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NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 37

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013

Students develop NYU event aggregator app By KIMBERLY SCHU

Imagine an app for your phone that informs you of every university event at NYU. Acting as a central bulletin board for students, Skrounge is a new application that launched on April 4 at NYU by two students who recently graduated from Skidmore College. NYU is the application’s first campus. Inspired by the lack of re-

gional emphasis in many of today’s social media platforms, the duo began designing an app that would allow people to post events exclusively viewable by the university community. Nicolle Bennett, a Gallatin graduate student and the app’s content manager, said that Skrounge allows students

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Dorm Room Fund looks to back promising student startups By NEELA QADIR

April marked the start of a search for the next Mark Zuckerberg. Led by 11 students, including four NYU students, the New York City Dorm Room Fund Investment Team is on the lookout for students capable of launching an innovative and successful startup. The New York City Investment Team members were announced Saturday, when the New York site launched.

The Dorm Room Fund, the parent company of the New York City Investment team, encourages business ventures while still in school. The Dorm Room Fund first began providing financial support for startups in Philadelphia in September of 2012. New York City marks the first expansion of their funding efforts. “This is a huge advantage to students who want to pursue their idea or validate their

concept while they are still in school,” said Ricky Berrin, Dorm Room Fund member and second-year MBA student at the Stern School of Business. The Dorm Room Fund, which is backed by venture capital firm First Round Capital, also tries to expand current startups by providing money to students who already have businesses.

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ANTOINE MARIE COMBELLES/WSN

Mika became green, mean, everything more at Le Poisson Rouge Performing for a packed crowd of excited fans at Le Poisson Rouge on April 9, Mika played a mix of classic hits like “Grace Kelly” and deep cuts from behind the piano.

Tribeca Film Festival to engage audiences with interactive storytelling By JEREMY GROSSMAN

“Audiences are way ahead of us,” said Ingrid Kopp, director of digital initiatives at the Tribeca Film Institute and programmer of the Tribeca Film Festival’s new Storyscapes initiative. A first-time project for the festival, Storyscapes is an interactive showcase in which audiences experiment with the medium of film in several unique ways. Through five different installations, Storyscapes allows audiences to become “part of the story” and experience movies in a non-traditional manner. “I think Tribeca’s always been really interested in looking to see what’s coming down the pipeline and making sure the festival is really part of the conversation of where media is going, what audiences are getting excited about,” Kopp said. When choosing the five installations for

Storyscapes, Kopp considered anything that is not labeled as a linear film. What she ended up choosing was a mixture of installations that covered a number of diverse topics, from insomnia to Hurricane Sandy to “Star Wars.” “Sandy Storyline” is a growing documentary where audiences can share their own stories of the hurricane that occurred this past October, through the use of audio, photography, text and video. “A Journal of Insomnia” is a space de-

signed to look like a bedroom where participants can view real stories of insomnia and then share their own. “‘Star Wars’ Uncut” puts audience members in the director’s seat when designing “The Empire Strikes Back.” Using segments of the film broken down into 15-second segments and remade into animations and re-enactments by people across the world, audiences can be Jedi Knights in their own “Star Wars” film. Inspired by the parlor game commonly

COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

“Robots in Residence” encourages users to explore the A.I.-human relationship.

known as exquisite corpse, the “Exquisite Forest” exhibition allows players to piece together a picture of a forest by passing around a piece of paper and contributing to the final picture. “Robots in Residence” provides yet another collaborative experience, but this time the interaction takes place between humans and robots. Participants can check out a robot — each containing cameras for eyes — and then take the robot out on the streets of New York. The robots, which interview participants, help explore how people can open up to artificial intelligences in ways they cannot, or will not, to fellow humans. “I hope [audiences] get really excited about the potential for what stories can do,” Kopp said. Jeremy Grossman is film editor. Email him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM

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WEEKEND AGENDA

SQUIRREL

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

AMY ZHANG Web Managing Editor

HANQING CHEN Deputy Managing Editor

JORDAN MELENDREZ Assistant Managing Editor

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KALEEL MUNROE SENIOR STAFF

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

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

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

By KEVIN BURNS Students complain that NYU has no community, but what builds community better than gossip inspired by a show about over-privileged, white, high school students? The Facebook page NYU Gossip Squirrel has skyrocketed in popularity since its launch on Tuesday — as of press time the page has over 1,500 likes. NYU Gossip Squirrel aims to bring the community together with the insatiable lust for every scrap of information about “the scandalous lives of NYU’s elite.” At first it may not be obvious who constitutes NYU’s elite, but the Sprouse twins have already been selected as favorite subjects of the university’s rodent provocateur. “Spotted on University Place: Cole Sprouse hand in hand with misc. NYU brunette. Let’s hope he kept his Tipton hotel key; it looks like these two lovebirds are gonna need to get a room,” Gossip Squirrel wrote. Although your humble WSN writer has only seen a few episodes, I am relatively certain the mysterious mammal has nailed “Gossip Girl’s” teasing tone and signature sign-offs. Indeed, the only shame is that NYU does not have better gossip. XOXO, KB P.S. I’m the lovable hipster Blake Lively goes on a date with in the first episode.

SNAPSHOT

DEPUTY STAFF

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

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

OPINION PAGE opinion editor

SAMEER JAYWANT deputy opinion editors

FROM OCCUPY WALL ST. TO OCCUPY HOMES: A REPORT FROM THE FRONTLINES IN MINNESOTA Friday, April 12, 6 to 8 p.m. | NYU Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, Room 383 Members of one of the most successful Occupy movements in the country will discuss their campaign at NYU’s Center for Spiritual Life. GAMEDAY Saturday, April 13, 4 to 7:30 p.m. | Warren Weaver Hall Rakesh Raju and Charles Parra, members of game development company TreSensa, come to NYU to lead the NYU edition of Gameday, one of the final events of Startup Week. Raju and Parra will help interested participants build their Javascriptbased games. Participants should bring their own laptops with a lightweight Javascript editor. SOCIAL NETWORKING AND NEUROPOWER Saturday, April 13, 4 to 6 p.m. | Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre, 1 Washington Place Bernard Stiegler, a leading philosopher of technology and culture, will present a lecture titled “Social Networking and Neuropower,” which will be followed by a discussion moderated by Steinhardt professor Ben Kafka.

Children enjoy playing with bubbles on a sunny day in Washington Square Park.

PHOTO BY CARSON MARTINEZ

DOWNTOWN LITERARY FESTIVAL Saturday, April 13, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. | 52 Prince St. (between Mulberry and Lafayette Streets) Housing Works Bookstore Cafe and McNally Jackson are hosting the inaugural day of the Downtown Literary Festival, featuring highlights such as a downtown tour hosted by LitCrawl NYC, concert stories from music writer and editor Alan Light, street vendor stories pulled from New York à la Cart, readings from The Paris Review and subway accounts from authors John Wray, Charles Bock and Sophie Blackall.

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MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Amy Zhang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Financial aid increases, yet some students still struggle By ADJOA HACKMAN

Recent discussions of the faculty’s confidence in NYU President John Sexton have spotlighted student finances — specifically financial aid. According to the “NYU Facts” webpage released by the Board of Trustees in a recent all-university email, financial aid for undergraduates has increased 138 percent over the past 10 years since Sexton became president. In the same period, tuition has risen by 91 percent. NYU spokesman John Beckman said the university spends about $190 million per year on financial aid in the form of grants or scholarships. Nearly all of NYU’s financial aid is need-based and merit scholarship applications are not available for incoming freshmen, according to the NYU website. The website also states that only 1 to 2 percent of entering freshmen receive merit-based scholarships, which range from $1,000 to $25,000, and those are determined by their admission application. Beckman recognized that NYU does lose some students because of a lack of financial aid. According to U.S. News & World Report, 54.2 percent of NYU students receive some financial aid, but only 5.8 percent

of students needs are fully met. Steinhardt senior Esther Akinwande said NYU should do more to help students afford tuition, so that when they graduate they will give back to the university instead of paying off their student loans. “NYU should do what [Stanford University] does,” Akinwande said. “If your parents make less than $100,000, then you are basically fully covered.” But the difference between NYU and Stanford is the size of their endowments. Last year, Stanford had $17 billion while NYU only had $2.7 billion. Beckman stated that unlike Stanford and other private universities that can rely on endowments for financial aid, NYU is a tuition-dependent institution. Two-thirds of the university’s budget comes from tuition money. Executive vice president of finance and information technology Martin Dorph added that only 5 percent of NYU’s endowments go toward the university’s budget each year. “If we had substantial growth in the endowment and many more donors wanted gifts used for financial aid, we could do more in that area,” Dorph said. Other sources of financial aid include philanthropic gifts and fundraising revenue.

