NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 32
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013
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Sexton answers student concerns at final town hall
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Students asked NYU President John Sexton to explain the need for the university’s rapid expansion as well as a lack of student involvement in the no-confidence vote. STORY ON PAGE 3
‘RKives’ recaptures band’s past glory By JOSH JOHNSON
When L.A. indie-rock group Rilo Kiley officially announced in 2011 that they had broken up, the possibility of any new material effectively vanished. When combined with lead singer Jenny Lewis’ burgeoning solo career and guitarist Blake Sennett’s report of the band’s inner toxicity, Rilo Kiley seemed deader than dead. Therefore, the release of the cleverly titled “RKives,” a compilation of Rilo Kiley rarities and previously unre-
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leased songs, feels more significant than other albums of this nature. Though not a new album in the more traditional sense, “RKives” brings listeners back into the world of one of the past decade’s best and most significant bands. The album opens with “Let Me Back In,” which serves ably in satiating the desires of long-suffering Rilo Kiley fans and also as a great introductory track for new listeners. Though the track travels down the well-worn “I Love L.A.” path, Jenny Lewis gracefully treats the city as an accepting hometown — a nice change of pace from the usual celebration of skeez and debauchery. Tracks like “I Remember You” illustrate the band’s sonic diversity. Taking the only salvageable parts of the ’80s aesthetic, the song is a beautiful duet between Lewis and songwriter Benji Hughes. Hughes’ Elvis Costello-like vocals recall Lewis’ duet with the actual Elvis Costello on her frantic solo track “Carpetbaggers.” Despite not having the real thing in studio, “I Remember You” is a superior song on all accounts. “RKives” does hit a rough patch toward the middle, especially with the Zondo remix of “Dejalo,” a track off Rilo Kiley’s last official record, the hit-or-miss “Under the Blacklight.” “Dejalo” is one of the band’s weaker tracks, and the club-jam remix goes from mildly intriguing to ridiculously irritating very quickly. Rapper Too $hort also makes a cameo, but, frankly, his verse is too long. Immediately following the remixed “Dejalo” is “A
RILO continued on PG. 5
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: NEW DRIVER IDS MAY ELIMINATE FAKE ID INDUSTRY: New laser-engraved driver licenses could make replication and the illegal use of fake IDs much less prevalent in New York City. COURTESY OF NYU
ID on PG. 3
TOP SPOTS FOR OUTDOOR DINING EXPERIENCE: Spring is coming and restaurants are opening sidewalk tables once again. Check out the top cafes that offer great outdoor dining. VIA YELP.COM
OUTDOOR on PG. 4
SEXTON FAILS TO ENGAGE NYU STUDENTS: The WSN editorial board argues that NYU President John Sexton did not address real concerns at last night’s town hall meeting. HOUSE on PG. 7
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STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS “DIRTY DANCING” “Nobody puts baby in a corner.” Not much else needs to be said about this movie except, of course, the fabulous dancing, especially by Patrick Swayze. Even though the infamous lift was copied in “Crazy, Stupid, Love,” no version can beat the original. Check out this classic dance flick for a great love story about class tensions as expressed through dance. Ignore the sequel. “CENTER STAGE” This movie includes a 20-minute long contemporary ballet, a surprisingly complex story line, involving eating disorders, parental issues and young love. The cast, led by real-life dancer Ethan Stiefel, is mostly comprised of actual dancers. They cross genres seamlessly from classical ballet to Broadway jazz, and the story lines actually seem somewhat plausible for real dance students. “STEP UP” Channing Tatum circa 2006 dancing as a troubled teen who falls in love with a girl and a dance school. Enough said. The merging of dance styles between street and ballet is done wonderfully in one of the best examples of on-screen partnering. The music is entrancing, and, what’s more, Tatum and leading lady Jenna Dewan married in real life. “WHITE KNIGHTS” This more obscure 1985 film tells the story of a Soviet expatriate-cumdancer’s unintentional return to the Soviet Union. Starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and the late Gregory Hines, these two dance giants prove that two is better than one. Their duet is a perfect merging of tap and ballet as well as a historic moment in dance. While the plot may be a little muddled, this is a movie that is all about the dance — and rightfully so. “FOOTLOOSE” The original “Footloose” teaches the importance of perseverance and friendship. Not only is Kevin Bacon’s speech about “a time to dance” Oscar-worthy, but his dance in the warehouse is how every internal monologue should be expressed. Of special note: Sarah Jessica Parker’s appearance as both the best friend and sidekick.
