NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 40, No. 29
WEDNESDAY, March 7, 2012
nyunews.com
Stern to add new marketing program
Golden David leaves NoLita
By Michelle Lee
By Emily Yang
A naked, 30-foot long golden replica of the Statue of David lay on its back atop a flatbed truck in NoLiTa. Moved in front of the Storefront for Art and Architecture on Kenmare Street yesterday, David (Inspired by Michelangelo) was created in 2005 by Serkan Ozkaya, a Turkish conceptual artist and Bard College graduate. Using a 3-D rendering program to recreate the foam statue, the project took six months for six people to construct. After its brief appearance in the city, the statue will be transported to its new home at the 21c Museum in Louisville, Ky., which collects and displays 21st century art. Alice Gray Stites, chief curator of 21c Museum, said that Ozkaya’s first David was originally sculpted for exhibition at the 9th InternaJames Kelleher/WSN
R DAVD continued on PG. 3
A Turkish artist’s golden rendition of the Statue of David captured the attention of passersby.
In late February of this year, the Stern School of Business announced that it will welcome a new Master of Business Administration program in digital marketing starting in the fall of 2012. The specialized program consists of courses related to information systems and marketing, with a curriculum pertinent to today’s developing digital marketing field. The program will offer courses from several Stern departments, including information, operations and management sciences and marketing. Students specializing in digital marketing will be able to take up to six credits in approved Stern departments. In addition, some classes offered through the program — including Social Media for Brand Management, New Media in Marketing and Information Privacy Law — will be based in the NYU School of Law.
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RIFF is fashion boutique by day, concert venue by night By Hilary Presley
With Justin Bieber and pop music dominating the airwaves and popular culture leaning more and more towards synthetic music, RIFF boutique is keeping the ’70s rockand-roll vibe alive and thriving. By day, the store is a small boutique offering perfect skinny jeans and vintage concert T-shirts. But every Saturday night, it transforms into a cool concert venue for rockaholics both young and old. Andy Hilfiger, Tommy Hilfiger’s brother, opened the store last October in the space that used to be the CBGB galleries. A rock musician himself, Hilfiger wanted to create an authentic hot spot inspired by rock-and-roll. The store prides itself on its authenticity — there are no iPods or digital DJs here. Vintage vinyl is spun all day on a record play-
er, and musicians pound out riffs on drums and guitars. It’s like stepping into 1977. According to Vicky Vale, a store representative, RIFF aims to keep the spirit of the building alive by creating a unique scene that can’t be found anywhere else. The famous rock club’s vibe lives on in the store through the unique combination of fashion, art and music. Searching high and low for the perfect pair of black jeans? Look no further than RIFF. Simple, superskinny and high quality, their pants for both men and women are perfect for wearing both on-stage and in the Village. For the more adventurous, try a pair of snakeskin, leopard- or zebra-print pants. Patterned pants are a huge trend for spring and summer, but instead of girly floral, RIFF gives the trend an edgy twist. At around $90 a pair, they will
surely become a wardrobe staple. RIFF’s vintage rocker T-shirts with cool, faded graphic designs are another stand-out. “[They are] band tees done cooler and more fashion forward,” Vale said. And at $25, you can stock up on a few. The store predominately features clothes by Hilfiger’s brand Andrew Charles, where the goal is to create authentic rockand-roll apparel. Photographs line the walls, notably featuring work by Steven Tyler’s daughter, Mia. Her rough-aroundthe-edges photography encapsulates the vibe of the place and plays off of the clothes nicely. Rotating art exhibits keep the store fresh and make for a unique shopping experience, combining fashion and photography beautifully. Beginning in February, RIFF be-
gan hosting WTF Saturday night concerts in the store to stay in touch with the store’s rock-and-roll roots and highlight local New York talent. This month, the store will feature The Cynz, Love Crushed Velvet (March 10) and The Nuclears (March 24) at 4 p.m. The blaring music makes for an authentic ’70s vibe but is ultimately far too headache-inducing for the casual shopper. While certainly authentic, the middle-aged band members also face the challenge of appealing to a younger audience. But with no cost for admission, the WTF shows are definitely worth checking out. RIFF is also offering a 10 percent discount to all NYU students with a valid ID. “It’s you guys we want wearing our clothes,” Vale said. “It’s at the right price point and is something unique you won’t find anywhere else.”