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Student investors seek innovative startup ideas

Some students who have launched startups are excited about the prospect of student-backed funding. “I have never seen a structure that allows students to support students financially. It is really exciting to see this happening as the sector is evolving,” said Alexandra Meis, a second-year graduate student at NYU and co-founder of Kinvolved, an education technology company. Cynthia Franklin, a Stern entrepreneurship professor, said that getting an investment from the fund can provide early validation. “The fact that the Dorm Room Fund has the financial backing and support of First Round Capital is icing on the

VIA FLICKR.COM

Dorm Fund supports student entrepreneurs.

cake,” Franklin said. The investment team’s members look in colleges to find students because colleges provide the optimal environment for starting and sustaining a company, said team member Sam Slover, a first-year graduate student at NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program. “This is good for the students, the schools, and the broader NYC entrepreneurship ecosystem,” Slover said. Benjamin Borodach, CAS sophomore and founder of Hublished, a content discovery platform for webinars, e-books and whitepapers, says that Dorm Room Fund has both advantages and disadvantages compared to other venture capital firms and investors. “Startups are not only after money. They are after expertise, industry know-how and strategic partnerships ... [providing these] would be one aspect in which the Dorm Room Fund might be lacking,” Borodach said. “Nevertheless, the fund gives businesses that truly start out of a dorm room, like my own, a real opportunity to execute an idea in its early stages,” he said. Neela Qadir is a deputy university editor. Email her at nqadir@nyunews.com.

$ of NYU Aid for Undergraduates

AMOUNT

$172,618,241

$200,000,000

$78,138,160

$180,000,000

$139,400,969

$160,000,000

$105,692,082

$140,000,000

$112,629,587

$120,000,000

$84,867,374

$100,000,000

$158,145,030 $122,278,105

$80,000,000 $60,000,000

$110,872,699

$40,000,000

$93,421,118

$185,828,888

$20,000,000 $0 YEAR

GRAPHIC BY LYANNE NATIVIDAD/WSN

NYU’s financial aid allotment has grown over the years, but tuition prices have also increased. Beckman said financial aid is the main reason for the university’s fundraising efforts. “Over the last 10 years, we have seen some important gains,” Beckman said. “In 2002, NYU raised $27 million for financial aid, [and] in 2012, it raised $112 million.”

Some students recognized the efforts NYU is making to increase financial aid. Steinhardt freshman Micah Lewis said he cannot complain about his financial aid, but knows there are other students struggling to pay. As a result, he hopes to one day return the favor. “I [hope] that being under cer-

tain faculty and developing certain skills, I will get a job and be able to support myself, be successful [and] give back to the school.” Adjoa Hackman is a contributing writer. Additional reporting by Isaac Marshall. Email them at investigative@nyunews.com.

FDA to remove Plan B restrictions By SOFIA FERRANDIZ

On April 5, Brooklyn federal judge Edward R. Korman ruled that the common morning-after pill Plan B One Step must be made available to women of all ages. In his ruling, Korman gave the Food and Drug Administration 30 days to remove all age and sale restrictions on the pill and its generic brands. Currently, girls 16 and younger must have a prescription for the emergency contraceptive drug to help prevent pregnancy after sexual intercourse. Debate over this issue has centered around the potential safety risks of younger teens using the drug. “Any drug can be misused,” said Steinhardt public health professor Sally Guttmacher. “I think a concern would be if young women are using Plan B as a birth control pill after every time they have sex, if they are sexually active on a regular basis, rather than as an emergency contraceptive.” In a statement last Friday, White House press secretary Jay Carney said President Obama supported measures to broaden access to the morning-after pill. “He believed it was a common sense approach when it comes to Plan B and its availability,” Carney said. However, in 2011, Obama was less specific in his support. “It’s important for us to make sure that we apply some common sense to various rules when it comes to over-the-counter medicine,” he publicly stated in December 2011. Some Democrats have suggested that Obama wanted to avoid divisive

