NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 40, No. 36
tuesday, march 27, 2012
nyunews.com
City named the most competitive in world
University honored nationally for service
By Tony Chau
By Elizabeth Maguire
New York is the most competitive city in the world for doing business, according to a recently released report commissioned by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The report, “Hot spots: Benchmarking global city competitiveness,” defines competitiveness as the ability to draw in capital, businesses, talent and visitors. New York City topped London and Singapore, which ranked second and third, respectively. Eight discrete categories of competitiveness and 31 individual indicators determined to the overall ranking. New York fared especially well in economic strength (fourth), financial maturity (fifth) and social and cultural character (tied for second). The city’s high ranking in economic strength was a major factor in the overall top ranking, as that category was weighed heavier
R BUSINESS continued on PG. 3
COURTESY OF LYNETTE SERRANO
A group of students volunteered in Joplin, MO, during an Alternative Breaks trip.
NYU was honored in the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction of the Corporation for National and Community Service earlier this month. Founded in 2006, the honor roll recognizes outstanding service at colleges and universities across the nation. Other recipients of the award include Cornell University, Northwestern University, Michigan State University and University of California, Los Angeles. “Institutions must display a strong ... commitment to community service compelling partnerships that produce measurable impact and have in place a Federal Work Study community service percentage of 15 percent or above,” said Samnatha Wakefield, a representative for the CNC service.
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‘Mad Men’ shows no sign of slowing down in fifth season premiere By Bethany McHugh Despite being more than a year removed from the last new episode of “Mad Men,” Sunday’s season five premiere was worth the wait. Don Draper and crew returned having undergone incredible experiences that set the stage for the future of this hit drama. The two-hour opener was truly a movie experience, reacquainting the audience with the late-1960s universe and the characters they learned to live without. Don Draper had a surprisingly small role for the episode, a contrast to his normally domineering presence. Sally Draper introduced the changes, stumbling upon a naked Don and Megan in his new house. A stereotypically perfect family is displayed, even without Betty. The only nod to the ex-wife is when Don drops his children off at her swanky new mansion. What the writers of “Mad Men” do best is put their characters in the hardest possible positions and deliver tremendous reactions — no one gets off easy. Perfectly illustrating this is Peggy, who gave up her baby four years ago only to now handle Joan’s baby at the office. Pete, meanwhile, calls all the partners in to discuss a change in his office arrangement, starkly contrasting the aging partners opposite the new generation of talent. The most complex parallel made is be-
tween Roger and Don. Don did exactly what Roger did two years prior — divorce his wife, marry his secretary and feign happiness. And Roger, in this episode, is nothing but lost. Without Joan, he despises Jane. It’s a cycle that will certainly play out in the coming seasons. It’s hard to believe that no one from this show has won an Emmy for his or her performance. This cast is stunning, and Elisabeth Moss and Jon Hamm have charged chemistry whenever they are together. And John Slattery singing “Frère Jacques,” mocking Megan’s birthday present to Don was nothing short of priceless. The episode also smartly sets the stage for the next three years with the question “Who is Don Draper?” We’ve met the mysterious Don, the scandalous, the faithful, the scorned and the lost. Right now, he appears to be at his most pathetic and delusional, which may not be something viewers will be interested in for long. If the writing and direction can maintain its high quality, fans may be able to forgive the alterations to his character. But with Don so central to the show, it will be curious to see where they take his character in the coming episodes. Bethany McHugh is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF AMC
The Season five premier of “Mad Men” showcased Don Draper’s birthday celebration.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, march 27, 2012 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
STAFF RecoMmendations Draw Something Draw Something is a new iPhone app that has everybody scrambling to find more friends to play with. Based on OMGPop’s popular web game, Draw Something is essentially a modernized pictionary. With word choices ranging from simple objects to celebrities, Draw Something ensures that there is something for everyone. — Chris Saccaro
HowSweetEats.com Do you live in a dorm without a kitchen and wish you had equipment to cook with? Or maybe you do have a kitchen and wish you knew how to cook. Whether you want to torture yourself with delicious recipes or inspire yourself to improve your culinary skills, check out the food blog “How Sweet It Is” at howsweeteats.com. You’ll be drooling in no time. — Clio McConnell
Battle Royale While “The Hunger Games” may be getting all the buzz, a similar novel-turned-film about teenagers fighting to the death is also worth checking out. The Japanese film “Battle Royale” revolves around a group of ninth-grade students who are captured by the government and forced to battle until there is one survivor. Unlike “The Hunger Games,” the students all know each other, and that alone makes the story much more terrifying. — Jeremy Grossman
“The Big C” The hit show “The Big C” is returning this April to Showtime. Staring Laura Linney as Cathy Jamison, “The Big C” is a dark dramedy following Cathy’s life after she was diagnosed with cancer. The show finds the perfect balance between heart-wrenching moments and laugh-out-loud humor with the help of a great ensemble, including Gabriel Basso and Gabourey Sidibe. — Chris Saccaro
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1 p.m. | 1 Washington Square North | Parlor
6:30 p.m. | 40 Washington Square South | Vanderbilt Hall, 214
7 p.m. | Percussion Penthouse | 35 W. 4th St.
Does Speedy EPA Enforcement Violate Due Process?
Ed Roscetti will perform in this percussion master class as part of a series put on by the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development.
This panel and luncheon will focus on issues of aging and careers in the field of gerontology.
Managing Editor
jaewon kang Deputy Managing Editor
Amy zhang Assistant Managing Editor
james lanning 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 investigative feiye wang music josh johnson film stefan Melnyk entertainment jeremy grossman books/theater clio Mcconnell dining hannah borenstein beauty & style shannon
loughran riley
1 Gerontology Student Collective Presents: Careers in Aging Panel Event
Editor-in-Chief amanda randone
sports John axelrod, cole
all images via flickr
TODAY
Washington Square News
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Sackett v. United States Environmental Proctection Agency: Prominent environmental and legal experts will discuss an important upcoming EPA decision while enjoying a free meal with students.