Courtesy of RIFF
Conjuring its rock-and-roll roots, RIFF hosts weekly concerts. RIFF is located at 313 Bowery (at Bleecker) and is open from 12 to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and 12 to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Hilary Presley is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesday, march 7, 2012 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
wish wednesday Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief amanda randone
“I wish that all semesters go as smoothly as this one, and that all my students are as great as the ones I have this term.” — Judith Schoolman, journalism professor
Managing Editor
jaewon kang Deputy Managing Editor
Amy zhang “I wish I already ha History midterm.” d an A on my Roman — Alec Sedyszyn, Gallatin freshman
Assistant Managing Editor
james lanning Creative Director
selena chen senior staff
“I wish that all wo rk-study jobs were demanding.” equally — Tim Klepp, Gallat in freshman
“I wish for 80-degre e weather.” — Ash Gaikward, LSP
university Julie devito city/state emily yang investigative hanqing chen arts jonathon dornbush features jessica littman sports daniel hinton multimedia david lin copy maximilíano durón senior editor jack brooks,
freshman
BRIDGETTE DORAN
deputy staff
university eric benson, eliza-
beth maguire
“I wish to se one day at the Muggle Quidditch pl ayed e Olympics.” — Bryan Hall, CAS junior
city/state tony chau, kristine
itliong, jessica schultz investigative feiye wang music josh johnson film stefan Melnyk entertainment jeremy grossman books/theater clio Mcconnell dining hannah borenstein beauty & style shannon
loughran sports John axelrod, cole
riley via wikipedia
TODAY
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6:30 p.m. | Saklad Auditorium | 24th Street & First Avenue
6:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Grey Art Gallery | 100 Washington Square East
Steinhardt at Saklad
Steinhardt will offer a free program in piano performance tonight in the Saklad Auditorium.
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Gallery Talk by Delia Solomons, graduate curatorial assistant
Delia Solomons will discuss the current Grey Art Gallery exhibition of works by Jesus Soto. Free with a valid NYU student ID.
8 p.m. | Skirball Center for the Performing Arts | 566 LaGuardia Place
“Street Scene”
This musical based on Elmer Rice’s Pulitzerwinning play features lyrics by Langston Hughes and will be performed by Steinhardt students. $5 student admission.
special issues kristina bogos multimedia james kelleher copy jordan melendrez social media agent nicole gartside
opinion page
opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editor ATTICUS
BRIGHAM, SANCHAY JAIN
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO circulation manager
chloe coffman
university sales coordinator
Emilia Mironovici
SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
The (8,000) Dollar Menu
Last Monday, a woman from Dakota City, Neb., sold a McDonald’s McNugget resembling George Washington on eBay for $8,100. Its auction site boasts 44,795 views, and 1,610 people were actively watching the auction. Rebekah Speight found the McNugget three years ago while cleaning up her childrens’ leftover food at a McDonald’s. The nugget has been in her freezer ever since and will be shipped in dry ice to ensure its preservation. Speight plans to donate the money so that children from the Sioux City Family Worship Center may attend summer church camp. — The Huffington Post
University of North Carolina
PHOTO BY JAMES KELLEHER
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITORS-AT-LARGE
jaywon choe kelsey desiderio russell steinberg KIRSTEN CHANG francis poon terka cicelOVa
UNC graduation rates lag significantly for black males
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.
Columbia University
Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
— The Daily Tar Heel
Far from the festivities in the Great Hall, a musician plays during An Oasis at the Met.
sales representatives
USenators working on policy to forbid most student/faculty romances — Columbia Daily Spectator
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nyunews.com | wednesday, march 7, 2012 | Washington Square news
DIGITAL continued from PG. 1
MBA to add digital marketing program next fall Vasant Dhar, director of Stern’s Center for Digital Economy Research, said the program reflects a current trend in marketing and information systems. Companies are now looking for students with concrete digital marketing skills, and the new program is intended to make students more competitive in the job market. This is not Stern’s first foray into digital marketing. The school has had a Digital Economy Initiative for more than 10 years. Norman White, professor of design and development for web and mobile apps, said the new program will provide a necessary focus on the impacts the digital field has had on marketing. “The new data being generated have opened up a number of research questions which Stern researchers have strong capabilities to investigate,” he said.
Claudia Perlich, the chief scientist of an online display advertising company, projected that digital marketing will undergo a revolution. “Marketing can no longer hide behind arbitrary segments of target groups but will have to embrace the hard sciences of letting the data speak,” Perlich said. “The new generation of people working in this area need the tools to walk that walk.” After concentrating on strategy and marketing, second-year MBA student Juston Payne plans to pursue the digital marketing specialization. “[It] provides a strategic and analytical toolbox that is necessary for building inventive, effective and quantifiable programs,” Payne said. “I currently use these skills in my position at Foursquare.”
DAVID continued from PG. 1
Statue of David spends last night on Kenmare tional Istanbul Biennial but collapsed before it could be presented. The statue that traveled to America is actually one of two replicas of Ozkaya’s original sculpture. “21c Museum actively seeks opportunities to collaborate with other innovative institutions,” Stites said. “Storefront for Art and Architecture is one of those innovative institutions.” In 1504, Italian artist Michelangelo finished the original statue of the Old Testament hero, David. The statue is currently displayed in the Accademia Gallery in Florence, Italy. Kathleen Weil-Garris Brandt, an NYU professor of art history and an expert in Italian Renaissance art and culture, said Michelangelo’s David has been an iconic figure since its creation. There have been many copies of it in different mediums through the centuries, he added. Brandt said if Michelangelo’s David had been installed in the Florence Cathedral, it would have emphasized the statue’s Biblical aspect. But because it was displayed in the political center of the city, David was perceived as the heroic civic guardian of Florence.
