesday at a press conference in New York City, an Australian businessman expressed his plans to build a Titanic II. The ship is set to sail in 2016, and its voyage will be between the original Titanic’s two ports, Southampton, England and New York City, N.Y. — Newsday
CIRCULATION MANAGER
CHLOE COFFMAN
UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOR
KAITLYN O’BRIEN SALES REPRESENTATIVE
ELLEN MCQUEEN SALES ASSOCIATES
READ ACROSS AMERICA DAY HAS STARS IN ITS EYES This year’s Read Across America Day will kick off on March 1 at the New York Public Library and feature stars Uma Thurman and Jake T. Austin reading to New York City public school children. The ceremony is designed to encourage children around the world to read. — International Business Times
ARIANA DIVALENTINO, CHRIS ELWOOD, ALISON LIZZIO, SAM WANDER CIRCULATION ASSISTANT
OMID GOLMOHAMMADI GRAPHIC DESIGNER
KALEEL MUNROE
ADVISING NEW POLL SHOWS OPPOSITION TO CASINO PLANS A Global Strategy Group poll of 804 New York voters showed a 50 percent level of opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s plans for statewide implementation of legal casinos, with only 42 percent expressing support. — Bayside-Douglaston Patch
A cloudy day provides a backdrop to England’s infamous monument, Stonehenge.
PHOTO BY NICOLA PRING
FEMA INDICATES FLOODING RISK FOR WTC SITE A new map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency indicates that the former site of the World Trade Center is in a high-risk zone for flooding after it was significantly affected by Hurricane Sandy. FEMA said that while flooding in the city was not very serious in itself, the damage it caused to infrastructure merited further preparation and vigilance. — Crain’s New York Business
GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER
KEITH LEIGHTY EDITORS-AT-LARGE
MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG 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 Amy Zhang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
BARNEY continued from PG. 1
TECH continued from PG. 1
Studio art students express disapproval, health concerns with Barney building
from carcinogenic chemicals and low aeration. “We have little ventilation in the painting rooms where harsh paints are used and little ventilation in the basement where wood pressed with formaldehyde is being cut and welding fumes are common,” Birkan said. Sophomore Emma Strebel hears students coughing and complaining about the fumes. “The plaster room is also not fully ventilated,” Strebel said. “There are windows and a fan, but plaster particles can be very toxic, so better ventilation is needed.” Studio Art Program chair David Darts agrees with students and admitted that the ventilation in the plaster room could be improved. “The ventilation in here isn’t as great, to be honest,” Darts said. As a result, students like Sun have left the program because of the problems within the building. “I certainly didn’t feel like I was at NYU when I walked into the art building every day as a freshman and [I] constantly thought of dropping out,” Sun said, who transferred from the Studio Art Program to the Gallatin School of Independent Study to pursue a concentration in art. NYU spokesperson Philip Lentz stated that comparing the Barney Building and the single art studio in the Gallatin building is an unfair comparison. “In fact, Gallatin does not have a studio art program,” he said. “Gallatin has only one art studio, and Gallatin students pursuing this discipline attend Steinhardt’s studio art classes and use Steinhardt’s facilities.” Nevertheless, students like
3
Sun notice the stark contrast between the two facilities. “The [Gallatin building] itself is beautiful and very well maintained. The walls are painted colorfully,” Sun said. “We’ve got full length windows, great ventilation, it’s clean, and appears to really want to foster students’ growth and creativity.” The NYU Environmental Health and Safety office told WSN that they received three indoor air quality complaints over the past two years, according to Beth Morningstar, director of Strategic Assessment and Communications in the Office of the Executive Vice President. However, the three complaints were not a threat to student health. Furthermore, based on EHS records, ventilation concerns were never reported. Lentz said the university has worked on the building in the past. “The Steinhardt Studio Art Program has made major efforts over the last two years to invest in and upgrade its facilities, including a $6 million renovation of the Barney Building over the past summer,” he said. Some of these renovations included new heating in the basement, a new spraypainting booth, new flooring in one gallery space and more ventilation. Darts said ventilation in the fourth floor painting rooms, new ventilation systems for each woodcutting machine in the basement sculpture room and new arms on the welding stations were parts of renovations over the past two years. “I’m sure the ventilation arms do something, [but] after a few minutes of welding [I] immediately get a headache,” Birkan said.