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TAKING IN THE VIEW FROM 1 WORLD OBSERVATORY On Tuesday, city officials unveiled the view from the top of the newly built 1 World Trade Center. It features a breathtaking panoramic view of the New York City skyline. It will open to the public in 2015. — NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
RED HOOK LIBRARY REOPENS POST-SANDY Brooklyn’s Red Hook Public Library has finally reopened after months of renovation in efforts to recover from Superstorm Sandy. Sandy left 18 inches of water in the library, which damaged more than 2,500 books and cost an estimated $750,000 in damages. — THE BROOKLYN PAPER
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A BLUE STATE Yoko Ono flipped the switch to light the Empire State Building up blue on Tuesday afternoon. She did so in honor of World Autism Awareness Month. Blue is the official color of the Autism Awareness campaign because boys are four times more likely to have autism. — CBS LOCAL
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HUFFINGTON PARTIES Internet-news mogul Arianna Huffington of the Huffington Post has been accused of trashing her $32,000-per-month Chelsea loft apartment. Landlord Eric Steel is claiming that Huffington caused $275,000 in damages to the apartment. — NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
Light from Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque glistens in the reflecting pool outside.
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SEN. SMITH ARRESTED IN MAYOR RIGGING PLOT New York State Senator Malcom Smith was arrested Tuesday for allegedly plotting to rig the New York City mayoral race. — CBS LOCAL VIA FLICKR.COM | VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
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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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New identification card designed to deter forgery By TANAY HUDSON
Vendors of fake New York state IDs will soon have a much more difficult time. In July, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles will begin distributing redesigned licenses with 30 new visible and concealed security features. Drivers seeking new licenses will be issued hard, laserengraved polycarbonate cards with photos printed in grayscale. This design change is an effort to combat the counterfeit market that produces fake ID cards used by underage drinkers and criminals. Owen McShane, the director of investigations for the DMV, reported that last year 100 investigators had collected 1,450 counterfeit driver’s licenses in underage drinking busts alone, according to a report by The New York Times. This specific design was first implemented in Virginia in 2009, and the state has yet to see a successful forgery of the license. But beyond the purchase of alcohol, fake IDs have also been used for criminal activities like fraud and terrorism. With engraved personal data and a visible photo on the front and back, the new ID cards will make forgery extremely difficult. According to the DMV, this design will cost one dollar more for each new ID, but the additional cost will not burden the public. “The new card incorporates the latest in technology and addresses many of the concerns about the current card voiced by our officers who deal with them in the field every day,” Peter Kehoe, executive director of the New York State Sheriffs’ Association, said in a November 2012 letter to DMV Commissioner Barbara Fiala. McShane told The New York Times that he hopes that the cost of producing these new licenses would discourage counterfeiters.
“It’s hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars for an inscriber,” McShane said. “It’s not something a college student is going to be able to go out and get.” McShane added that the grayscale will make physical features more prominent on the ID, which will make it harder for people to use cards that are passed on from one person to another. Additionally, drivers under 21 will be issued a different card design so they will be easier to identify. CAS junior Aneline Amalathas thinks that the security features will help, but that forgers will still prevail in the long run. “I think people may still find a way around it. With [security] features like that, [forgery] would probably be really far down the line,” Amalathas said. Other states are considering revamping security for their driver’s licenses as well. North Carolina is also expected to follow the trend by the end of 2013. Tanay Hudson is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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First instated in Virginia in 2009, these IDs have yet to be successfully replicated.
