NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 49
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THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2014
Sexton opens up about budget, global network, representation and love of teaching. By NICOLE BROWN
SEXTON SITS DOWN WITH WSN FELIPE DE LA HOZ/WSN
On a Friday morning around 10:30 a.m., I attended a funeral with NYU President John Sexton. Sexton and I had previously agreed to sit down in his office for an interview on the same Friday. It was not until the day before that I found out I would be going to the funeral for one of Sexton’s friends instead. The interview began in his office on the 12th floor of Bobst Library and continued in a Public Safety van, which drove us to and from the funeral home on Madison Avenue and 81st Street. As we rode in the van with Big Mike, the Public Safety officer who typically drives Sexton, we had a conversation about some of NYU’s most discussed issues. “A huge change is happening in higher education,” Sexton said. “We’re going through a process of defining how decision-making happens at a university.” Sexton recognized that NYU and other universities across the country are struggling with this change. This past year, Sexton, who will serve as president until 2016, has become a polarizing figure, facing varying levels of discontent from both faculty and students. Faculty representation, student financial aid, expansion, the quality of education across the Global Network University, labor rights and student wellness are among the points of contention. Sexton said while he is committed to ensuring that everyone in the university has a voice, he has learned that not everyone can be pleased at a diverse institution and not all suggestions can become realities. He said the university is working to establish better ways for members of the NYU community to express their views, citing the recent University Senate decision to give contract
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ON THE SIDE WSN THANKS ITS READERS, CONTRIBUTORS AND STAFF FOR A SPLENDID SPRING SEMESTER
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WSN STAFF
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief NICOLE BROWN Managing Editor
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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 Michael Domanico at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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Academic freedom, expression evaluated at portals By JOHN AMBROSIO
As NYU continues to increase its global presence, it begins to contend with radically different rules regulating free speech in host countries. Many professors, student organizations and activists have criticized the university’s willingness to work with governments that place limitations on expression. Some students who have studied at portal campuses said the degree to which their speech is restricted depends as much on the content of the speech as it does on where the speech is made. “You can do everything on [NYU Abu Dhabi’s] campus,” NYUAD sophomore Isabelle Galet-Lalande said. “It’s just as progressive, if not more progressive, than anywhere else. The difference, though, is that we don’t necessarily take everything outside of the university walls.” Galet-Lalande said while she has never felt that her academic freedom was restricted, even when discussing subjects that are frowned upon by the U.A.E. government, her freedom of expression outside the classroom is more limited. Galet-Lalande said she understands that she is limited by U.A.E. laws, which prohibit speech that defames Islam, criticizes the government or promotes certain sexual acts. NYUAD spokesman Greg Bruno said the university is aware of the distinction be-
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Students find a difference between academic freedom and freedom of expression. tween academic freedom and freedom of expression and has advised NYUAD students and faculty about its relevance. “NYU Abu Dhabi enjoys full academic freedom,” Bruno said. “It is also worth noting that academic freedom is different than freedom of expression. As an example, it should not be assumed that academic freedom would protect tweets or Facebook posts.” Bruno added that these legal limits on speech do not restrict academic freedom, which he said is the chief concern of the university. Others, however, have been more suspicious of the arrangement. NYUNY english professor John Archer said the restrictions on freedom of expression at NYUAD are more
significant than the promise of academic freedom. “It is my belief that academic freedom is meaningless unless it is practiced on a continuum with freedom of expression in the society of which a university is a member,” Archer said. “The display of [academic freedom] as signs of freedom for visitors to the country and for national elites covers up or distracts from the political and labor abuses of an autocratic government.” However, NYU spokesman John Beckman said academic freedom is an issue separate from freedom of expression, and a freedom that the university is confident it has secured. “I do not understand why the critics believe that these values — academic freedom and
the liberal arts — are so fragile that they will inevitably crumple in a society that is different from our own,” Beckman said. Like students in Abu Dhabi, students at NYU Shanghai are regulated by a strict set of laws regarding free speech. Both sites have student publications, NYUAD’s The Gazelle and NYUSH’s On Century Avenue, that have to follow national media laws restricting what they can publish. On Century Avenue also needs to have its content approved by faculty before publishing. GLS sophomore Taylor Patrash, who spent her freshman year in Shanghai, said she was able to exercise academic freedom on campus but free expression was more limited. Patrash said students at NYUSH were given instruction
at orientation on how to circumvent China’s notoriously limited access to the Internet while in the dorms using proxy servers. Patrash added that, while she never felt restricted in the classroom, she did sometimes feel the need to self-censor. “In an academic environment, if I avoided [sensitive issues], it was out of cultural respect for my peers,” Patrash said, referencing topics like the Tiananmen Square massacre, which she said was not widely known by her native Chinese classmates. “It’s like telling someone that Santa’s not real — you don’t want to be that person.” While Patrash noted students are aware that they are in a different culture, she said NYUSH makes an effort to keep students from feeling isolated. Bruno agreed that students in Abu Dhabi also recognize the cultural differences and said the students at NYU’s portal campuses are increasingly interacting with the cities in which they study. For example, NYUAD hosts Institute Programs, which include lectures, film series and exhibitions that are open to the public. “When we first began our institute programming, we were very happy to have audiences of 75 people,” Bruno said. “Today, we’ve built a very dedicated audience base and are frequently hitting the 200 mark as we host over 70 public programs a year in Abu Dhabi.” John Ambrosio is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
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Sexton shares views on university-wide issues including expansion, financial aid faculty representation as an example of progress in this area. Sexton extended this sentiment into the discussion about the Wellness Center. He said since he has been president, the university has greatly invested itself in student wellness and is willing to put more resources where they are needed. “We will never be inclined to compromise in this area,” he said. “To the extent that anyone feels that we’re under resourced in any part of the system … I would urge them to get their ideas to the folks who run the Wellness Center.” A major issue Sexton sees in higher education is the growing gap between students who can afford full tuition and those who receive full scholarships. The challenge NYU and many other schools are facing is not leaving out the students in the middle. “In New York, obviously we’re going to do as much as we can to fill as much of that gap as we can, but it’s a huge effort,” Sexton said. “That’s what the Momentum Campaign’s about.” In addition to this $1 billion
fundraising effort, Sexton said NYU can reduce the gap slightly by providing more full scholarships to NYU Abu Dhabi or NYU Shanghai for students who may not be able to afford to attend NYU New York. “Since those are relatively small schools, that doesn’t do as much as we would like to solve the issue,” he said. Sexton recognized that NYUAD and NYUSH’s more generous financial aid does not change the reality that many students have to work two, or even three, jobs to study at NYU, and others have to transfer or drop out because of the price of attendance. “That is a deep sorrow to me, but it’s a choice that I know some students have to make, and we’ll do all we can to minimize the number of those students,” Sexton said. However, Sexton said the university allots as much money as it can to financial aid but that there are other expenses to consider. “As important as financial aid is, it cannot be the only priority because the number one priority
has to be providing our students with the highest quality education that we can,” Sexton said. Part of providing the highest quality education is expansion, Sexton explained. NYU’s expansion includes global expansion, the NYU 2031 plan, the expansion of NYU Langone Medical Center and the expansion into Brooklyn. Sexton said the university’s projects benefit the NYU community and will ultimately bring in money for the university. He admitted that if money were not going toward the construction on the Coles Sports Center site, for example, it would go toward another element of the budget, such as financial aid. Yet he maintained that this is not practical for the university right now. “It wouldn’t be prudent management, and the trustees have said to us … we want to see that you’re spending a certain amount each year on the capital improvement and the addition of necessary space for programming,” he said. Another controversial topic
has been the labor issues in the United Arab Emirates, where NYU has recently built a new campus for NYUAD. In the past few months, questions of whether NYU is meeting appropriate labor standards for the workers on Saadiyat Island have been raised. Sexton said the university is committed to the Statement of Labor Values listed on the NYUAD website. “This does not mean that we never encounter any issues, but it does mean we have made a commitment, which we and our partners have fulfilled, to actively seek out areas where our standards may not have been met, and then to work quickly to get them resolved,” he said. NYUAD, as well as NYUSH, has also received attention recently about academic freedom and freedom of expression. Sexton, who teaches at NYUAD and has begun teaching at NYUSH, said he knows there are flaws in both countries’ values. However, he said New York also has flaws and that should not change the education students receive at each of the sites.