Percussion Master Class Series
special issues kristina bogos multimedia james kelleher copy jordan melendrez social media agent nicole gartside
opinion page
opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editor ATTICUS
BRIGHAM, SANCHAY JAIN
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO circulation manager
chloe coffman
university sales coordinator
Emilia Mironovici
SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
Competition makes benefit glorious nation of Kazakhstan
The Kazakhstan shooting team is demanding an apology after a tournament in Kuwait played a parody of the Kzakh National Anthem at a medal ceremony. The organizers of the tournament say they downloaded the fake anthem, which was from the film “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,” off the Internet by mistake. The national anthem parody praises Kazakhstan for having clean prostitutes and says other countries are “run by little girls.” — MSNBC
University of Florida
University of Florida Relay for Life raises $127, 000 — The Independent Florida Alligator
Two pairs of sunglasses wait to be purchased at the Noho market.
PHOTO BY WENDI LIU
Ohio University
Students face 3rd year of tuition hike — The Post
sales representatives
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 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 Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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nyunews.com | tuesday, march 27, 2012 | Washington Square news
NYU ranked first in number of graduates
BUSINESS continued from PG. 1
NYC named most competitive in the world
than the others at 30 percent of the overall score. Sudhir Vadaketh, editor of the report, said he believes New York is unique because of its variety. “Unlike many other cities, New York City’s economy is powered by a wide range of industries, from the media, arts and fashion to technology and finance,” he said. “In short, whatever you want to do, you can do it in New York City.” Vadaketh also praised the Bloomberg administration for its role in shaping the competitiveness of the city. “Much of the credit should go to Mayor Bloomberg’s office,” he said. Fred Choi, a dean emeritus and distinguished Stern service professor of business, explained the relationship between the mayor and the city’s competitiveness. “The city is headed by a mayor who comes from the world of global business and understands what attributes are necessary to attract global firms to transact business here,” he said. Choi also pointed to another important appeal of the city:“New York City attracts extraordinary talent because it pays well,” he said. Adam Eicher, a manager at the SoHo Hollister Co. — an internationally recognized retail company with both of its flagship stores in New York — also highlighted the potential for profit in New York. “There’s a lot of money here, a lot of people spending money here so that’s just one of the many factors that goes into it,” Eicher said. “If you want to become legitimate in any sort of business that you’re creating or running, you have a store or location in New York City because that’s where the money is at.” Despite the top ranking, Vadaketh said he believes the report should be a stimulant for further growth in New York rather than an opportunity for the city to pat itself on the back. “It should also spur the city to keep striving to maintain its position, in the face of fierce competition from cities in the West and the East,” he said. Tony Chau is a deputy city/state editor. Email him at tchau@nyunews.com.
By Claire Zajdel With the announcement of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor as the 2012 commencement speaker and the weather getting warmer by the day, NYU seniors are looking forward to turning their tassels. In a recent study by The Chronicle of Higher Education, NYU ranked first among private universities in number of graduates, but just 32nd out of 106 research universities in graduation rate. Public, private and for-profit universities compiled numbers of the study, known as College Completion, which is available to the public. The study focuses on the graduation rate of students over a six-year period from 2004 to 2010. It also shows the rate over four years, as well as median SAT scores, financial aid, endowment and Pell grant eligibility of students. Jeffery Selingo, editorial director of The Chronicle and organizer of the study, said this long-term study was set into motion by President Barack Obama’s vision of increasing college graduation rates. “The focus by the Obama administration is on this measure because of its 2020 goal,” Selingo said. Obama’s 2020 goal is to have the largest proportion of college graduates in the world. NYU has an overall graduation rate of about 86 percent among full-time, part-time and transfer students. According to the study, NYU is in the 92nd percentile of private not-forprofit universities. Steinhardt education professor Floyd Hammack said NYU not topping the list may be the result of its large number of need-based students.
NYU students go to Philadelphia in support of Obama By Emily Yang
NYU Students for Barack Obama traveled with other volunteers from the Obama for America campaign to rally for the president on Saturday. The goal of the trip was to encourage voter registration, according to Meredith Shevitz, a CAS sophomore and volunteer coordinator of NYUSFBO who went to Philadelphia with the group over the weekend. Shevitz said 15 NYU students, including the student organization College Democrats and NYUSFBO organizers and active members, volunteered to go to Philadelphia. They left in the morning with other volunteers from the Obama for America campaign in New York. Mike Place, the media coordinator of NYUSFBO, said the campus organization wanted to help the campaign in such an important state. “It’s basically to give a helping hand to the campaign,” Place said. “It’s a really huge state to the election — if Ba-
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rack Obama can’t win Pennsylvania, he can’t win to the election as a whole.” Pennsylvania is a key state in the election because it is a swing state with 20 electoral votes. Last semester, NYUSFBO made two similar trips to Boston and Philadelphia. They normally pledge their efforts to campaign by knocking on doors to spread the word about Obama or calling people to petition across the state. Place said NYUSFBO stands out because there are not many student groups that back specific candidates. “We’ve tried to work with other schools here in New York,” Place said. “But so far NYU is the only school that has a specific Student for Barack Obama.” Shevitz devotes about 13 hours a week to the campaign and helps to organize recruits. She said she has become inspired by seeing more people get involved. “I love it,” Shevitz said. “It’s great work and it’s really inspiring to meet new people
and bring them aboard.” Currently, NYUSFBO runs a weekly phone bank and plans to work with College Democrats for future events. Though they have not planned another trip, Price said they are looking to travel to Philadelphia and Boston again. Victor Li, a secretary of NYU College Democrats, said the club and NYUSFBO also intend on working phone banks and voter regristration drives. NYUSFBO normally pays for its own trips, but on Saturday, the Obama for America campaign was able to lease a bus for them and provide some funding. But NYUSFBO is not officially affiliated with the Obama for America campaign. Shevitz looks forward to more volunteer trips and said NYUSFBO will continue to be active next semester. “NYU students for Obama will keep going until the election,” Shevitz said. Emily Yang is city/state editor. Email her at eyang@nyunews.com.
