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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM
Safe Spaces: The New Cryptic Buzzword By DIAMOND NAGA SIU News Editor
The conversation over safe spaces on college campuses once again broke national news last month when the University of Chicago penned a letter to its incoming students saying that the school does not support trigger warnings or safe spaces. Discussion of the letter eventually circulated among NYU student groups as leadership training commenced over the summer, focusing on the facilitation of safe spaces, trigger warnings and inclusive language. Many NYU students held equivocating opinions about this political correctness, since these supposedly beneficial environments also spawn negative side effects, ranging from false consent to distorted expectations. Tisch freshman Lacey Coleman experienced safe spaces at NYU through the weeklong service program Project OutReach, and she said that while safe spaces are important, they need redefining. Coleman believes that there is a contradiction with the modern definition of a safe space. “It’s a place designed to ensure that individuals can seek refuge from ‘unsafe speech,’ confrontational speech or any speech that makes them feel uncomfortable. Yet it’s also a place where people should feel free to ask questions,” Coleman said. “So often, the proponents of safe spaces encourage this inquisitive atmosphere, but the harsh reality of people asking questions is that it may come off as offensive or not politically correct.” She said this buzzword is too often used as a way to shut
down ideas unaligned with mainstream beliefs, and she questioned whether the space is actually safe anymore. Therefore, she said a method of open communication is necessary and that rather than using safe spaces as a temporary solution, people should focus more on a permanent solution to acknowledging and respecting all forms of speech. Banned phrases and words included freshman, guys, study abroad and homeless people, respectively replacing them with first-years, everyone, study away and people experiencing homelessness. CAS sophomore Rachel Levy also believed that the extent to which people take politically correct language has changed the entire narrative of safe spaces into a joke, such as the laughter from fellow leaders that followed if someone accidentally said freshman. “The whole point of the human experience is to always keep learning and to always challenge yourself, but a safe space doesn’t always adhere to that philosophy,” Levy said. “If you go across the country or across the world, people think different things, and I think a safe space is not really something the country needs when people grow up in a bubble.” However, Stern sophomore Toyosi Oyelola thinks that rather than sheltering people, safe spaces help students who are already often marginalized. She went through training to promote inclusiveness as a 2016 Welcome Week leader, and she said that she understands the reasoning behind not using certain
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Over the summer, NYU commenced leadership student groups training that’s focused on the facilitation of safe spaces. trigger words. “I am working on being more careful with my language, especially as I take on more leadership roles and work with new people, because using y’all instead of guys referring to a group isn’t a big deal, and it’s pretty easy considering that I’m from Texas,” Oyelola said. “If these minor changes in my vocabulary make someone feel respected, valued and welcomed, then I
am absolutely willing to make those changes.” Oyelola said that while she still slips up, she tries her hardest to avoid possibly offensive language, and she said that everyone should have a place to express their feelings and experiences. Coleman believes that personal safespaces could start with finding like-minded communities. “You should strive to surround
yourself with people who do feel the same way as you if you are struggling with something. But we shouldn’t have publicly mandated places where people are too easily offended and scared to ask questions,” Coleman said. “There’s a difference between hate speech and freedom of speech.”
Email Diamond Naga Siu at dsiu@nyunews.com.
CRIME LOG Aug. 24 to Sept. 1 By ABRAHAM GROSS Deputy News Editor The NYU Department of Public Safety received one report of unlawful firearm discharge, two reports of larceny and one report of harassment between Aug. 24 and Sept. 1.
Firearm Discharge On Aug. 31 at 11 p.m., a gun was fired in the western section of Washington Square Park. There were no injuries. There is no suspect in custody at this time.
Larceny
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The conversation over safe spaces was sparked again following a UChicago decision.
On Aug. 30 at 10:30 p.m., a Tandon administrator reported that a power supply box was taken from Rogers Hall sometime between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Aug. 29. A police re-
port was filed. On Aug. 29 at 9:50 p.m., a vendor employee reported that his wallet, which contained cash, credit cards and personal identification, was taken from an employee locker in the Kimmel Center for University Life sometime between 3:50 a.m. on Aug. 19 and 12 p.m. on Aug. 28.
Harassment On Aug. 28 at 9 p.m., a verbally aggressive man followed an NYU student on the east side of Broadway between Washington Place and Astor Place. The man was part of a group of six and threatened to “knock him out.” The student declined notifying the police.
Email Abraham Gross at agross@nyunews.com.
NY Law Firms Charge for Interns By YORAI VARDI Contributing Writer
Most industries shifted their business models to increase profits after the 2011 recession, but in 2016, the New York State Bar Association Committee on Ethics has taken this profit-mindedness to a new level. The committee recently ruled that New York law firms may bill clients for the work of their unpaid interns. Several prominent NYU organizations, including the NYU Black Allied Law Students Association, NYU Latino Law Students Association and NYU Law Students for Economic Justice, spoke against this decision in an open letter penned in late March. The letter explained that as law firm jobs are becoming increasingly scarce, law students often need the valuable connections that come from internships just to find a job. The letter goes on to explain that students who cannot afford to work for free are being edged out of their own industry. Jim Zhou, a Brooklyn Law School third-year student, thinks that unpaid internships are something of a necessary construct. “I guess it’s just law firm culture these days,” he said. “Interns do mostly research work, which is very valuable. It takes a lot of time and effort — in fact a lot of legal work is very time consuming.” The New York State Labor Standards provided an outline of wage requirements for interns at forprofit businesses, which includes a section about trainees and students. This sparked much con-
troversy among prospective lawyers as to what can be considered an internship. “The activities of trainees or students do not provide an immediate advantage to the employer. On occasion, operations may actually be impeded,” Section Four reads. “In a true traineeship, the employer cannot gain an immediate advantage from the intern’s presence.” This standard contradicts the New York State Bar Association Committee on Ethics’ decision, challenging the system for unpaid law internships. NYU School of Law adjunct professor Steven Lydon said that the construct of unpaid internships should be eradicated entirely. Lydon is also a graduate student at Harvard and believes that unpaid internships perpetuate further ex-
ploitation of labor and undermine workers’ rights. “Historically these connections [from internships] would have been made during work that was paid for,” Lydon said. “In the end, the law firm is making more profit off of work that they’re not paying for, with the facade of ostensibly paying for that labor.” Zhou said that although many firms hire unpaid interns, many firms also hire paid interns, and he predicts that the new decision will not radically change the job market for students seeking internships. “We should also remember that a lot of law schools have very good connections,” Zhou said. “Not every firm is doing this. That being said, the ruling is not very ethical.”
Email Yorai Vardi at news@nyunews.com.
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New York State Bar Association Committee on Ethics recently voted on charging clients of New York law firms for the work of unpaid interns.
The NYU Ability Project connects people with disabilities to modern technology and gives NYU students the chance to participate in ongoing projects that deal with the ethics and sensitivities discovered in problem solving. Its research lab is located at the Media and Games Network at Tandon, and its resources include classes, grants and events for students. Beth Rosenberg’s non-profit Tech Kids Unlimited partners with the lab, and the organization’s work exemplifies the program’s goals and values. The program hosts students with disabilities from ages seven to 19, and it fosters a community of students with different learning techniques. The program helps students learn how to not only consume but produce digital culture and technology. “Tech Kids Unlimited is thrilled to be part of the Ability Project because the community of students who learn differently is wide and varied,” Rosenberg said. “We see over 250 youth annually in supportive programs using a special needs curriculum.” Allan Goldstein, a member of the Ability Project, is a senior lecturer who teaches Disability Studies at Tandon. He said the lab helps peo-
ple with disabilities build self-esteem while letting people without disabilities understand a little better what life is like with a disability. “I believe the Ability Project is so successful because the players teaching the offered courses and workshops are dedicated to including people with disabilities in the development of product,” Goldstein said. “The process is called participatory research, which means the user is an intrinsic part of the development team.” This collaboration is what Clinical Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy Anita Perr associates the Ability Project with, and she serves as the program’s co-director. Recently, the Ability Project received the mayor’s recognition, to which Perr responded with excitement about what it could mean for the future of Ability Project. “Being honored by the mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities reinforces the importance of the work we do and can lead to more and more partnerships and more and more interesting research,” Perr said. “I look forward to expanding the programming at the Ability Project that helps students from many backgrounds realize the value of their own expertise in working with people with disabilities in an effort to increase involvement and participation.”
She also teaches a Developing Assistive Technology Course for the Tisch Interactive Telecommunications Program as well as Occupational Therapy students, and she sees the Ability Project as a place where people from many different professions, departments and communities can work together towards a common goal: to answer questions and solve problems about how people with disabilities can participate in all the activities they want to. Luke Dubois is the other co-director of the program and is an Integrated Design Media professor at Tandon. He said that the program is launching a minor within Steinhardt for Disability Studies, and he believes that human-centered design and participatory research are central to this strand of work. “We want to perpetuate the idea that incremental adaptations to existing technology can be just as groundbreaking in improving people’s lives as revolutionary ideas built from scratch,” Dubois said. “Engineering and creativity can be incredibly powerful acts of advocacy when they are combined and deployed in the direct service of society.”
Email Ashley Arnold at news@nyunews.com.
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As the result of National Labor Relations Board’s 3-1 ruling, more that 500,000 private college and university students were allowed to unionize.
