WSN041012

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 40, No. 44

TUESDAY, April 10, 2012

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NYC ranked leading global city

Couture runway seeks to end AIDS

By Kristine Itliong

By Maximilíano Durón Under dimmed yet focused lighting, rows of chairs dressed with sleek trapezoid gift bags lined a raised runway in the Rosenthal Pavilion on the 10th floor of the Kimmel Center for University Life.

Though New York Fashion Week ended in late February, NYU’s Fashion Business Association hosted its annual fashion show last night.

“We chose the name Chaos From Couture because our theme is post-apocalyptic, considering that it’s 2012 and everyone’s always talking about how the world’s going to come to end,” said Radhika Tiwari, co-president of FBA and a Stern senior.

The night’s show featured seven different designers: FIT knitwear specialist Quinn Zhu, Stern

R FASHION continued on PG. 3

RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

Over one hundred students gathered last night to enjoy Fashion Business Association’s runway show.

NYU students can continue to be assured that they live in the best city in the world.

Management consultant group A.T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs released a joint study revealing that New York is the ranked as the number one leading global city in 2012.

In light of the steady expansion of globalization, the study assessed impacts of each city’s business activity, information exchange and political engagement, among other factors. A panel of corporate executives and academic advisors determined the final rankings.

The reports, the Global Cities Index and Emerging Cities Outlook, have been released every two years since 2008. Now in their third cycle, the two reports analyzed 66

R CITIES continued on PG. 3

‘The Cabin in the Woods’ turns horror genre on its head

By Clio McConnell

COURTESY OF LIONSGATE

“Cabin” humorously turns its characters into horror film stereotypes.

As soon as the opening credits of “The Cabin in the Woods” roll, presenting a montage of illustrated torture scenes from mythology, audiences become aware that this is not their usual horror flim.

Writers Joss Whedon and Drew Goddard developed the fright flick into a truly rare film.

Whedon is revered for his quirky screen projects. He is the mastermind behind cult television favorites like “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Firefly” and has a notorious penchant for turning a genre completely inside out. Goddard has worked with Whedon on “Buffy” and has written for several J.J. Abrams projects including “Cloverfield” and “Lost.”

This experienced writing duo has produced another cult classic with “Cabin,” a horror film that starts out predictably and quickly snowballs into something far beyond the grasp of its characters — but not of its audience.

Five college friends head off for a weekend of fun in the

woods, planning to stay at an isolated cabin. The plot proceeds in a familiar fashion until it becomes clear that the kids are being watched and controlled.

Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford sit in their office, a refreshingly low-tech set-up, pulling strings so that their charges will make the right moves. In a particularly Whedon-esque stroke of genius, part of the puppet masters’ duty is to force the vacationers into the kind of stereotypical character roles familiar in horror-thrillers.

Kristen Connolly plays Dana, the seemingly doe-eyed virgin, who has in fact had sex. Chris Hemsworth is the brainy and brawny Curt, dumbed down to be the group’s athlete. Fran Kranz’s Marty is the paranoid stoner who is turned into nothing more than a fool. Rounding out the bunch are Jesse Williams as the academic Holden and Anna Hutchison as the promiscuous Jules.

Of the five actors, only Kranz stands out. He, alongside Jenkins and Whitford, delivers

smart humor while Connolly is unfortunately flat when she ought to be the most sympathetic. At one point, a control-room operator remarks, “I’m actually rooting for this girl. She’s got so much heart,” but that empathy does not reach the audience. Thankfully, the writing is strong enough that Dana goes by relatively unnoticed.

The titular cabin comes complete with creepy two-way mirrors and an ominous basement replete with eerie heirlooms.

The exploration of the house is interspersed with clips of the control room, which Jenkins and Whitford treat as a thoroughly boring office space to hilarious effect.

Whedon and Goddard expertly add doses of comedy to the scarier imagery, and the whole movie provides an indepth look at the genre. At once mocking horror movies and analyzing them, “Cabin” is a perfect combination of sarcasm, wit and scares.

Clio McConnell is books and theater editor. Email her at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

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

jaewon kang Deputy Managing Editor

Amy zhang Assistant Managing Editor

james lanning Creative Director

selena chen senior staff

Derrick Comedy Before he was rapping as Childish Gambino and creating blanket forts as Troy Barnes on “Community,” NYU’s Donald Glover was part of sketch comedy group Derrick Comedy.

The group has been defunct for years now, but their entire catalogue of hilarious videos is still available on the group’s YouTube page. Highlights include “Memory Loss” and “Jerry.”

If you love these videos, their low-budget but hilarious film “Mystery Team” is also available on Netflix.

— Jonathon Dornbush

“Sports Night” Aaron Sorkin’s first foray into television was “Sports Night,” a dramedy about a cable sports show that stars Felicity Huffman as the show’s executive producer and Peter Krause and Joshua Charles as its two anchors. “Sports Night” had many patented Sorkin qualities.

For example, the characters often partake in philosophical and witty dialogue while walking for several minutes without actually changing their location. With its charming characters and fantastic acting (Robert Guillaume is especially great as managing editor Isaac Jaffe), “Sports Night” is for fans of Sorkin and good television alike.

— Josh Johnson

TODAY

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12:30 to 1:30 p.m. | Wasserman Center, Presentation Room B

Making it In Media: Making Media That Matters Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service alumnae Ariana Proehl and Alisha Cowan-Vieira will discuss their success in the media industry over lunch.

