NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 46
MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013
48,579
applicants
nyunews.com
55,079
applications
NEW YORK 14,065 students 31% admission rate 32% early decision 31% regular decision
ABU DHABI 201 students 5% admission rate 11% early decision 3% regular decision
NEW YORK & ABU DHABI/SHANGHAI 336 students
SHANGHAI 115 students (and counting)
GRAPHIC BY LYANNE NATIVIDAD/WSN
University releases preliminary admit rates By HANQING CHEN
NYU has accepted around 30 percent of applicants to the class of 2017, according to preliminary admissions rate calculations provided by admissions officials. As of April 15, the university has admitted around 14,700 students across all three campuses, said Shawn Abbott, assistant vice president of admissions. While previous years’ admissions rates include students admitted to both the university’s New York and Abu Dhabi
ADMISSIONS continued on PG. 8
Cooper Union to implement tuition for first time in 2014 By GABBY KAUFMAN and SOFIA FERRANDIZ
After 18 months of deliberation, the Cooper Union Board of Trustees voted April 21 to effectively end the school’s wellknown universal scholarship policy, beginning with freshmen entering Cooper Union in 2014. Peter Cooper, who founded the art, architecture and engineering university in 1859,
had a progressive vision of “equal to the best,” which mostly revolved around the provision of a full scholarship included with admission. The small size of the college of about 1,000 students, combined with the selectivity of the admission process, allowed this model to endure for over 150 years. Now, all students will still be automatically awarded a
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: NYU’S GOSSIP SQUIRREL IS NUTS ABOUT CAMPUS RUMORS:
Gossip Squirrel, the university’s informant of campus scandals, answers questions about being the source for gossip around Washington Square Park. VIA FACEBOOK.COM
SQUIRREL on PG. 5
NEW YORK FOOTBALL TEAMS STRENGHTEN ROSTERS AT DRAFT:
The Jets and the Giants made their draft picks strategically for next season, as both teams are hoping to come back from big losses suffered this year. COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS
NFL on PG. 8
smaller scholarship — 50 percent of the $38,500 tuition — in addition to need-based aid. However admissions will remain “need-blind,” according to a statement on the Cooper Union website. For some, the decision marks the crossing of an institution of higher learning with a business. Peter Buckley, associate professor and unofficial historian of Cooper Union, stated
his opposition to the decision of the Board of Trustees. “Peter Cooper believed in a high social purpose,” Buckley said. “Now, from 2014, we are to be a brand offering a marketable product.” Although the policy only affects the students entering Cooper Union from 2014 onward, current students said they feel strongly about the historical, social and moral
ramifications of this vote. “What they fail to understand is that the excellence of this institution is in the students, in the faculty and in the conversations we hold, largely due to the fact that we come as equals,” said Andy Overton, a freshman in the Cooper Union School of Art. “No one questions, or even
COOPER continued on PG. 3
Grey Art Gallery displays artist’s eclectic, multidisciplinary work By DEEKSHA MEHTA
Visitors to museums and galleries are presented with finished, polished works of art. Less often do they see the work and planning that go into each finished piece. The Grey Art Gallery’s current exhibition, “Alice Aycock Drawings: Some Stories Are Worth Repeating,” offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings and imaginative mind of acclaimed artist and sculptor Alice Aycock. The exhibition, which opened on April 23, features the art-
ist’s detailed drawings, five 3-D models, a film and several photographs that document the developmental stages of her work. On display are 48 of Aycock’s pieces from 1971 to 1984, and 55 works from 1984 to the present are currently being showcased at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, N.Y. “I divided it at 1984 because there are major shifts in both style and subject at that point,” said Jonathan Fineberg, the exhibition’s curator and professor of art history at the University
of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “While the first half is very conceptual, architectural, black and white, the second half is a startlingly different-looking show.” After coming to New York in 1968, Aycock quickly gained recognition in the 1970s art scene. Her unique and highly multidisciplinary style is inspired by science, architecture and technology, but also has elements of fantasy, imagination and emotion. Many of her large-scale sculptures
AYCOCK continued on PG. 4
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
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THINGS YOU DIDN’T HAVE TIME TO DO WHILE YOU WERE BUSY STUDYING
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NETFLIX MARATHON Take a few hours, or even a day, for a Netflix binge. Re-watch a season of your favorite TV show from your childhood — hits like “Hey Arnold,” “Angry Beavers” and “Dexter’s Laboratory” are all available for streaming. Or look for the return of “Arrested Development,” which will premiere exclusively on Netflix on May 26. All you need is your laptop, popcorn and a comfortable place to curl up.
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IN AND OF
THE CITY
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It’s a big city and a widespread university. Catch up with our daily updates on university and city/state news headlines other publications are covering.