“At NYU we have about 19 percent of our students eligible for Pell Grants,” he said. “That’s a high number of students compared to other schools in the [University Athletic Association]. We have a lot of students with a lot of need but we don’t have the ability to provide for these students that a lot of other schools do.” As a result, Hammack said students often succumb to financial difficulties. “This creates a lot of stress on students,” he said. “There are many students working not just one, but two or three jobs. I know that the administration is working hard to provide for students and increase the graduation rate.” Ann Marcus, a Steinhardt professor of education, agreed and brought attention to unique college environment of NYU. “I think NYU is about where I would have expected, and I think the performance is better than 10 or 20 years ago,” she said. She also noted the diversity of NYU’s academic scope. “We are a university with several undergraduate colleges with vary-
ing entrance requirements as well as distinctive curricula,” she said. “Furthermore, our location in the midst of New York City attracts students who often have very specific interests in non-university activities. So while the students want an active campus life, they also feel pulled by the environment.” CAS junior Sara Roncero-Menendez said she has had doubts about continuing her education at NYU: “I think we all go to that dark place,” she said. However, the quality education she has received at NYU has kept her focused on her job prospects. “I’ve been pretty focused on getting through college because I know it’s my only shot to getting a good job,” she said. But CAS senior Niyati Kamdar has constantly reminded herself how much her education is worth. “I invested so much into it that I didn’t see why I would back out,” she said. “I don’t like quitting on things.” Claire Zajdel is a staff writer. Email her at investigative@nyunews.com
FILE PHOTO BY LAUREN STRAUSSER
Last May, the university sent off 15,000 undergraduates and graduates. SERVICE continued from PG. 1
NYU recognized for service Adam Ebnit, associate director for student activities at NYU, said the Honor Roll recognition with distinction demonstrates the high level of commitment the university and students have to serving the community. “The lessons learned, skills acquired and the community built through participating in service initiatives support students in their personal and educational pursuits while providing a meaningful contribution to their communities,” Ebnit said. Alicia Hurley, vice president of government affairs and civic engagement, emphasized the vast opportunity for service at NYU. “Community service and civic engagement are important traditions at NYU, and they continue to positively shape students’ experience both locally and globally,” she said. “Overall, it’s important because getting involved in the community in which you are studying leads to increased student success.” Schools are chosen for the honor roll based on the scope and innovation of service projects, the extent to which its curriculum addresses community service, its dedication to long-term projects and the measurable community outcomes as a
result of this service. More than 15,000 NYU students have participated in community service this academic year. Among them is CAS freshman James Hubbard who interns with the NYU Civic Team. “One of the main reasons I came to NYU was because I knew I would have many opportunities to volunteer and to start to make a difference in the world,” he said. Popular community service activities available on campus include Civic Team, Alternative Breaks, America Reads and other programs centered around service within each school of NYU. Steinhardt freshman Jessica Hawk, an organizer of Day of Service in her school, said part of what makes NYU such a service-driven community is the involvement and encouragement of the faculty. “The faculty are great resources of encouragement,” she said. “[They] invoke deep conversation in order to assist the internalization of your volunteering and what you experience.” Elizabeth Maguire is a deputy university editor. Email her at emaguire@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | tuesday, march 27, 2012 | nyunews.com
DINING
edited by HANNAH BORENSTEIN DINING@nyunews.com
Nutritionist’s Notebook Importance of fiber By Marion Nestle Marion Nestle is the Paulette Goddard professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development. She is the author of “Food Politics” and, most recently, “Why Calories Count: From Science to Politics.” Each week, she will answer student questions about nutrition, health, and food. Question: WSN tweeted and linked to The New York Times article in which you were cited on Tuesday, and you mentioned the importance of fiber in a diet. How much fiber is good to have in a daily diet, and what does it do for our bodies? What are good sources of fiber — cereal bars, granola bars? How much is too much fiber? Answer: You, like most Americans, probably get less than half the fiber you need. You can fix that by eating more vegetables, fruits, nuts, beans, peas and whole grain breads and cereals. Fiber occurs only in plants. Eating these foods at every meal will do wonders for your digestive system. They help protect you against obesity, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and even some cancers. Fiber refers to a bunch of plant
carbohydrates that human enzymes cannot digest easily. These come in two types: insoluble and soluble. Insoluble fiber, the kind found in grains, almost completely resists digestion. It has no calories. But soluble fiber from beans and other vegetables can be digested to some extent by bacteria in your colon. They produce a little energy you can use. Research shows that people who eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains with both kinds of fiber develop less chronic disease. But these benefits do not show up in studies using fiber supplements. This means you are better off eating vegetables than power bars. If you must eat those bars, choose the ones with fruits, nuts and whole grain — real foods — high up on the ingredient list. Watch out for misleading claims about “good source of fiber.” Check the Nutrition Facts panels — 3 grams is minimal, 5 grams is better. If you are not used to eating fruits, vegetable and grains, eating more of them may make you feel gassy. Gradually include more. Your digestive system will be happier, and you will be healthier. Marion Nestle is a contributing columnist. Email her questions at dining@nyunews.com.
