NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 43, No. 47
TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015
nyunews.com
SPORTS
UNIVERSITY AFFAIRS
Sherrilyn Ifill to speak at graduation
Junior heads to Ecuador for soccer By BOBBY WAGNER Sports Editor
Opportunities to garner international attention do not come around very often for amateur athletes. That is why, just two weeks before finals start, NYU women’s soccer star midfielder Lexi Clarke boarded a plane to Ecuador late Sunday afternoon. Clarke, just a 21-year-old junior, got a message Wednesday morning saying she was invited to the Ecuadorian women’s national soccer camp, where she will have a chance to compete for one of the 21 coveted spots on their 2015 World Cup roster. The promise of competing over the next few weeks against players with international experience was enough to pique her interest, and certainly too good of an opportunity to pass up. “Regardless of the outcome, I think this will be an
CLARKE continued on PG. 5
By MARITA VLACHOU and ALANNA BAYARIN News Editors
STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH SHULMAN
The weather is getting warmer making it perfect for picnics. Prospect Park in Brooklyn is a great spot for planning a picnic with friends.
Smit-McPhee talks indie films, ‘X-Men’ By SIDNEY BUTLER Staff Writer
With smaller indies and his recent film “Dawn of the Planet of the Apes” under his belt, Kodi Smit-McPhee is just beginning his acting takeover. Though only 18 years old, SmitMcPhee has long been involved in the film industry. Even though his credits include bigger films like “Dead Europe” and “The Congress,” Smit-McPhee noted that he holds a close, personal affinity for independent films. “I’ve been acting since I was eight and it kind of has flourished from the independent community,” Smit-McPhee said.
COMMENCEMENT continued on PG. 3
STORY ON PAGE 4
FILM
“I started coming to America when I was around 11 or 12. I did ‘The Road’ and ‘Let Me In.’ Everything I’ve done has been right on that verge between studio and independent and I find that it is because those are the ones that have the really great stories and great genuine people connected to them.” In his latest film “Slow West,” Smit-McPhee plays Jay Cavendish, a man on his quest to find the girl he loves after she flees 1800s Scotland for the Western frontier of Colorado. Michael Fassbender also stars as the mysterious and intriguing Silas, who
KODI continued on PG. 3
President and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Sherrilyn Ifill, known for her work in civil rights, will be the speaker at NYU’s 183rd Commencement ceremony on May 20. Ifill, an NYU law graduate, has been involved in voting rights cases while she was working as an assistant counsel for LDF. In addition to her work with the NAACP, Ifill has served as a professor at the University of Maryland School of Law since 1993. In December 2007, Ifill published her first book, “On the Courthouse Lawn: Confronting the Legacy of Lynching in the 21st Century,” which highlights the long-term impacts lynchings had on the state of Maryland.
DINING
Pack your picnic basket for spring By KENDALL LEVISON Staff Writer
Spring in New York City is truly something to celebrate, and the best way to do it is with a picnic — a meal where sunshine is an essential ingredient. When planning your picnic, make sure to keep it simple. The point is to enjoy being outside with your friends, so there is no need for fancy food. Many of the best picnic items — like fresh bread, fruit and cheese — are ready to eat right from the store. You can supplement these ready-made items with other dishes that are easy to make at home, like salads and sandwiches. Other picnic basket essentials include disposable
plates, cups, utensils, napkins and something to sit on like a blanket or some towels. No matter what foods you pack, no picnic is complete without a refreshing beverage. Lemonade is a classic choice, and you can up your game by adding some of the fresh fruit that is back in season. Most commercial pink lemonade owes its color to red dye, but by adding raspberries to homemade lemonade, you get a vivid color and a great tart flavor. This recipe uses sparkling water to make carbonated lemonade, but you can use still water if you prefer a non-bubbly drink. No matter how you decide to make it, this easy lemonade is the perfect thing to pack in your picnic basket.
Real Pink Lemonade
Ingredients: 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries 3/4 cup sugar, plus extra 8 lemons 1 liter bottle of sparkling water, cold Instructions: 1. Using a vegetable peeler, remove the thin, bright yellow peel — also called zest — from four lemons. Add to a small pot along with the raspberries, sugar and a half cup of tap water. Cook on low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved and the berries start to break down, or for
PICNIC continued on PG. 4
2
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
NYU, Bobst workers clash over job changes By LEXI FAUNCE Staff Writer
JUSTINE MORRIS FOR WSN
Panelists Kyra Darton, Kasia Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg, Mariana Keller, Lauren Cynamon and Emma Dessau, left to right.
Panelists look at video journalism By JUSTINE MORRIS Staff Writer
The Internet is widely considered to have shortened the attention span of viewers, which panelists at an event on the evolution of documentary journalism Monday evening said can encourage journalists and producers to make more interesting content. The panel held at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, hosted by New York Women in Film and Television and titled Streaming Stories: Short Docs for the Web, was moderated by Veena Rao and featured eight speakers from the journalism industry — Kasia Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg, Lauren Cynamon, Kyra Darto, Emma Dessau, Kelsey Doyle, Mariana Keller, Kathleen Lingo and Jason Sondhi. Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg, executive producer of The Atlantic’s videos, explained why Internet users tend to prefer shorter content. “When you have someone’s attention in theater or TV, you have a block of time that they’ve already committed to your project,” Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg said. “They are coming in good faith that you
will have something to offer them whereas when you encounter work online your audience is ready to leave in five seconds.” Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg described what it takes to keep a viewer interested through the whole piece. “My theory of web video is — it demands intensity,” Cieplak-Mayr von Baldegg said. “It demands intensity of ideas and quality visual storytelling — a quirkiness and originality that will grab people right away. Whereas, in theater or on TV, you can really take your time and sort of weave a long, slow, beautiful narrative.” Exciting does not always mean an adrenaline rush, however, as Sondhi, the senior manager of curation at Vimeo, suggested. “You don’t need to have a hold where you’re just dropping someone into an exciting situation,” Sondhi said. “But there needs to be something about the presentation and that’s the thumbnail, the description, the subject, the headline that gets immediate attention. There’s got to be an immediate focus, otherwise you won’t get the initial click.”