Students are also frustrated with the lack of communication between the university and the students, commenting that the attempts to fix the building’s problems are done without fully understanding the needs of an art program. WSN reached out to multiple studio arts professors, but most deferred comment to students and Darts. Part-time professor Ian Cooper, however, claimed that renovations are essential but imminent. “The building has been undergoing major, and much needed, renovations recently, and as a result the studios, facilities and work spaces are being greatly improved,” he said. The department has a space committee that works with renovations and space use, but only one undergraduate student is a part of the committee comprising of roughly 12 to 20 people. Students hope more efforts to improve the building will be made. In the meantime, students remain mired in the deficiencies of the Barney building. “All of these problems profoundly affect the attitude the students have about their art,” Strebel said. “I find that when we are constrained by the installation, we don’t take our work seriously, and we don’t try as hard.” While no concrete plans for future renovations are in place, Darts encourages students to voice their concerns so that the school may improve in the future. Komal Patel is a contributing writer. Nicole Brown is investigative editor. Email them at investigative@nyunews.com.
KOMAL S PATEL FOR WSN
Students say that single source ventilation in workspaces are not enough to aerate rooms.
Bloomberg initiative provides aid for emerging startups in New York City
opportunities to New Yorkers,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “The city offers the ideal location for talented people with groundbreaking ideas to start their companies.” In the past four years, the number of employees at digital media companies grew by 80 percent. New York’s tech industry has allowed venture capital deals to grow by 52 percent from 2007 to 2012. And in 2012, New York City saw over $8.3 billion in technology company acquisitions, ranking second in the nation. “Under Mayor Bloomberg’s leadership, New York City has become a global tech hub,” said New York City’s deputy mayor for economic development, Robert K. Steel, in a press release. “This new campaign will showcase the vibrancy of the city’s tech and digital ecosystem.” Ideeli, a web-based company that offers limited-time sales for retail name brands, is one of many startups working with Made with NY. Launched in June 2007, Ideeli is one of the fastest growing retailers in the United States. The site has more than six million members and over 1,000 brand partners. The company joined the Made in NY list because it believes that the initiative is full of incredible businesses and is honored to be in the same group. “The Made in NY list allows us to note that we are hiring, from this we have received a great response from applicants looking for jobs in the tech industry in New York City,” said Amanda Glick, a brand marketing associate at Ideeli.
VIA FLICKR.COM
Mayor Bloomberg’s policies aim to form a growing tech industry. “We also have had the opportunity to participate in tech-focused career fairs, conferences, tech meet-ups and other exciting and interesting networking events around the city,” she said. According to Glick, New York is the perfect backdrop for a tech company because there is an incredible pool of talented potential employees who are well-educated and hungry to learn, work, explore and create. “The energy of the city that never sleeps can be felt in and outside the walls of our company and it makes for a great work environment,” she said. Lesley Greenberg is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
Federal judge rules against Cuomo’s block of education aid By LESLEY GREENBERG
In the latest attempt to negotiate a viable teacher evaluation system, a judge recently blocked Gov. Andrew Cuomo from withholding millions of dollars in state aid from New York City schools. Since Mayor Michael Bloomberg and the United Federation of Teachers failed to reach an agreement by the state-mandated deadline last month, New York City public schools were denied $260 million of state aid. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Manuel Mendez, however, issued a preliminary injunction last week. “Innocent students that had no influence over the legislative process or [evaluation] negotiations were potentially placed at risk academically,” Mendez said in his ruling. But Matthew Wing, a spokesman for Cuomo, said the state plans to appeal the decision, The New York Times reported. However, some state legislators appear to agree with Mendez’s ruling, including New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. He is pushing to restore the money to New York City schools. “No one wants to see our children’s education suffer because teachers and the city could not come to an agreement,” Silver said in a statement.