Explore Indian cuisine in the U.K. By Sika Degbo LONDON — A Thursday night in Covent Garden proved to be an exciting culinary destination as my roommate and I headed to our first Indian restaurant in the United Kingdom. We arrived at the restaurant and were greeted by a modern exterior with “Dishoom” in an all white case against a black background, just in time to meet London Culinary Expedition, a club organized by NYU students studying abroad. Though Stern sophomore Geoff Husted is not part of the culinary club, he sees the value of such organizations. “It’s tough to find people of similar interests abroad so having groups gives you an outlet to find those people,” he said. For my friends and me, that means gathering to try out restaurants we had heard about. This day was Holi, an Indian holiday taking place the day after the March’s full moon and celebrates the triumph of good over evil. The waiters wore brightly colored shirts and had colorfully painted faces. The walls were decorated in cultural art of famous Indian figures, and the bathroom had a pseudomedicine cabinet in each stall, giving a welcomed feeling of being at a friend’s home for a family dinner. CAS sophomore Mahvish Hashmi was skeptical at first.
“Then we got there and their menu was really good,” Hashmi said. “It was really cool that everyone was dressed up in colors.” I ordered the basic Dishoom Chicken Tikka, a dry chicken, and an order of the cheesy naan. Our club leader was sweating from the spices of his Lamb Biryani, a lamb and rice dish, and my roommate enjoyed her dish of choice of Dhaba – a spicy curry based chicken with naan. Dishoom approaches their food with a much more modern perspective on traditional dishes than in New York. They served naan wrap sandwiches and had other original innovations of Indian cuisine. Indian restaurants in New York are more rustic and authentic whereas Dishoom is more polished, seeming like a food interpretation. “Dishoom did a good job keeping the fundamental tastes while presenting and adjusting differently,” CAS junior Susie Chan said. “It’s a compromise between East and West but an understandable comprise nonetheless.” Indian eateries in New York and London meet the different needs of their locations, but both provide a cultural experience and delicious food. Sika Degbo is a foreign correspondent. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Tribuali opens NYC location on Lower East OVERALL Affordibility Service Atmosphere Menu Variety
By Angel Chang Marble tables, wicker stools and the infamous red-and-white brick oven command attention to the Lower East Side. Mike McConnell and Bob Prince, owners of Via Tribunali, opened their first New York location on March 12, blessing its birth with an abundance of Neapolitan imports. Every element of the restaurant, in effect, is dedicated to “the goal of bringing the Neapolitan experience to New York,” according to McConnell. After traveling around Italy for some time, the two Seattle natives decided to open their first Via Tribunali in their hometown’s Capitol Hill neighborhood in 2004. Subsequent northwest spots opened, and the Neapolitan experts expound on the authenticity of not only the food but also the essence of
each of the locations. “Each [restaurant] looks slightly different,” McConnell said. “Each fits well in the neighborhood that it is situated in.” The duo has decided to bring their passion to New York by establishing a pizzeria that fits snugly in its eclectic Lower East Side locale. “We walked in New York for a long time,” McConnell said. “And we just happened to find the right place at the right time to build our New York pizzeria. This is a neighborhood we feel comfortable in.” The Diavola — pomodoro, fior di latte, salame piccante, parmigiano and basil — and Margherita D.O.C. — pomodoro, mozzarella di bufala, olive oil and basil — are mouthwatering menu items. The house speciality, or specialita della casa, is made of mozzarella di bufula, smoked provola, ricotta, spinach, rapini, sausage, cherry tomatoes, arugula, grana padano and basil. All pizzas are handmade and cooked in the thousand-degree wood-fired brick oven. “All the brick and sand were shipped out here from Naples,”
Prince said. “Everything came out in six pallets, and we assembled and built the entire oven here.” The owners went to great lengths to authenticate their food and the experience. “[The oven] retains heat very well and cooks a single pizza in about 45 seconds,” McConnell said. “We were one of the first people to bring this sort of oven to the United States — there are currently a couple dozen of these in the States.” Despite great success with already existing pizzerias, Via Tribunali is looking to expand. “We’re looking for new New York locations,” Prince said. “We’re looking for the right neighborhoods — Brooklyn seems like a great possibility.” “Pizza is our obsession,” McConnell added. “We are obsessed with making it better than anything out there.” Via Tribunali New York is on 122 Ludlow St. and is opened from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Angel Chang is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | tuesday, march 27, 2012 | Washington Square news
ARTS
edited by JONATHON DORNBUSH ARTS@nyunews.com
Pop queen fails to retain relevancy
Production of ‘An Iliad’ revitalizes Greek epic By Clio McConnell Classics professors, step aside and let the New York Theatre Workshop teach Homer for a while. It has certainly proven its worth with its production of “An Iliad.” This rendition, co-created by Denis O’Hare and Lisa Peterson, enlivens the Greek epic so effectively that audiences must ponder whether humanity has really changed since the Trojan War. This is not your typical performance of “The Iliad” — rather, “An Iliad” is presented in the Greek tradition of a bard dramatically reciting a tale before an audience, though, in this case, there are two raconteurs in repertory. For half of the performance of “An Iliad,” O’Hare takes the stage as the Poet (Stephen Spinella steps in for the latter half), dressed in shabby clothes and carrying a beat-up valise containing a liquor bottle. From the top of the show, the Poet drinks heavily, pleading with the Muses to help him recall his tale. After several heart-wrenching false stops, the Poet is rewarded with some divine inspiration, embodied by Brian Ellingsen, who occupies a balcony and accompanies the epic with a perfect score, composed by Mark Bennett, on the string bass. Ellingsen manages to play percussion as well as melody on the instrument and impressively syncs his rhythm with the Poet’s speech. As the notes fill the cavernous, cold set, O’Hare and Peterson warm their
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poignant rendering of the Trojan War with modern colloquialisms — Helen calls herself a bitch, and the storyteller likens war strategy to waiting in a supermarket line. The most moving moment of the show, however, arrives when the Poet enumerates every war in history. He drags us from the battlefields of Troy all the way to Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Syria. This eye-opening portion is all the more affecting in that “An Iliad” doesn’t smother us with comparisons to the Middle East. Instead, O’Hare and Peterson have incorporated a short passage on the topic, which drives the point home with breathtaking accuracy. As opposed to calling Troy a direct parallel to current affairs, “An Iliad” evokes a world of warfare in which Hector and Achilles could have laid down their weapons and become drinking buddies. Indeed, when we get to the sad end of “The Iliad,” the Poet admits, “I don’t want to tell you about the next part.” As O’Hare rhetorically states at the start of the show, the impetus for starting a war is “Always something, isn’t it?” is in this sad, personable style that the Poet delivers a truthful and literary critique of man’s warlike nature while also giving a remarkably adroit and stirring theatrical performance. Clio McConnell is theater/books editor. Email her at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.
