NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 41, No. 57
wednesday, september 11, 2013
nyunews.com
BOE calls for recount after mayoral primary By WSN Staff
After a tight Democratic primary election Tuesday night, the Board of Elections will hold a recount starting on Monday, Sept. 16. The board’s media contact Valerie Vazquez said the recount will include affidavits and absentee ballots. The recount will determine whether a runoff is necessary between public advocate Bill de Blasio and former comptroller William Thompson. To avoid a runoff, a candidate needs 40 percent of the vote. At press time, de Blasio held 40.2 percent of the votes and Thompson held 26 percent of the votes. Even though de Blasio reached the required percentage, his poll numbers oscillated within a narrow margin for the majority of the night. Two percent of the precincts still need to report, and absentee ballots and affidavits need to be counted. According to a New York Times exit poll, Democratic primary voters preferred de Blasio to Thompson by nearly 20 points. Stern sophomore Samir Goel, a long-time de Blasio supporter, does not want a Democratic
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In remembrance: Students, faculty reflect on 9/11 Both longtime residents of New York City and students who have only arrived in New York in the last few years look back on the impact 9/11 left on the city. Turn to page 2 for their thoughts and a schedule of events taking place at NYU today.
Web series deliver alternative to fall television slate By Valerie Nelson
Over the past year, the Internet has shown itself to be one of the best sources of TV entertainment, an assertion proven especially true with the nine Emmy nominations for Netflix’s “House of Cards.” But beyond paid services like Netflix and Hulu Plus, other online sources will offer some intriguing new shows to entertain viewers this fall. “Emma Approved,” a modern day take on Jane Austen’s “Emma,” is set to premiere on YouTube this fall, depicting Emma as a career-driven woman in her mid-20s. The workplace comedy will focus on Emma and her co-worker Alex, as Emma promotes herself as a life coach in the vein of Martha Stewart or Oprah Winfrey. The series was created by Hank Green and Bernie Su, the same team behind the Emmy-award winning web series “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries.” Expect the same fun transmedia elements of “LBD,” with characters tweeting each other
and creating blogs. “GLOSS: A Digital Series,” to air on YouTube, can be described as a fashion thriller. The narrative will follow Max Luna, a style blogger who delves into the dark side of the world of fashion after a supermodel’s mysterious death. The series will take advantage of its platform with the adventures being spread throughout the Internet, on social networks like Twitter and Tumblr. While most web series are comedic, “GLOSS” promises to be suspenseful and sleek. “L.A. Girls” is a simply named series that imagines what the main characters of HBO’s “Girls” would be like in Los Angeles. The show, which premiered on YouTube last month, differs from the many parodies scattered online in that it doesn’t set out to insult the original series. Rather, there’s a sense of respectfulness as it uses the characters for inspiration. It can be enjoyed by fans of “Girls,” or even by those who haven’t seen a single episode. Either way, the
performances and writing are sharp and compelling. “Ghost Ghirls” is one of several series premiering on Yahoo this fall. Featuring Jack Black as a producer, this comedy is already receiving major buzz. The series will follow two friends who work as paranormal investigators. The “ghirls” are ditzy and oblivious, traits that are played up for laughs, though the series also promises some supernatural scares in its 12 episode season. “Ghost Ghirls” will also feature celebrity guest stars like Molly Shannon and Dave Grohl. The plot seems scattered, but it’s worth checking out just because of the notable star power behind it. The Internet has a long way to go before it can replace broadcast television and networks like HBO and Showtime, but with these series, it’s certainly taking a major step in that direction. Valerie Nelson is The Highlighter editor. Email her at vnelson@nyunews.com.
Swim coach brings Olympic past to team By Sydney Pereira
On Tuesday, Sept. 3, Doug Lennox, Olympian and NCAA All-American, was hired as an assistant coach for the NYU men and women’s swim teams. Lennox graduated from Princeton University in 2009 after setting several school records, and he competed in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2009 World Championships representing Puerto Rico. Following his Olympic swimming career, he taught kindergarten at the Leadership Prep Ocean Hill Charter School in Brooklyn, N.Y. At the school, he learned about child psychology, family communications and professionalism. “Having developed these skills and feeling the strong pull of my passion for swimming, I decided that now was the time to make the transition from teaching reading to teaching swimming, hence, coaching,” Lennox said. On top of taking on the role of assistant coach, Lennox also coaches at the Asphalt Green Unified Aquatics Club in Manhattan, coaching children ranging from children to adults. “Coaching at Asphalt Green was my first paid coaching opportunity. In my third and final year of full-time teaching, I worked two nights each week with the national and senior groups,” Lennox said. “I loved it so much that it encouraged me to make the transition to full-time coaching.” With his background in swimming and coaching, Lennox will aim to help the progress of the young swim team. As a part-time coach of the NYU swim team, he will assist with the recruitment process of all groups — sprint, middle-distance and distance.
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Washington Square news | wednesday, september 11, 2013 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
Students, Faculty Reflect on 9/11
Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief Jonathon Dornbush Managing Editor
jordan melendrez "I think it's really difficult to revisit the memory of 9/11 no matter how many years it's been since it happened. Although we as a national community still mourn the tragedy and the wounds are still very fresh, I feel this time always reminds us how strong of a unit we are. The mantra ‘united we stand’ rings loudly throughout the streets of New York especially." Asha Jordan Gallatin sophomore
“I think this incident has definitely impacted me to a certain degree, especially because I go to school in the city. Whenever my train is delayed or a subway stops longer than usual, I'm embarrassed to admit, in the back of mind I am never able to completely eradicate the suspicion of a terrorist attack. I wonder if people who grew up elsewhere have this sort of paranoia.”
