NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 40, No. 31

Monday, March 19, 2012

nyunews.com

Hawk Cam welcomes its second season

Fences down in Wash. Sq. Park

By Eric Benson

By Emily Yang

The Hawk Cam at Bobst Library officially returned for its second season last Monday. Perched on the 12th floor of Bobst, the live webcam featured on The New York Times website is now focused on two redtailed hawks, Bobby and Rosie, who call the ledge outside of NYU President John Sexton’s window home. Hawk Cam was first launched last spring to stream live footage of Bobby and his mate Violet, who died in late December due to heart complications. Millions of online viewers watched the couple birth and raise their young up until the cameras shutdown after both hawks flew away last August. This year, NYU spokesman John Beckman has proposed a more expansive educational role of the Hawk Cam by partnering with the New York City Audubon, a grassroots community that works to protect wild birds in New York City.

R HAWKS continued on PG. 3

David Lin/WSN

The Chess Plaza reopened earlier this month. Park goers can now enjoy chess tables and greenery.

Off-Broadway show boasts beat-boxing NYU alumnus

By Michelle Lee

In a new off-Broadway musical, eight talented a cappella singers — clad in white — play extraterrestrials who crash their musically powered spaceship onto Earth. Gallatin alumnus and beatboxer Mark Martin, 23, is on the international cast of this world-renowned vocal percussion show, “Voca People.” He plays Captain Beat On, leader of his people. The show features a cappella mash-ups and medleys of songs by diverse figures including Madonna, Queen and Mozart. Originally from West Hartford, Conn., Martin began vocally emulating instrumental sounds at a young age. “Growing up, when boys are playing around, they make funny sounds

like guns and spaceships,” Martin said. “When I was little, I used to do stuff like that, and the first thing I beatboxed was the D.J. scratch in Will Smith’s song, ‘Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.’” As an NYU student, Martin sang and beatboxed in the a cappella group APC Rhythm. While studying music business in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development his sophomore year, he discovered the beatboxing scene in New York. Martin attended hip-hop cyphers, jams in Union Square Park and underground shows in Brooklyn. Martin later transferred to the Gallatin School of Individualized Study to concentrate in Language of Persuation to pursue a theoretical approach to language, linguistics and phonetics.

Jonathan Tan/WSN

Mark Martin was a Language of Persuasion concentration at NYU. R MARTIN continued on PG. 4

Fences that had once surrounded the Chess Plaza in the southwest corner of Washington Square Park came down on March 7. According to Philip Abramson of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, the opened space contains a new plaza with 18 chess tables, perimeter fencing, light poles and greenery. The reconstruction of the park began in the winter of 2007 and has now completed two out of three phases. A new playground and more benches and sitting area opened in the fall of 2011. “Our goal was to create a renewed sense of space, with a design that restored and upgraded the significant features that make Washington Square Park an iconic destination for New Yorkers and visitors alike,” Abramson said.

R PARK continued on PG. 3

Men’s volleyball splits weekend By Sara Levy

NYU men’s volleyball won two out of four matches at the Carthage College/Milwaukee School of Engineering Tournament in Milwaukee on March 16 and 17. Carthage, Juniata College, MSOE and Eastern Mennonite University — all non-conference competitors — also participated in the tournament during the weekend. On March 16 the Violets defeated the Eastern Mennonite Royals in straight sets. Junior outside hitter Taylor Fauntleroy and sophomore middle blocker Nick Capriccio both reached double digits in kills with 13 and 11, respectively.

For their second match of the weekend, NYU played against Carthage, currently ranked third nationally by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. The Carthage Red Men ended the Violets’ four-match win streak, taking all three sets by scores of 25-14, 25-20 and 25-22. Carthage’s sophomore setter Connor Wexter recorded a match-high 35 assists while sophomore setter Connor Mortland led the Violets with 29 assists. The Violets also fell to the fourth-ranked Juniata Eagles in four sets. After losing the

R MVBALL continued on PG. 5

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Washington Square news | monday, march 19, 2012 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

Best of web

TOP NYU TWEETS

@Awkward_Duck Jazz in Washington Square. Sunny day. NYU forum. My spirit feels good @BolaThisWay Oh NYU buses how I have missed you this week. Never leave me again.

Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief amanda randone Managing Editor

jaewon kang

@RosieTheHawk Nobody better try to put a #birdband on me until these eggs are hatched and well grown up and out of the nest. And even then.

Deputy Managing Editor

Amy zhang Assistant Managing Editor

james lanning

@GregAccetta Out of my 4 years @NYU I never had a reason to look up in the south sky. Now I do. #Freedomtower t.co/ydz9n4pV

TOP NYU MEMES

TOP COMMENTS

NYU ... now you’re unemployed “7-Eleven to open up new locations in Manhattan” from March 8 “They’re like cockroaches.” — BunnynSunny

Commuted on bike/scooter/skateboard ... didn’t die.

