WSN032613

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 27

Students miss cost of cutting class

By CRYSTAL COX

When NYU students skip class, they are losing more than just a lecture. Dissatisfaction, boredom, exhaustion and laziness are among the most popular excuses for skipping a class, but do students consider the amount of money squandered each time they opt out of class?

The price of each class varies depending on the school within NYU, but each is approximately $200. Assuming that students take 16 credits, or four courses that meet twice a week, the price of skipping one class in the College of Arts and Science is $193.37. One class is $199.44 in the Stern School of Business and $192.88 in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development, which is also the price for a class in both the Gallatin School of Individualized Study and the Liberal Studies Program.

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TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

Bloomberg unveils new tobacco regulation

By VERONICA CARCHEDI

One week after New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s soda ban was blocked in court, Bloomberg announced a new health initiative, this time in an attempt to further reduce the smoking rate among the city’s youth.

The Tobacco Product Display Restriction bill, announced March 18, would require retail stores to stop

displaying tobacco products. The law, however, does not ban the advertising of tobacco products.

“Young people are targets of marketing and the availability of cigarettes and this legislation will help prevent another generation from the ill health and shorter life expectancy that comes with smoking,” Bloomberg said in a press release.

The city has an 8.5 percent teen smoking rate, which is

Whether you’re having a bad hair day or trying to make a fashion statement, a snapback can add a retro punch to any look. With roots in the mid1900s, this hat style is making a comeback, and it looks like it’s here to stay.

lower than the state average of 12.5 percent as well as the national average of 18.1 percent.

However, the city’s low rate has remained stagnant since 2007.

If passed, New York City would be the first city in the United States to have this type of legislation in place. Last year Haverstraw, N.Y. passed an identical law, but repealed it after a lawsuit was filed against the town by a number of

NYU’s Shuruq showcases diversity in Muslim community

tobacco companies and the New York Association of Convenience Stores, an Albany-based convenience-store trade organization.

Jim Calvin, president of the NYACS, called the proposed legislation “absurd” and said it would compound the growing problem of cigarette tax evasion in New York City.

CIGARETTES continued on PG. 3

DAVID LIN/WSN

NYU Shuruq, a club aiming to educate Muslims and non-Muslisms about Islam and culture, began its student-run kickoff dinner tonight by featuring NFL player Hamza Abdullah. Abdullah spoke about his experience as a Muslim NFL player and decision to take a year off to fulfill his hajj.

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Snapbacks add retro flare to any outfit

By NICOLE PUGLISE

nyunews.com

The snapback originated with the baseball cap. Worn by players for the obvious reason of keeping the sun out of their eyes, this style of hat grew popular with fans looking to emulate star players. Its characteristic style is denoted by the snap fastener on the back, which can be adjusted to

the size of the wearer’s head.

However, over time, the shape of the brim has changed from rounded to flat and its purpose as strictly athletic-wear has evolved into casual dress.

Snapbacks have remained in constant production since

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Whatever your style, a smart snapback can help take your ensemble to the next level.

Strokes reach new career high on ‘Machine’

By ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE

It would be easy to criticize The Strokes for not sticking to the garage rock sound they pioneered in the early 2000s, but that criticism only sticks if one assumes they haven’t been getting any better. The band’s fifth studio album, “Comedown Machine,” proves that idea wrong. With 11 polished tracks featuring an eclectic variety of influences and styles, “Comedown Machine” is the album this band has been working toward their entire career.

The record opens with “Tap Out” and “All the Time” — two tracks that are most reminiscent of vintage Strokes appeal but with the addition of falsetto vocals and abundant synths.

“Welcome to Japan” pays homage to the band’s favorite country to tour with a psychedelic rock vibe and

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nonsensical lyrics such as, “I didn’t want to notice/I didn’t know the gun loaded/Didn’t really know this/What kind of asshole drives a Lotus?”

The title track features a melody that calls to mind guitarist Albert

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM

ON THE SIDE STAFF PLAYLIST

By ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE To commemorate last week’s disbanding of My Chemical Romance, we have compiled a playlist of the best angsty, alternative rock music to quell the sorrows of your inner misunderstood 12-year-old. Let your tears of black mascara — or guyliner — fall freely.

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IN AND OF

THE CITY

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It’s a big city and a widespread university. Catch up with our daily updates on university and city/state news headlines other publications are covering.

COMPILED BY THE

WSN STAFF

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor

AMY ZHANG Web Managing Editor

HANQING CHEN Deputy Managing Editor

JORDAN MELENDREZ Assistant Managing Editor

NICOLA PRING Creative Director

KALEEL MUNROE SENIOR STAFF

university TATIANA BAEZ city/state VERONICA CARCHEDI investigative NICOLE BROWN arts JOSH JOHNSON features KRISTINA BOGOS sports MARY JANE DUMANKAYA multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN copy MICHAEL DOMANICO,

WICY WANG foreign correspondent JULIE DEVITO senior editors GENTRY BROWN, DAN

“TEENAGERS” — My Chemical Romance

HINTON, CHARLES MAHONEY, CLIO MCCONNELL, STEFAN MELNYK, LAVYA YALAMANCHI

DEPUTY STAFF

university KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR city/state EMILY BELL, ANDREW