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FREEDOM TOWER TO BE COUNTRY’S TALLEST BUILDING The final pieces of the Freedom Tower’s spire will be raised on Monday, making it the country’s tallest building at 1,776 feet, and the third-largest building in the world. — NY1 HAIL CABS WITH AN APP New York City Taxi and Limousine Commissioner David Yassky said Friday that Uber Technologies Inc. has been selected to make e-hailing services available with an app. Uber will facilitate e-hailing in a one-year pilot program. Yassky said several other companies are looking for city approval to provide similar services. — ABC LOCAL
MARCH OF DIMES WALK ATTRACTS THOUSANDS Eight thousand marchers took part in the annual walk on April 28. The March For Babies is the main event of the March Of Dimes, which works to find causes and solutions for premature births. — CBS LOCAL
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HINTON, CHARLES MAHONEY, CLIO MCCONNELL, STEFAN MELNYK, LAVYA YALAMANCHI
ANIMAL RIGHTS GROUPS PUSH TO REPLACE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES WITH ELECTRIC CAR MODEL Animal rights activists are behind the new horseless carriage prototype designed by a Brooklyn-born exotic car designer. The carriage would be modeled after the electric cars from the early 1900s. The horseless model would accommodate eight passengers and could also include a sound system and seatbelts. The prototype is expected to cost $450,000. — CBS LOCAL
Owners dressed their dachsunds in costumes for Dachshund Day in Washington Square Park.
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
foreign correspondent JULIE DEVITO senior editors GENTRY BROWN, DAN
YOGA After finals you have no excuse to skip a workout. Yoga is the perfect way to excerise and relax without breaking the bank. Head to Yoga to the People at 12 St. Marks Place for a free hour-long session of power vinyasa yoga, but note that there’s a suggested donation. Also consider going to one of the many Bikram NYC studios — the closest location to campus is 182 Fifth Ave. — for a 90-minute bikram yoga session.
GO FOR A RUN IN CENTRAL PARK Now that the weather is nice and the trees are blooming, Central Park is a perfect place to go for a walk or run. You can find a Runner’s Map on Central Park’s website, which will help you plan a perfect route. Go with friends, take it slow and enjoy a beautiful sunny day.
WSN STAFF
WICY WANG
PICNIC On a warm day after a final, head to the Christopher Street Pier in Hudson Square Park, an ideal picnic spot. Sitting by the water is a great way to relax after an exam or paper. The pier is a popular place for West Villagers — expect to see people tanning in bathing suits and people playing music or frisbee.
TAKE A TRIP TO BROOKLYN When finals are done and the sun is out, take a trip across the bridge and visit some Brooklyn hotspots. Some places to see include the Brooklyn Flea Market at 176 Lafayette Ave., which just opened for the year, the thrift stores in the Boerum Hills shopping district and Coney Island.
COMPILED BY THE
SIKH COMMUNITY CELEBRATES AT MADISON SQUARE PARK The Sikh community gathered at Manhattan’s Madison Square Park on Saturday, April 28, to celebrate Vaisakhi Day, a holiday that marks the birth of Sikh society and the day farmers give thanks for their harvests. — NY1
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MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Amy Zhang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
COOPER continued from PG. 1
Cooper Union to end over 150 years of free education
thinks to question, how much money your parents have, how many jobs you worked in high school or who is sacrificing what for you to be here. It is understood that we each earned our way here.” The Students for a Free Cooper Union Facebook page was created as part of the student-led efforts to respond to the implemented tuition costs by hosting protests and panel discussions. Cooper Union was one of 12 traditionally tuition-free universities in the United States. Many of these institutions, while mostly free, have different tuition systems. For example, since its founding, the College of the Ozarks in Missouri has required students to participate in work study for tuition, with an extra summer work program for room and board. Berea College in Kentucky also conducts a slightly less rigorous work study program, in conjunction with need-based aid. “We wish every college could go without charging tuition, but that’s not a reality today,” Chris Maguire, the associate vice president of integrated marketing and communications at Berea College, said of the alternate payment policy. “We can’t imagine a scenario where we would charge under the way our model is set up presently.” In a statement, the Board of Trustees explained other options that were considered during the deliberation process, including relying on rent income from its ownership of the land the Chrysler Building is built on, or downsizing the university, but these would not be enough to sustain the university. “Being mostly alumni ourselves, we share your sense of the loss of this extraordinary tradition,” the statement said. “In the final analysis, however, we found no viable solutions that would enable us to maintain the excellence of our programs without an alteration of our scholarship policy.” Overton echoed the apparent contradiction to Peter Cooper’s original intent and alluded to the possibility of future difficulties with this first step. “I have no predictions yet for the future,” he said. “I’m still stuck on the fact that, for many, Cooper has been fundamentally altered for the worse. The destruction of Cooper’s founding mission and intent is the largest loss yet. The ramifications have only just begun.” Gabby Kaufman is a contributing writer. Sofia Ferrandiz is a staff writer. Email them at cstate@nyunews.com.