Silver said he plans to make restoring the aid a top priority in the state budget negotiations. Unlike the Democratic majority assembly, the New York State Senate is controlled by a coalition of Republicans and independent Democrats. It is unclear whether the Senate will join Silver’s push. Meanwhile, the mayor’s office and the U.F.T. continue to point fingers at each other. “We’ve said all along that students should not be penalized for the U.F.T.’s failure to negotiate,” said Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson. In response, U.F.T. spokesman Dick Riley said there would be a new teacher evaluation system, not a lawsuit, if the mayor had not blown up the negotiations. Jenn Hubbard, a first-year sixth grade special education teacher at J.H.S. 157, acknowledges that since the New York City system encompasses such diverse areas and learning needs, it is difficult to find a solution. “I feel that it is not fair to have a unified evaluation for the entire city school system,” she said. “A fair system would be to evaluate teachers based on student growth from the start to the end of the year with baseline and final exams.” Lesley Greenberg is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
nyunews.tumblr.com
facebook.com/nyunews
twitter.com/nyunews
nyunews.com
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
FEATURES
5
EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
TRI PI continued from PG. 1
Students seek university recognition for gender-neutral sorority through its Facebook page. The Tri Pi community currently has 35 members, all freshmen, who heard about the organization through word of mouth and social media. “I enjoy many aspects of Tri Pi but what stands out to me is the community it has given me,” said Jonathan Butler, a CAS freshman and Tri Pi member. “Tri Pi is a place where you come as you are, and you are welcomed for that.” The innovative idea to create a campus-wide co-ed sorority has been met with mixed reviews. Christian Ferzola, an LSP freshman and member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, foresees problems with an all-square co-ed sorority. “As much as this sounds like a great idea to further eradicate the gender barrier and bring men and women together in pursuit of a more closeknit community, I feel this may not be feasible,” Ferzola said. “For example, if this organization had a chapter house in Lafayette [residence hall], would both men and women share the space?” Daniella Giardina, CAS freshman and member of NYU’s Kappa Kappa Gama sorority, disagrees. “NYU is so liberal and accepting of new things,” Giardina said. “If it can’t survive here I would be surprised.” In the coming months, Tri Pi will host themed parties, excursions around Manhattan and service projects. They plan to extend membership to all student pledges with a scavenger hunt. “What Tri Pi wants to bring to NYU is the idea that you can break the expectations of Greek life,” Gill said. “It can involve everybody, and there is no need for it just to be so exclusive within the Greek community. And as a progressive school, NYU is the perfect place for that.” Deborah Lubanga is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Grammy winner brings talent to classroom By TANAY HUDSON
Jim Anderson, Tisch professor and award-winning recording engineer, was sitting in his Los Angeles hotel on the morning of Feb. 10, trying to write a Grammy acceptance speech. Hours later, in front of an audience of millions, Anderson took the stage at the 55th Grammy Awards to accept his 10th Grammy for Best Surround Sound Album for
remixing singer/songwriter Patricia Barbara’s album, “Modern Cool.” “I have spoken a lot for NYU, [and] at commencement you speak for 6,000 people, so once you’ve done that you can do anything,” Anderson said of his onstage experience. “Had I not [written things down] I probably would have just blanked completely.” His 10th Grammy win marks the first time Ander-
COURTESY OF JACKIE LEBOVITZ
Jim Anderson brings sound engineering skills to Tisch.
son has won for his work on an album specifically. “In the surround category all [the nominees have] a different approach and they are all valid,” Anderson said. “I’m just happy that we got recognized ... I’m very proud of the album that we did.” Anderson, who keeps all 10 Grammy awards in his office at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music, has taken his love for producing music to the classroom. In addition to working on over 1,800 albums with various jazz, Latin and world music artists like Ron Carter and Gonzalo Rubalcaba over the past four decades, Anderson played an instrumental role in 2003 in pioneering the Clive Davis Institute at the Tisch School of the Arts. He served as the department chair from 2004 to 2008. “Hiring Jim as the first chair of the Institute of Recorded Music was a collaborative adventure,” said Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts. “There had never been a discipline of recorded music, so we had to approach those early years with resilience, inventiveness and openness. Jim approached the adventure with a real pioneering spirit.” Campbell also describes Anderson as an inquisitive artist by nature, one
who pushes his students to reach beyond their comfort zones. In his Audio Ear Training for Producers class, Anderson teaches students the importance of being able to listen to a track, analyze it and become articulate in the music they hear. “It’s a matter of educating both the ear, the brain and elevating the vocabulary that they use when it comes to sound,” Anderson said. Tisch senior Phoebe Ryan, who has taken Anderson’s Engineering the Record, Audio Ear Training and Advanced Engineering courses, was at first intimidated by her awardwinning professor, but she soon began to realize he had successfully transformed his expertise and passion for music into a teaching tool. “Working with a Grammy Award winner, just in general, seemed pretty frightening to me at first,” Ryan said. “I was so worried about hitting the wrong buttons, saying the wrong thing ... but luckily, Jim is the best and it’s actually a relief knowing I have him around to correct my mistakes.” Tanay Hudson is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Skilled artist, sound technology student shares musical bag WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? By ABBY NATHAN Steinhardt freshman John Meurer has a confession. Whenever he hears someone play music off-pitch, he can’t help but cringe. “I don’t have perfect pitch, but I can tell,” Meurer said. “If it’s out of tune, I can’t listen.” Meurer majors in music technology at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, plays three instruments and interns at Indaba Music, a music networking company. The contents of his bag prove he’s a qualified judge of sound. QUARTER-INCH TAPE REEL AND TOOLKIT Meurer’s major, which focuses on the relationship between electricity and music, requires him to take classes like Electronic Music Synthesis, Computer Music Synthesis and Electronics. The quarter-inch tape reel, which was needed for recording on analog tape machines in the ’70s, was required for his Electronic
Music Synthesis class last semester. The course covered topics like generation of sound and voltage control. With the toolkit, Meurer learned to build circuits with his laboratory section in his Electronics course.