By Veronica Wyman The overlap of Madonna’s 2008 divorce from Guy Ritchie, a three-album record deal with Interscope and a $120 million deal with Live Nation has yielded her 12th studio album, “MDNA.” The real-life influences are manifested in the album by lyrical slights at her ex-husband sung to a cheesy, synthedout production ready for any sleazy European nightclub. Just as “Hard Candy” was an attempt at hip-hop, “MDNA” is a fighting attempt to compete with radio regulars like Ke$ha, Katy Perry and Rihanna. The result is a collection of stabbing synth tracks that sound like Madonna posers rather than the original. “MDNA” does not just pulse to the throb of its dancing bass drum, but through the veins of three separate producers: D.J. Benny Benassi, French techno-man Martin Solveig and long-time collaborator William Orbit. The album’s leading singles “Give Me All Your Luvin,” “I Don’t Give A” and “B-day Song” all share the elementary arrangements of Solveig and cannot be saved by cameos from M.I.A. and Nicki Minaj. “B-day Song” is the lowest
Skulls rocks the crowd at Webster By Jason Hang Two three-piece rock bands played masterful sets that delighted the capacity crowd at Webster Hall last Thursday night. Still riding the success from South by Southwest earlier this month, Band of Skulls and opener We Are Augustines thrilled a packed house. Billy McCarthy, Eric Sanderson and Rob Allen of Brooklyn-based We Are Augustines began with tremendous energy. They were genuinely appreciative of the crowd’s enthusiasm. McCarthy’s vocals were deep and emotional, fitting well with the band’s frenzied performance. The pace never slowed, as each song was played with bouncing and great fervor. Even their slower songs contained a sincerity that resonated through the audience, and the band concluded their set with a heartfelt thank you to the fans. Band of Skulls, comprised of Russell Marsden, Emma Richardson and Matt Hayward, took the stage to a chorus of cheering and broke into their lead single “Sweet Sour.” The song hypnotized the audience with cool guitar licks and slow, pounding drums that reverberated throughout the venue. Marsden had the audience ensnared with his guitar solo and never let go for the rest of the night. While other bands might lose their audience during slower-tempo songs, Band of Skulls still engaged the audi-
ence — a testament to their songwriting capabilities. During the power ballad of the evening, “Lay My Head Down,” Richardson could barely be heard over the audience’s cheers. Of course the songs that set off the crowd were the head-banging anthems like “Hollywood Bowl” and “Bomb,” which shook the floor with synchronized audience stomping and jumping. Every guitar strum, bass pluck and drum strike felt so personal that each member became an artist in his own right. Band of Skulls pieced together songs with melodic riffs and heavy chords that created a balanced performance. Through each song’s emotional buildup, the fanatical audience often erupted with energy. Band of Skulls ended the evening with “Light of the Morning,” which seamlessly transitioned into “Death by Diamonds and Pearls.” Both songs are much more powerful live and would have been a fitting conclusion. Yet the band could not ignore the chants for an encore and returned for two final songs. They opened with another crowd favorite, “The Devil Takes Care of His Own,” and finished with “Impossible.” A solid minute of fervent jamming proved to be the ultimate send-off to an ecstatic night that could only be fueled by rock and roll. Jason Hang is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
point of not just the album, but perhaps Madonna’s career, even including “American Life.” Throughout the song, M.I.A. echoes the innovative hook, “Today’s my birthday/ I’m a happy girl,” to the backdrop of what seems to be the drum kit from Avril Lavigne’s “Girlfriend.” It is striking listening to two of the industry’s most powerful and influential women somehow fusing together to make a song that belongs on the soundtrack of a Disney Channel Original Movie. Benassi produces some electro bangers that may contend against other mainstream dance pop singles, such as “I’m Addicted,” in which Madonna repeatedly drones “MDNA” in the chorus. Similarly, the drug connotations and sexual violence work in “Girl Gone Wild” is strange for a 53year-old mother of four. The most interesting track on the “MDNA” is Orbit’s “Gang Bang.” Though the lyrics are creepy and uncomfortable (“Drive bitch, die bitch”), the track is modern and experimental, rendering anonymous one of the most
COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. RECORDS
recognizable voices in the pop world. It even tries to throw in dubstep as a somewhat warped attempt to make a nod to the latest music trends. “MDNA” feels robotic and rigid lyrically yet synthetic and hollow musically. Management knows this will not sell, but they are banking on this dance mix to promote an upcoming world tour. “You’re only as good as your last single” doesn’t apply to Madonna. She’s still got “Holiday,” “Like a Prayer” and even “Me Against The Music,” but right now she’s a slave to the machine, pumping out beats she does not even like for deadlines she is not making. Veronica Wyman is a staff writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
