WSN041812

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 40, No. 49

wednesday, april 18, 2012

nyunews.com

MTA sees increasing number of riders

Expansion less beneficial to Village

By Hanqing Chen

NYU 2031 — the university’s plans to expand an additional six million square feet by 2031 — may serve other neighborhoods better than the Greenwich Village, according to a study released yesterday by the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation.

The report, which was commissioned by the GVSHP and conducted by Gambit Consulting, collected data over the last three months.

It analyzed the impact of the proposed NYU expansion in the Village and compared it to alternative locations like the Financial District, Downtown Brooklyn and Long Island City.

The researchers found that though it would be advantageous for local busi-

R EXPANSION continued on PG. 3

By Tatiana Baez

David Lin/WSN

Debaters square off on Internet’s role

Last night’s Intelligence Squared Debate held at Skirball Center focused on arguments for and against the impact of the Internet on people’s minds and political perspectives.

In 2011, the subway had over 1.6 billion people swiping into the system — the highest amount of users since 1950.

According to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Manhattan saw the most subway action and claimed the top nine most popular subway stops. Times Square-42 Street rang in the year with the highest ridership with over 60 million people — closely followed

by Grand Central-42 Street with 42 million and 34 Street-Herald Square with 37 million.

MTA spokesman Kevin Ortiz attributes the ridership increase to the subway system’s efficiency compared to the city’s other modes of transportation.

“The fact of the matter is that more and more people are realizing that riding the subway is the quickest, most efficient way

R SUBWAY continued on PG. 3

STORY ON PAGE 3

NYU Styleta showcasing MAD fashion show for charity There is no denying it: the ‘60s are back, mostly because of AMC’s hit show “Mad Men.” Don Draper’s dapper suits and Joan Holloway’s lady-like ensembles have sparked a comeback in the fashion arena, and these trends do not appear to be going anywhere anytime soon.

Picking up on this retro wave is NYU’s Styleta chapter. This Sunday, they will be teaming up with the Columbia Styleta chapter for MAD for Fashion, their Mad Men-themed spring fashion show.

Styleta is a national nonprofit organization with chapters at universities across the country. Its goal is to get fashionistas involved in philanthropic ventures, sporting their motto, “Fashion for a cause.” Styleta donates money and fashionable attire to nonprofits in the chapter’s area to provide stylish clothing alternatives to those less fortunate.

NYU Styleta Campus Director Michelle Su said the club uses fashion as a tool. “[Styleta] nurtures the next generation of young social entrepreneurs by creating sponsored student organizations on campuses nationwide that allow students to take on leadership positions and gain hands-on experi-

ence in the world of business while bettering their community,” Su said.

This year, NYU and Columbia’s Styleta chapters have been working tirelessly all semester to find clothes, a venue, food and much more to create the event. Last year, NYU’S chapter put on a fashion show to benefit Charity: Water, an organization that brings clean water to developing countries. Charity: Water founder Scott Harrison attended the 2011 show as well as top fashion editors from Time Magazine, People Magazine, Stylewatch and InStyle.

This year’s show promises to be just as successful — with an exciting theme and a great cause to match. Styleta is working with the Council of Fashion Designers of America and will donate to its charity, Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. After the show’s commencement, there will be a reception where the modeled pieces will be auctioned off, with the proceeds going to FTBC. The show promises to have something for everyone as a wide variety of designers will be participating. Vendors will include Beacon’s Closet, Callalilai, Dolce & Gabbana and Alice + Olivia. There will also be a raffle portion of the evening, and prizes include restaurant gift cards, a Hermes bracelet and other great items.

“It’s really a great event to get not only NYU students but

also members of the neighboring New York City community and fashionistas involved with an awesome cause,” NYU Styleta creative director Catherine Singer said. “Mad Men is huge right now. It’s fun to play off something everyone’s already really excited about. Plus, the fashion from that era is just so amazing.”

So don your best pair of kitten heels and get ready to do some good at this Mad Men fashion extravaganza.

MAD for Fashion: NYU & Columbia Styleta Spring 2012 Fashion Show will take place at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22 at Greenspaces, 394 Broadway. General admission will be $8 at the door.

Keerthi Harishankar is a staff writer.

Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

via styleta.com

By Keerthi Harishankar

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Washington Square news | wednesday, april 18, 2012 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

wish wednesday Washington Square News

“I wish for m always, bu ore productivity t wish is p robably the wrong w don’t just ord because I ho pen. I kno pe it will hapw it will be cause I make it ha p — Kelsey pen.”

Bre Gallatin fr wer, eshman

“I wish James Franco would have a coffee with me.”

— Shannon Litke, LSP freshman

Editor-in-Chief amanda randone Managing Editor

jaewon kang Deputy Managing Editor

Amy zhang Assistant Managing Editor

james lanning Creative Director

“I wish to do well on my bio midterm.”

— Mark Muster, LSP freshman

selena chen senior staff

university Julie devito city/state emily yang investigative hanqing chen arts jonathon dornbush features jessica littman sports daniel hinton multimedia david lin copy maximilíano durón senior editor jack brooks,

BRIDGETTE DORAN

deputy staff

university eric benson, eliza-

beth maguire city/state tony chau, kristine

“I wish Joseph Gordon-Levitt would make a movie with me.”

— Sarah Simonson, Stern sophomore

“I wish for cheaper tuition.”

— Mekyas Mogue s, Stern freshman

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

TODAY

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6 p.m. | Polytechnic Institute of NYU | Pfizer Auditorium | 5 MetroTech Center

6:30 p.m. | Kimmel Center for University Life | 60 Washington Square South | Eisner & Lubin Auditorium, Fourth Floor

Emotions in Art and Science: A Path to Creativity Four panelists from different fields will discuss theories of creativity in art and science.

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-ISM Gala

This party celebrates the winners of -ISM project grants, who will create projects to express various “-isms.”

6:30 p.m. | NYU Bookstore | 726 Broadway

Imran Ahmad, author of “The Perfect Gentleman: A Muslim Boy Meets the West” Ahmad will read from his memoir about emigrating from Pakistan to England in the 1960s.

opinion page

opinion editor olivia gonzalez deputy opinion editor ATTICUS

BRIGHAM, SANCHAY JAIN

advertising business manager

REBECCA RIBEIRO circulation manager

chloe coffman

university sales coordinator

Emilia Mironovici

SNAPSHOT

ON THE WIRE

Attack of the penguins Even penguins will not support Newt Gingrich. During a private tour of a zoo in St. Louis, Gingrich was visiting the penguins when one Magellanic penguin decided to peck Gingrich’s finger. The injury was treated with a Band-Aid, zoo officials reported. According to Gingrich campaign spokesperson R.C. Hammond, despite the mishap, Gingrich — who wrote the forward to “America’s Best Zoos: A Travel Guide for Fans & Families” — will continue to be an avid zoo visitor.

— Yahoo! News

The University of Florida

PHOTO BY Gloria Leew

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

Students, faculty protest engineering department cuts

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.

University of California, Berkeley

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 Independent Florida Alligator

Indie band Reptar brought a sense of community to fans at the Bowery Ballroom on Saturday.

sales representatives

UC admits fewer California residents, more students in next year’s freshman class — The Daily Californian

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EXPANSION continued from PG. 1

New study shows NYU 2031 benefits alternative locations more than Village nesses, NYU’s expansion would have less impact in Greenwich Village than in Downtown Brooklyn or the Financial District.

The study predicted that NYU 2031 would lead to a gradual 10 percent increase in Downtown Brooklyn in retail spending, compared to a 2.5 percent increase for the Village. It also showed that the Village currently has a 3.4 percent vacant retail space whereas the Financial District has about 26 percent.

GVSHP executive director Andrew Berman said the study gave statistical merit to the reduction of NYU 2031. The group advocates that NYU 2031 would intrude and change historical areas in the Village.

“What we’ve been saying from an intuitive and common sense angle, this study looks at with raw data and numbers that really back this up in a substantive way,” Berman said.

Manny Paretsolky, staff member of Bully’s on Broadway and 8th Street, said Midtown has more vacancies because of higher rent.

“The further you go uptown, the more vacancies there are because of the rent prices,” Paretsolky said. “It’s definitely a lot easier down here [in the East Village].”

However, NYU spokesperson Philip Lentz said NYU has just as much historical presence in the Village as other establishments.