SHEET MUSIC AND GUITAR PICKS Even though Meurer has not had vocal training, he sings and plays the piano, guitar and drums. His band in high school even headlined the little stage at Summerfest, one of the world’s largest music festivals. The sheet music and guitar picks in his bag are from his most recent gig at The Red Lion on Bleecker Street, where Meurer played keyboard for fellow Steinhardt freshman Andrew Weiss’ band High Fascination. “I’ve tried everything ... singing, playing, recording, producing,” Meurer said. “I try to always learn new music, and I like being able to change it up when I perform, going from guitar to keyboard to drums.” AUDIOTECH ATH-M50 PROFESSIONAL STUDIO MONITORING HEADPHONES Many people bring a notebook, a planner or a laptop to their intern-
ship, but all Meurer packs is a pair of Audiotech headphones. The company he interns for, Indaba Music, is a social media site with over 700,000 profiles of aspiring musicians. The site partners with recording artists to offer contests that require users to submit remixes to songs. If a remix is selected, an artist can win gigs or releases on an album. Meurer’s job is to sift through the submissions. “I like hearing a version of the song done different way,” Meurer said. “My internship gives me the ability to see what other musicians can do and are doing, and as a musician, that’s a great thing.” SWINGLINE STAPLER Meurer, who said he is forgetful at times, has learned to prepare himself for class by keeping a stapler in his bag. With such a busy schedule, juggling an internship and laborintensive classes, it is no wonder that little things like a stapler slip through the cracks. Abby Nathan is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
CHUCK KUAN/WSN
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
STOKER continued from PG. 1
‘Stoker’ crafts woeful tale of mystery, violence
gradual evolution. Initially, Park almost exclusively uses short, close-up shots to capture the shy, melancholy girl introduced at the beginning of the film. As the story progresses and Uncle Charlie’s presence begins to affect India, the shots become longer and more distant, suggesting a shift in her personality. Park’s attention to the most minute details makes the story’s pacing burst with energy. The film’s atmosphere is perfect as well — the dark, Gothic Midwest setting contributes to the allure of the film as much as Park’s cinematography. The subtle contrast between India’s black-and-white shoes and the aging mansion’s emerald hue helps establish “Stoker’s” eerie world. Simply put, the set is stunning. Sound also plays an essential role in establishing the mood. A highly aural experience, “Stoker” uses a beautiful mix of classical, jazz and blues music to immerse the audience completely in a Gothic wonderland. The relatively sparse dialogue is often replaced by the more affecting sound of music. One of the most provocative scenes between India and Uncle Charlie involves no
dialogue. Instead, their passion is expressed through a manic, collaborative piano performance. Praise must also be given to the actors for flawlessly portraying these complex characters. Wasikowska, in particular, sheds her “Alice in Wonderland” image to take on the female lead. With a ghostly beauty, she shines in the foreboding environment. Displaying a sense of silent authority, she perfectly captures India’s transformation. Goode is also remarkable as Uncle Charlie. Cloaked with an aura of charm and mystery, there is something magnetic about his portrayal. The leads’ abilities to play off one another gives life to Park’s storytelling. Beautiful, shocking and absolutely enticing, “Stoker” is an incredible film fortunate enough to have such a talented director and cast. This modern Hitchcockian fairy tale has all the qualities required to make a good thriller. Be prepared to enter the world of the Stoker family and find yourself falling deeper and deeper into the rabbit hole. Bob Teoh is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
Amy Poehler promises heart, surprises in future ‘Parks’ episodes By JEREMY PICK
As one of the brightest and funniest shows on television, “Parks and Recreation” is at the top of its game. Last week saw a spectacular episode in which Leslie and Ben’s relationship reached a climax with their dream wedding. Show star Amy Poehler said, “It’s chemistry, baby. You can’t fight it.” In a conference call, Poehler, co-star Adam Scott and co-creator Mike Schur spoke on a variety of topics, including what’s next for the show. The last few episodes of season five will introduce new guest stars. Jean-Ralphio Saperstein (Ben Schwartz) returns after being put on trial for counterfeiting euros, and this time he’s bringing along his sister Mona Lisa, played by comedian Jenny Slate. Schur also revealed that Patton Oswalt will make an appearance on the show. Schur discussed the directions Chris Pratt’s character, Andy Dwyer, will be taking. After being rejected from the police academy, Andy will work for Ben Wyatt’s (Scott) new charity organization. “It taps into something deep
‘21 and Over’ cast members discuss party lifestyle By ISHAN SETH
It’s his 21st birthday, and what does Jeff Chang (Justin Chon) do on his big day? He prepares for his meeting with a prestigious medical office — that is, until his high school buddies from back home make a surprise visit. When one beer at a bar turns into an insane, night of wild partying, Miller (Miles Teller) and Casey (Skylar Astin) have a lot of cleaning up to do before they can get their friend back home. Some may be thinking that “21 and Over” is like any other party movie — drunk kids, pretty girls
COURTESY OF RELATIVITY MEDIA
“The Hangover” writers try directing in this new comedy.