KARPAN

“I WRITE SINS NOT TRAGEDIES” — Panic! At the Disco

books/theater OLIVIA GEORGE film JEREMY GROSSMAN entertainment ALEX GREENBERGER music ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE the highlighter blog SAM RULLO features HELEN HOLMES beauty & style MICHELLE LIM dining ANGEL CHANG sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia REBECCA CLEMENTI,

“SUGAR, WE’RE GOIN DOWN” — Fall Out Boy

JOON LEE

OPINION PAGE

“I’M NOT OKAY (I PROMISE)” — My Chemical Romance

opinion editor

SAMEER JAYWANT deputy opinion editors

“CUTE WITHOUT THE ‘E’ (CUT FROM THE TEAM)” — Taking Back Sunday “CHECK YES JULIET” — We The Kings

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“THE CURSE OF CURVES” — Cute Is What We Aim For

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“WELCOME TO MY LIFE” — Simple Plan “EMERGENCY” — Paramore “YOUR GUARDIAN ANGEL” — The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

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CIRCULATION MANAGER

BROOKLYN TO HOST VMAS MTV’s Video Music Awards will be held in New York at Brooklyn’s new Barclays Center. The show was last hosted on the East Coast in 2009.

— NY DAILY NEWS

CHLOE COFFMAN

UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOR

KAITLYN O’BRIEN SALES REPRESENTATIVE

ELLEN MCQUEEN SALES ASSOCIATES

MET MUSEUM CHARGING UNFAIRLY Two Czech republic tourists and one New York sued the New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art, accusing the Met of misrepresenting the suggested admission prices.

— ABC LOCAL YOKO ONO SUED OVER SKETCHES A Brooklyn-based fashion designer is suing Yoko Ono, claiming that Ono’s design team saw her sketches and produced eerily similar designs. Ono’s line can be found at Opening Ceremony.

— NY POST

ARIANA DIVALENTINO, ALISON LIZZIO, SAM WANDER CIRCULATION ASSISTANT

BENJAMIN SWINEHART

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

KALEEL MUNROE

ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

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KEITH LEIGHTY EDITORS-AT-LARGE

PORT AUTHORITY GETS FIRST STARBUCKS One of Manhattan’s largest commuter hubs, Port Authority Bus Terminal, will soon be home to another city Starbucks location.

— THE NEW YORK TIMES

A Chelsea Market visitor takes a break to enjoy a freshly prepared lobster for lunch.

PHOTO BY CHUCK KUAN

NYC RESIDENTS FIGHT TO KEEP THEIR PIGS The city’s health code forbids owning pet pigs, but New York State Senator Tony Avella lead pet pig owners in attempting to overturn the code.

— ABC LOCAL

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MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.

Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Amy Zhang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

CIGARETTES continued from PG. 1

SKIP continued from PG. 1

New NYC law hides tobacco products at retail counters

“If the few small groups that still come in our stores looking to buy cigarettes don’t see their favorite brand displayed in our store, they’re going to assume that we don’t carry it,” Calvin said. “They’re going seek out unlicensed, unregulated, untaxed sources of cigarettes.”

Calvin added that many teenagers do not get cigarettes from retail stores but from older relatives or acquaintances.

“It would seem to me that if

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A new bill attempts to reduce youth exposure to cigarettes.

three-quarters or more of teenage smokers are getting their cigarettes in that manner, that would be the primary focus rather than heaping more regulations onto the licensed retail stores,” he said.

Dr. Cheryl Healton, NYU dean of global public health, acknowledged that parental use is a factor in the initiation of teen smoking but said that Bloomberg’s proposal has been effective in other countries, such as Canada and Australia, in reducing youth access to cigarettes.

“Policy initiatives like the one the mayor is proposing which limit the time, place and manner of sale can lower smoking rates,” she said. “[He] is to be commended.”

Tisch freshman Alex Randazzo still did not think Bloomberg’s proposal would be effective in reducing teen smoking.

“I don’t really see what it would accomplish,” he said. “Seeing their parents smoke or even just watching actors smoke in movies has more of an effect than seeing it in a store window.”

Additional reporting by Andrew Karpan. Veronica Carchedi is city/state editor. Email her at vcarchedi@nyunews.com.

Elegance dance to be held at Metropolitan

By KEVIN BURNS

The annual NYU Elegance Dance will be moving to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this year, leaving its traditional cruiseship location for the first time in its 15-year history.

For the past 14 years, the annual dance organized by the Inter-Residence Hall Council was hosted on a cruise ship on the Hudson River. This year, partygoers will be able to enjoy dancing and refreshments in the Egyptian wing of the Met. Abby Ehrlich, IRHC co-vice president and a third-year SCPS student, said the move to the Met will allow 600 more students to attend.

“We really wanted to do something special this year and we also wanted to expand the number of students that could attend,” Erlich said. It was the fifth annual Flurry in the fall, the 10th annual UVL in the winter and now the 15th annual Elegance this spring.

“This has been the year of IRHC anniversaries,” Ehrlich said.

Previously, IRHC could only sell a maximum of 400 tickets. This year, they have 1,000 tickets to sell.