“Archer” Though “Archer” just wrapped up its third season, that’s no reason you can’t catch up with this hilarious FX animated series.

Archer follows the International Secret Intelligence Service and the dysfunctional titular character, Sterling Archer. Sterling is the world’s most dangerous secret agent — and perhaps the most self-centered one as well.

With an overbearing mother, who is also his boss, voiced by Jessica Walter of “Arrested Development,” it’s easy to see why Archer is so emotionally damaged.

— Chris Saccaro

Season 1 of “Veronica Mars” While AMC’s “The Killing” has angered fans and critics alike for its inability to tell a good mystery, the cult favorite “Veronica Mars” was universally praised for an intriguing first season that asked and answered questions with ease. In her breakout role, Kristen Bell plays the title character, who works to solve the murder of her best friend Lilly Kane (Amanda Seyfried). The big reveal in the season finale is both shocking and fulfilling — an example of how a mystery should be unraveled on television.

— Jeremy Grossman

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4 p.m. | Bobst Library, Fales Collection, Third Floor

5:30 to 7:30 p.m. | Silver Center for Arts and Science, Hemmerdinger Hall 31 Washington Place

Marion Nestle, “Why Calories Count” Paulette Goddard professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health Marion Nestle will discuss her new book, “Why Calories Count,” at this free event. Reception to follow.

SNAPSHOT

The Irving H. Jurow Lecture

by Dr. Wanda M. Austin Wanda Austin, President and CEO of the Aerospace Corporation, will give a lecture titled “The Human Factor: Managing Technical Complexity and Creativity in the 21st Century.”

ON THE WIRE

Snakes on a plane

A pilot for the plane company Air Frontier made an emergency landing last week during a flight in Australia, reportedly telling air traffic controllers that snakes had snuck onto his flight, Australia’s ABC News first reported. While on the ground, a firefighter reportedly discovered that not only was the flight intruded by a snake that crawled down pilot Braden Blennerhassett’s leg, but there was also a green tree frog which the snake was presumably hunting. No other wildlife was found, and both animals had disappeared when a wildlife ranger came for them. Air Frontier director Geoffrey Hunt said the plane would be grounded until the snake was found. Authorities eventually caught the snake using a trap with a mouse inside.

— MSNBC

Cornell University

PHOTO BY EMMA PLISKIN

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 sports John axelrod, cole

riley 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 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

France names Cornell professor to legion of honor

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.

Boston University

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

— The Cornell Daily Sun

Bloomed spring flowers brighten up the walk along Tenth Street.

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,

Students deem BU ‘back-up’ school, satisfied nonetheless — The Daily Free Press

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nyunews.com | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | Washington Square news

Students propose to install vending machines in New York City cabs

FASHION continued from PG. 1

NYU’s FBA hosts annual fashion show freshman Anny Caba, recent New York transplant Chandra Ramey, Stern freshman Zixi Zhang, Colombian designer Laura Daza, FIT menswear designer Sunyoung Lee and FIT textile creator Janice Hijin Lee. “I’ve never been to an event like this at NYU before, so first time being here it was really awesome to see the creativity of everyone and kind of whatever [it is] they do since a lot of them were different from each other so it was cool to see the whole realm of whatever they could do,” said Mary Mojcik, a CAS sophomore and attendee.

Some of the designers translated this theme into their collections through high-waisted women’s pant suits, intricately layered men’s suits and plastic vinyl skirts.

“It was a personal interpretation [of the theme],” said Steven Broadway, Parsons and FIT professor and a fashion industry VIP attendee. “Some felt closer to how the theme might have appeared and others felt kind of distant, but they all had kind of interesting qualities.”

While all the designers showed extreme potential, Janice Lee’s fashion-forward designs stole the show, one of which displayed a structured gray-black herringbone jacket.

“My inspiration was post-

apocalyptic and steam punk,” Janice Lee said. “So we were kind of given a guideline with the post-apocalyptic because it’s 2012.”

The night’s festivities, however, did not center merely on lighthearted, beautifully designed clothing. All ticket proceeds benefited the nonprofit PRODUCT(RED), an organization that partners with major retailers to support the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS in Africa.

“We think AIDS is a huge problem even now, even though it’s been in existence for so many years,” Tiwari said. “We thought it’s something worthwhile to give charity to [it] because it’s time AIDS comes to an end.”

Laura Hayat, FBA copresident and a first-year GSAS student, said FBA’s fashion show proved to be a success as it brought together beautiful clothing and a philanthropic message.

“It’s been since November that I’ve been working on this show, so it was amazing to finally have it all come together and to also have everything run so smoothly,” Hayat said.

Maximilíano Durón is a staff writer. Email him at mduron@nyunews.com.

By Tatiana Baez When students Brian Shimmerlik and Tomas Grosskopf began researching the taxicab industry, they were blown away by the number of passengers riding in cabs each day. At the third annual New York City Economic Development Corporation’s Next Idea Competition at the end of last month, the two proposed to install small vending machines, called TaxiTreats, into cabs around the city.

Shimmerlik, from the Stern School of Business MBA program, and Grosskopf, from Universidad de Buenos Aires, were among the four winners of the competition.

The contest encouraged entrepreneurship among youth and showcasing New York City as a center for business innovation.

The NYCEDC selected a total of two winning teams, including an international team from Canada.

The duo was selected out of more than 270 global businesses by a panel of four judges. Some included representatives from New York City Investment Fund and Entrepreneurs Roundtable Accelerator, two private organizations that mentor startup companies in New York City.

