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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 21
THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015
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Violets beat Rutgers-Camden in close match By BOBBY WAGNER Sports Editor
Ross Udine may be just a freshman, but in NYU men’s basketball’s 68-65 win over RutgersCamden on Wednesday, he played with the confidence of a seasoned veteran. With just under 15 ticks left on the clock and the Violets down two, Udine pulled up for a three off a screen from junior teammate Evan Kup-
ferberg and nailed it, effectively keeping NYU’s season alive. “I just saw the defender go under the screen, and as a shooter when you see that you have to shoot it,” Udine said. “No matter how many you miss, in your head you always think the next one is going in.” The Violets went on to win the game by three after two free throws from junior forward Patrick Burns sealed the deal. They
will now move on to the second round of the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference tournament. “I can’t believe Ross took that shot at the end of the game,” Burns said. “It took a lot of confidence to take that shot, coming off a screen to shoot a fadeaway three. I can’t believe a freshman took that shot, I was so proud of him.” However, Udine struggled for the majority of the game.
He had a string of turnovers in the first half that planted him on the bench. But where Udine struggled, Burns picked up the slack. The junior finished with a game-high 21 points on just 13 attempts, and battled down low all night through contact that went uncalled by the referees. With a 10-point cushion, the
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STAFF PHOTO BY RACHEL KAPLAN
Patrick Burns takes a shot from in deep against Rutgers-Camden on Wednesday. The junior forward from Lexington, Massachusetts, led the Violets last night with 21 points. FEATURES
NYU researcher connects astronomy, biology By DHRITI TANDON Staff Writer
NYU biology professor Michael Rampino established conclusive correlations between the earth’s movement in the galaxy and biological phenomena, namely mass extinctions.
In his paper published in “Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society,” Rampino discussed how periodic mass extinctions are strongly related to the earth’s position in relation to the galaxy. Rampino noted that this
correlation can be attributed to the fact that the Earth and the solar system’s movements around the galactic disc are circular in a large path but are wavy on a smaller level, which is what Rampino says creates the periodic mass extinction.
Rampino’s research commenced in the 1980s after he found data sets that showed a 30 million periodicity between the mass extinctions and impact craters. “An astronomer colleague of mine and I realized that there was a 30 million year
cycle wherein the sun goes up and down in the galaxy,” Rampino said. “So we concluded that the passing through the plane of the galaxy shakes up the orb cloud, comets fall in, hit the earth and this happens every 30
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Professor discusses Turkish civil rights By JUSTINE MORRIS Contributing Writer
At first it may seem like there are many differences between Turkish and American students, but CAS professor Kevyne Baar disputed this during a talk Wednesday in the Silver Center. Baar discussed the similarities between the American civil rights movement and the ongoing civil rights movements in Turkey. Baar spent a year in Turkey teaching African American literature, focusing on all aspects of civil rights movements throughout history. She displayed a picture of her class in Turkey standing in front of a timeline that had three parallel lines. “It became something very important to me, that nothing happens in a vacuum,” Baar said. “I developed a timeline which basically has three movements: the African American civil rights movement, the women’s movement, and the gay rights movement.” The class itself was not taught in a vacuum. In Turkey, major civil rights protests had happened mere months before her class. “I’m teaching this class four months after the riots in Gezi Park,” Baar said. “I’m going to be teaching American civil rights, which they have emulated a lot of.” The demonstrations in Gezi Park began in May 2013, when the government wanted to add a shopping mall to the historic district of Istanbul. Soon, the demonstrations spread to 90 other sites in Turkey. “Basically, people didn’t want this historical area torn down,” Baar said. “It was very much emulating Occupy Wall Street, initially. They put tents up and they literally went into the park. And then once the tanks and the water cannon came in and everything, and everyone went,
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“The Hunting Ground” exposes mistreatment of collegiate sexual assault survivors By IFE OLUJOBI Senior Editor
It would be easy to assume that the turn in national attention towards the issue of college campus rape over the past year was purely coincidental – another tragedy getting its 15 minutes of pity. However, in “The Hunting Ground,” Emmy award-winning documentary writer/director Kirby Dick sets out to shed light on this ongoing epidemic of violence against women (and men) by following a pair of sexual assault survivors in their fight for validation and justice against scrutiny, harassment, ignorance, and established collegiate institutions. Annie Clark and Andrea Pino were students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when they were raped. Clark was a freshman but didn’t go public with her story until years later after she had already graduated, when Pino was a sophomore and contacted Clark to share her experiences of abuse. Inspired by the outpour of survivor stories they received from students at their school and colleges all over the country, Clark and Pino try to use statues of Title IX legislation to reform administrative policies on how colleges and universities report and handle sexual assault complaints. “The Hunting Ground” profiles these two brave women, as well as many others from the network of sexual abuse survivors they cultivated along the way. Dick and producer Amy Ziering, previously known for the Academy Award-nominated doc “The Invisible War,” about rape in the military, capitalize on the personal testimonies of assault as the
main method of communicating the baffling apathy and resistance of educational institutions and police in investigating sexual assault claims. He also presents textual statistics on reports of rape in colleges, the dismal punishments received by offenders (if any), sexual assault in Greek life, and interviews with former college administrators who dealt with the politics and economics of rape reporting first-hand. The film also aims to dispell the myth of false reporting as well, providing the statistic that false reports only account for 2-10% of all rape claims. This myth is used to routinely silence victims such as Erica Kinsman, who not only had to take a class with her rapist (NFL prospect Jameis Winston) but also see him cleared of all wrongdoing and go on to win a Heisman trophy to the adulation of her entire university. Kinsman’s story also shows that the filmmakers aren’t afraid to name names when it comes to those who perpetrated the crimes. Dick and Ziering also feature three male sexual assault survivors to give a face to the small fraction of men – one in 33 – who are sexually assaulted in college, and the even smaller fraction of those who do report for fear of social stigma. However, in tackling such a one-sided issue, Dick doesn’t shy away from layering on the sentimentality – which mostly comes naturally through the heartbreaking testimonies of the survivors or is earned through rousing moments in the fight for reform – and at times his hand is a little too present (the graphics were a little cluttered, and the musical choices are cliché and distracting, only serving to em-
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phasize points that needed no further emphasis). Nonetheless, “The Hunting Ground” presents facts and stories that can’t be ignored and is a must-see for high school and college students, parents, administrators, alumni, and
hopefully politicians who can enact the change the system desperately needs. “The Hunting Ground” is now playing in select theaters. Email Ife Olujobi at iolujobi@nyunews.com.
