WSN090612

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 41, No. 3

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Weinstein debuts Downstein makeover

New York payphones equipped with Wi-Fi

By Alex Silady

By Kayana Jean-Philippe Payphones across New York City are undergoing a big transformation.

The New York City Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications launched a pilot program this past summer to install free Wi-Fi stations in 11 locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island.

When the program is completed, users will have instant access to Wi-Fi upon accepting the terms and conditions.

According to DoITT spokesman Nick Sbordone, an increasing demand for free public Wi-Fi prompted DoITT to take action on the idea pitched by its pay phone staff.

Advertising companies Van Wagner Communications and Titan turned the idea into a reality when they partnered with

WIFI continued on PG. 3

Kaleel Munroe for wsn

University tops ‘New Ivies’ ranking NYU was recently named one of the ‘New Ivies’ for 2013 by an online website for prospective college students called Unigo, which praised the diversity of students and programs offered by the university.

READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE AT NYUNEWS.COM

Work of late artist delves into darkness

By Kristina Bogos

A step inside the new exhibit at NYU’s Grey Art Gallery is a step into a world of environmental activism, social change and the global AIDS pandemic.

“Toxic Beauty: The Art of Frank Moore,” which opens today, is a window into the life of a talented painter who used his artistic passions to address growing ecological and social concerns. The two-part exhibit begins with 35 of Moore’s paintings at the Grey Art Gallery and continues at Fales Library, NYU’s rare book collection. At Fales, viewers can see a select group of Moore’s drawings and sketchbooks from the “Frank Moore Papers,” an archive of Moore’s personal docu-

ments donated to NYU in 2003 by the Gesso Foundation.

“The notebooks have all these writings and drawings, and they give such an insight into Frank and the various aspects of who he was,” co-curator Susan Harris said. “The archive became a key into his work. It includes all of the source and research material for the paintings in the show. Going to Fales makes it a very legible presentation of the archives.”

Moore was an abstract and figurative painter who used oil, gouache and watercolor techniques. His earlier, introspective works allowed for the exploration of male identity and experimentation with different

TOXIC continued on PG. 4

The lower level of Weinstein Dining Hall, otherwise known as Downstein, reopened Tuesday after the summer renovations updated and modernized the seating area and kitchen for the first time in over 25 years.

Owen Moore, head of Dining Services, said student members’ input and comments from the Dining Advisory Board led to the changes that were made. “[We] captured all the things students liked and incorporated them into the Downstein project,” Moore said. “Some of those ideas included a salad bar design similar to Hayden, the glass tile style used in Third North and different types of seating areas. And students definitely wanted it brighter.”

The changes also include an extended service line, doubling grill station size and a full vegetarian station with Mongolian-style cuisine.

DOWNSTEIN continued on PG. 3

Tisch professor discusses latest film

By Erika Zelis

The fourth feature from Tisch professor Ira Sachs, “Keep the Lights On,” chronicles the destructive relationship of documentary filmmaker Erik, played by Thure Lindhardt, and closeted lawyer Paul, performed by Zachary Booth.

What begins as a random hookup evolves into a romantic partnership put at risk by Paul’s drug addiction and Erik’s need for secrecy, leaving the couple shrouded in the darkness of their shame.

Sachs and co-writer Mauricio Zacharias sorted through emails, letters and various memorabilia that chronicled Sachs’s own decade-long relationship that served as inspiration for the film.

“I’m interested in a sort of personal filmmaking, which brings a lot of one’s experience into the

via tribecafilm.com

Ira Sachs’ new film works audiences with stirring filmography. creation of a film,” Sachs said.

But “Lights” is far from a literal adaptation of Sachs’s own life. Though the words remained

the same from scene to scene, and the characters’ actions were

LIGHTS continued on PG. 8

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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

Washington Square News

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Editor-in-Chief AMANDA RANDONE Managing Editor

JAEWON KANG Web Managing Editor

Amy Zhang Deputy Managing Editor

Emily Yang Assistant Managing Editors

FASHION’s

Hanqing Chen DANIEL HINTON

NIGHT OUT AGENDA

Creative Director

MERYLL PREPOSI senior staff

The fourth annual Fashion’s Night Out hits New York City streets tonight, Sept. 6. Celebrate in style — join designers, editors and celebrities for shopping events, live music and giveaways all over the city.

university Gentry Brown city/state Tony Chau arts Stefan Melnyk features Nicola Pring multimedia James Kelleher special issues Kristina Bogos copy Jordan Melendrez senior editors Hannah

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Borenstein, CARRIE COUROGEN Julie DeVito, Bridgette Doran, Jonathon Dornbush, CHARLES MAHONEY, Cole Riley

deputy staff

university Tatiana Baez city/state Kayana Jean-Philippe,

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Claire Zajdel books/theater Clio McConnell film Jeremy Grossman entertainment SamAntha Rullo music Joshua Johnson features Katya Barannik beauty & style Hilary Presley dining Lavya Yalamanchi special issues ESHA RAY sports Mary Jane Dumankaya, Sebastien Van Heyningen multimedia Gloria Lee, Jonathan Tan

1. courtesy of NIsa Yeh 2. via alexachungblog.tumblr.com 3. via Yelp.com

foreign correspondent

Richard Zhang social media agent

Nicole Gartside

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Henri Bendel | 712 Fifth Ave. Head uptown to purchase a special FNO T-shirt at Henri Bendel. While you are there, get a free, one-of-a-kind iPhone case when you spend $50 or more.

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6 to 11 p.m.

Moschino | 401 W. 14th St. Alexa Chung’s disc jockey set will be at Moschino in the Meatpacking District. Join the model as she spins some vinyl for this special event.

6 to 10 p.m.