Darton, executive producer at Retro Report, said there’s still room for more traditional newsmakers and documentarians in the newer, shorter format world. Darton explained that traditionalists from news and documentaries work together at Retro Report. “A lot of our producers have a much stronger news background and come from like Frontline or 60 Minutes, but our editors are really more traditional documentary film editors,” Darton said. “I think it’s that combination that push-pulls in between news and documentary that really works well.” Caitlin Nagle, who is the executive director of the Made in New York Media Center by Independent Filmmaker Project, said she attended the event because it offered a unique insight into a field she is already involved in. “The thing I enjoyed most was how much everyone on the panel enjoyed each others work,” Nagle said. “That they’re all actually fans of each others’ work, and they could speak to different parts of each others’ work that they liked the most.” Email Justine Morris at news@nyunews.com.
A National Labor Relations Board judge declared that NYU must bargain with workers at Bobst Library over the impact of the university’s decision to change their job descriptions on Tuesday. Nearly 30 employees within Bobst’s six departments were given the same job title, despite the varying qualifications and duties of the workers’ original jobs. The university also assigned workers to additional departments other than the one they were initially assigned to. The reassignments have required employees to learn entirely new practices, such as customer service and computer skills, along with their original position requirements. Workers have become increasingly concerned that these changes could affect job security and schedule overload. Bobst employees also fear they may not be compensated fairly in regard to these new changes. The Union of Clerical, Administrative and Technical Staff Local 3882 initially filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board against NYU on January 15, 2014. After the university repeatedly refused to negotiate with the union, an administrative law judge of the National Labor Relations Board affirmed the charges and issued a decision and order on April 21. The order stated that NYU must cease and desist from refusing to bargain with the union and rescind all adverse consequences to employees as a result of its decision. Even with this ruling in place, the university has not commented in reply to the union’s new bargain proposal sent on April 23. Stephen Rechner, president of UCATS Local 3882, said he is awaiting the future bargain now that the NLRB has issued an official decision. “We are very pleased with the NLRB Administrative Law
Judge’s decision and hope that NYU will sit down with us to negotiate in good faith over the effects of these changes,” Rechner said. However, NYU spokesperson John Beckman said NYU is in disagreement with the ruling because it runs counter to the contract that had been previously negotiated with the union. “The action NYU took, changing job descriptions for certain clerical positions, is explicitly granted by the written agreement the University has with the union,” Beckman said. “Despite the clear language that the changing of a job description isn’t subject either to bargaining or grievance, the University in fact took the extra step of reaching out to the union beforehand to advise them of the matter.” CAS freshman Madison Noelle said she hoped the controversy will be able to be settled like the bargain between NYU and the Graduate Student Organizing Committee that took place last month. “I hope NYU will negotiate with the union after considering the National Labor Relations Board’s decision and come up with a plan that will serve both parties,” Noelle said. Linda Wambaugh, organizer of UCATS Local 3882, said she was surprised by NYU taking actions that appear to regard workers as interchangeable parts who can be moved from one job title to another. “NYU has already spent tens of thousands of dollars, with their own in-house attorney and using an outside corporate law firm, to fight having to sit down at the bargaining table with us to discuss their employees’ concerns over these changes,” Wambaugh said. “It would have been far less time, money and upset if they would have done the right thing and sat down with the employees’ legal bargaining representative and reached a reasonable settlement.” Email Lexi Faunce at news@nyunews.com.
COMMENCEMENT continued from PG. 1
Brent Dibble chosen as student speaker
She had since appeared on major television broadcasts such as CNN, NBC Nightly News, ABC World News Tonight and C-SPAN. In addition to Ifill’s keynote speech, the commencement ceremony will include the conferral of honorary degrees to world-famous pianist Lang Lang, Abel-Prize winner Peter D. Lax, political activist Graça Simbine Machel, and biomedical researcher Jan Tomas Vilcek, according to a press release issued by NYU Wednesday.
The student commencement speaker for this year is Brent Dibble, who will graduate from both the School of Medicine and the Stern School of Business. Dibble was chosen because of his strong academic record and involvement in the NYU community — including the evacuation of patients from NYU Langone through Superstorm Sandy. Dibble developed the NYU SoM Sandy Volunteer Site on Facebook, through which Dibble tried to reach out to other members of the NYU community to
deliver information about the hospital’s specific needs and also to direct student volunteers to units where they could provide support. “Over 100 of my classmates came out to support the evacuation effort, and I couldn’t be prouder to call them my friends and colleagues,” Dibble said. Dibble also expressed his excitement to speak at this year’s commencement ceremony and said he hopes to inspire other graduates as they embark onto their future endeavors.