Columbia Ruling Wins Union Rights for Grads By SAYER DEVLIN Contributing Writer
NYU Improving Disability Tech By ASHLEY ARNOLD Staff Writer
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
On Tuesday, Aug. 23, over 500,000 private college and university students gained the right to unionize, engage in collective bargaining and strike if necessary. This is a result of the National Labor Relations Board’s 3-1 ruling in favor of Columbia University graduate students who sought employee status recognition as students. Columbia University and The New School started petitioning the National Labor Relations Board in December 2014 to overturn a 2004 decision which did not allow graduate students to be considered employees. The ruling found “no compelling reason” against student unionization. The members of NYU’s graduate student union, GSOC-UAW Local 2110, benefit from the National Labor Relations Board’s decision, as they are protected by the National Labor Relations Act. Steinhardt graduate student Anne Pasek is the co-chair of NYU’s graduate student union, and she thinks this progressive step will help sister unions. “We’re working with Columbia and The New School and increasingly the folks at Barnard who are hoping to form their own union,” Pasek said. “We have a lot of experience with contract negotiations that we’re all ready to turn out and vote with their organization and support their efforts.” Columbia University civil engineering student Olga Brudastova was a spokesperson for the lawsuit, and she publicly expressed support for graduate student unions as
early as 2014. “It is truly inspiring to see graduate workers in private schools all over the country catching the momentum and campaigning for their right to have protection and stability in a form of a contract,” Brudastova said. “[This] would be able to cover such issues as health care, late pay, childcare, grievance procedures and workload.” GSOC’s president Maida Rosenstein thinks that this ruling normalizes unions for graduate workers at universities, and this helps all affected student workers. “It opens the possibility that many more graduate workers at private universities can organize, and that can only be helpful to GSOC,” Rosenstein said. “More unionization at private universities is going to help raise the standards overall for graduate workers.” Although NYU voluntarily recognized GSOC in 2013, the Labor Board’s ruling now gives NYU’s graduate student union the right to seek legal precedent if the university breaches its union contract. In addition, the decision also recognizes NYU’s graduate student workers as employees of the university. Rosenstein and Pasek both believe that this decision gives student workers a greater voice and a more democratic workplace. “The significant part of the ruling is that our relationship with NYU is now one that is both as students and employees at the same time,” said Pasek. “We weren’t in a very advantageous bargaining position [prior to the ruling] because we had voluntary recognition.”
Email Sayer Devlin at news@nyunews.com.
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Tisch Alum Tackles 9/11 in Comedy
By JORDAN REYNOLDS Entertainment Editor
How would the popular sitcom “Seinfeld” have attempted to depict the aftermath of 9/11? Billy Domineau, comedy writer and NYU alumnus, created a spec script entitled “The Twin Towers,” in which he imagined a 9/11 episode for the show. Domineau was tutoring an aspiring comedian who was taking a guest class at the Upright Citizens Brigade, a famous sketch and stand-up comedy theatre cofounded by Amy Poehler. When one of his students was assigned to perform an exercise in bad taste, Domnieau told her “you can’t go halfway with this, you need to go all the way.” Inspired by the exercise, Domin-
eau imagined the characters of Seinfeld post-9/11 to be the prime example of humor in bad taste. “I thought, wait a minute. This is a potentially funny concept.” Domineau wanted to see if he could pull it off, and he certainly did. The script opens in typical “Seinfeld” fashion, with Jerry Seinfeld performing stand-up in a comedy club. “You think they ever get backed up at the gates of Heaven? Too many people die at once, it just overwhelms the system? It’s gotta be like the DMV on a Friday.” The plot includes Jerry developing an obsessive-compulsive reaction to the permeating dust, Elaine discovering that a boyfriend she had been planning on dumping was injured in the attacks and George being mistaken for a first responder (and
going along with it). Domineau can’t be sure whether the show would have tackled the topic, and how it might have chosen to do so. “Some shows had a mostly serious tone at the time, with amazing heartfelt monologues, and ‘Friends’ also had little nods…” His goal was to imagine the script that might have existed if “Seinfeld” hadn’t been bound by studios or public reaction. Domineau personally believes that pop culture is incredibly important in holding a critique of society. “Satire in particular has a responsibility to hold a mirror to whatever is going on in the zeitgeist, in politics, in society,” he said. “The impact of any one piece of entertainment is unable to be measured.”
Domineau is also a freelance contributor for “Weekend Update,” the recurring news segment on “Saturday Night Live.” One memorable bit he contributed aired during an episode Justin Bieber hosted in 2013; Seth Meyers said, “A new study lists Washington, D.C. as the ‘most literate city’ in the country, followed by Seattle and Minneapolis. Coming in as the least literate city: Pig Symbol, Indiana.” Billy Domineau graduated from Tisch in 2012 for Drama and TV Writing after spending his first two years at University of Chicago, and he was a member of Hammerkatz, a sketch comedy group on campus.
Email Jordan Reynolds at jreynolds@nyunews.com.
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Billy Domineau is a NYU comedy writer alumnus who created a spec script titled The Twin Towers.
‘My Woman’ Sings of ‘Mania of Love’ By GILCHRIST GREEN Music Editor
Released on Sept. 2, Angel Olsen’s new album “MY WOMAN” put me to sleep — in the best way possible. Its smooth, dreamy groove swept me away to a dark and wistful state, one that ever-so-gently let me turn off and relax. The folk-indie star’s first song “Intern” starts low and deep. The lyrics are straightforward and confident — “Doesn’t matter who you are or what you’ve done / Still got to wake up and be someone.” They are lovesick and longing, strong yet soft. Halfway through the song, she changes style. Her voice takes off, becomes breathy and floats away into a melancholy universe. Her next song “Never Be Mine” is just as wrapped up in love and desire, but it has speed. Its energy is bubbling, invigorating her voice and the song’s rhythm. Each song flows through the same vibe lyrically, allowing them to all make sense together. They build on themselves, driving Olsen’s feelings and emotions directly into the body of the listener. As her album progresses, her love and pain continue as she talks to an unknown “you;” a “you” that seems to have left her in the middle of love. Musically, the songs have their own personalities, made unique by her varying vocal energy and the accompanying instruments. Sometimes Olsen’s voice is soft and slow (see “Woman”), as if she is speaking to her lover. Other times her voice takes on a killer, airy falsetto. In “Those Were The Days,” her voice is at maximum levels of breathy and the instruments are locked into a jazzy groove. In “Shut Up Kiss Me” and “Not Gonna Kill You,” Olsen’s voice
steps into a position of power. In these two songs, the instruments don’t just play a backup part. They add to the song’s emotion, building it and layering it with intensity. Despite these differences, the songs swirl together in their soft sweetness — never too angry, never too happy, always teetering on the tightrope of being in love. They soothe your mind and lay you down into a dream state. As Olsen’s third album, “MY WOMAN” does not deviate too much from her original sound, but rather solidifies its toxic, dreamy sadness. Its production quality is tight, and its musical hooks suck you in. Through her lyrics, she focuses on love but settles on the importance of self-reliance. By the end of the album, she grows powerful. Her words are poetic and autonomous. They express a range of feelings, the mania of love. “MY WOMAN” is Olsen’s best album yet.
Email Gilchrist Green at ggreen@nyunews.com.
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Folk-indie star, Angel Olsen’s new album “MY WOMAN” came out on September 2 and is definitely worth the listen.
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Even though the summer is coming to an end, there are tons of great movies that are coming out in the fall, such as “The Magnificent Seven” which comes out on September 23.
Films to Beat First Semester Blues By ETHAN SAPIENZA Film Editor
If you’re feeling some summertime sadness as September rears its head, don’t: fall movies are around the corner. After the desolate cinematic wasteland known as summer 2016, there should be plenty of excitement for the typical awards fodder and other more serious, creative fare that usually gets released between now and the new year. Kicking things off is Derek Cianfrance’s “The Light Between Oceans,” a tearjerker about a couple living in an isolated lighthouse who, after having trouble conceiving a child, adopt a baby that magically washes ashore. Sadly, it’s discovered years later that the couple may know the baby’s mothers. Cianfrance is no rookie when it comes to getting the waterworks flowing — his past features include “Blue Valentine” and “The Place Beyond the Pines.” Powered by the incredible acting duo of Michael Fassbender and Alicia Vikander, “Oceans” is in theaters now. You only need to wait a few more weeks for another heavy hitter, as Antoine Fuqua’s remake of the clas-
sic “The Magnificent Seven” comes out Sept. 23. With an incredible cast headlined by Denzel Washington and Chris Pine, the film follows a group of hired guns brought in to defend a town from an oppressive gang. Amidst an onslaught of superhero movies, a western almost seems refreshing. Coming on Oct. 7 is Nate Parker’s controversial film “The Birth of a Nation,” which became all the more controversial in light of the news that Parker was accused of rape during his time at Penn State. The Sundance hit reclaims the name from DW Griffith’s 1915 racist opus and recounts the true story of Nat Turner’s slave rebellion. While its status as an Oscar frontrunner is in question, expect to hear a lot of talk around the film and whether or not it should be seen. Slightly less contentious is NYU alum Ang Lee’s upcoming feature “Billy Lynn’s Halftime Walk,” out Nov. 11. Based on the bestselling book of the same name, it details the often unjust treatment of soldiers by the military and looks to be an Oscar contender. Also out the same day is De-
nis Villeneuve’s alien thriller “Arrival,” starring Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner as scientists who try to communicate with mysterious aliens that landed worldwide. Some have compared the film to Steven Spielberg’s “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” undoubtedly a good sign. For serious Oscar bait, meet John Lee Hancock’s “The Founder,” a Michael Keaton-starring biopic about Ray Kroc, the man who hijacked McDonald’s and made it the powerhouse that it is today. Knowing Keaton’s track record and prowess, anticipation is high for the film. The film hits theaters Dec. 16. Finally, how else to end the year than with a “Star Wars” film? “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” directed by Gareth Edwards and out Dec. 16th, is rumored to be a more grim entry in the series, following the pilots who helped steal the Death Star’s layout. Starring Felicity Jones, “Rogue One” is likely to impress, and will hopefully cap off a fall that reminds moviegoers of the power of film.
Email Ethan Sapienza at esapienza@nyunews.com.