“The judges picked winners based on criteria such as the idea’s suitability for New York City, commercial viability and whether it was a worthy investment,” NYCEDC representative Kyle Sklerov said.

COURTESY OF TAXITREATS

Proposal of small vending machines called TaxiTreats won New York City’s third annual Next Idea Competition last month.

The winners received $17,500 and free office space in New York City for six months to jumpstart their plan.

Shimmerlik said testing the machines will begin by the end of May, and they will complete a finalized model in June.

Payments for the treats would either be made through the machine or be included in the cab fare. TaxiTreat’s vending machines would most likely offer daily necessities like Advil, 5-Hour Energy and possibly small food items.

While the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission must approve any proposed changes to the taxicabs. TLC Commissioner David Yassky commended the students’ efforts.

“I don’t know if this is something we’ll ever see in a taxicab, but I congratulate the students on the strength of their ideas and for their success in the competition,” he said.

All eyes on Hawk Cam as egg starts to hatch

By Julie DeVito Hawk Cam viewers have watched intently as the first egg in the hawk nest outside NYU President John Sexton’s office began hatching yesterday afternoon.

Bobby, the male hawk, was first spotted with Rosie, the female, in Washington Square Park in late December. It has now been 34 days since Hawk Cam viewers noticed the first egg in the nest perched outside of the twelfth floor of Bobst.

“Like everyone else, we’re thrilled by the news,” NYU spokesman John Beckman said. “It’s really exciting to get this up-front view of the growing hawk family.”

Emily Reub, who updates The New York Times City Room Blog and answers viewer questions, said she is thrilled that the egg is hatching and is waiting with anticipation for the baby hawk, or hawks, to emerge.

“It’s too soon to know whether or not we’ll have two baby hawks, but for now it looks like we’ll have at least one, which is great news,” Reub said. “Because the egg is already broken, this is causing a lot of anxiety among viewers, so people are waiting on pins and needles for the main event.”

This is the second year The New

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VIA LIVESTREAM

Since the first was sighted 34 days ago, the eggs are finally hatching.

York Times has hosted a webcam view of the hawks from the laying of the eggs, through the birth and after the offspring are born. Last year, experts announced that the hawks would not be hatching, but a week later one hawk emerged unexpectedly and was named Pip. Steinhardt sophomore Stephanie Moss was captivated last year by the unexpected nesting of the hawks on campus. She is excited about the upcoming hatching and loves being able to watch the hawks.

“It’s exciting that the egg is hatching and I’ll be tuning in a lot more now,” Moss said. “I’ve been following every now and then all year, so now I need to get back into watching them regularly for updates and to see glimpses of the hatching eggs.”

At the time of press the egg had not yet fully hatched.

Additional reporting by Emily Smith.

Julie DeVito is university editor. Emily Smith is a contributing writer. Email them at university@nyunews.com

Shimmerlik said he thinks the project will be successful because it has the potential to expand and use products in the vending machines that will meet needs of different people.

“We want this project to ... simply give people what they want when they want it, right where they are,” Shimmerlik said.

But their proposal is getting mixed reviews from New York City residents.

“It’s a good idea, especially if you’re running late,” Brooklyn resident Cathleen Cushing, 19, said.

Steinhardt freshman Lauren Farahani disagreed.

“I’m not sure if it’s necessary because there’s a Duane Reade on almost every corner of the city,” Farahani said.

Tatiana Baez is a staff writer.

Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

CITIES continued from PG. 1

New York named number one city in global leadership cities. London is second to New York, followed by Tokyo and Paris, both of which have swapped rankings in two previous reports.

Professors and city analysts agreed this ranking could be attributed to New York’s status as a global capital of media, finance and culture with the energy of a diverse population and ambitious work force behind it.

“The study confirms that New York City really remains the premier place to do business in the world,” Patrick Muncie, New York City Economic Development Corporation spokesperson, said. “Factors include our diversity and our unparalleled talent. We have the best of the brightest working here.”

Mitchell Moss, a Wagner professor of Urban Policy and Planning, explained New York’s standing as a global institute for international negotiation.

“New York serves more direct international destinations than any other city in North America,” Moss said. “We offer boundless opportunities for face-toface contact and direct interpersonal meetings, something that is rare in this age of online meetings and email.”

But Paul Romer, director of Stern School of Business’s Urbanization Project, attributed New York’s success to stronger leaders and government institutions.

“In the 1950s and 1960s, New York was surely the most successful city in the world,” Romer said. “Then governance deteriorated.

The city went into a serious decline. Starting in the mid-1990s, governance improved. As a result, the city has rebounded to a remarkable extent.”

Kristine Itliong is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at kitliong@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | nyunews.com

DINING

edited by hannah BORENSTEIN dining@nyunews.com

Meatball Obsession brings Grandma’s recipe to West Village

By Angel Chang OVERALL Affordability Service Atmosphere Menu Variety

The West Village is now offering a scrumptious novelty to those who like to have their food on the go. Meatball Obsession, a new walk-up window on Sixth Avenue, is a tempting option that specializes in the ultimate Italian delicacy: the meatball.

“The meatballs and sauces are served the way my grandmother served them to me growing up,” Meatball Obsession founder Daniel Mancini said. “She would serve them in a cup with some grated cheese and some bread to soak up the sauce.”

Mancini began selling his meatballs and Sunday Sauce in markets in the New York City area nearly four years ago.