“It is an honor to be representing the school of medicine as NYU’s selection for student commencement speaker,” Dibble said. “Speaking at such a momentous event comes with great expectations, but I am very excited to share this experience with my family and hope that my commencement speech resonates with my fellow graduates as they transition to the next stage of their careers.” Email Alanna Bayarin and Marita Vlachou at news@nyunews.com.
VIA NYU.EDU
Sherrilyn Ifill is the seventh President and Director-Counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
3
EDITED BY ALEXA SPIELER ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Troupes come together for Comedy Prom Night By SORA YU Contributing Writer
The Seven NYU comedy troupes Pasadena Golf Club, Free Beer, Dirt Circle, After School Special, Bechdel Test, Home Improvement and Dangerbox came together on April 24 to entertain the student body for Comedy Prom Night at the Kimmel Center for University Life. The groups presented thoughtprovoking, modern and historical content in a comical manner. From the consequences of smoking to the absurdities of social media, the improv groups provided material that the audience could identify with through their humorous deliveries. Dirt Circle started the night with some improvisation, keeping the audience engaged by asking for suggestions. Notable scenes included one from Pasadena Golf Club in which they examined the unfortunate reality and domination of social
media in today’s world. As the troupe humorously conveyed, the ubiquity of Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat has made criminals’ illegal activities more difficult to conceal. The all-female comedy troupe, Bechdel Test, also provided an enjoyable performance. During their set, what started out as a murder mystery party quickly turned into a presentation on infant mortality rates. This witty group mockingly emphasized the United States’ supposed advanced status. After School Special struck a chord with the audience during one scene during which they joked that even getting a job at the laundromat is selective in today’s world. Getting ahead of the most recent literature, submitting letters of recommendation and going to the right university were all needed for employment, an idea made even more absurd by the super serious candor of the improvisers. The night ended with a per-
Free Beer performs a sketch about Antiques Roadshow. “I’m in a polygamous marriage!” declares one of the characters. formance by Dangerbox, during which they shut off the lights and created the environment necessary for their scene, which heavily focused on brain freezes. Dangerbox played off of this idea and introduced the audi-
ence to the inner workings of their minds: one’s brain, one’s brain’s brain and one’s brain’s brain’s brain. From beginning to end, the show proved to be hilarious and innovative. NYU’s “Comedy
Prom Night” was an enjoyable evening, demonstrating that the NYU comedy scene is alive and immensely entertaining. Email Sora Yu at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Director discusses DJ AM documentary
KODI continued from PG. 1
Young star reflects on career so far
accompanies Jay on his journey of love. However, Smit-McPhee described the film as an atypical Western and more so a coming of age tale. “What I loved about it was merging of these two worlds, this European cinematography into the dirty kind of gritty Western America in the 1800s,” Smit-McPhee said. Born into Scottish royalty, Jay falls in love with one of his family’s crop workers, Rose (Caren Pistorius), and once she flees Scotland with a bounty on her head, he makes it his mission to find her. “There’s a fine line, I think ,between being brave and being stupid, and love can make us act stupid but for the right reasons, and that made him brave for the right reasons,” Smit-McPhee said. “I really think that from my point of view the passion of love just got him through absolutely anything.” Previously, Smit-McPhee has worked with other famous actors, including Ben Kingsley in 2013’s “A Birder’s Guide to Everything.” Despite appearing next to big-name stars, SmitMcPhee said he keeps himself level-headed by stepping away from the lure of celebrity and
DANA BROWN FOR WSN
By ALEXA SPIELER Arts Editor
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Kodi Smit-McPhee stars as Jay Cavendish in “Slow West.” simply admiring the craft. “I definitely get starstruck but I try to just act normal and respectful,” Smit-McPhee said. “Once I do, I see that it shouldn’t have been any other way because I see that they’re just a real person and that we’re all just artists doing things within our lives.” Though “Slow West” will not hit theaters until May 15, SmitMcPhee is already working on his next project, “X-Men: Apocalypse,” where he will be playing the mutant Nightcrawler. “I literally begin filming in Montreal in three days,” he said. “I’m really excited. It’s not really something I’ve dabbled in, I’ve always done these quiet ‘in a world’ type characters so this will be really cool to do — like a superhero.” Email Sidney Butler
At the peak of his career, DJ AM appeared to have it all, considering his successful career as a top-earning DJ who frequently performed at celebrity parties. However, DJ AM also struggled with a drug addiction that was exacerbated by the post-traumatic stress disorder from his 2008 plane crash. In the documentary “As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM,” director Kevin Kerslake, who spoke with WSN during the Tribeca Film Festival, depicts the challenges that the late AM faced and the efforts he made to help others. WSN: What drew you to DJ AM’s story? KK: I think there’s a sex, drugs and rock-and-roll aspect. With the more substantial parts of his story, AM had some issues, some personal demons, which he was wrestling with since he was very young. I think that how he overcame them and the effect that they had on him really transcended that gravitational pull of the more insidious components. That was really quite an achievement, especially because it also involved an incredible amount of work toward helping others in recovery. WSN: In the film, DJ AM’s mom discusses his PTSD. What struck you most with how he handled the aftermath?