Creative Director

selena chen senior staff

university Julie devito city/state emily yang investigative hanqing chen arts jonathon dornbush features jessica littman sports daniel hinton multimedia david lin copy maximilíano durón senior editor jack brooks,

BRIDGETTE DORAN

deputy staff

university eric benson, eliza-

beth maguire city/state tony chau, kristine

itliong, jessica schultz

Professor puts on movie in class ... nap time

“Invisible Children promotes false activism” from March 8 “wow, so what is real activism? the art of not using social media to shine the light on a war criminal and his analogue in official power? What a depressing, defeatist opinion.” — Eric_s_nichols

One does not simply ... stay awake in Cultures and Contexts. Pays 50K ... Facebooks in class.

TODAY

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3:30 to 4:30 p.m. | NYU Student Health Center | 726 Broadway, 3rd Floor

7 p.m. | Frederick Loewe Theatre | 35 W. 4th St.

Head to the Health Promotion Office to enjoy free tea and learn about services provided by the office.

loughran sports John axelrod, cole

riley special issues kristina bogos multimedia james kelleher copy jordan melendrez social media agent nicole gartside

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Free Tea on Meet Us Mondays

investigative feiye wang music josh johnson film stefan Melnyk entertainment jeremy grossman books/theater clio Mcconnell dining hannah borenstein beauty & style shannon

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NYU Contemporary Music Ensemble

NYU musicians offer a free instrumental performance under the direction of Jonathan Haas.

7 p.m. | 16 Washington Mews

Captives into Hostages: Politics, Literature and Criticism in North Africa and the Middle East Madeleine Dobie, an associate professor at Columbia University, will lead this talk.

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

Ben & Jerry’s new flavor

Ben & Jerry’s will be relabeling one of their ice cream flavors to raise awareness of same-sex marriage policies in the United Kingdom, where the government announced its plans to legalize same-sex marriage and begin public consultation. The flavor Oh My Apple Pie — currently unavailable in the United States — will be sold in the company’s British scoop shops as Apple-y Ever After. The change is similar to a repackaging of the flavor Chubby Hubby as Hubby Hubby the company made two years ago when Vermont passed a similar law. Ben & Jerry’s has been pushing forward such actions since the company’s founding in 1978. — The Associated Press

Harvard University

PHOTO BY Gloria Lee

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

Racism alleged in Harvard Law School election

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.

Yale 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 Harvard Crimson

A man enjoying the sun plays his guitar as he looks to the water in Central Park.

sales representatives

Admins ban fall rush for freshmen — Yale Daily News

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nyunews.com | monday, march 19, 2012 | Washington Square news

HAWKS continued from PG. 1

Hawk Cam welcomes new mate, returns with educational focus

“As an educational institution, we thought it would be beneficial if there was more of an educational aspect to the Hawk Cam from the outset than was the case last year,” Beckman said. “New York City Audubon is in a great position to help educate us all about hawks, about how to think about wildlife in general and in urban settings and to give us insights into what’s going on in the nest.” Featured on the City Room section of The Times website, Hawk Cam sports both its own blog and chatroom to accompany the live feed. Times reporter Emily Rueb, who updates the blog, expressed City Room’s anticipation for this new season of bird watching. “We are excited to welcome back the Hawk Cam feature that built a lively community last year,” Rueb said. “A partnership with New York City Audubon will also increase the educational components of the feature this season with a new question and answer session with readers. The camera will remain in place as long as the birds do.” Susan Elbin, ornithologist and New York City Audubon director of conservation and science, has worked in the field of behavioral ecology and conservation for more than 25 years and is currently answering readers’ questions regarding the hawks. “Red-tailed hawks typically build their nests in trees,” Elbin said on the City Room website. “But when trees are not available, they will build nests on cliff faces. In New York City, our cliff faces are tall buildings with window ledges and setbacks.” In addition to expert commentary, Hawk Cam may soon be scheduled to partner with local schools for further educational opportunities.

Via Livestream

“As to working it into educational programs, that would be up to NYU faculty to decide for themselves, though it would be great,” Beckman said. “We may look to see whether there is an opportunity to work with local schools in some way, but that’s very preliminary.” LSP freshman Justyna Michaelik said the cam is a great way to interact with nature without harm. “All in all, I think it’s really cool how they set up the Hawk Cam since it gives us a view into the life of animals that we don’t see on a day to day basis,” Michaelik said. Eric Benson is a deputy university editor. Email him at ebenson@nyunews.com.