“I decided at a young age that I needed to learn [my grandmother’s way of preparing meals] so I could carry on the family dinner tradition,” he said.

With 25 years in the apparel industry and none in food service, he followed his true passion, channeling all his energy into Meatball Obsession.

Meatball Obsession offers a choice of beef, turkey or pork sausage meatballs, all served with Sunday Sauce and available either in a cup with Parmesan dipping bread or in a sandwich made with ciabatta bread. Original toppings include shredded fontina, mozzarella cheese pearls and parmigiano-reggiano.

Regional toppings are based off of areas in Italy. Most notable is the savory Genoa, a mix of fresh herbs, toasted pine nuts, extra virgin olive oil and pecorino romano. A single meatball is $4, two are $7 and three are $10. Each order comes with one free original topping, and additional toppings are available for 50 cents. All regional toppings are $1 extra.

“It’s a great on-the-go food that we serve fast, and you

can get anything from a small meal to a triple that will fill you up,” Mancini said. “We are a good choice as we have no fillers or preservatives. Most importantly, we prepare the food knowing that all students are away from home. We hope to deliver delicious meals that make students feel good and that remind them of home.”

Mancini said he hopes to open more locations and to spread his obsession with authenticity, connections to home and delicious meatballs.

Meatball Obsession is located at 510 Sixth Avenue (between 13th and 14th streets) and is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Angel Chang is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

via lockoutfilm.com

Meatball Obsession sells single meatballs for just $4.

Nutritionist’s Notebook Caffeine cravings

By Marion Nestle Question: What kind of effect does caffeine have on our metabolism and general health? What is an appropriate amount of caffeine to have? And are certain sources of caffeine better than others?

Answer: Caffeine is a mild upper. It perks up your central nervous system and makes you feel more alert, energetic and cheery. Caffeine is common in plants, but coffee, chocolate and tea have the most. The amount of caffeine depends on the type, amount used and brewing time, from 30 milligrams for a small cup of weak tea to more than 300 milligrams for some of the larger and stronger Starbucks drinks. When caffeine appears on the labels, you know exactly how much you are getting.

Energy drinks made for adults, like Red Bull, contain about 80 milligrams in an eight-ounce can. CocaCola, Pepsi-Cola and other soft drinks marketed to children have much less — 30 to 40 milligrams in 12 ounces.

People react to caffeine in different ways and, by this stage in your life, you undoubtedly know how much of it you can handle and at what time of the day you can handle it. If you take in more than your personal limit, you may feel nervous, shaky and sleepless.

The more caffeine you drink, the more you become accustomed to it and the harder it is to give up. Some researchers think that the mix of sugar with caffeine is what makes some people feel addicted to soft drinks.

COURTESY OF MARION NESTLE

Perhaps it’s the caffeine in coffee that makes researchers want to find something wrong with it. I have a thick file of papers claiming that coffee raises the risk for heartburn, cancer, heart disease, infertility, ulcers and many other health problems, but the observed effects are small, inconsistent and unconvincing. When given as a drug, caffeine stimulates urine production and suppresses appetite, but the amounts in all but the strongest coffees are too low to produce such effects. If you get shaky when you drink caffeinated beverages, it’s time to stop.

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.

Marion Nestle is a contributing columnist. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

Chilled hot classics to keep cool in the Spring

By Clara Yang

1. Frozen Mona Lisa — The Bean

2. Coffee Float — Caffe Capri

3. Frozen Chai Latte — Café Medina

4. Mint Rendezvous — Radiance Tea House

People are still clinging to their winter drinks even though it is already April.

Several restaurants have come up with a brilliant option for those people: hotcold drinks. They are created to maintain the original tastes of the hot drinks while keeping the drinkers cool in the summer. Here are the top five chilled drinks that are hot right now.

This is a new drink from The Bean’s menu. Called The Bean’s “latest masterpiece” on their Twitter account, this drink is a creamy mocha frappuccino. It’s perfect to enjoy outside along with The Bean’s free Wi-Fi.

When it’s time for dessert, it can be tough to choose between a drink or an ice cream. The coffee float from Caffe Capri perfectly reconciles those urges. It’s a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top of their Manhattan Special Espresso with shaved ice. It doesn’t get much better than that.

This drink is a mix of chai tea blended with crushed ice and low-fat vanilla yogurt. This drink is made from Café Medina’s own chai tea steamed milk with whipped cream and flavored syrup to top it off.

For tea lovers, Radiance Tea House has the perfect combination of tea and coffee for dessert. The Mint Rendezvous is an iced tea espresso made from a mix of Moroccan mint tea and Italian espresso with creamy milk and sugar. Along with Mint Rendezvous, this elegant Asian tea house also offers a variety of iced lattes, such as the Purple Yam and Rainforest Chai lattes.

Second Avenue and Third Street; 11th Street and Broadway

9 E. 17th Street

427 Graham Avenue, Williamsburg

5. Frozen Hot Chocolate — Jacques Torres Chocolate and Serendipity 3

Hot chocolate is a classic drink of the holidays. This warm drink has been transformed into an icy treat for people to enjoy during summer as well. This delicious dessert can be found in many places, including Jacques Torres Chocolate and Serendipity 3. At Serendipity 3, you even have the option to add peanut butter on top.