KK: I think the totality of it all. The fact that it was linked to a former problem of addiction had fatal consequences. Someone in the film frames it in a way that I thought was very telling, in that he said that it was courageous — to get back on the plane and to get back to work, and also to do his show, “Gone Too Far,” which ultimately had too many triggers that he shouldn’t have been around. The bravery that AM exhibited really said something about him and how he used music to heal himself and to bring people together. WSN: You mentioned that you see a lot of parallels between DJ AM’s life and Kurt Cobain’s life. Can you explain what parallels you see? KK: The most obvious connection to Kurt’s life comes in two forms — fame and addiction. But, I think that drug addictions never arise out of healthy circumstances. The fact that both their problems started early just meant that they had a deep root. They were both incredibly self-aware and were very articulate about the things that they were going through. Unfortunately, you could talk about something, but that doesn’t mean you could necessarily control it. What they were so articulate about really turned on them. I know that they were both fearful of it and I think AM more so than Kurt, because he did so much work in recovery and in helping others.
COURTESY OF KATIE ZION
Kerslake’s film, “As I AM: The Life and Times of DJ AM” premiered at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival. WSN: You deal a lot with addiction and drugs in this film. Is it your hope that this film will start a lot of those difficult conversations about those topics? KK: I do. There seem to be some commonalities among people who suffer from that condition. It’s really easy to dismiss people who are going through those things, but, they’re not considering the fact that no one wants to be in that position. They’re doing it because they had to turn to that to really medicate the pain. Where others are able to overcome it by other means, there are millions of people who haven’t been able to do that. We’re all in this together, on this planet, and I think that it’s distressing and dispiriting to see the lack of compassion. Hopefully, this will illuminate some of the issues. Email Alexa Spieler at aspieler@nyunews.com.
4
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
EDITED BY REBECCA RIDDLE DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Best eateries of the East Village By CRISTINA FRAGA Contributing Writer
The East Village, a neighborhood home to many NYU students, has many different dining options that are delicious and student-budget friendly. Grabbing a quick bite between or after classes or treating yourself to a leisurely meal is easy and accessible at these East Village eateries. If you are looking for a hearty, filling option, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza is the perfect spot. Located at 328 E. 14th St., their pizzas are known to be some of the best in town. Each slice is about $4.50 depending on what kinds of pizza you get, and they can deliver straight to your dorm. Though the slices are slightly more expensive than other pizza places, they are large and dense enough to fill you up. Luke’s Lobster is a great choice
if you are looking for seafood. Located at 93 E. Seventh St., the restaurant’s prices range from $15 to $30. It is famous for its lobster, crab and shrimp rolls as well as their delicious soups. All of their ingredients come directly from Maine. Keep in mind the restaurant is tiny, with just eight stools in this cozy East Village location. If you are in the mood for Japanese cuisine, Ippudo is one of the best choices in the East Village for ramen. Located at 65 Fourth Ave., its Hakata tonkotsu pork soup and extra thin noodles are well known in the area. Ramen dishes cost around $15, which is reasonable due to the very generous portions. Dos Toros is also a very popular Mexican food option in the East Village. Your can find one of their many restaurants at 137 Fourth Ave., which is only one block away from Union Square. Dos Toros’ quick and
efficient system of ordering includes choices of rice, beans, protein, guacamole, chips and other options. Burritos, bowls and other options are offered, and you can be in and out of the restaurant with a delicious meal in less than five minutes. If you are not looking for a main meal, there is always dessert. Spot Dessert Bar is located at 13 St. Marks Place and offers customers delicious and beautifully presented sweets. Choices include cupcakes, dessert tapas, macaroons, cookies, cakes and a huge variety of drinks. The restaurant’s number-one seller is its chocolate green tea lava cake, which is topped with green tea ganache and green tea ice cream. If you want to satisfy your sweet tooth without leaving your dorm, Spot Dessert Bar also delivers. Email Cristina Fraga at dining@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH SHULMAN
Dos Toros has six locations in the city, including one just south of Union Square.
Pick up these popular popsicles
PICNIC continued from PG. 1
By NATALIA BARR Staff Writer
New York City offers seemingly endless frozen treats. Though ice cream is often the obvious choice for a hot day, there are many spots around New York City where you can find popsicles — a childhood favorite that will surely satisfy your cravings.
STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH SHULMAN
People relax in Prospect Park on a beautiful April day.
Pink lemonade recipe to sweeten your picnic
about seven minutes. 2. Place a strainer or colander over a medium bowl. Pour the raspberry mixture into the strainer and press down on it with a spatula to squeeze all the liquid into the bowl. Throw out whatever is left in the strainer and move the freshly made syrup into the fridge to cool. 3. Cut all the lemons in half, and squeeze them into a measuring cup. You should end up with a little more than a cup. Save any extra juice in a small bowl and set it aside. 4. When you are ready to make
the lemonade, retrieve the chilled syrup from the fridge. In a pitcher or bowl, combine the syrup and lemon juice. Add the sparkling water and stir until combined. 5. Pour a small amount of lemonade into a cup and taste. If the lemonade is on the sweet side, add the reserved lemon juice. If it is too tart, add more sugar. When you have finished adjusting to your personal taste, pour in a thermos or jar and enjoy at your favorite picnic location. Email Kendall Levison at dining@nyunews.com.
Popbar (5 Carmine St.) Popbar has endless options for creating your perfect popsicle. This shop handcrafts their traditional gelato, sorbetto and yogurt creations, and then serves it on a stick to offer a unique, portable twist on these frozen treats. You can order a pre-designed popsicle from the extensive menu, or create your own by choosing your flavor, like chocolate, peanut butter or green tea, and add your own “poppings,” such as nuts, sprinkles or chocolate.