“I don’t teach the same way in my classes in Abu Dhabi or Shanghai because I have different students … but I don’t teach differently because I’m in Abu Dhabi or because I’m in Shanghai,” Sexton said. As the face of NYU, Sexton must make decisions that affect every aspect of the university. But he admitted that his true passion in life is teaching. He has always made teaching a priority as he has moved up the administrative ranks. “The professional position I was put on Earth to be is a teacher,” he said. “I’m really looking forward to the next chapter of my life where I’ll be able to [do] that which I enjoy most, which is being in the classroom, in the world of thought with students.” The Public Safety van was once again pulling up to Bobst as our conversation came to a close. Sexton got off, and I was driven back to my room. Nicole Brown is editor-in-chief. Email her at nbrown@nyunews.com.
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Prof explains genetics, bigfoot By CLAIRE SCIMECA
Todd Disotell has traveled all around North America in search of Bigfoot, but yesterday he came to NYU to discuss his research on conservation genetics for primates. The anthropology professor emphasized the power of modern DNA technology in conservation efforts and explained how sequencing DNA of various primate species better classifies them. “It’s applying DNA analyses and techniques to try to identify either new species or subspecies, or to clarify to what species or subspecies a particular population [belongs],” Disotell said, adding that officially naming species is crucial for their conservation because they cannot be legally protected until they are identified. Disotell uses secondary sequencing technology to compare closely related organisms and clarify their taxonomic classification. He said although there is no specific amount of genetic difference distinguishing two species, genetic sequencing is a method researchers use to determine classifications. During this process, researchers compare the difference between the two species under scrutiny with that of two established, distinct species. If the difference is greater between the two
Tisch finds dean to succeed Campbell By LARSON BINZER
WARD PETTIBONE FOR WSN
Professor Disotell discusses the differences between species. studied species than the two comparison species, then it is likely that they are different species. Disotell samples the animals’ DNA at a distance to avoid humanprimate contact. Sharon Ng, a junior research scientist at NYU’s Center for Neural Science, said she was surprised by Disotell’s methods. “It’s amazing how many species can be tracked and discovered just by extracting and sampling the environment around us,” Ng said. Disotell showcased his passion for and knowledge of sequencing primate DNA in “10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty,” a television show that details the search for a hairy homi-
nid called Bigfoot living in North American forests. He created a portable lab in which he sequenced DNA of collected biological samples and found that most of them were bears. Christina Yeung, who attended the discussion, said Disotell’s research is evidence that technology is quickly advancing. “It’s amazing that technology has brought us this far as opposed to [believing] the whole bigfoot scam,” Yeung said. “What they have in [the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology] is incredible.” Claire Scimeca is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
The Tisch School of the Arts has named Allyson Green its new dean. Green, a choreographer, visual artist, arts curator and arts professor in Tisch since 2012, will officially assume the role on June 1. Tisch arts professor Cecil MacKinnon said Green possesses many qualities that make a good leader. “[Tisch getting a new dean] is great,” MacKinnon said. “[Green] is an artist and understands an art school. She is not afraid to be personal and she has smarts.” Tisch sophomore Nico Gonzales, a dance major, said he is excited that an artist who has a similar background will be holding a leadership position. “I have seen Allyson’s work on our third-year company and appreciate her artistic vision,” Gonzales said. “I am not sure how this will translate into administrative competence. However, it is nice
to see someone from my field in power at Tisch.” Tisch sophomore Nicole Quintero, who studies film, is disappointed that dean Mary Schmidt Campbell — who has served as Tisch’s dean for 23 years — is resigning, but is excited to see what Green will accomplish. “I don’t personally know the new dean but I have total faith that [she] has been carefully selected and will do an absolutely fantastic job in leading [Tisch],” Quintero said. Tisch sophomore Kris Opperman, an acting major, said he hopes Green will help students secure jobs and find future success within the arts community. “I hope the new dean helps Tisch move forward and progress to keep up with the rapidly changing industry and need for actors and other artists,” Opperman said. Larson Binzer is a deputy news editor. Email her at lbinzer@nyunews.com.
SPRING SEMESTER NEWS RECAP
2014 JAN. 27 — MAY 1
By KAVISH HARJAI and VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI The spring 2014 semester brought a slew of stories that took the university by storm. This timeline represents some of the most popular and contentious of those stories. Kavish Harjai is a news editor. Valentina Duque Bojanini is a deputy news editor. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
Jan. 31, Online
Feb. 19, Vol. 42 No. 12
March 10, Vol. 42 No. 22
April 28, Vol. 42 No. 46
ROBOT CUTS RIBBON, POLY MERGER OFFICIAL By Scott Mullen
NYU REACTS: FACEBOOK ADDS LIST OF 50 GENDER CATEGORIES, EXPANDS PRONOUN CHOICES By Anjana Sreedhar
KEYSTONE PIPELINE DIVIDES STUDENTS ON ENVIRONMENT By Kavish Harjai
PETITIONS CIRCULATE AFTER FLYER SCANDAL By Kavish Harjai
Students and faculty celebrated the merger between NYU and the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, creating the Polytechnic School of Engineering. Those present at the reception watched a video of the official ribbon being cut at the Brooklyn campus by a robot built at Poly’s Mechatronics and Controls Lab.