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Risk-Taking ‘Kubo’ Pays Off By DEJARELLE GAINES Highlighter Editor
In a year filled with sequels, remakes, revamps, adaptations and the like, the one-of-a-kind film “Kubo and the Two Strings” served as a much-needed breath of fresh air to the monotony of the Hollywood formula. Out of the roughly 60 films that came to theaters this summer, about a third of them were reboots, spinoffs or sequels. What does this say about those big wigs out in Hollywood? Don’t get me wrong, I love Disney Pixar films as much as the next, but the key thing that differentiates “Kubo” from “Finding Dory” is the amount of risk behind its production. “Kubo and the Two Strings” was a risk. It was a film about a Japanese child: risk. Anything with a foreign protagonist is a bold move. Besides that, it was an original film not an adaptation from a book. There is safety in knowing that a book was a bestseller and already has a large fanbase. The film touches on the topic of death: risk. Talking about death in children’s film tends to be taboo. Despite being so risky to make, the film has been well-received by both critics and fans alike, though no movie is without its
flaws. A major flaw in “Kubo” was the whitewashing of the cast. Its Japanese characters are voiced by white, A-list Hollywood celebrities such as Matthew McConaughey, Rooney Mara and Charlize Theron. It is clear that this was done in order to offset some of the riskiness of the film’s production and to receive financial backers; however, at the same time, this proved to be the film’s major weakness. As a stop-motion animated film, Laika took a similar approach with “Kubo” as they did with their other films “Coraline” and “ParaNorman.” The biggest difference, however, is that with this new film they went above and beyond in entertaining their audience. Perhaps the most impressive feat of this film, besides the incredible storyline, was in its creation of the 16-foot-tall 3D-printed
stop-motion skeleton puppet. The largest stop-motion puppet that the company has created, the skeleton puppet highlighted the filmmakers’ dedication to their craft and won audiences over handily. Though its cast was primarily filled by white actors, the originality and sincerity of the film made a very strong impact. A film that respects and praises Japanese folklore and and the ancient art of origami, it transcends the traditional Hollywood formula by breaking it. Originality is hard to come by in the year of remakes that is 2016. Hopefully more production companies will follow Laika’s example and give their audiences the ingenuity and novelty that they so crave.
Email Dejarelle Gaines at dgaines@nyunews.com
In the world of theater that tackles taboo topics, “Crackskull Row” has undeniably added its name to the list. Written by Honor Molloy and directed by Kira Simring for a limited run as part of the Origins First Irish Theatre Festival, the playwright’s notes describe it as “the playworld… [of] the dead. The justdead and the near dead.” The story begins with an ominous monologue from Rasher (Colin Lane), who is wandering the gloomy lanes of Crackskull Row in 1999 on May Eve in Dublin. His tale is half recounting the past, half reciting some old tale told to children around a crackling fire. As Basher departs, the lights come up on a house. The structure is laid in bricks and filled with crumpled letters; nearly every surface is smeared with dirt. Center stage, sitting on a couch whose very seams are stuffed with more letters and trash, is Masher Moorigan (Terry Donnelly), who’s clearly seen better days. Her long red hair is in disarray, and as her daughter Dolly (Gina Costigan) enters through the chimney, even her speech seems to indicate a wandering mind. The story progresses between moments of dark, mysterious monologues from Rasher and episodes
‘Quietly’ Speaks Volumes About Terror By ALEXANDRA PIERSON Theater & Books Editor
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Kubo and the Two Strings is an animation that took a risk in diversifying Hollywood.
‘Crackskull Row’ Explores Taboos By HAILEY NUTHALS Arts Editor
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Owen McCafferty’s “Quietly” has recently relocated from Dublin’s Abbey Theatre to New York’s Irish Repertory Theatre due to tremendous success, and will be running until September 25.
of the past from Rasher’s younger self and his mother. Without ruining the mystery of the plot, young Rasher and his mother quickly embroil themselves in all sorts of less-than-socially-accepted plans and troublesome romances. The memories, alternately recounted by the grown Rasher and Masher, escalate to a fever pitch and a bloody altercation. The story, helped along by the acting of the entire company and the meticulously written scenes, almost makes one forget the degree to which the events themselves are taboo. The set of the stage is perfectly arranged to allow for seamless transition between the moments in the home and the monologues outside it. An ivy-covered path on the left side of the stage, as well as the space between the audience and the stage, give Lane ample room
to move without intruding on the space of the house’s main room. The house itself has a small exit to the front yard and a stairway to a presumed second floor, both upstage and cleverly constructed to give a few more levels for the actors to work with. One leaves the theater mystified. To be sure, the show was dark and unsettling. Its themes were off-putting — or disturbing — to say the least, but it certainly is not a 75-minute display of horror. “Crackskull Row” certainly does give the curious mind a lot to work with. “Crackskull Road” is running at the Workshop Theater at 312 West 36th Street as part of the Origins First Irish Theater Festival through September 25.
Email Hailey Nuthals at hnuthals@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL BONASIO, JOHN CHARLES MCLAUGHLIN & TERRY DONNELLY
Crackskull Road runs at the Workshop Theater at 312 West 36th Street as part of Origins First Irish Theater Festival.
Though there is no immediate relief from the loss of a loved one, the guilt of an adolescent mistake or the sting of a reopened 30-yearold wound, time can offer a chance at healing. These emotions came to a forefront in Owen McCafferty’s “Quietly,” playing at the Irish Repertory Theatre. After much success at Dublin’s Abbey Theatre, the production has relocated to the New York stage as part of the 2016 Origins First Irish Theatre Festival. At a pub in Belfast, two enemies struggle to find common ground years after a life-altering tragedy. The Troubles in Northern Ireland was the violent conflict between the predominantly Catholic Nationalists and the largely Protestant Unionists. The bloody guerrilla war was mostly about the divide on Northern Ireland’s national status — whether to remain part of the United Kingdom or to join the rest of Ireland. 36 years later, two men discover that not much has changed, official peace or not. The play stars Patrick O’Kane as Jimmy, the bitter atheist whose bright future was stunted at age 16 when his father was killed in the political bombing of a small town bar — the very same bar where he now sits. Jimmy’s counterpart is Ian (Declan Conlon), the burdened man who at only 16 years old was responsible for throwing the bomb. Both O’Kane and Conlon give noteworthy performances. The former presents Jimmy with a sense of outward cynicism and anger, while allowing the audience to glimpse at his internalized grief. The latter manages to earn sympathy for his character, capturing an emo-
tion that is best described in Ian’s own words — “haunted.” Comic relief comes in the form of a Polish bartender, played by Robert Zawadzki, who, much like the audience, is unsure how to handle the tension in the room. Director Jimmy Fay shows skill in his use of silence as a means to create tension. The use of open blocking allows both men to keep their distance. However, as the play progresses, this lack of movement grows stale. The lighting is reminiscent of an old house that has since settled, yellow and nostalgic. The two visible walls of the pub make the audience feel as if they are onlookers, witnessing this confrontation from across the bar. McCafferty’s writing establishes a clear tone for the play, one that is clever, light but meaningful. The emotional depth reaches the audience in waves. An unrelated anecdote is followed by a pointed remark or sudden outburst that crashes over us, bringing us back to the underlying tragedy. It feels as if one has been kicked in the heart. “Quietly” is particularly relevant to today’s world in terms of the message it sends about political violence. The play forces viewers to question accountability as an impressionable teenager in search of an identity becomes radicalized by hand-me-down politics. Nothing can erase what has happened, but by facing the past, these men are able to think about the future. As Jimmy says, “We met, we understand each other, that’s enough.” “Quietly” is running at the Irish Repertory Theatre, 132 W 22nd St, New York, NY 10011, as part of the Origins First Irish Theatre Festival until September 25.
Email Alexandra Pierson at apierson@nyunews.com.
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Stay Sustainable With Ancolie By TIFFANIE HWANG Staff Writer
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From left to right: Urban Outfitters, Victoria’s Secret, Nordstrom, and Lululemon.
Be Fit and Fashionable This Fall By MIHIKA AGARWAL Contributing Writer
They say the best kind of motivation is that which comes from within. We say the best kind of motivation comes from within your wardrobe. Our roundup of fall’s hottest workout gear will get you back in the gym and looking great in more ways than one.
Active Mesh-Panelled Leggings Whether you are a yoga, pilates or spin class person, these stretch-fabric pants will soon become your go-to pair. The mesh inserts provide the perfect chic twist to the conventional athleisure trend. Pair a cropped length legging with colorful trainers for an upbeat look.
Front Zip Sports Bra This easy to zip-on and off racerback bra comfortably reduces movement for those who pursue a rigorous workout regime. It also adds some flare to see-through tank tops and can double as a stand-alone workout top.
Multicolored Sneakers Add a little quirk to your gear with a variegated color palette for your trainers. The Nike LunarEpic Low FlyKnit Unlimited undoubtedly takes the cake for eccentric shoes this fall.
Light Jackets
Beat the elements and fickle NYC weather with a simple jacket. These usually come with oversized pockets to keep your hands snug, and add character to your walk. They make the optimum accessory for biking, hikes or just a run on the treadmill.
Logo-d Tee Embrace the athleisure movement and extend the trend in graphic tees from casualwear to activewear. Pair it up with leggings for a light workout or with denim for an outfit for a regular day at campus.
In New York City, it isn’t hard to find healthy dining among the plethora of pizza and bagels. But environmentally friendly and waste-mindful movements have had less of a noteworthy presence in the food scene. This September, Ancolie will bring an eco-friendly wave to fresh and wholesome dining in ||Greenwich Village. Ancolie is a new epicurean cantine that focuses on eliminating waste by serving all its meals from custom-made glass jars designed to control portions and make eating on-the-go delicious and sustainable, all while being waste and plastic free. CAS sophomore Evelyn Hall believes that Ancolie’s unique concept will make it popular among the student body. “It’s a brave idea that I think would definitely cater to a hip, clean-cut, progressive aesthetic,” Hall said. “I think that the initiative they are taking is thoughtful and I
think most students will appreciate the effort toward sustainability this restaurant is making.” Ancolie will serve made and ready to-go meals, snacks and desserts inspired by traditional French and international flavors brought by owner and Chef Chloe Vichot. Vichot was inspired to create an efficient yet welcoming lunch spot after being disappointed with her lunch options while working in the finance industry. Ancolie will offer a variety of warm entrees — from layered omelettes to shepherd’s pies — in addition to cold dishes including chia pudding and soba noodles that will be available for immediate pick up. In addition, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and dairy-free options will also be available, all within the restaurant’s projected price range of $6 to $14. After eating at Ancolie, diners will have the option to keep their glass jar to reuse at home or they can return their jar to Ancolie and earn a complimentary meal after returning 10 jars. Unlike Hall, LS sophomore Sa-
brina Guervil isn’t confident that Ancolie will be a hit, but is eager to give it a try. “I probably wouldn’t eat here often enough to get the discount, but this does seem like an ‘instagrammable’ lunch spot,” Guervil said. “I’m very interested in trying it out. I’m a big fan of recycling and clean eating and this idea seems to be in favor of that as well.” Its convenient location at the northwest corner of Washington Square Park, respect for those with busy schedules, and focus on affordability will make it easy for NYU students to dig in between busy class schedules or long-hour Bobst affairs while staying on campus. With over 100 million pieces of lunchtime trash that get thrown out daily, their glass jar approach to mealtime supports their platform that the best way to reduce garbage is simply to not create it. Ancolie is expected to open later this month and will be located at 58 W 8th St.