“While opponents advocate that NYU build in someone else’s backyard, the fact is that NYU has been in Greenwich Village for almost 200 years,” Lentz said.

“This is our home.”

Lentz said NYU needs more space in order to accommodate its growing student and faculty community.

“If we are to continue to grow and provide academic excellence to our students and research opportunities to our faculty, we need to expand near our existing academic core in the Village,” he said.

Jon Ritter, professor of Architecture of Urban Design, said while the study’s findings seem sound, the GVSHP is discounting the overall accessibility of classes for students by recommending the university to expand to other parts of New York City.

courtesy of NYU

NYU 2031 proposes to expand an additional 2.2 million square feet in the Greenwich Village in 20 years.

“I do believe there is merit to the argument that NYU should consider building downtown, in the Financial District, where numerous leaders have invited NYU to locate,” he said.

However, Ritter also said only certain facilities could be developed outside of the main campus.

Intelligence Square square off on role of the Internet

By Sarah Skirmont

Members of the NYU community gathered at Skirball Center last night to debate the impact of the Internet on people’s minds and political perspectives.

On the team arguing for the motion that the Internet is closing people’s minds were Eli Pariser, author of “The Filter Bubble,” and Siva Vaidhyanathan, author of “The Googlization of Everything.” On the team contesting that the Internet creates diversity were Evgeny Morozov, author of “The Net Delusion: The Dark Side of Internet Freedom,” and Jacob Weisberg, editor-in-chief of the Slate Group.

The debate began with a majority of the audience against the motion that the Internet is closing our minds. 28 percent of the audience members voted for the motion, 37 percent against and 35 percent were undecided. By the end of the debate 53 percent were in favor of the motion — a 25 percent increase from the initial 28 percent — while 36 percent were against.

A remaining 11 percent were undecided.

One of the main questions of discussion asked if filters on websites narrow people’s interests by exposing readers to one-sided views or if they are used for less important tasks such as shopping.

“People are more likely to rediscover their own culture and their bigotry on the Internet,” Pariser said. “The object of personalization is to get us to like more, click more and [notice more] advertisements.”

On the opposing side, Weisberg cited filters as a useful technology in exposing individu-

als to a diverse array of political ideologies.

“You can always change the search options on Google or another search engine,” he said.

The debate took a turn when Vaidhyanathan condemned corporate sponsoring of search engines and social-networking sites.

“We are not all holding virtual hands with friends on Facebook — the dominant powers that are governing the state in China, or America, are not interested in us being political,” Vaidhyanathan said. “Our minds are closing because our minds are distracted with cat videos.”

He also stressed the importance of becoming aware of the problem that is caused when websites want to be the main operating system in people’s lives.

“We are on the way to having a balkanized society,” Vaidhyanathan said. “We should recognize that Bing and Google are intent to gratify us, [which] is great for pizza but not for politics.”

Loni Bordoloi, a Steinhardt doctoral candidate and an audience member, said the debate that convicted the broad expanse of the Internet convinced her to change her vote.

“I was undecided, but later I chose for the motion that the Internet can have an impact on segregating our world views,” Bordoloi said. “I knew of course that search results were personalized, but I didn’t realize to what extent, so I was taken aback by that.”

Sarah Skirmont is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.

“Undergraduate class and study space must be located within the ‘core’ for easy access between classes,” Ritter said.

Hanqing Chen is investigative editor.

Email her at hchen@nyunews.com.

SUBWAY continued from PG. 1

MTA reveals number of commuters on the rise to get around the city,” said Ortiz.

Stern professor Nicholas Economides said that since economic activity has improved after two years of a recession, there is more demand for subway service.

“The changes of lanes and parking in a number of avenues in NYC has made travelling by car much more time-consuming,” he said. “At key intersections, such as at Herald Square and Times Square, key roads were converted to sitting areas, further adding to the congestion of nearby streets.”

Joseph Ferris, communications coordinator of Transportation Alternatives, said last year’s ridership also highlights the critical importance of public transit in New York City.

“For the city to continue to be competitive in a global economy, we need reliable and affordable buses and subways,” Ferris said.

More straphangers are noticing the increase in riders as well. East Village resident Laura Mannino, 23, can see the growth within the past couple of years.