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Fiction Reading by Joseph O’Neill NYU Abu Dhabi House is hosting award-winning author Joseph O’Neill, who will be reading from his most recent novel, “The Dog.” The event will be held at 6 p.m.
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Appy on Vietnam War and Our National Identity Christian G. Appy, a professor at the University of Massachusetts, will speak in Bobst Library today about his latest book, “American Reckoning.” The event will take place at 6 p.m.
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Mosquita y Mari As part of the Reel Queer Film Series, there will be a screening of the coming-of-age film “Mosquita y Mari” at 6 p.m. in room 802 of the Kimmel Center for University Life. An “Uglydoll” emerges from underneath Mercer Street.
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
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TATIANA BAEZ, NICOLE BROWN, ALEX GREENBERGER, CLIO MCCONNELL, JORDAN MELENDREZ 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 the managing editors at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
NYU Reacts: Snow prediction email
By ALEX BAZELEY Deputy News Editor
NYU sent out an email to students Wednesday morning notifying them, that despite a forecast predicting snow, classes would continue as scheduled the following day. The email asked students to use good judgement about traveling safely and told them to check their emails periodically in case of a change of plans. At the beginning of the semester, in response to reports of a major snowstorm headed for the East Coast, the university shut down for a day. After New York City got just a few inches of snow, the university received criticism for prematurely closing as well as praise from students who were pleased with a day off. Since then, the university has remained open in the face of all weather conditions. Members of the NYU community reacted to the university’s email and the possibility of closure in the future.
“I honestly just thought it was
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awkward because it came so early in the day, and it almost seems as if NYU is apologizing for not canceling school tomorrow, especially because it’s been a ‘long winter.’” -James Sabia, CAS freshman
“I thought it was a little unnecessary, but it’s nice to know they care enough to hope we’ll be safe.” -Jasane Sandrakumar, Poly freshman
“I don’t think we can make predictions considering when school will close unless we know the criteria. Even if NYU is more reluctant next time I’m sure that it will take the necessary precautions at extreme conditions.” -George Maniadis, Tisch sophomore
“They kind of rub the fact that the university will stay open in our faces by stating that the university will remain open not once but again in the last paragraph.” -Luke Kin, Stern freshman
“I feel like [the last snowstorm]
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NYU has announced that school will not be closed due to weather. did influence the university’s decision to close unless there is an absolute certainty there would be a blizzard or snowstorm.” -Rupal Mehta, Poly freshman
“I think they should really consider what schools are doing around us. It’s better to cancel classes and for it to lightly snow
than to have classes and put all of us at risk. Not to mention, snowstorms worry commuters who not only have to come here safely but also return home.” -Kayla Jennings-Rivera, Tisch freshman
Email Alex Bazeley at abazeley@nyunews.com.
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Police officers stand in Times Square following the Eric Garner decision. policy promoted by Police Commissioner William Bratton. “While there has been some progress toward reform, it is still mainly cosmetic,” Gangi said. “De Blasio and Bratton need to abandon broken windows policing and abolish the quota system and create a public safety that is truly collaborative between the government and the community in a way that is fair and equitable.” Gallatin senior Sip Sum said she finds stop-and-frisk policies troubling because they target groups of people instead of crimes. “I think the entire concept of stop and frisk is in itself problematic, because it’s creating an identifiable, visible criminal,” Sum said. “In order to do this, we must demonize and criminalize actions, movements and bodies. And that’s where the
Baar compares America, Turkey
real problem lies.” CAS senior Scott Cairns said there needs to be a system in which police are held accountable for misconduct. He said he does not think the new legislation will correct policing problems in New York City. “I’m personally of the belief, both here and nationally, that the solution is in creating a credible commitment to punishing officers who clearly go about their police work inappropriately,” Cairns said. “Unfortunately, I don’t think the new law does much to that effect, and I’m not sure it is going to do much to improve the quality of the police force. All in all, it doesn’t solve the inherent problems that cause incidents in the first place.”