7
and nudity galore. However, writers Scott Moore and Jon Lucas’ (“The Hangover”) first stab at directing is no disappointment. “They work insanely well together,” Astin said about his directors. “They have been writing partners for years, and when they transitioned into being directing partners it was seamless.” Even as their directing shines, the duo’s writing is still as polished as ever. Some of it, in fact, was even ad-libbed by the actors, which makes it even more outstanding. “There was a lot of ad-libbing. We call them ‘alts,’” Teller said. “Me and Skylar did some impromptu training, and we just worked well off of each other.” Viewers may recall Teller from 2012’s infamous party movie, “Project X.” When asked why he is attracted to such raunchy, booze-filled party movies, Teller laughed and said, “Just the parties and the girls.” “With ‘Project X,’ the movie is literally one big party,” Teller continued. “This is more of a journey. I was just excited to do it. And I also like to party. And I like girls.” Teller isn’t the only familiar face. Viewers may recognize Astin from last year’s popular film “Pitch Perfect” as Anna Kend-
rick’s love interest, Jesse. “Little known fact, I shot this film before ‘Pitch Perfect,’” Astin said. “It was actually a tough ride to come down from because this movie was a non-stop party. It was cool to do it back-to-back. I enjoyed both projects very much.” Believe it or not — and this is aside from a tender, slow-motion throw-up scene on a mechanical bull — “21 and Over” has heart too, with important lessons and tangible friendship. Still, knowing that “21 & Over” is from the guys who brought audiences “The Hangover,” one might expect — and rightly so — the film to contain some graphic nudity. “The most uncomfortable part was the hour-long work of makeup that I had to get done on my ass,” Teller said. “There was this dude powdering my butt as I was trying to talk about sports. But those nude scenes out on the quad felt kind of cleansing.” Fans of “The Hangover” and “The Change-Up” should see “21 and Over,” and unlike the movie’s drunken main characters, you won’t forget what you’ve experienced. Ishan Seth is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
inside him that he would never have thought to explore, [which] makes perfect sense when you understand it,” Schur said. “It’s something that he just has a knack for because of his big, goofy, open heart and his love of helping people.” When asked about the show’s future, Poehler spoke enthusiastically about what could be done in a possible sixth season of the show. “There’s a lot of really good stuff that the writers did an amazing job of laying out that I know we have thoughts and dreams for season six,” she said. “And even saying ‘season six’ is so exciting.” Schur elaborated on Poehler’s sentiments about the show’s future. “Amy and I are writing the [season] finale together right now.” Schur said. “A part of the outline is to tell the story of the end of this year, her first year as city councilor, and wrap it up in a certain way and then also suggest a lot of interesting and fun things that would happen next year.” “It’s about both the now and the future at all times, especially on the show when there’s so many storylines and so many characters
who warrant getting served with good stories,” he added. Even though “Parks” has yet to be renewed, the show still has a pretty good chance of sticking around for another season of hilarious hijinks in Pawnee. While Schur is developing a new show at Fox with fellow “Parks” producer Dan Goor, his love for “Parks and Recreation” was evident throughout the entire conversation. “There’s nothing more fun than coming up with ideas for these characters,” Schur said. “I would do it forever if I could.” Jeremy Pick is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
VIA NETFLIX.COM
“Parks and Rec” will not slow down after the fifth season.