IRHC president Olivia Baackes said that IRHC worked with the Met’s College Group to secure the location of the dance. She also added that IRHC primarily focused on expanding attendance and providing a new experience.

“For the last 14 years we have

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held Elegance on a boat. Cruises like Elegance have soared in popularity in the last few years, especially on our campus,” said Baackes.

“We wanted to provide a different, unique experience that students will remember for a long time after graduation,” she said.

The dance will feature tours of the museum and music by DJ John Hamilton, a New York City-based artist.

Attendees are expected to dress in formal attire.

CAS sophomore Ryan Nicholas said he plans to use Elegance as an opportunity to meet girls at NYU. “I can put on a good impression, because I’ll be dressed nicely,” Nicholas said.

Tickets are $20 and are currently available through NYU Ticket Central. The Elegance Dance will be held on April 4 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Met. Kevin Burns is deputy university editor. Email him at kburns@nyunews.com.

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Skipping class may be costly for students though many continue to forgo, citing lack of value

However, many students do have a grasp on how much money is being wasted each time they skip a class, but feel that the quality of information gained from class is more important than its monetary value.

CAS sophomore April Joo skips the same class usually at least once a week.

“The class is a joke,” Joo said. “I do not skip classes where I learn things or that I deem important.”

Others students find that they can do something better with their time, despite the cost.

For instance, Gallatin freshman Rachel Wang has a passion for fashion and design. She sometimes skips classes she feels are not directly helping her perfect these skills and are thus ultimately not helping her future profession in the fashion industry.

Although Wang wishes the cost would convince her not to skip, she said she probably will continue to skip some classes, specifically the ones that she did not choose to take.

“Some classes that I’m required to take are very dull, and I could spend those $200 on something else I feel is more fitting,” she said.

GLS sophomore Gurkaran Gulati also skips class to pursue what he believes is more important.

“I started a company and it required more time than just

what I could provide in between classes, so I did unfortunately have to skip a few,” he said. However, Gulati said he would not skip class for any other reason.

Joo said that a student pays tuition for the ultimate achievement of graduating from NYU — a school whose name carries a certain prestige in the job market.

“You’re paying to get credits toward a diploma,” Joo said.

“You’re just paying for the name.”

Many of these students justify skipping because their grades are still what they want them to be. Wang said that as long as her grades are satisfactory, she and her parents have no problem with her skipping class.

Tisch sophomore David Song, who skipped many International Writing classes last year, only decided to stop skipping when he saw his grade — the cost was not what changed his mind.

Steinhardt sophomore Moto Suzuki, who skips classes three or four times a week, said the key to encouraging students to attend class is convincing them they will benefit from being there.

“Make the classes worthwhile, meaning the students will likely apply the knowledge they get from the classes

in their real life, either in the present or in the future,” he said.

Crystal Cox is a contributing writer. Email her at investigative@nyunews.com.

Step one: Divide the cost of tuition per semester by the number of courses taken in one semester.

Step two: Use the value from step one and divide by the number of times the class meets each semester.

Example: CAS Tuition: $21,657 Number of courses: 4 Number of classes: 28 (two times a week for 14 weeks) $21,657 ÷ 4 = $5,414.25 $5,414.25 ÷ 28 = $193.37

New kiosks bridge technology, information for travelers

By GEORGIA DUDMAN

The Metropolitan Transit Authority has hired two companies to install 90 47-inch On The Go interactive maps later this year. The On The Go kiosks can help subway users find their way and displays useful information such as delays, outages, ads and the weather forecast.

They will soon be seen outside pay machine areas, inside mezzanines and on subway platforms.

“With On the Go, we are adding yet another layer of state-ofthe-art customer communications into our subway system, but it goes far beyond the already helpful information provided by our countdown clocks and the displays in our new technology subway cars,” said MTA New York City Transit President Thomas Prendergast in a press release.

Each kiosk will show subway users how to get from one station to another. To access information, users tap their destination and the kiosks display the best route. It will also feature tourist highlights.

For example, the map might offer the Empire State Building and directions to the 34th Street-Herald Square subway station.

For those who complain they have no cell phone service at subway stations, these new devices will offer Wi-Fi. Security cameras will use the connection to function, and the MTA will use them to observe what is happening.

Each kiosk will be built into stainless steel with a functional temperature of up to 200 degrees — 80 degrees higher than New York’s highest recorded temperatures. It is estimated that the cost of each kiosk will be under $15,000.

A few of the devices were put to the test in September 2011, and received positive feedback. The original kiosks, designed by Antenna Design New York Inc., were placed in the Bowling Green, Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center and Jackson Heights-Roosevelt Avenue subway stations as well as Pennsylvania Station and Grand Central Terminal.

“Taken together, this is an unprecedented amount of information made available to subway and commuter rail customers,” Prendergast said in the press release.

“These state-of-the-art customer communications kiosks provide instant information that makes using the transit system more efficient,” he said.

The MTA has contracted out the newest set of kiosks to CBS Outdoor and Control Group Inc. “The kiosks could be beneficial during natural disasters like Hurricane Sandy, with information able to reach people within seconds,” said Colin O’Donnell, a founding partner at Control Group.

“NYC serves people of all abilities, physical and financial. Even though as much as 60 percent of the population has a mobile phone, it’s really not fair to have that as a requirement to navigating the city,” O’Donnell said.