In response to requests from users and various LGBTQ organizations, social media giant Facebook announced its addition of more than 50 gender categories for users to identify themselves with on Feb. 13. It also expanded pronoun choices from “him/his” and “her” to include “them/they.”
Seven NYU Divest students were arrested in Washington, D.C. on March 2 during XL Dissent, a protest against the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Police arrested 398 people at the protest, which began at Georgetown University and welcomed 1,200 people in total, including students from over 80 universities.
The NYU Chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine delivered mock eviction notices to thousands of residents in Palladium and Lafayette, enraging Vice President of TorchPAC Laura Adkins, who erroneously accused them of targeting Jewish students. During the scandal, both groups posted petitions to garner support for their respective causes.
Jan. 27, Vol. 42 No. 1
Feb. 12, Vol. 42 No. 9
March 5, Vol. 42 No. 20
April 18, Online
AMERICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION BOYCOTTS ISRAELI ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS By Kavish Harjai and Ann Schmidt
UNIVERSITY REVISITS PAST BAN ON COCA-COLA By John Ambrosio
SPACE PRIORITIES WORKING GROUP FINALIZES NYU 2031 PROPOSALS By Kavish Harjai
NYU LAW COMMUNITY LENDS SUPPORT TO STUDENTS SUBPOENAED BY TRUSTEE’S COMPANY By Michael Domanico
A conference organized by the American Studies at NYU sparked controversy as it attempted to answer questions that arose after the Americans Studies Association endorsed a boycott of Israeli academic institutions. Although NYU President John Sexton condemned the boycott, he did not cancel the conference because he said he wanted to allow academics to pursue their scholarship, regardless of what ideas were being discussed.
Five years after NYU lifted its ban on Coca-Cola products, union activist and Corporate Campaign, Inc. director Ray Rogers brought the debate over the soft drink company’s labor practices back into the public eye. Rogers sent a letter and a critical pamphlet to 130 university administrators during the week of Feb. 5, imploring them to reinstate the ban on Coke products.
The University Space Priorities Working Group issued its final report, on March 4, which suggested how NYU should use space in and around Washington Square Park. The Working Group hosted a press conference regarding the report the same morning. Three days later, NYU President John Sexton announced that senior administration approved of the plan.
Two NYU Law students were subpoenaed by CareOne, a company owned by NYU law trustee Daniel Straus. The students, second-year Luke Herrine and first-year Leo Gertner, were subpoenaed on March 20 after they circulated a petition against Straus’ labor practices.
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SPORTS
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Sterling’s lifetime ban should set new NBA precedent By DAN HINTON
In light of Donald Sterling’s racist remarks, NBA commissioner Adam Silver issued a lifetime ban and a $2.5 million fine against the Los Angeles Clippers owner. The commissioner, apparently with the full support of other team owners, will also lead an effort to impel Sterling to sell his majority stake in the franchise. Though this was an unprecedented move by the league’s top office, it was not necessarily surprising. By all accounts, it was the right thing to do. Two major developments — one cynical, the other hopeful — go a long way toward explaining why the taped conversation recently leaked to the media broke the camel’s back. With an abundance of star players, such as Lebron James and Kevin Durant, the NBA features some of the most talented and popular athletes in the world. Add that to new stadiums and leagues both at home and abroad, especially in Europe and East Asia, and the sport of basketball itself has successfully gone global. Right now, the first round of the 2014
playoffs are widely considered to be the best ever. All this and more make an NBA franchise a highly lucrative asset. Silver and the owners literally cannot afford associating with a racist. Sterling damages the NBA brand, and that is what makes him a pariah in the eyes of this exclusive billionaire boys club. Naturally, the commissioner and the owners, who are ostensibly his bosses, have pointed and will continue to point their old, white fingers at another old, white man without doing the same to themselves. Sterling happens to be the most well-known greedy racist of them all. But let’s be clear: none of their records are pristine. As the Star-Ledger’s Dave D’Alessandro pointed out in a scathing column, most of these men made their fortunes through nefarious means, including fracking (Oklahoma City Thunder’s Clayton Bennett), political corruption (Brooklyn Nets’ Mikhail Prokhorov) and subprime loans that largely caused the real estate crisis of 2007 (Cleveland Cavaliers’ Dan Gilbert). Even the dress code instituted by Silver’s predecessor David
Stern is implicitly racist. And of course, there is New York Knicks owner James Dolan, who inherited all his wealth. It would be a shame if the wealthiest of the league received all the credit for ousting Sterling. Huge amounts of pressure also came from coaches, players, media and fans. Legends such as Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan, who is also the league’s only black majority owner (Charlotte Bobcats), openly denounced Sterling and called on the league to dump him. According to the players’ union first vice president, Roger Mason Jr., representatives from each team had agreed to boycott playoff games if Sterling did not receive the maximum penalty possible. The NBA is star-driven. It is also 80 percent black. The voices and collective action of former and current players, in this instance, certainly forced Silver’s hand to move swiftly. For too many people, one of the biggest controversies in the history of the NBA began with Sterling’s remarks and ended with Silver’s press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver has banned Sterling for life. History shows, however, that racism is rampant throughout sports, as are corruption and exploitation. League executives and owners will try to sweep anything under the rug if that secures their reputations and profits. Zero tolerance of such
hateful and corrupt behavior must come from players, media and fans if anything is to change on a systematic level. Dan Hinton is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Playoffs should receive more media attention By SEAN BILLINGS
The past week has been an eventful one for the NBA, but not because of basketball. Headlines and leading reports have been dominated by the story surrounding inflammatory, racist comments made by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling. The incident and the subsequent events leading to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver banning Sterling from the NBA for life have overshadowed the most important part of the NBA season — the playoffs. Many have speculated whether the off-court drama will affect Clippers’ performance, but the Clippers games have hardly been mentioned in the past week. “How will the players respond?” “Will the team be able to maintain focus?” These are questions being asked by sports publications, but what about the actual basketball being played? Chris Paul and Stephen Curry are two of the best guards in the league and are facing off again after the two teams split two games apiece during the regular season. The Clippers are seeded third in the West and, after winning game five, are up in the series 3-2 and will look to close out the series in game six on May 1 at Golden State. All season long, the West has been proclaimed the tougher