“People overcrowd the subway cars and I can barely keep track of my bag because I’m constantly afraid that someone will reach their hands in my stuff and go unnoticed,” Mannino said.

The amount of people in the subway may also affect commuters trying to get to and from school, according to Commuter Student Council president and Stern Junior Anthony Galli. “[I] have had some major issues in the past and present,” Galli said. “[The] massive amount of people coming out of the train has caused me to miss trains.”

Steinhardt senior Damaris Sanchez has grown accustomed to the crowded subway in her past four years of commuting between her home and NYU. “Coming from student-teaching to my night classes at NYU is such a great hassle,” Sanchez said. “If there is too much congestion coming through 42nd, I would need another travelling route to follow.”

Some students have even searched for ways to remain on campus because of the disarray that comes with commuting.

“As a commuter from the Student Resource Center, I have seen a lot of my peers apply for R.A. positions to avoid the subway drama — or they rent a room at the Greenwich Hotel for finals,” said Sanchez.

Tatiana Baez is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | wednesday, april 18, 2012 | nyunews.com

beauty and style Celeb fashion fixation leads to rise in new kind of designer

By Rachel Sanderson As the United States’ fixation with celebrity gossip seemingly grows each day, the number of fashion pieces boasting celebrity names almost equals the amount of stars mentioned on the covers of popular tabloid magazines.

A new breed of designers has been born.

From style mavens to reality stars, a bevy of celebrity fashion lines — such as the Olsen twins’ The Row and Snooki’s footwear collection — have made their way into the fashion industry.

Jessica Simpson’s footwear and accessories collection and Victoria Beckham’s critically acclaimed high-end clothing brand make it easy to see why so many stars want to be a part of such a lucrative opportunity.

As Rihanna gears up to produce her own line of designer duds, one must wonder if is it necessary for celebrities to impose on designers’ territories.

There is a bold line between authentic and fashionable collections and those that are designed as a ploy for financial gain and a rise in media coverage. However, some celebrity clothing lines have gained notoriety within the fashion industry. Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen are more likely to be spotted at a variety of fashion events and are seldom

seen acting anymore. Known for their eclectic and trend-setting style, the Olsen twins’ many collaborations — including Elizabeth and James, The Row and Olsenboye — are infused with their own sense of style makes the pieces popular among the fashion elite.

Another celebrity clothing line that has

via usmagazine.com

Singer-turned-designer Jessica Simpson is currently a judge on NBC’s Fashion Stars.

garnered accolade from the fashion world rounding celebrity designers, it seems they is Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. From season to will not be disappearing any time soon. season, the pieces featured in her collections capture Stefani’s bold and fresh sense Rachel Sanderson is a staff writer.

Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com. of style — true to her own fashion.

However, while some fashion critics may adore certain celebrity lines, not everyone will be a fan of clothing created by people other than fashion designers.

“I feel like celebrities are given the resources to make their lines because they are celebrities, not because they are talented designers,” CAS freshman Tori Hill said.

“Even a celebrity like Rachel Zoe, who is an amazing stylist, is not that great of a designer. She is a great stylist, but her clothes are just remakes of stuff that she then styles her way.”

Despite the criticism, some celebrity fashion lines have really grabbed the public’s attention. Jessica Simpson’s brand has become an empire. Simpson is currently a judge on NBC’s Fashion Star and her line is on the way to grossing $1 billion.

“I would have never associated Jessica Simpson with having such a successful business, but I see why,” Steinhardt freshman Stephanie Goodman said. “The shoes via fashionista.com are fashion-forward, comfortable and extremely affordable, which is a plus.”

Ashley and Mary Kate Olsen are the Regardless of varying perceptions sur- designers of fashion line The Row.

Streetbeauty: CAS senior Leslie Lim shares her beauty tips

By Michelle Lim Bringing you the best fashion tips, Street Beauty shares the beauty routines of students around campus. This week highlights CAS senior Leslie Lim. Question: What is your typical beauty routine?

Answer: Every morning I use the Shiseido threestep cleansing system called Pureness. First I wash my face with the Deep Cleansing Foam, put on the Balancing Softener Toner and finish with the Matifying Moisturizer. I don’t put on much makeup, just basic things like eyeliner. At night, I do the same three steps to wash everything off, except I also use the Clarisonic Brush at night.