Miike Snow delivers strong but flawed second outing By Alexandria Ethridge Miike Snow, the trio behind some of our generation’s favorite pop songs, has created another album of perfectly produced pop anthems that are sure to make an appearance at any popular dance club. Though “Happy to You” is not without flaws, the overall quality is more of the great electronic pop that the trio has been producing for years. The curiously named group is comprised of Swedish duo Christian Karlsson and Pontus Winnberg and American powerhouse Andrew Wyatt. Together, the three released their eponymous debut album in 2009 to a surprising amount of international acclaim. “Happy to You” still possesses the vital components of the group’s electro-pop style but leans toward a more electronic style in 10 tracks that demonstrate the group’s versatility and mastery of their instruments. The strongest tracks are ones that provide a fresh spin on classic ’70s melodies. “God Help This Divorce” calls to mind Minnie Riperton but stays current with piano punctuated by subtle percussion. The album’s first single, “Paddling Out,” features a fragmented piano riff before adding a lively drum beat and lyrics like “You say, ‘Isn’t it hard?’/ Paddling out!/ Paddling out!” Other songs like “Vase” and “The Wave” incorporate snaps and
snare drums with lulling melodies to create an enchanting and irresistible sound. Much like their last album, “Happy to You” features many songs with a foundation of classic piano and rat-a-tat-tat drumming, upon which synthesized vocals and accents are built. This formula works for the majority of tracks, but several songs like “Enter the Joker’s Lair” and “Black Tin Box” deviate from the pattern to less-thandesirable results. Some songs are tweaked just short of excellent, like “Pretender,” with vocals muted at seemingly random intervals. The song is otherwise exceptional, but the excessive alterations are unnecessary and can become a nuisance. “Happy to You” unfortunately lacks the well-formed classic melodies reminiscent of ’70s artists Peter Gabriel and Fleetwood Mac that originally made Miike Snow a success. Their first album modernized classics with synthesized vocals and charming percussion. “Happy to You” distorts vocals and accents in distracting and ill-fitting fashion. “Happy to You” is the band taking a cautious step in a new direction with one foot in familiar territory. It is understandable to try something new on a sophomore album, and hopefully by their third outing they will find some more solid ground from which to expand their sound. Alexandria Ethridge is a staff writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
FRINGE APRIL 5, 2012
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620new Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 The york times crossword & daily sudoku For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 “OMG ur so funny!” 4 “You flatter me too much!” 10 Vatican locale 14 “Who ___?” 15 Complain 16 Any of the singers of the 1973 #1 hit “Love Train” 17 Something to hang your hat on 18 “Platoon” director 20 “That tastes awful!” comments 22 Leandro’s partner in a Handel title 23 Camel refueling spots 24 Comedian who voiced the lead role in “Ratatouille” 28 It gets flatter as it gets older 29 Little blobs on slides
33 Material for a military uniform 35 Vassal 37 Peculiar 38 Tom Cruise’s “Risky Business” co-star 42 Fury 43 Mtn. stats 44 Sonnets and such 45 Big cake maker 48 Paneled rooms, often 49 Igor player in “Young Frankenstein” 54 Audibly amazed 57 Old nuclear regulatory org. 58 Modern prefix with mom 59 What the starts of 18-, 24-, 38and 49-Across each won 63 Navy noncom 64 “Fifteen Miles on the ___ Canal” 65 Necessary
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE E T C E T C
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66 Symbol of sturdiness 67 Blue-green shade 68 Sends to the dump 69 Soph., jr. and sr.
Down 1 Drink greedily 2 Ω 3 “Star Wars” weapon 4 Gold, in Guadalupe 5 State capital whose main street is named Last Chance Gulch 6 Vice president Agnew 7 Saves for later viewing, in a way 8 2000 Beatles album or its peak chart position 9 The “p” of r.p.m. 10 Spin on an axis 11 13-Down, south of the border 12 Neck line? 13 11-Down, north O of the border N 19 Unaided E 21 Feed, as a fire S 25 Like much of Pindar’s work E 26 They might be hawked R S 27 Kind of radio 30 Sci-fi physician played by L DeForest Kelley Y 31 Leading man? N 32 Ben & Jerry’s D competitor O 33 ___ Kross (’90s N rap duo)
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34 Juno, in Greece 35 Bob of “How I Met Your Mother” 36 N.Y.C. summer hrs. 39 “If I Could Turn Back Time” singer, 1989 40 German car 41 Sonata part
46 Brew named for a Dutch river 47 Nordic native 48 Edict 50 Rowdy ___, “Rawhide” cowboy 51 Fights that go on and on 52 For face value 53 Crannies
54 Help in crime 55 Actor Richard 56 Most of Turkey is in it 60 Stat that a QB doesn’t want to be high: Abbr. 61 Corp. honcho 62 Mag. staff
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.