conference and the playoffs have shown just how stacked the West is. San Antonio, the number-one seed, is facing a tough opponent in the Dallas Mavericks during a tightly contested series. The fact that Oklahoma City, led by Kevin Durant, who many speculate will be voted MVP, is currently trailing the Memphis Grizzlies 3-2 in the series has been overshadowed by the scandal surrounding Sterling. Former Oklahoma City Thunder shooting guard James Harden is the leader of the Houston Rockets, who are trailing the electrifying talents of the Portland Trail Blazers led by secondyear phenom Damian Lillard, as well as Lamarcus Aldridge. These matchups are undoubtedly more exciting than the endless repetition of pictures showing Sterling sitting courtside and should be covered by ESPN in order to do the channel’s name some justice. Of course, this all returns to two of the main failures of journalism. First, always attempting to cover larger social issues and, second, placing the focal point on a celebrity like Sterling. These combined to make a perfect storm of sports media failure. The first round of the NBA playoffs will continue into next week. Sean Billings is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
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FEATURES
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Resurgence of ’90s trends gives makeup funky blast from past By MAGGIE O’NEILL
Makeup trends from the ’90s, from dark, dramatic lipstick to heavy hues of eyeliner, are looks that seem to be coming back in style. While today these makeup looks are regularly reserved for nighttime social gatherings, the chic trends associated with the ’90s time period are becoming relevant during the day as well. Glamorous, ’90s-inspired fads are making a comeback with a variety of casual makeup looks. One makeup trend to be aware of is the red lip. Red lipstick is becoming more common on both runways and city streets. This look is one of the few that can be recycled for dinner parties, worn to class and sported for many other occasions. Blue eyeliner — and a lot of it — is a standout element when considering ’90s glam trends. Spring and summer advertisements are boasting models with considerable amounts of
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Bright lipstick and thick eyeliner are popular makeup trends. defined eyeliner. Smudged eyeliner and the smoky eye are for outfits where
Ways to make cash flow over summer
option often turns into a fulltime job, and pay near the NYU campus is typically good.
By DANA RESZUTEK
Dog Walking/ Pet Sitting
As the school year ends, the flow of extra income stops for many students. If your wallet is feeling a little empty, there are several ways to make cash on the side while taking classes or working at a job or internship.
Resale Shops To earn some extra spending money, the quickest place to start is right at home in your own closet. Take the time to carefully go through your wardrobe, sort out clothes you no longer wear and bring them to a resale shop. New York City is home to many resale and thrift shops that buy clothes from customers, such as Buffalo Exchange on 11th Street between First and Second avenues and Beacon’s Closet on 13th Street and Fifth Avenue.
Online Survey Nearly every student spends most of their time on the computer, so one of the easiest — and laziest — methods to earn extra money is by taking online surveys. There are myriad sites that connect with payment companies like PayPal and compensate you for taking lengthy online surveys, including MySurvey, iPoll and Opinion Outpost. But be warned: in order to make a substantial amount of money, you need to take hundreds of surveys,
the attention is drawn more to the clothing, but defined eyeliner applied in smooth,
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Dog walking is a way to earn money and spend time outdoors during the summer. so make sure you have some spare time on your hands.
Babysitting If you are planning to stay in the city and you are CPR-certified, babysitting is a great option for a summer job. Many working parents are looking for all-day babysitters while their kids are out of school. NYU’s CareerNet has a registry system you can browse to find possible gigs. Other online websites, such as urbansitter.com and sittercity. com, can also match you with families looking for sitters. This
If you prefer taking care of animals to watching children, a dog-walking or pet-sitting job may be the best way to spend your summer. For pet sitting, try asking fellow students who are leaving the city if they have pets that need to be watched over the summer. If you are lucky, you might find an arrangement that allows you to sublet the apartment in exchange for your service. If you would prefer to look for pet care jobs through a website, care.com is a great option. Categorized by the type of position, this site offers job listings that are safer because all of the site’s users must fill out a membership application.
Busking Even if you do not consider yourself particularly talented, bring an instrument to the park on a sunny day and try your luck at busking aka street performance. However, busking is not guaranteed to bring in the cash — your success is based on the crowd’s response coupled with your natural talent. But, if anything, busking is a great way to spend a weekend outdoors making music with friends. Dana Reszutek is beauty/style editor. Email her at dreszutek@nyunews.com.
straight lines will make eyes of any color pop. Pink blush is another stylish direction to go in when applying makeup for the entire day. While wearing street clothing, pink blush adds the flirty element to one’s look and, when worn with evening attire, it provides a refined touch. Shades that include small amounts of sparkle and glitter are also very popular. Glossy lips are a must because they add shine and polish to anybody’s smile. This classy style can improve the overall appearance of an ensemble. The gleam of one’s lips is important because it draws attention to the color. Equipping one’s makeup drawer with a few different shades of gloss to produce this elegant look will pay off almost every day. Curled, extended and very dark eyelashes are also in style, and this trend can be more wearable than some of the other ’90s styles. No matter what
the occasion, lengthy eyelashes are always dashing, so be sure to find the right mascara and eyelash curler. Long lashes can complete a sundress ensemble, a pantsuit or even cutoff denim shorts and a cute tank top. Lastly, foundation is key. Making sure to include a gentle, creamy foundation that matches skin tone. Without a base that complements the hues in the other components of the makeup, the makeup will look off, and the blush and lipstick will appear incomplete. Be careful not to choose a shade that is too dark or too light, as mismatched makeup can ruin a beautiful look. When shopping for foundation, it is smart to try to match a small sample of the product to a hand or the arm, so as to not buy something that does not match your face tone. Maggie O’Neill is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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FEATURES
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How to search for, apply to internships By NIKITA METHARAMANI
With summer approaching, many college students are struggling to find internships. Competition is the biggest problem facing students as they try to land their dream internship. Students have to find a way to stand out. Here are some ways to find and snag that coveted internship. There are plenty of online resources designed to help you find internship listings. However, if you have a specific company in mind that you would like to work for, it is a good idea to approach the company directly. Even if a company does not have any current openings, you will be first in mind for future opportunities. Also, always take the time to network in your personal circle. A friend or family member may have a connection in the field you want to work in. When it comes to writing résumés, a common misconception is that you should try to cram everything you have ever done onto one page, to show how much you have accomplished. Instead, this tactic often backfires and comes off as overwhelming or chaotic.