Both companies will have some creative freedom in laying out and designing the MTA kiosks and have not yet established a concrete timeline when they will be rolled out this year.

Josh Kramb, 39, of Kingston, N.Y., often comes to the city on business and admits that he got lost the first time he used the subway system.

“I would probably use those [kiosks],” he said. “A lot of the signage down there is pretty confusing.”

Additional reporting

by Andrew Karpan. Georgia Dudman is a contributing writer.

Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM

BEAUTY AND STYLE

EDITED BY MICHELLE LIM BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM

Women’s fashion: Styling leather vests for perfect look

By LAYLA ILCHI Leather vests have always been unique pieces for amping up a tough and grungy look. This spring, the trends focus heavily on leather, but this interesting material may not always be the most versatile piece in your wardrobe. Look to these tips to easily style a leather vest, no matter what your personal style is.

RISK-TAKER

RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

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GIRLY GIRL Night: Go for a more colorful vest, like red or purple. This will give your outfit a fun pop of color. Under the vest, wear a simple A-line dress in a neutral color. Add on a chunky necklace and some three-inch pumps to give your look an edge against the sweet feminine side.

Day: Options are endless when it comes to a risk-taker and the leather vest. Pair the vest with a patterned bustier top and a matching pleated, black leather skirt. The bold pattern under your vest will stand out and give your outfit texture. Don’t be afraid to wear stand-out shoes, including creepers or spiked loafers.

Night: Try a vest with some studs and spikes for a daring look. Under the vest wear a bodycon dress in a loud color, like red, hot pink or midnight blue. This emphasizes the brashness of your vest. Add some statement accessories, like chunky rings and bracelets, and complete the outfit with patterned Doc Martens combat boots or some dangerously high heels.

Layla Ilchi is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Beyond the clothing: Top NYFW make-up trends

By BHAKTI KHUBCHANDANI

The makeup trends displayed at the New York Fashion Week for this spring are seen as an unexpected surprise as they effortlessly combine various key trends of past decades.

Check out the top four spring trends that highlight the boldness of the colorful decades, including bright and popping eyes, lips and brows.

DARING RED LIPS The beauty of the ’40s fashion trends was their elegance. Makeup remained simple: a natural look with nude eye shadow, a light swipe of mascara and dramatic red lips. Although the classic red remains prevalent, this spring try pink-red, deep maroon and light pink shades. In their New York Fashion Week spring/summer 2013 collection, Prada used a technique of outlining just outside the lips with red pencil to make them appear more full. Alternatively, LipFusion lip gloss can be used to plump lips up a little.

CAT EYES The famous ’60s look of exaggerated cat eyes will be all over this spring.

Applying thick eyeliner is the key, but you can experiment as you wish. From an upward flick to a strong contrast of thick black eyeliner against a prominent silver eye shadow base, making a statement is essential. Another promising look for this spring is a softly smudged effect, above and below the eye. BCBG and Versace beautifully dem-

onstrated this look, primarily along with toned-down lips. You can be also be adventurous with the thick eyeliner by using hues of neon colors.

NEON EYES The ’70s and ’80s were all about rebellion — from disco to rock — and, understandably, the makeup was all about the wildest colors and boldest looks imaginable. This season is about bright eye shadows, primarily blues and pinks. Donna Karan exposed the power of pink, and Michael Kors and Kate Spade used a prominent sky blue to exhibit sweet looks. Apply from solely the crevice to the whole eyelid to a thick line below the eye to even a bold single line of blue above the eyelid altogether.

DRAMATIC BROWS AND LASHES The bold brows from the ’80s have returned. On the runway, Marc Jacobs’ models flaunted their thick, bushy yet cleanly shaped eyebrows to create strong and present women. This look can be recreated by either filling in relatively thick eyebrows or drawing them out with a brow pencil or powder with the use of stencils. This spring looks as if it will be all about drama, so try it by going for ultra thick and dramatically curled lashes.

Select salons provide a relatively new service of temporarily curling lashes.

Bhakti Khubchandani is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

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MICHELLE LIM/WSN

Day: If you don’t want to toughen up your look too much, opt for a vest in a light shade, like white or cream. The lighter color will take off the added punk but still give your look a slight edgy feel, maintaining your girly style.

Pair the vest with a floral dress and ballet flats to juxtapose your feminine aesthetic with the roughness of the vest.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

ARTS

EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

STROKES continued from PG. 1

The Strokes’ creative growth culminates in ‘Comedown Machine’

Hammond Jr.’s solo efforts and wouldn’t be out of place on the soundtrack of a Sundance film.

The album’s standout track, “Call it Fate, Call it Karma,” is also its biggest surprise. The song ends the record with an eerily stunning waltz that sounds as if it’s from a different era. With a pianoladen melody and distantly haunting vocals from lead singer Julian Casablancas, the track proves that The Strokes have the skills to tackle any genre.

Casablancas offers more versatility with his voice on the record, ranging from a slippery falsetto on “Partners in Crime” to a hoarse growl on the Iggy Pop-esque “50/50.” The result is both disorienting and captivating, and it blends smoothly with the background of subdued drums, steady bass and frenetic guitars.