Tisch alum receives Oscar for costume design By Kayana M. Jean-philippe Tisch alumnus Mark Bridges won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design for his intricate designs and styles based on the 1920s in his work for “The Artist.” In an interview with CNN last month, Bridges said he tried to tell the story of the movie through textures, as the movie did not have colors to do so. “It became a story of textures telling the story,” he said. “I go out and try to figure out what language of clothing are we making this story.” After studying for three years at Tisch and graduating in 1987, Bridges worked as an assistant costume designer on the film “Married to the Mob” in 1988. He has over a decade of experience in costume design, dressing renowned celebrities including Nicole Kidman, John Travolta,
“The identity of the new golden David remains unstable in much the same way as it travels through New York and to Kentucky,” Brandt said. Since the front of the statue’s body faced the street, many passersby stopped to take pictures and drivers slowed to gawk at the golden man. Ryan Hughes, a CAS sophomore and a resident of Broome Street residence hall, was surprised to see it on his way back to his room. “I think this is great,” Hughes said. “This is the middle of New York City. It should be ostentatious. All great works of art should stop through New York City at some point.” Liz Nicholls, a junior at Brooklyn College, said she liked the way David is portrayed as a gold statue. “I’ve studied the David statue in art history class, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful statues,” she said. But Brandt did not find the golden giant as appealing. “Doesn’t it look more like a colossal Oscar?” Brandt said. “Those are portable sculptures, too.” Emily Yang is city/state editor Email her at eyang@nyunews.com.
Eminem and Johnny Depp. NYU’s Tony award-winning chair of design Susan Hilferty reflected on Bridges’ career as a costume designer. “He pays great attention to character while maintaining an exceptional sense of the whole story,” Hilferty said. “It is very exciting for the entire NYUTisch Design community to see his work honored with an Oscar. Kristen Kopp, a third-year graduate student in costume design, had the opportunity to work with Bridges on two feature films before attending NYU. “Mark was incredibly enthusiastic and encouraging as I applied to NYU,” Kopp said. “He’s committed to education, and I would not be here at NYU if it were not for his mentorship.” Tisch sophomore Dara Gray, who works in production and costume design for student films on campus,
said it was nice to see an NYU alumnus get recognized for his work. “Set builders, make-up artists, art directors and costume designers rarely get the recognition they deserve for their work in films,” Gray said. Fellow Tisch alumna Constance Hoffman, who has returned to NYU to teach costume design, said she was thrilled that Bridges has been acknowledged for this talent. “This award serves as a huge encouragement to all of our students and alumni, as well as to the faculty of the Department of Design for Stage and Film, who work so passionately to guide the young designers who enter our program,” she said. Kayana M. Jean-Philippe is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
Common App to launch fourth generation of website By Michelle Lee
Michelle Lee is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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CommonaApp.org is scheduled to launch the fourth-generation version of its site in the summer of 2013. In addition to incorporating a more simplified and modern interface, the new site will provide for a smoother application experience to accommodate the growing number of applicants expected in the coming decade. This year, nearly 675,000 applicants submitted over two million applications. That number is expected to increase dramatically over the next few years, according to Rob Killion, executive director of Common Application, Inc. “Our current system handles our current volume quite well, but it was not meant to handle the kinds of increases we’re projecting,” Killion said. The 37-year-old system is undergoing a two-year revamp which could cost up to $8 million, according to BeginCollege.com. Several new features are expected, in-
cluding elimination of the print application, plagiarism-detection software and an iPad-friendly version. Students may be able to send online inquiries directly to college counselors and receive window prompts that point errors in their application. But no final decisions have been made regarding the changes. Caleb Yoon, a senior at Loomis Chaffee High School in Connecticut, was concerned about CommonApp’s current layout. “The website presented itself as potentially unfriendly and intimidating,” he said. CAS freshman Eunice Lau said CommonApp could have been more helpful in tracking to-do lists. “More often than not, I found myself clicking around to see what I still needed to do,” Lau said. Linda Noll, a former college counselor at Miss Porter’s School in Connecticut, hopes CommonApp will not interfere with the universities’ consideration of applicants after the website’s facelift.