By ALANNA BAYARIN News Editor
shifting the political climate so that de Blasio and Bratton feel that they have to make some response to the pressure for reform,” Gangi said. “We don’t think the stop and frisk changes are adequate.” In a statement, Pat Lynch, president of the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, said the new guidelines will make policing too complicated and unsafe for officers. “Once again the department and courts are putting responsibility for the problem that they created with illegal activity quotas on the shoulders of our members,” Lynch said. “The end result is making a difficult job more difficult and dangerous for members.” Gangi added that the new police guidelines do not get to the root of the problem, which he said is the broken windows
An NYU event discussed the Turkish uprising.
‘Woah! Wait a minute, these kids are quiet, they’re not hurting anybody.’ And this incredible overreaction brought everyone out into the streets.” GLS freshman Shakeen Tsao said the similarities between the U.S. movements and the Turkish movement were very striking. “The parallel that she drew between the American civil rights movement and what’s going on in Turkey is really interesting,” Tsao said. “It just gives you a different perspective. I expected a professor who would talk about her experiences, but then the fact that she drew this parallel helps us have this anchor.” In Turkey, it is not just the seemingly liberal minority, like the students in Baars class, who face discrimination. 99.8 percent of the population is Muslim, yet women who choose to cover themselves often face adversity similar to that seen in Western countries. “Covered women: this is hugely controversial in Turkey in universities now,” Baar said. “When Atatürk founded the country, he founded it as an adamantly secular country. No head scarves at universities.” CAS freshman Edie Freedman took Baar’s seminar on civil rights last semester and said he found new information in her lecture. “She talked about the riots a bit, but I didn’t know that much about it,” Freedman said. “It was eye opening about what went on with that.”
NYPD redesigns stop-andfrisk The New York City Police Department announced official stop-and-frisk policy reform one year after a Manhattan Federal Court deemed New York City stop-and-frisk policies unconstitutional. The NYPD issued the new policy guidelines in a memo Monday. The guidelines specify that police cannot frisk people without a legitimate reason to believe they have committed a crime. “Having a reasonable suspicion to stop does not automatically permit the officer to frisk the person stopped,” the memo read. “The officer must have an independent basis to reasonably suspect that a person who has been stopped is armed and dangerous in order to frisk that person.” In January, the Police Reform Organizing Project petitioned at the Union Square subway station to put pressure on the city to regulate NYPD policing practices. PROP founder Robert Gangi said the petition, though influential in changing policy, did not produce ideal results. “We think the petition has been instrumental in bringing attention to the issue and in
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Comedian mixes science with humor By AUDREY DENG Entertainment Editor
WSN: Where do you get the inspiration for your topics of discussion?
Physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince host the U.K. radio show “The Infinite Monkey Cage,” which combines science and humor with questions from non-scientists to propel discussion. WSN spoke with Ince about the show before the pair’s performance at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts on March 5.
RI: The inspiration for the topics often comes from us sitting around in bars, drinking and getting worked up. Sometimes, Brian and I see or read something and think, “Hell, I want to know more about that, let’s use our radio show as a honey trap to get a bunch of scientists together whose minds we can drain.” Brian is never too keen on neurological stuff — that’s when we have the biggest arguments — he gets worried it may lead to philosophy, and you know how some particle physicists get tetchy with that. If he had his way, he would want us to do 10 shows on quantum cosmology for one on anything else.
WSN: Why is the show called “The Infinite Monkey Cage”? RI: It is called “Infinite Monkey Cage” because the title offered to us was “Top Geek.” Brian and I were not so keen, so I locked myself in a room and worked on every possible pun, scientific play on words and confused cluttering of letters, and IMC is the one from the list of 2,000 that we went with. We wanted something that didn’t tell you too much about the show, but suggested what it might be. We still get letters from people who have different definitions of what they think the title really means.
WSN: Do you each have a particular topic which you most enjoy discussing? RI: My least favorite topic is quantum behavior in photosynthesis. I got very confused when we did that, but generally, I love them all. I am a universal idiot so most subjects we cover will at least be the first sticking plaster over that predicament. Very often it is not about the subject,
it is about the passion of the guests. There’s nothing I like more than watching two planetary scientists violently arguing against each other about where we should go next to look for life — “I say we go to Enceladus.’ ‘No way, we’ve got to go into the caves of Mars.” and on it goes. WSN: What do you think is the main problem with science education today? RI: In the U.K., I don’t think there is enough time given to teaching why curiosity about why we are as we are, and the cosmos is as it is, is taught. So many facts and equations, not enough passion. We need more critical thinking taught too, to work out who to believe and why we should and how we can test them. People shouldn’t fear scientists; they are not another species. Never fear asking a question; however stupid you may fear it is, if you want an answer, take that risk — there is no shame in not knowing, but there is in not wanting to know. Risk being a fool, you may well learn something. Email Audrey Deng at adeng@nyunews.com.