Email Tiffanie Hwang at dining@nyunews.com.
Lululemon Pure Focus Glass Waterbottle With a cute top handle, this accessory will be your perfect companion to yoga classes and long walks. Available in eccentric shades like grapefruit and teal, it adds the ideal splash of color to your OOTD.
Joggers These slim joggers allow you to run outside when the weather gets brisk or help you cover up on your commute to the gym. They are comfortable yet stylish loungewear and can take you from your lazy Sunday afternoon to your dreaded 8 a.m. on Mondays.
Email Mihika Agarwal at bstyle@nyunews.com.
VIA ANCOLIE.CO
Ancolie, a new Epicurean Cantine, will open soon this month in Greenwich Village.
NYU’s Food Waste Isn’t Actually Going to Waste By TAYLOR NICOLE ROGERS Dining Editor
You may casually toss the remains of the Palladium salads you don’t finish, but have you ever wondered what that actually amounts to? An average of 142 pounds of edible food is wasted per NYU student annually, according to CAS senior Mac Hughes-Cromwick. For a school that boasts more than 60,000 students, the amount of food waste is climbing to disastrous amounts. Hughes-Cromwick decided to address this problem when he became president of Two Birds One Stone, an NYU club founded in 2006 by students who realized that the dozens of pounds of uneaten food thrown away daily by NYU Dining could be used to fight hunger in
New York City. For Hughes-Cromwick, providing food to those in need is more important than reducing the University’s environmental impact. Two Birds One Stone recovered 2,500 pounds of food that would have been thrown away in the 20152016 academic year alone — almost enough to feed two people for an entire year. Every weekday, the club sends a group of three volunteers to Third North and Weinstein to pick up leftovers and takes them to the Bowery Mission. “These missions, in my opinion, have one of the toughest jobs, which is trying to care for the extremely large homeless population in New York City,” said Hughes-Cromwick. “So while we believe that we do a
good service for the community and are proud of it, we also recognize that we’re just a small piece of the puzzle.” However, LS sophomore Juhi Dalal believes that NYU should make being responsible with its food waste a much greater part of its efforts to increase sustainability. “Not just Two Birds One Stone, but NYU as an institution should do more because we are so privileged and should do all that we can to help those that aren’t as privileged,” Dalal said. While Hughes-Cromwick is grateful for the support of NYU Dining director Ann Marie Powell, he still believes that there is more to be done to reduce food waste on campus. “I would say that NYU is definitely
ahead of the curve with everything they have tried to do including the composting and recycling, but our club has tried in the past to get rid of the sample plates that showcase particular dishes and are later thrown away, and haven’t had success. I think there has to be a compromise between advertising a dish for consumption, and just wasting food,” Hughes-Cromwick said. For now, Hughes-Cromwick believes that the actions of individual students are one of the best ways to reduce unnecessary waste and hunger. “A reminder of food waste statistics is always good to have,” Hughes-Cromwick said. “Do not put something on your plate if you’re not going to eat it.”
STAFF PHOTO BY POLINA BUCHAK
Students have worked to reduce the amount of food waste produced by NYU’s dining services, including the sample plates at the counters in dining halls. Email Taylor Nicole Rogers at trogers@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
FEATURES
EDITED BY ABIGAIL WEINBERG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Street Style: A Saturated Market By GRACE HALIO Deputy Managing Editor
No matter where fashion week takes place — Lincoln Center, Skylight Clarkson Square, Carrousel du Louvre or Museo del Novecento — everyone knows that even if you can’t make it inside to the show, you stay outside and dress as if you’re supposed to be sitting front row. However, the pinnacle of street style was not always outside the doors, but out and about on the street as it’s named to be. Bill Cunningham stumbled into the street style scene in the early 1950s by photographing the looks that grabbed his attention rather than looking out for socialites. His fame skyrocketed and he became a talented icon who was often spotted on his bike, wearing a French worker’s jacket, camera in hand. “I knew from photographing people on the streets that the news was not in the showrooms. It was on the streets,” Cunningham wrote in the Times. The Times’ Metro Desk published a spread of his photos in December 1978, spurring the public’s consumption of street style media. Musicians, clubgoers and designers alike in the 1970s and ‘80s shaped fashion much the way they continue to do so today. Consumers caught wind of staples like Diane von Furstenberg’s wrap dress, hot pants donned by partiers and Elton John’s tinted sunglasses for all times of day. High fashion went from untouchable to attainable all thanks to exposure. Since those days, bloggers like
the Street Pepper and the Sartorialist have made a living from photographing icons who are on the rise or are already famous. Fashion Weeks all over the globe lend themselves to more than just showcasing haute couture However, there is also the viewpoint that the masses of dressed up fashionmongers may be no more than poseurs. It’s not at all uncommon to see people lingering outside fashion shows for a few hours, walking around alone or with a posse, sunglasses precariously perched as they try to appear casually busy. Conrad Bischoff, a CAS junior who is both a model and photographer, has experienced this firsthand. “At this point, going to shows I see more photographers than people and some photographers are also bloggers so they’re dressing up to get their photo taken as well, which is weird if you think about someone like Bill Cunningham who was really just an observer,” he said. Arguably, those who attend shows are going to dress to impress — you never know who you’ll be brushing shoulders with. Despite this, the culture of street style has blended the worlds of professional photographers and small-time bloggers. Jackson Tisi, a Tisch junior studying film and TV, has seen this when he shoots photos and videos for both clients and his own enjoyment. “I think that because of social media and accessibility, it’s difficult to break out and make your content unique. A lot more people have the
opportunity to photograph street style because of high quality iPhone cameras and cheaper DSLR options, so it comes down to your following and marketability.” Like many other fields (journalism, for one), social media has changed the landscape of an industry once dominated by photographers who gained exposure through popular publications. However, anyone can start a Blogspot, snap a few shots outside a fashion show and share their thoughts. The purpose of street style photography is to weave the fabrics of couture and the average person’s daily looks together — so where do we draw the line between the professionals and the amateurs?
Email Grace Halio at ghalio@nyunews.com.
At a school that charges $70,000 for tuition, we should not have spend so much money on textbooks. By the time we stock up on the required course reading, the price can total into triple digits. Luckily, there are many resources on campus and online that could help bring down the price.
Amazon Amazon’s collection boasts thousands of books, and you should be able to find some of your course materials at discounted prices. For example, the Broadview Anthology of British Literature is priced at $57.95 at the NYU Bookstore, but only $30.99 on Amazon. For an even bigger discount, buy a used book instead of a new one. The used Broadview Anthology prices start at just $5.07. If you have Amazon Prime, your book could arrive in just one day.
Chegg If you’re looking for another online option, Chegg is a thrifty place to look. The company is essentially
like Amazon but just for textbooks, and the website claims that you can save up to 90 percent on books. Every book has a buy or rent option, and there are different price points based on how quickly you want your book to arrive.
Library Our beloved Bobst Library is home to over four million books, including many of the textbooks that you need for class! A lot of students don’t think to use this resource, but you can check out the Bobst online catalog to search for your textbook or reading materials for class. It’s absolutely free to check out books if you’re a current student, and many rentals can be renewed for up to four months, which should cover you for an entire semester.
Other Students There are more than 60,000 other students on campus—you should use them as a resource! In addition to directly asking your upperclassmen friends, try posting in the popular NYU “Free and For Sale” Facebook group, which has over 17,000 members, or the “NYU Textbook
Headphones Should Still Be a Safe Haven By ABIGAIL WEINBERG Features Editor and ANKITA BHANOT Deputy Features Editor
The Modern Man’s article on how to talk to a woman wearing headphones has blown up due to being totally sexist and ridiculous. However, any woman who has walked through Washington Square Park knows that there are plenty of men out there who genuinely believe that interrupting a stranger on the street could plausibly lead to romance or sex. This is a practical guide for how to deal with strangers who ask for your number when you’re clearly not interested.
1. You’re in a rush. “I’m late to class” is an excuse that nobody can argue with. If he shoots back with, “But I just want to talk for a minute,” assure him that there is nothing he could possibly say in 60 seconds that could make you magically fall in love with him. Even Romeo and Juliet talked for at least 20 minutes at the Capulet ball before they realized that they were into each other.
2. Make your lack of interest clear. PHOTO BY GRACE HALIO
The street style market has slowly become worn-out.
Books Shouldn’t Pile on Your $70K By ANKITA BHANOT Deputy Features Editor
7
Exchange” Facebook group, which has over 3,000 members. There’s a good chance you’ll be able to get at least a few of your books at a discounted price.
“I’m not interested” unfortunately leaves plenty of room for men to try to convince you that they’re a catch. “I have a boyfriend” works on men who respect other men more than they respect your autonomy, despite the heteronormativity inherent in that retort. Or, flash the three dollar ring that you bought from Claire’s and claim that it’s a mark of your celibacy.
3. Do “the face.”
In Jenna Marbles’s viral “How To Avoid Talking To People You Don’t Want To Talk To” video, she suggested making and holding a horrified (and horrifying) facial expression. Grimace widely and try to make your eyes bulge out as much as possible. Alternatively, perform any number of outrageous facial expressions or gestures, such as flailing your arms or spasmodically raising your eyebrows — a sure turnoff.
4. Ignore. This doesn’t always work, because not everyone can take a hint. However, if you keep your eyes on the horizon and make absolutely no engagement with the person who is trying to talk to you, he’ll typically move on to the next unsuspecting woman with headphones. If he sees your headphones, assumes you can’t hear him and starts yelling, move on to step five.
