WSN0041613

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 39

TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013

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BOSTON BOMBINGS LEAVE CITIES, UNIVERSITIES SHAKEN

By AMY ZHANG

New York City heightens security RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN

The New York Police Department increased security in Midtown in response to the Boston Marathon bombing.

LSP renames award in honor of José Vázquez

By KEVIN BURNS

José Vázquez, a professor in the Liberal Studies Program who passed away last February, has been hailed by his students and fellow faculty as an extraordinary

COURTESY OF NYU

An LSP award is being named for late professor José Vázquez.

teacher devoted to his students.

To keep his legacy alive, LSP created the José Vázquez Award for Teaching Excellence.

The award, originally named the Liberal Studies Excellence in Teaching Award, is given to professors who “go above and beyond in their dedication to serving students and their firm commitment to excellence in higher education.” Vázquez won the award in 2010.

Created by the Liberal Studies student government and LSP dean Fred Schwarzbach, the award was first given out in 2006.

The winners of the award are determined solely by students, who use an online survey to select worthy professors and write a few sentences about why they

chose them. Any LSP professor is eligible for nomination.

Rebecah Reilly, a student activities administrator, said students have always determined the winner of the award.

“We sent out a poll, and students nominate a professor who has demonstrated excellence and who has gone above and beyond the call of duty,” Reilly said. “José loved his students, and he touched many lives in a profound way.”

An overwhelming amount of LSP faculty members support the decision to rename the award in honor of Vázquez.

“He was a first-rate scientist and devoted and talented teacher, beloved by students, faculty and staff

VÁZQUEZ continued on PG. 3

Universities in major U.S. cities joined authorities in a state of high alert after an explosion at the finish line of the Boston Marathon injured over 140 and killed 3 people yesterday afternoon.

A bomb exploded near the Boylston Street finish line at approximately 2:50 p.m. yesterday. Shortly afterward, a second bomb went off 550 yards away. Any correlation between the bombings and a fire at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum was not confirmed.

In a schoolwide email, Boston College confirmed that although several hundred BC students ran in this year’s marathon, no casualties had been reported. Emerson College reported that seven students were injured in the bombing but returned safely to school later in the evening.

Meanwhile, Harvard University canceled all classes after 4 p.m., and Emerson suspended all academic activities until 7 a.m.

Students attending schools in Boston are also asked to avoid Boylston Street, but regular classes and business schedules will continue on most campuses.

“I stood outside the barricade cheering on runners about five miles away from where the explosions went off,” said Megan Herschlein, a freshman at Boston College. “The runners I high-fived could be dead or dying right now. If I was five miles down the road I could have been dead or dying. These people accomplished such an

MARATHON continued on PG. 3

Yeah Yeah Yeahs buzz back with ‘Mosquito’

By ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE

In the four years since the release of the Grammy-nominated “It’s Blitz!,” the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have kept a relatively low profile.

The pressure to follow up such a commercial and critical success would have driven a lesser band to the brink of insanity, but these guys are hardly amateurs.

“Mosquito” delivers 11 solid tracks of their iconic post-punk rock brand to prove that they’re determined to get inside your head — and stay there.

“Mosquito” carries a religious theme that is subtle at times and heavier at others, using a gospel choir to emphasize this underlying attitude. Rather than sharing spiritual dogma,

COURTESY OF INTERSCOPE

the band members have chosen to convey a different message — we are depraved souls in need of saving, but we might already be too far-gone.

This idea is especially clear on tracks like lead single “Sacrilege”

YEAH continued on PG. 5

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“I STOOD OUTSIDE THE BARRICADE CHEERING ON RUNNERS ABOUT FIVE MILES AWAY FROM WHERE THE EXPLOSIONS WENT OFF. THE RUNNERS I HIGH-FIVED COULD BE DEAD OR DYING RIGHT NOW. IF I WAS FIVE MILES DOWN THE ROAD I COULD HAVE BEEN DEAD OR DYING.” – Megan Herschlein, Boston College freshman

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“I’VE LIVED IN & LOVED #BOSTON MY ENTIRE LIFE. OUR KIND-HEARTEDNESS RUNS FIERCELY DEEP. BE REMINDED OF THAT NOW. THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD HERE.” – @OMGKatAttack

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“THE BOSTON MARATHON WAS IN HONOR OF THE SANDY HOOK SCHOOL SHOOTING. NO WORDS, JUST PRAYERS. #PRAYFORBOSTON.” – @DeMarko_Gage

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EDITORS-AT-LARGE

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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MARATHON continued from PG. 1

VÁZQUEZ continued from PG. 1

Universities respond with sincerity to Boston tragedy

incredible task, 26.2 miles, and this is the result they get.”