158 W. 55th Street Jacques Torres Chocolate, 425 W. 15th Street; Serendipity 3 225, E. 60th Street

VIA CAFEMEDINA.COM DAVID LIN/WSN

VIA FLICKR

VIA RADIANCETEA

VIA FLICKR

Clara Yang is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

nyunews.com | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | Washington Square news

arts

edited by Jonathon dornbush arts@nyunews.com

Impressive action in ‘Lockout’ saves weak script

By Samantha Rullo Directed by relative newcomers Stephen St. Leger and James Mather, the futuristic action film “Lockout” is ambitious in its fast-paced sequences and computer effects but severely lacks depth in its script and its performances.

Set in 2079, the film revolves around MS1, the world’s first maximum-security prison in space, where inmates are kept in a sleeplike state. This relatively small time leap allows for many flashy displays of futuristic devices that seem plausible. Some simply look impressive while others serve to advance the plot and help characters escape otherwise impossible situations.

Guy Pearce stars as Snow, a man who appears to have been framed for murder, as explained in a rather confusing flashback. When inmates take over MS1 and hold Emilie, the president’s daughter, hostage while she is visiting on a charity mission, Snow agrees to save her. Even this early into the film, “Lockout” has crafted multiple plotlines, none of which are especially clear-cut. As the film continues, more narrative threads spring up, confusing the audience as dramatic time constraints are introduced for the characters.

Emilie (Maggie Grace) serves as the only other main character.

Grace’s performance, despite plenty of screen time, is immediately

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forgettable. Her character boils down to the archetypal privileged yet good-hearted attractive blonde, and most of the other characters also fall into such easy categories.

Snow is the classic self-absorbed rebel with a cavalier, sarcastic attitude, constantly chomping on a cigarette. The two main prisoners fighting for leadership are also too simply summed up — one is the levelheaded strategist, and the other is violent and possibly, psychotic.

Despite the cliched plots and characters, “Lockout” is still an entertaining film. Pearce gives a good performance considering the material provided, and the entire film never relents with its spectacle, even delivering suspense amid the predictability. Many of the jokes do fall flat, but the audience will still likely laugh at the unintentionally amusing moments that result from the poor writing.

“Lockout” takes itself a little too seriously and seems to have mistaken an excess of stories for depth. But traditional action movie enthusiasts will find something to enjoy. The far-reaching plot and eyeroll-worthy script may hurt the film in the long run, but enjoyable action sequences and Pearce’s performance make “Lockout” decent fun for serious genre fans.

Samantha Rullo is a staff writer.

Email her at film@nyunews.com.

‘Apartment 23’ a quirky, comedic success

By Rachel Petzinger

If ABC’s new comedy, “Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23,” does anything perfectly, it is capturing the anxiety that comes from living with a roommate from hell: the roommate who won’t stop partying, touching your belongings or having sex, though hopefully not all at the same time.

For anyone who has ever known that roommate, “Apartment 23” will stir up those ugly memories but with a unique twist. “Apartment 23” is perhaps one of the most creative new comedies to hit network television recently, with its refreshing character dynamics apparent in this sitcom’s pilot.

Dreama Walker stars as perky-faced June, a small-town girl moving to the Big Apple.

Her roommate, Chloe (Krysten Ritter), could not be more different — she walks around naked, sells drugs and throws wild parties.

Executive producer Nahnatchka Khan’s previous writing credits include “American Dad!” and “Malcolm in the Middle.” Just as those shows are raunchier and edgier than the typical sitcom fare so is “Apartment 23.” Chloe, with her raucous lifestyle, is a difficult person to sympathize with, and Ritter does not yet seem comfortable in the skin of her

COURTESY OF ABC

Dreama Walker and Krysten Ritter star as roommates. character. But the writers appear prepared to develop her into a more profound character whose life will perhaps, someday, revolve around something more substantial.

Part of the appeal of “Apartment 23” comes from its apparent readiness to grow into a lovable, charming comedy.

June and Chloe are the perfect adversaries, and watching to see what sort of uncomfortable friendship develops between the two girls is half of the fun.

The other half comes from seeing James Van Der Beek on television once again — this time, playing himself. In a supporting role as Chloe’s best friend, Van Der Beek proves to be a good sport as he endures

several “Dawson’s Creek” jokes implying that his success with the ladies derives almost entirely from that show.

It’s not quite clear how Van Der Beek’s involvement makes sense in the show’s overall narrative other than to tout his name. His presence adds a strange, unruly vibe to the show, but it is not unwelcome. “Apartment 23” is different from other television comedies, and though it is not quite perfect, it has already secured a spot as one of the most memorable new shows of the year.

Rachel Petzinger is a contributing writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.

M. Ward expands on his signature sound in ‘A Wasteland Companion’

By Daniel Fuchs

VIA LOCKOUTFILM.COM

Guy Pearce plays a stereotypical action hero named Snow in “Lockout.”

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It has been a while since listeners had a taste of the real M. Ward. After three years of side projects, each showing a glimpse of M. Ward’s unique style, his newest album, “A Wasteland Companion,” expands on his familiar brand, developing a more grandiose sound than ever before.

M. Ward tends to take his albums in several directions, and “A Wasteland Companion” is no exception. “Clean Slate” begins with what could be called classic M. Ward. A single acoustic guitar and two vocal harmonies create the slow, acoustic ballad that reflects the repetition of life.

“Me & My Shadow,” the first of two collaborations with Zooey Deschanel, evolves into a rowdy romp, merging lower quality sound recordings with early ’60s surf-rock.

The second collaboration,

“Sweetheart,” is a ’50s poprock track, and Deschanel’s hum contrasts perfectly with Ward’s growl.