VIA FLICKR.COM

A federal judge ruled to grant women of all ages access to Plan B. issues in the middle of the campaign season. The Obama administration refused to comment on inquiries about a possible appeal of Judge Korman’s decision. Meanwhile, professional medical organizations such as the FDA, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recommended universal access for years. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists made its appeal to provide unrestricted access to Plan B in 2006. “Timely access to emergency contraception is pivotal in reducing the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions in the U.S.,” the organization said in a public statement. NYU students remain divided on the issue.

Some say girls who can skip the requirement to retrieve a prescription from a doctor may unknowingly be carrying and spreading sexually transmitted infections or diseases. “Minors can’t get a piercing until they are 18 without parental consent, but now they have access to a hormonal drug,” said Steinhardt junior Elisa Angevin, a member of the Newman Catholic Fellowship at NYU. “I do think it will increase sexual promiscuity and sexually transmitted diseases among younger girls.” Others say it is a necessary preventative measure in today’s culture. “Kids are going to have sex and the age [they start is] younger every year,” CAS junior Karenna Insanally said. Sofia Ferrandiz is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM

FEATURES

EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

SKROUNGE continued from PG. 1

New app collects all university events in one central hub

to post photographs, videos, hashtags, stories and advertisements. “People often talk about a lack of community at NYU, and we’re hoping that this can help to address that,” Bennett said. Bennett explained that students must have an NYU email address to access this app. Once registered, students can post material at their leisure and like or comment on other members’ posts. One of Skrounge’s best features is that a student’s location is available along with his or her posts, allowing students and viewers to meet and discover new restaurants, theaters, party venues and study locations. Gallatin senior Amy Rosenberg, a frequent social media user, creates Twitter lists of free and cheap events happening around New York City. She now posts them on Skrounge, sharing her thoughts and experiences in a secluded, safe environment. “I don’t have to worry about showing up at a bar where a bunch of possibly dangerous strangers are hanging out. I know at least one other NYU student will be there too,” Rosenberg said. Rewards are given to posts with the most likes. CAS freshman Luke Allard won a three-month Spotify subscription, as well as a spot in the grand raffle for a larger prize that will be revealed in the future. The app allowed Allard to connect with the community and to explore and broadcast personal messages.

“It is for students, by students,” Allard said. “But it is not always NYU-related, which is great, because it is also about the neighborhood and [the] city as a whole. It was a great way to get the word out about my fashion Instagram.” Gallatin freshman Jessica Soares, a Skrounge campus ambassador, sees the app as a tool to enhance college life at NYU. “It’s a great way to consolidate the millions of NYU Facebook and Twitter pages that students have to seek out and get notifications from a million times a day,” Soares said. “Skrounge was created to give students the latest parties, styles, study tips, yummy recipes and pieces of advice that will improve their college experience.” Kimberly Schu is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF NICOLLE BENNETT

Skrounge brings NYU events directly to your phone.

NYUNEWS.COM

NYU alumni educate communities about sustainable development By UTPALA MENON

For 2012 Gallatin graduate Sal Lavallo, a recent trip to Tanzania opened his eyes to the increasing need to empower agricultural communities. As the founder of Trail of Seeds, a nonprofit organization that educates communities about sustainable development, Lavallo returned to the birthplace of his organization last month and discovered there was still room for change. After realizing that the monetary grants for the locals had not been used effectively, Lavallo decided to launch a new initiative in Yemen, tentatively scheduled for later this year. “The island of Socotra in Yemen has a fantastic history through its link as a middle ground between Africa and Arabia,” Lavallo said. “We want to go in and help them prioritize how they see culturally sustainable development.” In the past three years, Trail of Seeds has conducted projects in Tanzania, Venezuela and the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts. While on trek, members conduct workshops for five to six weeks to educate the community on sustainable development. “Initially, when we conducted workshops in Venezuela, it started with a lot of mistrust among differ-