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nyunews.com | tuesday, march 27, 2012 | Washington Square news
OPINION
edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com
discrimination
America must attempt to understand the unfamiliar By Raza Shah
Before coming to NYU, I was often confronted with cautionary advice from family members. My father warned me not to be active in NYU’s Islamic Center. Though I was convinced that his worries were borne out of a parent’s exaggerated concern, when I came to New York, any traces of anxiety I might have had were promptly quashed. Yet, as I later learned, the Muslim immigrant’s paranoia is grounded in fact. The recent revelation that the New York Police Department was monitoring Muslim students’ associations in New York angers me more than it worries me. In a country founded on the principles of religious freedom and nourished by a belief in equality, such an invasive act provokes an unfamiliar sense of activism in me. It is only fair to accuse the NYPD of overreaching — by all accounts, those students had done nothing to warrant such a blatant violation of their privacy. More than that, this suggests a general atmosphere of suspicion surrounding Muslims in America who largely only want to live normal lives. Although thumping a copy of “1984” may be out of order, ill-informed attempts to put Muslim communities under surveillance have been even
more recent than the NYPD operation in 2007. In 2010, a San Jose Arab-American found a tracking device placed in his car by the FBI. The year before that, an overzealous undercover FBI agent was discovered after the mosque-goers he had been asked to infiltrate reported his fanatic leanings. The problem is not that incidents like these are borne out of deliberate prejudice or that it belies a hatred of Muslims — most of us tend to disregard issues such as the controversy surrounding the TLC show “All-American Muslim” or the Quran burning in Florida as narrow-minded farces, unrepresentative of the sentiments of most Americans. The real concern is the straining of this fragile trust of American Muslim communities only plays into the hands of those that the FBI and the NYPD do seek to guard us against. Incidents like these only lend credence to the hateful doctrine of Islamist groups. Ultimately, the decision of whether the threat of future terrorist attacks is enough to breach the American principles that attract many Muslims to America in the first place lies with the American people. But the question most Muslims are forced to ask is this: Is there not a better way? Having had my preconceived notions challenged by my American peers, I believe that the
fault does not lie with the NYPD or the American Muslim community but with human ignorance. In my Cultures and Contexts class on Islamic Societies, I recall cringing as a student challenged the professor’s statement that the word Fatwa meant “legal opinion” instead of “death wish” as he had previously believed. But later, when I realized that even I had not known what Fatwa literally meant, I came to the conclusion that this thing called Islamophobia is not really based on hatred but on the fear of the other. Just as the surprise on people’s faces gives way to curiosity and then familiarity when they find out I’m from Pakistan, acceptance of Muslims in America will take time. The reaction of most Americans to the NYPD surveillance fiasco is proof that America is beyond the era of Jim Crow laws and World War II internment camps for Japanese-Americans. Discrimination is far from dead, but conflating that with simple unawareness can only be counterproductive. Rather than being cause for complacence, this vacuum of trust should serve as an encouragement to Americans — regardless of their faith — to make an effort to understand the unfamiliar. Raza Shah is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
wartime policy
Killing enemy combatants is legally justified By Darren Geist The Obama administration has carried out close to 300 drone strikes, killing thousands of people including two Americans in Yemen: Anwar al-Awlaki and his 16-yearold son, Abdulrahman al-Awlaki. In early March, Attorney General Eric Holder offered his defense of the targeted killings. The Holder speech received widespread criticism from the usual hosts of commentators in Slate, Foreign Policy and the WSN editorial board. Yet, the policy of killing U.S. citizens in drone strikes is consistent with U.S. and international law. Judicial approval and review of drone strikes targeting American citizens is neither legally required nor sound policy. The dilemma of killing U.S. citizens during warfare has a long history in the U.S. and was most directly addressed during the Civil War. The issue was widely debated at the time; Abraham Lincoln, Charles Sumner and others argued that even though Confederate soldiers were U.S. citizens, treating them as enemy combatants was justified. In times of war, it was the laws of war — what we call international law — that governed. Under the laws of war, Confederate soldiers could be captured and detained without trial (held in prisoner-of-war camps), Confederate soldiers could
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be killed on the battlefield without judicial review and slaves could be freed through the Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation was legally justified as an act of war, allowing the seizure of “property” — for example, slaves — to be protected under the U.S. constitution. Without this law of war framework, all of these actions — and the Civil War itself — would have been legally indefensible. This was Holder’s argument. The U.S. is at war with al-Qaeda, a war authorized by Congress through the Authorized Use of Military Force following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Because of the central role he played in planning foiled attacks against the U.S., Anwar was subject to treatment as an enemy combatant under the laws of war. This meant he could be targeted and killed much like the death of Admiral Yamamoto, the planner of the Pearl Harbor attack. Judicial review was not required to conduct military operations in the Civil War, World War II or any conflict in U.S. history, even when the combatants were U.S. citizens. Under the laws of war, citizenship is irrelevant. Instead, four law of war principles govern: necessity, distinction, proportionality and humanity. The relevant questions in al-Awlaki situations are: Whether it is necessary to kill a terrorist, an enemy combatant, actively planning operations
against the U.S.; whether the drone strikes, which had no civilian casualties, distinguished between civilian and non-civilian; whether it was proportional to the threat the terrorist posed in trying to kill hundreds of civilians or kill U.S. soldiers and whether the force used — drones, perhaps the most precise killing option available — was humane. The dual criteria Holder described for killing U.S. citizens — whether they pose an imminent risk and whether capture is an option — meets this international standard. In addition, “imminence” is much more flexible in war, where surprise attacks and preemptive strikes are acceptable. There are good policy reasons for more caution and oversight in counter-terrorism operations, but in war, the killing of enemy combatants is legally justified regardless of whether they are citizens. And, further, approval or review by courts — judicial due process — has not been afforded to enemy combatants on the battlefield. Habeas corpus only attaches when they are detained and removed as a threat. To insert the judiciary into dayto-day operational decisions on who to target as an enemy combatant would run counter to our constitutional structure, our country’s traditions and sound policy. Darren Geist is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
NYU 2031 will not affect historical charm of Village To a Greenwich Village native, the notion of NYU erecting yet another architectural mishap in the middle of its historical blocks sounds nothing short of dystopian. But NYU 2031 plans’ to build two crescent shaped towers and 770,000 square feet of underground construction is enough to make them raise their handdrawn signs in protest. The New York Times’ architectural critic Michael Kimmelman wrote last week that NYU’s expansion is conducive to opening space up for “freshmen skateboarders and iPod-engrossed graduate students.” Ouch. Although it is true that the building project is ostentatious and pricey, the response from Greenwich Villagers has been to antagonize the presence of the university and its students. Natives have fired back on university expansion as though they were crusading for the culture of their neighborhood — as though NYU were poised to amputate the most treasured corners of the Village and replace them with monuments to the empire of academia. But NYU and the Village are modernizing together. Its role as a historical quarter will remain consecrated; but on principle, it should be acknowledged that NYU has never been an appalling intruder, tyrannically squatting in the Village. Our students are not swarms of tourists clogging the veins that circulate through Greenwich Village. Instead, we are a part of its lifeblood; our equally historical university has called the Village home since 1831 and has grown in tandem with the neighborhood, adding a diverse and youthful vibrancy. The university needs room to grow in order to attract top-knotch talent; it needs the freedom to develop its infrastructure and rearrange its urban role to suit its modern needs. Whether or not NYU 2031’s expansion would be an adequate use of space is a matter for architectural experts, but the notion that the university’s structural change would threaten the Village’s historical charm is unfounded. NYU’s growth has not yet squandered the uniqueness that gives the Village life, and it won’t in the future. To do so would be patricide. Although it is understandable that Village natives grow weary in the dizzying flurry of violet and NYU sweatshirts, this argument is purely based on nostalgia. The musicians still play near the fountain in Washington Square Park, and the dread-locked bohemians still stroll down Bleecker Street — and they always will. 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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Washington Square news | tuesday, march 27, 2012 | nyunews.com
SPORTs
edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com
Fantasy steals to watch for as Opening Day approaches
Evaluating the post-deadline NBA By John Axelrod It has been about a week and a half since the NBA Trade Deadline passed, and we have now had a few games to analyze how the trades have panned out for their respective teams. The following two players in particular have had immediate impacts on their new teams and will play a major role in determining the postseason fate of their squads.