5. Be hostile. Social expectation says that women are supposed to be mild-mannered and caring creatures, so showing that you have even an ounce of hostility in your blood is sure to catch those dudes off guard! It turns out that, according to recent discoveries, women can actually display anger. Harness that emotion and tell the guy approaching you that his pick up lines would probably work better on a fish.
Email Abigail Weinberg and Ankita Bhanot at features@nyunews.com.
Online PDFs This might be a bit of a gamble, but sometimes textbooks appear online if you search their title followed by PDF. Try this if you aren’t required to bring the textbook to class every day, or if you just need it as an occasional reference.
NYU Bookstore If all else fails, you might have to resort to getting your textbooks from our bookstore. But there are still ways to save! Instead of buying your textbook, rent it, which can significantly bring down the cost. Many of the rental machines within the bookstore also have a price comparison tool, which shows competitors’ prices. Finally, the bookstore also offers a buy back option at the end of the year, where you can get back up to 50 percent of the book’s selling price. STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
Email Ankita Bhanot at abhanot@nyunews.com.
Headphones are a universal “don’t talk to me,” not a welcome sign.
it ir p S r o F g in h c r Sea By ABIGAIL WEINBERG Features Editor
to s for incoming freshmen, track teams, gethernes and sity y ver ntr uni a cou to ss e cro com the to ool year of them excited YU kicked off the new sch nning on running get effort to re said that he was pla they will have to put in mo ere ich wh wh in he y t rall tha pep but , ool with a sch to s is the nt thi If we rit. he spi ek lead- wherever d an outlet for their than 300 Welcome We ng academics over fin stro its d. for rke U wo NY e se hav cho to case, it seems Washington ers paraded through the you just see all balls all else. ch “Going around campus, bea h wit eal in app nta the fou n k bee e hav y Square Par ma t Zach Han said. tha an ss hm this purple,” LS fres The exuberant “I gue n’t have to deal with and inflatable water toys. did eral vibe of I t gen tha the , t me jus to and ping for the e from “The cheers cam “I . said nn really crecrowd, cheering and jum Ma ” nce rit, osphere and ambie ms a massive school spi was all about the atm it ere n though wh camera in slow motion, see eve , ool ess sch h ern hig eth ate a sense of tog horde of spirit- a I was a weirdo because er a lot.” vehicle of pure joy, like a and oth h rit spi eac w ool kno sch lly rea But ’t tball game. es we don ed tailgaters before a foo nt to go to football gam pure in the une a football I didn’t wa hav t of There’s something d sn’ kin doe it U NY and w it, kno ut abo e we all car n’t which freshmen did h I wit and de don’t tailgate. Spirit abashed pri let Vio U NY , k with like team, and NYU students it’s en wh Washington Square Par define school irks me be left alone, swarm to nt wa h NYU t Though it’s difficult to fres jus I e, and Lik ds ek. their purple lanyar that it’s some- We e camemails.” nit spirit, one can safely say me defi g no din is sen re t the qui , ver h compared wit ts are gear. Howe den stu U NY in the all ed thing we at NYU lack rain not , eng rse , and NYU is deeply ools. The Wel- Of cou ess of school spirit. CAS pus ern ion eth other, more “typical” sch not tog the of to se rse sen ave were neither der city. The initial lea ek We in me lco ate We sip come Week leaders’ shirts dis ore and oned is bound to h bobcats; in sophom “very pep- Han menti as self frac him ts ed den violet nor emblazoned wit crib stu U des NY coming weeks as blue shirts with Max Pau of amed to express his the ups ash gro fact, the pastel pink and not que s wa uni n and ow ir py” the ture off into conveyed their pineapple motifs barely independent of “good love of NYU. rds like-minded individuals, wo t The sn’ U. doe NY U h NY wit , ‘Oh , say association ple peo of lot sity ties. the front of “A rts don’t bring us univer e New vibes only” printed across l- have spirit because spo coo new students will becom n, ded Soo exu sive big a cur ite not ’s ere “Th . in fact said do the shirts in wh ts Pau ” den together,’ kers. Many NYU stu NYU pride. are so many small- Yor that re sity the ness rather than explicit ver but uni y a nit at mu but , com iew listed NYU er- love their school und s goe rit] en [spi t we bet tha The 2016 Princeton Rev ies munit ally blurs the line e for students, er com always com- so drastic t re’s jus The rit y. spi -ke as the #3 dream colleg low ive ess it’s , campus and city, exc Harvard. So looked find spirit in. can behind only Stanford and you t tha ies nit ce. mu pla out of blasé once they spirit Pau men- seems why are NYU students so rit, acknowlThough the displays of n, for all his school spi Ha and or ferv the rt, ove eal lies in get here? not app U’s are NY ed of - edges that much r lies in the rel- tion hen I visich can be found at oth The most obvious answe “W wh . ent city the item to exc p shi All cs at NYU. k in the its relation lur nts eve g City as a rtin ative obscurity of athleti k spo Yor s’ ool , I realized that New in the NCAA Di- er sch NYU students form ited es out t pus NYU athletics teams are tha cam ies t nit bes mu the of com g, which is Diive campus is one act 300 r ove are re The vision III, except for fencin elves. . of high-profile by thems ple who there,” he said vision I, and the absence at NYU. Find some peo York sense of superibs clu New g ssic kin cla lac t ts Tha den and their eyes will ed, olv sporting events leaves stu inv ten got ultimate reason for e the hav be ind which they cuss ority may dis to ty uni ort opp something concrete beh the It’s not apathy at the lack of NYU spirit. e NYU student light up can rally. For the averag — a sense of ns. sio ent pas tm ir ten much as con the fanfare as- the Stephanie McAleer so not involved in athletics, ore t needn’t be hom tha sop ool S sch CA our ed at ally drown a weeklong security , ach tre Ou t sociated with sports is usu rd echoing jec hea Pro be d credite plified in stadia to . project just before am e vic out by the roar of city life t body. ser den y stu nit sy mu r-bu com through the eve s that don’t w if that “You don’t see many fan ek, for her NYU pride. kno We ’t me don I lco We but U, a NY er, e Kelly Rys e sense of “I lov hug a is spirit,” ool ach know the athletes,” said tre sch o Ou int ct s essarily translate diving team. “Proje and made me real- nec ar viwe me CAS sophomore on the to d for y nee nit t sn’ mu doe com She . to the games er said. Ryser said Ale Mc U,” ws NY kno h “The people who come she wit e at lov in ure others of wh of relationship ly fall t this feeling olet to ass tha ed ced usually have some type con she , ver we e. case, I make Ho n’t do Project to be tru in my to the athletes. Like in my is not universal. “If I did ely have a sense of pride nit .” defi “I me tch U wa NY e and e lov I’d nk Ryser thi ’t ,” my friends com me don I eso , aw school because it’s team after Outreach Ryser joined the diving ” e.” ch. her mu ng as NYU — a pats said. “I love goi she decided to attend Welcome Week leader s, who Perhaps the lete ath e U hyp NY ny the ma ps, tern among on the Kimmel ste Abigail Weinberg ics first and chanting concerts are all Email tend to focus on academ m. videos and the mystery at aweinberg@nyunews.co sports second. to create an illusion of toted tra hes orc er mb me a CAS senior Curtis Mann,
N
NYU REALITY SHOW
GENERAL ADMISSION www.nyu.edu
8:00PM
566 LaGuardia Pl, New York, NY 10012 TUES SEP 6 2016
STAFF PHOTOS BY ANNA LETSON
typical college quad is filled with students proudly donning sweatshirts and baseball caps with the school’s name and colors. This isn’t the case at NYU, where our quad is a public park and most students wouldn’t be caught wearing NYU apparel to class. Recently, the NYU bookstore set out to change this. Located at 726 Broadway, the store is both central to campus and receives heavy tourist traffic. The store attracts alumni, tourists and, of course, current students. Rochelle Kemp, Buyer of Apparel at the NYU Bookstore, has been with the store for over 15 months. In that time, sales have increased by almost 20%. Clearly there is a market and students are a part of the target audience. So why don’t we see more violet on campus? Many students have expressed concerns regarding the price points of the NYU bookstore. However, the NYU bookstore understands the economic burdens of students and has been making efforts to offer lower cost items that are still top quality. “I definitely want to take away the perception that everything in this store is expensive. Since I’ve gotten here I have tailored [the buying process] to the good, better, best strategy. We have shirts from $9.98 up to $60 and I don’t water down the $9.98 shirt,” Kemp said. Regardless of the bookstore’s efforts to make products more affordable, there is still an apparent lack of students sporting NYU gear around campus. It seems many students who do own the apparel wear it exclusively when they are not in Manhattan. At NYU, students strive to be “in and of the city” rather than to stand out in their purple letters. “Outside NYC, I’m bragging to say I’m an NYU student. In the city, I’m demoting myself from being a “real New Yorker,” LS sophomore Whitt Van Tassell said. Some students reserve their NYU attire for exercise. “I wear NYU gear to go to yoga and work out in. I am the type of person where I like to dress up to class or to work, so the only time I would ever really wear a t-shirt with NYU on it would be to break a sweat,” CAS junior Emily Harris said. Just as you will never see a student wearing leggings as pants or Uggs for shoes, you will not see students in their spirit wear because NYU students pride themselves on their personal sartorial choices. It is not that NYU students don’t have school pride. Instead, they embrace the school’s spirit of individuality by creating their own sense of style as New Yorkers. The NYU Bookstore has made significant strides to elevate its look, hoping to attract the students who want to uphold a certain level of style and don’t want to wear the typical college gear. Woolly Threads and League are two brands that offer vintage collegiate designs. Other new styles offer subtle NYU logos hidden on various parts of the garment. This style upgrade can be attributed to the collaborative buying process. Kemp said she feels it is very important to have a youthful eye
By GABRIELLA BOWER Beauty and Style Editor
NYU Students Wear Their Pride Extra Small A
weighing in and to ask students for their opinions. The bookstore also recently brought in non-NYU branded products such as Happy Socks and Fjallraven backpacks in hopes of attracting more student customers with products that aren’t stamped with the NYU logo. Perhaps the NYU Bookstore’s more affordable prices and upgrade in style will get more NYU students to deck themselves out in spirit wear. Regardless of the store’s success, NYU students don’t necessarily have to wear their pride on their sleeve to know they have it.