Jonathan Tan/WSN
CommonApp.org will soon have a more modern interface. “I hope the [increased] use of Common Application doesn’t lead to colleges relying on test scores and GPAs to determine whether or not a student is a good fit for their school,” Noll said. Killion sees the site’s makeover as a chance to give CommonApp.org the new look it has needed. “Since we are building a new system, we’re also taking the opportunity to freshen up the user interface — but that’s just the icing on the cake,” Killion said. Michelle Lee is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
New natural gas pipe linking New Jersey and Manhattan stirs controversy By Tatiana Baez In response to the high demand for natural gas, Spectra Energy Corps plans to expand their natural gas pipeline system from Linden, N.J., to the lower west side of Manhattan. But before Spectra can begin construction, several groups — including the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation — must approve the project. While it fulfills the Hudson River Park Trust’s requirements, neither group can reach a consensus without the approval of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The proposal has sparked controversy among Manhattan residents who fear that the pipe could raise chances of a burst like the recent 2010 gas
pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif., that resulted in eight deaths and the destruction of 38 homes. “I’ve heard about pipeline accidents in the city and other towns across the U.S. before and it’s alarming,” said Greenwich Village resident Maria Sanchez. To allay these fears, Spectra plans to construct a corrosion-resistant, high-grade carbon steel pipe over 30 inches in diameter, with frequent X-ray inspections during construction. It assures that it will be one of the safest pipelines in the U.S. According to Marylee Hanley, a representative from Spectra, the pipeline would be installed over 140 feet deep through bedrock in certain areas and operated at a pres-
sure ... hydrostatically tested for nearly twice this amount of pressure ... [and] will meet or exceed all federal safety requirements.” Hanley also praised possible benefits of the pipeline. “The project will bring new supplies of clean, domestic natural gas to New York City and the region, creating thousands of local jobs, improving the reliability and stability of supplies and lowering energy costs by hundreds of millions of dollars,” she said. The final decision for the project will come once the Final Environmental Impact Statement is released, and all involved bodies can reach a consensus. Tatiana Baez is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesday, march 7, 2012 | nyunews.com
Beauty and Style NYU thrift store aims to slow consumption
Bold prints to blossom in closets this spring
By Rachel Sanderson
Luke Leifeste for WSN
These Gallatin seniors inspire greener clothing practices. By Keerthi Harishankar A sloth is a slow-moving, tree-dwelling, adorable animal. So what does that creature have to do with sustainable clothing? For Gallatin seniors Sarah Ferguson and Celia Reingold — everything. The creature served as inspiration for the name of their planned NYU thrift store, Sloth. Ferguson and Reingold said the name was not inspired by the deadly sin. Rather, the idea encourages slow consumption in the fashion arena, similar to a sloth’s practice of eating only as much as it needs from nearby sources. With this mindset, Sloth’s mission is to inspire sustainable clothing practices. The goal of slow consumption is at the heart of Sloth’s mission. “The idea is to keep clothes in circulation longer and get something new from someone else that is not fresh off a delivery truck,” Ferguson said. The new company’s clothes will not come from a factory far away but from the closets of NYU students. The clothes will be generated by clothing drives or swaps. “[These swaps] will help people with similar interests meet,” Reingold said. “From fashion, to business, to sustainability, it’s a great way to bring people together.” While this seems like a simple idea, the impact will be on a greater scale. “One of the reasons I like Sloth so much is because it seems like a small concept, but there’s a bigger philosophy behind it. We want to change what people see as new,” Reingold said. In their sophomore year, the two were inspired to create Sloth from their Approaches to Material Culture class taught by professor Jessamyn Hatcher. They learned about the detrimental effects
of America’s rampant consumer culture and realized that the cause of unlivable wages and poor working conditions was, for example, the mass consumption of $5 tank tops which buyers would only wear for a few months and then discard. They wrote their final project for the class on the prospect of an NYU thrift store — nothing tangible, just an interesting prospect. Two years later, the duo heard about the Gallatin Student Resources Fund, which could make their dream a reality. “We already had the bare bones of the work done,” Ferguson said. “So we re-tweaked our sophomore paper and submitted it.” Ferguson and Reingold won the grant with their Sloth proposal and have been working toward their vision of an NYU student-run thrift store since. The goal is to have a permanent space that is associated with NYU and makes a difference at the Washington Square campus but also at the global campuses. The idea is novel and if realized, would certainly change the way NYU students purchase and think about their clothing. The pair noted that a physical space is not possible during their current tenure at NYU. But they said they hope to be in the city next year for their careers and to continue their work on Sloth. Ferguson and Reingold hope to recruit undergraduates who are passionate about their same vision. “You can take it as a fun place to shop and share clothes because fashion is fun,” Reingold said. “But there’s also a substance to it, and we can really spread important ideas.” Keerthi Harishankar is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Fanciful floral prints may not be the most novel patterns to include in a spring clothing collection, but this spring’s designer partnerships, featuring bold prints, are not representative of typical spring attire. Italian designer Marni’s collaboration with popular retailer H&M and the Mary Katrantzou for Topshop collection both showcase unique, all-over prints in their spring lines. The Marni for H&M collection is comprised of a variety of pieces all featuring bold geometric prints. Dresses, tops and pants are all adorned with circle prints. The artistry behind Marni’s collection is apparent, but unlike Jason Wu’s recent collaboration with Target — which exuded mass appeal and was an undeniable success — Marni’s collection may not be as popular. The mixing of prints and the looser fit of the clothing might not have such a broad allure.
Courtesy of h&m.com
Similarly, the Mary Katrantzou for Topshop collection is a beautiful display of the fusion between art and fashion, but mass appeal may be lacking. English designer Mary Katrantzou’s collection is filled with a bevy of saturated prints and structured silhouettes. Multiple floral prints are combined and cover dresses, pants and tops alike. Katrantzou’s unique structural dress, which has a skirt that resembles a lampshade, is not necessarily a silhouette for everyone. Though these two collections may not be for everyone, there are a few ways to incorporate vivacious prints into anyone’s spring wardrobe. If you are not daring enough to don all-over prints, try incorporating one printed piece at a time. Patterned pants can be paired with solid tees, blouses and blazers. If you would rather wear a printed blouse, you can mix it with a simple pair of black pants or a pair of bright jeans in a complimentary hue. If you aren’t comfortable with crazy patterns on your clothes, try a printed scarf, handbag or other accessory. This spring’s lively prints can be worn in a variety of ways, so you can be a part of the trend regardless of your style. Rachel Sanderson is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Courtesy of h&m.com
nyunews.com | wednesday, march 7, 2012 | Washington Square news
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edited by shannon loughran bstyle@nyunews.com
Iranian Jewish Club hosts fourth annual charity fashion show By Sydney Wu
Emma Pliskin/WSN
Students modelled diverse styles to benefit Jewish Hart for Africa.