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Résumés should remain concise and simple, and students should include their biggest and most relevant accomplishments. Keep descriptions short and to the point. Always have a friend or career counselor read over your résumé and look for typos, spelling mistakes and other errors. A common mistake students make is just waiting to hear back from the company after submitting their résumé. Not hearing back from a company does not necessarily mean you are not wellsuited for the job. It just means that the company has many résumés to work through. If you have not heard from the company within two weeks, send a quick follow-up email to the appropriate department, introducing yourself and reminding the company that you are interested in a certain position. The key is to be polite and professional, not overly aggressive. Show them that you are a motivated student who is interested in their company without becoming an annoyance. Nikita Metharamani is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
CLASS ACTIVITIES BOARDS What motivated you to run for this position? What do you hope to get out of this experience? “I have been on the Class Activities Board since my freshman year and it has been such a rewarding experience seeing the organization develop into what it is today. I have always loved the fact that this is the only organization who programs across schools so I have met so many amazing NYU student leaders through this opportunity. I am so excited to be on the Executive Board again for my senior year to create meaningful, memorable programs for my peers.” — Steinhardt junior Pilar Mendez, Vice President of Internal Affairs What does this Class Activities Board hope to accomplish? “To have the best possible senior year. We really just want to have the best possible programs to enhance student life What are your primary goals for the coming year? What can members of the class of 2016 expect? “Our primary goal is to serve the class of 2016 to the best of our ability by creating exciting programs that are need-specific to our class. We always to have an ear to the class to see what is wanted or needed. We also strive to create a larger sense of community spanning across all colleges of the class of 2016. Students of the class of 2016 can expect programming that allows for them to take a break from their hectic academic schedules and have a time to relax. We are also devoted to working with other offices on campus to enlighten students to What are your primary goals for the coming year? What can members of the class of 2017 expect? “For the next academic season, CAB17 is going to dive head first into a series of events that will cater toward the various experiences that surround a typical sophomore year. This includes topics such as studying abroad, declaring a major, getting internships and reconnecting with fellow peers. In order to address these different sophomore activities and concerns, we are starting to plan events such as a Soaring into Sophomore Year movie night and the second annual Sophomore Soiree. We also hope to host a study abroad sophomore send-off at the end of the fall semester for all of our sophomore classmates who plan on studying abroad in the spring.” — Tisch freshman Kemi Akinbileje, President
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for everyone. I’m really looking forward to Senior Week, I have a lot of friends who are seniors this year and they loved all the programs like Strawberries and Champagne and Senior Formal.” — Poly junior Colin Waddell, Vice President of Finance What is something that maybe has not been done so well in the past that this Class Activities Board hopes to improve on? “Since it’s our senior year, I really want to make sure we take the opportunity to come together as a class and go out
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some of the resources they may not know are available to them. Overall, we try to create events that the class would want to go to and maybe for a bonus they meet a few new people while they’re there.” — Tisch sophomore Dan Cassin, President What motivated you to run for this position? What do you hope to get out of this experience?
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What does this Class Activities Board hope to accomplish? “For the class of 2017, we’re looking to address concerns about studying away, looking for internships, looking for offcampus housing and declaring a major while providing a social outlet on campus to keep sophomores interested and active.” — CAS freshman William Goedel, Vice President of Finance What is something that maybe has not been done so well in the past that this Class Activities Board hopes to improve on? “Expanding our general as-
with a bang. My primary goal is to increase awareness of CAB events — we do more than just Senior Week. I’m definitely going to try to increase engagement with the class to strengthen attendance and get everyone involved in all the cool events hosted by the Class Activities Boards. CAB has an opportunity in our last year to plan some really amazing events for the Class of 2015, so I can’t wait for the chance to make that happen.” — CAS junior Aurora Clare, Vice President of Public Relations What are you most looking forward to for the coming year? “Senior year is a big year, and I’m excited to help plan the activities that will frame our NYU experience and hopefully leave everyone with great memories of our last year here.” — CAS junior Adam Brulhardt, Vice President of Administration “We don’t really have a strong overarching community at NYU; we are built on many microcommunities. With the Class Activities Board, we have the opportunity to bring the class together and create some sort of a community, even if it’s just a few times a year.” — Gallatin sophomore Mikey Hengerer, Vice President of Internal Affairs What does this Class Activities Board hope to accomplish? “CAB16 is going to be bigger and better next year. My dream event is to get a performer to put on a giant concert for the whole school.” — CAS sophomore Michelle Signer, Vice President of Finance sembly. Everyone knows that CAB puts on events and sets up co-sponsorships with local businesses, but not very many know that they can sit in our meetings. A handful of students from both our Washington Square and Brooklyn campuses joined us this past year, but it would be phenomenal if I helped CAB gain enough exposure to have larger meetings with tons of voices from all over campus. The more the merrier.” — Steinhardt freshman Marcia Hu, Vice President of Public Relations What are you most looking forward to for the coming year? “I look forward to another year of serving the Class of 2017, collaborating with other school organizations and working hard with my amazing E-Board and GA members to deliver the best of events and activities.” — CAS freshman Angel Yu, Vice President of Administration
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‘One’ suffers from lackluster script Bauer back in action in latest ‘24’ installment By DYLAN JARRETT
Theater is hard. This is the main message conveyed by “Act One,” a new play written and directed by James Lapine. The visually stunning production, currently running at Lincoln Center Theater, narrates the early life and theatrical career of playwright Moss Hart. Hart is best known to today’s audiences as the librettist and director of the musical “My Fair Lady.” However, “Act One,” which is based on Hart’s memoir of the same name, chronicles his difficulties in finding a place in the theatrical community and the difficulties that he faced even after he found his way in. “Act One” is headlined by Santino Fontana, hot off his success voicing a Disney villain in “Frozen,” and “Monk’s” Tony Shalhoub. The two men both play Hart — Fontana for the majority of the play and Shalhoub as an older version of Hart, which offers a retrospective insight into the character. Shalhoub also plays Hart’s father and, more importantly, the infamous George S. Kaufman,
the older and more experienced playwright who becomes Hart’s writing partner. After Hart has spent years directing amateur gigs and writing furiously, he and Kaufman finally team up to work on Hart’s play, “Once in a Lifetime.” “Act One” is far stronger as a production than it is as a play. While the story is interesting enough, at times it raises unanswerable questions. During one scene in the middle of the play, viewers are introduced to a litany of 1920s stars, including Langston Hughes, the Gershwins and Dorothy Parker. The scene feels out of place in a drama that is otherwise closely focused on one man’s crafting of a play. Furthermore, the relationship between Hart and Kaufman sometimes feels like the only one developed in the show. While Hart credits his Aunt Kate — played by the always entertaining Andrea Martin — for nurturing his love of theater, viewers never really get a sense of their relationship. Overlooking quibbles like this, though, “Act One” is truly fantastic. The revolving set by Beowulf Boritt can only be de-
scribed as thrilling, serving as a constant source of energy through a play that might otherwise seem to drag on. Fontana gives an excellent performance, portraying Hart as earnest and frustrated, grasping at straws even as his chance at success dangles right in front of him. Shalhoub’s Kaufman is reminiscent of a batty professor whose weird quirks — such as the complete avoidance of physical contact — ring as true as his harshly honest but encouraging feedback on Hart’s writing. There is no doubt that “Act One” provides an accurate view of what it is like to work in the theater. Great dramatists must write, rewrite, perform and then rewrite again. The process can take years, as it did for Hart, and even then the product might not be completely right. But, when the potential outcome is a beautiful production like “Act One,” which succeeds through its flaws, it is easy to see why all that work is worth it in the end. Dylan Jarrett is books/theater editor. Email her at djarrett@nyunews.com.