Unique theater company astounds at debut concert By LEORA ROSENBERG
Nobody quite knows what to make of PigPen Theater Company, comprised of recent Carnegie Mellon graduates. The troupe refuses to pigeonhole itself into the model of a typical company. Theater critics loved the play “The Old Man and the Old Moon,” movie lovers appreciated the short film “Bremen” at the New York City International Fringe Festival, and readers are anticipating the company’s upcoming children’s book. On Tuesday night, the theater company added musicians to its impressive resume with a sold-out show at the Mercury Lounge. The audience members murmured to each other excitedly as they waited for the company to take the stage, and quieted down as soon as the band launched into “Crows,” a folksy song about two drunken crows bemoaning that it cannot always be night. PigPen member Ryan Melia’s voice was rich and warm — he almost slipped into a yodel at times — as the group surrounded him with tight harmonies and joyous instrumentals. The crowd swayed and clapped through PigPen’s rollicking anthems and quirky ballads, all questions of categorization forgotten.
Although the members of PigPen are certainly crossover artists, they differ from other multi-genre artists. Rather, their performances are reminiscent of an older New York arts scene when George Gershwin’s show tunes played on the radio and theater felt accessible to all. Most audience members came in as fans of “The Old Man and the Moon” and were curious to see how the theater troupe would put on a concert. The set included several songs from the play including “Bremen,” which accompanied “The Old Man and the Moon’s” masterful shadow puppetry. But the quirky lyrical complexity took center stage. “Oh where are we going/Said the brown dog to the hen,” they sang. “But just because they were animals/ Doesn’t mean they couldn’t have been men. Oh let’s go down to Bremen/Take your paw in my hand.” Audience members want to root for PigPen. They’re hard to categorize, but easy to characterize: joyful, playful, charming, fun. It’s now clear that they can succeed in any genre, and one can only hope to see more of their experimentation in the future. Leora Rosenberg is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS Women’s combat sports receive boost from Rousey vs. Carmouche fight By ELI KURLAND
Ronda Rousey might have become the most important figure in the history of women’s combat sports this past Saturday in the first female match hosted by the Ultimate Fighting Championships. She finished the fight with Liz Carmouche by — once again — arm bar in the first round, at 4.49 seconds into the match. Rousey advanced her professional record to 7-0, so far ending every match of her career with an arm bar in the first round. Although she decisively passed this test, it was Rousey’s hardest to date. A little over a minute into the fight, Carmouche grabbed her from the back, attempting a standing rear naked choke and then a neck crank. Rousey fought out of the situation, even as her reddened face and facial expressions demonstrated the pain she was trying to ignore. The Olympic bronze medalist then took Carmouche down and attacked her with punches from top position, before slipping a vulnerable Carmouche into her trademark arm bar maneuver.
Many viewers considered this situation inevitable. However, what now seems inevitable is the increased significance of female fighters in the UFC, the sport in general and American culture. Here are a few firsts to wrap your mind around: Completely sold out, UFC 157 was the biggest pay-per-view fight of all time that featured women. This was the most financially successful women’s fight of all time. Rousey earned the largest fight purse — or payment — for a woman in the history of combat sports, as well. The Rousey vs. Carmouche fight may also be a first in that it could be a major catalyst for female athletes and females in general to take an interest in mixed martial arts and consider it as an outlet for athletic competition or a career path. UFC president Dana White commented, “All these talented women that are out there in judo and all these other things — believe me — just like I’ve always told you guys, when we go into a new market ... people start training, and that’s what’s gonna happen
now in this women’s division.” Rousey, speaking to Time Magazine, said, “It has to be universally accepted for everyone to do it ... If you want it to be a household recognized sport, it needs to be acceptable for everyone to do it. It needs to be celebrated for everyone to do it.” Well Ronda, you just might make that happen. Eli Kurland is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
Dana White spoke about the rise of women in the UFC.
9
EDITED BY MARY JANE DUMANKAYA SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Join our Photo & Video team. Pitch meetings – Sundays at 7 P.M. Or email multimedia@nyunews.com.
10
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
Interested in working for us? Come to our Sunday Pitch Meetings.
NEWS: 5 P.M. FEATURES: 6 P.M. ARTS: 6 P.M. SPORTS: 6:30 P.M. MULTIMEDIA: 7 P.M. OPINION: 7 P.M.
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, February 28, 2013
Crossword Across
33
1 Chiquita
import 8 Sailor’s heavy jacket 15 1968 to the present, in tennis 16 Gathers on the surface, as a layer of molecules 17 Small image displayed in a browser’s address bar 18 Quick break 19 Subject of a 2010 biography subtitled “The Voice” 21 Marie Antoinette’s loss 22 Title boy in a Humperdinck opera 26 Forearm bones 30 Word before and after “yeah” 32 “Whoa, baby!”