Ramon Sessions
COURTESY OF KEITH ALLISON
Jordan Zimmerman By Cole Riley As you prepare to draft your fantasy baseball team, here is a look at three players to target in late rounds that can be productive in two or more statistical categories.
Stolen Bases and Runs — Emilio Bonifacio, Miami Marlins (Target in the 16th Round) Emilio Bonifacio is one of the most fascinating players in fantasy baseball. Ranked 176th on ESPN’s Player Rankings, not only does Bonifacio play third base, shortstop and outfield, but he had a breakout season running the bases in 2011. Last year, Bonifacio swiped 40 bags and recorded 78 runs in 152 games. He should improve on those numbers in 2012. As the starting center fielder, he will most likely bat between Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez in the lineup and should thrive in manager Ozzie Guillen’s new run-and-gun system. Bonifacio will hover around a .300 batting average with a .350 plus onbase percentage, and in ESPN fantasy leagues he remains available after the 18th round. Do not hesitate to draft Bonifacio in the 16th though. He is certainly more attractive than Elvis Andrus or Ichiro Suzuki who are being taken in the 7th and 8th rounds. Both players have weaker projections than Bonifacio. On-Base Percentage and Walks — Dustin Ackley, Seattle Mariners (Target in the 14th Round) The most disciplined second baseman in the Majors is Dustin Pedoria — a Rookie of the Year, World Series champion and MVP — but number two is Seattle’s Dustin Ackley. Entering his sophomore season in 2012,
Ackley is a perfect building block for keeper leagues as one of the only up-and-coming superstars at his position. A projected .360 OBP and 77 walks would not hurt either. He is ranked in the 79th percentile of all Major Leaguer’s with a 10.6 percent walk rate in 2011. As you are looking to solidify your OBP and base on balls categories in the later rounds, Ackley is a perfect selection. It would be wise to take Ackley in a later round and pass on players like Dan Uggla and Rickie Weeks earlier in the draft.
Walks plus Hits per Innings Pitched and Strikeouts — Jordan Zimmermann, Washington Nationals (Target in the 10th Round) Jordan Zimmermann has all the makings of a potential breakout candidate in 2012. The 25-year-old pitched in 161.1 innings last year coming off Tommy John surgery. The power righty posted a 3.18 earned run average, 124 strikeouts, a 1.15 WHIP and an impressive 1.73 walks per nine innings ratio. However, an 8-11 record marred Zimmermann’s under-the-radar season. With better run support and a more reliable pitching staff — not to mention another year to heal from his surgery — Zimmermann should absolutely dominate 2012. He has great control on the mound with a good fastball and slider, but this season he is ready to incorporate a newly mastered changeup. He’s projected for the 11th and 12th rounds, but selecting Zimmermann earlier and passing on Texas hurler Yu Darvish might not be such a bad idea. Cole Riley is a deputy sports editor. Email him at sports@nyunews.com
The Lakers made two key moves at the deadline. They brought in the speedy young point guard, Ramon Sessions, and jettisoned their former point guard Derek Fisher. Fisher was a fan favorite and a team leader, but he was old and not productive enough to be a starting point guard on a contending team. These were brilliant and much needed moves by the Lakers. They were able to rid themselves of Fisher’s contract and bring in 24-year-old center Jordan Hill in return. Sessions is also a huge upgrade over Fisher. The 25-year-old is 12 years younger than Fisher and infinitely quicker. In his first six games
on the Lakers, Sessions has averaged 14.3 points per game and 6.7 assists; this amounts to almost twice the production of his predecessor. Since Sessions’ debut, the Lakers are scoring an average of 101.3 points a game, which is over five points better than before. The Lakers currently hold the third seat in the Western Conference, so they are bound for the playoffs. And with a core of Sessions, all-time great Kobe Bryant and arguably the NBA’s best frontcourt in Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the Lakers will be a tough out this postseason.
Monta Ellis This trade will probably hurt the Milwaukee Bucks in the long run. They are better this season because they acquired one of the league’s most dynamic scorers in Monta Ellis. But, in order to get Ellis, the Bucks had to part ways with center Andrew Bogut, who is injured and will not return this season. It will be hard for the Bucks to come by another center who can score in double figures and play excellent defense. Yet this trade does increase the Bucks’ chances of making the playoffs this season.
They are currently a game and a half behind the Knicks for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, so the addition of Ellis helps their chances. In his first six games for Milwaukee, Ellis’s scoring is down. He is averaging about eight points less than he averaged for his former team, the Golden State Warriors. Despite his reduced numbers, the team’s scoring has increased slightly over the last six games. However this increase is primarily because of the weak competition they played over that span. Pairing Ellis with point guard Brandon Jennings gives the Bucks one of the most youthful and talented backcourts in the NBA, but this is still a questionable trade. The Bucks are considered a long shot to surpass the Knicks or Celtics for the final playoff spot, and they gave up a top defensive big man who they could have built around. Milwaukee made a statement to their fans that they want to contend, but this does not help them in the long run. John Axelrod is a deputy sports editor. Email him at jaxelrod@nyunews.com.