‘Belle’ falls short of potential By J.R. HAMMERER
“Belle” is a remarkable story smothered under layers of costume drama dress-up. The film tells the story of Dido Elizabeth Belle, the black, illegitimate daughter of a Navy officer, who was raised by her aristocratic extended family as a free woman in 18th-century England, before the abolition of slavery. Dido is a fascinating figure, but the film buries this among layers of shopworn Jane Austen-isms. Director Amma Asante has applied all sorts of visual niceties to the film’s surface, but the lovingly fashioned period detail embalms a story that is unable to see past all the petticoats and paintings. It does not help that the script, from screen and television writer Misan Sagay (“The Secret Laughter of Women”), is formulaic to the point of being reductive. Despite the promise of such an original character, “Belle” blooms into yet another movie in which forbidden love reshapes the social problems opposing it. This development is magnified by the white male lead, a lawyer fighting an anti-slavery case who is bland enough to pass as a “Les Misérables” extra. Why, in a movie that aims to explore the fragile boundaries between race, power and privilege, is the main plot so broad and fuzzy? Topics like Dido herself, her immediate family and a world that has to reconcile her existence with its social codes would all make for a
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Gugu Mbatha-Raw (right) plays Dido, the film’s protagonist. more compelling drama, but they are only present in brief flashes. Why are they being shunted aside for a love as affecting as cardboard? The film’s lead actress, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, shows audiences the potential that “Belle” could have achieved. Her Dido is a rich, complex young woman, her eyes hinting at feelings her poise cannot bear to reveal. Although she is raised in a white family, Dido is prevented from full participation in the society of her family. She teeters on a string between identities, and MbathaRaw vibrates with the slightest pluck. She is a modern woman in an earlier time trying to find footing within her existence. Yet, the
movie is too eager to pull back from this presence. And Mbatha-Raw is not the only talent sidelined by the plot. Tom Wilkinson and Emily Watson are similarly compelling, having to reconcile Dido’s race with their natural parental feelings. Unfortunately, the film does not care to dig deeper. The script is all longing looks and hushed meetings, with dialogue that does not even bother with subtext. All of this is not inherently wrong, but it surely is maddeningly ordinary. Dido is a remarkable woman, but “Belle” does not know what to do with her. J.R. Hammerer is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
By DANIEL LIEBERSON
Jack Bauer is back — along with all the chilling stoicism, sharp pacing, energetic music and brilliant explosions that comprise “24’s” distinct crime-thriller style. This new season, dubbed “24: Live Another Day,” is set in London and begins with a CIA manhunt for an unknown target. The audience quickly finds out that the president of the United States, James Heller (William Devene), is in London to negotiate a defense treaty with the British government but is suffering from mild mental health problems that are starting to manifest. The show seems to focus on the personal problems of its characters — revenge, illness, love or something more sinister. The president’s chief of staff Mark Boudreau (Tate Donovan) is no exception. When Boudreau is notified that the CIA has apprehended Bauer (Kiefer Sutherland), a unique personal connection is revealed between him and the fugitive, and it begins to influence his judgments in dangerous ways. There are few technical deviations from the first eight seasons of “24.” “Live Another Day” offers the same structure as its predecessors — a looming terrorist is about to attack a highly populated area and somehow Bauer manages to mix himself and the president up in the mess. But the factor that has made “24” successful both in the past and in this installment is that audiences cannot tell the heroes apart from the villains. In the original series, revelatory events regarding double agents have been saved for season finales, keeping viewers guessing and on the edge of their seats. Most importantly, audiences are unsure in which category to
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Kiefer Sutherland returns in the new “24” season. place the protagonist, questioning if perhaps Bauer is not the man they thought they knew. Director Jon Cassar is fully aware that this issue’s resolution should be delayed as long as possible. Along with screenwriters Robert Cochran and David Fury, Cassar slowly builds suspense, giving Bauer no dialogue until 31 minutes into the episode. In effect, the audience is constantly wondering about his motives and what other plans he is concocting while he is being interrogated. Bauer’s silence builds tension for the audience, and also allows those who are tuning in to “24” for the first time to build their own version of Bauer from the ground up. This prevents firsttime viewers from feeling left out of an already developed show. Just before the episode concludes with “24’s” signature countdown, a villainous character murmurs into his cell phone with smug satisfaction about a successful plan, assuring the person at the other end that “It’s done.” But audiences all know that the excitement has only just begun. Daniel Lieberson is a staff writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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J.K. Rowling uses new media to promote ‘Potter’ series By THOMAS DEVLIN
As any true sports fan knows, the 2014 Quidditch World Cup is currently underway. While this is an event most closely followed by the wizarding community, it also has the muggle world abuzz because it means there is more writing from J.K. Rowling. These wizarding sports stories appear on Pottermore, a website Rowling created to enhance the Harry Potter experience. They are set up in the format of sports coverage from The Daily Prophet, the Potterverse newspaper, and written by Ginny Potter — née Weasley — who is the paper’s Quidditch correspondent. Three years ago, Rowling said
all future writings about her fantasy universe would appear on Pottermore electronically. Despite this, it was recently announced that Rowling is writing three “Harry Potter” spinoff films. The trilogy, based on her short book “Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” will be set 70 years before Harry Potter attends Hogwarts. However, Rowling is not alone in using different forms of media to expand a fantasy universe. “The Walking Dead,” a zombie survival story created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore and Charlie Adlard, began as a comic series and has been successfully adapted to both television and video games. Continuing on a comic book