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Final town hall addresses NYU 2031, tuition By NICOLE BROWN
In the last Student Senate Council Town Hall meeting with NYU President John Sexton this year, held in the Grand Hall at the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, students raised questions about the governance of NYU and how the student voice can be heard. Students were invited to write down questions for the president and place them into one of three jars representing distinct categories: academics, the Global Network University and student life. The questions were randomly selected out of the jars but most related to the GNU and NYU’s expansion plans. Many of Sexton’s responses emphasized the increasingly positive reputation NYU has around the world, the educational advancements at the portal sites, specifically NYU Abu Dhabi, and the ongoing improvements of the global network. One student received much applause when she asked Sexton to explain the reasoning behind the money spent on the university expansion instead of financial aid to help more students afford NYU’s tuition. Sexton responded by asking the audience not to focus so intently on the word “expansion” and instead think about the necessities of space, explaining that the university needs to spend money on maintaining its facilities and creating new ones to continue to attract students and faculty. “All you have to do is try to get an elevator at noon in Silver,” Sexton said. “Anybody that’s had that experience understands that we need space.” He also cited the need to renovate
Coles Sports Center and the lack of necessary seating at Bobst Library, which currently has 3,000 seats. “A university of our size, on best practices, should have 9,000 seats for students to study in the library,” Sexton said. He concluded by acknowledging that financial aid is still a priority, though it cannot come at the expense of university development. He added that financial aid has increased more than tuition since he has been president. Another question that received applause concerned the lack of the student voice in ongoing university governance controversy among faculty and university administrators. The president said he does not think the students should be involved in these discussions or have their own vote, claiming that the students do not know enough about him to have a valid vote. “Probably 90 percent of the stuff you’ve heard [about me] is untrue,” he said. Some students who attended the meeting said they were pleased with how Sexton answered the students’ questions and supported his plans for the university. NYUAD junior Abhishek Mehra complimented the president for his honesty. “If he actually didn’t have an answer, he didn’t make up something,” Mehra said. CAS junior Davis Martin commented that Sexton could have been more concise with his responses, but overall, he said Sexton is a well-spoken individual who has good intentions for NYU. “I think, by and large, I’m happy with what I’ve seen him do thus far,” Martin said. Nicole Brown is investigative editor. Email her at nbrown@nyunews.com.
Steinhardt Music Educators club holds open mixer By SU SIE PARK
Steinhardt Music Educators of NYU, a club dedicated to music and music education advocacy through professional development, networking and community outreach, will hold their second annual music educators’ mixer next Friday. The mixer will be a chance for music educators from around the city to network and talk about the direction of music education in New York City. Steinhardt junior and SMENYU Community Outreach Coordinator Jamie Ehrenfeld said that the event drew over 100 students and educators last year. This year, Ehrenfeld said SMENYU is trying to reach out to the greater New York community. She said the club’s mission is to promote music education within NYU. Ehrenfeld also said this is the first year the club and its events are open to non-music education majors. “Our programs are aimed to help not only the people who are going to be music teachers, but people who have music education as a part of their life and want to do more with it,” Ehrenfeld said. Carla Jenny Friend, the club’s program coordinator, has a master’s degree in music education from the Steinhardt School of Culture, Educa-
tion and Human Development. She said SMENYU offers students opportunities they may not have in class. “We have the power to offer what students feel like they might not be getting enough of, something that they are interested in or something that might not be included in the program,” Friend said. “We can provide them with those experiences, workshops and opportunities to network with other music education students and music teachers from the area.” SMENYU has put on an event called Concert for Cause every semester since it started two years ago. The event started as a small concert in a classroom at NYU to raise awareness for the organization Autism Speaks. Since then, the club has raised money and awareness with three full-scale concerts for several other causes like the American Cancer Society and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. While the club’s activity in the fall semesters concentrates on these benefit concerts, SMENYU focuses more strongly on music in the spring. The club has a diverse membership, including teachers from music schools, public schools and private schools in addition to students from different colleges who are looking to become music teachers.