OTHER CITIES RESPOND Universities in nearby cities such as New York and Washington, D.C., were also on high alert.

NYU issued a universitywide email to the NYU community, stressing that the New York Police Department had no information to suggest NYU or New York City were targets.

The email stated that public safety officers were maintaining close contact with the NYPD. New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne issued a statement saying that critical response vehicles and additional police personnel would be deployed in high-traffic areas as a precaution.

Students have been urged to

contact 911 or authorities if they notice suspicious activity.

In Washington, D.C., Georgetown University and George Washington University also sent out mass emails urging vigilance and reminding students of availble counseling and guidance services.

Like many university emails sent to college communities during a time of adversity, GWU President Steven Knapp noted in his email to students: “We hold those affected by this tragedy very much in our thoughts and prayers.”

Amy Zhang is managing editor.

Additional reporting by Nicole Brown, Veronica Carchedi and Michael Domanico.

Email them at cstate@nyunews.com.

Gallatin events explore life in city grid

By NEELA QADIR and TATIANA BAEZ

Students will receive a lesson in urban design with Off the Grid: Tours and Talks on New York City’s New Public Spaces, a series of events organized by the Gallatin Design Collective, which will look more closely at public urban spaces.

The idea behind Off the Grid, which kicks off April 17, began when Gallatin junior Michael Ryan started working at the High Line.

“As I was walking the High Line and thinking about Hudson Yards and the Lowline, I started recognizing this trend of new public spaces and their aversion to Manhattan’s famous street grid,” Ryan said.

“And Off the Grid was born.”

The events will try to focus students’ attention on public space issues and the urban designs that shaped New York City.

“We wanted to create a program in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study that really highlighted the growing urban design community in the school,” Tisch senior Melissa Russell said. “And [we] wanted to give students the chance to learn more about these exciting development projects that are happening around the city.”

Events include P.O.P.S. Potluck, The Big Walk, Talking About the Lowline and Talking with Thomas Woltz.

P.O.P.S. Potluck involves a picnic in the Trump Tower lobby while learning about privately owned public spaces such as Zucotti Park. The Big Walk includes a stroll around Roosevelt Island, and Talking about the Lowline will focus on the planning and designing of the Lowline.

Finally, Talking with Thomas Woltz, owner of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects, will allow students to discuss landscaping in public spaces.

“They will be servicing large numbers of people and have the

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potential to really transform the feeling of the city,” Russell said.

“Trump Tower is a unique public space because it’s a great meeting of perceived exclusivity and total accessibility.”

The Big Walk has been an event at NYU for the past three years, but this is the first year it is collaborating with Off the Grid.

People who participate in The Big Walk will meet a member of the Four Freedoms Park team, an urban designer who works on shoreline resilience, an architect who is an expert on the automated vacuum assisted collection system and Roosevelt Island Historical Society executive director Gina Pollara.

“Off the Grid is an opportunity to highlight just how many students at Gallatin are thinking about urban spaces,” Ryan said. “Whether you’re an activist, designer, user or policy maker, these trends in public design matter.”

All events will be open to the public by R.S.V.P. Students who are not in Gallatin and want to participate in The Big Walk are asked to donate $20.

Neela Qadir is a deputy university editor.

Tatiana Baez is university editor.

Email them at university@nyunews.com.

VIA FLICKR.COM

The High Line inspired the Off the Grid program.

Award named for deceased LSP professor

alike,” said LSP professor Kathleen Bishop, the 2008 winner.

LSP professor Brendan Hogan said he is confident that any of his colleagues who knew Vázquez would be both humbled and honored to receive the award.