COURTESY OF SAL LAVALLO

Sal Lavallo and his Trail of Seeds co-workers travel the globe. ent indigenous groups,” said Trevor Wallace, director of new media at Trail of Seeds. “Despite the initial conflict, we finally ended up seeing a reciprocated solidarity.” From establishing a nonprofit while taking a full undergraduate course load to traveling to over 50 countries, one would expect to meet Lavallo suited up in diplomacy with a halo suspended overhead. His fellow members view him as a dynamic leader and entrepreneur. Niobe Way, a Steinhardt professor of psychological development, was a mentor for Lavallo when he studied in Abu Dhabi last year. Lavallo credits her with cultivating his interest in human development. “After class, we had long conversations about fostering connections in the countries he ventured out into,” Way said. “That’s what makes him a great entrepreneur. He never

listened passively and was really thirsty to expand his worldview.” Even amid success, the organization has experienced its own share of problems. The team had difficulty finding a guide in Tanzania, and emailed over 25 NGOs, churches and other organizations. While Lavallo continues to expand membership of Trail of Seeds through international initiatives, he urges aspiring entrepreneurs to consider pursuing undertakings with impact. “We want to create a network of individuals and communities who think about culturally sustainable development,” Lavallo said. “There will be roadblocks, but we just need to take detours to get to our goals.” Utpala Menon is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Sophomore supports social justice through musical nonprofit

By JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU

CAS sophomore Johnathan Chen knows music can be an important outlet for social change. He used the inspirational power of music as the foundation for OneReasonRecordings, the nonprofit organization he created during his freshman year. ORR aims to raise funds for social justice issues around the world using music. The organization focuses on a different issue each year and invites musicians from around the country to write and record songs about the problem. Chen and ORR then compile the tracks into an album. The group donates all proceeds to a charity of its choice. Chen believes music is a great way to involve students in his endeavor. “Wherever you go, you see people with headphones on ... plugged into themselves and listening to music,” Chen said. “I just thought, music is such a universal thing, so why not use it for something positive?” Chen and his team are currently focusing on helping the homeless. In early 2013, they launched the Homes Campaign to raise funds to build a house for a family in need while also providing food, a steady source of income and other necessities including clothing

and books. “We seek to raise $3,713 to provide a family in need with a new, safe and secure house with sanitation, rice and beans for one full year,” said CAS sophomore Catherine Ye, who serves as ORR’s director of public relations. ORR previously partnered with another nonprofit called charity: water, during the group’s 20112012 water campaign to help those without access to clean drinking water. ORR created the album “Collecting Droplets” and raised a total of $5,000. ORR also contributed to the Hurricane Sandy relief effort last October. “The idea of using music as a means with which to change the world really appealed to me, as music is one my greatest passions,” Ye said. “The theme is easily applied universally, as well as among individuals in a community.” Many of the artists who contribute are relatively unknown. Chen is determined to give them a new outlet for their music and help them associate with a positive image. Ray Low, an NYU-Poly senior who contributed a song to “Collecting Droplets,” says he has known Chen for years and is very supportive of ORR’s work. “Though I am not as involved, I am very much enthusiastic about the mission of the organization and am planning to submit more

music in the future,” Low said. OneReasonRecordings is still accepting submissions for its current Homes album, which is slated to be released later this year. For more information, visit the organization’s Facebook page and its weekly YouTube series, “ORRiginal Saturdays,” hosted by Steinhardt sophomore Heidi Seo, OneReasonRecordings’ director of public outreach. Jonathan Keshishoglou is a deputy features editor. Email him at jkesh@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF JOHNATHAN CHEN

Chen works with musicians to raise money for charities.

NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

ARTS

EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

‘Guacamelee’ serves up delicious mayhem By JONATHON DORNBUSH While “Super Mario” continues to thrive with mainstream audiences, most 2-D side scrollers have fallen out of the spotlight. “Guacamelee,” an action platformer released for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita, makes countless allusions to the past glory of the genre, but the game does not coast on nostalgia alone. Instead, it employs a charming art style and addicting gameplay to deliver a nostalgic yet thoroughly modern adventure. Though many stories begin in media res, “Guacamelee” starts at the end. Juan, a lowly agave farmer, leads a normal life in his rural home — until a sombrero-wearing skeleton, Carlos Calaca, runs off with the woman of Juan’s dreams and kills the farmer as he attempts to thwart Calaca. This setback is only the beginning of Juan’s journey. Thrown into the spirit world, Juan dons a wrestling mask and returns to the land of the living as a luchador eager to reunite with his love. “Guacamelee’s” absurd setup merely hints at what players will come across during Juan’s journey. Carlos Calaca’s lackeys impede Juan every step of the way as he explores deserts, thriving pueblos and more. From a pistol-wielding man whose head is eternally engulfed in flames to a scorned lover, the cast of characters delights with their amusing dialogue and distinct personalities. The bright palette complements these colorful personalities with gorgeous locales. Warmer colors dominate the real world and cooler hues comprise the land of the

dead. There’s a purely aesthetic incentive to exploring the world, and “Guacamelee” creates a wonderful loop of pushing you one area further to see what developer Drinkbox Studios has built. Players explore this exciting world using the staples of the genre with a twist that offers a refreshing side-scroller experience. Juan amasses new wrestler-related abilities that allow him to destroy certain colored obstacles and unlock new areas to explore. Collectibles hidden in every nook and cranny unlock more health and power, and Juan is even fortunate enough to be able to change form into a chicken. While certainly inspired by classic side-scrolling franchises, the skills and combat so perfectly suit Juan that Drinkbox’s attention to detail is apparent at every step of the way. And Juan’s ability to use portals to shift between the two planes allow for smart design choices in enemy encounters and environmental puzzles. However, occasional difficulty spikes, particularly around boss battles, impede the gameplay experience. Much of what makes “Guacamelee” succeed is evident in its portmanteau title. The Mexican iconography and the engaging combat and exploration work in conjunction to craft an addicting, if sadly short, experience. From the title to every new locale and ability, “Guacamelee” has pure fun in mind, and when the final product is so well made, it’s difficult to stay out of the wrestling ring. Jonathon Dornbush is editor-in-chief. Email him at jdornbush@nyunews.com.

Tribeca films promise exciting festival By JEREMY GROSSMAN

Moviegoers, take note — the 2013 Tribeca Film Festival begins Wednesday, April 17, and runs until Sunday, April 28. With tickets still available for the festival’s incredibly wide and diverse selection of titles, audiences should be aware of the notable screenings they can look forward to. “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Will Forte makes his dramatic debut in Steph Green’s “Run & Jump,” a film about a family readjusting to life with their father after he wakes up from a coma as a shell of his former self. Forte plays Ted, a man filming a documentary of his family’s experience, only to find himself filling the role of father figure his wife and children so desperately crave. It’s a tough role for Forte, and certainly one that audiences will want to take in. For more comedic fare, audiences may be interested in the new film by Darren Stein, who is perhaps best known as the director of the 1999 cult comedy “Jawbreaker.” He returns this year with “G.B.F.,” an acronym for “gay best friend” — the must-have accessory for teenage girls. While Stein’s stylish direction makes this film worthy of a recommendation, it’s the up-and-coming cast, including actresses Sasha Pieterse and Evanna Lynch, that already has filmgoers and critics talking. Even those who aren’t particularly interested in documentaries might

COURTESY OF TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

want to check out “Lil Bub & Friendz,” the film debut of Internet cat celebrity Lil Bub. Telling the story of Lil Bub and her rise to fame despite suffering from the bone disease osteoporosis, the movie also taps into the Internet users’ inexplicable obsession with cats. Featuring appearances by other celebrity cats such as Grumpy Cat, Nyan Cat and Keyboard Cat, it’s likely you won’t find a more culturally relevant documentary this year. Horror fans, on the other hand, might be more interested in “V/H/S/2,” the sequel to last year’s experimental horror film “V/H/S.” Like its predecessor, “V/H/S/2” is a horror anthology of short films from some of the industry’s most promising directors, such as Jason Eisener (“Hobo with a Shotgun”) and Gareth Evans (“The Raid: Redemption”). The response to the first movie was mixed, and fans of “V/H/S” will

surely be anticipating whether the series has worked out its kinks. Lastly, audiences will want to check out “Prince Avalanche,” starring Paul Rudd and Emile Hirsch. Director David Gordon Green was known for more indie fare before finding comedy success with “Pineapple Express.” However, his more recent films, such as “The Sitter,” have left much to be desired. All eyes will be on the comedy-drama “Prince Avalanche” to see just where Green’s career arc is headed. One of the best film festivals in the tri-state area, this year’s Tribeca Film Festival offers another round of screenings with something for everybody. Jeremy Grossman is film editor. Email him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.