Despite the diversity in backgrounds, Friend said the members have shared goals and advocate for identical causes. “The group consists of all different
types of music educators trying to come together for networking reasons and to get to know each other,” Friend said. “It’s important that we all know who we are working with
and that we are working for the same cause.” Su Sie Park is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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Members of SMENYU participate in an East African drumming and dance workshop.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
EDITED BY ANGEL CHANG DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Great outdoor dining locations for spring weather By JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU
With spring finally upon us, going outside is becoming something to look forward to instead of something to dread. For those who plan to celebrate spring outdoors, here are the top five local restaurants with outdoor seating. CHOP SHOP I 254 10TH AVE. Chop Shop is an affordable, positively reviewed Chelsea Asian fusion restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating. The menu offers a blend of Chinese and Thai dishes, such as the green papaya and watercress salad ($10) and the spicy drunken noodle with shrimp, bok choy and chilies ($14). This option may be a bit of a trek from campus, but the convenient pricing and location by the Chelsea Piers make it ideal for sitting outside on a nice day. SOFIA’S OF LITTLE ITALY I 143 MULBERRY ST. For those who want to venture past SoHo into Little Italy, Sofia’s of Little Italy, a popular restaurant on Mulberry Street with tables out in the fresh air, is a great option. The meals are a little pricier here, but they’re not unaffordable and include many Italian entrees, pizzas and a wide variety of pasta, which is why the restaurant is well known. Pasta dishes include the pappardelle Bolognese, hand-cut wide pasta in a Bolognese sauce. For vegetari-
ans, options such as the bruschetta and various mushroom dishes are available.
JACK’S BISTRO I 80 UNIVERSITY PLACE Perhaps an ideal location for anyone who lives close to Washington Square Park, Jack’s Bistro, located only a few blocks from campus, is described as “French-influenced American cuisine.” The restaurant offers a variety of sandwiches ($10) and steak frites for lunch, as well as dishes like the grilled brook trout ($17.95) or roasted organic chicken ($16.95) for dinner. Jack’s Bistro also has the distinction of being the only sidewalk cafe on University Place. PÃO I 322 SPRING ST. Even though it is named after the Portuguese word for “bread,” and while it does serve plenty of its namesake, Pão is better known for its seafood and Iberian cuisine. While people-watching from this restaurant’s sidewalk tables, try the wild striped bass ($19.95), tiger shrimp ($21.95) or warm squid and turnip greens salad ($8.98). THE COFFEE SHOP I 29 UNION SQUARE WEST Whether you find yourself in the mood for sandwiches ($12.95), pasta ($14.95), chic-
ken or even one of the Brazilian specials (such as shrimp Baiano, $17.95), The Coffee Shop on Union Square West has it all. Open 23 hours a day, anyone who stops by can expect to sit in the open air, whether it’s noon or midnight. The Coffee Shop also offers a variety of breakfast options all day, such as omelettes ($10.95). And, of course, the restaurant has a large assortment of coffee drinks. Jonathan Keshishoglou is a staff writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com.
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Sophia’s offers delicious al fresco dining.