Like “Angles,” “Comedown Machine” features a large number of seemingly clashing influences, though this time they blend together seamlessly for an entirely new yet still quintessential Strokes sound.

No other band has been able to explore their sound as thoroughly as The Strokes have while still holding on to that raw style that characterized their iconic first album. It’s far better for a band to experiment with new influences regardless of the results than for it to rehash the same albums over and over. And while one might still yearn for the days of trashing Letterman’s studio and lovingly kissing onstage, it’s time to face facts: The Strokes have grown up.

Alexandria Ethridge is music editor.

Email her at aethridge@nyunews.com.

Production of ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’ struggles to capture magic of novella

By OLIVIA GEORGE

Following in the footsteps of Audrey Hepburn is not an easy task, but “Game of Thrones” star Emilia Clarke treads especially heavily as Holly Golightly, New York’s most famous good-time girl, in the new stage adaptation of Truman Capote’s novella, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

The new iteration, directed by Sean Mathias, remains much truer to the Capote’s original story than the 1961 film. This film-noir inspired production, complete with Venetian blinds, is charged with saxophones and sex appeal.

The action opens on a rainy night with a man in a fedora to complete the aesthetic. Mathias chooses to lead us down a new, dark path — a path we would follow willingly, if only his collaborators didn’t constantly undermine him at every turn. Richard Greenburg’s stage adaptation pulls many lines directly from the film, creating a jarring disconnect that removes the audience from the sultry, new world Mathias works so hard to create.

Clarke’s over-the-top performance as Holly is immature and feels like a misunderstanding of theater acting. It is a sloppy and extreme transition from the more conservative work that happens in front of a camera.

However, while Golightly possesses an essential “je ne sais quoi,” which

Two-hour premieres test viewers’ patience

By JAKE FOLSOM

On April 7, fans of the drama “Mad Men” will tune in to AMC, rally their attention spans and commit two hours of their time for the show’s sixth season premiere. Long premieres often feel more intrusive than an intentional viewing marathon, but the two-hour premiere has become increasingly popular among shows with considerably less critical clout than “Mad Men.” However, the two-hour premiere is used to little effect. After an aggressive publicity campaign, “TV Guide” reports that “Red Widow’s” recent opening brought in lukewarm ratings.

The logic behind a two-hour series premiere seems unclear — why would viewers set aside two hours for a new show while there is so much content waiting online or in TV repeats? Even if “Red Widow” sounds thrilling, why take a chance when “The Sopranos” is just a click away?

This phenomenon is far from confined to the world of scripted television. “The Celebrity Apprentice: All Stars” recently employed the tactic and debuted with record-low ratings.

However, the recent “RuPaul’s Drag Race” season five premiere brought in more viewers than any previous premiere on LOGO. “Dancing with the Stars” has an annual two-hour premiere and maintains decent ratings.

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Why does “Apprentice” fail where “Drag Race” and “Dancing” succeed?

Trump’s noxious media presence has likely played a role in the “Apprentice” slump. Further, the other two shows enjoy dedicated fan bases and stable formulas while “Apprentice” has transformed, fortifying its disappointing quality over the past several seasons.

Thus, the two-hour premiere doesn’t seem problematic for shows with dedicated viewers. The extra hour seems unlikely to deter committed fans, yet it scares away more casual viewers. As people continue to marathon shows online, it seems they have an increasing tolerance for long TV-sittings. But executives fail to grasp that the two-hour premiere is a hurdle to overcome, not an incentive to tune in.

Netflix marathons happen on our own terms, and few cross their fingers for an extra hour of commercialblocked television. A high rating for a two-hour premiere is surely a testament to appreciation for the show, but it says nothing about whether people desire an extra hour. Even for fans, the two-hour premiere is likely to feel daunting rather than exhilarating.

It may mean more content, but it also requires more commitment.

Jake Folsom is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.

Hepburn epitomized, Clark’s performance fails to showcase the same charm. While Hepburn’s Golightly was wholly enamoring in a “men want her and women want to be her” sort of way, only the former is true of Clarke’s, and even that may be due more to her skimpy costuming than anything else.

The full-bodied actress proves, in all other respects, painfully thin.

The blame for a hollowed-out Holly, however, does not fall completely on Clarke. Most of the story is told in direct address to the audience. The aforementioned fedora-donning man is our narrator and Holly’s nameless neighbor. She christens him Fred, at first, after her enlisted brother. Later we know him simply — and appropriately — as Darling.

Cory Michael Smith plays Fred with a youthful and endearing naivete. But the narration Greenburg gives him replaces real-time character development, diminishing Holly Golightly from a complicated human to a twodimensional legend.

If it weren’t for the tender testimonials of Fred and Joe, a local bartender played delightfully by George Wendt, we would never know what all the fuss about Holly was about. Those passages, however, are revealingly genuine. In one particularly lovely moment, Fred likens loving Holly to living in a year that

is made up of only October over and over. In that brief moment, we certainly understand the fuss.

“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” is playing now through Sept. 1 at the Cort Theater.

Olivia George is books/theater editor. Email her at ogeorge@nyunews.com.

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Eran Creevy plays with film conventions in ‘Punch’

By CLIO MCCONNELL

Writer and director Eran Creevy’s “Welcome to the Punch” is not an unconventional action movie, but it carries out the conventions quite effectively.