Over 300 people gathered inside the Eisner and Lubin Auditorium at the Kimmel Center for University Life on Saturday night for the Iranian Jewish Club’s Fourth Annual Charity Fashion Show. All proceeds from this year’s show went towards Jewish Heart for Africa — a nonprofit organization that works in Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia to bring sustainable Israeli technologies to African villages. “What’s great about the organization is they’re spreading Israeli innovation and raising the image of Israel throughout the world,” Ashley Emrani, CAS senior and co-president of IJC, said. The fashion show also marked the end of Israel Peace Week at NYU. IJC’s goal for the night was to raise over $10,000 in order to provide solar power for a medical clinic in Malawi. Associate executive director of Jewish Heart for Africa Rachel Ishofsky said the organization was incredibly honored to have IJC host this fundraiser for them. The money
will be used to provide solar technology to put lights inside and outside the clinic. “We are saving African lives with Israeli innovation,” Ishofsky said. “This electricity will allow doctors to perform surgeries at night [and] women to deliver their children at night, and [it] also provides for a solar power refrigerator to preserve lifesaving vaccines that normally spoil in the African sun in a couple days,” said Emrani. Comedian Dan Ahdoot, a Persian Jew, served as master of ceremonies, keeping the audience laughing throughout the night. Ahdoot flew in from Los Angeles just for the show and said it was wonderful to “have a Jewish group who were not just giving to Jewish causes. It’s always great to let the world know that, as Jews, we’re concerned about everyone.” The fashion show featured clothing from VARIAZIONI, Calm clothing, Say What, Superdry, Romeo & Juliet Couture, Susan Hanover Designs, Rent the Runway and FAVIANA. Male and female models provided a high-energy show as they showcased the new
spring collections from each designer. One of the runway trends included block-coloring (combining two bright colors to create a memorable outfit). This promises to be a standout trend for this spring. Mixing neutrals like black and nude with a bright color also makes for a great statement, keeping looks classy and sophisticated. “[The show] has definitely come a long way.” Daniella Lavian, CAS senior and IJC co-president, said. Laivan was a model in the show four years ago when it first started. “We’ve sold out every year, but we’ve definitely expanded who we’re reaching and what type of clothing we’re getting,”
Laivan said. “We really wanted it to be a fun, memorable experience for everyone.” Esther Aades, an LSP freshman and a model in the show, said people need to realize fundraisers don’t have to be boring. “You can do great events that everyone will come to if you advertise it right,” Aades said. “[The show] is a great way to raise money.” Tisch sophomore Rachel Herron said the show was awesome to see great fashion coupled with the opportunity to learn about the Iranian Jewish culture at the same time. Sydney Wu is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Street Beauty: Junior shares skin, makeup tips By Clara Yang
Bringing you the best fashion tips, Street Beauty shares the beauty routines of students around campus. This week highlights Steinhardt junior Sunjung “Sunny” Jung. QUESTION: Now that we are transitioning from winter to spring, what kind of changes, if any, are you going to make in your daily beauty routine? ANSWER: I’ve been using more oily products in general due to dry winter season. I think the first thing I’m going to do is replace all of my products with oil-free, or at least less oily, cosmetics. For instance, during these past couple months I’ve been using a cream type of moisturizer, but I’m going to replace that with a gel type of moisturizer for my skin. Also, I’m trying to find beauty products that have higher SPF. Since the weather is getting warmer, and the sun is getting hotter, I definitely will apply more sun block on my face. But isn’t it great to have BB cream or foundation with high SPF for even more protection? Q: Is there anything you are willing to try from this spring’s beauty trends? A: I noticed that there are a lot of colors for this spring. So I would like to try blush that will give me some color as well as subtly highlight and define my cheekbones. Q: Are there any favorite brands or products that you usually purchase? A: I like Clinique’s Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. I’ll use it as my moisturizer this
Clara Yang for WSN
Sunny Jung has used oily products this winter. spring but, as I mentioned earlier, I want to change to a gel-type moisturizer. Also, I like many products from Bobbi Brown. I use Hydrating Eye Cream and Hydrating Face Cream as my must-have skincare products. Q: Seeing as you swear by only a few products, you must have your own all-time beauty rule. A: Yes! Once every two weeks, I use hydrating masks to add moisture to my skin. Usually, I purchase masks from The Face Shop, which is a Korean cosmetic brand. These masks come in packages of two to three sheets that I place on my face for 15 to 20 minutes. However, I’d like to try other types of masks such as gel-type masks, which seems lighter to me. Q: Are there any tips that you would give to someone who may not be so familiar with beauty care? A: I always wash my face with warm water and cold water. By using warm water first, I’m opening up my pores so my face will be cleansed thoroughly. Then, I use cold water to close my pores after the cleansing. Clara Yang is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
madison todd for wsn
MODEL CASTING FOR
FRINGE SPRING 2012 Washington Square News is looking for student models for a special fashion issue spread highlighting spring’s hottest trends.