Heart ‘n soul brings Southern food back to its roots By DANIEL YEOM
Upon stepping into Heart ‘n Soul, chef David Conn’s new Southern restaurant, one leaves the East Village and enters the real, old South. Heart ‘n Soul is the result of Conn’s quest to find the African root of Southern soul food. The restaurant, which opened last month, offers a fine selection of soul food in its most authentic form along with a hip atmosphere and uplifting music. Conn’s fascination with the cuisine developed when he moved to Tennessee in his teenage years, and his love for the region ultimately propelled him to leave Cornell University, where he worked as a music professor and conductor for 10 years. After serving as a chef at several restaurants across the country for nine years and perfecting his Southern cooking techniques, Conn finally settled down in Manhattan to open Heart ‘n Soul. “The food we serve at Heart ‘n Soul is not authentic African — we are just bringing soul food
back to its roots,” Conn said. “It’s real Southern food with an educated and fun twist.” Conn said he uses spices from Northern and Western Africa to revive the original recipes Africans brought to the United States during the colonial period. African-Americans created the unique cuisine within their secluded communities, notably along the Lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia. Conn believes that the authenticity of this original soul food has been lost over time. “Soul food has been dumbed down significantly,” Conn said, referring to popularized and simplified soul food items such as fried chicken. Heart ‘n Soul focuses on a more traditional version of soul food, which includes dishes that are not commercially prominent but essential nonetheless. A fine example of a typical dish from Heart ‘n Soul is the crab cake with spiced tomato jam ($11). Although the jam looks like a typical cocktail sauce, it has a much deeper flavor and bite thanks to the
Moroccan spices the chef uses. When asked about his favorite dish at Heart ‘n Soul, the chef mentioned the peppered oxtail, served with his choice of starch, collards and merguez (mutton) gravy ($17). The bourbon-braised short ribs ($21), served with sautéed greens, grits and Andouille demi-glace, is a customer favorite. Don’t forget to ask the chef about the dessert of the day ($5 to $6) — the banana cream pie is to die for. Steinhardt freshman Suzanne Kim adores the restaurant. “The chef is really eager to tell you all about the history of Southern cuisine,” she said. Currently, Heart ‘n Soul is open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., from Tuesday to Sunday. Conn has plans to extend the hours of operation during warmer seasons and to feature outdoor seating. Heart ‘n Soul is located at 200 E. Third St. between avenues A and B. Daniel Yeom is a contributing writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com.
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ARTS
EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
RILO continued from PG. 1
Rilo Kiley’s ‘RKives’ features unreleased tracks, rarities
Town Called Luckey” — a title that suggests a long-lost Britney Spears track. Despite a fantastically random death-metal scream from Lewis, the otherwise melodramatic “Luckey” doesn’t make much of an impact. The back half of the album, however, does feature its best moment: a demo version of the Blake Sennett-sung “Rest of My Life.” The track, originally off Rilo Kiley’s debut “Takeoffs and Landings,” gets the stripped-down acoustic treatment on “RKives,” courtesy of the guitarist. Sennett has always been an expressive singer, but his emoting always feels sincere rather than self-indulgent. “Rest of My Life” is an affecting song on its own, but in hindsight, this demo version becomes much more haunting. In the chorus of the song, Sennett sings, “For the rest of my life/I’m
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gonna search for someone just like you.” Given the rest of the band’s history, “you” could easily refer to Lewis. Unfortunately, it seems Sennett may never find someone who could replicate the musical chemistry he shared with Lewis — the chemistry that made Rilo Kiley so special. Rilo Kiley were a band in the truest sense — each of the four members brought a style and flavor that couldn’t be reproduced with any other combination. While Lewis’ solo career has had its moments — “Rise Up with Fists!!” comes to mind — she hasn’t made anything close to Rilo Kiley’s finest achievements, and “RKives” gives fans the opportunity to relive some of those achievements in a new light. Josh Johnson is arts editor. Email him at jjohnson@nyunews.com.