35 37 38
39
41 42 43 44 46
48 50 51 53 55 61 64
It may have one or two sides Part of a baby’s daily schedule Port ___ City that’s home to three Unesco World Heritage Sites Tabloid TV show co-hosted by Mario Lopez Atomic “Broccoli again?,” e.g. Tale Put on guard Hollywood’s Roberts and others Part of P.S.T.: Abbr. Several “Boris Godunov” parts Lapsed Back Compact since 1982 Bordering state Two
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE P O M P O M
A P R O P O S
A V E E N O
C E N T E R
R A I L S A T
I N U N D A T E
T R U E R A E S A T S A E L R S O I T S P
C H O C O L A T Y V A T S
B R E T T
Y O Y O
M A Y O
L A I P C N E I E A N S A N K B O U B O N A N K
E T A L E E I L O W T A R S O T U A T T E
H A L T U C L A H I C K D O E F R O N A A L I R I J N O N F F T I E O N S R U M P A C A I G A T E U N E S
65
66
67
68
Line of Porsches whose name is Spanish for “race” Decorative melody added above a simple musical theme With 47-Down, popular hotel chain Goddess with a golden chariot
Down 1 Sockeroo 2 On ___ with 3 Gulf of Finland
feeder 4 Have ___ with 5 Unimaginative gift, maybe 6 Sprang 7 “Madness put to good uses,” per George Santayana 8 Nickname for Haydn 9 First lady of the 1910s 10 Off course 11 Dangerous family 12 Meal morsel 13 Type letters 14 Medicine amt. 20 Colorful fish 23 Country lads 24 Newsweek and others 25 She was on the cover of back-to-back issues of Time in September 1997 26 Metalworker’s tool 27 Sweater material
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
15
10
11
12
13
14
23
24
25
58
59
60
18
19
20 21 27
28
22
29
30
33
34
38
39
42
43
46
47
51
62
31 35
32 36
37
40
41 44
48 52
55 61
9
16
17
26
No. 0124
49 53
45 50
54
56
63
57 64
65
66
67
68
puzzle by michael shteyman
28
It stops at Manhattan’s Washington Square and Rockefeller Center
36 40 45 47 49
29
Affair of the 1980s
31
Bygone political inits.
52
34
Sushi fish
54
Part of the Iams logo Fraternity letters Side by side See 67-Across “You’re welcome, amigo” Line that ended in 1917 Consistent with
56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
Leave rolling in the aisles “Good job!” Ride in London Rice-A-___ Talk show times: Abbr. Pal “Kapow!” City community, informally
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.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
GOVERNMENT
Public housing policy needs extensive reform By CARLOS ESTEVEZ
New York City’s system of public housing is already notoriously known as “the projects,” but the most pressing issues of the New York City Housing Authority have yet to be adequately addressed. Established in 1934 by Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, NYCHA has provided an essential service as New York City’s largest landlord. Tenants pay low rent, but if their income rises, so does their cost of housing. After 70 years, this system has proven unsuccessful for long term residents who raise their families in the projects. This ineffectiveness inadvertently resulted in long waitlists for hundreds of thousands who look to join public housing. However, scarcity and overcrowding is not at the top of NYCHA’s list of problems. In the last few years, crime, accidents and mismanagement have all increased. NYCHA has attempted to cover up its mismanagement by spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on improving their public image. While the program faces severe budget issues and dire repairs, the
mayor-appointed NYCHA board members enjoy six-figure salaries and are not accountable to their residents. A 2012 report indicated that NYCHA had a backlog of 338,000 requests for repairs. These range from broken elevators to inefficient locks or a broken sink. In some cases, broken walls and rat infestations create serious health hazards for residents. A significant portion of New York City’s violent crimes occur on NYCHA property — about 20 percent. As a result, a majority of residents do not feel safe in their own homes. In recent years, politicians have allocated over $40 million in taxpayer money for NYCHA to install security cameras. Although NYCHA claims to have installed security cameras in 538 buildings, residents and media outlets have repeatedly pointed out that the majority of the money has not been spent and that the Authority has been slow to improve security. Since 1994, under Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, NYCHA has had to pay $58 million annually to a special section of the New York Police Department which over the years has amounted to $1.2 billion. While it began as
an effort to increase security, the money has failed to provide widespread safety in public housing and only intensified NYCHA’s debt. This fee treats residents of public housing units as second-class citizens who must pay for protection. Local politicians have publicized the issue and brought it to the attention of New York City’s mayor and police commissioner. The latter does not wish to lose additional fare from NYCHA and the former is a good friend of the police commissioner. Fixing NYCHA’s issues begins with ending unjust policyies that require tax-paying citizens to pay an extra fee for police protection. This would require either direct action from New York City’s mayor or by NYCHA’s board. Mayor Bloomberg’s negligence on this issue leaves it up to the city’s residents to elect a far more responsible mayor who will answer the deep-seated public housing issues plaguing New York City. Carlos Estevez is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
HOMELAND SECURITY