PARK continued from PG. 1

Chess Plaza opens at Washington Square Park Phase III was expected to be completed by winter 2011. But Abramson said the next phase will begin this spring and last for one year. When completed, it will include a large, renovated dog run and park house with a public restroom and space for the maintenance staff. Cathryn Swan, creator of the Washington Square Park Blog, said the opening of the new area will bring positive results to the community. But she said this phase is long overdue. “Even though the central plaza where the chess tables are has been reduced a lot in size, this section is an important part of the park,” Swan said. “The southern end has a different feeling, maybe because people are coming from Bleecker and MacDougal where there is a lot going on,” she added. “So it’ll be nice to have a flow again through the park from there.” Long-time WSP visitor Vince Marchese, 70, said the fences took away from the beauty of the park for too long. “I would say it looks like an improvement of about 50 percent,” Marchese said. “It’s a nice place to go to, where things happen all the time.” He said other aspects of the park, including the cleanliness of the ex-

Fiscal Policy Institute reports benefits of DREAM Act By Kristine Itliong

Hawk Cam ended its first season after Bobby and Violet flew away last summer.

isting public restrooms and how often the fountain is turned on, have room for improvement. Ellie Halevi, a Tisch freshman and Hayden resident, said the area is now less of an eyesore. “I really like it because it’s more open, and it means more places to sit and hangout,” she said. “It’s really nice because it’s natural. We no longer have to look at those big ugly fences.” Until May of 2007, WSP was used as a site for NYU’s Commencement Exercises. NYU spokesman John Beckman previously told WSN that the university decided not to return to the park because the renovation led to space constraints. Beckman said Commencement will continue to take place at Yankee stadium. “Though Commencement at the park was a happy tradition for us, Yankee Stadium has worked out great,” he said. “It’s permitted us to distribute more tickets for guests [and] family members. When we held commencement in the park, we gave only two guest tickets to each graduate.” Emily Yang is city/state editor. Email her at eyang@nyunews.com.

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The Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act has been at an impasse in Congress since 2001. Still, over a decade later, no consensus on the bill has been reached. While 13 states, including New York, afford in-state tuition to undocumented students, a measly 3 states — California, New Mexico and Texas — assign them government financial aid to help with tuition. This month in New York state, immigrants’ rights groups and government leaders like Mayor Michael Bloomberg, New York senator Kirsten Gillibrand and City Council speaker Christine Quinn have expressed support for a New York DREAM Act that would provide financial aid for tuition to undocumented students. But New York governor Andrew Cuomo has only admitted to studying the proposal. With increased support from petitions like Day of Action, the governor is expected to respond. The Fiscal Policy Institute, a nonprofit organization that studies the effects of public and private poli-

cies in New York, reported a wide array of economic and social benefits that would result from passing a state DREAM Act earlier this month. “Investments in higher education have a very high return on investment for the students, for the state economy and for state taxes,” FPI senior fellow David Dyssegaard Kallick said. “Better educated workers are also more productive for businesses, and we ought to be very focused on making a high-productivity economy that can support good wages for all workers.” The FPI also found that extending the state’s Tuition Assistance Program to qualified undocumented students would only increase TAP expenditures by 2 percent. According to Carola Suarez-Orozco, Steinhardt professor, co-director of immigration studies and an active supporter of the bill, negative responses sometimes have little to do with the policies themselves. “People have a strong reaction to the words ‘illegal aliens,’ ” she said. “Many are responding to the notion that individuals who break laws [by be-

ing illegal] should not be rewarded. Others simply have a visceral response to outsiders and do not feel any compulsion to provide resources to them.” Suarez-Orozco said these notions are unapplicable to the situation and is a stereotype that is far from reality. “Most of these dreamers were brought here by their parents,” she said. “They did not willingly or knowingly break the law. They are de facto if not de jure Americans.” Though these benefits seem idyllic, the long-term effects provided by the FIP and other institutes fail to acknowledge the short-term reality unrelated to any illegal-alien stereotype or prejudice: the existing documented students drowning in student loans. “Our government should focus its aid upon U.S. citizens only,” CAS freshman Junho Choi said. “While it seems unfair, there is only so much money to go around, and students today are suffering from high student debt because of a lack of proper student aid.” Kristine Itliong is a deputy city state editior. Email her at kitliong@nyunews.com

NYU community responds to Kony 2012 video

By Julie DeVito

With the rise of the video Kony 2012, nonprofit organization Invisible Children has gained the support of students and faculty, resulting in a wave of on-campus screenings and activism at NYU and other universities nationwide. Invisible Children released the video as part of an effort to gain awareness about Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. The video calls for the arrest of the LRA leaders who have abducted more than 30,000 children for use as soldiers or the officers’ sex slaves. The 29-minute video has been viewed over 70 million times and declared by Mashable, the largest online new site that specifically covers social media, as the most viral Internet video in history. Danah Boyd, Steinhardt professor of Media, Culture and Communication, said teenagers and college students watching the video see how Jason Russell explains the situation to his child and realize they, too, can explain the situation to others.