“Like José, those of his colleagues deserving of this honor don’t teach in order to receive awards,” Hogan said. “They teach as part of an intellectual mission.”

Although the award was renamed for Vázquez, LSP professor Gerceida Jones thinks that a scholarship in his name would have been a better idea.

“A scholarship in his name

would be the ultimate honor since José dedicated so much of his life to the students he served, but that requires a lot of money and fundraising,” Jones said.

Nominations for the award are being accepted now through April 18 at noon.

GLS professor Rochelle Almeida said she expected it to be a competitive award because of the quality of teachers in LSP. “I would consider it a great honor,” Almeida said. “For this award, or for any teaching award decided by the students.”

LSP sophomore Meredith Men-

ache said the award is a good way for students to have their opinions heard, since the award does not consider faculty preferences.

“It’s not just the administration looking at the grades they give or the little survey at the end of the semester,” she said.

“It’s really nice that students can show their appreciation and gratitude for their professors.”

The winner will be announced at the LSP New York Harbor Cruise on April 18.

Kevin Burns is a deputy university editor. Email him at kburns@nyunews.com.

Study criticizes NYU’s contributions to global health

By CRISTINA CABRERA

Universities Allied For Essential Medicines, an organization of university students who work in medical and public health fields and focus on using academics to promote global health, has recently evaluated top research universities.

The University Global Health Report Card graded 54 research universities in the United States and Canada, including NYU, on their contributions to global health.

NYU received a D-plus on a global health report card from UAEM. This is an average of three grading points: innovation in medical research, level of accessibility to medical breakthroughs and empowerment of next generations of medical pioneers.

NYU received a D-minus on innovation, a B-minus for access and a D for empowerment.

NYU is not the only university to receive a poor grade — 16 other institutions also received a D-plus or lower, while only six received above a C-plus.

“Many universities are providing important clinical care and health systems support in developing countries,” UAEM executive director Bryan Collinsworth said.

“But when it comes to researching new treatments and cures for neglected global diseases, our report card finds that they’re falling very short.”

NYU spokesman John Beckman disagreed with UAEM, citing that it used its own criteria to evaluate the universities instead of using a universal standard.

“The relationship between the grade a university receives from this outfit and its actual contribution to global health should be viewed with some skepticism,” Beckman said.

The University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, ranked highest, receiving an A-minus.

Jerry Spiegel, director of the UBC global health research

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Universities are encouraged to expand global health research. program, said the university did well on the report card because of its neglected global disease initiative. “[The report card’s] attention to neglected disease corresponded to a significant initiative at our university,” he said.

However, Spiegel criticized the narrowness of the report card, citing other dimensions that affect global health other than neglected diseases.

“The report card should either explicitly indicate that it has a particular neglected disease focus, albeit from a ‘global health’ perspective, or should broaden its evaluative criteria to consider and be able to critically assess other dimensions,” Speigel said.

Collinsworth stated that universities play a vital role in global health given that they are nonprofit, publicly funded research institutions.

He advised universities like NYU to improve their global health impact by focusing on rarely researched diseases, such as Chagas disease and dengue fever, and by allowing easier access to life-saving medicine for low

and middle-income countries.

Beckman cited NYU’s master’s degree program in global public health, the Global Institute of Public Health and a number of research projects related to international health, including a global colloquium of university presidents held at NYU this past March, as examples of NYU’s contributions to global health.

“While I am sure there is always room for improvement, we respectfully reject the grade,” Beckman said.

CAS freshman Marco Mendez, who is on the pre-med track, said NYU is more likely to devote research toward diseases within the United States, as it would be easier to receive federal funding, but that should not stop them from making attempts to improve.

“I think NYU could channel more funding toward its research efforts,” Mendez said. “The university could also focus more on diseases that affect masses of people outside of the United States.”

Cristina Cabrera is a contributing writer. Email her at investigative@nyunews.com.

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BEAUTY AND STYLE

EDITED BY MICHELLE LIM BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM

Students become self-conscious over expensive gym wear

By ARIANA DIVALENTINO

Most would agree that the student body of NYU is consistently stylish.

Pajama pants in class are an uncommon sight, and a significant portion of the Washington Square Park crowd always seems photo-ready. It shouldn’t be surprising then that this investment in looking put-together on a regular basis even extends to their appearance at the gym.