theme, the Marvel Universe has grown to an impressively comprehensive size. With TV shows, movies and, of course, comic books, Marvel has led a successful invasion into all aspects of pop culture. It is easy to see that expanding a fictional universe into new media is generally beneficial — it attracts new fans, delights old ones and makes boatloads of cash for the creators. Yet, it also has its detractors. Perhaps the largest, most convoluted and most controversial fictional universe is “Star Wars.” Including books, comics, movies, radio dramas, video games and TV shows, the “Star Wars Expanded Universe” has invoked several debates
Alum talks TAUK, latest album By ALEXA SPIELER
Over a year ago, the four members of New York Citybased band TAUK overcame a challenge that they had never before faced — producing a record without a vocalist. TAUK released their debut instrumental album, “Homunculus,” on April 30. Charlie Dolan, NYU alumnus and bassist for TAUK, noted that creating the album was a difficult process, but also a rewarding one. “‘Homunculus’ was a big stepping stone for us as a band,” Dolan said. “It was by far our most ambitious recording experience and really helped us to take the next steps as songwriters, producers and instrumentalists.” Dolan admitted that TAUK does not expect to sell millions of copies and he does not care — the band just wants its music to make a statement about the members and their artistic vision, and that in return it will earn them new fans. For other bands, moving on without a vocalist could seem impossible, but TAUK opted to postpone looking for a replacement. Dolan said the transition for TAUK was easy because the members of the band have been playing together for a long time. Dolan has been working with TAUK’s keyboardist Alric “A.C.” Carter and guitarist Matt Jalbert for nearly 14 years. When creating music, the band’s
among fans. Most of these have been about what is and what is not canon. To help resolve this, Lucasfilm revealed on April 25 that all of the Expanded Universe would be henceforth connected, creating one coherent “Star Wars.” It is a good idea for authors to branch out into new media, but they must be careful. Whenever a canon is expanded, it immediately attracts intense scrutiny from loyal fans. In the case of Rowling, putting the name “Harry Potter” on new work is sure to bring it attention. If she is able to bring back the magic with “Fantastic Beasts,” it will no doubt be a wonderful addition to her magnum opus. Unfortunately,
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members have never placed a premium on vocal elements. “[The voice is] just another instrument to carry the melody of the song,” Dolan said. To create music without a vocalist, the group learned to make melodies with other instruments. TAUK’s outlook is a positive one, embracing the rewards that arise with overcoming challenges such as their lack of a singer. Dolan explained that the band’s ability to surpass the difficulty fills him with enormous pride. TAUK’s instrumental product is impressive, despite the fact that music so often depends on words when appealing to audiences. “[We can] move a crowd without saying anything,” Dolan said.
Moving forward, TAUK continues to build upon the success of “Homunculus” by heading back into the studio. Dolan said the follow-up album is nearly done. “[The new album] is an expansion of ‘Homunculus,’” Dolan said. “We took our favorite parts of the last record and added a bunch of new sounds and flavors.” Along with new music, TAUK anticipates performing at more than 16 festivals this summer, as well as several smaller shows. TAUK will return to their New York roots on May 7, when they will play their first headlining show at Brooklyn Bowl. Alexa Spieler is a staff writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
it only takes one bad movie to destroy the entire universe. Thomas Devlin is a copy chief. Email him at tdevlin@nyunews.com.
‘Velocity of Autumn’ lights up stage By ALEXANDER TSEBELIS
The band released its debut instrumental album on April 30.
VIA POTTERMORE.COM
Pottermore continues legacy of Harry Potter series.
Eric Coble’s “The Velocity of Autumn” is a small play, a persistent flickering threatening to become an inferno. There are only two characters — Alexandra, a mother who has filled her house with molotov cocktails, and her son, Chris. “You can’t burn down a Park Slope brownstone,” he tells her. Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella play the family duo. Chris and Alexandra know each other well and sometimes even listen to each other, something that cannot be said for Alexandra’s other children, who want to put her in a nursing home. Chris has been sent by his sister to make a last-ditch attempt to convince his mother to relent and move into a nursing home before the police are called — by neighbors or other concerned onlookers — to take her away. Alexandra is crazy, but not in the way her children think she is. Instead, she is being driven insane because she is still in full possession of her mental faculties but her body will no longer do what she needs it to do. The audience learns that she can no longer paint as she used to. Chris is an artist as well, currently working out of New Mexico on something his mother warns “sounds dangerously close to folk art.” Parsons is dignified and sharp, falling apart even as she pulls her-
self together. Spinella is another set of contradictions, a gay Brooklynite in the body of a New Mexico rancher. He has never fit in, he tells his mother. “How could you not fit in?” she responds, “It’s New York.” Director Molly Smith expertly handles Coble’s script, walking the line between rapid, humorously morbid back-and-forth and lengthy monologues about permanence, creation and destruction. After an angry phone call from his brother-in-law, Chris slips over to the dark side, screaming at Alexandra. Chris claims that he will burn the house down and that they are going down together, mother and son. The audience laughs and applauds uproariously, sharing an almost inexpressible glee. The spectacle of the theater often calls for pyrotechnics, but “The Velocity of Autumn” has something different in mind. This play seems like the fuse of a bomb when in reality it is a candle, dwindling toward its own extinguishment. This family must learn the hard way that sometimes it is better to fade away than to blow out. “The Velocity of Autumn” is playing at the Booth Theater, 222 W. 45th St., through May 4. Alexander Tsebelis is a contributing writer. Email him at theater@nyunews.com.