People’s Pops (118 First Ave. and other locations) People’s Pops is a great choice for a sweet summer treat that is still healthy. The makers of People’s Pops use local, sustainably grown
STAFF PHOTO BY MATHILDE VAN TULDER
Popbar offers a wide range of freshly made popsicles. ingredients to make their ice pops and shaved ice, resulting in an assortment of fresh popsicles with flavors that vary every week, including Red Plum Raspberry and Blackberry Peach Jasmine. The shop has even published a cookbook for people to make their own ice pops.
La Newyorkina (The High Line between 17th St. and 18th St. and other locations) Fany Gerson began La Newyorkina in 2010 because she wanted to share the frozen treats of her native Mexico. These popsicles, or “paletas,” are made from all-natural ingredients, and the flavors change seasonally. Flavors include Mango-Chile, Hibiscus and Avocado. You can find La Newyorkina paletas all over the city, from the High Line to Brooklyn’s Smorgasburg.
TropPops (Columbus Green Flea Market) TropPops has some of the simplest popsicles in the city, as each popsicle contains only two ingredients: a piece of fruit and chocolate. TropPops uses fruit deemed part of the “Clean 15,” which are the most naturally uncontaminated fruits in an attempt to serve as healthy popsicles as possible. Each ice pop begins with a frozen banana, kiwi, mango or pineapple, which is dipped in dark chocolate and served on a stick. Not only are the popsicles good for your body, but the company also strives to be environmentally conscious, as each of its popsicle carts uses no electricity, batteries or gas, and the store relies on dry ice to keep their treats frozen. Email Natalia Barr at dining@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
5
SPORTS
EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Rough weekend for baseball, softball By KYLE LUTHER Deputy Sports Editor
The NYU baseball and softball teams played to mixed results yesterday, with softball splitting a doubleheader against New Jersey City University and baseball losing to Ursinus University. The inaugural season for softball has been tough for the 9-23 Violets. Compared to the beginning of the season, however, they have done better recently, winning four of their last eight games. They dropped the first game against the Gothic Knights 8-5 in a game that went back and forth. The Knights were hot right out of the gate, putting up four runs in the first inning with a couple back-to-back singles and an error committed by the Violets. NYU quickly responded in the second inning, scoring four runs taking the lead on two singles with runners on second and third followed by a long double and another single up the middle. Unfortunately, the Knights took a lead they would never give up in the next inning with two runs of their own. Sophomore Jacqueline Tremblay took the loss, giving her a 4-9 record. The Violets were victorious in second game of the doubleheader, edging out the Knights
8-3. During the game, they showcased their offensive capabilities as they put up eight runs on eleven hits. Unlike the first game, neither team started particularly strong. It took until the middle of the game for NYU to score first with two runs in the top of the fourth. The Knights responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth, but the Violets exploded in the sixth and seventh innings, scoring six more runs. Sophomore Molly Webber doubled in a run in the sixth inning followed by an error by the Knights, which allowed Webber to score. In the seventh inning, the Violets hit six singles and scored four more runs to put the game out of reach for the Knights. Freshman pitcher Sage Scheiwiller threw a complete game to insure the victory, only giving up one run through seven innings. After their own rocky start, the baseball team has been doing better of late, going 4-2 in their last six games before their 8-5 loss yesterday against Ursinus. With just two games remaining, the Violets still have the possibility of finishing their season at .500. The Bears put up a five spot in the second inning with the help of two Violet errors, followed by a double and a sacrifice bunt. The Violets were un-
able to come back from that deficit. They scored twice in the fourth inning, but the Bears responded with three more runs in the bottom of the inning. The Violets were able to produce a few more runs in the fifth and eighth innings but could not get closer than three runs behind the Bears before the game ended. Even though they lost, NYU was able to get a season-best performance by freshman relief pitcher Marshall Kramsky, who only surrendered one hit over three innings of shutdown work. “Today we fought back and showed a lot of heart,” Kramsky said. “It really shows how far we have come as a team. A few weeks ago this game would have been a blow out. We know how good we are and how good we can be. I expect to finish this season strong and come out even hungrier for greater success next season.” The softball and baseball teams will be back in action April 29 when softball takes on Florham University in Madison, New Jersey. Baseball will play a doubleheader against City College of New York at MCU Park in Brooklyn. Email Kyle Luther at kluther@nyunews.com.
SLUG continued from PG. 1
Clarke aspires to World Cup team
amazing experience,” Clarke said. “Being able to train with the Ecuadorian national team is still surreal to me, and it is definitely an honor. It puts me in a position to experience playing with top-level players which will only be beneficial to my future in soccer.” This opportunity is about even more than soccer for Clarke. The junior, whose mother was born in Ecuador, will use this opportunity to spend time with family that she does not see in her hometown of Round Hill, Virginia. “Not only is this an amazing soccer experience, but also a great cultural experience,” Clarke said. “Being able to return to Ecuador means I will get to see family, revisit familiar places and continue to experience first-hand the beauty of the Ecuadorian culture.” As for her chances to become one of the final 21 who travel to
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Lexi Clarke was recently invited to the Ecuadorian National team camp. Canada this summer, Clarke remains optimistic and will try to build on the skills that got her to this point. “I’ve been playing soccer since I was 4 years old,” Clarke said. “My technical skills and physical abilities have developed over the past few years of playing college soccer and I think that is something that sets me apart. I have to focus on the things that are within my control.” Even if Clarke does make the team, she and her Ecuadorian teammates will be unlikely to escape the Group Stage of the tournament. Ecuador is ranked 49th in the FIFA women’s international rankings, placing them third in
their group behind Japan and Switzerland, at third and 18th, respectively. But the slightest proposition of playing in arguably one of the two most famous sporting events in the world is enough to make any athlete, especially a college one, overwhelmed with excitement and nervousness. “I am definitely feeling a little nervous because I don’t know what to expect,” Clarke said. “At the same time, I have nothing to lose and I know that once I step on the field and start playing those nerves will disappear.” Email Bobby Wagner at bwagner@nyunews.com.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Wladimir Klitschko is the reigning heavyweight world champion.