Q: What are your secrets to keeping your skin so clear and radiant?

A: I drink a lot of water, at least two bottles a day. I also eat a lot of vegetables, especially beets.

Beets make skin clear. I get it in salads a lot, and Whole Foods has a really good beet salad. The beets are usually roasted. I also make sure to al-

Michelle Lim for WSN

Leslie Lim consumes beets and makes sure to remove makeup at night to keep her skin clear.

ways take off my makeup and wash my face every night. I never go to sleep without doing that.

Q: What are the specific beauty products that you use along with your healthy eating habits?

A: The Clarisonic Skin Care Brush is so, so good.

I put my cleansing foam lightly on my face and use the brush all over, and it really cleans off everything. The brush vibrates and even times exactly how long I need to place it on certain parts of my face. I use it every night. It’s expensive, but it’s such [a good] investment. If you think about it, if you take care of your skin now you won’t have to pay for facials when you’re older. I really recommend it because it made my skin really clean. Skin care starts really early. I also recommend Ole-Henriksen’s Sheer Transformation. You can find it at Sephora. It’s a night cream I put on at night, at least once a week, because you need to moisturize your skin really well.

Q: You’re more focused on skin care than makeup, but are there any tips you want to share with makeup beginners?

A: For beginners, start slow and don’t use a lot. Minimal is actually the best. My motto is “less is more.” I feel like it looks so much better the more natural it looks.

“Less” is also better for your skin. It’s also really important to stick to products that fit your skin — everyone’s skin is different. And practice a lot.

Q: It’s warming up so quickly. What are some of the different things in your skin care regimen, and are you trying any new spring trends?

A: Because it’s spring, I try to wear sunscreen more. In the winter, I would exfoliate my skin a lot, and use my night cream every night. Now that it’s spring, I do it less. Makeup trends that I want to try are bright lip colors. I see lots of pretty pinks and coral colors that are in season and I want to really try it.

Michelle Lim is a contributing writer.

Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Stylish stops for your weekend agenda

via nyctheblog.blogspot.com

Blogger Jenni Radosevich will be at the SoHo Coach store.

By Shannon Loughran 1. April 19 and 29 Go on a free tour of New York City’s Garment District and visit a private showroom, a sample sale and Mood Fabrics. Call to make reservations at 212.764.9600 or email mikesnyctours@yahoo.com.

2. April 19 | 6 p.m. | 143 Prince St. Celebrate the book launch of “I Spy D.I.Y. Style” with the author and blogger Jenni Radosevich at the SoHo Coach store. Craft your own sweets and meet the creative mind behind all of the fashionable crafts on the blog I Spy DIY. 3. April 19 | 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. | 1000 Third Ave., at 59th Street

It was hard to avoid the leopard print smoking slipper last fall, and now you can meet the designer behind the most coveted version. Meet footwear designer Sam Edelman and shop his latest collection at Bloomingdale’s.

4. April 20 | 111 Spring St. Stop by the opening of the popular L.A. store Splendid for fashionable summer staples.

5. April 20 | 8 p.m. | Vanderbilt Hall | 40 Washington Square South, Greenberg Lounge The African Student Union presents Sankofa: A Fashion Affair to celebrate Africa through fashion, food and performances.

Shannon Loughran is beauty and style editor. Email her at sloughran@nyunews.com.

nyunews.com | wednesday, april 18, 2012 | Washington Square news

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edited by shannon loughran bstyle@nyunews.com

Buffalo Exchange commemorates Earth Day with dollar sale

By Maximilíano Durón With a hot pink exterior and an interior with orange accents, the East Village Buffalo Exchange contrasts with the other, less lively tenants of 11th Street as it teems with customers of different ages and backgrounds on a busy Monday afternoon.

If Monday’s constant influx of buyers and sellers is any indication of a typical day at the store, chaos will definitely ensue on April 21. The store — along with all Buffalo Exchanges nationwide — will host its annual Earth Day Dollar Sale to benefit the protection of marine animals by donating all proceeds to the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International.