New border laws threaten basic rights By IAN MARK
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties recently concluded that border searches of electronic devices are constitutional. This in itself is not unreasonable, and it matches the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals 2008 decision in United States v. Arnold. Border searches have always been an exception to the Fourth Amendment’s requirement for warrants, and while searching electronic devices that are carried across the border is stretching that exception, there are still feasible arguments to be made for such actions. However, this conclusion becomes far more sinister when combined with previous statements made by the DHS, namely that the borders of the United States extend 100 miles inwards from any coast or foreign country. Put simply, if you live within 100 miles of an ocean, Canada, or Mexico, you are at what is considered a border. Even if you are not trying to cross a border, a
SUBMITTING TO
11
search of you or your devices is considered a border search, and as such, no warrant, probable cause or reasonable suspicion is required. Here’s the thing about those 100 miles — nearly two-thirds of all Americans, some 200 million people, live in those areas, according to estimates from the American Civil Liberties Union. What the DHS has done is void the Fourth Amendment for nearly 70 percent of the country. Your phone, your computer or any other device could be in the process of being searched right now, and you will never know. There is no reasonable explanation for these rules. Border searches are meant to take place at, well, borders. Actions like twisting words and inventing new meanings to make government actions constitutional have become more frequent under the last two administrations. In the past few years, we have seen “enemy combatant” redefined as “a male of military age,” “torture” redefined as “enhanced interrogation” and
“murdering innocent civilians” redefined as “minimizing collateral damage through the use of surgical strikes.” Money is now speech, and corporations are now people. This latest action, defining a border as a place within 100 miles of a border, is just another step toward the Newspeak of 1984. The more language is corrupted, the more rights we will lose. The lack of media coverage further complicates this issue. Not a single major network or news outlet has written anything about this announcement. There is a notable lack of responsibility to the public on the part of the mainstream media — political influence has undoubtedly led outlets to ignore this decision, in order that they might stay in Washington’s good graces. At a time when the media refuse to cover illegal actions of the government, it is even more important for the public to be informed. Ian Mark is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Cybersecurity deserves more attention in U.S.
A recent Mandiant Intelligence Center report has verified deep suspicions of Chinese military hacking of U.S. companies and infrastructure. Cyberspying attempts on American corporate computer systems have repeatedly been linked back to the People’s Liberation Army, but the personnel authorizing and executing the espionage have not yet been named. A strong economic competitor, China has clear commercial motives for the cyberattacks, as they have a history of imitating new American technologies. In this digital era, hacking may become the new form of warfare between two nations as powerful as the United States and China. Both countries are economically reliant on each other — China is the main purchaser of U.S. bonds and the United States is the main importer of Chinese goods — so economic sanctions would be the equivalent of cutting off your nose to spite your face. Each nation also has a nuclear arsenal large enough to destroy the world, so a military conflict is out of the question. Cyberwarfare offers an alternative to get a leg up on the competition. The beauty of a cyberattack is how easy it is to obscure the attacker’s identity and how simple it is to wage. America doesn’t need battalions of troops or a large nuclear armament in this new arena; it needs the best and the brightest of computer hackers that can both defend and launch attacks. This may be a problem since oftentimes computer hackers are against many government actions, and would likely never work for the United States, choosing instead to join private groups like Anonymous. The digital nature of this international threat can sometimes obscure its gravity, but make no mistake — cyberattacks are as big a threat as military ones in an age when much of our infrastructure, not to mention our personal lives, is dependent on digital networks. It would be one of our country’s most foolish failures if we do not recognize the reliance of our country on electronics. The massive caches of texts, videos, pictures, data and other private or secret information stored within our networks and servers is enough to topple the best, if not the worst, of us. If we continue to spend a majority of our defense budget on traditional methods of warfare at the expense of our digital security, we may risk falling behind in this cyber arms race.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co–Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co–Chair), Nickhil Sethi, Matt Luo, Nina Golshan, Ian Mark, Jess Littman, Marcelo Cicconet
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 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.