“The film is powerful, but it also models how to spread information,” Boyd said. “Young people feel like they did something by getting a celebrity to pay attention to a cause. A celebrity feels like they’ve done some by talking about the cause to a wide audience. And, voila, Invisible Children taps into the attention economy to get their message out.” Child (not) Soldier at NYU will hold a screening of Kony 2012 on campus this Wednesday. The club has also collaborated with organizations including NYU Pi Delta Psi Fraternity’s Talent Show, Crepeaway and NYU Chinese Mei Society to raise money and awareness to help the children in Uganda. “Our ultimate goal is to strengthen the movement against the LRA and stop this heinous conflict,” Venuis Choi, CAS junior and vice president of the club, said. “We believe that making our voices louder and expressing our concerns will encourage the government and others in power to act.” Gallatin freshman Jacob Avnier said the video has spread awareness.

“I did research on [the Invisible Children] project, though, and not all the numbers add up,” Avnier said. “The guy just got arrested for masturbating in public, and I think he’s kind of crazy, but the video itself [is a] good to start to creating awareness.” The Center for Global Justice at Regent School of Law is hosting a conference later this month. It will invite speakers to discuss issues of human trafficking, the protection of children and religious freedom on both a global and domestic scale. “Ending human rights violations in our world today can often be most effectively accomplished through the efforts of media to raise awareness, and the efforts of those skilled in the law and other related disciplines to provide the necessary solutions and protections,” Ashleigh Chapman, professor and adminstrative director of law at Regent’s Center for Global Justice, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, said. Julie DeVito is university editor. Email her at jdevito@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | monday, march 19, 2012 | nyunews.com

features

edited by jessIca littman features@nyunews.com

MARTIN continued from PG. 1

Gallatin alumnus brings his beats to off-Broadway

While Martin did not initially intend to pursue beatboxing as a career, his passion flourished as he grew closer to the tight-knit beatboxing community, which led him to the “Voca People” auditions last summer. “When you’re auditioning, you’re competing,” Martin said. “But when I walked in [to the “Voca People” auditions], there were 20-something beatboxers, all high-fiving. Everyone was so excited to be in a room with that many beatboxers. You could barely tell we were competing against each other.” Tiago Grade, 27, a renowned beatboxer from Portugal, plays Scratcher, the youngest brother of Martin’s character and his beatboxing partner in the musical. “I remember one moment when [Martin] cracked up and was in the center of the show, and he burped while he was performing, but the timing was very good in the beatboxing,” Grade said. Martin’s most memorable moment with beatboxing occurred when a young

man standing beside him started rapping as Martin beatboxed while waiting for a subway train. “Having conversations with people without ever saying a word to them are some of my favorite memories with beatboxing,” Martin said. “It’s fun because you can really immerse yourself to the point where you feel like you’re just talking to someone. When their face lights up, they get it.” When he is not performing on stage, Martin jams with other musicians, experiments with electronic sound and volunteers at the Lavelle School for the Blind, where he works with students on recognizing sounds he produces. “I feel beatboxing could be integral in education,” Martin said. “I think it allows for a vocabulary of comprehension that I think we need this day and age in technology to truly describe what you hear.” Michelle Lee is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Rooftop spots for springtime fun By Jessica Littman

Good weather is finally here, and it is time to take advantage of the best places in New York to enjoy it. Escape from the hot, crowded streets to these rooftop havens to bask in the sunlight.

Rooftop Garden From 4 p.m. until 4 a.m. daily, look over the city from a garden 20 stories up at the simply named 230 Fifth, where palm trees are silhouetted against skyscrapers. The rooftop garden restaurant’s menu consists mostly of Malaysian dishes with some additional American fare. The food is a bit pricey, so plan to come here for a special occasion to enjoy an excellent meal and an even better view. The Rooftop Garden is located at 230 Fifth Ave.