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 Clay
pounder? 7 Sounds at spas 10 With 66-Across, back to the beginning … or a description of 21- and 48-Down? 14 Gobble quickly 15 Persians, to the 300, e.g. 16 Required to serve, maybe 17 Healthy spirit? 18 Diverts 20 Best seller about shipwreck survivors 22 Honey pie 23 Airing, in a way 24 September through April, in a culinary guideline 26 “Shall ___ …?” 28 Settled up 29 Sleepytime ___ 32 Designate
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OPINION
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ADAM’S ANGLE
Apple must innovate iPhone to grow By ADAM FAZLIBEGU
In the markets of countries like the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Australia and China, most people who will ever own a smartphone already have one. This market saturation means that phone producers will have to either start innovating or competing on price to attract users from the competition. Instead of trying to develop new products, it appears Apple is focused on other issues, such as patent disputes with Samsung. It does not take a keen observer to notice the biggest differences between today’s iPhone and the one from a few years back. Screen size and processing power have jumped in response to other phones on the market, hastily playing catch up. If Apple wants to beat its competitors, it should get back to its roots by starting industry trends instead of following them. In 2011 and 2012, about nine million people purchased their first smartphone, but in 2013 that number dropped to 4.8 million. Not only will phone companies have to compete for the dwindling
number of consumers who still do not have a smartphone, they will also have to convince their current users to continue upgrading when new models are released. With so many phones competing with one another and a limited number of new users, the industry will begin to see the effects of price wars — a losing proposition for all companies involved. The only way to win is for companies to offer new products that warrant a higher price, just as Apple did when it first introduced the iPhone in 2007. But Apple has not experienced a technological breakthrough like the iPhone in a while. Much of Apple’s attention has been focused on other issues, including working conditions of suppliers and patent disputes. Apple has competed on price by releasing the more afford-
able iPhone 5C. Selling the 5C may have helped Apple boost sales in the short run, but continuing to cut prices and offer cheaper models is an unsustainable economic strategy. Moreover, Apple recently had issues with the power button on the iPhone 5, which led them to offer replacement phones to select users. While this seems like a small misstep, it reveals cracks in Apple’s sterling reputation. If Apple continues to have product issues, it could hurt its future market share. In an increasingly competitive environment, Apple has two options to gain market share: cut prices or innovate. Over the past several years, it appears that Apple has followed industry trends instead of offering entirely new products and features. It is doubtful that this strategy will remain lucrative in the long run, and Apple should consider investing in other products if its smartphone innovation stagnates. Adam Fazlibegu is a staff columnist. Adam’s Angle is published every Thursday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
VITTORIO’S RAZOR
Soccer teaches valuable lessons about incentives By VITTORIO BISIN
Nereo Rocco, a famous Italian soccer coach and part-time philosopher from the 1960s, once said “Dal lunedì al venerdì i xe olandesi, poi la domenica tutti indrìo e si salvi chi può.” When translated to English, these words of Triestine wisdom read: “From Monday to Friday, everyone pretends to be Dutch, but on Sunday everyone runs back to defend.” Rocco’s comment explains the two opposing doctrines of soccer. The Dutch are proponents of beautiful, flowing soccer called “total football,” while the Italians play purposeful and defensive soccer in a style called “catenaccio.” That Italy has won four World Cups and the Dutch have won none is telling of which approach is superior. For the sake of transparency, I must admit that I am an Italian. With the exception of F.C. Barcelona’s success, catenaccio is a tactic for winning games and total football is one for winning fans. During the Champions League semi-final between Chelsea F.C. and Atletico Madrid last week, Chelsea
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coach José Mourinho came under fire for presenting his squad in a very defensive-minded approach. Criticism of Mourinho is understandable — the soccer match was not exciting to watch because of the coaching choices he made. Spanish newspaper El Mundo went as far as to say “soccer was not invented for this kind of play.” Italians, however, argue that soccer was invented specifically for this style of play. Coaches, players and all parties involved are judged and paid, not on the basis of crowd approval or the number of “ola’s” received, but on the number of games won. Mourinho’s choices are are a byproduct of his incentives — namely, what his Russian oligarch boss wants: the trophy — and it would be unreasonable, nay, “irrational” for him to do otherwise.
As the late Nereo Rocco notes, humans respond to incentives. Like Mourinho, we are not omnibenevolent agents who attempt to please everyone and manage success at the same time. To believe that Mourinho was going to sacrifice his team’s chances of winning by playing a showy, Dutch style of play is naive. Economists have made a discipline of the study of incentives as they affect human decision-making and are generally considered the “bad guys” of the social sciences because of the cynicality their findings reveal. The sooner we understand, like Mourinho already has, that people respond to tangible motivation the better we will be able to understand and predict soccer matches. If you would prefer to watch soccer for its nutmegs and bicycle kicks, then perhaps you should skip the World Cup in Brazil this summer and tune in to the 5-on-5 2016 Futsal World Cup in Colombia. I hear futsal is very entertaining. Vittorio Bisin is a staff columnist. Vittorio’s Razor is published every Thursday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Republicans’ failure to act harms workers
The proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 was blocked in the Senate yesterday. The 54-42 vote came in spite of much public support for the legislation. As is too common for Congress, biting partisanship superseded the responsibility to serve the American people. Attempts at compromise were dead on arrival. Because of the games Republicans are playing, minimum-wage workers will continue to suffer. In his State of the Union address earlier this year, President Barack Obama declared 2014 the “year of action.” Republicans who are combatative against any new policy originating in the White House have yet again derailed Obama’s efforts. Now that passing legislation has all but stalled, states have begun enacting their own minimum-wage increases to bypass the vocal minority in Congress. Unsurprisingly, 21 states and Washington, D.C., now have higher minimum wages than the federal minimum wage. The short-sighted actions of Republicans are being, for the most part, ignored by state politicians who are reacting to voter demands for higher wages. Republican senators failed to act in a way that best serves the citizens who elected them by preventing the bill from passing through the Senate, instead prioritizing the perpetuation of party antagonism. Although workers receiving minimum wage disproportionately come from the South, the region largely represented by right-wing politicians, Republicans are the ones preventing the bill’s passage. Republican opposition against the bill rests upon the argument that raising the minimum wage will cut 500,000 jobs. While this is likely true, a 40-hour-per-week worker paid at the federal minimum earns about $15,000 a year, an amount nearly impossible to live on. The job loss numbers seem inconsequential when considering the improvement in quality of life that a wage increase would provide. The majority of the nation supports raising the federal minimum wage, and countless economists and Nobel Prize winners agree. But, it does not take a Nobel Prize winner to realize that the real minimum wage should not be decreasing when the labor force’s skills are increasing. The minimum wage in 1968 was $10.34 in 2012 dollars, a far cry from the current $7.25. Raising the wage rate to keep up with inflation is the least the federal government can do to help the working class afford constantly rising living costs. Obama’s dedication to the cause of raising the national minimum wage cannot change the situation as long as the parties oppose each other on principle. The battle over the minimum wage has persisted for decades and will likely not reach a conclusion that satisfies both parties. Politics involves compromise and, at some point, Republicans must realize this. Now is the time to set aside party affiliations to work in favor of the American people.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Peter Keffer (Chair), Christina Coleburn (Co-chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Nina Golshan (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
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