Actress reflects on time at Tisch
By CAROLINE CUNFER Theater/Books Editor
Tisch alumna Christina Bianco garnered over six million views on YouTube last year for her celebrity impersonation cover of “Let It Go” from the movie “Frozen.” Now, the multitalented actress is starring in the one-woman play, “Application Pending,” at the intimate Westside Theatre. In this comedy, Bianco plays 42 characters in the span of 70 minutes, ranging from a babbling preschool boy to the vicious boss Dr. Bradshaw. WSN spoke with Bianco in an interview to discuss her time as an NYU student and her process for developing her multiple roles. Bianco graduated high school in three years, so she was only a junior in high school when she was accepted to study musical theater at NYU. As a high schooler, she took a full college course load, and was able to pursue her creative interests quickly. Growing up just outside of New York City, Bianco spent a lot of time in the city and knew that she wanted to study at NYU. “I wanted to learn and to be in the thick of it,” she said of studying theater in New York City. At the time, Tisch’s musical theater program was called CAP21, which Bianco studied while also pursuing a broadcast journalism major. “I don’t subscribe to doing one program,” Bianco said. It was only while at Tisch
that people started telling Bianco that she had a knack for impersonations. “That’s really good, you do a really good so-and-so,” Bianco recalled classmates telling her. She especially succeeded in accents and dialects class, picking up on nuances of different accents and sounds easily. Although she admits to being completely lost in a voice and speech class, where the International Phonetic Alphabet mystified her. “How are you supposed to learn accents?” Bianco questioned. “I didn’t know the symbols, but boy I could say it correctly. I got away with murder!” However, the revelation that Bianco excelled at impersonations occurred to her when she joined the cast of “Forbidden Broadway,” an Off-Broadway performance parodying musical theater. After seeing an ad for the show, Bianco decided to audition for a role, locking herself in her apartment to practice various impersonations. The first impersonation she could do was of Bernadette Peters. “I called up my mom and was like, ‘Who does this sound like?’” Bianco said. “You always did this, but I didn’t know you could really do this,” Bianco recalled her mother said. With “Application Pending,” the creators Greg Edwards and Andy Sandberg chose voices they thought supported the characters in the play, but creating the imperson-
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Christina Bianco stars in “Application Pending.” ations proved to be an evolving process for Bianco. “What works on a page may not be physically possible,” Bianco said of the trial-and-error process. The memorization component of “Application Pending” was something that Bianco had never encountered before, as her previous methods did not work. “Nothing was applicable,” she said. “I had to start from scratch.” On the set of “Application Pending,” Bianco placed post-it notes to remember the order of calls during the play’s hardest stretch, acting as mental triggers to keep Bianco focused. Although some characters have multiple phone calls through which she can develop their personalities, others have only one quick call for Bianco to convey a character who she intimately knows. Even though the audience doesn’t know some of the characters names, Christina knows them, their backstories and their motivations. “Application Pending” runs through April 19. Email Caroline Cunfer at ccunfer@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
Harrison Holmes set up his studio in his room in Rubin.
Steinhardt freshman talks early success By E.R. PULGAR Music Editor
Though only a freshman in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development’s music technology program, the electronic artist Harrison Holmes, also known as Sleestak, has been prolific with his musical output. With over 90 tracks on Soundcloud and a new five-song LP, Sleestak makes accessible and enthralling music that features chill-wave inspired beats. WSN sat down with the DJ to discuss his New York City shows, his songwriting and his inspirations.
derives from sampling music, but it’s also full of creativity. Besides that, I’ve been collecting records since I was nine, so really I draw inspiration from everywhere. WSN: What was the first record you ever collected? S: First record I ever collected was Clutch Hopkins’ “Walking Backwards,” and I got it at Central Square Records in Destin, Florida. Clutch is dumpster jazz, so it’s jazz but made with crazy handmade instruments, and you’d never hear these sounds anywhere else.
WSN: How did you get your start in music?
WSN: What are you doing after NYU and while you’re here?
S: I was classically trained in violin and piano when I was really young. From there, I started to accumulate more instruments and play around with different types of theory and venture into the electronic music type of world. There, I was really teaching myself; I didn’t have a mentor. The classical training for me was my basis, the foundation for all the music I’m doing.
S: While I’m here, although I’m in the audio field, I think it would be great to incorporate some visual stuff into my set, so visuals reacting to what I play onstage. I also want to improve my songwriting. In high school, I mostly did sampling, but now I’m in a city where everyone is competing to be really great musicians and I just feel like I need to put my best foot forward and write some music that really counts.
WSN: How does classical training help in the creation of electronic music? S: The same music theory that goes into classical music goes into electronic music. I’m actually writing a paper about this right now, and you don’t have to include it, but there are various minute aspects that I was basically doing when I was 5 playing sixteenth notes and triplets — it just has different instrumentation. WSN: Who are your inspirations? S: Right now, my main ones are the Soulection radio team out in L.A., because they are making a sound I admire. It
WSN: As for the future, do you have any new projects coming up or anything you would like people to know? S: I just released five tracks called “My Little Album Of Electronic Beats To Bump In Your Headphonez.” I just felt like I made these songs at a certain quality that they could be released. Ever since coming to New York City, I always wanted to start writing quality music, and lately I feel like I’ve been doing that, so if I could start building a bigger fan base, the better. Email E.R. Pulgar at epulgar@nyunews.com.