This sort of film strives to raise that all-important question — who are the good guys, and who are the bad guys? “Punch” keeps audiences guessing straight through to the end, and, perhaps most interestingly, it fails to fall definitively on one side or the other.

As the opening credits play, we are placed into the center of the action as we watch a highstakes car chase. Max Lewinsky (James McAvoy) is a London police detective in pursuit of Jacob Sternwood (Mark Strong), a man of unspecified ill repute.

Sternwood is flanked by his coconspirator, Roy Edwards (Peter Mullan). A few minutes in, the unarmed Max is closing in on the criminals when Sternwood shoots him in the leg, conveniently forging a personal vendetta between the two men.

What follows is some quick

exposition describing Max’s downward spiral after getting shot. He is passed over for a promotion and becomes a mess of resentment and superiority, having to bite his tongue when he disagrees with his bosses’ decisions.

However, when the long-cold trail of Jacob Sternwood warms up, Max can’t help but get involved. He drags his partner Sarah (infused with spunk by Andrea Riseborough) into the conflict, but he refuses to take her advice on the case, instead choosing to act rashly time and time again.

“Punch” comes closest to falling apart here. After all, why should Max’s superiors allow him to be involved with the case at all when he is clearly too close to it? His singlemindedness causes far more trouble than it’s worth, especially since Sarah finds the ultimate clue far before Max is even aware that she has a lead.

Sadly, McAvoy’s over-brooding personification of the character makes him petulant rather than passionate.

While McAvoy may not be perfectly suited to the action

hero role, Strong is just right as the aptly named Sternwood, a solemn and strangely compassionate man with a murky past. Strong uses his considerable acting talent to pull off a characterization that is simultaneously sympathetic and apathetic. Mullan makes an excellent comrade for Strong, as an old-school partner in crime to Sternwood.

Ostensibly, “Punch” is a mostly compelling cop thriller with some nice cinematography, some good casting but some questionable plot points. What makes “Punch” interesting is that the normal “good versus evil” mold does not apply in the traditional sense. The law-abiding police officer has a tendency to be far more violent than the outlaw, but even Max is not nearly the worst of the supposed good guys. In the end, nemeses are forced to unite in the face of a force that has done significantly more harm than either of them.

Clio McConnell is a senior editor. Email her at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.

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Crossword Across

29 Sainted king

1 Some Lawrence Welk music 6 Fishhook part 10 Rating for many a sitcom 14 V. S. Naipaul’s “___ in the River” 15 Broken-heart symptom 16 Slippery like a fish 17 Cracker spreads 18 Construction on the Colorado River 20 French girlfriend 21 Put on the radio 22 Brockovich and others 23 DNA modelers 27 Planted 28 Lacto-___ vegetarian

who inspired a carol 33 “American Idol” winner ___ Allen 37 Furry allies of Luke Skywalker 38 Org. with a staff of auditors 39 Blazing 40 Morning moistures 41 Lycanthropes 43 ___ Jima 44 Yours, in Tours 45 Publicly funded residential complex 52 Somewhat, informally 53 “Tasty!”

54 Man ___ (racehorse) 55 Lawman at the O.K. Corral 58 ___ Vista (part of Disney) 59 Old one, in Austria 60 Each, pricewise

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE S N A G

L O C O

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61 The Jetsons’

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62 Molson or

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63 “___-daisy!”

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64 Thumbs-up

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Down 1 Elongated fruit from a tree 2 44th president 3 Phrase sung three times in a row in a holiday song 4 Shin coverers 5 Commercials 6 Coastal Brazilian state 7 Oak nut 8 Letter after pi 9 Pepsi or O.J. 10 Country singer Gibbs 11 Pertaining to Hindu scriptures 12 Pirate ship feature 13 School areas with high ceilings 19 Architect Saarinen 21 St. ___ (London neighborhood) 24 Has a negative net worth 25 Put out, as a flame 26 Rite Aid competitor 29 Tie the knot 30 Lamb raiser 31 Rest atop 32 Flight board abbr.

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puzzle by barry franklin and sara kaplan

33 1,000 watt-

seconds

34 Ones quoted

on Rotten Tomatoes

35 Anger 36 Method: Abbr.

39 Pic

41 Conflict for

which “Over There” was written: Abbr.

42 Toasty 43 “The hour ___ hand” 45 Card game rules expert 46 Speechify 47 Out-and-out

48 Greek

sandwiches

49 Litter member 50 Birchbark, e.g.

51 Places for

dental tools

52 Deck washer 56 Mer contents 57 iPad user’s

purchase

58 Ottoman nabob

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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

GUN CONTROL

Gun registeries make democratic sense

By RAQUEL WOODRUFF

National Rifle Association leaders and gun enthusiasts fret over sensible background checks leading to a national registry of gun sales, purchases and owners. Why anyone who claims to care about the safety of Americans, including small children, would be opposed to a system that keeps track of the retail of firearms is baffling.

The notion that a national registry is tyrannical is absurd. If someone purchases a weapon that shoots bullets, he or she should be documented.

With a right comes responsibility. We have the right to freedom of speech, but what we say can be threatening.