More than a few NYU students have dropped $50 on a pair of bedazzled yoga pants or a pastel racerback tank top. One may wonder why anyone would spend so much money on clothing that is made to perspire in. Very few people — aside from Nike models — can actually look attractive while working out, so the question remains as to why people make the effort when regular sweatpants would suffice.

CAS freshman Nicole Winograd is prone to wearing pretty but pricey Lululemon or VS Pink gear, but she agrees that a bit of a paradox exists.

“You’re supposed to [look] your worst when you work out, yet we keep trying to look our best,” she said. “Looking good while you work out shouldn’t matter, but it does.”

Winograd points to self-consciousness as a contributing factor.

“I personally just always like to dress to impress because I feel like people still somewhat judge what you’re wearing at the gym,” she said. “My main reason I dress up is because if I run into anyone I know, I wouldn’t want them to see me looking gross.”

It’s only logical for NYU students to want to look their best at all times, given our culture of stylishness and individuality, but when it comes to the gym, it’s hard to confirm that anyone really cares about appearances. The principle is similar to being on the beach — chances are, most people are too concerned with their own bodies to judge yours. The pressure to look good may be internally imposed.

“People like to look attractive in an area where people are literally there to become more attractive,” said CAS senior Jenna Haines, who works at the Palladium Athletic Facility. “I don’t think, necessarily, the gym forces that upon people, but the gym by nature has a lot of fit, attractive people in it already, and so I could imagine how you might want to look a certain way because the attractive people at the gym look a certain way.”

Body consciousness, however, may not be the only factor. Farren Allen, a sales associate at Victoria’s Secret Pink in SoHo, suggested that displays of

economic status are the major priority for those dropping cash on expensive sweats and sports bras.

“Everyone wants to seem expensive,” Allen said. “Everyone wants to seem like they’re buying something expensive, and expensive things are often pretty and flashy.”

Given our modern, consumerist society, it shouldn’t be surprising that some people would find it desirable to spend a lot of money simply to show that they have the money to spend, even on gym clothes. Still, this breeds a unique variety of competition that has no place in the gym — no one should feel the need to worry about their financial situation while trying to improve physical health and fitness.

When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter if the social pressures to look good — or wealthy — at the gym are real or imagined. If students simply feel more comfortable in muscle-baring cut-off shirts or hot pink shorts, they will enjoy their workout more. The reverse, however, is true as well — no one should feel pressured to look pictureperfect for the gym. After all, you’re just there to sweat.

Ariana DiValentino is a staff writer.

Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

VIA VICTORIASSECRET.COM

Expensive gym wear contributes to self-image.

Brighten up hair with chalk to enjoy color without commitment

By SANJANA KUCHERIA Chalk is no longer just for sidewalk art. A recent hairstyle trend is incorporating colorful pastel chalks that add flair to a normal hairdo.

With spring in full blossom, bright colors are back for the next several months, and chalking can create a look similar to poppy hair dye without the commitment. It’s a fast and easy way to temporarily add color to your hair. Here are some helpful tips and advice before you start chalking.

Hair Color

Brand Name

If you have blond hair or blond tips, do not apply the chalk on wet hair. There is a high possibility that the color will function similarly to dyes that only last for a few washes.

On the contrary, if you have darker hair, you need water to double the pigment and highlight the colors. For a better finish, twist your hair as you chalk. Turning strands of hair chalk allows the color to spread better over your locks.

Although people might tell you otherwise, never use regular sidewalk chalk. Getting the color to stick to your hair is nearly impossible. One of the most trusted hair chalk brands is Sennelier’s soft pastels, which can be found in most art stores ($40 for a set of 12). Whichever brand you use, keep in mind that the colors can stain your clothes during the day, so it’s best to wear something close to the color of the chalk you wear.

Shower Procedure Before showering, brush your hair thoroughly. Try to get out as much of the chalk before the wash to save time in the shower.

Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo after chalking. Conditioning afterward is a necessity, as it helps replenish the moisture that might have been lost.

Most of all, chalk sparingly.