via 230-fifth.com

Rooftop escape at The Delancey This low-key Lower East Side club is known for its live music on the basement level. But when the crowd and noise become too much, sidle up to the rooftop for some fresh air and a view of the the city. Concerts range from free to $10 while entrance to the main floor of the venue is free. But be aware that The Delancey has a strict 21 and up policy. The Delancey is located at 168 Delancey St. Bar 13 Rooftop Bar Located just off Union Square, the low rooftop deck of Bar 13 offers fresh air and reasonably priced drinks — perfect for students. You have to be 21 to get into this venue, but it’s worth the wait to eat, sip cocktails and dance the night away on a rooftop just blocks from your residence hall. Bar 13 is located at 35 E. 13th St. Empire Hotel Rooftop Pool Relax like the characters from “Gossip Girl” at this two-level outdoor patio, which offers a full restaurant and a pool. Gaze at the New York skyline while relaxing in the sun or going for a swim later in the year. The pool will be open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily from Memorial Day until Labor Day. The Empire Hotel is located at 44 W. 63rd St. Eagle Street Rooftop Farm For those who are not into the bar scene but who enjoy a rooftop venue, visit this urban farm and seasonal farmer’s market in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Open to the public seasonally, the farm aims to provide the city with fresh, local produce — and it is a beautiful sight. Besides the market and the general aesthetic, the farm offers classes on urban agriculture, internships and volunteer programs. The Eagle Street Rooftop Farm is located on top of the Broadway Stages building at 203 Meserole Ave. Jessica Littman is features editor. Email her at jlittman@nyunews.com.

New museum shows potential in old Brooklyn neighborhood By Esha Ray

The Gowanus neighborhood in Brooklyn is a strange mixture of life and waste. While teeming with inhabitants, the area is home to the Gowanus Canal. This federal Superfund site — a federally designated location in need of decontamination from hazardous substances — has survived years of pollution and industrial activity, making it one of the most toxic areas in New York City. But artists Ethan Gould and Wythe Marschall are determined to find beauty in the site. They are founders of the Brooklyn-based arts movement Hollow Earth Society, which focuses on the intersection of science and art. “We’re kind of interested in pataphysics [and] pushing people to this limit where you would then go back to the original thing with a new perspective,” Marschall said. This idea led them to curate the Pop-Up Museum of the Gowanus Canal. The space is dedicated to bringing together unremarkable, everyday objects representative of the neighborhood and creating something remarkable and artistic.

Along with fellow curators Rob Peterson and Lindsay Reynolds, Marschall and Gould opened the museum on March 3 at the Observatory, an arts and events space in Gowanus. Through the work of local artists they created a space to represent the slow transformation of the Gowanus neighborhood from a Superfund site to a place where art and commerce can thrive. “We’re interested in the process of junk space becoming un-junk space again,” Marschall said. “[Gowanus] becoming an individuated, new neighborhood is really cool. And maybe that’s already here.” While traditional museums showcase art behind ropes and glass cases, the museum is userfriendly and engaging. Pieces include everything from paintings to an interactive sculpture of the Gowanus Canal along with many other installations all housed in one room. One piece consists of a mural of a whale skeleton accompanied by a similar plastic cutout hanging directly in front of it. When the plastic is shaken and the lighting is just right, the piece gives the effect of a whale moving underwater. It represents

via gowanuslab.tumblr.com

A Gowanus museum opened at the Observatory. Sludgie, a 12-foot baby minke whale that died outside of the canal in 2007. Through pieces like these, the curators hope to create a reimagined history of Gowanus as it transforms. “It’s interesting because there’s always this idea that a museum is a sacred space,” CAS senior Zo-Ee Chee said. “You know, artists who make it into museums like the Met, it means that you’ve achieved something, that you’re culturally important. So this is kind of breaking down that aspect, that idea of hierarchy or this privilege you have to earn.” The Pop-Up Museum of the Gowanus Canal will be open to the public until April 22 at the Observatory, located at 543 Union St., Brooklyn. Esha Ray is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

nyunews.com | monday, march 19, 2012 | Washington Square news

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SPORTs

edited by daniel hinton

sports@nyunews.com MVBALL continued from PG. 1

Men’s volleyball earns two wins at weekend tournament

File Photo by David Lin

Freshman Matthew MacDonald recorded a career-high 16 kills in his breakout match versus Juniata College.

first set 25-19, the Eagles bounced back to win the last three sets 2519, 26-24 and 25-23. Fauntleroy finished with an astonishing 20 kills and freshman opposite Matthew MacDonald recorded a career-high 16 kills in NYU’s second consecutive loss. “Matt is continuing to develop into a top-level opposite,” head coach Jose Pina said. “Against the two top level teams, Carthage and Juniata, we did not play our best and our lack of height in the middle was exploited by both. The other two, EMU and MSOE, were weaker opponents and we defeated them without much trepidation.” NYU earned their second victory of the tournament in three sets versus the MSOE Raiders. The Violets are now 2-5 on the road and 17-6 overall. Men’s volleyball will return to Coles Sports Center to play against Stevens Institute of Technology, a fellow member of the United Volleyball Conference. The match will begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesday. Sara Levy is a staff writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.