Saturdays Surf | 31 Crosby St. The SoHo store, Saturdays Surf offers a break from traditional FNO glamour with a backyard barbecue.

opinion page opinion editors

Atticus Brigham, CHRIS DINARDO deputy opinion editor

JESSICA LITTMAN

advertising business manager

REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager

Stefanie Yotka circulation manager

Chelsea Gold

SNAPSHOT

ON THE WIRE

Record-breaking cappuccino size

Baristas in Croatia have brewed the world’s largest cappuccino, which set a new Guinness World Record. It took 22 coffee machines and over 1,000 baristas to brew 2,012 liters of coffee. The giant cup stayed true to the traditional cappuccino mixture: one part espresso, one part warm milk and one part foam.

The event was held in the Zagreb, the country’s capital, but was hosted by Austria-based Julius Meinl Coffee. The previous, unofficial record was 2,117 liters and was brewed in Prague by 80 baristas.

— The Telegraph

university sales coordinator

Kaitlyn O’Brien sales representatives

Ellen McQueen, Melissa Ynegas sales ASSOCIATE

Gloria Lee

circulation assistants

Omid Golmohammadi, Max Kane

advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY University of California, Berkeley

Students victims of armed robbery south of UC Berkeley campus —The Daily Californian

Pretty Lights woo the crowd at Electric Zoo last weekend.

PHOTO BY GLORIA LEE

Michigan State University

List ranks MSU within top 100 world universities —The State News

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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 Jaewon Kang atmanaging@nyunews.com or at212.998.4302.

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nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | Washington Square news

WIFI continued from PG. 1

NYC pay phones undergo transformation to offer free Wi-Fi DoITT to place and manage the Wi-Fi-enabled phone booths.

“We wanted to demonstrate to the city and the city’s people that these telephone booths can be purposed for a better cause,” said Peter Izzo, senior operations executive at Van Wagner.

Sbordone also said usage information will not be disclosed to any third parties.

“No personally identifiable information is collected by the providers, nor is it required to access the Wi-Fi,” he said. “The security of pay phone Wi-Fi itself is no different from the security on open public Wi-Fi networks elsewhere,” Despite the convenience, Stern freshman Jacqueline Ledesma said she would not use the Wi-Fi. “It’s time-consuming looking for those telephone booths that may offer this service,” Ledesma said. “Connecting to this service sometimes takes time or crashes, and my cell phone bill

includes Internet service at all times at a good price.

Bronx resident Cyril Xatse, 25, said she plans to use the service and that the transformation of the phone booths will positively impact its users.

“I will use it because it will enhance my technological skills, as well as aid my capabilities in the use of Information Communication Technology,” Xatse said.

Launched in July, the first month of installation attracted 1,194 users. By August, the number rose to 2,262. If the six-month trial period attracts enough users, more installations may ensue.

“We’d certainly like to see this amenity added to as many pay phones as possible,” Sbordone said. “We want to ensure that every borough has access to the service as part of the pilot.”

Kayana Jean-Philippe is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at kjeanphilippe@nyunews.com.

DOWNSTEIN continued from PG. 1

Downstein unveals revamped dining options and atmosphere The new options are enticing not only to freshmen, but to upperclassmen who used to eat at Downstein.

CAS sophomore Jenny Baldewyn wished the alterations had been made when she lived in Weinstein Residence Hall.

“I used to eat elsewhere even when I lived there,” Baldewyn said. “Had they changed it up and made it interesting my freshman year, I might have actually gone there. I’m sort of jealous of the current freshmen there.”

Passport stations, which feature four international options each day, were reintroduced and expanded as a full-time feature of the dining hall.

Weinstein also received a soft-serve frozen yogurt station with a full topping bar, as well as a 60-inch TV. Still, the changes seem to be too little, too late for some upperclassmen, like former Weinstein resident and CAS junior Matt Schneider.

“Eating at Downstein gave me the worst food poisoning of all time my freshman year,” Schneider said.

“I’m glad they finally modernized it, and I wish they’d done it earlier.”

Grant Wu, Stern freshman and Weinstein resident, said he has yet to come to conclusions about the food court.

“Obviously it’s nice to have a completely new facility in your hall,” Wu said. “But I haven’t gotten to try all the dining halls yet, and I guess I’ll pick a favorite eventually.”

While the debut of the dining hall went well for the morning and afternoon crowds, a technical malfunction forced an evacuation of the building for nearly an hour in the evening.

According to Moore, an electrical breaker reactivation failure led to steam buildup in the new system, which triggered the fire alarm.

“The problem was resolved at 7 a.m. [yesterday] morning, and we do not anticipate this problem reoccurring,” Moore added.

Alex Silady is a contributing writer.

Email him at university@nyunews.com.

Rachel Cabitt FOR WSN

Downstein renovated the salad bar based on students’ suggestions.

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NYU Sydney welcomes first class of students

By Tatiana Baez NYU Sydney opened its doors for the first time on Aug. 27 to greet the fall semester — months after it was originally slated to open.

Andrew Stoner, the deputy premier and minister for Trade and Investment of New South Wales, was on-hand to welcome the 22 students accepted to NYU’s new study abroad site.

“I am thrilled that NYU, one of the world’s most prestigious and respected learning and research institutions, has established its new Australian global site in Sydney’s historic Science House,” Stoner said.

NYU Sydney is situated in The Rocks section of Sydney — adjacent to the Sydney Harbor — with the main building in the Science House.

“The Science House is amazingly beautiful, constructed during the 1930s and looks like it should be in a movie with debutantes for a royal ball,” said Steinhardt senior Sarah Kamenetz, a member of the inaugural group in Sydney.

Despite the small number of students enrolled, NYU undergraduates will have the opportunity to meet students from different schools.

“We are living in a dorm with a lot of other international students attending Sydney’s universities, which has helped us meet people beyond our own program,” CAS junior Holly Clancy said.

The courses offered at NYU Sydney cover a wide range of topics, including Anthropology, English, Environmental Studies, Journal-

via nyu.edu

NYU Sydney officially opened near the Harbor last month. ism, Creative Writing and Media, Culture and Communication, as well as a required course aimed toward introducing students to Australian culture.

To help students delve into their lives in a new city, professors encourage their students to explore their new home through various assignments and class trips.