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Dorm offers cross-university student housing By TANAY HUDSON
The Greenwich Village area will soon be the home of a new dorm that will house students from different colleges throughout New York City. After sitting dormant for over 30 years, what used to be P.S. 64 — located at 605 E. Ninth St. — is being transformed into a 500-bed dormitory named University House. Featuring amenities such as a TV media lounge, large and private study rooms, a game room and music practice rooms, the dorm will also have a fitness center, a health center and a cafe. Gregg Singer of 9th & 10th Street, LLC purchased the building in 1998 during a city auction. “Our aim is to create a space where we provide the safety, security and health care that the parents want and the amenities and location that the students want,” Singer said. After Singer purchased the building, it remained unused for another 11 years. “The building was vacant for over 10 years because the building was retroactively landmarked and the entire East Village downzoned, which required us to recalibrate our plans,” said Peter Schottenfels, associate of Risa Heller Communications. Cooper Union, which is located on East Seventh Street, has already signed a 15-year lease for 196 beds as a housing option for their students. In a
press release, Claire McCarthy, director of public affairs at Cooper Union, said buying beds in the University House will be cost-effective for the university. “The agreement we have with the owner enables us to provide this opportunity for students to choose housing in the neighborhood without engaging in costly construction activities,” McCarthy said. “Rates will be determined by the owner.” Schottenfels stated that housing will be available to students of all classifications as long as their school has signed the lease. NYU will have no involvement with this new housing. “For a range of reasons, including our understanding of the long history of the community wanting that space for a non-dorm use, we have no interest,” said Philip Lentz, NYU’s director of public affairs. Sam Biederman, associate director of university communications for The New School, said it has no involvement in this new dorm, but will be opening a new student residence this coming August as part of their Univers-ity Center project on 14th Street and Fifth Avenue. A recent study from Greenwich Realty Advisors indicated that Manhattan dorms will fall short of 57,000 beds for New York City college students. New York Institute of Technology 2010 graduate Sondema Tarr, who lived in a multiuniversity dorm in Brooklyn, said living in a dorm with
RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN
University House in the East Village will reopen as a dorm. non-NYIT students allowed her to meet many people from different walks of life. “Overall, I think living in a dorm with people from different schools was great,” Tarr said. “My school is known for science and technology mostly, [but] because of the dorm I lived in, I was able to meet people who were studying fashion merchandising, culinary arts, filmmaking and acting.” Steinhardt freshman Nabeela Lakhani said she thought living with students who attend the same school is a better idea. “I think having interaction with other schools is important for networking, but I don’t
think living together would accomplish that,” Lakhani said. Tarr said that even though living with students from other colleges was great, it has a downside as well. “Because there are hundreds of students from so many different schools, everyone tends to do their own thing more,” she said. “There isn’t really a common bond that ties everyone together. The school spirit or pride that a lot of schools have just was not present at mine, and I think the dorms have a lot to do with that.” Tanay Hudson is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
College party scene impacted by city living By JULIE PAN
Unlike students of most other schools, NYU students are in a position to party in a particular way. The meaning of offcampus partying is redefined at NYU, since students can go to various New York City clubs and venues instead of schoolsponsored events and dorm room parties. For NYU students who are situated right in the city, the nightlife
options — from dive bars to underground clubs to rooftop parties — are nearly endless in one of the liveliest cities in the world. For CAS freshman Howard Lee, this freedom is not always a positive thing. “The venues vary in quality, just as the parties vary in quality and attendance,” Lee said. “Some are really fun and some are not. We go out because there is no school event for us to party [at].” Partying in the city, a stomp-
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Students in the city go to clubs instead of dorms or fraternities.
ing ground that cannot be controlled by NYU Public Safety, means that NYU students may run into unexpected and sometimes dangerous situations. “One time, I remember, at a Brooklyn party, I was kind of unnerved at the sketchiness of the experience,” Lee said of the experience. “It was not pleasant — a fight broke out, and there was a fire scare, resulting in everyone running for the exit,” Lee continued. “The door was blocked, and I seriously thought that I might have gotten trapped there.” Webster Hall, a nightclub located on East 11th Street near Third Avenue North residence hall, is a popular spot for NYU students. Webster Hall’s general manager Gerard McNamee said he takes safety precautions very seriously. “We look after the kids by making sure we don’t let anyone in with fake IDs, making sure that we don’t let anyone into the building who has been pre-gaming,” McNamee said At the same time, the social scene for most college students in the nation looks very different from that of NYU students.
For Julie Qi, a freshman at Washington University at St. Louis, where the school campus is about an hour away from downtown St. Louis, social life consists of mostly fraternity parties and dorm gatherings. “Mainly we do frat parties. People in my dorm just have parties inside their rooms. It’s a lot nicer that way because you are hanging out with closer friends and the environment is a lot more relaxed and casual,” Qi said . At NYU, less than three percent of the NYU undergraduate population participates in Greek life. Fred Barlow, assistant director of public safety and transportation at NYU, said that students should read the Public Safety website, which provides a list of tips and suggestions for students who go out to clubs. Some tips on the list include: Do not go out alone, trust your instincts and never leave your drink unattended. Barlow also reminded students that Safe Ride vans operate from midnight until 6 a.m. Julie Pan is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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WHILE YOU WERE HERE ISSUE
FITNESS FINDS By ALENA HALL With the end of the spring semester comes the stress of impending final exams. Mental crunches behind library walls can replace outdoor fitness and fun. However, this weekend provides an acceptable excuse for any student with cultural interests to abandon their textbooks on Sunday afternoon. On May 5, the city will mark Cinco de Mayo with celebrations of Mexican heritage and cultural pride. The streets of New York City will be decorated with colorful banners, delicious cuisine, toe-tapping tunes and traditional dancing displays. While many consider this holiday the optimal excuse for indulging in tequila drinks and taco-eating contests, the performance arts take center stage to highlight the beauty that Mexico shares with the United States. If you find vibrant folk dancing more inspirational than steaming food carts, consider taking a Latin-based dance class this weekend for a welldeserved study break in honor of Cinco de Mayo. A Latin dance-inspired workout burns calories, tones your legs and challenges your core, all while putting a smile on your face.