Women’s golf starts spring season in Georgia By Cole Riley

NYU’s women’s golf team traveled to Georgia to take part in the Jekyll Island Collegiate Invitational hosted by Oglethorpe University from March 16 to 18. The Violets finished in 15th place with a total score of 1,207. Top-ranked and 14-time defending National Champion Methodist University pulled out a first-place finish with a score of 942. Regarded as one of Division III’s toughest events, the Invitational took place at the prestigious par-72 Indian Mound on Jekyll Island. Some of the country’s strongest squads made up the 21-team field, including Methodist University, No. 4 Centre College and No. 10 Illinois Wesleyan University. On March 16, the Violets shot a 347 that landed them in 16th place. Sophomore co-captain Kristina Shalhoup shot a seven-over par, 79 in the round, placing her in a tie for tenth place. Freshman Deanna Lee Jia Yi finished her day with a season-low of 87, placing her in a tie for 57th place. Senior cocaptain Meaghan Kenny finished 73rd after shooting an 89. After one day of play, Methodist University was in first place with a score of 311.

NYU improved in the second day of competition, scoring a 341. Shalhoup shot an 81 on the round and dropped to 16th place in the standings. Junior Jiye Kim improved with a score of 83, nine strokes better than her first-round score of 92. Kenny scored a second-round score of 92, dropping to a tie for 87th place. Despite Shalhoup’s improved play on Saturday, the Violets entered Sunday stuck in 16th place still. In the final round, the Violets shot for a collective score of 339, their highest score over the three days of competition. Yi finished tied for 60th with a score of 84 on March 18. The Violets top finisher for the weekend was Shalhoup who tied for 22nd with a three-day total of 242. Methodist University’s junior Jennifer Sullivan grabbed first-place individual honors with a weekend tally of 224, five strokes ahead of second. NYU will return to the links at the McDaniel Spring Invitational in Abbottstown, Pa., held from March 31 to April 1. Cole Riley is a deputy sports editor. Email him at criley@nyunews.com.

NYU trio races at UMiami Invitational By Amy Rose Ramapuram

The NYU track and field teams kicked off the spring season in Florida with three members of the men’s team competing in the University of Miami’s Hurricane Invitational in Coral Gables. Junior Brian Broderick, sophomore Michael Caracappa and freshman Kevin Hill represented NYU in the event. Broderick finished in third place in the 3,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 10:12.81. In the 5,000-meter run, Caracappa and Hill grabbed 12th place and 17th place, respectively. Caracappa finished the race with an impressive time of 16:30.63 while Hill also ran a strong race, completing the run with a time of 17:53.44. Though only three members competed, both the men’s and women’s track and field teams found themselves in Florida over NYU’s spring break. The Violets were preparing for the upcoming outdoor spring track and field season. “Everything about spring break was great, and I feel like the focus was on point for everyone on the team,” sophomore team member Gilson Cortes said. “Hopefully we can keep up the hard work during the rest of the semester.” The men’s and women’s teams will return to competition at the

North Carolina State Raleigh Relays from March 30 to 31. Amy Rose Ramapuram is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.

Courtesy of NYU Athletics

Broderick raced in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

The New York Timesyork Syndication Sales Corporation crossword & daily sudoku The new times 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Monday, March 19, 2012

Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Yo-Yo Ma’s instrument 6 Like most 22Acrosses 10 Note at the office 14 Disney’s “Little Mermaid” 15 Flirty toon Betty ___ 16 Persia, today 17 It’s kneaded at a bakery 19 PlayStation maker 20 Nine-digit ID 21 Favoritism 22 News and music source 23 “Doonesbury” cartoonist 26 Traveled by inner tube 29 Roman poet who wrote “To be loved, be lovable”

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30 German carmaker 31 Port of Yemen 32 401(k) alternative 35 Samuel Beckett play with an unseen character 40 Convent inhabitant 41 Fruit-filled pastry 42 Line of stitches 43 Jacob’s brother 44 ___ Palace (Vegas venue) 47 Vito Corleone portrayer 51 Digital publication 52 State north of Calif. 53 Inits. in a military address 56 Speak like Sylvester 57 1954 Hitchcock thriller

60 Dog often messed with by Garfield 61 Wrinkly fruit 62 Wipe chalk from 63 More than want 64 Pie à la ___ 65 Japanese noodle soup

Down 1 They’re often yellow or checkered 2 Makes mistakes 3 Legal claim 4 Meadow 5 Biddy 6 “All ___!” (conductor’s cry) 7 Timid 8 Frequent weather condition at the Golden Gate Bridge 9 Speedometer meas. 10 Write 2 + 7 = 10, e.g. 11 Wash away, as a TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE bank P S A W 12 Fan frenzy R O S E L I G 13 “I’m keeping my eye ___!” I U M C H A I N E D N T E L A S C A L A 18 Urgent T V A L E N T I N E S 22 Regretting 23 Trot or canter S O N E A T E A S E 24 ___ list U T S T R I P S P E N S E E S M M L 25 Cross-country camper, for short D O D D S P E A L 26 Baby deer P T I L E E N I E 27 Hawaiian feast E R H E A R T E D L Y 28 Chief Norse god P H I N E A R E S T 31 Toward the back S I N E S P A R T O of a boat I N G S T E T S O N 32 Brainstorm