Ramaa Mosley’s ‘Brass Teapot’ creates mature fairy tale By NORA BLAKE
Based on a timeless fantasy, “The Brass Teapot” is a fairy tale for adults with mature consequences and morals to boot. Playing upon themes of greed, waning values and materialism, first-time director Ramaa Mosley introduces a film that not only entertains but also relates to the harsh realities faced by countless young Americans. Set in an ideal Midwest community, the film follows the day-to-day struggles of young newlyweds John (Michael Angarano) and Alice (Juno Temple). Educated but professionally unsuccessful, they struggle to get by with the small amount of money that they have saved. Though John and Alice never realize their potential outside of the security of a full-time job, they quickly abandon the status quo when Alice discovers a decorative teapot inside an antique shop. She then steals the teapot, hoping to put it to good use. John does not exactly approve of the idea, until they both learn that their new antique dispenses money whenever they experience pain. Extreme and dark antics ensue as John and Alice resort to extremes to get out of debt and live the glamorous lifestyle they desire. Though the teapot
seems to be the couple’s way out of destitution, reality sets in as their family and friends begin to notice their sudden touch of wealth. The film delivers its core message as John and Alice attempt to balance their new lifestyle. Mosley portrays the couple’s turbulent efforts to maintain extravagance in creative and often crude ways. Ultimately, Mosley succeeds in highlighting our current generation’s repulsive yearning for excess and material happiness. Regardless of Mosley’s often unappealing portrait of the young couple, the takeaway moral of the film only becomes apparent because of their faults. The director does not feature any character with flawless qualities or completely ethical motivations. And while John and Alice might not be the shining examples of morality in our society, their characters are relatable. Their eccentric handling of a serious and omnipresent issue is entertaining, and it is difficult not to crack up at their attempts toward achieving their desires. The supporting characters, played by Alia Shawkat and Bobby Moynihan, are perhaps the only ethical characters, as their understated performances showcase the unseen morality inher-
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Juno Temple uses a magic teapot to solve her finances. ent in all people. Although “The Brass Teapot” deals with heavy topics, it handles them with quirky grace and comedy. Angarano and Temple are especially impressive in their roles, and the supporting cast is equally notable. Mosley presents a film that not only charms the audience on a comedic level but on a personal one as well. Nora Blake is a contributing writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
Strong songs, acting bolster ‘Five’
By LUIZA MONETTI
To call Jason Robert Brown’s contemporary musical “The Last Five Years” an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. Ele-ven years after the show’s original opening, Second Stage Theatre’s revival brings the show back to New York in a new production starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe. Brown’s semi-autobiographical work recounts the powerful relationship of Cathy and Jamie, two 20-something New Yorkers who dive into a marriage driven by the
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Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe star in “The Last Five Years.”
optimism of finding “the one.” The story is not for the faint of heart. It delves into the painful details of Cathy and Jamie’s marriage and divorce. The great idiosyncrasy of “The Last Five Years” is that one character moves chronologically forward in the story while the other goes backward, evoking hysterical laughter one moment and sobbing the next. The musical begins with Cathy’s grief-stricken number, “Still Hurting,” a reflection on the end of her marriage to Jamie. The act is followed by Jamie’s comical “Shiksa Goddess,” which tells the story of him falling in love with Cathy five years earlier. The marriage scene and their beautiful duet, “The Next Ten Minutes,” are the only instances in which Cathy and Jamie directly interact and are, figuratively speaking, in the same place at the same time. True to real-life relationships, “The Last Five Years” explores Cathy and Jamie’s failing marriage without blaming either one. Of course, this does not stop the audience from rooting for Team Cathy or Team Jamie. The musical’s unique concept admittedly may not work for everyone. Those who find the story-
telling style to be confusing can still sit back and enjoy the background music, but audience members who know what to expect are in for a poignant experience. While both Kantor and Wolfe are nothing short of wonderful, the former’s wide emotional range and strong vocals are what make the musical so unforgettable. Kantor’s moving, genuine and heartbreaking rendition of “If I Didn’t Believe In You” is the highlight of the show. In addition to the actors’ outstanding performances, the set is one-of-a-kind. Minimalistic yet innovative, the set uses windows to reflect the characters’ imaginary locations, including the Central Park lake, the sky, the road. The band members, who take a prominent place on stage, also add to the scenery. Ingeniously funny and passionately honest, “The Last Five Years” boldly challenges our assumptions about love, commitment and forgiveness. “The Last Five Years” is playing April 4 through May 12 at the Second Stage Theatre on 43rd Street. Luiza Monetti is a contributing writer. Email her at theater@nyunews.com.