Boxer Klitschko defends title at MSG
By MICHAEL THOMPSON Staff Writer
It had the makings of the perfect underdog story: a young, hungry underdog fighter from Philadelphia with only six years of boxing experience squaring off against a seemingly unbeatable champion on boxing’s biggest stage. At odds anywhere from 7-1 to 14-1 depending on the source, a victory for heavyweight challenger Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden would have shocked the boxing world. Unfortunately for Jennings, there was no storybook ending Saturday night. In his first fight on U.S. soil since 2008, universally recognized heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko defeated Jennings in a unanimous decision, retaining his WBA, WBO, IBO and IBF championships. Klitschko controlled the action from the early stages, using his height and weight advantage to keep Jennings from getting inside. Despite his longer reach, Jennings was unable to produce much offense, struggling to get under Klitschko’s historically dominant jab. In the 10th round, Klitschko was deducted one point for excessive holding, his defensive reaction throughout the fight to when Jennings tried to lunge forward with his head down. In a departure from his previous fights, Klitschko sparingly used his powerful right hand. With his victory, Klitschko (64-3) tied Joe Louis at 27 for the most heavyweight championship fights. At age 39, he is quickly approaching another one of Louis’ records: longest heavyweight title reign in boxing history. After Saturday’s victory, Klitschko will likely fight WBO mandatory challenger Tyson Fury (24-0), who forced Christian Hammer to call out after eight rounds in his last bout. The fight, almost a sure bet to be fought in Europe, will most likely grab the attention of more fans overseas than in the United States. Klitschko, however, intends to return to the
United States in the future, perhaps against current WBC Champion, American Deontay Wilder (33-0). At the post-fight press conference, Klitschko addressed the possibility of a fight with Wilder. “I think Deontay needs to defend his title first time,” Klitschko said. “And probably such fight can happen at the beginning of next year.” Despite the loss, Jennings stock has certainly risen. With many analysts expecting a short fight in favor of the champion, Jennings made it through 12 rounds, taking some of Klitschko’s best punches in the process and forcing Klitschko to earn his victory. “I’m hoping I gained some respect,” Jennings said. “And I know I gained some fans…I’m not bitter, I’m not upset, I’m not mad.” Now 19-1 as a professional, Jennings will seek a new opponent. Wilder is certainly on the shortlist after Jennings chose a fight against Klitschko over him. However, Jennings would ideally prefer one more chance at today’s best heavyweight, even if it is unlikely to occur. “You already know what I’m calling for,” Jennings said. “Let’s do this thing again.” In other action, Brooklynnative Sadam Ali improved his standing as a welterweight contender with a competitive 10-round decision victory over Francisco Santana. Ali’s speed and technique was enough to neutralize Santana’s substantial weight advantage. Santana was aggressive throughout, but Ali was successfully able to fight off of the ropes repeatedly, doing enough for the victory. Of course, last Saturday’s fights at Madison Square Garden are just the appetizer for a much larger event. After years of hype, the two best fighters of this generation — Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather — will finally square off on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in boxing’s latest super-fight. Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.
6
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief
VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI Managing Editor
THOMAS DEVLIN Assistant Managing Editor
JOHN AMBROSIO Digital Director
HANNAH TREASURE Creative Director, Special Editions
OLIVIA MARTIN Creative Director
TEERIN JULSAWAD deputy ALEXA WONG Copy Chief
MADELINE PAZZANI deputy RICHARD SHU Multimedia
SHAWN PAIK photo SAM BEARZI video CALVIN FALK deputy photo SANG BAE, MATHILDE VAN TULDER deputy video CHRISTIAN FORTE
SENIOR STAFF
news ALANNA BAYARIN, MARITA
SUBSCRIBE
NEWSLETTER
TO THE
HAVE ALL OF OUR DAILY HEADLINES SENT DIRECTLY TO YOUR INBOX EMAIL NEWSLETTER@NYUNEWS.COM TO SUBSCRIBE
VLACHOU features MARINA ZHENG arts ALEXA SPIELER sports BOBBY WAGNER senior editors LARSON BINZER, CHRISTINA COLEBURN, FELIPE DE LA HOZ, FRANCISCO NAVAS, IFE OLUJOBI
DEPUTY STAFF
news ALEX BAZELEY features NINA JANG beauty & style SOPHIE LEWIS dining REBECCA RIDDLE film ISABEL JONES entertainment AUDREY DENG music E.R. PULGAR theater/books CAROLINE CUNFER sports KYLE LUTHER
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
TESS WOOSLEY deputy opinion editors
ANNIE COHEN, TOMMY COLLISON, MATTHEW TESSLER
THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, April 28, 2015
BLOGS
editor EMILY BELL exposure HANNAH LUU violet vision GABRIELLA BOWER the highlighter MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE under the arch EMMA SCOBLE global DANA RESZUTEK
ADVERTISING
Crossword ACROSS 1 Shade of white 6 Instruction on a frozen turkey 10 “Doctor Zhivago” woman 14 First two words of Genesis 15 Smooth, as the way 16 “... if ___ a wiz there was” 17 Debate team or Model United Nations 19 Steady look 20 Upbraided, with “off” 21 “Now it all makes sense!” 22 Card game with a bank 23 World peace and the golden rule 25 Aid on “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” 29 Tennis call 30 Tiebreakers, for short 32 Drenched with a sudden flow
33 ___ jockey (office worker) 35 Queen of Olympus 37 Letters at the end of the O.E.D. 38 Commuter’s reference guide 41 6, in the set [3,5,5,6,6,6,7] 44 Distance unit on a treasure map 45 Not incl. 48 Shooter’s position in a fort 50 British business abbr. 52 Suffix with confident 54 Atrium feature 56 It may require a proof of purchase 58 Xmas poem opener 59 Trouble 61 Boxers Muhammad and Laila 62 Place where things get stuck