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Puzzle by Ellen Leuschner and Victor Fleming

33 Lion’s sound

34 $20 bill providers, for short 36 “Don’t worry about that”

43 Ran away to wed 44 Stephen King’s first novel 45 Freshly

37 Chicken tikka go-with

46 More “out there”

39 ___ buco

48 Tolerate

38 Vittles

47 Cantaloupe or honeydew

49 First name in TV talk 50 Author Dahl 53 Eve’s man 54 Sit for a painting 55 Actor Wilson 57 Bacardi product 58 Psyche part 59 Gun enthusiast’s org.

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 | monday, march 19, 2012 | Washington Square news

OPINION

edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com

Foreign policy

Obama plays game of chess with Iran

By Olivia Gonzalez

It is easy to imagine President Barack Obama behind a fanned deck of cards, plotting his moves against Iran in a poker match. But in this case, the more appropriate analogy is that of a chess game. This is not a bluff-off between two players but rather an infinitely more complicated situation. Obama’s rook is pinned by the impending checkmate of a national security threat, and the chess board is riddled with the potential dangers of a move gone wrong. Across from him, the political phantasmagoria of his opponent takes a knight between its fingers and raises it above the board while America and the Middle East hold their breath. Obama’s current red lines leave him cornered: He is either committing himself to a war with Iran or having American credibility shattered by being caught in a bluff. Where the final piece falls will depend on Obama’s ability to manage the high-pressure chess match of relations with a nuclear Iran. Like any shrewd international strategist, Obama will have to abide by the rules in the player’s handbook in order to win: 1. Do not underestimate. Assume the opponent will make the move that will cause you the most damage: The rhetoric sways left and right internationally. While some believe that the

actual threat of a nuclear Iran is miniscule, others consider the possibility very serious indeed. If the United States approaches the situation acknowledging Iran’s nuclear chops and their willingness to use them, Obama will not find himself blind sided. In this case, the move that would cause the U.S. the most damage would be for Iran to prepare for or carry out a nuclear strike. 2. Assess the immediate and long term threats: For the moment, tightening the noose of economic sanctions, and diplomacy are buying the U.S. time. But the more immediate, looming threat on the horizon is Iran’s acquisition of nuclear prowess may escalate to a brutal strike. The U.S. red lines have historically evaluated the short-term threat as the development of a nuclear weapon and drawn the line in the sand there. Empty threats were thrown at North Korea and India, but when the line was crossed, our inert reaction revealed our weakness. Historically, bellicose intentions motivated by nuclear power were curbed against red China as well as Pakistan, India and North Korea. So why skip deterrence now? It is likely the answer lies in the longterm threat of a nuclear Iran. The U.S. reasonably cannot accept the possibility of a nuclear armament in the hands of an anti-American theocrat. If Iran’s nuclear mission goes beyond the goal

of protecting itself from an Israel they consider volatile, then we may have a rogue government on our hands — one with the means of selling weaponry to anti-American terrorist groups. From this stems the American fear. 3. Look at the whole board: The playing field is vast and complicated terrain. The U.S. and Israel differ on the urgency of Iran’s nuclear threat; the region is within risk of destabilization if Sunni-Shiite tensions escalate, and the U.S. risks looking like a paper tiger if it does not follow through on its red lines. If Obama’s words look hollow to the international community, potential terrorists could be emboldened, and American credibility would be shattered in the eyes of nuclear nations. Israel and Iran justify their nuclear armaments with the belief that they are entitled to protect themselves. But doubling the nuclear power will not make anyone safer. Countries are entitled to protect themselves, but a country with a poor human rights record and a tendency to sponsor terrorism should not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. Obama is right in not advocating for war with Iran, but his current red lines may force him into a war that would be the foreign policy checkmate of his presidency. Olivia Gonzalez is opinion editor. Email her at ogonzalez@nyunews.com.

Foreign Policy

Diplomacy should trump sanctions in Iran By Omar Khedr

As election fever engulfs the United States, Israel and Iran, the question of Iran’s nuclear program has become a focal issue. It received heavy emphasis last week when Israeli Prime Minster Netanyahu spoke at the 2012 American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference. He described the last decade’s diplomatic efforts with Iran as failures. Upon examination, however, it becomes quite evident that serious, sincere and sustained diplomatic efforts have not yet taken place. As a result, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the major participants ­— United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, Germany and Iran ­— need to embark on a serious diplomatic initiative. As future leaders, we should care about finding a diplomatic solution. Past efforts to engage Iran on its nuclear program have taken a wrong, sanction-centric approach without giving diplomacy its proper due. Sanctions that affect the general population, especially if unilaterally imposed like the current gasoline and financial sanctions, are counter-productive to diplomatic efforts. It sends a threatening message to Iran and makes it harder to build an international coalition to pressure Iran. Furthermore, making hasty demands for regime change and imposing unilateral economic sanctions, as Moshe Ya’Alon, Israel’s Strategic Affairs minister calls for, only increases the risk of tensions.