“...at times I feel almost indestructible in this city. That's when I have to step back and remind myself about that day — my community lost many fathers and brothers in the attacks. It made the reality of the tragedies more tangible. It can happen to anyone, even me.” Alyssa Yurasits Gallatin sophomore
"When I first moved to New York, those buildings were the only way I could figure which direction I was walking in. It was the center point." Joe Salvatore Steinhardt professor of educational theater
Anjeli Song CAS sophomore
"Twelve years after 9/11, I feel like I can really look back and see a city that is back up on its feet. I know this happened almost a day or two after the attacks as well, but in this moment, I feel that we have emotionally and physically brought ourselves back to knowing that as a city, our spirit is eternal. Perhaps what triggers this feeling is being able to look towards the site of the Twin Towers and now see the Freedom Tower." Dipika Gaur Gallatin senior
"I remember that after 9/11, we have a fellow who takes care of our house, Juliath, and he had the largest American flag he could find and put it on his car, put it on his little carry bag because they were going after anybody. And I remember there were 19 Sikhs, with turbans, recognizable nonMuslims who were attacked and beaten if not killed in the United States after 9/11." Mosette Broderick CAS art history professor
“Somehow the fear, anxiety and vengeful and direct, yet slightly justifiable, attack back into the Middle East seems lost. The approval was the first to go and then apparently the unity among Congress. Many representatives and even Obama have promised an end to the terror of war that 9/11 ignited — but have failed to do so. So, you could say 9/11 marks a tragic day not only in our nation but our world.”
"So many years later I feel as though it’s important to pay respect not just to the innocent victims, but also to those who put themselves in harm’s way to save others. I believe that this day allows us to remember the caring nature of humans, although sometimes we tend to forget that there are genuinely selfless people in the world."
Qurat Khan Steinhardt senior
Anouk Thevenin Gallatin junior
Web Managing Editor
Hanqing Chen Creative Director
lyanne Natividad Blog Editor
amy zhang Special Issues Director
kaleel munroe senior staff
news Emily Bell, Nicole Brown, Michael Domanico investigative Kayana jean-Philippe arts jeremy grossman features JonathAn Keshishoglou sports francisco navas multimedia jonathan tan copy casey dalrymple social media Gentry Brown senior editors veronica carchedi, tony chau, dan hinton, michelle lim, stefan melnyk, sam rullo, wicy wang
deputy staff
news kevin burns, neela qadir,
billy richling books/theater dylan jarrett film alex greenberger entertainment isabel jones music jake folsom the highlighter blog valerie nelson features Marina Zheng beauty & style Ariana DiValentino dining Daniel Yeom sports Chris Marcotrigiano multimedia rachel kaplan, joon lee video alex linzmeier
opinion page opinion editor
raquel woodruff deputy opinion editors
Edward Radzivilovskiy, peter keffer
advertising business manager
ellen mcqueen
circulation manager
Chloe Coffman sales manager
alison lizzio
promotions manager
KALEEL MUNROE
service events at NYU
University and alumni coordinator
claire mahany
NYU is observing the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance for the third year, though the tradition of performing service on Sept. 11 dates back to 2002. Organized through the government’s United We Stand initiative, this year’s opportunities will include donating to returning veterans, volunteering at a soup kitchen and decorating cards for active military. Donation drive When: Sept. 11-13, 9 a.m. - 7 p.m. Where: Kimmel Center for University Life, Suite 704 What: Donating items for hygiene kits for returning veterans.
sales representatives
ariana divalentino, ethan jacobs, Sam Wander
advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORs-AT-LARGE
Soup kitchen When: 3:20 p.m. - 5:15 p.m, 4:45 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Where: New York City Rescue Mission, 90 Lafayette Street. Meet at Broadway and Washington Place to take the NYU B bus. What: Serving dinner to the homeless. Card making When: 10:45 a.m. - 7 p.m. Where: Kimmel Center for University Life, Seventh floor What: Decorating cards for active troops and veterans
Jaewon Kang, Amanda Randone, Emily Yang
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
photo via flickr.com
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nyunews.com | wednesday, september 11, 2013 | Washington Square news
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Democratic candidate remains undecided after primary
runoff because it would distract the candidate from campaigning against the Republican candidate. “He handled Hurricane Sandy very well, I thought, and I agree with his policies compared with the other democratic candidates,” Goel said. “I’d love to see him not have to fight off another Democrat over the next three weeks.” Steinhardt sophomore Kyle TiemanStrauss said he was amazed by the margin between de Blasio and Quinn, when a few months ago Quinn held a solid lead. “I think the voters of New York are looking for a new direction for this city, even though many think favorably of Mayor Michael Bloomberg,” Tieman-Strauss said. Former Democratic front-runner and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn finished third in the primary with 15.5 percent of the votes. The New York Times exit poll also reported that almost half of former Quinn supporters would cast their vote for de Blasio in a runoff, compared to three in 10 in favor of Thompson. GLS sophomore Lola Harney said she voted for Quinn, but she will continue to support the Democratic party candidate in the general election. “I was a big supporter of Bloomberg and a lot of [Quinn’s] stances are very similar to Bloomberg’s,” Harney said. Professor of politics Christine Harrington connected Quinn’s third-place finish in the polls with the speaker’s close association to the current administration. “The dissatisfaction with Bloomberg is something that turned around on her,” Harrington said. Former Metropolitan Transportation Authority chairman Joseph Lhota won the Republican primary with 52 percent of the vote, beating Gristedes owner John Catsimatidis, who held 40.6 percent of the votes, at 97 percent reporting. Gallatin sophomore Mishka Stueber voted for Lhota with her because of her future goals. “I wanted to choose a candidate who would benefit me careerwise, and as a civil engineer contemplating a focus in traffic engineering, it only makes sense that I would vote for the former chairman of the MTA,” Stueber said. Independent Adolfo Carrión Jr. will run in the General Election after running unopposed in the primaries. Stern senior Joanna Kamien said this is the first election that will have a personal effect on her. “I’d like to see our generation of early 20-something college grads be able to get jobs and continue to live in this city,” Kamien said. Professor of politics and public policy Patrick Egan said that something unfamiliar happened in the Democratic primary. “What is interesting about the Democratic primaries is that we really see a weakening of identity politics here in New York City,” Egan said, citing exit polls that said gay voters supported straight candidates over Quinn and black voters were just as likely to vote for white candidates as they were for Thompson. Egan also said in the General Election in November, Bloomberg will become a more important topic among the candidates. “New York has yet to have a real debate about the extent to which the Bloomberg policies should be continued and extended, or should be changed,” Egan said. Email the news team at news@nyunews.com.