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Professors critique pop music By NATALIA BARR Contributing Writer
In the weeks following the Grammys, controversy over who should have really won Album of the Year and other awards has subsided, but questions on the quality of popular music today remain. These questions may be unanswerable, but the music professors at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development and the Tisch School of the Arts gave their personal opinions on the top pop songs of Billboard’s Hot 100 throughout February. “Uptown Funk” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars holds the number one spot on their list. “Uptown Funk,” which has been on the Billboard’s Hot 100 for 12 consecutive weeks, holds the number one spot on their list. This is no surprise to Professor Jeff Peretz who taught Mars during his enrollment at Tisch’s Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. “‘Uptown Funk’ is yet another exploration of an earlier time in mu-
sic, which has become a signature move of Mr. Ronson,” Peretz said. “Mars seems to have figured out exactly when it’s safe to bring an old beloved style of music back to the mainstream with great results.” “Thinking Out Loud” by Ed Sheeran has also solidified its rank at number two on the list with Sheeran’s romantic lyrics and sweet vocals. Daniel Charnas, associate art professor at Clive Davis, spoke to the technicalities that made the song so appealing to the public. “It uses the same chord progression as Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On,’ which was gospel inflected soul, done here in a singer/songwriter style pioneered in the 1970s,” Charnas said. “Take Me to Church” by Hozier held the third spot throughout the month. This song may be darker than what music listeners typically hear on the radio, but this has proven not to be an issue, considering the song has occupied the charts for an astounding 25 weeks. Larry Miller, clinical associate professor of music business at Stein-
hardt, spoke highly of the Irish singer’s ability to infuse social issues into a highly popular tune. “Andrew Hozier-Byrne’s song is a brilliant exposition of sin, sexuality and religious scrutiny in an unholy world,” Miller said. “For me, this was Song of the Year with all due respect to Sam Smith’s otherwise well deserved Grammy sweep.” Number four on the Hot 100 list was Taylor Swift’s popular mediamocking “Blank Space.” Although Peretz disagreed with the concept of the song, he acknowledged the song’s nod to the trademark lyrical structure of the ’50s. “‘Blank Space’ by Taylor Swift simply feels like yet another infomercial for her brand,” Peretz said. “If you buy into her whole ‘pseudo-victim of love’ schtick, then this is your next installment of the ‘it’s not me, it’s them’ explanation of her quest to find love. That said, I do like the fact that the song employs the very simple, tried-and-true chord progression as its harmonic base that dominated popular songs in the 1950s. Again, if ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
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Hozier’s “Take Me to Church” topped the charts in 21 countries. Following close behind was “Sugar” by Maroon 5. Although the song climbed to the top five at a slower rate than the previously mentioned songs, “Sugar” seems likely to only move up from its spot considering its newfound popularity. Catherine Moore, Steinhardt clinical associate professor of music business, attributed the song’s appeal to its youthful spirit and Levine’s impressive falsetto. “Poppy beat, love theme, highpitched male vocals — especially
on the word ‘Sugar’ — are breathless and a little like Michael Jackson, capture the fun and exuberance of young, or not so young, love,” Moore said. “High male singing voice has a lot of sex appeal.” Though today’s pop music often gets a bad rep, based on the opinions from NYU’s music faculty, today’s top hits may actually be worthy of their positions on the charts. Email Natalia Barr at features@nyunews.com.
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Research looks at extinction trends
million years.” Unlike traditional scientific research that uses experiments to gather data, Rampino’s research has mainly involved inferring phenomena from pre-existing data sets. “Impact craters have been dated,” Rampino said. “We did a spectral analysis of the dates and were pleasantly surprised that they had the same period as the mass extinctions.” Because the data was already available to the scientific community, Rampino and his fellow researchers were worried that they may not be the first to infer the correlations. “When the announcements came in the cycle of the mass extinctions that was published, we knew that everybody would be interested in finding what caused the mass extinctions to be periodic,” Rampino said. “We were very worried, because everybody was searching for the period and we were worried that we would get scooped.” A common misunderstanding of Rampino’s research is that it eliminates human beings as one of the causes of global warming because it proves that extinction and global warming are affected by large scale factors such as galaxy position. Rampino does not debate that human beings are the cause
By NINA JANG Deputy Features Editor
STAFF PHOTO BY HARK KANWAL
Professor Michael Rampino studies Earth history. of short-term climate change, but he notes that his research focuses on the long-term warming of the earth as a result of geological and astrological processes. “I don’t think our research affects global warming on our time scales of human beings, but it affects global warming on a longer time scale, because the carbon dioxide geologically comes out of volcanoes,” Rampino said. “If we add up all the carbon dioxide that comes out of volcanoes over millions of years, that’s what controls the long-term climate.” Optimistic about his research, Rampino intends to elaborate on his findings by narrowing the tentative periods of mass extinctions to specific dates. “I love doing research,” Rampino said. “It is a very creative and rewarding experience, especially when you find something new, or discover interesting connections between sciences, like geology and astrophysics.” Email Dhriti Tandon at features@nyunews.com.