Walk-in casting March 7 and 8 from 7 TO 9 p.m. 838 Broadway, 5th Floor
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation The york crossword & daily sudoku 500new Seventh Avenue, New York, times N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Edited by Will Shortz When this puzzle is completed, the 10 cir-cled letters, read from top to bottom, will spell a name associated with 39-Across. Across 1 *Peddle 5 Prefix with “mom” in 2009 news 9 Bay State sch. 14 Tommie of the Miracle Mets 15 *Christmas carol starter 16 Soil enricher 17 Gorillas and others 19 Manhattan’s ___ Place 20 “No joke!” 22 *Storied also-ran 23 January 1 sound 26 Intersecteda 27 Grapefruit choice 29 *Managed ___ 31 Coeur d’___ 33 Vietnam-era protest org. 34 Meriting a “Q.E.D.”
37 Article in rap titles 39 Classic novel of 1,000+ pages … or a hint to the word ladder formed by the answers to the starred clues 42 Columnist Hentoff 43 Earring shape 46 45 ___ 49 Contrarian’s retort 51 *Center 52 Brown in the funnies 54 Best Buy buys 57 “___ who?” 58 *Place to moor 59 “Give me an example!” 62 Oscar winner Tatum 64 “You’re fired!” speaker, informally
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68 Slowly, on a score 69 *Valentine sentiment 70 “___ it my way” 71 Test for quality 72 River of Flanders 73 *Chocolate brand Down Broomstick rider Cabinet dept. Elfin New Zealand parrots 5 Midway Airport alternative 6 Napoleonic leader? 7 Palm product 8 “Why not?!” 9 Thurman of “In Bloom” 10 Overly romantic 11 Places for rites 12 Wrote for an orchestra 13 Tatters 18 Pro ___ (for now) 21 Drink brewed naturally 23 Angel dust 24 Item in a thole 25 Ship’s christening spot 28 Joy of “The View” 30 Olympic skating champion Lysacek 32 Resulted in 35 Run out of town on ___ 36 Drives home, as runs 1 2 3 4
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2
3
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5
14
6
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8
18
24
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21 27
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31 35
52
62
44
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66
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33 38
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43 49
50
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58
13
22
37
42 48
12
28
32
36
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47
11
19
26
34
10
16
20
46
9
15
17
23
No. 0201
59 63
55
60
56
57 61
64
65
68
69
70
71
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73
Puzzle by Elizabeth C. Gorski
38 “Back in Black” band 40 Personal bugaboo 41 Bow-toting god 44 Prospector’s find 45 Brand of movable collectibles 46 Soda brand since 1905
47 7-Down and others 48 Whizzes
50 Without muss or fuss
53 Ranch in “Giant” 55 Java or C++ whiz
56 Hostess ___ Balls
60 Units now called siemens 61 Queen Wheat City of Oklahoma 63 Myrna of film 65 Hubbub 66 Tyler of “Jersey Girl” 67 Presidential monogram
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 | wednesday, march 7, 2012 | Washington Square news
7
OPINION
edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com
prison industry
inspiration
Rethinking America’s business of incarceration
Chef stirs student’s understanding of hard work
By Chris DiNardo
Private corporations in American society constantly strive to come up with business models that will bring about the greatest profit while maintaining a product that will continue to sell. Keep the goods safe and effective, maximize their output with minimal labor costs, keep the price low for the consumer, rinse, lather, repeat. While this can be a difficult balancing act for some, the private prison industry has experienced no trouble. All it has taken is the exploitation of the political and economic hardships of the public and a complete disregard for human value. Cha-ching! To switch up Brad Pitt’s famous line in “Inglourious Basterds”: They aren’t in the killing Nazi business. They’re in the prisoner taking business. “And, cousin, business is a-booming.” Unfortunately, that’s not for the better. You see, all of those concerns that other businesses have — product, labor, consumer — they need not worry about. Their product is merely space. As more and more prisoners are arrested and sent to the slammer — a great majority for nonviolent drug offenses — the space necessary to hold them grows, and hence, so does the product. Amid cries to cut spending and prioritize resources, states are having increasing difficulty maintaining public, taxpayer-funded prisons. That’s where
private, for-profit prisons swoop in to save the day. Buying out state-run incarceration facilities has afforded them with more than enough venues to make a buck. Privatization in other industries is often lauded for its ability to raise standards and lower costs, as the consumer will hold the company accountable. That’s not the case here because there’s no consumer and, thus, no oversight. In fact, most taxpayers are partial to the idea because their money is no longer going toward the well-being of those bad people behind bars. Morally, that’s sad. And economically, it’s wrong. While budget windfalls have opened the door for the private prison lobby to sell their product as one that saves cash and requires less spending, the accuracy of those reports is still in dispute. There is evidence that the cost of upkeep at a private prison is negligible compared to that of a state-run jail. And furthermore, since private prisons often handpick the inmates they take in — and they usually pick the ones in the best health who require fewer resources — taxpayers have to foot the bill for the costlier prisoners. It’s simply an egregious business model. How do they make profits? They need more convicts but less funds spent on each individual. As a result, some private prisons pack inmates in like sardines and operate under brutal conditions for one reason — they’re
cheaper. They reduce men to mere numbers, as the prisoners cease to be seen as humans and instead are seen as instruments for making money. But alas, the cycle will continue. Given the recent overcrowding happening in state prisons and the California Supreme Court’s decision that conditions violated the 8th Amendment’s “cruel and unusual punishment” clause, private prisons are now offering to buy more land to remove the state’s liability and therefore receive more government contracts. Introduce the possibility of a profit margin into the business equation and the likelihood of systemic abuse skyrockets. Just ask health insurance companies. Prisons are meant to shield us from the people who can do us harm and provide a venue for rehabilitation of character. They shouldn’t be avenues for profit. Given current policies that incarcerate a large percentage of minority races and the poor, the efficacy of adding another roadblock to fixing an inhumane criminal justice system needs to be rethought. We may have a negative view of the people we lock up, but looking at them as dollar signs is not the answer to changing that perception. Chris DiNardo is a staff columnist. Email him at cdinardo@nyunews.com.