The Earth Day sale event, which raised nearly $35,000 last year, is part of Buffalo Exchange’s philanthropic mission. This mission includes its Coats for Cubs program, which encourages people to donate their furs to the Humane Society, and its Tokens for Bags initiative that donates five cents to one of three local nonprofit organizations when customers choose not to use a plastic bag to hold their purchases.

As part of its giving back philosophy, the store has worked with numerous organizations since it began the Tokens for Bags program in 1994 and has collectively raised over $700,000 through both the dollar sale and the anti-plastic bag campaign. The company’s decision to support

an organization with the dollar sale is a testament to that nonprofit’s dedication to social change.

Buffalo Exchange marketing director Michelle Livingston said the company truly values the work of the Humane Society as they effect legislative change for animal rights.

“They are a joy to work with, and it’s a mutually beneficial relationship,” Livingston said. “They get the word out about Buffalo Exchange and the Earth Day benefit to their large membership through social media and their website. Buffalo Exchange’s customers are animals lovers, so this charity is a great fit for us.”

Livingston stressed the importance of the Earth Day Dollar Sale in helping to ignite change on a local level.

“The $345,000 Buffalo Exchange has raised for environmental causes since 1997 demonstrates how purchasing an item for just $1 can contribute to making a difference for important charities,” Livingston said. “It might not seem like much, but it adds up over time, and customers get excited about the bargains and about the environmental causes we support through annual Dollar Day sales that celebrate Earth Day.” Lauren Hendrie, associate manager at the East Village Bufflao Exchange, echoed this excitement for customers and employees alike from what she has seen in stores during past Earth

sale because it gives back to people that Day sales.

“The event is something that we’ve don’t have, so it shows that they’re still always really enjoyed doing,” she said. caring and helping the community and “We’ve been doing it for over 10 years. It’s helping society. I think it’s fantastic.”

The Buffalo Exchange Earth Day Dollar something that gets the community involved, makes people excited about com- Sale begins at 11 a.m. and will continue ing in here and spreads the word about while supplies last. the buy-sell-trade philosophy we have here but also the giving back portion of Maximilíano Durón is a staff writer. our business. It’s just one way we can give directly to a charity.”

For any stylish New Yorker, this sale seems to be a must as the dollar merchandise will include unique, interesting clothing, not something from a bargain bin.

“There’s a lot of really great things that are going to be in the sale this year,” Hendrie said. “I’ve seen some Marc Jacobs.

I’ve seen some Prozena Schouler coming through. A lot of different high-end designer pieces are going to be there as well as great basics like that great winter jacket you might have missed out on, or even good summer pieces.”

Brooklyn resident Marion Smith, 51, who has gone to the East Village location almost every day for the past three years, said she is excited to buy as much as she can on Saturday while helping the Humane Society at the same time.

“I think it’s fantastic because most of courtesy of buffalo exchange the stores you find don’t do things like that,” she said. “It’s a fantastic organiza- All Buffalo Exchanges will offer a sale on tion to be able to give to. We need this Saturday to benefit the Human Society.

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nyunews.com | wednesday, april 18, 2012 | Washington Square news

7

OPINION

edited by olivia gonzalez opinion@nyunews.com

Global

Though both choices poor, Sarkozy poised for imminent win

By Christopher Gellert

French voters will have a chance to vote in the first round of the elections for le président de la République on April 22. While most Americans are unaware that the election is even upon us, the result will have drastic effects on the European and global economies. Unlike here in the States, where voters have a stark contrast between the two candidates and the difference between disaster and hope is obvious, French voters have no good choice, and either candidate could sink the economy.

So far, the official policy has been a gradual belt-tightening that has practically strangled economies like that of Greece.

The Greek crisis has been interpreted by Republican politicians and commentators alike as clear proof of the “risks of fiscal profligacy.”

But as Paul Krugman rightly notes, “Spain had low government debt and a budget surplus on the eve of the crisis; it’s in trouble thanks to private-sector, not publicsector, excess.” As Krugman has also noted, of all the models of fiscal responsibility in the face of huge deficits Ireland is the model par excellence, and it’s falling into an ever-widening hole where unemployment is nearing 15 percent.

On this front Hollande has the right idea. A day after the Greek parliament adopted the austerity measures that the bailout funds were held hostage to, the candidate said, “Everyone knows [that] there is no rebound in growth in Europe and in Greece,” and that “everyone

wanted to treat Greece with ordinary measures. It was necessary to treat Greece with extraordinary measures.”