Email Gabriella Bower at gbower@nyunews.com.
Does Going Social @NYU Matter? By THOMAS DEVLIN Editor-at-Large
W
ith #NYUMoveIn and #NYUWelcomeWeek in the books, #NYU2020 is here and ready to rep some #VioletPride. All they have to do now is follow @nyuniversity on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Tumblr and Instagram. Of course, NYU has more social media than just the official @nyuniversity. On Facebook and Twitter alone, there are over 1,000 accounts associated with the university. Even when taking into consideration the many different departments scattered across the world, that number is shockingly high. But at a university where “school spirit” is more often a punchline than anything else, social media makes sense as a way to bring students together. The most popular accounts are those run by NYU’s Office of Public Affairs. Though @nyuniversity is ubiquitous today, it’s only been three years since the university ventured beyond Facebook. An account run by the university probably isn’t the first place a person would look to connect with others. But Eileen Reynolds, assistant director of social media for the Office of Public Affairs, said she believes in the ability of an online community to act as a substitute for a real-life one. “Social media can be a way for people to feel connected to each other even if they may not be meeting face to face,” Reynolds said. The official accounts try to foster this community by engaging as much as possible with the students. Reynolds’ two favorite things that @nyuniversity has done so far were delivering coffee to students in Bobst Library during finals and filming faculty singing “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” for the class of 2015. Because they represent the entirety of the university, official NYU accounts have a wide range in what they post. Much of it is actually about academics, but those posts happen to be a bit less popular than, say, Javier Muñoz. Yet Reynolds said creating school spirit is a driving goal behind much of what they do. “There’s broadly a bunch of different categories that most of our content can fall into,” Reynolds said. “In terms of the community-building aspect, a lot of it falls into what I would call ‘Violet Pride.’ I don’t know if
that’s caught on.” But years before the official NYU appeared on Twitter, there was @ HashtagNYU. While @nyuniversity has to contend with being the official voice of the university, HashtagNYU can have a little more fun. Nick Jensen, their marketing manager, said @HashtagNYU is about spotlighting individuals and groups, so that someone going through their posts can see a somewhat cohesive identity for the university, even if it’s splintered in real life. “We’re like digital cheerleaders for the university,” Jensen said. “We have a definite bias that there are so many exciting things going on here that if only we could capture it, everyone would know how great it is.” Caroline Osse, @HashtagNYU’s social media manager, focused on perhaps the most helpful aspect of the account, which is helping students find resources that may get lost in email inboxes or brochures. “It’s overwhelming how much information there is,” Osse said. “We like to narrow it down a little and create a curated way to find resources to get involved.” It’s worth noting that NYU’s social media most strongly attracts new and prospective students. When @ nyuniversity conducted a poll on Snapchat, it found that what people wanted most were virtual tours of campus. Because @nyuniversity and @HashtagNYU are so general, students tend to turn to these accounts as a starting point for guidance when navigating the campus and its resources. Then, they can splinter off into the other thousand NYU-related accounts, whether that be @nyusteinhardt, @nyuparis or @ nyunews. It is unlikely @nyuniversity or @ HashtagNYU will ever be able to create a single, cohesive community. However, there have been more successful attempts, including the #myfirstweek photo contest and tweets of the week. And that is because these posts don’t try to force school spirit; they reflect the students’ excitement, which is so often best-expressed online. Not every student moving into NYU is going to favorite or retweet something NYU posts, but they are likely tweeting and Snapchatting their experiences. It is no surprise that #NYUMoveIn trended nationwide. When looking at hundreds of people post their very first pictures of the Washington Square Arch surrounded by heart emojis, even the most cynical students can feel a momentary twinge of Violet Pride.
Email Thomas Devlin at tdevlin@nyunews.com.
10
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM
OPINION
EDITED BY EMILY FONG OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
POLITICS
Alt-Right Not Welcome in U.S. Politics By ANNIE COHEN Staff Writer As Election Day inches closer, each new day seems to bring about a fresh controversy, with legitimate complaints against the right and a lot of hot air towards the left. The Donald Trump campaign, having matured from something of a political joke to a terrifyingly possible glimpse at America’s future, continues to astound in its perverse ability to weather each and every self-inflicted storm. The electorate has built up a level of shock-immunity when it comes to Trump, succumbing to the numbness brought on by more than a year of name-calling, threats and a general sense of re-
vulsion. That said, the newest twist in the Trump saga has reached an unparalleled level of alarming and needs to be recognized as such. This new twist? The acceptance and inclusion of the alt-right and the normalization of racism, misogyny, anti-Semitism and the general xenophobia that it breeds. Born and largely developed on the internet, the alt-right posits itself as an alternative to establishment conservatism. It is less of an organized movement than a loose collection of vile ideologies, running the gambit from a rejection of political correctness to unabashed white nationalism, and everything in between. It is not difficult to see how such a group could come to
identify with and support Donald Trump, a fear-mongering candidate whose campaign is built on hatefulness and paranoia. What makes less sense, however, is the virtually unprecedented manner in which the Trump campaign has embraced the alt-right. It was the hiring of Breitbart chairman Stephen Bannon as the new campaign CEO in August that
cemented this relationship. Breitbart, a right-wing news website once described by Bannon himself as “the platform for the alt-right,” has long been considered a fringe organization. Under Bannon, Breitbart has published stories with headlines such as “Birth Control Makes Women Unattractive and Crazy” and “Bill Kristol: Republican Spoiler, Renegade Jew.” This pattern of disrespect for minorities is disturbing, and the parallels don’t stop there. After all, Trump also hired former Fox News head Roger Ailes as a debate advisor, fresh off of revelations of his many decades of workplace sexual harassment which quickly led to his ouster. When Trump is opening his arms
to people even Fox deems deficient, clearly something isn’t right. Indeed, the only upside to witnessing the Trump campaign’s undisguised appeal to the worst of America is the leverage that it gives Hillary Clinton. Just last week, Clinton delivered a speech in which she denounced the alt-right and Trump’s tacit approval of it, saying that in effect Trump is, “offering a dog whistle to his most hateful supporters.” Clinton is right to highlight the horror of the alt-right entering the mainstream, and will hopefully continue to do so. Tuning it out just isn’t good enough.
Email Annie Cohen at opinion@nyunews.com.
EDUCATION
University of Chicago’s Letter Restricts Academic Speech By ABRAHAM GROSS Contributing Writer Two weeks ago, the University of Chicago embroiled itself in controversy by sending a letter to incoming freshmen stating that the university did not support trigger warnings or safe spaces on campus. The letter reignited a national debate about political correctness and free speech. While discussion has centered on students, what has often been neglected is how this letter imposes the administration’s will on professors. In an effort to preserve “academic freedom” by discouraging trigger warnings and safe spaces, the school has actually limited the control of its professors over their own classrooms.
Many NYU students have encountered trigger warnings in their classrooms and syllabi before. These trigger warnings generally do not ban material outright. Instead, they warn students who have had traumatic experiences that the content may be disturbing. Trigger warnings are the beginning, not the end, to academic discussion. They serve to add another perspective to class analysis and help traumatized students work around material they may find troubling. Kate Manne, an assistant professor of philosophy at Cornell University, criticized UChicago’s stance by noting that in her class, students “will often thank me, not just for providing trigger warnings but for bringing up subjects they want to discuss because
they’ve been there.” Trigger warnings are part of an ongoing conversation about the evolving relationship between students, instructors and academic material. UChicago, ironically, attempted to save academic speech by limiting the speech of faculty. If administrators at UChicago truly felt professors opposed to trigger warnings were experiencing backlash from the community, they could have
taken a different approach; the letter could have been an affirmation of an individual professor’s right to decide how to run his or her classroom, to include or exclude trigger warnings as they see fit. Instead, administrators undermined instructors who employ trigger warnings by stating that the university does not back their teaching styles and implying that such methods hinder learning. A discussion of trigger warnings should take place in a classroom between professors and students — like all other academic quandaries — not in an administration board meeting. Universities are meant to be bastions of free speech, where multiple perspectives are not merely allowed but encouraged. Some instructors
believe trigger warnings are a form of analysis, a way to broach a difficult subject with a class and allow students with traumatic experiences to participate; others view them as unnecessary or even dangerous by coddling students in false consensus. A diversity of perspectives on trigger warnings should be supported as conducive to a healthy intellectual environment. By supporting one side of the debate and delegitimizing the other, the UChicago administration is negating the very lesson it seeks to purvey: “The members of our community must have the freedom to espouse and explore a wide range of ideas.”
Email Abraham Gross at opinion@nyunews.com.
TECHNOLOGY
Facebook’s News Algorithms Lack Human Touch By PARIS MARTINEAU Deputy Opinion Editor Merely two days after Facebook fired the entire editorial team responsible for its “Trending Topics” section and replaced them with a high validity algorithm, disaster struck. The algorithm — which had been heralded as the ideal way to shift away from any possibility of editorial bias or general human-like wrongdoing — pushed a fake news story to the top of Facebook’s homepage. This was a particularly ironic turn of events, due mostly to the fact that the switch from human oversight to machine had almost solely been made in response to the recent allegations of staff
member political bias affecting the validity of trending news content. Facebook’s choice to dissolve their entire editorial staff was made with the intention of eliminating the error-prone human aspect of news gathering. This choice emphasizes the belief that they consider themselves — and by extension, their “Trending Topics” section — outside of the world of journalism and media. However, this just isn’t true. Facebook — especially in the past few years — has become an essential part of the way Americans receive information. A recent study from the Pew Research Center found that 62 percent of adults get a large portion of their news from social media platforms, and
Facebook is by far the most common source of information. However, Facebook’s replacement of its editorial team with data-driven programs is a sign that the tech giant does not view themselves as a news company, and therefore feel they are not subject to basic journalistic ethics. This is problematic for a number of reasons. It is primarily so because the categorization of Face-
book as solely a social media network — and of “Trending Topics” as merely another feature within the site — absolves the company of any responsibility for providing accurate (and therefore useful) information. This would perhaps be acceptable if the company did not constantly tout the high validity of the content delivered by this feature, and if Facebook is willing to deny its extraordinary amount of influence on the daily lives of billions of users. If Facebook is serious about making their aggregation service a valid source of news, then they need editorial oversight. Facebook cannot rely solely on algorithms and engineers. Its reach is too wide now to leave key actions such as
these up to a judgement-less algorithm. This is especially important in a time where false news and hyperpolarization can be found in essentially any corner of the web, from conspiracy sites to extremist news outlets. The current practice of tracking articles by clicks alone means that false and inflammatory information is potentially prioritized over verified information. Facebook is no longer just another social media platform. It has grown into an essential part of how many Americans get information on a variety of topics, and therefore it has an obligation to ensure the accuracy of this information.