religion
Why the Right will lose the new Cultural Wars By Ben Miller
Last week, I began a two-part series on the culture wars in modern America by arguing that the religious right doesn’t actually want to use its political influence to promote the values of Scripture. What they want is to punish anyone who has sex in ways that they don’t like because they themselves live in fear of their own sexuality. I outlined new policies and long-standing opinions from leaders within the religious right, indicating their opposition to AIDS funding because of their belief that AIDS is a just punishment for gays and lesbians — as well as their new opposition to the funding of contraception and family planning services even though these services reduce abortions. This week, I want to tackle the second part of my thesis: that these policies arise from self-fear and selfhatred among radical Christian conservatives like Rick Santorum and the late Jerry Fallwell. These leaders live in fear of their own sexuality because they are terrified by the conflict between their own bodies and their religious doctrine. To put it as delicately as possible, humans want to have sex. Studies have found that sex is psychologically healthy and even psychologically necessary. Abstinence from sex when the conception of children
is not the goal is not a realistic public policy. And yet there are people who think that one should only have sex as many times as is necessary to have children — usually, not more than four or five times in one’s life. Even masturbation goes against this doctrine, as does any kind of sex that could not create a child. This conflict is why most laymembers of American religious groups go against the strictest elements of their religions’ doctrines. For example, 98 percent of American Catholic women have used contraception; numbers are similarly high for most other groups. But for these radicals, any doctrinal lapse is unacceptable. To compensate, they want to make their beliefs law — forcing all Americans to suffer their twisted existence. For more evidence of this, see only the legions of anti-gay preachers and politicians — Ted Haggard and Mark Foley, to name only two — who are caught in sordid gay sex scandals. Their specific opposition to contraception is also rooted in their disdain for the new social order that has arisen since the invention of the birth control pill. Freed by contraception from the burden of being forced into marriage and childbirth, women are able to have agency over their lives and bodies. Men were thus robbed of their exclusive place
in the public arena and can no longer make reproductive choices for women. For this reason, patriarchal individuals will fight contraception as long as they breathe. So in the face of all of this hate, why am I optimistic? It feels as though recent actions — against Barack Obama’s eminently sensible contraception compromise, towards mandatory but medically unnecessary ultrasounds, against publicly supported same-sex marriage — will finally reveal these motivations to the American people. I don’t think most Americans will want to elect people who want to ban or make difficult all non-procreative sex or who want to discriminate against their gay and lesbian friends. I don’t think most Americans want elected officials who think that millions of innocent men and women “deserve” the disease of AIDS. I don’t think that most Americans believe that gays caused 9/11; rather, I think most Americans will, like me, see far more similarities between Islamic fundamentalism and Christian fundamentalism than between Osama bin Laden and Ellen DeGeneres. This is part two in a two-part series by Ben Miller entitled “Why the Right will lose the new Culture Wars.” Ben Miller is a columnist.. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
By Marc Simon Having role models is sort of like picking your nose: It becomes more private as you age, but the desire remains. At a big, fancy school like NYU — with faculty that reads like the speaker lineup at some convention on intellectual domination — one cannot give in to intimidation. An appetite for the famous, though, can distract from the modest and unflashy people who illustrate those obnoxious yet true platitudes about hard work, integrity, yaddayadda. Meet my idol: I’ll call him Manny because that’s what he likes to be called. Manny — or the Manotaur, as I wish I could call him — doesn’t make the big bucks, as it were. He’s about 5’5’’ and has a wicked tattoo on his bicep. Manny is the butcher at Public restaurant in NoLita — a big, fancy, Michelinstarred establishment — where I’ve just began working as a cook. If you don’t pay close attention, his brilliance will elude you as he works quietly on a table in the back corner of the kitchen. When you look closely, you will notice that Manny executes his tasks with a surreal, confident competence I’d expect to see, say, NYU professor Spike Lee exhibit while directing. Manny shucks an oyster in the time it takes most people to say their names. It’s not just hypnotic but revelatory to watch him break down fish and cuts of meat. He is so collected while rolling out pasta starts that he begins to look a little spooky if you watch for too long. The way he fills the pasta and shapes it into tortellini — a phenomenally challenging technique — argues for the existence of a supernatural being that has possessed Manny. He plays an integral role in pretty much everything that leaves the kitchen but has nothing to do with actually composing the food on the
SUBMITTING TO