“For their major piece of assessment, I get my students to research a place in Sydney and see how it embodies or has been witness to some of the major issues in Australian society,” said Toby Martin, professor of Australian Studies. “And of course, there are trips to museums, restaurants, galleries, etc. All [are] part of the essential activity of consuming Australian culture.”

Students are able to take courses led by both American faculty and Australian faculty.

“I like the different background that [American students] bring, and the chance

for me to see Australian culture from a different perspective,” said Tanya Serisier, a professor of English at NYU Sydney.

The lack of a language barrier also makes Australian culture more accessible to students.

“The transition has been, fortunately, relatively smooth given that Australia is also an English-speaking country,” CAS senior Ben Dumond said.

This semester is only the beginning of NYU Sydney’s success as a global site, and the university is optimistic about its future.

“Sydney is a great, world-class city. It is a vibrant and energetic urban area that we believe will prove to be a very popular and worthwhile site in NYU’s global network,” said NYU spokesperson John Beckman.

Tatiana Baez is deputy university editor. Email her a tbaez@nyunews.com.

NYPD develops new surveillance system to improve city security

By Kayana Jean-Philippe

The NYPD has developed the Domain Awareness System, a new high-tech surveillance camera system, to get a step ahead of potential terrorists and criminals.

The police department is installing thousands of closed-circuit television cameras that will be dispersed throughout the five boroughs to closely monitor the safety of the city.

The DAS collects environmental data to detect potential terrorist threats, integrates license plate readers and determines the type of radiation emitted by cars using software developed by Microsoft ­in an effort to preserve public peace and protect the rights of individuals and property, according to a written statement from the New York City Government.

“This new system capitalizes on new powerful policing software that allows police officers and other personnel to more quickly access relevant information gathered from existing cameras, 911 calls, previous crime reports and other existing tools and technol-

ogy,” Mayor Michael Bloomberg wrote in a press release. “It will help the NYPD do more to prevent crimes from occurring and help them respond to crimes even more effectively.”

The city can also benefit from the DAS financially, as it will earn 30 percent of the profits generated by licensing the system out to other cities.

The government has ensured that no individual will be targeted or monitored solely due to their perceived demographics. The 24/7 system will only be used to monitor public areas and public activities, but differing views have arisen on the potential violation of privacy.

Despite the system’s numerous components, James Jacob, NYU professor of Law and director of the Center for Research in Crime and Justice, is not entirely convinced this system will deter all terror activity.

“It’s a tremendous challenge to detect and neutralize every threat,” Jacob said. “This initiative should be a solid contribution, but there can be no guaranteed security.”

Gallatin senior Whitney As-

ante said he supports the initiative’s intent to protect the public, but it could cause an obstruction of privacy.

“It’s made by Microsoft, which means it could be hacked,” Asante said. “I can see some Machiavellian applications that could easily result in some unpleasant invasions of privacy.”

Michelle Nicotera, a CAS alumnus and first-year law student at St. John’s University, advocates this initiative and does not believe the DAS is a violation of privacy because of the system’s purpose.

“The right to privacy does not encompass the right to create, store, transport or otherwise be involved with hazardous material or weapons,” Nicotera said. “And these techniques are designed to find and bring to justice those individuals who have already violated the law by choosing to associate with criminals and [or] terrorists.”

Kayana Jean-Philippe is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at kjeanphilippe@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | nyunews.com

FEATURES

NYU grad goes far in commercial competition

By Hanna Rioseco

A team of graphic artists type furiously on their laptops. All of a sudden, a giant elephant, a toy dinosaur and David Bowie take over the video screens in New York City, London and Tokyo.

This is the concept behind Tisch alumnus Matt Lincoln’s short film “Liberators.”

Lincoln, who graduated from the Tisch School of the Arts in 2010, created “Liberators” for Campus MovieFest’s international “Seize the Night” Alternate Ending Challenge, for which he is one of 15 finalists.

Campus MovieFest, produced

by Ideas United, LLC, launched the competition in June in conjunction with Lenovo, the second-highest selling PC maker in the world. The launch was timed to promote Lenovo’s new IdeaPad Ultrabook PC laptop.

According to Ideas United representative Jessica Reynoso, a team from Ideas United watched “Seize the Night,” the original commercial for Ultrabook, and described it as “unique and beautiful.” The competition aims to give young filmmakers the opportunity to recreate the ending of the advertisement.

“We created the ‘Seize the Night’ competition ... to encourage these inspired [filmmakers] by giving them the technology tools to create something incredible,” David Roman, Lenovo’s chief marketing officer, said in a press release.

After submitting detailed outlines of their ideas, 15 talented finalists from around the world — including Lincoln — were chosen.

Each finalist was given a minimal budget and only three weeks to shoot and produce their short film. Lincoln, who won Best Direc-

via youtube.com

“Seize the Night” demonstrates new frontiers of creativity. tor in Campus MovieFest’s International Grande Finale in 2010 for his 3D animation short, “The Price of Silence,” was no stranger to this fast-paced production process. “[Things] actually went pretty smoothly,” Lincoln said. “The visual effects, while sometimes tedious, were pretty simple conceptually, so I didn’t run into [many] problems.”

Lincoln’s alternate ending features real-life artists, including photographers and graphic designers, using the Ultrabook — dubbed “The Book of Do” — to display their work around the world in remarkable and innovative ways.

“Finding artists that were excited to contribute was easy,” Lincoln said. “The backbone of the concept here was to use real artists, not actors, [so that] Lenovo’s ‘For Those Who Do’ tagline [is] supported a bit more strongly than if the artists were represented by actors.”

Photographer Samantha Zucker, who is featured in Lincoln’s film, said her part was all shot in one

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night. Zucker also said it was an exciting project to be a part of and she enjoyed seeing the final product. “[Lincoln] was really excited about my work,” Zucker said.

“Liberators” emphasizes Zucker’s photographs and a small toy dinosaur she has used in her work. The dinosaur’s fantasy of world domination becomes a reality in the film when a hacker with an Ultrabook projects him on big LED screens in Tokyo, London and New York.

The online voting for the competition began Aug. 13 and will end Sept. 9. The video with the highest number of views will win a grand prize of $15,000 in cash grants, and $5,000 will be rewarded to runners-up.