Salsa Learn how to channel your rhythm with salsa, a popular dance with Cuban roots performed all over the world. Class instructors will teach you the basic steps of the dance in both group and partner formats. These dance skills could come in handy at many New York nightclubs, outdoor festivals and even certain restaurants when the music and the mood strikes. Group trial classes at Joel Salsa on 519 Eighth Ave. cost $18.
Merengue Consider a merengue class for a fun, new date with your partner. This popular style of Latin dance from the Dominican Republic will challenge you to work together as you feel the tempo of the cheerful music and coordinate your footing. Classes for beginners will teach you foundation steps, as well as leading and following skills to give you confidence to hit the dance floor in no time. DanceSport at 22 W. 34th St. offers introductory, 30-minute private lessons at $20.
Flamenco If you’re looking for more history and culture, try flamenco, the expressive solo dance native to 18th-century southern Spain. Attend a session with a group of single friends who enjoy wardrobe changes. Classes led by a professional flamenco dancer will address the technique, rhythm and choreography of the dance, and include the use of castanets, a shawl, a fan and the traditional bata de cola dress. One-hour group classes at Dionisia García’s Flamenco NYC at 224 W. 35th St. cost $25.
Zumba If you’re more focused on a fun fitness routine rather than a cultural experience, try a Zumba dance class. Colombian dancer Alberto Perez created this dance-fitness fusion by combining moves from a variety of Latin dances, hip-hop, belly dancing and gym-based workouts. Be ready to sweat as you perform unique choreography to upbeat tunes in one of the most exciting fitness atmospheres in New York City. First-time, two-class packages at one of Z Club NY’s five Manhattan locations cost $30. Alena Hall is a contributing columnist. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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Latin-based dance is great form of exercise and culture.
Grey Gallery presents Alice Aycock’s art, stories
COURTESY OF PARRISH ART MUSEUM
Aycock’s whimsical artwork is on display at the Grey Gallery. require complex math and engineering skills, yet her art maintains a quality of playfulness. “She has a lot of whimsy in her work,” said Lynn Gumpert, director of the Grey Art Gallery. “But that’s countered sometimes by that deadpan architectural style.” Many of her large-scale sculptures, which are located all over the world in outdoor and indoor locations, are functional and interactive. In 1972 Aycock created “Maze,” an underground maze, on a farm in Pennsylvania. The piece allows viewers to step into the art and feel the fear and panic she hoped to evoke. “She really wants to engage the viewers and get them to respond viscerally, through their body as well as their intellect,” Gumpert said. Aycock was also inspired by writing and philosophy. Later in her career she began writing, and her current exhibition highlights the relationship between her art and her stories. “Although she is best known for being a sculptor, the drawings are essential,” Gumpert said. “She wrote somewhere in her writing that ‘some stories are worth repeating,’ and because stories were such an important part, and we’re highlighting that in this exhibition, we thought it worked well.” Stern freshman Priyanka Athavale said the exhibit was different than anything she’s ever seen before. “I liked that we are able to see the work behind the finished product since it really shows the thought process and effort behind the art,” Athavale said. “Alice Aycock Drawings: Some Stories Are Worth Repeating” will be on display at the Grey Art Gallery until July 13. The second part of the exhibition is on display at the Parrish Art Museum in Water Mill, N.Y., until July 13. Deeksha Mehta is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Students develop company to aid farmers By UTPALA MENON
A trio of change-makers in the Wagner Graduate School of Public Service are working to establish a socially conscious beverage company to benefit farmers in Colombia. Second-year graduate students Jessica Troiano, Elizabeth Kelly and Maria Sarta Herrera beat thousands of other proposals and made up one of 16 student groups featured at the Clinton Global Initiative University, an initiative that encourages aspiring entre-
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In mid-April, the group appeared on a taping of “The Colbert Report” when host Stephen Colbert visited the Clinton Global Initiative University.
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preneurs to pursue business plans that take on global challenges. They introduced their proposal, UPleaft, an all-natural beverage company that aims to sell healthy, natural soft drinks made by agricultural communities in Colombia, at Washington University in St. Louis on April 6. The initiative also proposes partnerships with urban and rural farmers to generate a sustainable income source, in addition to implementing training for eco-friendly farming and harvesting techniques. “We decided on a beverage because we were interested in addressing health issues and sustainable growth,” Herrera said.