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Cohorts bring together CAS sophomores By Elaine Lee
The College Cohort Program continues to evolve as it enters its second year in the College of Arts and Science. The CCP, which made its CAS debut with last year’s freshman class, now includes a new program for current sophomores. The sophomore program includes group activities organized by a student cohort president, as well as classwide activities organized by committees. “Every cohort president will plan an activity each semester for their cohort as well as sit on one of three committees — college life, academic inquiry or service,” CAS dean Gabrielle Starr said. “Together they’ll host an activity or program for the entire class around these topic areas, including inviting faculty to informal visits or discussions.” The CCP, run by the CAS New Student Center, is intended to foster academic and social networks which help students adjust to college life in their first year and build their foundations as upperclassmen. “The goal is to build small networks that support strong, diverse communities through cohort meetings, team building activities, and by providing access to NYU and CAS resources and services,” Starr said. According to the New Student Center, after freshman year, cohorts are designed to remain a foundation for exploring and engaging in the variety of academic and cultural offerings at NYU and throughout New York City. That mission relies heavily on the cohort presidents, who work with faculty and engage with their peers to continue building a strong sense of community within the cohorts, within CAS and within NYU. “There is a sentiment among students here that NYU lacks community,” sopho-
Rachel Cabitt for wsn
Cohort presidents must organize activities for their sophomore groups. more cohort president Bob Gardner said. “While I disagree, I understand many are still discontent with the social scene. I decided to get more involved in my cohort when I decided to accept responsibility for this issue. I will have succeeded as president of my cohort if I give even a fraction of my cohort a sense of community.” Cohort president sophomore Alyson Ferro said the students ultimately have control over the shape their cohorts take. “Students can expect from the cohorts whatever kind of activity they wish to participate in,” Ferro said. “Some of the possible events include outdoor sport-related events such as kayaking, pop culture events involving shows and inexpensive concerts or food-related gatherings.” The CAS cohort program was inspired by the Stern School of Business’ own cohort system, which has existed for approximately
10 years. The Stern’s program also lasts four years and is designed to foster community. But Starr says CAS has made the CCP its own. “In a short time it seems the CCP has become a staple here at CAS,” Starr said. “Ninety-two percent of students reported that the cohort meetings helped them learn about NYU resources, and 74 percent reported that the cohort meetings helped them adjust to life at NYU.” Sophomore Adu Matory said the help from the cohort program inspired him to be a cohort president this year. “I realized that I lucked out in terms of the community that developed around me freshman year,” Matory said. “So I decided to try to create the same warm environment for as many students as I could.” Elaine Lee is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
road to city hall
Mayoral primary Election winners to be determined
Joe Lhota
adolfo carrion jr.
republican
independent
Background
Background
Joe Lhota was born in the Bronx. His father was an NYPD officer. He attended Georgetown University and later went to Harvard Business School before becoming an investment banker. He worked under former Mayor Rudolph Giuliani’s administration, holding several positions, including deputy mayor for operations and director of the Office of Management and Budget. Most recently he served as the chairman and CEO of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority for the 2012 calendar year. Lhota is often credited for the MTA’s quick recovery after Hurricane Sandy last October.
Carrión Jr. served two terms as the Bronx Borough President before being named the Obama administration’s regional director of Housing and Urban Development in New York and New Jersey. Among his publicly stated reasonings for third-party candidacy he said, “The Democratic Party has taken for granted Latino and African-American voters, and the Republican Party has largely ignored both communities.”
For more on each of these candidates, visit nyunews.com.