Brights are wonderful, and even though the brand Sennelier uses pure pigments mixed with minimal amounts of natural binders, at the end of the day, you’re using powerful pigment on your hair. This can remove the natural moisture. Make sure your hair enjoys downtime in between major chalking sessions.

MICHELLE LIM FOR WSN

Chalk adds unique color to your hair without the trouble of dyes.

Sanjana Kucheria is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

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ARTS

EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

YEAH continued from PG. 1

Yeah Yeah Yeahs explore religion on fourth album ‘Mosquito’

and the titular “Mosquito.” The latter features a chorus of “I will suck your blood/I will suck your blood/ suck your suck your suck your blood” sung in frontwoman Karen O’s distinctive, exhilarating screech.

The religious themes continue on tracks like “Slave” and “Buried Alive,” which touch upon being enslaved by responsibilities and feelings — and the need to free oneself of both.

“Buried Alive” features an impressive Nick Valensi-esque guitar riff along with verses provided by Dr. Octagon for a sound that is at once The Cure and Devo with a modern spin.

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have managed to explore new styles with their music while still remaining true to their original artistic sound.

“Subways,” the band’s ode to their hometown of New York City, features a mesmerizing recording of subway cars riding on the tracks that is both familiar and unsettling.

While there is little to dislike

about the album in general, there is a noticeable repetition of lyrics on many of the tracks. Thankfully, the band makes up for it in artfully composed instrumentals and O’s versatile vocals. It gives the impression that the words are not as important as how the songs sound and make the listener feel.

O’s voice ranges from a falsetto gasp on “These Paths” to a bratty snarl on the celestial “Area 52,” the latter featuring bizarre accents and guttural distortion only fit for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Even while exploring new sonic territory, each track sounds like it belongs on a Yeah Yeah Yeahs album.

The fearless innovation and masterful composition of “Mosquito” only goes to show that the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have certainly not run out of ideas just yet.

Alexandria Ethridge is music editor. Email her at aethridge@nyunews.com.

Gimmicks, exposition overload ‘Goldor’

By OLIVIA GEORGE

“Looks like the L train is running tonight,” the narrator of the play “Goldor $ Mythyka: A Hero Is Born” jeers at one of the audience members who has partaken in the pre-show dance party on stage. “How many T-shirts do you own with pictures of cereal boxes on them?”

The joke sticks the landing at a downtown Manhattan venue but loses some points when it is revealed that the Brooklynite is a plant, and the jabs are scripted.

Though slightly disappointing, this discovery appropriately sets the tone for a show that examines the line between fantasy and reality.

Based on a true story, “Goldor $ Mythyka” follows the story of Bart, alias Goldor (Garrett Neergard), and Holly, also known as Mythyka (Jenny Seastone Stern) — a couple brought together, on the surface, by their love of Dungeons & Dragons. However, it is the couple’s desire to escape the real world for a more exciting one that is the root of their connection.

The play is inspired by the lives of Roger Dillon and Nicole Boyde, a pair who robbed over $8 million from an armored car, earning themselves the title “goth Bonnie and Clyde.” Neergard and Stern endearingly embody their quirky characters with a sincerity that overcomes other chaotic elements of the production.

The narrator (Bobby Moreno) serves the play well, contributing to the disconnect between fantasy and reality by constantly reminding the audience that they are watching a play. He likens himself to a dungeon master, the orches-

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trator and storyteller of a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

However, his presence can undermine the stakes of the couple’s theft. He often gives a voice to the things the characters leave purposefully unsaid, potentially ruining the tension crea-ted when left only implied. The heavy exposition present in his dialogue takes away from the development of the other characters in real time.

Similarly, the small space is loaded up with projections and overthe-top light shows — gimmicks that also distract from the action instead of adding to it. The story is transcendent and could stand on its own, but unfortunately, director Shana Gold doesn’t let it.

“Goldor $ Mythyka” is presented by the New Georges and is playing now through April 27 at the New Ohio Theater, located at 154 Christopher St. Olivia George is theater and books editor. Email her at ogeorge@nyunews.com.

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

FCC considers more lenient obscenity standards

By JAKE FOLSOM

The Federal Communications Commission wields immense power. The commission is given legal exception, bypassing the laws by which most systems are bound to keep content it finds objectionable from public airwaves. This power was pushed further on April 1, when the FCC proposed a loosening of the obscenity definition, specifically considering a shift from the current, stringent standards only targeting “egregious” obscenity.

The FCC also holds a large amount of social influence. In deciding what can be shown on television, the FCC shapes public discourse and directly controls what we deem obscene.

This is not to say the FCC is immune to naysayers — in the last couple of years it has attracted heightened criticism.

The FCC is allowed to make subjective decisions, the results of which have major implications. This subjectivity is typified by the FCC’s decision to allow networks to air uncensored versions of “Saving

Private Ryan,” labeling its obscenities in the name of artistic merit. But other films that employed profanity and made similar arguments were idiosyncratically censored. With the commission’s proposed policy shift, isolated or “fleeting” instances of profanity and even nudity could be allowed to air, while prolonged or recurring instances would continue to be censored.

The FCC has opened this proposition up to the public’s opinions on its website. Some, such as the Parents Television Council, voice concern for the health of children exposed to such content, while others assert that the FCC policy has restricted content for far too long.

Marjorie Heins, an NYU professor of media, culture and communications, notes the discrepancies in the arguments of those fearful for the wellness of children in the face of such a change. For one, this shift is less revolutionary than it appears at a first glance.

“The FCC is basically proposing to go back to its pre-2004 regime,” Heins said, referring

to the strengthening of standards in 2004 following the Janet Jackson Super Bowl Halftime show.

But nearly 10 years in hindsight, the media fervor behind this major event has cooled.

“There will be the usual hue and cry from the self-appointed guardians of our media morality,” Heins said.

Additionally, television is under more scrutiny than other mediums.

Why is it then that television continues to employ such rigid censorship? America seems so socially liberal as of late — why don’t these standards evolve with our tastes?

Heins has a theory for this, too.

“Rigid censorship ... is not a big issue for [most Americans], so they are not as likely to be vocal or write to the FCC about it,” she said.

Perhaps with the FCC’s invitation of feedback, audiences can expect to see changes in our culture reflected on the TV screen.

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

Peter Meineck adapts Greek tragedy for modern audiences

By CLIO MCCONNELL

To many people, Greek tragedy may seem foreign and off-putting. But Peter Meineck, founder of the Aquila Theatre Company and professor of classics and ancient studies at NYU, sets out to prove that this is not the case.

Meineck’s recent production of “Herakles” — translated and adapted from Euripides’ ancient Greek by Meineck himself — draws some real comparisons between this mythological hero and modern veterans of war.

This is not the Disney version of Hercules’ story — there is no singing, dancing or much laughter. We enter the champion’s story from the perspective of his adoptive father, Amphitryon (Arthur Bartow). When Herakles departed to steal Cerberus and rescue Theseus from the underworld, he left his wife (Elizabeth Wakehouse’s Megara) and children home in Thebes to live with his father.

Many years later, the legend has not returned from his labors and is presumed dead.

With the mighty Herakles out of the way, Thebes faces extraordinary civil turmoil under the leadership of Lykos

(Nathan Flower). In order to be the true ruler, Lykos determines that he must kill any vestige of Herakles’ family and orders that Amphitryon, Megara and her two children be put to death. Enter our eponymous hero — played by Brent Wezner, not dead after all — to kill Lykos and prevent the murder of his family.

Unfortunately, the story does not end at this happy place. The goddess Hera, who harbors an extreme hatred for Herakles, the bastard son of her husband Zeus, curses him with madness.

In his state of insanity, the titular character kills his wife and children, while Amphitryon unsuccessfully tries to stop him.

When he awakes from his delirium, Herakles is overwhelmed by grief and a severe case of survivor’s guilt.

This is one moment where Meineck draws a strong comparison to the plight of contemporary soldiers. The Aquila Theatre’s “Herakles” takes an interesting angle on Greek tragedy, interspersing the action with video clips of interviews with U.S. veterans.

After each scene of the play, the audience is treated to around

five minutes of fascinating footage wherein American soldiers talk about their war experiences.