“The UPleaft concept aims to positively affect everyone who at any point is in contact with it, [including] consumers and producers.” The group manufactured small samples of beverages for their business plan. Some of the brewed flavors they created included black tea flavored with mint, green tea flavored with lemongrass and a more exotic Guayusa tea flavored with lulo and feijoa. Kelly, Herrera and Troiano faced several technical hurdles while putting their proposal together. They had to become comfortable with presenting their ideas, Herrera said, as well as make the project financially feasible. “I think the biggest challenge is the fact that we’re currently working from the United States,” Kelly said. “I’d prefer to be on the ground, speaking to potential partners and consumers of the drinks.” Now, they hope to find suppliers in the near future, as well as raise proper funding for their project. Stern marketing professor Michael Cohen, whose research focuses on beverage and food marketing, advised the group on the proposal. He attributes the competitiveness at CGUI as proof that UPleaft has promise. “They presented the project in a competitive environment against MBA students from many of the world’s top business schools,” Cohen said. “This testifies to the overall quality of their plan.” In mid-April, the group appeared on a taping of “The Colbert Report” when host Stephen Colbert visited the Clinton Global Initiative University. “[The interview on “The Colbert Report”] gave us a renewed sense that we were on the right track and that UPleaft could be really successful and make a significant impact,” Kelly said. Utpala Menon is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF JESSICA TRIOANO
The students launched UPleaft to create healthy beverages.
Gossip Squirrel spills nuts about process, NYU community
GRAPHIC BY LYANNE NATIVIDAD
NYU’s newest gossip columnist, Gossip Squirrel, observes and relates the university’s secrets. By HELEN HOLMES A rumor vigilante known as Gossip Squirrel and a few equally secretive associates recently began trawling Washington Square Park to capitalize on the private lives of NYU students. As secrets are uncovered, people are certainly listening: The Gossip Squirrel Facebook page has over 2,700 likes, and the equally mysterious NYU Secrets administrator is an admitted fan. WSN was fortunate enough to interview this elusive rumor rodent. Q: WHAT CONSTITUTES GOSSIP FOR GOSSIP SQUIRREL? A: Gossip is anything and everything controversial about NYU’s hottest, coolest, richest or most famous elite. NYU is a big school, and gossip among one clique doesn’t mean all that much to the next. Most people here are relatively anonymous outside of their immediate circle, and finding information relevant to the whole NYU community is one tough nut to crack. That’s where I turn to you, NYU. The more eyes I have in Greenwich Village, the better. To quote Oscar Wilde: “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” Q: WHAT GAVE YOU THE IDEA
TO COME OUT OF THE BRANCHES AND SHARE YOUR FINDINGS WITH THE NYU COMMUNITY? A: They say sharing is caring, but we all know that the only thing that New Yorkers really care about is drama. The NYU community might be on a strict Starbucks-and-cigarettes diet, but if there’s one thing we’re always hungry for, it’s good gossip. Digging up scandals — and acorns — is a dirty job, but someone has to do it. That’s where I step in. After all, I have sources all over this city, and they’re not afraid of anything. Haven’t you been to Washington Square Park? Q: ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT GOSSIP COMPETITORS, LIKE GOSSIP PIGEONS OR GOSSIP RATS? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY TO THOSE WHO MIGHT ATTEMPT TO STEAL YOUR CROWN? A: I’m not worried. If anyone tries to steal the throne, I’ll already know, and I’ll bring them down. Pigeons are just rats with wings, and by now I’ve definitely learned how to sniff out a rat. Q: GOSSIP SQUIRREL SEEMS TO HAVE A PARTICULAR FASCINATION WITH THE SPROUSE TWINS. IS IT POSSIBLE THAT SHE’S HARBORING
A BIT OF A CRUSH? A: Let’s just say that last week Dylan Sprouse was spotted spending quality time with the squirrels in Washington Square Park while trying to feed me his dry Kimmel Market Place sandwich. Doesn’t he know that I only like what’s juicy? Q: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CRAZIEST SECRETS THAT GOSSIP SQUIRREL HAS RECEIVED? A: Don’t worry, NYU. I’m not hiding much from you. While I refrain from cyberbullying and spreading legally harmful rumors, if I hear something that’s juicy enough, I will find a way to write a post about it. Q: WILL YOU EVER REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY? A: Of course not. That’s one secret I’ll never tell. But I will give you some insider information: I’m not alone. Q: WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF IN SIX MONTHS? A: As long as the jerseys are cute, in six months I’ll be MVP of the NYU football team. Helen Holmes is a deputy features editor. Email her at hholmes@nyunews.com.