beautiful plates that diners explicitly experience. The Manotaur — Manny, I mean — does not have a culinary school degree or a stacked resume. He worked in one restaurant as a porter before coming to Public. Before that he worked at a car wash and before that, at 17, he emigrated from Mexico to America. Arriving at Public, Manny — with no experience with serious cooking — started as a kitchen peon. He is now a kitchen whiz, working shifts that frequently surpass 12 hours for a wage that, believe me, is far lower than he deserves. More than a wunderkind, Manny is a true gem of a guy. He’s soft-spoken but punchy, focused but funny, speedy but patient, tough but sweet. Freshly thrown into the operation on the weekends, over which the restaurant runs full throttle, I’ve felt my fair share of disorientation and been subject to the barks of the kitchen’s higher-ups. Manny, in these cases, smiles warmly at me, stops whatever he’s doing and helps me through whatever obstacle I’ve hit. A good role model doesn’t take for granted their privilege. Manny does what he does to support himself and his girlfriend and to realize his dream of moving back to Mexico and opening up a small Mexican restaurant (I have not yet proposed my idea of MANNY AND MARC’S TAQUERIA). For now he respects Public and the work he has mastered. The biggest display of respect is selfless contribution. Manny has taught me that no matter what you do — whether you are the famous owner of a swanky restaurant, its humble butcher, a celebrity or a barista awaiting your big break — what’s really important is that you do it well, with a good attitude and energy to inspire others. I hope, like no other, he sees some of himself in me. Marc Simon is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com. Send mail to: 838 Broadway, fifth floor, New York, NY 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.
8
Washington Square news | wednesday, march 7, 2012 | nyunews.com
SPORTs
edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com
Mets ownership prosecuted for Ponzi profits By Daniel Hinton More than three years after the fact, financial aftershocks caused by Bernie Madoff’s $65 billion Ponzi scheme may bring an end to the current ownership of the New York Mets. Fred Wilpon, the majority owner of the Mets, and Saul Katz, his business partner and the franchise’s president, reportedly invested more than a billion dollars into the scheme through their jointly owned Sterling Equities. Irving Picard, the trustee representing the victims of the scandal, has claimed that the Mets’ ownership knowingly profited from fraudulent investments and subsequently filed a class-action lawsuit against them in December 2010. On Monday, U.S. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff ordered Wilpon and Katz to pay $83 million and undergo a jury trial for an additional $300 million. According to legal files submitted by Picard, Wilpon and Katz based the budgets of their financial assets, including the New York Mets, on profits derived from investments made with Madoff. The ownership allegedly used private bank loans and money owed to players’ salaries or health insurance premiums to
invest into Madoff’s scheme. For instance, when the ownership ended an infamously lucrative contract with Bobby Bonilla, they agreed to pay the remaining $5.9 million plus interest over 25 years beginning in 2011. Rather than paying Bonilla up front, they sent millions of dollars to Madoff. Such examples of financial negligence were supported by expectations of annual returns of 10 to 14 percent from Madoff’s investment scheme. Now that a major source of revenue has been eliminated and declared fraudulent, the Mets face financial, as well as legal, issues beyond the playing field. Sports media and fans have known about the franchise owners’ relationship with Madoff since 2008, and alleged plans to sell the team have been reported by newspapers, television networks and blogs everywhere. However, the federal court’s recent judgment is the first factual indication that the Mets may have to undergo monumental changes. Though Wilpon and Katz are certainly innocent until proven guilty, public knowledge of their pervasive involvement in the largest financial scandal in U.S. history is sufficient grounds for expelling them from the Mets’ front offices. Whether or
via sportsinthecourtsblog.com
New York Mets ownership will stand trial in a class-action lawsuit claiming over $300 million. not they were aware of Madoff’s deceit, Wilpon and Katz managed the Mets based on fraudulent funds. In order to completely separate Major League Baseball from the deception and greed of Wall Street criminals, commissioner Bud Selig must consider revoking Wilpon’s and Katz’s ownership status and instating a league representative to control the franchise until a sale is completed. Selig performed similar actions last year when the league took over the Los Angeles Dodgers from
former owner Frank McCourt, who had been undergoing a divorce settlement. If a family court decision caused Selig to worry about the future of the Dodgers, evidence and decisions accepted by federal courts should definitely force the commissioner’s hand against Katz and Wilpon, who is Selig’s longtime friend. The Mets have lost $120 million in the last two years and taken a loan from the MLB worth $25 million, not to mention General
Manager Sandy Alderson has been forced to either trade or cut players while not signing any new big contracts — all consequences of financial fraud. At this point, nothing short of eliminating any connections with Madoff will serve “the best interests of the national game of baseball.” If I may respectfully remind you, Commissioner, that’s in your job description. Daniel Hinton is sports editor. Email him at dhinton@nyunews.com.