These interviews were conducted in relation to the Aquila Theatre’s Ancient Greeks/Modern Lives program, which involves using classical plays as drama therapy. According to Meineck, veterans have strong responses while reading Greek dramas, and “Herakles” is essentially a staged example of this.

While only one of the actors — Brian Delate as Theseus — is a veteran himself, the recorded conversations lend a sense of reality to an otherwise unremarkable production. But this blatant comparison to real life comes at the expense of believable acting.

When actors’ staged experiences of revelation are played next to real emotional moments, it is almost impossible for the players to compare.

In this way, Meineck’s “Herakles” is perhaps better viewed as an engaging theater experiment rather than as an underwhelming theater performance.

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

6

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7

OPINION

EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

STAFF EDITORIAL

Journalistic standards become too lax in wake of breaking tragedy

The 117th Boston Marathon ended tragically on Monday, as two explosions occurred close to the finish line about two hours after the winners crossed, killing at least three and injuring over 100 people. The causes of the incidents are still unknown, and, despite the nature of the attacks, President Barack Obama was reticent about explicitly calling them acts of terrorism. Professional and amateur journalists alike, however, were quick to spread biased speculations.

When major crises such as these develop, the most critical aspect of an effective response is the dissemination of accurate information to the general public. We are dependent on reputable

media sources to broadcast accurate and verified updates. Unfortunately, these basic standards are oftentimes jettisoned in the wake of a disaster, both to expedite the spreading of information and to outdo rival media sources in covering an event being watched by millions around the world.

For example, soon after the Boston blasts, the New York Post reported that a 20-year-old Saudi national was identified as a suspect and arrested for being involved in the attack. The Boston Police Department quickly refuted this erroneous report — but not before the words Muslim and Saudi began trending on Twitter, perpetuating a cycle of confusion among readers and retweeters. MSNBC’s Chris Matthews claimed that domestic terrorists are normally inclined to the political right. Fox News ran its breaking news headline with the insinuation of a Muslim perpetrator, and Fox contributor Erik Rush tweeted, “Yes, [Muslims are] evil. Let’s kill them all.”

Whether Rush was joking is irrelevant because his obscene comment reveals a larger issue at hand — the consistent failure of mainstream media to adhere to journalistic standards at times when these standards are most essential.

To a certain degree, however, the fault inherently lies in digital micro-news media, such as Twitter. When anybody with an account can contribute to such enormous and perpetually shifting discussions, it is not surprising that many of us end up with incorrect information — we are not reporters, but social media allows us to be in moments like these. This is not to disparage the unequivocal importance of instant communication forums, which tend to properly inform us about global events. However, because Facebook and Twitter are everyone’s soapbox, their usefulness is significantly tempered by blatant falsities during major events.

This should only serve to reinforce the importance of real journalists reporting real news.

Highly publicized acts of violence have become more frequent in the American media, and news coverage often only adds fuel to the fire by politicizing and sensationalizing the attacks. Reporters and news sources who resort to irrelevant arguments and speculation without the support of substantiated facts are doing their audiences and, primarily, the victims of senseless violence, a disservice. Rather than focusing on unanswerable questions too soon, we should look

to what we already know to be true — this, in the aftermath of disasters such as these, could mean the difference between life and death.

“

The most critical aspect of an effective response is the dissemination of accurate information to the general public.

”

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

ANIMAL RIGHTS

State governments attempt to cover up animal testing

By AUDREY WRIGHT

Multiple state legislatures are proposing and enacting bills that would ban animal rights activists from videotaping animal cruelty in industrial farms. Various lobbyist groups such as the American Legislative Exchange Council and the American Farm Bureau Federation, which lobby for the protection of farming corporations, support this legislation. They find protecting these corporations against activists necessary because their video evidence has supplied crucial evidence in legal cases against offending companies, costing them clients, money and reputation.

Activists have gone undercover and have videotaped acts such as burning horses with acid, beating pigs, stabbing cows with pitchforks and cutting off the beaks of chickens. They have offered these videos as evidence in cases against offending corporations.

Lobby groups and state legislatures have designated these activists as enemies and have even supported registering them as terrorists under the Animal and Ecological Terrorism Act. These lobbyist groups claim that the activists will videotape farming practices that, though seemingly barbaric to the untrained viewer, are actually legal and approved farming practices. They contend that the activists wrongfully damage these companies’ reputations by portraying their humane farming practices as animal cruelty.