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37 Title that can
1 “Saturday Night Live” segment 5 On vacation 9 Skirts for Scots 14 Goals 15 Valentine’s Day flower 16 Pricey car from Honda 17 Recipe holders 19 Father, biblically 20 Govt.-issued ID 21 “___ a man with seven wives” 22 Epoch when mammals arose 23 Irregular trial venue 26 Liquors for pirates 27 Barber’s implement 28 Required amount 30 Autobahn auto 32 “My word!” 36 Kilmer of “Top Gun”
precede the starts of 17-, 23-, 49- and 59-Across 40 Take advantage of 41 Cartoon collectibles 43 “South Park” boy 44 Nebraska’s largest city 46 Colombian cartel city 48 Like-minded group of voters 49 “The Shawshank Redemption” actor 54 Rule 55 Mythical birds 56 Swab the decks, say 58 Frederick who composed “My Fair Lady” 59 Basketball scoring attempts that are difficult to block
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE S E M I P R O
E M E R S O N
L I S T I N G
E G G S A C S
M O O N P I E
S O N O R A N
E N A G L Y B R A A R I L A N A M C A H O A L K N O W Y E W U T W I N A O K I E D D R E A S E E
O M E Z O N T E Z O N A E A L B O L O T B U T D O E S I T A L L S M Y O T H O E D O W R I T I E A R C L T R O O D O Y S T
A U R E A T E
B R E R F O X
S I S T I N E
P R E T A P E
E N T E R E R
S E C T O R S
61 Bert’s “Sesame
Street” pal
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
3
4
5
62 ___ time
14
63 Bar brews
17
18
20
21
(never)
64 Egg containers 65 Not now 66 Many a true
Down 1 Egg containers 2 Stand around the mall? 3 Craps player’s boast 4 “Shame on you!” 5 Good smells 6 Romantic hopeful 7 Invite for 8 “Of course!” 9 Big bang 10 Rapper in the film “21 Jump Street” 11 Olympian sledder 12 Former senator Lott 13 Fill totally 18 Rival of the Whopper 22 Food-spoiling bacteria 24 Fanatic 25 Atlantic or Pacific 28 Home shopper’s channel 29 Dubai’s land: Abbr. 30 Decide to take part 31 After-hours school org.
7
9
12
13
33
34
35
19
25 27
29
30
36
37 42 46 49
11
22
24
41
10
16
26 28
8
15
23
word is spoken in this
6
No. 0325
31
32
38
39
43
44
47
40 45
48
50
51
54
52
53
55
56
58
59
60
61
62
63
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65
66
57
puzzle by adam prince
33 Super Bowl
bowlful
34 Volcanic output 35 Trafficker
tracking org.
38 Lion in “The
Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”
39 At a minimum
42 “Ugh, who
cares?!” 45 May honoree 47 Doesn’t dissent 48 Signal “Come here,” say 49 Demi or Roger 50 Bakery fixtures 51 Foam 52 Longtime ABC exec Arledge
53 Post-its, e.g. 54 Secluded valley 57 “Hey! Over
here!”
59 Bowler or
sombrero
60 Once-in-
a-lifetime pilgrimage
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
TECHNOLOGY
Google Glass fails to reflect mass market tastes By MARCELO CICCONET
Apparently it has been too long since Apple launched its last market-changing device. Perhaps this is why Apple’s stock fell more than 40 percent over the last seven months and its quarterly profits went down for the first time in a decade, as was reported by the company. Apple is almost certainly working on something new, and speculations abound: A television, a game console and a smart-watch are among the most popular guesses. However, the current mosthyped new tech device is not from Apple, but Google — an Internet-connected eyewear known as Google Glass. The main goal of Google Glass is to provide easy access to information on a device paired with a cellphone that is worn on a user’s head. Google Glass also includes a camera that is conveniently located for making videos. The concept has been around for some time — the eyewear company Oakley makes ski goggles that display speed, altitude and incoming text messages. At first, technologies like Google Glass seem appealing. For anyone who has tried to type a message while walking on
the street, it would be an interesting to interact with a hands-free smartphone via voice and have visual feedback at the corner of your vision. But while this technology would prevent people from walking while staring at the smartphones in their hands, it wouldn’t prevent them from looking like zombies. As it turns out, the human visual system cannot focus on two things simultaneously. When speaking about Oakley’s ski goggles, neuroscientist David Strayer, who for decades studied attention and distraction, warned, “You are effectively skiing blind, you’re going to miss a mogul or hit somebody.” Smart glasses undoubtedly present a risk, whether in practicing some sport, walking or driving. The second issue is with Google Glass is its purpose. If you look at the website,
you’ll see an advertisement campaign centered around the word “share.” Leaving aside the fact that the term has become a cliché, sharing is really only appealing to people who perform activities where first-person movie recording is interesting. If you’re a skydiver or a circus artist, maybe Google Glass is for you — otherwise, your video may not get many “likes.” Most importantly, there is the concern with privacy. As Google Glass has a camera, most users will be rightly afraid of being filmed, and there would have to be significant consideration of the limitations of users’ videographic rights. Even though versions for developers are already available, the hyped Google eyewear is not expected to reach the general market soon, Google CEO Eric Schmidt said on Friday. When it does, I doubt it’s going to be of much success, except perhaps for a niche market — a market for people who like to look cool and record first-person perspectives of the accidents they get involved in. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
GUN CONTROL
Gun control requires bipartisan support By RAQUEL WOODRUFF