But on another front, Hollande seems to be beholden to entrenched socialist interests and practiced dangerous, perhaps unconstitutional, demagoguery. He recently proposed that individuals who earned over $1.3 million a year should pay a rate of 75 percent, but because of taxes on assets the effective rate would be a hundred percent.

Hollande has himself admitted speaking on the Greek crisis, “The wealthiest people ... have gotten on their escape boats, they’ve left.”

That all of this is rhetoric for his base is self-evident, but this kind of advocacy of outrageous ideas by reasonable people in order to appeal to extremists is not without risk. He also has promised to curtail the small chip Sarkozy made in reforming the French welfare state in raising the retirement age minimum from 60 to 62.

The problem with Sarkozy is that he is widely seen an uncouth Bonaparte, and this is not just a reaction on his height. He is infamous for telling a visitor who refused to shake his hand at an agricultural fair, “Casse-toi, alors, pauvre con.” Loosely translated to: ‘Go screw yourself.’ Not very presidential. But Sarkozy has vowed to take on entitlements, the worst offender being the unfeasible and still present 35-hour work week. So far his success has been extremely limited.

The strikes and protests against the two years addition to the retirement age are a sign of how difficult France is to govern.

But the French election may not be decided on economics alone. The recent killing in Toulouse and Sarkozy’s decisive response along with his reputation for tough stances on immigration and terrorism will probably win him votes, or at least points in the polls. The latest polling puts Sarkozy at 27.5 percent and Hollande at 28. The candidate with the most number of votes after the two frontrunners, Marine Le Pen who represents the xenophobic party with a soupçon of anti-Semitism, comes in at 17.5.

Those votes will go to Sarkozy in the second round.

While a Sarkozy win is not assured, at this point it seems likely. This is not what anyone expected; as an unpopular president, Sarkozy seemed unlikely win against his Socialist rival, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who is embroiled in another scandal; this time it’s the misappropriation of International Monetary Fund to compensate escorts.

The best person to govern France has replaced him at the IMF: Christine Lagarde. Not only does she have the economic know-how to revive Europe’s ailing economy, but she is also the best person disposed to work with the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, to convince the Germans to get on board with bailing out Europe, given their close personal relationship. However, it looks like another five years of Sarkozy for France and greater austerity for Europe. One can only hope that catastrophe will not follow.

Christopher Gellert is a contributing columnist.

Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

Disability cases promote unnecessary lawsuits In Monday’s edition of The New York Times, an article titled “Disabilities Act Prompts Flood of Suits Some Cite as Unfair” describes the increasing number of lawsuits filed against New York City restaurants and stores on the basis of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act. According to the article, one NYC attorney has sued almost 200 businesses since Oct. 2009. This influx of litigation emphasizes a flaw in the judicial system regarding the enforcement of the ADA. The current system exploits business owners in New York City. The plaintiffs in these disability lawsuits provide the defendants with no advanced notice and no opportunity to address the structural problems with their stores. The

prevalence of old buildings in the city means there are preexisting buildings that were designed centuries prior to the introduction of the ADA. Taking advantage of the structural loopholes has created a new, unnecessary expense for businesses. Not only do they have to pay to make the buildings more accessible, they also have to pay legal fees.

This trend seems to indicate that the days of industrious and sincere civil rights advocates are long gone. They have been replaced by sleazy money-mongers. Lawyers are earning up to $6,000 per closed case, often earning their clients a measly $500 in compensation. While it is reasonable for lawyers to want to earn a living by prac-

ticing a profession they invested several years and hundreds of thousands of dollars to master, it is unacceptable to make a mockery of the legal system by filing petty lawsuits that will never go to trial.

There needs to be a mechanism in place to absolve people with disabilities and local businesses from the bureaucracy of the judiciary system. New York City should create a local board to oversee complaints of ADA violations. Disabled New York City residents would be able to directly file a complaint, and the board would be able to give the business owners a fair chance to rectify the violations within a certain time frame. By removing lawyers,

the local board would shift the focus of accessibility issues back onto those who suffer from disabilities, which was the intention of the ADA.