Email Paris Martineau at opinion@nyunews.com
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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OPINION
EDITED BY EMILY FONG OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
SPORTS
Kaepernick Embodies Sports’ Double Standard By PATRICK SEAMAN Staff Writer Football is a national obsession, one deeply ingrained in American culture. But sadly, this deep respect for the sport does not mean respect for the athletes themselves — especially if they are outspoken and unapologetic. For athletes of color, the penalty for controversiality is much more severe. Take Colin Kaepernick, a San Francisco 49ers quarterback, who chose to remain seated during the national anthem during a preseason game. He explained his motivations in a statement, saying that he is “not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color.” Kaepernick was then vilified as an anti-American ingrate with no respect for the country that gave him the opportunity to sit on one of America’s biggest stages. The media delved into his family history, claiming that his critique of America’s racial inequality is superficial because he is half-white. Yet those who smear Kaepernick’s name do not ever bother to look into the issues that he is commenting on, instead
choosing to blindly prop up flawed ideals of American racial unity and patriotism. There is a double standard for athletes who choose to attach their names to a issue. Derek Jeter, for instance, worked for years with the Turn 2 Foundation, a youth focused anti-drug charity. Peyton Manning spent years on the Peyback Foundation, which aimed to help disadvantaged kids in Louisiana, Tennessee and Indiana. And yet, when Kaepernick used his position to speak out against a justice system that kills unarmed black people at rates five times that of unarmed white people, he is crucified in the media and among fans. It is a serious issue that, as a black man, Colin Kaepernick has every right to speak on — but because he didn’t choose an innocuous cause, for some reason that means
it’s acceptable to come for his head. This isn’t the first time that an athlete of color used their platform to raise their voice against injustice. In the 1986 Olympics, Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists in the Black Power salute, arguably the most overt display of political opinion in sports history. Their families received death threats and the athletes themselves were ostracized by the U.S. sporting world. Even so, neither man apologized for their activism, nor should they. Kaepernick’s story is not new — it is merely another entry in the long history of struggle for black athletes to reconcile their individual identities with the expectations draped on them by spectators. Racial disparity in sport was not over then, and it is not over now. When we, as a nation, can look at Colin Kaepernick’s silent, peaceful protest and use it to reflect on what we are doing wrong, perhaps then we can move forward. Until then, the best we can do is to support those who have the courage to speak out.
Email Patrick Seaman at opinion@nyunews.com.
GOVERNMENT
Officer Discipline Records Need Transparency By RICHARD SHU Staff Writer Last Thursday, the New York Police Department announced that it would stop releasing officer discipline records to the public. Police Commissioner Bill Bratton explained that the sudden decision to withhold information came after the realization that the practice was in violation of Section 50-a, a statelevel law that classifies such records as “confidential and not subject to inspection or review” without a lawful court order. This announcement puts an end to the kind of journalistic investigation that has helped cases like Tamir Rice, Eric Garner and Akai Gurley reach national prominence, propelling the issue of the police’s use of lethal force to the forefront of American politics. By blocking journalistic access to police discipline records, the NYPD has made it more difficult to probe the details of suspect cases such as these. What’s most perplexing is the timing of the announcement — 40 years too late. Originally enacted in 1976, Section 50-a was designed to prevent defense attorneys from undermining the credibility of police witnesses
SUBMITTING TO
before they’ve taken the stand. Even after the law was first put into place, however, the NYPD continued to release discipline reports to the public. At the time the law was put into effect, the NYPD was still reeling from the Knapp Commission Report, which detailed rampant corruption in all levels of policing. Mobsters and drug dealers were regularly paying off police officers to ignore drug transactions, sell out informants, provide armed protection and even hire hitmen to kill witnesses. Even that damning report had its detractors from within the Patrolmen’s Benevolent Association, who only fell silent after the French Connection scandal revealed the instrumental role the NYPD played in the heroin trade. The choice to ignore Section 50-a was made consciously in response to widespread public distrust of the po-
lice. It was a way for the NYPD to build up its credibility with transparency and a way to demonstrate that the police would be held accountable to the public. It was more than just a gesture of goodwill — it marked an important step forward for much needed police transparency, particularly amongst the myriad cases of the NYPD abusing its authority throughout the decades. All that is changing. By turning to Section 50-a and further obscuring the actions of individual officers, the NYPD has demonstrated a complete unwillingness to listen to public demand for greater accountability. Rather than taking further steps to heal the wounds that high-profile police misconduct has made, the police have taken this opportunity to shrink further from the public eye, as if to actively flout the renewed cries for police accountability that their own actions have incited. We need more transparency, not less. It’s time for the NYPD to stop ducking behind defunct legislation and start owning up to the problems of racism and excessive force among its ranks.
Email Richard Shu at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Tracking Donor Money Is Too Hard
A faculty inquiry at the City University of New York revealed that an account meant to contain $600,000 in donations actually only contained a paltry $76. In response to the ongoing inquiry, the CUNY community has been met with “silence, delay and deflection.” Mishandling of funds is nothing new to the bureaucratic processes of universities, but that does not mean it should be excused by any means. Similar financial scandals at UC Berkeley and UC Davis resulted in the ouster of high-ranking college officials, and any administration without financial transparency is prone to the same kinds of scandals. At NYU, for example, it is essentially impossible for an outside observer to track the path that donor money takes. NYU should make an effort to stave off these potential problems by providing greater transparency in order for the public to see how much and in what way donor money is being spent. Individual campaigns such as 1831 Fund and Momentum have publicly declared intent, meaning that potential donors are certain of how their pledged money is being used. However, the same standard is not applied to the rest of NYU’s donations. Alumni outreach programs already have dozens of pages, online and in print, worth of advertising and information encouraging them to open their wallets without much of an explanation for where these donations will end up. It is unfair to expend so much energy soliciting donations without giving the community basic information about how their funds will be spent. Simply providing greater insight into the breakdown of donation money flow would be a much surer boon to donations than yet another marketing scheme. A survey published by Georgetown University found that nonprofit organizations that provided donors with cost breakdowns tended to receive more donations. Donors who sponsor the work of any organization, university or nonprofit, deserve to know where their money is going. When organizations are willing to be upfront, donors respond in kind. Taxpayers already receive the same disclosure from public universities; it would be a logical step for private universities to follow suit. If President Hamilton aims to deliver on his promise of administrative transparency, providing more information on where millions of dollars are going would be a welcome and potentially lucrative measure. Obviously these funds are going somewhere, and making a general record of their use available to the public would be beneficial to all universities, NYU included. Increasing the school’s accountability to prospective donors both increases donation size and helps build student trust. At the beginning of his tenure as president, Andrew Hamilton identified transparency as one of the major focuses of his administration. Making good on his promise should start with making NYU’s financial dealings more accessible to the NYU community — it would bring us all some well-earned peace of mind.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Emily Fong (Chair), Paris Martineau (Co-chair), Akshay Prabhushankar (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI
Send mail to: 75 Third Ave. #SB07, New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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SPORTS
EDITED BY RACHEL RUECKER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Hockey Preps to Bounce Back By RACHEL RUECKER Sports Editor
Nothing says more about a team than how they pick themselves up and dust themselves off after a heartbreaking loss. Going into this past spring’s ACHA Division II National Championships, the NYU hockey team was coming off a hot end to the regular season and had the hefty title of defending champs to add to their bravado. After going 1-1 in the first two games of pool play, the team was faced with a must win match to move on. They ended up losing in dramatic overtime fashion, eliminating them from the tournament. But it’s a new season, and head coach Chris Cosentino’s “focus on what you can control” mentality is alive and
well. The team lost five players to that pesky plague called graduation, including star goaltender Sam Daley. Team tryouts for the 2016-2017 season will take place next week, followed by an intense training regime. Cosentino seeks players who can make an immediate impact, but likewise wants everyone to continue to work hard and earn their roster spot. “Obviously, a freshman loves to hear that he will have an opportunity to play a big role right away,” Cosentino said. “But more importantly the mindset has a bigger impact on the returning players because it removes any sense of entitlement. Plus, it keeps our older players motivated to work hard in the offseason and not think that anything is guaranteed. Because nothing is — in hockey or
in life.” Training camp consists of a series of both on and off ice activities, including yoga, threemile “warmup” runs and hill workouts at Central Park. The goal, however, is not to put the hockey playing hopefuls through hell, but rather build a team full of talent and trust. “The main goal of training camp is to physically, mentally and emotionally prepare the team for a long season,” said Cosentino. “Build them, don’t hurt them.” NYU’s hockey contingent is no joke. They may often be taken less seriously because of their ACHA billing in contrast with the maybe more compelling NCAA alternative. But this competitive group is gearing up for another fight in hopes of reclaiming the title of
PHOTO BY RACHEL RUECKER
NYU Hockey’s head coach Chris Cosentino is going into the new season with major optimism, regardless of losing five key players to last May’s graduation. National Champions. “[A]s long as we work hard in creating a foundation of trust, we will be in good shape.” What is sure to be an exciting Violets’ season will kick off Columbus day weekend with
home games at Chelsea Piers on Oct. 7 against Siena College and Oct. 8 against the University of New Hampshire.
Email Rachel Ruecker at rruecker@nyunews.com.