The silver lining of today’s heavy snowstorm is that spring is just around the corner, so with this in mind, go out and indulge in the exciting rendezvous happening this weekend as we anticipate the long-awaited coming of warmer weather.
NYC Restaurant Week Make the last days of this event count by checking out restaurants that are usually out of your price range for a filling $25 lunch or $38 dinner. From Peruvian to Mediterranean to soul food, the choice of cuisine is endless. With quality food at a fraction of the original price, Restaurant Week is a massive deal and a lucky break for those on a student budget. Make sure to go online to opentable.com to reserve a table. Remember: treat yo’ self.
Women’s History Month at the Brooklyn Museum In March, not only do we celebrate the start of spring, but also Women’s History Month. Brooklyn Museum is contributing to the festivities this Saturday with an evening honoring creative and influential women. Look forward
to a night of celebration full of music, film and discussion. Music will be provided by DJ duo JSMN and MeLo-X, alongside screenings of “Didn’t I Ask for Tea?” and “LaDonna Harris: Indian 101.” Colored Girls Hustle, will also host a performance workshop alongside other activities throughout the event. Even better, the admission is free, so take advantage of this opportunity to educate yourself about the significance of this cause while simultaneously having a good time. The event is from 5 to 11 p.m. at 200 Eastern Parkway.
Sinatra at New York Public Library The New York Public Library is leading the centennial celebration of Frank Sinatra’s life with an exhibition filled with rare memorabilia including photographs, awards and interview footage, much of which was provided by the Sinatra family. The Library for the Performing Arts will also host screenings and programs on Sinatra as part of a collaborative effort. “Sinatra: An American Icon” just opened on Wednesday and is free, so make a trip to the library to explore the legend’s impact throughout the years and even catch up on some reading.
Free First Fridays at Neue Galerie Relax for a few hours with a stroll to Neue Galerie at 1048 Fifth Ave. to appreciate early 20th-century German and Austrian art and design. Looking back to its Viennese predecessor of the same name back in 1923, the gallery offers a focus and a new perspective on German culture. Featuring work from renowned artists including Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele and Alfred Kubin, the gallery is free on the first Friday of each month, including this upcoming Friday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Björk comes to MoMA This coming Sunday, MoMA ushers in a greatly anticipated exhibition featuring the extensive work of composer, musician and singer Björk. To cover Björk’s wide-ranging artistic career of more than 20 years and eight full-length albums — from her 1993 “Debut” to her 2015 “Vulnicura” — the exhibition will feature music videos, artwork and outfits. As an exploration of the artist’s career through a variety of media, the exhibition will be a chance to understand the creativity and inspiration of the Icelandic artist. Email Nina Jang at njang@nyunews.com.
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
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Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 THE620For NEW TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU InformationYORK Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, March 5, 2015
Crossword ACROSS 1 María’s “those” 5 General who became a secretary of state 9 Bird that’s the lead character in “Rio” 14 It might contain a sandwich and an apple 16 Bula : Fiji :: ___ : Hawaii 17 With 58-Across, buy or sell direct … or what to do in this puzzle three times? 18 Upright type 19 Trims 20 Best Picture between “The Last Emperor” and “Driving Miss Daisy” 22 Part of a historic trio 23 Archaeological discovery of the 1920s whose fossils have been missing since 1941 28 Suffix with official
29 Service break at Wimbledon? 31 Like 32 Offer? 33 Onetime Road Runner rivals 34 & 37 Drama set in New York’s Last Chance Saloon 39 Butler, e.g. 40 Procrastinator’s time 43 Span of attention? 44 Where Forrest Gump attended college 46 Twit 49 Faithful servant 51 Certain dressing 53 Central American capital 54 Vintage Ford 55 “Homeland” actor Patinkin 58 See 17-Across 61 Stand out 62 Aid for a club secretary nowadays
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34 Us competitor 35 Goddess who competed for the apple of discord 36 Dash 37 Skyping device 38 Hot 40 Butterfly and others 41 Judicial ratings grp. 42 “Permission denied”
44 Common pattern for golf attire 45 Brooklyn-based sch. 46 Iron supplements may treat it 47 Mercedes-Benz luxury line
54 Year Columbus began his last voyage 55 Memory unit, informally 56 Grooming brand for “helping guys get the girl”
48 Makeshift dwelling
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50 Nearly forgotten
59 “Well, ___ monkey’s uncle!”