Bill de Blasio democrat
WILLIAM THOMPSON democrat
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Summer Camp’s self-titled sophomore album keeps dog days alive By HANNAH TREASURE
It has been two years since Summer Camp’s debut album, “Welcome to Condale,” was released, which is enough time for the term “summer camp” to fade from our minds, now only a fleeting image of preteens screaming around lakes and living on s’mores. The band’s anticipated return has arrived to change our definitions once again, with their selftitled, sophomore effort. In “Welcome to Condale,” Summer Camp incorporates many of their beloved ’80s pop influences. But this time around, the duo hones their synth energy into a French house, danceable feel. Nevertheless, it’s the band’s vocal clarity that’s most at-
VIA FLICKR.COM
tention-grabbing, as Summer Camp trades in their beachy, distorted tone for a cleanliness to make the album more accessible. Long-time listeners may be disappointed with the lack of a lo-fi sound, but the band undoubtedly achieves their goal of producing a more inviting album. Beginning with “The End,” Summer Camp initiates an ethereal aura that leads perfectly into their released single, “Fresh,” a bizarre juxtaposition of bright lucidity and dreamy unconsciousness. Fans of Daft Punk’s summer hit, “Get Lucky,” will enjoy “Fresh” for its groovy feel and mainstream draw — the song is definitely geared toward radio listeners. Through “Crazy” and “Keep Falling,” Summer Camp introduces full sounds without becoming too overpowering. The orchestral samples and complex rhythmic choices enhance these two tracks, despite the cheesiness of the overproduction in “Crazy.” Lyrically, “Two Chords” stands out as a beautifully earnest and sincere song. Lines like “Let me be perfect/ It’s all I ever want” and “Waiting for the next thing/Will you wait with me” show an intimate side of Summer Camp, slipping you into a familiar curled-up-in-bed comfort. And to complement the lyrics are the expertly layered vocals of Elizabeth Sankey and Jeremy Warmsley — their harmonies are almost chillinducing and pair perfectly with the
lovely, calm piano instrumentation. The second half showcases their new clear, confident vocal strength, but then unfortunately starts to lose momentum and melt into commercial blandness. “I Got You,” “Everything Has Changed” and “Phone Call” do not take risks, connect to the listener or stand out. The section devolves into mostly filler material. However, “Phone Call” highlights the band’s intriguing attempt to dip into hip-hop sounds as lead singer Sankey spits out a vocal rhythm flow to the beat of 808 drum samples. “Night Drive” is also an attentiongrabbing track, thanks to the duo’s effortless male and female vocal combination. Hopefully, we’ll hear more of their musical chemistry in future albums. “Pink Summer,” the last track, ties together this fresh yet wistful album. It leaves you feeling as though you’ve just glanced through a photo collection of years past, with a newfound determination to make tomorrow better. There’s a sense of longing, but at the same time, energetic motivation. Aside from the lull in the second half of the record, Summer Camp’s self-titled album retains fluidity and cohesiveness throughout. Listen, dance, reminisce and hold onto their summertime feel all September long.
Within the past few years, American television has found itself populated with movie stars migrating to the TV screen. From Kevin Bacon on “The Following” to Mads Mikkelsen on “Hannibal” — to name a few from last season — the number only seems to be growing. This year’s freshman crop of shows already boasts the likes of Robin Williams (CBS’s “The Crazy Ones”), Anna Faris (CBS’s “Mom”), Greg Kinnear (FOX’s “Rake”) and more. So why are stars from the big screen making the move to network TV? Two of the most common reasons for this developing trend are the money and stability that a television series offers. Plus, unless the actor’s name is Will Smith or Angelina Jolie, films don’t always promise great salaries, especially when that film will often take over a year to complete. It’s a different story for actors on television. Signing on to do a television series means that not only are they guaranteed work for a certain number of episodes, but if the show gets picked up for a whole season — and in turn, subsequent seasons — they’re guaranteed work for at least the next couple of years.
An added incentive is that the structure of television programming means that actors are paid per episode. The average starting salary for a television actor is a cool $30,000. Hence, stars like Ashton Kutcher of “Two and a Half Men” rake in $700,000 per episode (currently the highest paid actor on television) while Lea Michele, star of FOX moneymaker “Glee” has received $75,000 per episode. Another perk is that not only does television allow for a greater number of compelling roles, but also that these characters have the space for the kind of growth and development
COURTESY OF CBS
Robin WIlliams is only one of many well-known stars on TV.
COURTESY OF REPUBLIC RECORDS
By PETER SLATTERY
a two-hour film can’t contain. Zooey Deschanel’s Jess on FOX’s “New Girl” would remain a caricature on film, but two seasons later, Jess is more complex, if not well rounded, than when she started. Television also offers actors a kind of visibility that film doesn’t. Viewers tune in on a weekly — or even daily — basis as is evident with the rise of Netflix streaming. Fans familiarize themselves with these actors and allowing them to build a fan following among their viewers. But as attractive as a career in television sounds, a large part of it hinges on whether an actor’s show is picked up. As witnessed these past few seasons, having a big name star attached doesn’t mean instant success for a series. Christina Ricci’s “Pan Am” was cancelled after 14 episodes while Patrick Wilson’s “A Gifted Man” lasted only 16 episodes. Despite making it past their first seasons, Christian Slater’s “Breaking In” and Kathy Bates’ “Harry’s Law” still received the axe midway through their second season. So even as television attracts bigger name stars who flock to the benefits that the big screen simply can’t offer, the real question remains whether they’ll be able to stay there.
“Kiss Land” is the debut studio album by Canadian singer Abel Tesfaye, also known as The Weeknd. Following three critically acclaimed mixtapes in 2011 (“House of Balloons,” “Thursday” and “Echoes of Silence”) and a 2012 remastered compilation project of that series called “Trilogy,” “Kiss Land” may be The Weeknd’s most expansive and ambitious project yet. The album includes some of the same sonic elements of Tesfaye’s previous work, most notably featuring his exquisite falsetto voice over a dark palette of echoing R&B beats. However, where his earlier work tended to lean toward simpler, lo-fi production, “Kiss Land” features far more layered, spacious, hi-fi production. In particular, “The Town” unloads powerful synth chords to set the tone of the project, while the string melody of “Belong to the World” fills the album’s core. In a July 2013 interview with Complex magazine, Tesfaye described “Kiss Land” as “an environment that’s just honest fear.” The album does sound dark and mysterious, but Tesfaye himself is not particularly scared. His voice is featured so prominently with such gargantuan backing beats and powerful, crisp percussion that “Kiss Land” often sounds more triumphant than fearful. In the beginning of “Belong To The World,” we hear gentle rain, birdsong and a muffled jaguar growl. The album’s title track is punctuated with amusement park screams. Undulating, looped vocal samples in the background of “Professional” feel almost like they are breathing. These subtle details pull the listener in, making “Kiss Land” a visceral experience. But the album actually lacks the interesting idiosyncrasies of the singer’s previous work. Tesfaye’s voice and lyrics aren’t lost in the echoes of his music anymore — they elevate the surreal music rather than drowning in the sound. The new style is not necessarily a bad choice — the spotlight given to The Weeknd’s vocals allows Tesfaye to flex his chops with a variety of styles on different tracks. While still singing in a falsetto, his voice rises from a fluttering whisper on “Professional” to a Michael Jackson-esque croon on “Wanderlust.” Lyrically, motifs focus on sex, loneliness, drugs, floundering misogyny and the nostalgic oddities of touring life, but it lacks the promised horror on “Kiss Land.” His lyrics possess an ominous edge but they’re far from sinister. Most of the time, the album’s tracks actually feel pretty human, each a differently misted window into the life of an imperfect artist and his emotions. The sound of “Kiss Land” isn’t immediately accessible, especially compared to The Weeknd’s R&B contemporaries. But The Weeknd makes for atypical R&B — “Kiss Land” is devoid of staple sing-along choruses, earworm melodies or even a clear single. “Kiss Land” isn’t quite a defining step for Tesfaye, but it’s a compelling and sonically stimulating listen with polished production and excellent vocals.