7

Diplomacy among parties, especially those with a history of mistrust, requires an investment in trust and time. How can we expect the Iranians to trust our quest for dialogue, let alone our proposals, when our own diplomats are forbidden to talk with them in regional conferences? At the same time, Iran’s lack of transparency and sincerity in dealing with the IAEA, a lack of focus in meetings with the P5+1 nations — the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council and Germany — and its own domestic political problems complicates the issue of trust further. As Mohammed ElBaradei, former IAEA director and Nobel Peace Prize laureate said, there are three core concerns holding both sides back: “trust, transparency and future intentions.” Therefore, keeping lines of communication open is critical. In remarks made before retiring, Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, “Even in the darkest days of the Cold War, we had links to the Soviet Union. We are not talking to Iran, so we don’t understand each other. If something happens … there will be miscalculation which would be extremely dangerous in that part of the world.” With this in mind, the establishment of consulates and liaisons in Tehran, Isfahan and Qom — three of Iran’s most important cities — is necessary. This initiative would demonstrate U.S. mutual respect to Iran (a goodwill gesture to reassure the Iranians), allow for communications to be established with the frac-

tured Iranian political players (power in Iran is divided among several players) and provide our political leaders with more accurate information (instead of relying on second-hand information as we did in Iraq). While diplomatic initiatives should be given an honest chance to resolve Iran’s nuclear program, it is important not to remain idle about the other crucial regional factors. Resolving these important issues can reinforce the U.S. negotiating position when dealing with the Iranian nuclear file. German foreign minister Guido Westerwelle said this week at the U.N., “An international coalition for peace and enforcement in the region can only last for the long term, through a resolution in the Israeli-Palestinian issue.” Keeping in mind that there is no one model of democracy, the developments of the Arab Spring has already brought Tunisia, Libya and Egypt into the democratic club of nations. Therefore, the impetus and the importance of resolving the Israeli-Palestinian issue should be given the highest priority. For the good of everyone, the U.S. should avoid engaging in polemics with Iran. Instead, it should focus its attention in seriously restarting the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, extending support for the new Arab democracies and starting serious diplomatic efforts with Iran to resolve its nuclear program. Omar Khedr is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

staff editorial

N.Y. DREAM Act opens doors to undocumented

Immigrants’ rights and government leaders in New York, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg, have pushed vocally for a New York state version of late senator Ted Kennedy’s proposed-but-never-passed federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act. The federal act, as proposed, would have expanded college and citizenship access for ambitious young Americans of good moral character who were brought to the United States illegally as children. The New York version, however, would not and could not be as far-reaching. The proposal, endorsed by the CUNY and SUNY systems, would allow young illegal immigrants living in New York State to access financial aid and in-state tuition. These students — our peers — are striving to attain higher education. In a world where levels of academic achievement for first- and second-generation immigrants are often stubbornly low, those from disadvantaged groups trying to attain a higher education of the highest quality should be helped along at every possible point. Blanket denials of financial aid rewards to illegal immigrants only serve to perpetuate historical iniquities. These immigrants are economically discouraged from applying to institutions of higher learning. Such a disadvantage manifests itself in both the job market and, ergo, citizenship status. The New York DREAM Act would be a step in the right direction. Expanding access to higher education in our country helps to level out inequalities not of the students’ making. Yet, a federal DREAM Act would be far more effective in establishing a framework in which states can work. Currently, the federal government’s lack of such a bill leaves the door open to a gross variety of immigrant-friendly and immigrant-deterrent policies. For example, Texas Governor Rick Perry has championed Texas’ DREAM Act, which charges lower tuition rates to some children of illegal aliens than it does to out-of-state American citizens. On the other side of the spectrum, a recent Alabama law requires public school officials to collect data on the number of illegal immigrants enrolling. The New York DREAM Act opens doors previously closed to many first-generation Americans. This motive is in keeping with the ethos of our origins and would rectify our ugly history of prejudice toward these people. That said, this is a matter of national identity as citizenship, and the responsibility should rest on the federal government to reach an acceptable policy. Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

Editorial Board: Olivia Gonzalez (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Sanchay Jain (Co-Chair), Chris DiNardo, Emily Franklin, Matt Kao, Ben Miller and Peter Murphy.

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