“The First Time I Ran Away” is clearly the highlight, and it seems like a defining vision for Ward’s style. A smooth folk-rock track, it borrows from modern folk while still conveying Ward’s blend of serenity and grit. “Wild Goose” and “Pure Joy” end the album on a folk-heavy note, mellow without bringing the album down.

Part of the album’s success lies in some of Ward’s finest lyrics to date. Most of “A Wasteland Companion” has a lighter, more optimistic feel than Ward’s earlier work, but not at the expense of lyrical complexity. “The First Time I Ran Away” may not necessarily be cheerful, but it possesses a childlike sense of wonder as Ward sings, “The first time I ran away I saw/ Faces in the trees, I heard/ Voices

in the storm.”

“Primitive Girl” has a classic rock sense of joy to it, featuring a low tempo and lyrics like “I’m a primitive guy/ I see the difference/ The difference between/ What I want, what I need.” As the song demonstrates, the album is never marred by a sense of sorrow or regret, which makes those dark moments, like “Clean Slate,” so much stronger.

It’s been far too long since M. Ward has released solo material, and “A Wasteland Companion” will remind listeners why they loved him in the first place while also adding depth and joy to his work. With his strongest songwriting yet and some of the best tracks of the year so far, it is good to have this folk-rock troubadour back.

Daniel Fuchs is a staff writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.

6

Washington Square news | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | nyunews.com

Will “The Dark Knight Rises”

meet fan expectations?

Have “The Office” and “House” become victims of their own hype?

What band is primed to be the next big act?

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nyunews.com | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | Washington Square news

OPINION

edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com

ABROAD

Argentina: A country that embraces dichotomy

By Taylor Viens Buenos Aires — In styled fluorescent yellow jumpsuits, 14 union members crane their necks as one of their herd, who apparently drew the shortest straw, digs into crunching concrete on the side of the road.

Cockroaches scale the front of the recently renovated Nike store, as the mother of five shaves her legs in the adjacent alcove, dipping the singlebladed razor in a bucket of brown water. Home, sweet home.

A street vendor, battling with his cart filled of miscellaneous housing goods destined to never be bought, rattles out “Buy this,” in front of a posh restaurant. In the restaurant window, noses twist up to contort diners’ faces.

Argentina is a country of vast dichotomies. One strident example is the distribution of wealth. While there are very swanky areas in the country, poverty is rife. Over half of the population is living below the global median standard. At any given moment, the streets are flooded with barefooted bums col-

lecting any recyclables they can get their hands on, from plastics to glass to scrap metal to old televisions. Meanwhile, the latest models from the minds of BMW, Mercedes and Porsche weave through the trash pickers’ herds of carts, which blockade the concrete streets.

An illustration of this discrepancy is in their political structures.

Evita Peron’s husband Juan D. Peron, who led the country with his Populist ideals while serving three separate terms as president, ruled much more like a dictator than a president of the people. During his reign, members of the opposition party were systematically silenced, imprisoned and tortured. There are even several high profile cases in which they simply disappeared.

Another blatant example of this chasm is the relationship between religion and crime. Argentina has one of the highest rates of Catholicism of any country: 92 percent. But it is simultaneously one of the countries in which you are most likely to be robbed. Are Argentine Catholics so devout that they don’t need to adhere to the 10 Commandments?

(see: Thou shalt not steal.) Evidently so, for on July 3, 1987, grave robbers made off with the hands of their beloved Populist leader Peron, demanding $8 million in return for the bones.

These dichotomies seem to be specific to Argentina. While there are plenty of public bathrooms, it is commonplace to see people relieving themselves on the street with the sun upon their backs. While there are public trash bins on every street corner, most seem content discarding their rubbish wherever they see fit.

While there are still lines clearly indicating lanes on the street, they are taken more as suggestions and are seldom respected. General disorder is the name of the game, and once you’ve bought the ticket you have to be down to take the ride. While these are common complaints of developing countries, in most other places they tend to try to hide their Achilles’ heel, but here in Argentina we just embrace it.

Taylor Viens is a foreign correspondent.

Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

military

NYU should reinstate ROTC program

By William Kartsonis Like many Americans, I plan to serve my country’s military at some point in my life. I want to join the Navy Seals as an officer after I graduate from NYU, but there’s just one small problem: NYU no longer has a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.

It seems bizarre that one of the top universities in America doesn’t have ROTC. Stranger still is that by refusing to have an ROTC program NYU is turning down federal funding. You might think the university most closely associated with the most devastating terrorist attack ever to take place on American soil might do a bit more flag-waving.

Whatever happened to good ’olefashioned patriotism?

ROTC is also a valuable student resource that many depend on. It grants members a significant portion of financial aid — usually paying for all of tuition — while simultaneously granting career experience for students who are unsure of what to do with their lives after college. ROTC graduates enter the military as officers immediately after graduation. Most importantly, ROTC gives students like me an opportunity to serve Uncle Sam. So if ROTC is so great, why did NYU drop the program? I figured it must be one of two things: 1) Because NYU is such a cosmopolitan university, an ROTC program might seem discriminatory against international students. 2) We’re in New

7

York. It’s kind of hard to train in Washington Square Park when the 99 percent won’t stop bothering you to sign a Trayvon Martin petition.