I feel like I’m beating a dead horse when it comes to discussing gun control. But I’m afraid if I stop beating it, the dead horse will soon be forgotten. Congressional Democrats should also continue to make sure gun control is still part of the national consciousness after the Senate failed to pass a bill that would have expanded background checks to gun shows and Internet sales. These were not dramatic steps. These weren’t even moderate steps. These were basic steps toward sensible gun control. So where is the disconnect in Congress? Well, our senators are up for re-election in 2014, so regretfully, appeasing constituents and a money-hungry gun lobby take priority over the welfare and public opinion of the American people. Little surprise that the four Democrats who voted against background checks hail from deeply conservative states like North Dakota, Alaska, Arkansas and Montana. College students should be particularly adamant about this issue, because gun violence has taken the greatest toll on youth. Out of the 23 wealthiest nations in the world, the United States alone accounts for 87 percent of children killed by guns. CNN revealed that firearms account for 80 percent of the
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13 young people, ages 10 to 24, that fall victim to homicide daily. A recent Pew poll showed that 60 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 support tough gun reform, but that doesn’t mean they are anti-gun. In fact, a new national poll conducted by American University found that 60 percent of high school and college students consider purchasing a gun at some point in their lives. The university’s research also showed that 50 percent of those who identify themselves as “depressed” or having “difficulty making friends” expressed interest in purchasing a firearm. With these statistics, we should be pushing more than ever for stricter regulation of guns — or should I say regulation, period — to make our nation safer. Gun rights advocates seem to argue that each tragedy is another reason to do nothing. More than 80 percent of Americans support background checks, yet the big
pockets and big voices are on the side of NRA-backers. Unfortunately, real gun reform will never be realized until Democrats have complete control of the government. And unless they somehow manage to steal 20 House seats in 2014, I don’t see meaningful legislation passing in the near future. But this is no reason to back down. College students need to make this a top-priority voting issue. School shootings have been at the forefront of the gun control debate, and Republican legislators’ only solutions are more guns in schools and the allowance of concealed weapons on campuses. This is just another way for the gun industry to generate revenue, and another irresponsible move that fails to make students safer. We don’t want to continue growing up in a world of gun violence. Just as the majority of congressional Republicans refuse time and time again to compromise on common sense gun reform measures, gun control supporters should not concede to anything less than safety laws that will protect the American people and the generations to come. Raquel Woodruff is deputy opinion editor. Email her at rwoodruff@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
US must intervene in Syrian conflict
With new evidence that the Syrian government may be using chemical weapons against rebel groups, the civil war — which began in 2011 as part of a broader set of uprisings in the Arab world — has reached another critical point. Any call for U.S. intervention implies an assumption of superiority based on the idea of American exceptionalism. But many argue that the United States is not superior, and that we have no right to meddle in other countries’ affairs. The American government has jurisdiction over its 50 states, not the world. Another reason not to intervene in Syria is the number of social issues that currently plague our own country. Americans endure significant societal hardships, including a staggering 7.6 percent unemployment rate and an onerous debt burden. There are thousands of students who cannot afford tuition for college or housing, yet our military defense budget is approximately $1 trillion. Instead of perpetuating inefficient budget allocations, we should improve social issues by reallocating funds to stimulate our economy and ultimately serve Americans. The idea of humanitarian intervention in the best interests of the local population has undoubtedly been tarnished by the Iraq war. The idea of any intervention has been somewhat rejected by the broader international community, as well as war-weary Americans. Nevertheless, it may still be morally justifiable to intervene under unique circumstances, especially when there is a strong local coalition that wants U.S. support, as in Syria. For two years, the American government has done everything it can to avoid intervening in Syria. Americans have no appetite for more military involvement abroad after the past two decade-long wars, but chemical weapons, and the threat they pose to the international community, raise the stakes for continued inaction, particularly in light of escalating casualty rates. Thus, there is an inescapable and pernicious hazard that accompanies whatever decision the U.S. government chooses to make, and the dilemma centers around the value of American lives relative to Syrian lives. As a nation that has claimed to be the flagbearer of democracy for over 200 years, the United States and its ideals are now being put to the test. What is incontestable is that lives will be lost regardless of the path we choose to pursue, but nothing will improve if we remain idle.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co–Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co–Chair), Nickhil Sethi, Matt Luo, Nina Golshan, Ian Mark, Jess Littman, Marcelo Cicconet, David Wyche
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.
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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, APRIL 29, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY MARY JANE DUMANKAYA SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
NFL draft offers New York teams fresh start for season By CHARLES SURETTE
The NFL draft has once again come and gone from Radio City Music Hall, with each NFL team looking to shore up its roster for the upcoming season with a fresh crop of rookies. For New York’s hometown teams, the Giants and the Jets, the 2013 draft represents an opportunity for both to return to competitive play after they missed the playoffs in 2012. The Giants, one year removed from their Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, managed a 9-7 regular season record but fell to second in the NFC East behind the resurgent Washington Redskins. The Jets fell further into their recent downward spiral, finishing with a 6-10 record after a turbulent regular season. The team tied for last in
the AFC East and became a mere afterthought to their archrivals, perennial divisional champions the Patriots. Despite their shared fates at the end of last season, however, New York’s football prospects could not be more different. The Giants will be looking to rebound from a mediocre 2012 campaign and make another run at the NFL postseason. Despite the loss of key players on both sides of the field, including defensive end Osi Umenyiora and running back Ahmad Bradshaw, the Giants will likely maintain much of the core from last season, including quarterback Eli Manning and defensive linemen Justin Tuck and Jason Pierre-Paul. In a year widely regarded as a less talent-rich draft class than years previous, the Giants drafted defensive tackle Jonathan Hankins from Ohio State and
COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK GIANTS
The Giants will try to come back from a mediocre season. defensive end Damontre Moore from Texas A&M to help improve on their 25th-best rushing defense. It appears the Giants are
making only minor adjustments heading into 2013, fine-tuning their roster to make yet another playoff appearance and regain some lost consistency. The Jets have attempted to make wholesale changes after two consecutive playoff misses and a disastrous 2012 campaign marred by controversy surrounding the quarterback position. After multiple subpar games last season for starting quarterback Mark Sanchez, fans and media began to speculate aloud whether it was time for head coach Rex Ryan to insert former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow into the starting lineup, especially after rumors abounded of Tebow’s unhappiness with his lack of playing time and of a divided Jets locker room. The Jets only ignited further speculation when they drafted
quarterback Geno Smith out of West Virginia, easily their highest-profile draftee of 2013. The Jets will be left to decide what to do about the much-maligned Sanchez and the media sensation Tebow, both of whom — along with third-stringer Greg McElroy — alternated duties under center during the season. If the Jets are to contend for the AFC East championship, they will first need to put their full weight behind a single quarterback, be it Sanchez, Tebow, Smith or McElroy. In today’s NFL, where passing reigns supreme, the Jets will only continue to flounder at the hands of New England if they cannot right their ship. Charles Surette is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
ADMISSIONS continued from PG. 1
University admits 30 percent of class of 2017 applicants in record-breaking application year
campuses, this admissions cycle marks the first time NYU has offered students admission to its third portal campus in Shanghai. After seeing a 12 percent rise in applicants this year, this admissions cycle is NYU’s sixth consecutive year of selecting students from a record-breaking number of applicants. Although there were a total of around 48,500 applicants to NYU, the university received around 55,000 applications. The higher figure accounts for applications from students who applied to multiple campuses. However, admissions rates are calculated according to the number of applicants, 48,500, and not the total number of applications. This admissions cycle saw one of NYU’s most diverse applicant pools yet, but Abbott said the actual makeup of the class of 2017 is still uncertain. “While it does appear that our freshman class will be the most ethnically and geographically diverse [class] we have had in recent NYU history, it is premature to make that claim until
well after May 1,” Abbott said.
New York The university admitted around 31 percent of approximately 14,000 applicants exclusively to the New York City campus. This roughly represents around a 4 percent decrease from last year’s approximate 35 percent admit rate. Abbott said similar fluctuations are expected each year. “The admit rate at NYU has varied between 30 and 35 percent for the last five years,” he said. There was only a 1 percent difference between Early Decision and Regular Decision admissions rates, with the Early Decision admissions rate coming in at 32 percent and the Regular Decision admissions rate coming in at 31 percent.
Abu Dhabi The university accepted 4.7 percent of applicants, or around 200 applicants, exclusively to the Abu Dhabi campus. This represents about a 3 percent increase from last year. Students who applied during
the Early Decision cycles were more than three times as likely to be admitted, as Abu Dhabi admitted 11 percent of Early Decision I and II applicants while only three percent of Regular Decision applicants were offered admission. The jump in admissions rate could be due in part to the additional paperwork required in this year’s admissions process, Taylor said. Applicants were required to submit separate writing samples for each portal campus they applied to, which may have resulted in fewer students applying. In the past, applicants had to check a box indicating interest. Josh Taylor, associate vice chancellor of public affairs and community relations for NYU Abu Dhabi, said the 2017 class for NYUAD will probably exceed the projected 150-seat class size. “We are seeing strong interest from admitted students,” Taylor said. “However, we will be able to accommodate all who elect to attend. It’s a very good problem to have.” Despite the rise in the admissions rate this year, Abu Dhabi still ranks among the most selective
universities in the world. In comparison, Ivy League schools such as Harvard University reported a 5.9 percent acceptance rate, and Yale University reported an acceptance rate of 6.8 percent.
Shanghai
Thus far, the university has admitted about 100 students to the NYU Shanghai campus, which is scheduled to open for its inaugural academic session this fall. However, because the Chinese Gao Kao, or college entrance exams, will not take place until this June, the admissions process for the newest NYU campus will not be complete until summer, according to NYU spokesperson John Beckman. Beckman said the university expects to admit approximately 151 Chinese nationals to the Shanghai campus, while the remainder of students will be international students.
An ongoing admissions process There are a number of details that have yet to be factored into the admissions rates thus far. In addition to students admit-
ted exclusively to individual portal campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, NYU also offered admission to multiple campuses for around 330 applicants to two of three campuses — either both New York and Abu Dhabi, or both New York and Shanghai. Abbott said the students admitted to both campuses have yet to be accounted for in preliminary admissions statistics. Admitted students are expected to respond with their decision to accept or decline their admissions offers by May 1. Furthermore, approximately 6,200 applicants were given the opportunity to be considered for the NYU wait list, which represents roughly 13 percent of the total applicant pool for the class of 2017. In this admissions cycle, NYU offered three different application options for prospective students. Early Decision I applications were due on November 1, 2012, while Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications were due on January 1, 2013. Hanqing Chen is web managing editor. Email her at hchen@nyunews.com.
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