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70 Place to schuss
Down 1 Hosp. readout 2 Gen ___ 3 ___ Bo (exercise system) 4 How elated people walk 5 “I want to try!” 6 Geologic span 7 Vice ___ 8 Room offerer 9 Homophone of 3-Down 10 Maze’s goal 11 Where to order oysters 12 “My answer was …,” in teen-speak 13 Whacked good 18 Magician’s prop 19 Sound of delight 22 Embroider, e.g. 23 Movie that might have a cast of thousands 24 Transaction option 25 Unworldly ones 26 Gauge site, for short 27 Docile sorts 32 Pre-election ad buyer, maybe 33 Chaotic situation 34 Crystal-filled rock 35 Seemingly forever 36 Southeast Asian tongue 38 Swarming annoyance
Edited by Will Shortz 1
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No. 0227 9
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41 44 49
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puzzle by Daniel kantor
39 Major Thai
export 40 Late 19th-century anarchist’s foe 43 Ambulance letters 44 Pursues, as a tip 45 Wood-damaging insects
46 Simple creature 50 Wordplay from
Groucho
51 Sonata finale,
often
52 ___ Perot 53 River islet 54 Some Pacific
salmon 55 Belfry sound 59 Razor brand
60 ___ creek 61 Blouse, e.g. 62 Hoo-ha 63 Letters on
Halloween decorations
64 Near-failing
mark
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Government must protect youth from tobacco By ERIN MCCARRON Tobacco companies spend $1 million daily in New York state to get youths to use tobacco. They need thousands of “replacement” smokers every day, since numerous smokers either quit or die. Although cigarette advertising in mass media has been limited, the tobacco companies have adapted to this and changed their approach to take full advantage of one of their last outlets to
lure youths into smoking: convenience stores are effective places for exposing young people to tobacco products and advertising. The majority of youths in New York City shop at convenience stores at least once a month. By occupying stores with colorful advertisements placed at kids’ eye-level, as well as placing tobacco products next to candy, gum and toys, they continue to focus on our youth as their next generation of customers. In the United
States, tobacco kills more people each day than AIDS, alcohol, suicide, car accidents, firearms and illegal drugs combined. We must demand that the federal government continue to provide education around the dangers of smoking and de-normalize the aggressive advertising of tobacco products.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Sexton fails to address concerns at town hall
Erin McCarron, LMSW SmokeFree Project Coordinator Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center
UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
NYU is symbol of corporate attack on education By EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY
In light of the Faculty of Arts and Science’s recent vote of no confidence against NYU President John Sexton, the debate over university governance has intensified at NYU and other universities. I recently interviewed world-renowned scholar and professor Noam Chomsky about the effects of the corporatization of the American university. I asked Chomsky about the provocative comparison Green Party presidential nominee Jill Stein made during her campaign between student debt and indentured servitude. Stein argued that student debt is just a modern form of indenture. Although Chomsky didn’t quite use the same phrasing as Stein, he seemed to agree with her point, arguing that student indebtedness is a technique of indoctrination and control. Chomsky raised the question of whether there is an economic justification for this debt. He explained, “We happen to be right next door to a poor country, Mexico. It has quite a good university system. It doesn’t have all the things we have since it’s a poor country. But it has a very high quality, high level of instruction. I’ve taught there, been there. It’s free … There are rich countries that have a very high level of educational systems, among the highest are Finland and Germany, both free.” Thus, the correlation between receiving a quality education and the overwhelming burden of tuition is tenuous at best, a fallacy at worst. What are the consequences of taking on this financial burden? First, there are some very practical, real effects on society — people will lose the power to choose. They have to take whichever job is offered and lose employment freedom. But the problem of student debt is just one part of a much more general
SUBMITTING TO