But, as with most issues at NYU, politics is the driving force behind the conflict. NYU dropped the ROTC program in 1969 because of humanitarian objections to the Vietnam War. After the Vietnam War, NYU failed to bury the hatchet with the armed forces and opted not to reinstate its ROTC. It goes without saying that the turmoil in the Middle East has rubbed salt into an old wound.

Also, as with most issues at NYU, LGBTQ objections snuck their way into the mix. That’s right; I’m talking about “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

While DADT didn’t kill the ROTC program at NYU it certainly dug up the grave and punched the rotting corpse in the face.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I absolutely think LGBTQ members should be able to serve like everyone else. I just don’t think DADT was reason enough for NYU to bite the hand that feeds it or, in this case, the hand that protects it.

The DADT policy was introduced as a compromise in 1993 by the Clinton administration that allowed closeted homosexuals to enlist in the military.

Prior to DADT homosexuals and those suspected of being homosexuals were explicitly barred from the military.

While many believed DADT was a step in the right direction for LGBTQ rights in the military, many universities, especially NYU, felt the policy was still too oppressive. Many univer-

sities felt the discrimination against openly gay individuals was grounds for suspension of ROTC programs.

Finally, after 18 years of countless Supreme Court battles, President Barack Obama repealed DADT, officially enabling openly gay service in the military. But while other universities have begun to reinstate their ROTC programs, NYU still refuses. Despite getting exactly what it wanted, NYU still fervently works to minimize military presence at the university. Why? I believe the answer has been right under our noses this whole time: NYU doesn’t support the military. It’s shocking to see on paper, I know. But is it really that surprising considering we go to the most liberal school in America? Whether it’s due to opposing politics or old wounds that haven’t yet healed, NYU refuses to endorse our armed forces with an ROTC program. But is that really NYU’s call? Shouldn’t I, the student, decide whether or not the military is right for me?

If NYU administration doesn’t agree with our military’s choices, that’s fine. But the university shouldn’t ruin it for the rest of us.

I say let the students decide whether or not they want ROTC. It’s about time NYU got off its high horse, made nice with the United States military and did what’s best for its students.

Willaim Kartsonis is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Cyberbullying laws jeopordize freedom

The advent of the Internet has given a cloak of anonymity to cyberbullies. Relentless commenters can now maliciously troll, mock or even threaten, given the namelessness of the forgiving comment section. Arizona’s House and Senate want to have the last laugh: The state is due to review a bill that will attempt to combat cyberbullying by criminalizing the intent to “terrify, intimidate, threaten, harass, annoy or offend” anyone through electronic means.

Despite the already existing New York law, 240.30, worded similarly to criminalize annoyance, the vagueness of words including “offend” and “annoy” is subject to broad interpretation. Although the rise of online anonymity has created legal gaps that need to be filled by updated laws, the word choice in this statute leaves it open to violations of First Amendment rights. To criminalize the act of offending and annoying is to restrict freedom of speech unreasonably. The word choice of this statute gives too broad a definition of cyberbulling and may err in criminalizing otherwise innocent Internet trolling.

In spite of the fact that this particular statute may infringe upon the rights guaranteed under the First Amendment, there is still a need to crack down on cyberbullying. Internet law is problematically ambiguous. It is still highly controversial whether websites that allow for user-generated content, such as comment sections or microblogs, should be held liable for the content that is posted. Furthermore, existing libel laws do not entirely protect against some of the damages inflicted by usergenerated content on the Internet. Arizona’s misguided attempt at drafting a cyberbullying law flirts with an infringement on free speech.

We need effective laws that address cyberbullying and police online harassment without curbing the right to free speech. Meanwhile, the temporary existence of a legal gap in no way encourages readers, whose eyes are glancing at this concluding sentence, to be ruthless in the comments section.

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, Peter Murphy and Richard Zhang.

8

Washington Square news | tuesday, april 10, 2012 | nyunews.com

SPORTs

edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com

WSN predicts the first round of the NHL playoffs

By Daniel Hinton As one of the greatest tournaments in sports, the National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs guarantees two months of breathtaking action and historic moments. WSN sports editor Dan Hinton previews and predicts the results of each series in the first round, which begins on Wednesday night.

No. 1 New York Rangers vs. No. 8 Ottawa Senators The Senators have enjoyed a surprisingly strong regular season campaign. Led by center Jason

Spezza and the young Erik Karlsson, who led all defensemen with 78 points, the Senators are the biggest underdogs in the playoffs.

On the other hand, the Rangers have stayed on top of the Eastern Conference for most of the regular season. Although the Blueshirts have won only 10 of their last 20 games, their defense is the best in the East and will be their most important asset as they progress to the later rounds.

Prediction: Rangers in 5.

tals seemed destined to miss the cut. Behind captain Alex Ovechkin’s 18 points in 16 games, the Caps finished strong enough for the seventh seed.

As for the reigning champions, the Bruins have a roster full of youth, experience, skill and strength. Boston leads the NHL in goal differential (+67) and are back on track after inconsistent results in February and early March.

Prediction: Bruins in 5.

No. 2 Boston Bruins vs. No. 7 Washington Capitals

No. 3 Florida Panthers vs. No. 6 New Jersey Devils

Earlier in the season, the Capi-

Unlike last year, the Devils have maintained consistency throughout the entire regular season and are probably the most underrated team in the league. New Jersey finished with the best penalty-kill percentage, and three forwards scored over 30 goals.

Panthers left winger Tomas Fleischmann and defenseman Brian Campbell have enjoyed bounce-back seasons. But Florida, the weakest division winner, won only two of their last 10 games and earned eight less points than their first-round opponent.