See Lincoln’s video and check out the original “Seize the Night” ad before the competition ends at campusmoviefest.com/lenovo.

Hanna Rioseco is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

TOXIC continued from PG. 1

Late artist’s message lives on in new exhibit at Grey Art Gallery

artistic mediums. After Moore was diagnosed as HIV positive in 1985, his paintings began representing AIDS. Some are sexually explicit, while others include images of syringes, genomic sequences, sarcophaguses of people Moore knew who died from the illness and medieval instruments used to torture homosexuals and sodomites. Some of his work is also rooted in a love for the natural world. Having grown up in the Adirondacks, Moore became increasingly concerned with the environment and other environmental disasters that have started to plague the landscape, such as oil spills.

“He began to question the use of pesticides,” co-curator and gallery director Lynn Gumpert said about Moore’s “Niagra” painting. “He thought, ‘I’m taking all of this toxic medication, which is harming my body to get rid of my disease.

So how are we poisoning the landscape?’ He started doing a lot of research on Niagara Falls and found there are over

300 toxic chemicals, so he silkscreened them up in the vapors.

He got reports of the poisoning of the Great Lakes, and checked off which of the chemicals he painted into the water.”

Decorative framing is another notable facet of Moore’s work.

The frame for “Wizard” consists of empty pill bottles once filled with his AIDS medication.

“It’s pretty brutal because this was his life,” Gumpert said. “Just mountains of pills and a bleak forecast. It gives you the chills.”

Moore died of AIDS on April 21, 2002, at age 48. His art keeps his message alive. “[The exhibit] is a reminder we can live a life in which we can be moral, ethical citizens both toward each other and our environment,” Harris said. “It’s a warning. The clock is ticking, but we can all contribute to taking responsibility and making our world a better place.”

“Toxic Beauty” opens Sept. 6 and will be open until Dec. 8.

Kristina Bogos is a staff writer. Email her

nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | Washington Square news

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edited by NICOLA PRING FEATURES@nyunews.com

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P O T

Cool gadgets offer comfort despite city heat

By Sahar Saleem

Despite the inevitable arrival of fall, the weather hasn’t quite switched gears. However, the heat and humidity need not replace comfort. Instead, invest in some products that will make the rest of summer a bit more bearable. Here are the top five gadgets to keep you cool until the autumn breeze kicks in.

1. Bed Fan with Wireless Remote, $99.99 It may be a bit of a splurge, but this bed fan will help keep you from overheating or sweating at night by circulating cool air through your comforter and sheets. The convenient remote control makes it easy for you to adjust the temperature without moving an inch.

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1. via FLICKR 2. via nopsa.hiit.fi 3. VIA FLICKR 4. courtesy of Barry Solow 5. VIA FLICKR

2. Dock Fan for iPhone, $26 Remember those mini fans your parents made you drape around your neck at summer camp? Here’s a new gadget that not only looks cooler, but also keeps you cooler. The Dock Fan for iPhone is a simple, convenient fan attachment for your phone. The device connects to the port on the bottom of your iPhone and serves as a quick way to save yourself from a sweaty day.

3. Ice Straws, $14 This ice tray is a new and innovative way to keep you and your drinks cool. It allows you to make straws with any liquid, and the straws melt with each sip. Toss the plastic straws this month — these environmentally

friendly Ice Straws are the best way to go.

4. O2-Cool® Deluxe Water Misting Fan, $9.99 The O2-Cool® Deluxe Water Misting Fan can do a great deal to keep you cool. This simple, portable hand fan is essential to have by your side on a hot day. Whether you are inside without air-conditioning or outside in the sun, the fan emits mist with a simple push of the trigger to make you feel cool and refreshed.

5. EnduraCool Instant Cooling Towel, $14.99 The EnduraCool Instant Cooling Towel is a great investment for those who prefer exercising outdoors to working out in air-conditioned gyms. To activate the cooling properties, all you need to do is sweat. The towel instantly cools when it makes contact with moisture — be it sweat or water. The reusable and machine-washable qualities also make it a convenient option for the city heat.

Sahar Saleem is a contributing writer.

Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Don’t stress: Start the semester off right with these simple tips

By Katya Barannik As a new school year begins, classes may already be stressing you out. But don’t fret — here are some tips to get you back on track and ready to learn.

First, clean your desk.

A stress-free semester starts with an organized workspace. Clean off the surface of your desk for ample room to lay out all of your papers and textbooks when studying. Invest in a calendar, desk organizer and folders to ensure you are always on top of your game.

Muji , a Japanese retail store with three locations in the city, has a wide selection of notebooks, desk organizers and other stationary to get you organized and ready to tackle anything thrown your way.

Second, revamp your computer and smartphone.

The iStudiez Pro app will simplify your academic life.

Now you can organize all of your assignments, tests

and grades in one place.

The Smart Summary feature gives you an overview of your activities and obligations for the day, while the Interactive Calendar lets you see everything that you need to do during any given week or month. Color-coding adds style to the app and makes it easier to follow.

Tired of carrying around endless stacks of flash cards when studying for an exam? With Mental Case, your life can now be paperless and stress-free. Create virtual stacks of notes and review them on your computer, iPhone or iPad. You can choose from different studying options based on your preference: long-term preparation or midnight cram sessions.

Third, get some advice.

Sometimes you can’t do everything on your own.

Whe=n things start getting out of hand, or if you just need a few words of advice, head over to NYU’s University Learning Center.

CAS senior Gina Kim, a peer academic coach at the center, believes more stu-

dents should take advantage of this valuable resource.

“What is special about the ULC is that the learning assistants are also undergraduate students who have taken these courses and know the ins and outs of the course,” Kim said. “Beyond the actual course material, we can guide you on how to focus on the right ways to study for the specific course, effectively take notes and approach the professor or TA during office hours.”

Kim also offered advice on how to get organized as classes begin.

“I suggest making a schedule to ease back into school, using whatever method works for you.” Kim said.