SUBMITTING TO

I do not see how this argument is logical. Any person who views any of these videos will see farmers stabbing cows with pitchforks and viciously punching them, kicking them and beating them with metal bars, using strung-up turkeys as punching bags, and tossing piglets across rooms and beating them against the floor until they die. You will also witness these people sadistically bragging about their actions afterward. These acts of cruelty cannot possibly be nec-

essary or legal for the cultivation of meat for sale.

The companies that allow these acts to occur on their farms should face serious punishment, and the activists devoted to exposing them should be encouraged, not designated as terrorists.

Anyone who takes a look at these videos — after cringing in absolute horror — will discover that there is no possible way these companies are victims of libel.

Though these animals are bred and treated for slaughter to support our food industry, they are legally supposed to be treated as humanely as possible. Because, clearly, kicking cows and gaining a sadistic thrill from the action is neither humane nor necessary to prepare the cow for slaughter, these companies are guilty of illegal animal cruelty. Therefore, the lobbyists and state legislatures that have favored enacting laws to ban the videotaping of these crimes — videotaping that has been successful in prosecuting offending companies — are clearly only trying to preserve the reputations of their deep-pocketed, corporate supporters.

After witnessing some of these videos, I believe state legislatures should actually start doing their job by upholding our society’s laws against animal cruelty.

They should protect the animals — the victims — instead of the wealthy, guilty corporations for a change.

Audrey Wright is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

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

WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.

8

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY MARY JANE DUMANKAYA SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Surprising Masters tournament wraps up in Augusta

By SAM BARDER

Adam Scott became the first Australian to wear the coveted green jacket upon winning the Masters Golf Tournament at Augusta National on Sunday in a playoff over Argentine Angel Cabrera. This was his first major victory. He finished at 9-under-par for the weekend, shooting 69 on both Saturday and Sunday.

Before the tournament, Tiger Woods had taken over the number one world ranking in late March and was presumably the favorite. On Friday, though, Woods was penalized two strokes after tournament officials realized he had dropped his ball farther away than he should have, following a shot into the water hazard. According to Masters rules, the player can play the previous shot over again — with a one-stroke penalty — if the ball falls into a hazard. Woods took this option but placed his ball a considerable distance from where he initially shot. Though some thought he should have been disqualified following the pen-

alty, he was not. Unable to bounce back afterward, Woods finished at 5-under, tying for fourth place.

The second big headline of the weekend came in the form of the youngest competitor in the history of the Masters. Tianlang Guan, a 14-year-old from China, ended his weekend at 12-over-par. He defied all odds when he made the cut on Friday, especially after he incurred a one-stroke penalty due to slow play. Nonetheless, he maintained his composure through the weekend and earned the low-amateur title for the tournament, a truly impressive feat, especially for an eighth grader.

Sunday at the Masters always finds a way to supersede all the other days, and this year at Augusta National was no exception. Entering Sunday afternoon, the battle was tight at the top with Cabrera and Brandt Snedeker at 7-under-par, Scott at 6-under-par and the eventual thirdplace finisher Jason Day at 5-under-par.

Woods was also lurking around the top of the leaderboard at 3-under-par.

The excitement began on the 18th

green when Adam Scott sunk a 20-foot putt for birdie and headed into the clubhouse with a one-stroke lead and the roar of the Masters crowd behind him.

He just needed to wait for Cabrera to finish. But Cabrera pulled through, with a birdie of his own on 18. After a back nine that saw as many as four or five competitors in the running for a green jacket, it was down to just two.

After playing nearly identical holes on the first playoff at 18, Cabrera and Scott walked down to the 10th hole to settle things. Both golfers reached the green in two shots, and it would come down to a birdie putt. Cabrera went first, missing as the ball hung on the right side of the cup.

Things went a bit differently for Scott, who, after so many close calls at previous majors, was able to dial in his birdie putt, clinching the green jacket and the first victory at Augusta National for the land down under.

Sam Barder is a staff writer.

Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

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Australian Adam Scott brought home the country’s first win at the Masters.

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