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE J O K E
A B L E
F O C H
L U A U
F O A M S
A U D I T
M A L M E S E I E P T O M K H A I M A R C A I L S R S M T S C R A H H E X I V A N S H I O N T S U O M E D R G R I Y T R E
A B A T H
D E N I M
E C T C E S C S I N Y
R O A D S
L Y A M I A O A D N R E A C A H F E D G O G A Z E F A F R E K A S T
B I C K E R O V E R
L O U I S
T U B E S
F E M A
T R O Y
A N Y A
C Z A R
T Y K E
63 It’s not an automatic feature 66 Crème ___ crème 67 Apiece 68 Capital of Yemen 69 Count (on) 70 x and y, in math 71 Word that can precede either part of 17-, 25-, 38-, 54- and 63-Across DOWN 1 Pollination part 2 Like many N.S.A. communications 3 Sports Illustrated profilee 4 “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” spinoff 5 Sign of summer 6 Big field in Silicon Valley 7 Kosher : Jews :: ___ : Muslims 8 Tempe campus, for short 9 N.A.A.C.P. co-founder ___ Du Bois 10 Like gambling in Nevada 11 Greed 12 Changed from residential to commercial, say 13 “All men ___ created equal” 18 Winning the booby prize 22 Pot-au-___ (French stew) 24 Mischievous Norse god
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
No. 0324 9
10
11
12
BUSINESS MANAGER
ALISON LIZZIO
13
UNIVERSITY SALES RELATIONS 14
15
17
18
20
21
23
24
29
30 33
41
42
48
SALES MANAGER
EMMA HOWCROFT
22
31 35
43
CLAIRE MAHANY
19
25
34 38
16
26
27
28
AMY LU, BEN SWINEHART
36
37
39
40
44
45
49
50
54
55 58
59
46
51
52
56 60
64
47 53
57 61
62
63
66
67
68
69
70
71
65
PUZZLE BY ROBYN WEINTRAUB
26 Country with kibbutzim
41 House of Commons figs.
27 Exerciser’s target
42 Acorn, eventually
28 Newspaper heads, for short
43 House builder’s material
31 Sword cover
46 Making a call
34 Leave surreptitiously
47 Queen of “Chicago”
36 List shortener
49 Geometry students’ symbols
39 Downloaded video format 40 Pack cargo
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
32
51 U.S.S. Enterprise journey
53 Vampire role for Tom Cruise 55 How often, at most, one can be elected U.S. president 57 Mideast religion 60 Newspaper publisher Adolph 62 Navy rank below capt. 63 Captain’s domain 64 See 65-Down 65 Fig. supplied on a 64-Down form
Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 7,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Read about and comment on each puzzle: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/studentcrosswords.
Read us online: nyunews.com
SALES ASSOCIATES
MIKE GROTT, LUXI PENG GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
KALEEL MUNROE CIRCULATION MANAGER
JESSICA TIEN CIRCULATION ASSISTANTS
ALEX HANSON, FIONA GORRY-HINES
ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER
RACHEL HOLLIDAY SMITH EDITORS-AT-LARGE
TATIANA BAEZ, NICOLE BROWN, ALEX GREENBERGER, CLIO MCCONNELL, JORDAN MELENDREZ 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 the managing editors at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY TESS WOOSLEY OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
DRUG WAR
Legalize marijuana for a consistent product By MATTHEW TESSLER Deputy Opinion Editor
The recent spike in emergency room visits caused by the drug spice gives lawmakers one more reason to legalize the recreational use and sale of marijuana. This strain of synthetic marijuana, an herbal base mixed with synthetic cannabinoids, has caused a major increase in hospital visits and poison control center calls in April. Over 1,000 incidents have been reported, and an unknown number have died from consuming the drug. Legalization of herbal marijuana would protect consumers from these considerably more dangerous and volatile synthetic replicas. With its current Schedule I classification by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the federal government considers marijuana as dangerous as heroin and more dangerous than methamphetamine. This misplaced association with substances that have far more dangerous consequences has lead to unnecessary mass incarceration and miscommunication about the consequences of truly
dangerous drugs. Without federal regulation or recognition, the sale of marijuana still flows largely underground, except in states where it is currently legalized. If given the opportunity to regulate the manufacturing and sales of marijuana, federal regulators could help consumers safely navigate the market to make sure they experienced the product’s intended effects. Those interested in consuming marijuana would be able to do so without adverse effects. The dangerous substances would still be available, but the amount of people mistakenly poisoning themselves would decrease. Colorado has shown that regulated markets for marijuana work, creating a safer purchasing experience and more straightforward explanation of the effects of each strain. More
money flows through the economy and tax revenue from the legal sales could give lawmakers more funding to spend on researching and regulating the product to protect consumers instead of imprisoning those same individuals needlessly for possessing that same substance. The tides are shifting on the legalization of marijuana. Changes in public opinion about the substance have gone hand in hand with state governments legalizing its medical or recreational use for the public. As the 2016 election cycle kicks into gear, the topic of legalization will certainly be on the minds of the public and the candidates. In addition to the positive effects of medical marijuana, the cases of poisoning and overdose that come from mislabeled drugs should be included in the discussion. Making it clear that marijuana is safer than other Schedule I substances — and possibly even alcohol — would make its use, and the use of other substances, more safe. Email Matthew Tessler at mtessler@nyunews.com.