“Google calendar, academic planner, calendar, etc.,” Kim said. “Block out times in your schedule for ‘me time,’ hanging out with friends, going to the gym, cat napping, etc., so that when you look at your full schedule it’s not too overwhelming with just work and school.”

Katya Barannik is deputy features editor. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | nyunews.com

ARTS

‘For Ellen’ showcases Paul Dano despite otherwise average cast

LIGHTS continued from PG. 1

‘Keep the Lights On ’ delivers emotionally complex storytelling

already set, Sachs’s particular style of directing provided plenty of room for improvisation. Developing the characters meant keeping the emotional reactions fresh.

Spontaneous reactions set the scene and vary from one moment to the next. Sachs is comfortable referring to his work as a piece of documentary filmmaking because the actors’ emotions in these moments were to never occur again — preserved only on film.

“There is no repetition of emotion,” Sachs said.

Lindhardt, a Danish actor best known to American audiences for his role in “Into the Wild” and “Angels and Demons,” is good friends with co-star Booth because of their work in the long-running series “Damages.” The friendship between the two actors added comfort and a sexual chemistry to the film, as the actors were exposed physically and emotionally.

The actors and the crew

By Rohan Narula

needed to feel content with expressing themselves, both on and off camera. Sachs served as the manager of this atmosphere. An inquisitive director, he was as interested in the actors and their personal lives as he was with the final product of his film.

Layered over the emotionally involved plot is the film’s inspirational score, composed by musician Arthur Russell, who passed away from AIDS in 1992. “[His music] has a depth, messiness, beauty, melody and a certain kind of timelessness,” Sachs said.

Russell’s personal story as a gay man is reflected in his music, which in turn adds emotional complexity to the film. Every aspect of “Keep the Lights On” — the directing, acting, writing, music and even the real lives of the film’s creators — is bursting with feeling.

Paul Dano from “Little Miss Sunshine” portrays a struggling rock star in “For Ellen,” a low-budget feature by So Yong Kim that deals with the temes of absence, denial and acceptance. Only 28-years-old, Dano has a lot to offer the world of cinema.

Dano’s character, Joby Taylor leaves Chicago in the middle of winter for a small town so he can sign an outof-court divorce settlement with his ex-wife Claire, played by Margarita Levieva. But Taylor almost kills himself in the process.

Under the settlement conditions, Taylor receives half of the proceeds from selling the house he co-owns with his ex-wife, but he also loses custody of his young daughter, Ellen. Taylor does not take the terms well, as he realizes he will never be able to see his daughter again, and he becomes desperate for one last opportunity to spend time with her. His behavior is that of an insecure and confused teenager, and his failures as a family man are evident.

Dano succeeds as the selfabsorbed and immature Taylor.

Erika Zelis is a contributing writer.

Email her at film@nyunews.com.

via tribecafilm.com

Whether he is rocking out to heavy metal tracks, making unreasonable demands of his bandmate, or being clueless around his daughter, Dano’s performance seems heartfelt.

He effortlessly transitions from cool and confident to desperate and confused to angry and defiant.

Kim captures the isolation of the setting well, smartly blending it with the story. Shot in Massena, N.Y. in the peak of winter, the

film’s dull, snowy setting adds to the sad tone of the movie. The lack of natural light often forces one’s pupils to involuntarily dilate.

The problem with the movie is pacing. Scenes feel as if they take ages to end. Moreover, with the exception of Dano, the cast is average and barely receives any screen time. Taylor’s nerdy lawyer Fred — Jon Heder from “Napoleon Dynamite” — elicits a few laughs, but Heder is not even slightly convincing as a lawyer.

The movie does have its redeeming moments — notably, the scene where Taylor meets Ellen for the last time, desperate for her to accept that he is not a bad person. It is a simple yet beautiful scene that will linger with the viewer long after the movie ends. Also, Dano’s air-guitaring in a bar to Whitesnake’s “Still of the Night” is one of the most inspired, energetic and enthusiastic performances in some time.

Ultimately, “For Ellen” provides a great platform for Paul Dano to showcase his terrific talent.

Rohan Narula is a contributing writer.

Email him at film@nyunews.com.

The new york times crossword & daily sudoku The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 10K, e.g.

5 Walk heavily 10 Words, words, words: Abbr.

15 Uptight, informally 16 Birthplace of Obama’s father 17 “___ roll!”

18 Gotham district attorney who becomes Batman’s nemesis TwoFace 20 ___ Millan, TV’s “dog whisperer” 21 Immune system agent 22 Central figure in a Clement C. Moore poem 24 Adore 26 Propeller for a 43-Across 27 Vardalos of “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” 28 Org. for docs 29 Turner memoir 32 Museum guide

ANSWER M I C A A N A S D A R K P O S P A L U N I N I N E C A P A B I S A C T I T E A S M A I N A G R O N E S T

34 Central part of an argument 36 How some chew gum or talk on cellphones 38 Barely legible handwriting 43 Venetian transport 44 Former Israeli P.M. Barak 46 Plot 49 Sans-___ (kind of typeface) 52 Game with 108 cards 53 Runner Sebastian 54 Amigo 56 Blow up 58 Having razzledazzle, to a Rat Packer 62 Slangy expression of ignorance 63 “The Lady ___” 64 Causes of some rear-end damage, as represented by the rear ends of 18-, 22-, 38- and 58-Across

67 Jamie ___, oldest pitcher in major-league history to win a game 68 “Shaft” composer Hayes 69 Remote button 70 Director Lee 71 Lure 72 School for English princes

DOWN 1 Cheerleader’s cry 2 Structural 3 Cause for emergency vehicles or a tow truck 4 North Pole workers 5 Like atria 6 Hit 2012 film with a talking stuffed bear 7 Small bills 8 Mimicking bird 9 Place to sunbathe or barbecue 10 Early phonograph 11 Eclipse, to some TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 12 Trig function P E R C H S L O G 13 Pain relief brand O L I O S A E R O 14 Threaten, dogK N I G H T G N A T style E I D O N M A T C H 19 Geared to N E E R M A N I L A 1st-12th grades T D S T A N L E M 23 Low point M A R I O 24 Joker E D C R U S A D E R 25 Yearned (for) L E R T E V E N 30 Taboos S L Y D I S I T O 31 Airplane seating I I L U S T L U G option E F A L L O V E R 33 Suffix with B R U C E W A Y N E spermatoB E R E T V E E S 35 Buster Brown’s S T A T S A D D S dog

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Fright Amigo Work, as dough Produce in large quantities Kept Anonymous John Theater drops Like arcade games

48 English king said to have died from eating a “surfeit of lampreys” 50 Bring charges against 51 Seasonal threats 55 Legally allowed 57 Japanese cartoon art

59 Computer whiz 60 Prominent part of a Groucho disguise 61 Razzle-dazzle 65 Drink like a cat 66 Obama, Biden or McCain (but not Palin), in 2008: Abbr.