Was there any backlash after the North Carolina man who threatened to kill President Barack Obama on Twitter back in September was arrested by the Secret Service?

The public conversation on gun control has become increasingly frustrating because it has distorted the truth of this debate. First off, public opinion numbers are on the side of gun critics. According to a national survey conducted by Johns Hopkins University and published in the New England Journal of Medicine, 89 percent of all respondents — and 75 percent of those identified

as NRA members — support universal background checks for gun sales.

So why does the national debate on gun control continue to be dominated by the people who are against any type of practical gun regulation?

Because the heads of the NRA and the Karl Roves of the United States will do anything to keep their guns.

Let’s keep in mind that the NRA has roughly 3 million members — a small percentage of the 70 million Americans who own firearms. But the measly 30 percent of NRA members who don’t want background checks are echoing on Capitol Hill.

The positions of the NRA are so entrenched in American gun culture today that many gun critics have given up any hope for true gun control legislation being passed, especially after the proposed assault weapons ban

was just killed in Congress.

We need our own coalition — an association with as much recognition and as much of a voice as the NRA to fight back. We have sprawled-out gun control advocacy groups but we need a consolidated coalition that is going to address this issue with as much passion as the NRA. The NRA is not the voice of America on guns, but a distraction from a real solution to the problem.

Its biggest advocates have misled and misinformed the American people, and it’s time the truth is just as loud as the lies.

The more attention paid to the gun control fight the better. We need to keep talking, raising awareness, participating in the debate and calling representatives. We need to start caring as deeply about the safety of people as much as the heads of the NRA care about holding onto their guns. Maybe then the prospect of gun control won’t be as hopeless in the face of a perverted gun culture that obsesses over a Second Amendment right but rejects any measures to ensure responsibility.

Raquel Woodruff is deputy opinion editor. Email her at rwoodruff@nyunews.com.

POLITICS

Politics should be more than empty rhetoric

By SHAMIR TANNA

Stalemate politics are especially obvious in the United States given the current budget battle and sequestration holding the U.S. economy hostage — the latter an ironic byproduct and continuation of a prior budget stalemate. Sound bites, hashtags and Twitter feeds are now dominant parts of the dialogue.

The reality, however, is that these issues are by nature extraordinarily complex in theory and in practice within democracies of any size. Intuitive and ideological approaches are often not enough and, in many cases, don’t work the way in which the public is led to believe.

Another primary talking point has been the need for universal background checks. Again, a measure seemingly necessary but the act of the background check is only one part of the total screening process. The database, for example, which is the foundation on which the background checks is based, has been reported as inadequate, porous and itself will take much effort and cooperation to fix.

SUBMITTING TO

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A look at other major policy debates right now raises more questions within the mainstream debate. The fiscal tightening approach to solving the high public debt levels in the economy has been seen as fundamental to an extent by both parties. But does it work, especially during these difficult economic times? According to a recent IMF report, this approach may actually increase debt levels in the short-term and have negative implications for growth.

And health care — although not targeted with the sweeping reforms that most hope for — is a field ripe with innovation and entrepreneurial ideas. Again, significant voices in the field, including prominent physicians and health economists with

access to a host of on-the-ground experience and data, point out that there are currently several loopholes and argue that pay for performance does not target the root problem of health-care spending.

These are not meant to be putdowns of certain policies but instead examples of essential perspectives from valid and informed stakeholders. We need to think twice, maybe even three times, when it comes to politics. The challenge and purpose of policy-making and governing is not only about winning, getting votes or signing bills but also the process of creating, implementing, monitoring and continuously adapting policies and measures in the most rigorous way. Being continuously analytical and going beyond the rhetoric and political associations allows the best chance for progress in a society that is becoming more complicated with greater opportunities and challenges.

Shamir Tanna is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Subway pregnancy ads stigmatize teen parents

“Honestly, Mom ... chances are he won’t stay with you.

What happens to me?” wonders a little girl on a poster that can be seen on the New York City subway lately.

Under the pseudo-sarcastic phrase is a scary statistic: “90 percent of teen parents don’t marry each other.”

The poster is part of the most recent controversial, headline-grabbing move by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration — a campaign against teen pregnancy.

The tangible effects of such a campaign are decisively negative and only serve to further isolate and stigmatize those young mothers who cannot turn back the hands of time. While it is important to highlight the alarming trends of poverty among teen parents and their children, these tactics put all eggs in the prevention basket and callously disregard the necessity of improving the quality of life for young mothers and fathers. What kind of misguided message are we sending to those individuals who need positive support most? That they are inherently and forever sub-class citizens? That we are infallible and they should have known better? The hypocrisy with which many claim to care about living standards for impoverished youth and yet champion these shame campaigns is frankly disgraceful and anachronistic.

Yet, stigmatization of teen parents is not a new tactic when it comes to deterring teen pregnancies­ — in the 1920s, when, for example, an average of one out of six African American babies born in Chicago was to an unmarried couple, young parents faced severe social pressure and nontraditional backlash. Decreasing teen pregnancy rates is a common goal for most of the nation, and reverting back to old approaches that focus on shaming young mothers and fathers have clearly been ineffective, as teenage pregnancy rates have not decreased in the last century. The proper way to combat this problem is empowerment rather than embarrassment.