52 Grammy winner for “21”
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY TESS WOOSLEY OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
EDUCATION STAFF EDITORIAL
Cutting journalism schools not solution
By CHRISTINA COLEBURN Senior Editor
The reputation of collegiate journalism programs has fallen on hard times, fueled by statistics showing that unemployment is decreasing for all graduates except journalism and communications majors. According to a new report from Georgetown University, the unemployment rate for these fields stands at 8.2 percent and is still rising. Median earnings in these fields also declined from 2009 to 2012. This report follows a May 2013 American Journalism Review study that found that journalists earn $2,080 less than the average wage in the United States. Academia has taken notice of these grim findings, as both the number of active journalism programs and total enrollment in journalism schools have fallen. Despite these bleak developments, collegiate journalism is not a lost cause, though it is one that could be revived by revisiting curricula. Following these dire developments, some have opined that axing these majors would not be detrimental to those who are interested in them. Critics argue that many influential
journalists have not studied the field in an academic context. They contend that practical interactions with media are more useful than theoretical ones — especially in light of the shaky return on investment. While these arguments may resonate with some, journalism is still a worthy course of study. The decision to close journalism programs at the University of Colorado-Boulder, Emory University and Delta State University prompted an uproar from faculty and students. Rather than slashing funding for collegiate journalism, adjustments should be made to existing curricula. In an open letter to university presidents, a group of journalism funders recommended a “teaching hospital” model to modernize standards and integrate technology into the classroom. The University of Texas has revised its curriculum to include multimedia
skills, while Arizona State University’s News21 program gives students the chance to produce in-depth reporting projects. NYU mandates that journalism students must double major to ensure they are well-versed in more than one area. Other universities could adopt similar changes to make students more well-rounded, technologically savvy and capable of adapting to contemporary newsrooms. By cutting funding for journalism programs rather than modernizing teaching methods, universities deny interested students instruction in a valuable field. In revitalizing journalism curricula, universities could give students the practical components they need to maximize their education and become more employable. Revised teachings must include multimedia training while ensuring that critical thinking, investigative principles and ethics of traditional reporting are not sacrificed. Journalism is not dying — it is evolving. Updated curricula, not budget cuts, must follow in order to prepare students for the demands of a changing newsroom. Email Christina Coleburn at ccoleburm@nyunews.com.
PRIVACY
US cyberwar tactics misguided
By TOMMY COLLISON Deputy Opinion Editor
The New York Times reported last week that the National Security Agency was accused of breaking into the computer systems of a European SIM card manufacturer, a move that would give the U.S. intelligence agency the ability to collect mobile voice and data communications. Gemalto, the manufacturer, provides SIM cards for cell-phone carriers such as Verizon Wireless in the United States and China Mobile abroad. As a result, millions of cellphone users around the world are affected. More generally, the United States and Iran are currently locked in a cyberwar, in which U.S. banks were targeted in 2012. An internal NSA memo states that Iran learned techniques from U.S. cyberattacks, which points to an inevitable escalation of tactics. The U.S. government ignores the fact that the United States’ enemies could use the exact same tactics against us. The NSA must exercise caution and not compromise the security of everyday Americans as it carries out its operations. Some have defended the NSA’s actions as being necessary to ensure
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the safety of the United States. This is simply not the case. By accessing our mobile voice and Internet data, the NSA bypasses built-in security measures and undermines the security of those cell phones. Supporters of the U.S. surveillance apparatus may trust the government, but this exploit represents a glaring hole in security. Even if we are not bothered by our government listening to our calls, we would rightly balk at foreign spies doing the same. The attack on a SIM manufacturer is characteristic of the NSA’s tactics over the last decade, in which it forsakes targeted surveillance in favor of a broader approach. Traditional aspects of policing, including the assumption of innocence, are being ignored by the NSA: when leaked slides contain stated aims of “sniff
it all” and “know it all,” it becomes clear that the NSA seeks to eliminate online anonymity entirely in the name of security. The results would be disastrous: doctor-patient confidentiality would be eroded, and medical hotlines — including NYU’s Wellness Exchange — would no longer be anonymous. The United States needs to take more responsibility when it comes to cyber attacks and computerdriven espionage. The Obama administration has long refused to state how much they use computer bugs hidden from software manufacturers in order to steal personal data from users. The administration must be more transparent in its use of these exploits, and should reevaluate the supposed necessity of cyber attacks. As with other forms of cybercrime, it is impossible to control whether our government conducts surveillance on our enemies or if criminals use it to compromise U.S. businesses. There is no such thing as a software bug or an exploit that only the good guys can use. Email Tommy Collison at tcollison@nyunews.com.