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nyunews.com | thursday, september 6, 2012 | Washington Square news

9

edited by stefan melnyk ARTS@nyunews.com

Vaccines deliver solid second album, fall short of greatness

By Alexandria Ethridge

Perhaps no band in recent history has lived up to its hype quite like The Vaccines. Over the last two years, The Vaccines toured with Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys, and received widespread acclaim for their debut album “What Did You Expect From The Vaccines?” Now the quartet from London is ready for round two with another album of pop-infused rock ‘n’ roll.

Appropriately titled “Come of Age,” the record continues The Vaccines’ trademark brand of vintage rock with a decidedly more ’50s sound, along with verses that convey the confused melancholy of teenagers on the cusp of adulthood. The album opens with “No Hope,” which pairs a bright guitar melody with faintly desperate lyrics. This theme continues in songs like “All in Vain,” which sounds as if it could have been added to “Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” without anyone knowing the difference.

The Vaccines are as adept with mid-tempo melodies as they are with upbeat ballads, as demonstrated by the album’s standout track “Weirdo,” which blends the introspective sound of The Beatles with the self-deprecation of The Strokes and Radiohead.

“Lonely World” ends the album with dreamy chords and winding vocals that croon, “I would hold you close ’cause it is a lonely world.”

Though packed with clichéd lines and retro ref-

erences, The Vaccines manage to build their vintage sound through modern influences. “I Always Knew” and “Teenage Icon” both embody a typical ’50s sound — the latter even features a deliberate reference to Frankie Avalon ­— but also call to mind aspects of Arctic Monkeys and REM, which keeps things from getting stale.

While The Vaccines have made significant stylistic strides in “Come of Age,” the record still leaves much to be desired. Many of the songs resemble each other in structure, and almost all of the melodies have been pulled from pioneers such as Elvis, the Ramones and The Kinks.

The Vaccines have frequently been compared to Arctic Monkey, who recently incorporated a wider variety of rock sounds to their fourth studio album to avoid being overshadowed by vintage rock influences. Now The Vaccines have a solid second album under their belt and will hopefully take a cue from the great bands of the past and try something entirely new.

“Come of Age” demonstrates that the London band has certainly gotten the hang of infusing pop melodies with good, old-fashioned ’50s rock ‘n’ roll.

Everyone knows The Vaccines is a good band, but the question remains: Will it ever be a great one?

Alexandria Ethridge is a staff writer.

Email her at music@nyunews.com.

courtesy of columbia records

Animal Collective’s experimental new album also looks to past

By Kemet Dugue Arriving three years after the release of the band’s last album, Animal Collective’s latest release, “Centipede Hz,” is likely to leave long-standing fans impressed by its effort to create a distinct sound. However, fans more familiar with their recent work might not welcome the new direction, which occasionally deviates from what can be considered classic Animal Collective.

Instrumentally speaking, the first half of “Centipede Hz” wavers between a sophisticated and raw sound, indicating that the group has yet to decide how it wishes to re-establish itself. Animal Collective immediately tests its new sound with the opening track, “Moonjock.” The song is fast-paced and slightly disorganized, though melodic classic rock chords filter in and out. Such characteristics have rarely — if ever — described an Animal Collective track. Animal Collective’s

courtesy ofDomino Records

toying around can be heard on “Today’s Supernatural,” elements of which verge into world music territory.

When it comes to vocals, lead singer Avey Tare’s tonalities are perhaps the only constant on the album, reminding listeners of the group’s past releases. However, fans will also notice a general theme of experimentation, especially on “Wide Eyed.” Here, we are treated to singer Deakin’s melodic, anthem-like vocals, while overall the track suggests Animal Collective might be moving in a more psychedelic direction.

In a transition that will be appreciated by some fans, Animal Collective returns to its classic sound with the fourth track, “Applesauce.”

The joyful, free-spirited emotions conveyed in this song evoke a stress-free life and tempt you to leave the tune on repeat. Other songs like “New Town Burnout” and “Mercury Man” also have a laid-back feel, giving the second half of the album a tranquil quality and making it great to listen to while relaxing.

To those familiar with Animal Collective’s trajectory over the past decade, “Centipede Hz” is a laudable effort from a well-established group that manages to maintain its essence, but also it branches out into a wider variety of sub-genres. To those unconcerned with Animal Collective before “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” the inconsistency might be off-putting. Fortunately, those fans have the album’s second half to look forward to, where the group returns to its old ways — perhaps as an approach to satisfy both camps. All in all, it is not an album that stands out on its own; it opens doors for a new Animal Collective, one whose direction in the near future will undoubtedly be based on “Centipede’s” reception. Whether or not fans want a new sound from the band is a decision that should and probably will be made on the next release.

Kemet Dugue is a contributing writer.

Email him at music@nyunews.com.

nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | Washington Square news

11

opinion

edited by ATTICUS BRIGHAM and CHRIS DINARDO opinion@nyunews.com

body image

Fashion Week distorts female beauty

By Sasha Leshner Above the dawdling mass of shoppers in SoHo are glimpses of the New York model scene. Pale faces adorned with high cheekbones bob above the crowd, their portfolios larger than their birdbone frames. From Sept. 5 to 13, the city becomes the fashion world’s playground, where designers showcase their creations during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. Recent model sightings are a precursor to the stomping soon to come — and out here, there’s no runway separating these figurines from the rest of the population.

Fashion models are not uncommon in New York — countless times I have met Tim Burton-esque claymation versions of myself. Witnessing designer versions of my high-waisted skirt and studded blouse fitting loosely over their bony structures, I feel alienated from the world of fashion.

The recent overture to Fashion Week has stirred in me a jaded resentment for the growing obsession over negative space rather than the female form. While watching consumers shop for items that romanticize toothpick thighs, I question designers’ motives for creating clothes that exist for only a small percentage of the population.

Nowadays, models have bodies that are unhealthily unattainable. On the run-

way, we will see models like Andrej Pejic, whose androgyny offers the flat-chested, long-limbed silhouette that designers and the media fixate on. When designers ignore the curve of the chest or fall of the thigh to create garments for shapeless models, womanly shapes take on a negative connotation.

Still, is it not a designer’s right to employ whatever aesthetic to create his or her “art?” Yes, but the overlooked problem with designers unanimously working off a frame of bones arises when their clothes reach the market. Fashion Week designs will trickle down into retail, which will then sell exclusively to one customer: the tall and narrow.

Fashion promoting certain body types isn’t a novel concept. In the 1920’s, corsetlike undergarments eliminated waistlines to create a rectangular, curve-free silhouette. Replacing such contraptions today are extreme diets and over-exercise, which, combined, often lead to the eating disorders and distorted body images that plague the modeling industry. Though steps have been taken in the right direction (Vogue banning underfed models, documentaries such as “Girl Model” highlighting model exploitation), designers’ nymphets continue to relay a dangerous message to fashionistas.

It is estimated that eight million Ameri-

staff editorial

cans — 95 percent of whom are between the ages of 12 and 25 — suffer from eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Our youth need new role models, but Fashion Week will advertise that being beautiful equates to having a visible ribcage. The distinctions between models and the rest of the female population become clear when you find yourself comparing your body to the gapped thighs buying a coffee before you in Starbucks: Our styles all stem from one Fashion Week, but when the season’s spoils are designed for a size 00, I become fed up with being inadvertently told that I should skip dinner.

Fashion Week’s presence in New York highlights a trend of exclusion from the fashion world. Styles today imply that to participate, we have to resemble the skeletal models competing for a spot on the runway. Organizers are not taking responsibility for their promotion of the distorted dissatisfaction that arises when women look from the runway to the mirror. In flaunting miniature femmes fatales, fashion does kill, and Fashion Week is a contributor to the delusion of bareboned beauty.

Sasha Leshner is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

election

Political polling detrimental to democratic process

By Chris DiNardo Electoral polls were created with somebody like me in mind. Yes, I’m that politics junkie with an unhealthy obsession with statistical gratification that will support my own views, who craves the latest information about how the world thinks, whom others support and what tides are rolling in on the political landscape. And someone who would like to believe he can help shape that. However, I know these polls are bad for me because it’s becoming increasingly difficult to see the pressing need that allegedly exists for pollsters calling me every week and collecting this data. In the end, voters are ill-served.

Just think about the effects on our election season, which the media has locked in a full nelson. We would rather have a superficial retelling of what’s going on in the minds of average, often uninformed, voters than a substantive debate on issues that affect the electorate daily. By merely examining which candidate is doing the better job of wooing certain demographics, we conveniently forget about aggressive foreign policy, weakening deficit control and increased executive power. And by rating candidates on a 10-point scale,

SUBMITTING TO

we further simplify countless policy decisions down to a meaningless integer. We disregard the poor and alienated because we’re told the middle class is the only constituency that matters. And we’re fed denigrating campaign ads over and over instead of promoting positive change.

Imagine, if you will, what would actually be lost if we cut out the political polling. Perhaps our news outlets would go back to being a check on government authority instead of insipid data collectors. Perhaps debates would be more fair.

Instead of catering to the candidates who are leading at the time and to the issues that employ the more divisive buzzwords.

Perhaps we would be less susceptible to partisan scare tactics aimed at exploiting the numbers to create more fundraising opportunities. You know, things like: “He’s got a slight edge in the polls and if he wins, civilization as we know it will cease to exist! Donate now!”

And while I can’t prevent my mom from forwarding along partisan chain emails with indirectly the same purpose, the party establishment would have less ammunition to use.

It’s all about perception anyway — the perception of the average voter. But what average voters know and understand

should not be the rubric by which we decide who sits in the most important office in the world. If it were, we’d be confined to a pre-ordained smorgasbord of talking points. Likability can certainly be a factor, but let it be a factor that manifests itself in the voting booth and not on CNN in hopelessly cumbersome breaking news analyses.

Political polling is detrimental to democratic elections in that votes lose their impact. Citizens believe they no longer have tenable choices, so they’re forced to settle for supporting a candidate who is less than ideal, simply because polls have written off the rest as unelectable.

These weekly numbers are a mere political puppet show, one whose audience is mystically drawn in without realizing the greater media and corporate forces pulling the strings at the top.

So, Quinnipiac and Rasmussen and Gallup and company: I’m going to stop nibbling on this inane pretzel logic that defines American electoral politics. I’m just hoping everybody else doesn’t take too big of a bite.

Otherwise, they might choke.

Chris DiNardo is an opinion editor.

Email him at cdinardo@nyunews.com.

Jammed NYC Taxi Plan should proceed

Despite its current troubles in court, we support Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s Five-Borough Taxi Plan, which has hit a judicial roadblock.

New York City’s Taxi & Limousine Commission’s rates, which have stayed roughly stagnant since 2006, rose by 17 percent per mile on Tuesday ­— a change that will be fully implemented all yellow taxi cabs by Sept. 30. This increase occured shortly after Bloomberg’s proposal to extend taxi cab service to all five boroughs was declared unconstitutional. The State Supreme Court ruled that the plan violated New York state’s home rule provision, which dictates that lawmakers behind a proposal must seek approval from the City Council before taking it to the state legislature. The city filed an immediate appeal to the court’s decision.

The Five-Borough Taxi Plan would bring hail service to all five boroughs and generate over $1 billion in much needed revenue for the city. While an increase in medallions on the road may restrict taxi drivers from maximizing their earnings per shift, the new 17 percent increase in fare will cushion the potential blow on their incomes.

The sale of 2,000 yellow taxi medallions would balance a $700 million deficit the city is facing in its third fiscal year. The plan also provides for 2,000 additional wheelchair accessible taxis, allowing disabled commuters the same hail service convenience as their fellow New Yorkers.

Furthermore, the plan will increase the number of taxis in the outer boroughs, which aim to quell geographic discrimination and to increase toll revenue.

It’s time that all New Yorkers are given equal access to hail service. Until now, residents of Washington Heights, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx and Staten Island have been denied reliable taxi service. Bloomberg’s initiative would change a Manhattan-centric status quo and answer to the needs of the entire population.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Atticus Brigham (Chair), Chris DiNardo (Chair), Jessica Littman (Co-Chair), Nathaniel Chumley, Christopher Drake, Sanchay Jain, Peter Murphy, Raquel Woodruff

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, NY 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 150 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.

12

Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012 | nyunews.com

SPORTS

edited by THE WSN STAFF SPORTS@nyunews.com

U.S. Open: Murray’s triumph through a student’s eyes

By INSIA ZAIDI

One luxury my brother and I have had our whole lives is the opportunity to attend tennis matches at the U.S. Open in Flushing, N.Y. Since one of my father’s businesses, Citizen Watch Company, is a sponsor, he usually receives free courtside and box tickets for my family.

This year, I saw Olympic gold medalist Andy Murray, ranked third in the world, play against 15th-ranked Milos Raonic in the fourth round at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

The stadium had the most lively and diverse crowd, as thousands of spectators from the city and abroad filled the largest outdoor tennis court in the world.

From only a couple rows above courtside, I was able to recognize a connection between the crowd’s reaction to every point and the players’ reactions on the court.

The supportive and elegantly dressed audience was undoubtedly a huge factor in the outcome of the match. Not a word was spoken while the ball was in play, and it seemed as though there was equally enthusiastic encouragement for both men.

As heads turned from side to side and the ball’s bounce became louder, each point appeared crucial to both players.

Raonic’s extraordinarily precise and fast 140 m.p.h serve was difficult counter.

Raonic’s 6-foot-5-inch frame and quick re-

flexes allowed him to serve 14 aces and hit 37 winners. However, his lack of experience at the U.S. Open most likely cost him the match.

Murray, who began playing professionally four years earlier than Raonic, used his experience, endurance, consistency and strong defense to secure a victory against his Canadian competitor. Murray did not let Raonic’s powerful serve daunt him as he pushed several returns and pulled through every point with heavy groundstrokes that seemed impossible to hit.

Murray’s unwavering play and net game resulted in 12 unforced errors whereas Raonic had 27.

Because the players’ scores were two games apart for the first two sets, it was difficult to guess who would advance to the quarter-finals. It wasn’t until the third set, when Raonic seemed to lose energy and confidence and Murray was leading, that the audience was assured the match would only last three sets.

There were even moments when the courtside crowd heard Raonic’s disappointment as he helplessly asked himself, “What am I supposed to do?”

Murray eventually finished off Raonic, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, in just over two hours. Had Raonic maintained a more assured attitude, the match would have probably entered a decisive fifth set. Nonetheless, Ra-

VIA FLICKR

Olympic medalist Andy Murray defeated Milos Raonic at the U.S. Open earlier this week. onic honorably walked out of the stadium, as Murray spoke about his performance, threw his wristbands and hit three autographed tennis balls to the crowd.

When the match ended, I truly felt glamorous and crucial to the ambience, sitting amongst celebrities like Gossip Girl’s Chace

Men’s cross country victorious in season opening meet

By Sebastien Van Heyningen As a team that often performs well and competes for national championships, NYU men’s cross country continuously faces high expectations. This year, the Violets are ranked 12th in the preseason polls by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association. NYU boasts the second-highest ranking in the University Athletic Association, behind Washington University in St. Louis. After winning their first meet of the fall 2012 season, NYU’s distance runners are off to another promising season and should climb

file photo by David Lin

Cross country team anticipates successful season.

the ranks when they are updated on Sept. 12.

Even though senior co-captain Dylan Karten, who registered NYU’s best time in the 2011 Division III Championships, did not compete, the Violets were still able to pull off a strong victory at the Monmouth University Kickoff in Lincroft, N.J. The best NYU time was set by returning senior Kevin Bonilla, who ran six kilometers in 19:36, just eight seconds behind Albany University’s sophomore Chris Buchanan.

Bonilla stressed the importance of preparing for the season.

“Summer is a really important time to put in a lot of miles to build a strong base for the fall,” he said.

Bonilla also said living with teammates Kyle De Leon, Dave Knowles and Ross Wistar contributed to his readiness.

“We were there keeping each other focused, motivated and making sure we were running smart, quality miles,” Bonilla said.

The NYU men’s cross country’s season-opening victory is its first overall win since 2010. Even last year, when the Violets were able to extend a six-year streak of top-20 finishes by earning the 19th overall spot in the Division III Championships, the Violets finished the season without winning any meets.

If this victory is a sign of things to come, the Violets could sweep their division and be on the way to their second national title in five years.

Men’s cross country will compete on Saturday, Sept. 15 and celebrate Family and Alumni Day, which honors the team’s fans, family and alumni. A reception will take place at the Hilltop Picnic Area after the Monmouth Invitational in Holmdel, N.J. There will be a bus departing from Coles Sports Center at 8:15 a.m. and students can R.S.V.P. for the trip by emailing athletics.events@ nyu.edu.

Sebastien Van Heyningen is a deputy sports editor.

Email him at svanheyningen@nyunews.com.

Crawford and seeing internationally renowned tennis athletes play. Attending the U.S. Open is a marvelous and unique experience from any seat or angle.

Insia Zaidi is a contributing writer.

Email her at sports@nyunews.com.