Nivea Serrao is a contributing writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Peter Slattery is a staff writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
Hannah Treasure is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
Big-name stars flock to small screen By NIVEA SERRAO
Vocals steal spotlight on ‘Kiss Land’
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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BEAUTY & STYLE
EDITED BY ARIANA DIVALENTINO BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
Try on these outfits for Cosmetics offer cruelty-free options New York’s winter weather for conscientious consumers By SHARANYA SATHYAPRAKASH
Summer in Washington Square Park is filled with sunshine, shorts and sandals. However, in a few weeks, the Northeast will swiftly descend into a bitter autumn and then winter that many NYU students may not be well-equipped for. In preparation for the change of seasons, students from warmer regions who are unfamiliar with the colder conditions in New York should be sure to stock up on weather-appropriate clothing pieces.
September This is the beginning of wonderful fall weather. The days will continue to be warm, so summer outfits are still useful. Evenings tend to cool down but are comfortable. Keep a cardigan or a light jacket for your nighttime strolls. Although J. Crew is known for their cozy sweaters, they can be expensive. Try J. Crew Factory for the same quality at better prices, like the Factory Always Cardigan ($29.50) in a variety of colors.
October Fall weather officially begins in October. The weather is cool, crisp and perfect for wandering the city. Thick knit cardigans and pullovers will be staples. H&M has a comfortable, beige cardigan ($34.95) that will keep you cozy in the chilly weather. Jeans are also a classic fall item, and Urban Outfitters’ BDG brand offers a variety of styles and colors to mix up your look. A comfortable, stylish pair of closed-toe shoes are worth the investment. Stores like DSW will prove useful in finding stylish but sturdy fall footwear.
resistant. A fleece jacket designed for winter weather may be a worthwhile investment, and gloves and a hat may be necessary towards the end of the month — in case a snow flurry occurs.
If you are a lover of both cosmetics and creatures, you’ve likely faced the moral crisis of buying beauty products from animal-testing brands, or products that contain animal derivatives. Fortunately, as consumers begin to look for ethically made products, the beauty world offers plenty of affordable options for cruelty-free, vegan primping from head to foot.
December As Christmas approaches, so does 30-degree weather and snow. Look for a winter coat that is both water-resistant and insulated. Reasonably priced brands that fit well can be found at ASOS, H&M, North Face and Land’s End. Always dress in layers. While the outdoors will be freezing, it will typically be quite toasty in stores, subways and other destinations. Another necessity is weatherresistant boots. Look for comfortable shoes that will keep your toes dry — brands like Merrell, Ugg, Bogs and Hunter are good options. Holiday sales can be a great way to save on these essentials. From ice skating at Rockefeller Center and Bryant Park to walking past the holiday window displays on Fifth Avenue and enjoying the Rockefeller Christmas tree light up at night, New York City in the wintertime can be truly magical. Be sure to stock up so you can enjoy all the city has to offer. Sharanya Sathyaprakash is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
November While the weather is chilly, the wind chill is almost unbearable. It’s time to break out those warm boots and jackets from the back of the closet. If you need a new pair of boots, Charlotte Russe and LuLu’s both carry a selection that will keep you warm until snow falls and you need something more water-
By ANGIE LIAO
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H&M offers several styles of water-resistant winter coats.
FACE
Lush Cosmetics Fresh Face Masks Lush Stores ~ $6.95/2.1 oz. pot These innovative facemasks are crafted from all fresh, vegan ingredients — so fresh, they have to be refrigerated for storage. One particularly well-performing mask is Cosmetic Warrior, a garlic-based mask that boasts a powerful scent and clarifying properties, but Lush offers several varieties of mask and continually develops more. Due to the perishable nature of the masks, they must be bought in store (locations include Union Square, Herald Square, SoHo and the Upper West Side) It isn’t recommended you keep them longer than two weeks, but they will definitely leave you with blemish- and guilt-free skin.
LIPS My Lip Stuff 100% Vegan Lip Balm mylipstuffstore.com ~ $4.50/.15 oz. tube With dry winter months approaching, lip balm is a must. Many drugstore lip balms include beeswax-derived ingredients that are seriously damaging to the environment, but My Lip Stuff balms are totally vegan and cruelty-free. S&M, for example is a delicious and cheekily named flavor combining sorbet and mandarin orange, but the site offers a range of spicy, sweet and natural tastes. It may seem strange to buy lip balm online, but don’t be afraid to buy in bulk. Lip balms, as everyone knows, do have the tendency to get lost.