DIVESTMENT
Climate change a form of oppression
By MALCOLM KIM, OLIVIA RICH and CHARLIE MARTIN Contributing Writers
At a NYU University Senate meeting last month, a working group created by the administration delivered a misguided report opposing fossil fuel divestment. In the report, the working group acknowledged that NYU has divested from socially irresponsible holdings in the past, such as in the case of genocide in Darfur and the apartheid regime in South Africa, and proposed that “divestment is appropriate in the rare instances when there is a compelling moral or humanitarian objective and that there are few or no alternatives for action by the institution.” While the worst consequences of climate change are yet to come, the harsh reality is that countless people are already facing devastating impacts like extreme storms, food shortages, droughts and increasingly virulent diseases. But an often overlooked aspect of climate change is the alarming death toll. A 2009 report by the Global Humanitarian Forum concluded that: “every year climate change leaves over 300,000 people
SUBMITTING TO
7
dead, 325 million people seriously affected, and economic losses of US $125 billion.” This report calls climate change a “silent crisis.” Since discourse on climate change tends to focus on data — numbers, graphs, weather patterns — rather than on the victims, it is all too easy to forget that this is a global crisis rooted in oppression. If climate change affected the wealthy and powerful to the same extent as those living in small pacific islands, it would be unacceptable for a politician to throw a snowball on the senate floor in order to prove that global warming doesn’t exist. Climate change is real, created by humans and leaves in its wake a ruinous path of destruction that disenfranchised people are forced to quietly accept. NYU cannot look the other way. Perhaps it was easier for NYU to divest during the crises in Darfur and
South Africa because those cases were examples of overt racism from identifiable perpetrators culpable for acts of obvious brutality. Yet climate change is also a form of violence, albeit one that is more subtle and thus more insidious. People are deprived of access to food, potable water, breathable air and the very land they live on. NYU, as an institution committed to learning and fact, has an obligation to make a public statement opposing companies responsible for global human rights abuses that will ultimately have a devastating effect on the futures of their students. NYU’s University Senate will be voting on the issue of fossil fuel divestment on April 30. NYU Divest hopes to see faculty, students and administrators recognize climate change for the humanitarian crisis that it is, embrace a position of leadership and help spur legal action. This university cannot fall subject to the same sort of inaction that has been plaguing our government for decades. There is simply too much at stake. Malcolm Kim, Olivia Rich and Charlie Martin are student members of NYU Divest.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Chipotle ignores science with GMO removal
Chipotle announced this week that they have eliminated the use of all genetically modified ingredients from their restaurants. This change makes the company the first major restaurant chain to switch to sourcing food from GMO-free farms, just as it was the first chain to label genetically altered ingredients on menus in 2013. The effort is impressive considering over 90 percent of corn and soy in the United States has been genetically altered, but removing these ingredients ignores extensive research supporting human consumption of GMOs and reinforces false speculation about the dangers of these products. There is no evidence that GMOs are harmful to human health. The development and sale of these foods is well monitored by the Food and Drug Administration, and they are tested for health risks before making it to the market. The research that associates health risks with GMOs often lacks credibility, as with one high-profile study that initially suggested genetically modified corn caused cancer in rats, which was retracted due to study design flaws. There are, meanwhile, “hundreds of studies” that find no health risks associated with GMOs. On the positive side, GMOs can help reduce the application of toxic insecticides and increase crop yields. In some areas, these crops have promoted erosion-reducing low-till or no-till farming. There are issues with GMO patents and environmental ethics, but this is not how Chipotle has framed its menu alteration. Instead, the company has chosen to use largely disproven health concerns to justify their initiative. Comments made by co-CEO Steve Ells in support of the initiative reflect that the company’s largest motive in making this change is to appease those that have been convinced by scare tactics. Ells’ statement, “just because food is served fast doesn’t mean it has to be made with cheap raw ingredients, highly processed with preservatives and fillers and stabilizers and artificial colors and flavors” incorrectly associates and equates GMOs with legitimately unhealthy food. In another interview, Ells said, “they say these ingredients are safe, but I think we all know we’d rather have food that doesn’t contain them.” This type of reasoning completely disregards the legitimacy of the science on GMOs in favor of hopping on a trend of mischaracterizing the historically prevalent process of artificial selection by humans. Whatever the reason Chipotle gives for the move, their decision unfortunately validates anti-GMO fervor. The New York Times reported that the company may have to raise prices in response to the move, and so it remains to be seen if customers wary of GMO foods will stomach the higher price. It would have been better if Chipotle made such broad decisions based on things like science and evidence, especially considering the rampant misinformation surrounding GMOs.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tess Woosley (Chair), Annie Cohen (Co-chair), Tommy Collison (Co-chair), Matthew Tessler (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
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.