Celebrity guest appearances help boost public opinion of stars By VALERIE NELSON

While watching the May 14 finale of Fox’s “New Girl,” you may spot a familiar face among the guests at Cece’s wedding. That face belongs to the enormously famous — and often contentious — singer, Taylor Swift. Despite hosting “Saturday Night Live” and having a small part in Garry Marshall’s “Valentine’s Day,” Swift is not an actress. Her celebrity status and all the buzz surrounding her personal life was what led to the casting. “New Girl” is hardly the first television show to bring on a celebrity seemingly for no reason other than to boost ratings. In 2008, a then-declining “How I Met Your Mother” marketed an episode around the appearance of Britney Spears. The episode drew in many new viewers, and five years later, “How I Met Your Mother” is still on the air. Many credited Spears’ appearance for the turnaround. “Glee” did something similar last fall. When trying a drastically different format for its fourth season, the show brought on Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker to tempt viewers into taking an interest in the new, split-storyline narrative. Another vehicle for celebrity

actors is the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performance. Sometimes it’s awarded to bigscreen stars who have recurring roles, such as John Lithgow on “Dexter,” but other times, the award is given to someone who has been in Oscar-nominated films and only makes a brief cameo. For example, last year’s winner was Kathy Bates, who won for her role as Charlie Harper’s ghost on “Two and a Half Men.” The award offers lesser television shows the chance to win something small. The stars also have a lot to gain from guest appearances. In 2008, Spears was waning as much as “How I Met Your Mother,” and her presence on the show did great things for her reputation. Other celebrities like James Franco and even Al Gore have played exaggerated versions of themselves on “30 Rock.” A willingness to make fun of oneself can have a drastic impact on a celebrity’s public image. Television has also been a steppingstone for some celebrities in becoming famous with a larger audience. “Glee” is notable for taking performers previously known mainly to theater fans — Lea Michele, Kristin Chenoweth and Jonathan Groff, for example — and introducing them to the public. Chenoweth’s season one

story arc introduced many casual TV viewers to the Broadway performer. While the television show gets a ratings boost and the celebrity guest star gets publicity, it’s ultimately the audience who wins. Rarely do celebrity guest stars turn people off. Even Taylor Swift, who has her fair share of haters, isn’t enough to drive off a rabid “New Girl” fan. The random celebrity appearance is an exciting way for shows to mix up their predictable formula and create an altogether more interesting, fun-to-watch product. Valerie Nelson is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.

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Guest casting shakes up the predictable formula of any show.

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OPINION

EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

PRIVACY

Corporate data mining must be revealed By IAN MARK Our online actions are revealing more and more about our real-life personalities and preferences. The advertisements we see online are presented based on the information companies have about us. This is possible because of the vast troves of information about us that are collected and sold to third parties by websites like Facebook and Google. The only way to prevent your information from being collected is to stay offline. There is no way to find out what information of yours is being collected, and who has it. California Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal is seeking to change that. In a step toward a more transparent online world, Lowenthal has proposed a bill that would require any California-based company to provide anyone who requests it with a record of what third parties they have shared personal information with in the past year, and exactly what information they have shared. Companies must send the information within 30 days. This bill, if passed, is a big step in the right direction. The Internet is a relatively new phenomenon, and regulators

have lagged behind innovative companies seeking to exploit it. We still don’t fully understand just how much is possible with the information that can, and is, being collected, and it is important that corporations are not allowed to use this information in an unregulated way. Most would agree that it is reasonable that Internet users have the right to know who has their information and what it says about them. A more interesting question is whether this bill goes far enough. Many would say that these companies have no right to collect this information. But the information can only be collected if one chooses to use a certain website. If a company makes it clear — and, to be fair, many today don’t — that it intends to record informa-