HAIR
Manic Panic Amplified Hair Dye manicpanic.com ~ $17.30/4 oz. bottle Manic Panic is a venerated producer of hair dyes that are cruelty-free, vegan and excellent quality. Two four ounce bottles of Amplified hair dye can feasibly last you a year, depending on your hair length and color. The Amplified line is nontoxic, semi-permanent and comes in a range of enticingly titled shades such as Atomic Turquoise and Ultra Violet. Manic Panic also offers hair-dying accessories and less intense shades on their website.
BATH
Kalliste Solid Soap Kalliste Retail Store, kallisteshop.com $6.50/3.5 oz. bar Kalliste is an organic, vegan bath and beauty product store based out of Westchester, NY. Their soaps are nourishing, moisturizing and come in a variety of refreshing scents like cinnamon clove and oatmeal vanilla. Kalliste usually offers a sale around holidays as well as a variety of adorable specialty soaps for Valentine’s Day and Christmas. The solid soap also saves on packaging waste, a big environmental plus. As a homegrown, entrepreneurial business, Kalliste is known to have superior customer service as well as an intimate feel to the creation of their products. Kalliste also sells shaving accessories, lotions and creams — all divinely scented, organic and vegan.
Veganism is on an exponential rise as of late, but even those who aren’t ready for a complete lifestyle upheaval can make small changes by purchasing cruelty-free cosmetics. Some of the best products on the market right now do not rely at all on animal testing or byproducts, and a spa night with friends is no less enjoyable when compassion is added to the mix. Angie Liao is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
GLS student showcases mood-organized wardobe By CHRISTINA SAHLI
JONATHAN TAN/WSN
Alexa Smithwrick displays her colorfil and varied closet.
Whether you are reading a book, meeting a friend or just playing Frisbee in Washington Square, something about Alexa Smithwrick’s sunkissed and warm appearance as she walks past will draw your attention and make you smile. In a slightly oversized white shirt matched with a brilliant blue circle skirt pulled up to her waistline, the calm-natured GLS sophomore Smithwrick used a relaxed and coy voice to describe her favorite fashion pieces. The Virginia Beach native sifted through her closet while doing so, describing that she sorts her clothes by emotion. “It is really much easier this way. When I wake up in the morning it does not take me very long to get ready because if I am feeling strongly one way, I
can look in my frilly, flamboyant section,” she said. “If I am feeling quite another way, I can visit my retro ’50s section, or even my geometric section.” She pulled out a large amount of shockingly patterned circle skirts, saying she wears one every day and that pants are off-limits in her closet. She likes to match them with crop tops, similar to the ones her style icon Janet Jackson used to wear. Smithwrick’s circle skirts are followed by a heavy, vintage, embroidered top that used to be her mother’s. The black-andwhite top is her most prized article of clothing and Smithwrick believes her mother might have bought it at a costume shop. She obtained an internship during her freshman year with NMRKT, a company designed to connect bloggers to brands
who would not normally be in contact, and curate a look. But Smithwrick has other passions besides communication. In the Global Liberal Studies program, she is studying contemporary culture and creative production with an aim to one day write about sustainability in fashion and the way brands work in developing countries. She is particularly interested in knowing how corporations decide to give back to the women in these countries. “I love knowing who is making the products and that they have safe work conditions, as I used to work for American Apparel,” Smithwrick said. “I really do like knowing that the employees are being treated kindly.” Christina Sahli is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@ nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | wednesday, september 11, 2013 | nyunews.com
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The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Wednesday, September 11, 2013
The new york times crossword & daily sudoku Crossword ACROSS 1 Dos + dos + dos 5 Utterly hopeless 11 “We ___ the 99%” 14 Dermatologist’s concern 15 Capital on the Vltava River 16 ___ Heels (college team) 17 First name in folk 18 Like a raccoon’s tail 19 Confessional confession 20 *What paper profits aren’t 22 Checkout counter count 24 Counting-out rhyme start 25 Oil-rich nation invaded in 1990 26 Good dishes 29 Taste whose name means “savoriness” in Japanese
31 *Photo gear with variable focal lengths 34 Metro map points: Abbr. 38 Kind of clef 39 Like a fugitive 40 Hype up 41 Berate, with “out” 42 *Titularly 44 Lauder of cosmetics 46 Case for Scully and Mulder 47 Torch holder 50 Big Ben sound 52 To a great extent 53 *Sarcastic remark upon hearing bad news 58 Ashes holder 59 One passing out cigars, maybe 61 See 13-Down 62 “Shoot!” 63 “Seinfeld” woman 64 Hazmatmonitoring org.
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65 Prefix in some French surnames 66 Bing Crosby or David Crosby 67 Condé ___ DOWN 1 Mark for life 2 See 7-Down 3 Tierra surrounded by agua 4 *Precious, brief time with a loved one 5 Butcher’s wear 6 Like pickle juice 7 With 2-Down, book that includes the line “Conventionality is not morality” 8 Like a soufflé 9 Word before card or stick 10 Rote learning, to most people 11 Where hurricanes originate 12 “Spider-Man” director Sam 13 With 61-Across, physicist who studied supersonics 21 ___ plan 23 Drink garnish … or a hint to five letters in the answer to each starred clue 25 Casey of “American Top 40” 26 Executive branch V.I.P. 27 Tunnel, e.g. 28 I as in Ilium?