K-Cup convenience no excuse for waste
Keurig Green Mountain, the company that manufactures and licenses the popular K-Cup single-serve coffee brewing pods, made $4.7 billion in revenue last year. It is easy to see why, considering nearly one in three U.S. households has a pod-based coffee machine. Although K-Cups’ relative convenience makes them appealing, their harmful environmental effects cannot be ignored. A staggering 95 percent of all K-Cups sold are made of largely non-recyclable composite plastic. Although Keurig has vowed to make K-Cups 100 percent recyclable by 2020, many critics find this late date unfeasible for the company. The damaging effects of K-Cups far outweigh their convenience as they currently stand. Enough K-Cups were sold in 2014 to circle the Earth 10.5 times, and most of them ended up in landfills. The cups are made from plastic No. 7, a mix that is recyclable in only a handful of Canadian cities. Even the inventor of the K-Cup, John Sylvan, told The Atlantic that he does not own a Keurig coffee maker, citing expensive prices and environmental concerns. In fact, Sylvan, who sold his share of Keurig in 1997, expressed regret for inventing the K-Cup in the first place. The K-Cup problem is endemic to a larger problem of U.S. dependence on plastic. In 2012, plastic constituted 32 million tons of waste, 12.7 percent of the U.S. total. Plastic pollution is a major contributor to the destruction of marine ecosystems, releasing harmful petrochemical particles into the ocean as they slowly degrade. Decades of instant gratification have insulated American consumers from the fallout of their consumption, leaving them ignorant of the damage their beloved products cause. The Keurig’s convenience is especially appealing to students with busy schedules. As the rising generation, students have a responsibility to be more conscientious in our consumption, more aware of the wideranging consequences of our actions. Even for those dependent on the convenience of a Keurig, there are Earth-friendly options. Many companies make reusable coffee filters that convert the machine into a onecup drip coffee maker. This allows the use of ground coffee, which also cuts costs. However, it is still somewhat unrealistic to expect millions of people to change their routines or preferences all at once. Several companies have made the shift to biodegradable pods, but Keurig has updated new machines to reject unlicensed alternatives. Mainstream producers of pods should adopt these eco-friendly alternatives and become more sustainable themselves.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tess Woosley (Chair), Annie Cohen (Co-chair), Tommy Collison (Co-chair), Matthew Tessler (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Baseball coach shares his past
BASKETBALL continued from PG. 1
Harris, Kupferberg lead team to victory
Violets dominated the beginning of the second half. However, some sloppy play from NYU allowed the Raptors to roar all the way back to tie the game at 56, and it looked like they were going to pull away. The momentum was all in Rutgers-Camden’s favor after Harris fouled out of the game and senior Raptors wingman Alex Smart threw down a monster dunk on a fastbreak. It was Burns and Udine who came up big with under five minutes to go in the game. Burns battled down low with opposing big men and would not let the Violets go down by more than six. He had several big put-backs off misses from teammates, and totaled an impressive 16 rebounds to go with his 21 points. “That’s what I try to bring every game — energy and aggres-
By KATHRYN JONES Contributing Writer
STAFF PHOTO BY RACHEL KAPLAN
Ralby dribbles down the court against Rutgers-Camden. siveness,” Burns said. “It was my type of game today.” The stars for the Violets, Harris and Kupferberg, had frustrating nights. Harris had a slow start before coming on strong at the end of the first half, but in the second half he was completely out of sync due to foul trouble. Though he finished with 17 rebounds, Kupferberg scored just 10 points on 16 attempts, struggling to finish around the rim. He did not get to the line at all, as the referees called a very loose game. “When it’s not going your way, you just have to focus in more and just keep playing your game,” Udine said. Thanks to his last second clutch shot, the Violets will get another chance to do
The life of baseball Head Coach Doug Kimbler has never strayed far from the baseball diamond, whether playing as shortstop for the College of Saint Rose or growing up in a military base in Plattsburgh, New York. Now, as the baseball team enters NCAA Division III for the first time in over 40 years, Kimbler calls upon his experiences as the child of a military man to help guide him through the tall task of leading the Violets. “I think you try to let the game come to you,” Kimbler said. “If you try to win little battles, at the end of the game you’ve won so many little battles, the outcome comes in your favor all the time.” The coach’s baseball career started when his father came back to Plattsburgh after military service overseas. His father then handed the 3-yearold Kimbler his first mitt, bat and baseball. “As soon as I got it, it was my favorite gift,” Kimbler said. “So no matter what we were doing, we were playing with it.”
His father spent seven more years in the military, and when he was home, the two spent the majority of their time together playing ball. Kimbler attributes his father as the main influence to his career. “100 percent it was my dad,” Kimbler said. “Out of everyone in our family, I think he was the best baseball player.” Kimbler and his two brothers lived at the military base from birth to the middle of high school. Now out of the base, Kimbler enforces the same rules he grew up with on his players. “I think a lot of my rules come from military background,” Kimbler said. “From curfew to telling players to be on time. But not only be on time, be 15 minutes early. And making sure their lives on and off the field are tidy.” Kimbler only ever left the base for schooling. In high school, he met coach Gary Butler, who doubled as a scout and helped make Kimbler a better hitter. “He had a lot of influence on the level of talent I was at,” Kimbler said. In 1990, the Detroit Tigers
drafted Kimbler in the twentythird round, making him the first athlete from his college to be drafted by a professional team. He spent eight years playing in the minor leagues with the Tigers and Chicago Cubs. Saint Rose inducted him into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2007. David Alexander, the chair of the hall of fame at Saint Rose spoke highly of Kimbler. He is one of the finest athletes to put on a Saint Rose Uniform,” Alexander said. Kimbler hung up his cleats and started coaching at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2001. He also coached at Hartwick College and Castleton State College before coaching at NYU-Poly for the past two years. Poly junior Keenan Kush was a pitcher during Kimbler’s time as a coach there. “He was definitely a mentor to me as a player,” Kush said. “I think he’ll mold a great team at NYU.” Kimbler may be out of the military lifestyle now, but the fight to succeed at the varsity level is just beginning. Email Kathryn Jones at sports@nyunews.com.