tion from your computer when you use the site, it seems unreasonable to complain. If you don’t want your information collected, the argument goes, don’t use the site. One flaw in this reasoning is that the corporate world is increasingly digital — sites like LinkedIn and others are necessary for success in business and in other professions. However, such complaints are not enough to push for restrictions on data collecting. If there are a large number of people who are so against data collection, there is a niche for a social media site that doesn’t collect personal information. It isn’t the government’s job to restrict data-collection, but it is the government’s responsibility to make sure that all sites that do so disclose beforehand that they collect data. This bill is a necessary change to the current system, as it will allow users to find out exactly who knows what about them. A federal bill of similar intent would unify Internet law and prevent companies from escaping states’ attempts to regulate data collection. Ian Mark is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

EDUCATION

Automated grading devalues academic effort By BRITTANY SHERMAN

There is certainly a level of pride that comes from receiving written feedback on an essay you slaved over for weeks. Good or bad, it’s nice to know that someone took the time to read and respond to what you wrote. Moreover, this can prompt dialogue between teachers and students and can lead to connections that may not have come about otherwise. None of this will be remotely possible for students taking online courses with the introduction of new software by EdX, a nonprofit organization founded by Harvard University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The organization has just launched automated software that uses artificial intelligence to grade student essays as well as short-answer responses. How can a machine possibly provide the type of feedback that a teacher can, and quite frankly, should give? The approach taken by EdX is to first have teachers grade 100 essays or questions, then have the system work to learn that person’s grading style. The software will subsequently assign a grade based on the teacher’s system. This process es-

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sentially takes the entire human aspect out of learning. EdX and the proponents of this new software note two main benefits that will accompany this automated grading mechanism. Anant Agarwal, electrical engineer and president of EdX, stated that instant-grading software would be a great way for students to receive responses immediately and thus allow them to rewrite their essay answers until they attain a better score. The issue with this highly mechanized approach is that it essentially turns essay writing into a robotic, automated process. Writing is anything but robotic and automated. Writing, even of the dullest topics, is not forced. It involves both creativ-

ity and thought — factors that are lost when the focus is placed on repetition. The second benefit EdX claims is that their automated process frees professors for other tasks. If this form of instant grading is already implemented for true-false exams and some forms of multiple-choice exams, then the adoption of this process for essay exams leaves the majority of examination scoring to be done by machines. Making professors’ lives easier is one thing, but effectively taking them out of the equation is another. If the teacher does not engage in the grading process, then they cannot ensure that their students are benefitting and taking in the course material. At that point, the role of the teacher becomes increasingly and unnecessarily diminished. As technology continues to advance, we need to think about what we’re willing to sacrifice to make our lives easier. Just because something is physically within our power doesn’t always mean it should be done, and this new software is a case in point. Brittany Sherman is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Religion has no place in public education

In a sweeping effort to battle rampant scientific ignorance among young students, educators last week introduced new guidelines for public school curricula that would standardize teaching of climate science and evolution and remove creationism from middle school onward. The new guidelines come in response to the growing controversy over public education driven by religious conservatives. While evolution is the most popular and approved scientific theory for the origin of human life and is an integral part of understanding biological science, some conservatives insist that intelligent design and other theistic ideas also be taught taught in public schools. A group called Citizens for Objective Public Education stated that the new curriculum would “take away the right of parents to direct the religious education of their children.” This is where the problem lies — public schools should not be used as a vehicle for religious education. In an age where scientific progress is cutting-edge and often incontrovertible, we commit a grave disservice to our society by teaching a new generation of children that complex events are simply the result of a higher power that we cannot control. Creationism is a stagnant theory that has little to do with scientific reality and diametrically opposes rational thought and scientific analysis. Faith can be important to the development of children in America, but that aspect of education should remain in individual households instead of being injected into public curricula. Hardline conservatives must realize that in a public school, religion cannot be taught as a basis for scientific theory — only facts and empirical evidence can be. Students must learn how ideas are developed and tested in the scientific realm, how to determine if evidence is sufficient and how to make conclusions based on various pieces of information. These new guidelines will aim to make science in schools a process of discovery, rather than a rigid system where theories are not explored but taught as unquestionable truth.

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

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