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 | wednesday, april 18, 2012 | nyunews.com

SPORTs

edited by daniel hinton sports@nyunews.com

College football coaches cannot escape controversy

By John Axelrod

The number of prominent college football coaches that have been embroiled in scandals or had their name tarnished over the past few seasons is staggering. Four of the most prominent coaches have come under scrutiny this past year alone.

The Ohio State University head coach Jim Tressel resigned after he reportedly failed to disclose allegations that his players improperly traded memorabilia for tattoos. In the fall, revered coaching legend Joe Paterno’s career ended in tragically disappointing fashion after he was fired from Pennsylvania State University amid the child molestation scandal involving former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

Head coach Bobby Petrino was recently fired from Arkansas University after bestowing improper and preferential treatment on a mistress he hired. Newly hired Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer also came under scrutiny after reports surfaced last week accusing him of not disciplining players for failed drug tests and other infractions.

Accusations of corruption in college football have been occurring for decades. Nearly every aspect of the sport has come into question at some point: the bowl system, television contracts, scholarships, grades, benefits for players and countless other issues.

In what many would consider an inherently corrupt landscape, the duty of the head coach to teach and mentor his players is now exponentially greater. But it seems as if winning is the only priority for major programs. It seems like many coaches look the other way when their players are struggling in school or breaking rules, because addressing these issues and

helping student athletes in the long run would hinder their chances of winning on Saturday.

The latest and perhaps most disappointing coach to come under scrutiny is Urban Meyer. Current NFL players Percy Harvin, Aaron Hernandez and Brandon Spikes all tested positive for marijuana during their time as Florida University Gators, but proper protocol was never followed. For instance, rather than publicly disciplining his players for the failed test, Meyer allegedly listed them on the injury report for a week to protect them. Meyer also allegedly failed to discipline Harvin for repeated outbursts and insubordinations against assistant coaches. These three players are all enjoying lucrative careers, but the rest of Florida football roster that is not in the NFL has paid the price.

Meyer has set a pathetic example for his young players. He needed to help them succeed academically and punish them appropriately when they violated school or legal codes. When the program looked to be taking a turn for the worse, he promptly quit, citing anonymous health reasons, and took a year off before resurfacing as Tressel’s replacement at Ohio State.

This perpetual cycle of morally corrupt college football coaches will never end unless serious reforms bring about more oversight. But these major college programs make money based on winning. As long as college football continues to be a cash cow, it will be very difficult to enact changes that will prevent the student athletes from being used for profit.

John Axelrod is a deputy sports editor.

Email him at jaxelrod@nyunews.com.

First-round matchup against Heat favors Knicks

By Cole Riley While only five games are left in the regular season, the Eastern Conference playoff picture is still in flux. The New York Knicks continue to flip-flop between seventh and eighth place.

New York will probably face either the Chicago Bulls or Miami Heat in the first round. After considering individual matchups and past performances, the Knicks’ chances for success will be better against LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and the defending Eastern Conference champions.

With Amar’e Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin stuck on the shelf with season-ending injuries, Carmelo Anthony has been on a tear recently. In the

first eight games of April, Anthony averaged 31.7 points per game with a 50.9 field-goal percentage and 7.3 rebounds per game. The Heat’s inability to lock down Anthony is perhaps the most appealing aspect of a New YorkMiami matchup. In three games this season agains the Heat, Anthony has averaged 30.5 points per game — his best average against any team in the NBA. Defensively, the Knicks matchup well with Miami.

Chandler, who stands at 7’1” and is the cornerstone of the Knicks’ defense, will also be important.

Miami lacks a center taller than 6’ 10,” so New York should be able to capitalize on the 22nd-ranked rebounding team

in the league. In adition, Chandler leads the league with a 67.4 fieldgoal percentage.

Rookie guard Iman Shumpert, who’s fifth in the league with 1.8 steals per game, will be able to showcase his defensive prowess against Wade, who is currently struggling with an ankle injury.

Although New York lost all three regular season games to the Heat, Anthony’s elite scoring ability, favorable defensive matchups and Chandler’s consistency should persuade Knicks fans to hope for a series against the Heat in the first round.

Cole Riley is a deputy sports editor. Email him at criley@nyunews.com.