Instead of focusing on negative ad campaigns, Bloomberg should concentrate on broadening sex education, contraception availability and support systems for young parents. These posters will not serve as a lasting defense against teen pregnancy, and the threat of stigmatization will not scare teens out of having premarital sex. We challenge any of the proponents of such advertising to ask themselves whether they made any life-altering mistakes during their adolescence, and whether it was reinforcement or disgrace that ultimately allowed them to move on.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co–Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co–Chair), Nickhil Sethi, Matt Luo, Nina Golshan, Ian Mark, Jess Littman, Marcelo Cicconet

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.

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8

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY MARY JANE DUMANKAYA SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

NCAA tournament falls to 16 teams

By SAM BARDER

In what felt like a matter of seconds, the NCAA tournament field was whittled down from 64 teams to 16, concluding some of the most exciting days on the sports calendar. What is left is a combination of players and coaches with just the amount of talent and luck that allowed them to reach the benchmark that is the Sweet 16.

Let’s start with Thursday, where the day began quietly, the only near-upset being thirdseeded Marquette barely escaping Davidson. Had it not been for Vander Blue’s layup with one second to play, Marquette would have gone home early.

Gonzaga followed suit, allowing No. 16 seed Southern to stick around for far too long, leading fans to wonder if the ever-imminent No. 16 seed over a No. 1 seed will actually ever happen.

These turned out to be just appetizers for the action that would occur later that evening.

The classic No. 12 seed over No. 5 seed upset occurred twice, with University of California, Berkeley and the severely under-seeded Oregon Ducks both beating University of Nevada,

Las Vegas and Oklahoma State, respectively. Harvard, though, would provide the biggest upset of the day a few hours later, beating the over-seeded No. 3 New Mexico Lobos.

Friday was even better — not only did another No. 12 beat a No. 5 seed with the University of Mississippi over Wisconsin, but for only the seventh time in history, a No. 15 seed toppled a No. 2 seed, as Florida Gulf Coast took care of Georgetown. Minnesota also won over University of California, Los Angeles, concluding their disappointing season.

In what had been a wild two days, of constant channel-changing, continual excitement and of course upsets, the field was down to 32.

Saturday and Sunday saw some of the perennial favorites flex their muscles as Michigan State, University of Michigan, Louisville, Duke and Florida all cruised to victories. Not surprisingly, the No. 1 seed went down, as Gonzaga, who hadn’t beaten a ranked team in 2013, lost to Wichita State. Florida Gulf Coast was able to continue their magical run as well, becoming the first No. 15 seed to ever make it to the Sweet 16. And thus, the

field was set ­­with a group that almost no one could have predicted, yet at the same time was intriguing and exciting.

The best of these matchups is the battle for Florida between the Florida Gators and the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.

Though the Gators are currently 13-point favorites, the Eagles have proven themselves in just two tournament games. The other great matchup is between two of the best coaches in the game today. Michigan State and its March magician Tom Izzo will take on the always prepared and talented Duke Blue Devils, led by none other than Mike Krzyzewski. This highlights the extremely difficult Midwest region, which also houses the overall number one seed Louisville Cardinals and a very solid Oregon Ducks squad.

The tournament moves from an exciting first weekend filled with surprise to a second weekend filled with more talented basketball. The matchups will be better, the stars will shine and the field will get smaller, once again.

Sam Barder is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

BEAUTY AND STYLE SNAPBACKS continued from PG. 1

Snapback caps make comeback among trendy hats

their creation, but their popularity in casual dress has since waned. They re-emerged starting in the early ’90s among rappers such as Tupac Shakur and Ice T. These musicians began the process of redefining the snapback, from a functional accessory to a symbol of the hip-hop generation and fashion statement.

Today, rappers like Mac Miller, Big Sean and Jay-Z are known for wearing snapbacks. The hat style has also been featured in many songs, such as Chris Brown and Tyga’s “Snapbacks Back,” Mac Miller’s “Snap Back” or “Wear My Hat,” and Driicky Graham’s “Snapbacks & Tattoos.”

As GLS freshman and Australian native River Anton said, “I’ve been wearing them all my life, even as a kid.”

A simple addition to any outfit, it’s easy to see how snapbacks have remained a part of popular culture for such a long time.

“I usually wear them with anything,” Anton said.

While Anton usually orders his snapbacks online, the hats can be found for good prices in stores such as Zumiez, Lids or even de-

partment stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom. Even though many wear hats to represent their favorite sports team, non-sports affiliated brands are Obey, Diamond Supply Co. and Supreme.

“There’s this whole world of snapback rules,” LSP freshman Elise Traywick said. “It’s got to be tilted to the side or to the back.

It can never just be straight on.”

However, both men and women, regardless of their personal sense of style, can incorporate this timeless piece in their outfit. For men, it can be paired with a simple tee and jeans, flannel or hoodie. For women, it can be a way to dress down a girly look, adding a hip-hop and skater edge. Style it with a military jacket and combat boots to add personality to an otherwise plain look.

Anton admits that “[he’s] not necessarily fashion conscious,” but the choice to wear a snapback is an easy way to ensure that he will always look good.

Nicole Puglise is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.