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process. Chomsky argued that in the last 30 years there has been a major assault on the population — wages have stagnated and the levels of inequality are among the highest in history. Admittedly, these years have seen some level of economic growth, but on the other hand, this growth has been met with an unprecedented shift in income disparity. Since economic justification is nonexistent, Chomsky contended that the way cost is measured is just ideological. He said, “So if costs are transferred to individuals, they are not considered costs. If it’s a business, then it’s a cost. If you can find a way to transfer costs to individuals, that’s called savings.” Indeed, most of the university administrators at schools like NYU come from business schools and have a business school mentality. Treating the university just like they would a business, they treasure the bottom line, seeking efficiency at any cost, especially if that cost is carried on the backs of students. However, should efficiency in the business world be the measure of efficiency for academic institutions? According to the corporate model of efficiency, if the costs are less for the institution, it’s considered more efficient. As a result, administrators are reducing the proportion of faculty teaching by hiring temporary, low-paid worker, such as graduate students. According to this type of market logic, if low-paid teachers
can take over the work of highly paid faculty, that is more efficient. But Chomsky underscored, “It’s not efficient for the students. They’re not getting the same level of education, surely. It’s not good for the graduate students either. But that’s called efficiency. All of this is going on in parallel as part of a whole neoliberal onslaught, which is very harmful to the population but very beneficial to the masters, the superrich.” Chomsky’s grim yet powerful analysis of the effects of corporatization might make it seem that any action to effect change will be futile. Anticipating this, I wanted to know what kind of specific tactics Chomsky, a veteran activist, might suggest so students can go beyond merely communicating the message about debt as a form of entrapment and indoctrination and move to demanding substantive change of some sort. He responded by citing examples of sweeping progressive change originating from student initiatives during the civil rights movements, the women’s movement and the environmental movement. In the face of significant challenges, he offered these words of encouragement: “The students can become a galvanizing force, and not just for their own personal concerns, but because it is part of a general social problem. It should be possible to link up with other sectors that are suffering under the same attack in different ways.” The challenge may seem insurmountable, especially in an institution where the administration has purposefully rendered the student body powerless. We students must nevertheless meet Chomsky’s challenge by organizing effectively and becoming that historical, galvanizing force. Edward Radzivilovskiy is a deputy opinion editor. Email him at eradzivilovskiy@nyunews.com.
NYU President John Sexton held a town hall meeting yesterday, inviting students to express any concerns about their university. He faced questions about financial aid, the global expansion plans and the vote of no confidence. In most instances, Sexton provided shallow answers with few details, steering instead toward noncontroversial initiatives. In response to a question about NYU’s continued expansion abroad, and the seemingly stagnant percentage of students receiving financial aid, Sexton skirted the issue. He cited the outpacing of tuition increases vis-a-vis financial aid growth. Considering NYU’s notoriously low financial aid offerings, Sexton can spin even minor increases to look like impressive growth percentages. With tuition as high as it is, seemingly inconsequential percentage increases will substantially raise revenue for the university. No number of staged town hall meetings will change the simple fact that if NYU has money to spare right now, then they should use this money to help current students. In short, there is a real concern about this president’s priorities. When asked about unversitywide concerns over his leadership, Sexton acknowledged the recent vote of no confidence but asserted that the Faculty of Arts and Science only represents part of the university. Despite his misplaced confidence, the Tisch School of the Arts and the Gallatin School of Individualized Study have taken steps toward assessing their trust in Sexton. He opposed the notion that NYU students could hold their own vote of no confidence, claiming that they do not know him well enough. At best, this shows Sexton’s inability to connect with the student body and at worst, reveals a plot to shut out students from a critical period in NYU’s history. The vote of no confidence debacle has certainly taken a toll on Sexton’s reputation and may spill over into the student body’s opinion. This town hall meeting did not bring us closer to Sexton or to finding solutions to NYU’s financial aid issue. Although Sexton took questions from students, he must make a greater effort to regain our trust. The WSN editorial board expects more, Mr. Sexton.
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, Kirk Berson
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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