Prediction: Devils in 6.

No. 4 Pittsburgh Penguins vs. No. 5 Philadelphia Flyers

VIA FLICKR

Vancouver Canucks’ Roberto Luongo is favored to lead his team to win.

This series will be the most competitive and intense of the first round. A brawl erupted at the end of Philly’s victory on April 1, and the goal differential is only 22-20 in their past six matchups.

Both teams are in the top three

in goals per game, but the Penguins are more balanced on both ends of the ice. Also, the current Pittsburgh roster is better than it was in 2009, the year the Penguins won the Stanley Cup. Prediction: Penguins in 7.

No. 1 Vancouver Canucks vs. No. 8 Los Angeles Kings After losing two consecutive games against the San Jose Sharks, the Kings fell from the third to the eighth seed in the West. Although Los Angeles is one of the least productive teams on offense, goalie Jonathan Quick, who is the only challenger to the Rangers’ Henrik Lundqvist for the Vezina Trophy, has willed his team to a third consecutive playoff berth.

For the second straight year, the Canucks earned the best goal differential in the West and the most points in the entire league. Vancouver’s goalkeeping tandem of Roberto Luongo and Corey Schneider can match L.A.’s goal prevention.

Prediction: Canucks in 5.

No. 2 St. Louis Blues vs. No. 7 San Jose Sharks In the past week, San Jose swept both two-game series against the Kings and the Dallas Stars. Still, they are ranked 29th in penaltykill percentage, which will hurt their chances in the playoffs.

Despite finishing the season 4-4-4 in their last 12 games, the Blues have been the most consistent team in the league all year and are best in the NHL in the most important category — goals allowed. If the offense

scores at least three goals St. Louis will not lose a game. But that’s a big if.

Prediction: Blues in 6.

No. 3 Phoenix Coyotes vs. No. 6 Chicago Blackhawks Although the Blackhawks feature one of the best offenses in the league, they are far from spectacular in nearly every other team statistic. Chicago’s goal differential (+10) is the worst among Western Division playoff teams.

The Coyotes earned their first Pacific Division title after winning the 82nd game of the season on Friday and are currently on the longest win streak in the West. Goalie Mike Smith has allowed only two goals in his past five starts, including victories against San Jose and St. Louis.

Prediction: Coyotes in 7.

No. 4 Nashville Predators vs. No. 5 Detroit Red Wings The Red Wings are the best team in the NHL when they play at home. However, the Predators have home-ice advantage and are more balanced than their division rivals. Led by goalie Pekka Rinne and defensemen Shea Weber and Ryan Suter, Nashville’s defense has been one of the league’s best for the past few years. This year, they can score and are currently first in power play percentage ranking.

The regular season series between these two was split at 3-3, and the first round will be just as even.

Prediction: Predators in 7.

Dan Hinton is sports editor. Email him at dhinton@nyunews.com.

After hamstring injury, Chelsea’s Torres returning to former self

By Sara Levy Fernando Torres has not been the same since he pulled his hamstring in 2008. A total loss of confidence resulted in his transfer from Liverpool Football Club, and his struggles continued for Chelsea Football Club in 2011.

His poor play was made evident by his sloppy passes, heavyfooted runs up the pitch and how he almost always lost the ball when he got close to the goal.

Many thought the change in club would help the Spaniard return to normal. Maybe he could mesh with a team that was on the rise instead of the wavering Liverpool. Whether that reasoning had any basis in reality is another matter, but the transfer was worth a try for the striker who so desperately wanted to get his skills back. Nobody wanted to see him suffer except for the extremely bitter Liverpool fans who thought burning his shirt at the news of his transfer request was

a good idea.

Four years after his injury, the once ballyhooed striker is finally beginning to return to form. Recently he has been quick and intelligent on the ball and is finding the goal like he did before the injury. It is evident from his reinvigorated style of play that his confidence is slowly but surely returning.

He has been unselfish with the ball and has assisted fellow countryman Juan Mata on what seems like all of his goals. On March 19 in Chelsea’s game against Leicester City in the Football Association Cup, Torres scored two goals and assisted two others. You could see confidence and happiness radiating from him, and he was rightfully awarded the title of Man of the Match for his efforts.

In Chelsea’s Champions League match against the Portuguese team Benfica on March 27, Torres made one of his trademark runs up the pitch and found Salomon Kalou, who slid the ball

into the goal.

Against Aston Villa on March 31, Torres made a fantastic run up the pitch by himself and shot a zinger into the corner that was untouched by Villa’s keeper. Chelsea supporters were so ecstatic they had to be held back by the security guards at Villa’s home stadium.

In stoppage time against Wigan Athletic last weekend, Torres took a wicked shot that ricocheted off the post, but Mata tapped it in to give Chelsea a 2-1 win. Chelsea’s number nine has been magnificent in the past few months. As a Chelsea fan, I have never been so glad to have him on the team. He has been an integral part of making Chelsea a winning squad again.

Fernando is thriving after playing in full matches, and it has helped him find his place on the Chelsea team. His hard work during practice and strong effort during games have not gone unnoticed by Roberto di Matteo,

Chelsea’s interim manager. Torres has been given the opportunity to find open spaces and create chances for the first time in four years. It has been incredible

to see him regain his confidence and ability.

Sara Levy is a staff writer.

Email her at sports@nyunews.com.

VIA FLICKR

Fernando Torres was traded from Liverpool to Chelsea last year.