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29 Rte. with a terminus in Key West, Fla. 30 Natural table 32 A-listers 33 Slim to ___ (poor odds) 35 “Mickey” vocalist ___ Basil 36 Empty, as a math set
37 Eyelid woe 43 Part of a dental visit 45 Act parts 47 Nine, in baseball 48 Wish evil on 49 Farm sounds 50 Hughes’s Spruce Goose, e.g. 51 One with seniority
53 Olympic skater Michelle 54 Hippie’s “Got it!” 55 Friendship org. of 1962 56 Phil who sang “Draft Dodger Rag” 57 Word from the hard-of-hearing 60 QB Manning
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
Greatest threat to Syria is refugee plight By RAJ MATHUR
Syria is in crisis. The lives of millions of innocent civilians, the stability of its neighbors and American national security are all at stake — but it has nothing to do with President Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons. Assad’s slaughter of over 1,400 civilians, 426 of which were children, on Aug. 21 has commanded American and international attention over this past week. However, this event has even further sidelined the most significant challenge of this sectarian civil war — the displacement of over six million Syrians, two million of whom are now refugees in other nations. The Syrian refugee crisis threatens to destabilize the entire Levant. Lebanon, a nation whose tenuous system of government assigns parliamentary seats based on the populations of its religious groups, has seen the greatest influx of refugees. The arrival of 716,000 mostly Sunni Syrians threatens to fundamentally undermine the balance of the Lebanese state. All of Syria’s neighbors are at serious risk of similar instability, and it is hard to imagine a more volatile time. Jordan is already a delicate amalgamation of refugees, Iraq is torn apart by sectarian violence and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s support of the Syrian rebels is increas-
ingly unpopular domestically. Syrian refugees, whose numbers are growing rapidly, will exacerbate these dynamics and further destabilize each of these nations. Such volatility undermines U.S. national security, as it increases the likelihood of the Syrian civil war evolving into a regional sectarian conflict — which would undermine Israeli security, diminish American clout in the region and likely be accompanied by human rights abuses. There is an even more direct threat to the United States apropos Syrian refugees — Islamic fundamentalism. Hundreds of thousands of young predominantly Sunni men have been displaced by a minority Alawite president clinging to power through ferocious military force. UN refugee camps are characterized by economic hardship and few prospects for employment. In nations like Turkey, refugees and rebels are operating in close proximity, and radical Islamist groups like the al-Nusra Front,
an al-Qaeda affiliate, increasingly dominate the Syrian rebel forces. Refugees are entering societies that are increasingly hostile to their presence. All these conditions make Syrian refugees ripe for radicalization — a process that has been seen in the past with Palestinian and Afghani refugees. If American so-called nation building in Iraq and Afghanistan dispelled radicalization, the deconstruction and collapse of Syria as a viable state will do the exact opposite. The long-term strategic interest of the United States in Syria lies not in Assad’s use of chemical weapons, but in the refugee issue. To ameliorate the crisis, America must first work closely with Syria’s neighboring nations on shortterm economic and political integration of the refugee population. The United States must substantially increase its financial commitment to the UN Refugee Agency, the only organization with the experience to oversee the crisis. Lastly, the U.S. must keep its attention focused on the refugee crisis. Indeed, an issue that receives limited press coverage and that is rarely talked about by American politicians may be the most pivotal in determining America’s fate in the Middle East over the next decade. Raj Mathur is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
GOVERNMENT
Americans must not live in fear of terrorism By IAN MARK
On this day, we remember 9/11 and the nearly 3,000 lives lost. But on this day, we also choose to forget. We forget the horrific way the American government responded, the wars and the spying and the lies. The phrase “never forget” is heard frequently, particularly on this date, and doing so is supposedly a symbol of American resilience and unity. But 9/11 has also been a tool, part of a manipulative effort to scare citizens into obedience. We remembered 9/11 as our troops terrorized Afghanistan in search of Osama bin Laden and invaded Iraq in search of who knows what. We remember 9/11 as we prepare to intervene in Syria, to add to a different body count that is far greater than 3,000. The events on 9/11 changed everything. We live in a post-9/11 world. This mindset is used to justify many of our government’s more questionable actions. The NSA and its domestic spying programs, which President Barack Obama continues to deny exist, are necessary because
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of this post-9/11 world. Members of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence like Republican Rep. Peter King claim these warrantless wiretaps have prevented that tragedy. But spying had actually started up to seven months before 9/11, per former QWest CEO John Nacchios, and it has not stopped tragedies since, like the Boston Marathon bombings. The wars have not stopped terrorism either — a stronger argument could be made that by increasing anti-American sentiment, wars have increased the likelihood of terrorist attacks. And what is that likelihood? Estimates currently put the chance of an American dying in a terrorist attack in the United States at 1 in 20
million. In other words, the chance of you dying in a terrorist attack is .00000005 percent. That is an impossibly small number, but it is also one that will never equal zero. As long as we live in a free society, where I can buy a gun tomorrow or order the materials to build a bomb online today, terrorism will be possible. That is no reason to live in fear. Obama lamented, “The odds of dying in a terrorist attack are a lot lower than they are of dying in a car accident, unfortunately.” These statistics are unfortunate for Obama, because it is much easier to frighten citizens into apathy and obedience with plane crashes and bombs than dysfunctional brakes and occasional accidents. The government wants Americans to remember the fear of 9/11 without any attempt to understand its causes or aftermath. We should forget 9/11, not the victims or the event itself, but the irrational patriotism and fear it inspired, in favor of remembering Abu Ghraib, Iraq and Prism. Ian Mark is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Apple shows concerns for profit over product
Apple announced yesterday the release of two new iPhones, one of which is a low-cost model priced at $100 with a contract. This cheaper option, called the 5C, is aimed at developing nations, where a big portion of the consumer market has so far been unable to afford the originally expensive smartphone. In the early 2000s, a smartphone was considered superfluous — a nice toy to have, but only a necessity for wealthy business professionals. Now they are a staple of everyday life, allowing 24-hour access to email and the Internet. They are also commonplace even in developing nations, as Apple hopes to gain a foothold in the untapped markets of less industrialized nations. This iPhone may edge out the competition in foreign markets because of its lower price and brand name, but its failure to deliver on innovation brings how essential it is into question. Apple, a tech industry giant that has promised a combination of creativity and functionality since its time as a small player, is clearly sacrificing innovation for the expansion of their market share. The new iPhone 5C has virtually no new features, with the exception of its new compatibility with global cellular networks. Like the PC before it, the iPhone began as a luxury — first considered excessive, then indispensable and now even extending its reach into the developing markets. While facilitating the spread of technology into burgeoning economies is admirable, the strategy of relying on large sales and low profit margins is not so noble. Apple and their competitors are forced to produce new products at a pace that is incompatible with the speed at which meaningful scientific discoveries occur. Before the iPhone, Apple distinguished itself by valuing quality over quantity. However, since the phone became their main source of revenue and the company grew to become the world’s most valuable, it now joins competitors in a business model based on high sales volume, increasing the amount of different products which are similar in purpose and in consequence the amount of electronic waste the planet has to deal with.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-Chair).
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
LENNOX continued from PG. 1
Swim team’s most recent coaching addition brings Olympic, teaching background
“With my experience, knowledge and passion for the sport, I believe that I can offer new insights to the coaches on how to incorporate different types of training,” Lennox said. “And I can give actionable feedback to swimmers who are intent on improving not only this season, but over their four years on the team.” But Lennox is not just a coach. He also swims for the New York Athletic Club, which is home to Olympians Tyler McGill and Kim Vandenberg. Since he is still swimming, he can explain and help with swimmers’ technique. “I know what I’m thinking about the techniques when I’m swimming, and that helps me figure out how to articulate it to other swimmers,” Lennox said. “I can try to express that to someone who is trying to do something for
the first time.” Head coach of the swim team, Trevor Miele, is confident that Lennox will add new ideas to the coaching staff and help the entire team improve. “Doug brings a lot of swimming knowledge to the pool deck,” Miele said. “I’m sure he’ll have a ton of ideas in regards to writing practices, and he’ll be a great resource for helping each swimmer with their technique.” On Oct. 12, the swim team will compete against the State University of New York, Cortland to open the 2013-2014 season. Sydney Pereira is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
INFORMING YOU FIRST
NYUNEWS.COM
Sports industry pays star athletes too much By CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO
The vast majority of the population would be absolutely astonished if they knew how expansive and profitable the professional sports industry is across the world. Plunkett Research Ltd. estimates that the business grosses about $440 to $470 billion annually. This number includes professional sports revenue, as well as sporting apparel, advertising, video games, and equipment. The industry is a money-making machine for corporate interests and its roots stretch far and wide in our society. The question is, to what extent should players be compensated for these profits and how much would it take to be considered obscene? One of the most infamous contracts given to a player in any sport was signed by Alex Rodriguez in 2007. After opting out of his previous contract, A-Rod received a 10 year, $275 million deal from the New York Yankees at the age of 32. This meant that he would be paid an average of $27.5 million per year until he was 42 years old, which is far beyond the prime years of physical prowess for any baseball player. To put this into perspective, if healthy, a baseball player will typically play 600 at-bats in a season. This means Rodriguez is making almost $46,000 per at bat. Obviously this oversimplifies the math, but the larger point of the sheer size of the contract still stands. This phenomenon extends beyond our national borders into Europe and beyond. Soccer is the most popular sport in the world and people are willing to spend a ton of money to watch the best teams and players compete. On Sept. 1, Tottenham Hotspur of the English Premier League traded their 24-year-old star player Gareth Bale to Real Madrid for a sum of €100 million, which equates to about $132 million. In his most successful season at Tottenham, Bale scored 26 goals for the club. If you only go on past performance, Madrid paid Tottenham about $5 million for each one of the goals Bale scored. In economic terms, we see a few things at work here. One is a theory
called the economics of superstars. This essentially stipulates that based on skill, name recognition or other factors, certain people deserve a far greater sum for their service even though it may be comparable to someone else, according to economist Sherwin Rosen. Michael Cuddyer, an outfielder for the Colorado Rockies, hit the same number of homeruns as Alex Rodriguez in 2012 (18), yet is paid roughly one-third of A-Rod’s annual salary. Why? Because the vast majority of people haven’t heard of Michael Cuddyer and wouldn’t pay a cent to see him play. Rodriguez, despite being mired in controversy, still raises ticket sales for the Yankees even though his performance has decreased dramatically. The second factor is the idea of supply and demand that most of us are familiar with. The fact is that the majority of professional athletes are paid a good deal of money. The minimum contract in the NBA for a veteran of the league stands at about $1.3 million. The minimum for a MLB player of any tenure is over $400,000. What is the simple reason they are paid far more than the average worker? Essentially, it is that there aren’t that many people that can hit a baseball thrown at 95 miles per hour or shoot a threepointer consistently. The same goes for other sports. These factors, along with the lucrative nature of the business, have lead to the proliferation of continuously increasing sports contracts. The amount of tickets the Yankees or Real Madrid will sell, as well as merchandise and concessions, will far outpace what they have paid for players like A-Rod or Bale, other factors notwithstanding. The prices of these contracts will only go up as long as executives find ways to squeeze more money out of this already profitable industry. Even though basic economics explain this phenomenon, morality disagrees. In time public opinion and outrage will catch up with professional sports, just like they did with the financial industry in 2008. Chris Marcotrigiano is deputy sports editor. Email him at cmarcotrigiano@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
The salary system in several sports is wildly imbalanced.