Soccer: Women Start Strong, Men Whiff By BEN GOODKIN Contributing Writer Saturday was a busy day for NYU soccer, as both the men and women continued their quest to get out of the gates hot. The men traveled to Purchase to take on Manhattanville while the women hosted Vassar College at Gaelic Park in their first home game of the season. The women started off the day well, earning their second straight victory to start the season with a hard fought victory over the previously unbeaten Brewers. Both teams played a very even game until the 83rd minute when junior midfielder Steph Ho scored the game’s deciding goal. After freshman forward Alex Benedict’s free kick from outside of 40 yards bounced off the crossbar, Ho was there to quickly polish off the rebound. The Violets held off Vassar’s attacks in the closing minutes and secured a 1-0 victory. It was a strong team performance by the Violets, who outshot Vassar 17-12 and outpossessed the Brewers throughout the game. The NYU women were led by strong performances — most notably, junior forward Teressa Fazio and senior midfielder Lexi Clarke who combined for nine total shots. With the win, the Violets improved to 2-0 on the season and hope to continue their success next weekend when they will be traveling to Hoboken, NJ to face off with Massachusetts Institute of
Technology on Sept. 10 and Stevens Institute of Technology on Sept. 11. The men had a bit of a rough go in their match as they were unable to slow down Manhattanville’s powerful attack, suffering their first defeat of the young season. It was a fast start to the game for both sides as the Violets recorded their three best scoring chances early in the game, but the Valiants were the first to break through on a 27th minute header from Omar Parra. Senior goalkeeper Lucas Doucette kept the game close totaling nine saves, but Manhattanville struck again in the 69th minute and held off the Violets’ late charge to secure a 2-0 victory. Top performers for the Violets included sophomore midfielder Ricardo Mitrano and senior captain Petter Aasa who led the team with three shots. Although the Violets hoped for a better result on Saturday, junior defender Gregory Suter remained optimistic. “Manhattanville is a tough team to beat,” Suter said. “As a team we feel like we have the necessary pieces to make a good run this year. There are a few things we can work on in practice this week to prepare for our upcoming games and UAA play.” The NYU men will also be back in action this week with away games against City College of New York on Sept. 7 and Hunter College on Sept. 10.
Email Ben Goodkin at sports@nyunews.com
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
NYU Women’s volleyball played this past weekend in NYU’s Labor Day Invitational, ending the competition with an even record of 2 wins and 2 losses.
Volleyball Starts Off Inconsistently By MICHAEL THOMPSON Staff Writer
Coming off of a shaky 2015 campaign, NYU women’s volleyball entered Labor Day weekend with a set of new faces and high hopes. However, the Violets were again hampered by inconsistency at the NYU Labor Day Invitational this past weekend at the Hunter Sportsplex. But after dropping their first two matches against Skidmore College and Rivier College, the Violets bounced back with two clean sweeps of Plattsburgh State and Ramapo College to even out their record. The Violets started the festivities off with a mid-afternoon 3-1 loss to Skidmore on Friday in a match that was up for grabs at several different points. Though they dropped the first two sets, the Violets fought back with a dominant 25-14 third set but were ousted 25-18 in the fourth. NYU was outperformed in most major categories, including kills, aces and digs. Junior and sophomore middle blockers Rayne Ellis and Gretchen Cash notched 10 kills apiece, while sophomore setter Daryl Mitchell anchored the Violets with 22 assists. Even junior libero Grace Napolitano’s team-high 24 digs weren’t enough to fend off defeat. Luck was not on the Violets’ side
later that day either, as the team suffered a 3-0 loss to Rivier, in which two sets were decided by three points or fewer. The Violets dropped the first 26-24 after leading 16-10 midway through the set. A 9-0 run by Rivier was enough to hold off the Violets, who fought back within one point before dropping the first frame. The second set went back-andforth. Down 22-18, the Violets went on a 5-0 streak to take a 23-22 lead, but Rivier stayed composed, and eventually put two crucial points together to take the set 27-25. Perhaps demoralized, the Violets went quietly in the third, losing by nine points. First and second-year outside hitters Caroline Rapp and Shelby King each finished with eight kills, and Mitchell again led the team with 33 assists. After a night of rest and refocusing, the tide turned on Saturday as the Violets won two matches in six sets — two stellar sweeps to get them back on the right track with an entire season ahead of them. After the misfortune of their game against Rivier, the Violets’ luck changed, as they took the first two sets against Plattsburgh State by two points apiece. Down 23-22, the Violets scored the last three points of the first to steal the set. The theme repeated itself in the second, as NYU
clawed its way back from a deficit as large as eight points to steal the set. With two in their pocket, the ladies put together a dominant 2513 third set to win their first match of the year. Rapp led in kills with nine, while sophomore setter Katie Goyette led in assists for the first time this season with 16. “The first day was a bit shaky,” said Ellis. “After losing our first two games our coaches turned to us and essentially said the future was in our hands. And I think at that point a lot of us checked back into what our responsibilities were. In our huddle before the first game on day two, Coach Ward had nothing to say other than ‘you already know what to do.’ We won both games, so I guess we did.” The Violets remained hot against Ramapo, and even showed the signs of a clutch gene, clinching the first and third sets en route to a 25-22, 25-19, 26-24 win. The Violets led in nearly every major category. Cash was back atop the stat sheet with nine kills, while Goyette led again with 25 assists. With the potential for a strong season ahead, the Violets are back in action on Friday against the Sage Colleges in New Paltz, NY.
Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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SPORTS
EDITED BY RACHEL RUECKER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Golf: Women Steamroll in Opener By MICHAEL THOMPSON Staff Writer
The NYU golf season got off to a tremendous start as both the men’s and women’s teams won their respective sides of the St. Lawrence University Invitational this weekend at the Oliver D. Appleton Golf Course in Canton, NY. The women didn’t leave much room for doubt in their performance, while the men battled short and fast greens to overcome a Saturday deficit.
Women The Violets looked as if they never missed a beat after last season’s late success, steamrolling over their opponents for a dominant first victory of the season. A team score of 599 was posted, the second lowest in program history, and 39 strokes ahead of second-place SUNY Cortland. The team played consistently each day, posting nearly identical scores of 300 and 299 on Saturday and Sunday to ensure the win. The Violets populated the top of the leaderboard, with freshman Arisa Kimura swinging herself into prominence with a breakout performance in her first college tournament. Kimura led all players with a one-under 71 on Saturday, and followed it up with a
solid 75 the next day to finish with a two-over 146 for the weekend. Her efforts were enough to hold off junior Violet Alyssa Poentis, who finished one stroke behind Kimura after a tournament-low 69 on Sunday. After agonizing over the prospect of missing the cut, Kimura feels she has plenty to offer for this Violets squad. “It feels amazing to have had an impact on the team especially because this time last week I was worried whether or not I would even make the team,” Kimura said. “I think I proved that I am a reliable player and I hope to continue to improve and impress the coaches by playing well in the next tournament.” Freshman Patty Treevichaphan and sophomore Jenni Bluetling rounded out the four Violets who cracked the top five with respective scores of 148 and 151. Junior Kristin Lee and freshman Ashley Tsoi weren’t far behind, both tied for six with identical 155 totals. After taking this coming weekend off, the women will be in action on Sept. 18 at the Ann S. Batchelder Golf Invitational in Wellesley, MA.
Men Though it wasn’t pretty at times,
the men’s squad survived early troubles and rose from the bottom on Sunday to earn their first win of the year as well. The Violets trailed Clarkson University by four strokes after Saturday, but surged on Sunday, overtaking all competitors to finish with a team score of 614, four shots better than Hamilton College. While the women’s team dominated with players atop the leaderboard, the men were able to win with only one player cracking the top five. Fellow freshman, Jensen Li, posted a strong 73 on Sunday and tied for fifth with a seven-over 151. Senior Eric Tarakjian was the only other Violet to finish in the top-ten with a 154. Returning sophomore Qizhi Wong and first-year player Kelly Sun were right behind, finishing 11th and 12th with one stroke separating them. Sophomore Lucas Olberholtzer finished in a tie for 23rd at +17, while freshman Matt Shen shaved 16 shots off of his Saturday score to finish in a tie for 35th. The men will look to stay hot this weekend at the Middlebury/ Lake Placid Invitational in Lake Placid, NY.
Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY TATIANA PEREZ
Palladium is one of many workout facilities that NYU offers to its students.
Where Are You Working Out at NYU? By ASHLEY ARNOLD Staff Writer
As summer winds down and we are headed towards what is sure to be a stressful semester, self-care is an important but oft-forgotten aspect of one’s overall health. Physical fitness is an essential step toward mental and emotional fitness as well. Thankfully, NYU is home to a number of athletic facilities on campus for students to use.
404 Fitness Centrally located amongst NYU residence halls, this is a new favorite following the closure of Coles. The new 404 Fitness is located a short distance from NYU’s main hub at Washington Square Park. Within the facility are elliptical machines, treadmills and stair steppers as well as a wide selection of cardio and strength training equipment. The lower floor is home to dance, locker and spin rooms as well as stretch areas.
Palladium Athletic Facility If you’re looking for a gym that has it all, then Palladium is your place. Palladium is located at East 14th Street, between Third Avenue and Irving Place just off Union Square, making it convenient for upperclassmen that live in the area. One unique feature of Palladium is its separate weight room, which has plate-loaded and selectorized machines as well as free weights. There is also a rock climbing wall that spans two floors. For
varsity swimmers and other students alike, Palladium has a deep water pool. The basketball court has six baskets for any half court or full court play. The rest of the gym includes cardio equipment, including stationary bicycles, stair steppers, elliptical trainers and treadmills.
Brooklyn Athletic Facility For NYU students who call the Brooklyn campus home, this is the ideal location to work out. Located in downtown Brooklyn at Six MetroTech Center, this athletic facility is complete with amenities ranging from treadmills to stationary bikes in the aerobic fitness room, weight training machines and stretching equipment and basketball courts to accommodate for other activities. The Brooklyn Athletic Facility is home to games played by our very own athletes in NYU’s badminton and table tennis clubs and also serves as the practice space for women’s and men’s varsity softball and baseball practices and a few varsity volleyball matches.
Gramercy Green Gramercy Green, an upperclassmen residence hall located on 310 Third Avenue, is home to a mini fitness center with just a few machines but no weight room. A major perk of this gym is that it is open 24 hours, allowing students who want to work out late at night to do so.
Email Ashley Arnold at sports@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM