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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM

How NYU Remembers 9/11 By NEWS TEAM

On Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 individuals lost their lives when members of the terrorist group Al Qaeda flew two planes into both World Trade Center towers in New York City. Although it was one of the deadliest attacks on American soil, today’s average undergraduate student was only three to six years old when the event took place. WSN spoke with NYU students about how they commemorate this tragic day in American history and how their perceptions of 9/11 have changed 15 years later. “I was only three when 9/11 happened, so I can’t remember much of anything, but my parents have told me I was at preschool, just dropped off when the attacks happened. I went to a Jewish preschool, and they had to end the school day early.” — Noah Weitz, Tandon freshman While the event may be a bit out of focus for those of us who grew up outside of New York, students who were raised in the Empire State can recall the day as if it just happened. “That was probably one of the worst days of my life. I remember seeing the attacks first hand, the planes, the explosions, the people. I saw more than what anyone would ever want to see. I felt like I couldn’t stand on my two feet, and I was crying ex-

cessively. It took me a long time and love and support from my family to really get past this attack.” — Akash Das, Tandon sophomore Although one of the most tragic events in American history, Sept. 11 is also remembered as a time when the entire country united behind the red, white and blue to support fellow countrymen and women. It is often said that we were all New Yorkers that day. “I think it’s really amazing how something so tragic can pull a bunch of people together from all walks of life, people who would generally never talk, they all band together to create something that is stronger than the hate against them. And I think it’s amazing that through the years, there’s still that camaraderie, that was even back then, that still keeps people together.” — Sophie Szczotka, Steinhardt freshman While we commemorate the event by visiting the One World Trade Center, the reflecting pools and the 9/11 museum, we also see lasting effects of the tragedy in our day-to-day lives even 15 years later. “As you get older and you start to understand the gravity of the situation, you start to feel an emotional connection, especially for the families of people who died. But you also… see things as you go through the airport.

There’s this increased airport security. It makes you reflect on how things changed, caused by 9/11.” — Branson Tibbs, Stern sophomore Wherever you are from, studying at NYU gives us the privilege of understanding the tragedy with a deeper connection. “It wasn’t until I arrived at NYU that the reality of the tragedy entered my purview. Walking past the World Trade Center on the horizon by Thompson Street every morning, I could then only process the magnitude and sheer scope of the fateful catastrophe that consumed the world I was raised in… As well, watching the emotionally-charged but cathartic “Reading of the Names” every year is not only healing, but helps me acknowledge the powerful community values New Yorkers espouse — irrefutable resilience and the strong will to keep moving forward.” — Daniel Brioso, CAS sophomore.

Email the news team at news@nyunews.com.

STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON

Two bright beams shine from the 9/11 Memorial’s reflecting pools, marking the sky with a ghost of where the Twin Towers once stood.

* The story below ran in the September 12, 2001 print edition of the Washington Square News.

NYU Steps Up By WSN Staff What began yesterday as a normal day in Manhattan ended in tragedy, the likes of which we may never and hope to never experience again. Now that much of the comotion [sic] has subsided, we as a city and as a University community have to face what might be an even more difficult challenge than overcoming the shock of yesterday’s event — moving forward. While no damage or injuries have been reported to NYU facilities, employees or students, there will undoubtedly be lost family members, friends and others that will require the support of our University. The Washington Square News would like to extend its sympathies to all involved and give

a special commendation to all employees, Protection Services officers and administrators who have exerted themselves over the past 24 hours to make dealing with this situation as easy and as organized as possible. While many students have been rendered essentially homeless by yesterday’s tragedy, NYU has responded quickly and thoughtfully in providing these students with food, shelter and resources to cope with such a chaotic, daunting and ultimately uncertain situation. We would also like to commend the students on their reaction to the discomfort and upheaval that has resulted. Students around campus overwhelmingly responded with concern, cooperation, patience and most tellingly support for the victims of the attack. NYU

students joined people from all over the city to flood hospitals with blood donations and many more who were turned away due to the surplus have vowed to return later in the week. In the wake of such a catastrophe, it is difficult to say if things will get better before they get worse. Although it would be easy to succumb to anger and assign blame, we must continue to look past the frustration that inevitably results from such a disaster. One of the hallmarks of this University is the ethnic diversity of its student body. But, it is essential to remember that our bond as NYU students and New Yorkers defies cultural lines. Help and support, not anger, is what we need right now.

CRIME LOG Sept. 1 to Sept. 11 By LEXI FAUNCE Investigative News Editor The NYU Department of Public Safety received one report of simple assault, one report of harassment, one report of larceny and one report of controlled substance between Sept. 1 and Sept. 11.

Simple Assault On Sept. 1 at 1:45 a.m., a contract guard reported that he was slapped by an intoxicated student while attempting to provide assistance.

Harassment On Sept. 1 at 8:45 a.m., an NYU staff member reported than an unidentified employee of an

NYU contractor threw a beverage at him while in Lafayette Hall and threatened his life.

Larceny On Sept. 4 at 1:00 p.m., a student reported that he left his wallet in the Third North cafeteria on Sept. 3 and discovered it missing when he returned the following day.

Controlled Substance On Sept. 5 at 12:57 p.m., an RA reported the smell of marijuana coming from a room in the Alumni Hall residence hall. Marijuana and marijuana paraphernalia were recovered.

Email the News Team at news@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Greenwich Village Stands Up for Standing Rock

By DIAMOND NAGA SIU News Editor

Speakers at the Rally for Standing Rock in Washington Square Park on Friday reminded the crowd that we all speak a foreign language: English. Repeatedly, they referenced to Manhattan as “Manhatta,” the name for the land before colonization, and they recounted stories of how Native Americans, over generations, have been evicted from the land they once occupied before settlers arrived. The Dakota Access Pipeline is an underground pipeline for oil that would run near the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s reservation in North Dakota. People are angry about this development because oil pipes have a high risk of leaking and would endanger water quality and subsequently the well-being of surrounding people. Department of Anthropology Ph.D Candidate Teresa Montoya hails from the Navajo nation, and she donned a T-shirt that said “Strong, Resilient, Indigenous.” She

said that in the Navajo language, there is a saying that water is life, and they believe that water gives people strength. “The question of Standing Rock is that if the pipeline goes through, it’s not if it’s going to spill, it’s about when,” Montoya said. “How many thousands and millions of people live on the water? This is not just an issue for native people — this is an issue for everyone.” She said that she has been working with a group called Water is Life for the past year and that the people within the group identify themselves as protectors — not protesters. New York City no Dakota Access Pipeline organized this peaceful rally, and all the members of the organization echoed the sentiment of being protectors. Anne Spice, one of the organizers and emcees of the event, said that the rally was a collaborative effort of indigenous scholars, activists and allies at CUNY, NYU, The New School, Columbia and people outside of academia. “Together, we brainstormed ac-

Are Segregated Dorms the Answer? By FAITH GATES Contributing Writer

College students of color across the country are currently questioning whether having segregated dorm houses will create a safer environment for minorities after the California State University of Los Angeles unveiled its new separated housing facilities for black students this semester. Nine months ago, the CSULA’s Black Student Union wrote a letter of requests for a “themed living community” where black students could “congregate, connect and learn from each other.” This semester, the school revealed the Halisi Scholars Black Living-Learning Community, which immediately sparked media attention about what this represents and what future this represents. Many supported this movement while others were against this decision. CAS junior Skylar Mealing, a student of color, said she would support the NYU administration working together with the BSU to bring inclusive policies to campus. However, Mealing said the language surrounding the policy could be changed to better define how these living accommodations help students of color. “To use the term “segregated” creates a negative connotation for the living-learning community that isn’t indicative of what it is,” Mealing said. “They’re creating a black-focused living learning community that is open to anyone. To say ‘segregated’ is to say that these students are being sep-

tions,” Spice said. “We were busy putting together a ‘Standing Rock syllabus’ and organizing a teach-in at Columbia University when we got word of the violence (dogs and mace) unleashed on water protectors by private security in North Dakota. This crystallized our decision to hold a rally. Because the camps at Standing Rock have made it clear that they are not going anywhere, we wanted to send them winter supplies.” She said that over 2,000 people were at the rally during its peak, and they collected over 10 bins of supplies to send to Standing Rock. Executive Director of American Indian Community House Kevin Tarrant said that NYCnoDAPL contacted him to help lead songs and chants with his drum group. “I think this is going to help with the awareness,” Tarrant said. “That’s basically what this — today — is about. We’re going to raise awareness, because most people who aren’t native or aren’t from the area don’t know what this is about.”

Spice said that the show of solidarity and support for the Oceti Sakowin (the proper name for the Sioux tribe) and for indigenous peoples across Turtle Island was deeply moving, and she said that she remains committed to indigenous sovereignty. “I am inspired by the enactment of unity and indigenous resilience, and our group will con-

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tinue to fight against the Dakota Access Pipeline until the project is destroyed,” Spice said. “It is our responsibility to do so, and we will continue to fight— for Standing Rock and for all those resisting the violent colonial encroachment of extractive industry.”

Email Diamond Naga Siu at dsiu@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY DIAMOND NAGA SIU

Last Friday, a large crowd gathered in Washington Square Park to rally against the the Dakota Access Pipeline that would endanger the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota.

NYU Prof Scrutinizes Zika with New Grant By LAVANYA SHUKLA Contributing Writer

PHOTO BY DIAMOND NAGA SIU

Gramercy Green is known as one of the best NYU dorms, but with segregation, not everyone would have the opportunity to live there. arated by force. I think that it is a step forward. They are creating a space for people of all color to live and learn together about a particular marginalized community.” In addition, Mealing said colleges in states with a particularly insidious history of racism should consider implementing similar communities within residence halls. “We live in a racialized climate, and to create a home of folks with a common interest in dismantling racism is a good thing,” Mealing said. “It’s a step.” Tisch sophomore Alex Welch presents as white and was also concerned with the language used to describe the residence hall communities. “The word segregated takes [society] back to a time when segregation was forced,” Welch said. “But since it’s the black students putting the idea forward and not white people, I say more power to them.” Welch is a fan of safe places on campus and often uses the LGBTQ Student Center as a place to go to meet people like her and talk freely about oppression. Welch said that if enough students don’t feel safe with their current living situation, the university should consider a similar type of housing option like CSULA. However, some students feel

like the “segregated housing” is a step backwards in history, saying this is what the Civil Rights movement fought against. Tisch junior Kyle Schmidt, who presents as white, said he understands the need for unity of within different races but also said racism will never be abolished unless all cultures are constantly integrating. “NYU is so diverse on its own, we don’t need that,” Schmidt said. “It’s the hub of so many different cultures and nationalities. The reason we are so successful is because we all cooperate and make these ideas together.” Tisch freshman Jacarrea Garraway signed up for the Black Students Union at NYU, and she thinks that while some students not of color might present hostility, segregating dorms will not help alleviate the situation. “I love and understand the mission of the BSU, but I don’t think they necessarily want segregated dorms; I see it more as they want to be separated from people who project ignorance onto people of color,” Garraway said. “Many members of the BSU maintain strong relationships with White Allies, so it’s not a matter of separating race but separating conflict.”

Email Faith Gates at news@nyunews.com.

From deformed newborns to menacing looking mosquitos, the Zika virus has scared parents and kids all over the world. But NYU Professor of Biology and Public Health Elodie Ghedin hopes to calm the hysteria. Ghedin was recently awarded a one million dollar grant by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to expand her work on the Zika virus. Her research focuses on infected individuals by examining blood, urine and saliva samples to study the virus within different tissues. “We’re essentially decoding the host response to infection to look at certain patterns of gene expression,” Ghedin said. “This helps us identify why certain individuals have a severe infection while others do not.” When asked about the future of the virus, Ghedin says it is unclear whether Zika is here to stay, as it may be an epidemic or endemic. An epidemic comes and goes, similar to a sudden wave of disease. This is the opposite of an endemic, which entails year-round transmission and is not a one-time event. Gallatin sophomore Mairead McConnell said she contracted Zika during spring break in Cancun earlier this year. She was sitting poolside without insect repellant and got bitten by mosquitoes. McConnell felt drained for two weeks and found it difficult to keep up with her classes. “Zika is a virus, so there is nothing you can do other than rest,” McConnell said. “It’s just like mono — you are out of commission for a short time and then you are back to normal.” While Zika can be spread through sexual contact during an active infection, it mainly poses a significant

risk for those who are pregnant or trying to get pregnant because there is a heightened risk of neurological birth defects like microcephaly. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that in most adults, Zika is a minor, non-life threatening illness. There is conflicting advice for students looking to travel in Zika-affected areas. Arthur Caplan, a professor at NYU Langone, recommends all individuals of reproductive age to avoid travel to so-called Zika “hot zones,” and to take necessary precautions such as using mosquito nets and practicing safe sex. In May, Caplan, along with other prominent scientists and ethicists, had signed a letter urging the Rio Olympics to be cancelled. “We were very concerned that the spread of Zika might be accelerated by the athletes, tourists, and journalists visiting a Zika hot zone — through mosquitoes, sex or blood donations by infected people,” Caplan said. On the other hand, Gallatin junior Alison Del Handel said the Zika narrative is very different elsewhere than it is in the United States, and when she did research in Sao Paulo, many of her local friends commented about how the American and European media was blowing the situation out of proportion. “You would be shocked by how unconcerned the average city-dwelling Brazilian is about Zika,” Del Handel said. “It is really only harmful if you are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant, so please do not not go to Buenos Aires or Rio de Janeiro or Santiago or wherever, because you’ll miss out on an amazing part of the world.”

Email Lavanya Shukla at news@nyunews.com.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM

ARTS

EDITED BY HAILEY NUTHALS ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Tisch Trio’s Exhibit Pokes Fun at Control

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NYU is almost comically known for its love of the arts. But, with a bustling city producing incredible art for the world to consume, it can be easy to forget that those at NYU are already contributing to that world. This Thursday saw some of that talent recognized and appreciated at Steinhardt’s Barney Building, where Lilli Bitucci ‘14, Audrey Tseng ‘15 and Olivia Chou ‘14 collaborated on a gallery entitled, “I am only in control of vegetables.” This is a case where it is hard to explain the contents of a gallery because they are so extremely diverse andstrange. Many of the works center around plants, such as the wall zucchini or the wall of houseplants (a play on the idea of controlling vegetables). There’s also a heavy emphasis on food, such as a stack of salami hiding in a closed fridge — which pulled some big laughs — and the centerpiece of the whole

gallery: a fake turkey hat, wig and egg sitting in chairs on a stage. However, the gallery is not limited to food-based installations. Other gems include a series of suspended clear orbs filled with blue glitter, a chair held up by golden apples and a tower of beach balls. It is utterly fascinating to see the differing styles of three artists coming together, frequently collaborating on various works in the gallery. Tseng’s solo works prominently feature gold and blue hues, boasting a classic, stoic mood. Chou’s feature the most garish colors — she is responsible for the giant beach ball. Bitucci brings in the most eclectic and strange works of the bunch (the salami fridge is her creation). It’s a testament to their collaborations that each piece feels like it fits, despite the noticeably different styles. Finding multiple artists whose works can pair together is tough enough, but having those artists create work together can be nearly impossible. It’s a testament to the skill they have as

artists, as well as the camaraderie the trio shares. All together, the gallery is a light and entertaining display, created by three artists who clearly are having fun with the strange and surreal nature of art (the salami installation encourages you to take a slice and

slap someone with it). It’s nice to find artists who are this confident in their eccentric styles. It also can be easy to forget that the student sitting next to you at Kimmel or Bobst might be an artist already kick-starting their career, and opportunities like this are valuable reminders

of that. “I am only in control of vegetables” is on display at the Barney Building at 34 Stuyvesant Street through Sept. 24.

Email Carter Glace at arts@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY THOMAS LANGE

“I Am Only in Control of Vegetables” is a Tisch student art gallery on display through September 24.

The Magic of YA Publishing

NYUNEWS.COM

By CARTER GLACE Staff Writer

By JORDYN JOSEPHINE FISCHER Contributing Writer The Strand Bookstore, a jewel of Greenwich Village, hosted a panel on children’s and young adult publishing on Wednesday, Sept 7, starring executive editor and author Cheryl Klein’s instructively enriching latest novel, “The Magic Words.” Released the day before the panel, “The Magic Words” is a captivating guide for rising writers. Cheryl Klein puts dreams into focus with a step-by-step, intricate exploration of the character-constructing and agent-seeking journey that authorship entails. She explains the developmental process of revision, encourages diversity and distinguishes between middle-school and young adult novels. “The Magic Words” is a masterful account of experience and an indispensable addition to the bookshelf of all aspiring children’s and young adult fiction writers. The panel included Kass Morgan, editor and bestselling author of “The 100” trilogy; Alvina Ling, vice president and editor-in-chief at Little Brown Books for Young Readers; Brooks Sherman, an agent representing young adult and children’s fiction at The Bent Agency; and of course, Cheryl Klein, executive editor at Arthur A. Levine Books/ Scholastic and author of “The Magic Words.” When asked what she thought counted as “good writing” and how authors could make it work, Klein responded, “What I look for is the author’s creation of emotion within the character as well as

within the reader… When I read a manuscript I keep a plot checklist. What is the plot? Where is the inciting incident?” Sherman also offered up some advice on the topic — “When you’re writing to tell the reader something more about the world, driving the plot and creating a character simultaneously — you’ve got it. The three have to be done all together, not one after the other, or your writing will sound choppy… It’s also important to avoid cliches: not everyone winks when they’re mischievous!” Morgan then commented on the unexpected challenges of being both an editor and a writer. “It was like leading people through basic

training and never doing the obstacle course. I’d like to say my experience editing helped, but it didn’t! I was so defensive. I guess it’s kind of a human thing.” The panel itself was an illuminating look into the particular challenges that face younger writers who are trying to transition from simply a writer to an author. Resources are all too often scarce for those without connections and a few more years under their belt. It was refreshing to dive so deeply into not only Klein’s book but also the advice of the rest of the panel.

Email Jordyn Josephine Fischer at arts@nyunews.com.

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Last week, The Strand Bookstore in Greenwich Village hosted a panel on children’s and young adult publishing.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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D.R.A.M. Stuns at Mystery Concert By NATALIE WHALEN Staff Writer

On Wednesday, Sept. 7, NYU Program Board outdid itself with its impressive Mystery Concert featuring artists Kamaiyah, D.R.A.M. (whose name stands for Dope Real Ass Music) and Kelela. This year’s concert was relocated from the previous setting at Skirball to (le) Poisson Rouge, a venue much better suited to the size and caliber of the show. Kamaiyah opened up the show with bangers like “Out the Bottle” and “Niggas” from her 2016 debut album “A Good Night in the Ghetto.” The audience was definitely vibing with what Kamaiyah was playing as she strutted across the stage. Her style was serving a flavor reminiscent of ‘90s female rappers like Missy Elliott and TLC. The star of the show, without much surprise, was D.R.A.M.. Much of the audience was there for the rapper, whose track “Broccoli” fea-

turing Lil’ Yachty has remained high on the Billboard Top 100 since early July. Although D.R.A.M. did not appear on the music world’s radar until just last year, his quick rise to fame, with almost nine million monthly listeners on Spotify, is the clear result of raw talent and an exuberant attitude, chanting mantras like “spread love” throughout his set and delivering a contagious smile. D.R.A.M. structured his set around storytelling, a method that nearly always makes for the best live shows. There is no question that he met — even surpassed — his hype upon hitting the stage. The show felt simultaneously intimate and larger-than-life for the hundreds of audience members in attendance. He started out with slower-tempo pieces, like recent singles “Cute” and “Cash Machine.” A highlight was when D.R.A.M. went so far as to dive into the audience at one point (an obvious surprise for event security) — proving that he cares about nothing but the

Terrance Hayes Opens Fall Reading Series By ARIMETA DIOP Contributing Writer

On Sept. 8, the NYU Creative Writing Program kicked off its Fall 2016 Reading Series with a poetry reading featuring the Distinguished Poet-in-Residence Terrance Hayes. A crowd of students, alumni, faculty and general poetry enthusiasts filled the entire first floor of the Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, bracing the humid night to hear from the writer. Hayes was slated to read from his newest collection, “How To Be Drawn” — a finalist for the National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award — but once introduced, he admitted he would not keep to this collection entirely. In addition to “How To Be Drawn,” the crowd was treated to his works-inprogress and older pieces. The reading opened with a poem titled “Watermaker,” which immediately gave a clear impression of the kind of storyteller Hayes is. He brought the audience in with an easy friendliness and relatability because of his choice of topics. The narrative of “Watermaker” centers on ideas of family — specifically, the narrator’s grandmother. Hayes enchants his audience by taking common scenes or images and retelling them in an observant manner, making the piece sound otherworldly but undeniably true. Once he finished reading the poem, he reflected upon it (a process he repeated with most of the poems), saying that it held “half-truths.” Hayes’ commentary made the poem seem

much more intimate than it otherwise might have and gave a helpful background for audience members who might not have read his work beforehand. His next piece, “Taffeta,” drew responses of snaps and hums of agreement from the audience. The piece also utilized the “I” narrator in order to convey a greater sense of intimacy to the topics. What stood out about “Taffeta” was how the writer was able to manipulate his audience. At first Hayes led us to focus on the themes of race, manhood and family, but by the final lines, he takes an abrupt turn to sex and gender. The switch very cleverly forces the first parts of the poem to be held in a different light. Upon completing all of the poems he had intended to read (plus an encore piece upon audience encouragement) Hayes initiated a Q&A session. The night wrapped up with a wine reception and book signing. Hayes offered advice to young writers in response to one question, to which he replied saying that with writing, students believe there to be a pressure to invent but “in fact sometimes it is important to just listen.” He expanded on this advice by saying that with one of the poems he had read earlier the theme had not been his own idea — that the idea of another person inspired him and triggered other ideas which he then used to write. Hayes will be teaching a graduate poetry course at NYU this semester.

Email Arimeta Diop at books@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY NATALIE BREUER

On September 7, artists D.R.A.M., Kamaiyah and Kelela performed at NYU’s annual Mystery Concert at le Poisson Rouge. fans and the moment. During “CHA CHA,” he even brought up an audience member to cha-cha with him on stage (we wish we were you, girl). He finished the show with “Broccoli,” the evident fan favorite. Strangely, D.R.A.M. was not the final act of the night, which meant that a large percentage of the audience left before Kelela hit the stage. There was also a consider-

ably long break between the two sets, making it clear that those still in the room were a part of Kelela’s niche fandom. When Kelela did hit the stage, though, it was worth the wait. Her sound amounts to something like the love child of FKA Twigs and Rihanna. In a denim-on-denim skirt-and-top pairing and Timberlands, the goddess played a combo of old and new

PBS Doc Highlights Urban Education By NATALIE WHALEN Staff Writer

PBS’s Point of View documentary series will feature the stirring “All the Difference” this Monday, Sept. 12. The film follows the respective paths of two Urban Prep high school students from the Englewood neighborhood of Chicago as they move from high school to four-year universities. Both raw and heart-wrenching, “Difference” tells the true-to-life, uplifting tale of a generation and a community with the odds stacked against them. Chicagoans — including the film’s director Tod Lending and producers Wes and Joy Thomas Moore — may not be shocked by the realities that protagonists Robert and Krishaun face in their quest for upward social mobility. For kids like Robert and Krishaun, who grew up in “Chiraq” neighborhoods (the nickname given to the crime and poverty-ridden areas of the city), the high school graduation rate for black males is only 41 percent. Of that, about a third go on to attend fouryear universities directly after graduation.

tracks from her forthcoming album (release date TBA). Like D.R.A.M., Kelela was another true performer, with dance moves and light displays to cement her pop star status. To those who left early — you missed out! Check out her tracks “Rewind” and “Gomenasai.”

Email Natalie Whalen at music@nyunews.com.

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PBS’s Point of View documentary series features “All the Difference,” a film that follows two Urban Prep high school students, on Monday, September 12. Robert studies at Lake Forest College in the Chicago suburb Lake Forest, IL, while Krishaun attends Fisk University in Nashville, TN. The film focuses primarily on the men’s college careers — meaning that viewers see less of the neighborhood in which they grew up. Because of this, the middle of the film feels quite long and somewhat tedious before the boys graduate. We want to see these young men succeed, but we’re often left wanting more in terms of their backgrounds — we want to see the struggle that led them to this point. Robert’s college experience is arguably much more interesting than that of Krishaun; Fisk University is a historically black institution, whereas Lake Forest College is the stark opposite. While both men face academic challenges due to their lack of preparation provided by their high school careers, Robert also faces discrimination from white classmates. The

film definitely carries a message of white privilege with a measured and illuminating hand. The world of chiraqs and racial injustice is very obviously set up as a non-white story; beyond just portraying the difficulties of poverty and poor schooling, the documentary makes it clear that these difficulties are disproportionately suffered by communities of color. Because “Difference” follows Robert and Krishaun’s real lives, there are both triumphs and setbacks. Robert struggles to follow a pre-med path, while Krishaun’s personal life is rattled by disruptive events back home. But ultimately the film provides a happy ending, emphasizing its message that if you work hard and overcome your struggles, you can rise above any circumstance. “All the Difference” airs at 10:30 p.m. on PBS.

Email Natalieb Whalen at film@nyunews.com.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM

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Revamped Pomme Frites Is a Hit By YORAI VARDI Contributing Writer

Rising from the ashes of its former glory, Pomme Frites (pronounced “Palm feet”, just with an R), the greasy East Village french fry institution has opened its doors once again. After a gas explosion took out the former site of the restaurant, owners Omer Shorshi and Suzanne Levinson spent 14 months finding the perfect spot and prepping to open the new version of their french fry-based restaurant. The restaurant, which used to style itself as a European eating room, has updated its decor to create the ambiance of a medieval mead hall, replete with reclaimed wood and lighting emanating from lanterns. The main draw of Pomme Frites is not only its fries — which are made by frying the potatoes twice — but its sauces. The establishment boasts a variety of over 25 sauces, each with its own flavor profile and story. Shorshi would not be surprised if first-time customers found Pomme Frites’ vast selection of sauces overwhelming. “Really our only marketing strategy is samples,” Shorshi said. “People who come for the first time can ask for as many samples as they want as

many times as they want until they find something that they like.” For those who prefer sweetness, the mango chutney sauce is a highlight and bestseller. It gently complements the fried saltiness of the fries and works great with other sauces. In a similar vein, the Vietnamese Pineapple sauce is a bolder way to add some sweetness to the fries, better suited to those who enjoy well crafted and layered flavors. In the salty vein, patrons can opt for the Rosemary Garlic sauce, a basic that brilliantly balances two strong flavors without letting either overpower the other. Right in the middle of these two spectrums is the Black Truffle Mayo, the undisputed best sauce at Pomme Frites. Though it costs $2.25 extra, the investment is worth it for a committed foodie attempting to titillate and captivate their taste buds. Other highlights include the Fig Bordeaux sauce, and the newly introduced Tequila and Lime Chipotle sauce, the TLC. For those worried that the flavors are too far from a familiar palate, Shorshi had an answer. “We Americanized the menu a lot,” Shorshi said. “We realized that people here just like different flavors, so we had to adapt a little bit”.

Prior to the restaurant’s 14-month closing, its convenient location in the St. Marks area made it a favorite of NYU students. Long time Pomme Frites fan and Tisch sophomore Neil Bhatia has a suggestion for anyone missing the homey Chik-fil-a flavors that are so hard to come by in the city. “The Pomegranate Teriyaki Mayo tastes just like Chik-fil-a sauce,” Bhatia said. “That being said, I do think the Garlic Mayo had far too much garlic in it”.

Email Yorai Vardi at dining@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY LAUREN MILANO

Reefill is a new app that makes refilling your water bottle even easier.

PHOTO BY BEN BLAUSTEIN

Pomme Frites recently reopened, bringing a campus favorite back to the neighborhood.

Pho-nominal Eats Around NYC By REBEKAH LIANG Contributing Writer People turn to Vietnamese food for many reasons — it’s trendy, it’s cheap, it’s comfort and for some, it’s home. No matter the reason, a Vietnamese food craving is serious and it has to be addressed. SPS freshman Jackie Cho, who developed a deep love of Vietnamese food after spending time in Vietnam, has thoroughly explored all of the options around campus. “Vietnamese food perfectly blends and balances savory and sweet flavor profiles,” Cho said. “I’ve been looking for the perfect spot to satiate cravings since moving to NYC.” If you are new to the area and are in search for a quick fix, here are some Vietnamese restaurants you will want to check out.

Saigon Shack (114 Macdougal St.) Saigon Shack is both accessible and tasty — a thought supported by many, as the restaurant is usually flooded with patrons. In addition to pho, they offer a wide array of Banh Mi sandwiches including traditional and creative flavors. If you are in search for a hot noodle soup but do not want to get beef, perhaps Pho Ga, a pho with chicken that has a lighter profile, is more up your alley. Since Saigon Shack has a reputation for churning out dependably delicious food, it gets crowded

quick and may not be the best for larger groups. As most of the dishes are well under $10, Saigon Shack, to the dismay of all millennials, only accepts cash.

Sao Mai (203 1st Ave) CAS junior Chris Jessica Halim has become a regular at Sao Mai because of its proximity. Sao Mai’s atmosphere is cozy, leisurely, young and perfect for small groups. Their Vietnamese iced coffee, or Ca Fe, is definitely a must try. Condensed milk adds sweetness to the coffee and is perfect for any sweet tooth! Halim, however, recommends their Pho Tai, which comes with sliced rare beef steak on noodle soup, that quickly cooks in the steaming broth. Halim always gets Pho Tai when trying a new Vietnamese restaurant. “It lets me taste the plain broth

and I judge my liking of the restaurant from that,” Halim said.

Nam Son (245 Grand St.) Though it might be farther from campus than Saigon Shack or Sao Mai, Nam Son’s varied and authentic menu is well worth the trek. If you want to eat more than just pho, Nam Son is the perfect place. Nam Son’s menu boasts traditional rice, meat, vegetarian and vermicelli items, as well as the quintessential pho. As for an entree, Cho enjoys a typically spicy beef noodle soup called Bun Bo Hue with a side of summer rolls. The dish has many different cuts of delicious meat including the normal steak and the unique pork trotters, but it might not be the best introduction to Vietnamese food.

Email Rebekah Liang at dining@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY TAYLER MACMILLAN

Pho is the most popular and Americanized Vietnamese dish.

App Helps Map Water Bottle Refill Stations By LAVANYA SHUKLA Contributing Writer

As 2015 Stern alum Jason Pessel walked down the street in sweltering Manhattan heat one day, he realized that the prevalence of bottled water was actually as wasteful as it was convenient. He was inspired to bring a solution to the NYU community. “There was literally nowhere I could stop to fill up my reusable bottle,” Pessel said. “I was actually with my cousin, who was annoyed that we were forced to shell out money to buy bottled water.” After some research, Pessel learned that bottled water is expensive in more ways than its immediate price: the oil needed annually to manufacture plastic water bottles could fuel over one million cars for an entire year. Pessel then created Reefill — a handy mobile app that allows users to access bottle refilling stations. To refill a bottle, users download the app, sign up and connect via Bluetooth to unlock the tap at a station. There are currently nine Reefill locations around the NYU campus, such as at Kuku Canteen, Vivi’s Bubble Tea and The Uncommons. A 10th station is to be installed soon. Reefill was conceived as an NYU Green Grants Project. Every month, the Green Grants committee convenes to award funding to innovative project proposals that reduce the university’s environmental footprint. Reefill’s goals are also aligned with NYU’s Take Back the Tap campaign which aims to end the sale of all bottled water in NYU buildings and to cre-

ate more ways to fill up reusable bottles. “They provide a lot of opportunities for feedback and identify the likely hurdles for a project to be accepted,” he said of the Office of Sustainability, which he found especially helpful during the application process. While the NYU campus has several water fountains, they are not always easy to locate. Once a student downloads Reefill and enters his or her NYU Net ID, a map displays over one hundred pre-existing water fountain locations. Pessel discovered that water fountains are not easy to come by outside of campus, hence Reefill’s utility as an alternative to bottled water. Reefill stations, which are manufactured in Italy and Spain, chill and filter the water they dispense — an advantage over typical water fountains. Reefill launched during Welcome Week, and new users have been signing up for the program on a daily basis. Students receive a one-month free trial with the promo code “FREEMONTH,” after which they will be charged $1.99 per month. Pessel is hopeful for the future of responsible water consumption and distribution. He plans to expand Reefill to the greater New York City area, as well as other major cities. “The goal is to make Reefill as prevalent as Starbucks,” he said.

Email Lavanya Shukla at features@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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FEATURES

EDITED BY ABIGAIL WEINBERG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

NYU’s Improv Teams Search for New Performers By JENNY LEVINE Contributing Writer

If you’re an aspiring comedian itching to get your start in the city, you’ll want to check out the various improv, sketch, standup and satire groups around campus. NYU boasts 13 unique comedy groups that are holding auditions for new performers throughout September, giving students the chance to grace the stage where comedians like Donald Glover once stood. Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to try out for multiple teams because the groups are looking for people of all experience levels and backgrounds. Gallatin junior Mallory Horncastle never attempted improv before deciding to audition for Bechdel Test at the end of her freshman year. “What drew me to want to audition is it’s such a free, open space. It’s good for someone who doesn’t have a lot of experience or someone that will teach and grow with the group,” Horncastle said of her time with Bechdel Test. “It’s a cool community for girls because it’s a smaller group of people, and there’s a lot of freedom in what we try.”

Auditions can be nerve-wracking, as Horncastle puts it, but as long as you stay true to the reality of the scene and listen to what your improv partner is saying, you will find success. CAS sophomore Lars Montanaro, the president of improv group Pasadena Golf Club, said he’s searching for people who can be trusted on stage. “I’ll be looking for people who make everyone else look good as well as making themselves look good on stage — it’s a team thing,” Montanaro said. Pasadena Golf Club’s auditions are Sept. 15 and 16, but before the first round of auditions, Montanaro usually gives people some basic improv advice which those new to the craft should heed. “I have four general rules that I will tell people auditioning: the ‘yes and rule,’ take what people say as fact and add to it. The second rule is speak up so we can understand you. The third is listen to your fellow improvisers, and, finally, don’t ask vacuous questions — always bring something new to the stage,” Montanaro said. Many troupes understand that it is intimidating to jump right into something that may be new for

some and so often provide enough rehearsals and even extra spaces for practice to make the most faint of heart comfortable in the group. Leanne Velednitsky, a senior at Tisch and member of After School Improv, suggests that students attend the weekly meetings and monthly improv jams to familiarize themselves with improv. “As we take on new members we know that there is a curve of practicing so often, and practic-

Another week, another controversy Kanye West could have easily avoided but didn’t. Four days before his highly-anticipated Yeezy Season 4 fashion show, West made headlines once again when he tweeted what seemed to be a failed attempt at broadening his casting call to include non-models and fans. What was intended as a simple casting call sheet became a solid publicized declaration of West’s preference for “multiracial women only.” Minutes after West tweeted out the casting call sheet to his 26 million followers, people began trying to dissect the true meaning behind the term “multiracial” in order to understand what type of women West expected to cast in his show. It is a term that some of us use on a daily basis; yet it is not often that we are faced with the challenge of excavating and delineating its possible harmful connotations. If we lean on Google’s trusted ability to define words, we learn that “multiracial” is an adjective used to describe something made up of or relating to people of several or many races. The most obvious reason the casting call sheet was considered discriminatory is that some of the thousands — possibly millions — of the Season 4 model-hopefuls identify with only one race. It was black women’s understanding of this

definition that prompted many angry reactions towards West’s disregard for those individuals whose blackness cannot be masked nor made more marketable by coming under the guise of being “multiracial.” CAS sophomore Imani Johnson described her initial reaction as one of disappointment. “As a dark-skinned girl, when I hear multiracial I immediately think ‘light-skinned,’” Johnson said. “And so, from my understanding, right now 2016 has been the best time to be a black girl; a lot of people are embracing their melanin, all shades and what not. [Kanye’s preference] was kind of like a slap in the face because it felt like it was dividing us again.” As some suspected, West’s original intention was never to discriminate against black women nor anyone who identifies with a singular race. In response to the widespread criticism, West told Vogue that he wanted a wide representation of brown and black women, and the casting call was meant to achieve just that. “How do you word the idea that you want all variations of black?” West said. “How do you word that exactly?” CAS sophomore Kaylen Hayes hoped West would have appreciated more thorough black representation in his choice of models. “Maybe he wants to create some sort of spectrum and wants there to be diversity in his cast-

career or just a passion within the 13 teams. “Improv is so much about the community of players,” Velednitsky said. “Besides just the technique of improv your team bond is a great college environment.” Look at the “NYU Comedy Auditions” Facebook page for audition dates, times and locations.

Email Jenny Levine at features@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY ANTHONY LEE

Students audition for improv groups, thown into a scene on the spot to test their creativity.

Yeezy’s Casting Raises Questions By MEDARDO PEREZ Staff Writer

ing specifically with us, but we are always willing and excited to teach people about the craft!” Velednitsky said. “The NYC Student Improv Jams are also a great place for everyone to get their improv shoes shined.” NYU provides a comfortable environment for comedians looking to experiment in different forms. With the comedy community being as tight knit as it is, there are ample opportunities for those looking to explore a

ing, but it makes me feel some type of way when I’m a black female and I don’t consider myself to be multiracial,” Hayes said. “I want to see myself in his art.” When we finally watched West’s show, we saw these variations of black. The range in the color of models was similar to that of his previous shows. However, assuming he did, in fact, abide by the “multiracial women only” rule, then Season 4 was a huge exhibition of misrepresentation.

Email Medardo Perez at bstyle@nyunews.com.

VIA INSTAGRAM.COM

The Yeezy Season 4 model casting call drew a very large crowd, even with the its specific multiracial requirement.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM

By Bobby Wagner Managing Editor By Grace Halio Deputy Managing Editor Homesickness is hard to quantify. They say 21 days is all the body needs to adjust to a new routine. Maybe this applies for becoming a vegetarian or adopting a new sleep cycle — but adjusting to living in a new place, especially New York, is a whole different ball game. My first experience with homesickness was at sleepaway camp as a 13-year-old. I remember hearing about other kids who were desperate to go home — they hated being there. They hated being away from their parents and they were beyond ready to leave after less than a week. I grew up with the idea that homesickness just means that I missed home, but I was, more importantly, miserable where I was. During the four months that I spent in Florence studying abroad, I refused to believe that I was homesick because I was so in love with living in Italy. No matter how much I missed my family, friends or a cup of brewed coffee, I was happy. Homesickness, no matter where you are, doesn’t fit into a specific definition. Whether you’re flying across oceans or countries or hopping on a train, you’re leaving something behind. Sometimes, you won’t realize just how much you’re going to miss quiet suburban streets until you don’t have them anymore. New York is a funny place. It can be the loudest, most overwhelming city in the world. But sometimes, a little reflection, a bowl of your favorite soup or a phone call home can make the world seem a little smaller and your life here a little less overwhelming.

It is both dangerous and rewarding to construct a lofty expectation for what you will experience when you arrive at college. By now, it’s well-documented that NYU has garnered the Princeton Review’s No. 3 rank for “Dream Schools;” universities that prospective students and parents wish they could attend if acceptance and cost were wiped to a clean slate. NYU’s mystique — that which is only amplified by the bright lights and the aunt who keeps asking how much fun you’re having in the city — is undoubtedly the reason many students come here. It’s also, ironically, chiefly the reason you may fail or succeed. The pressure of fulfilling your dream will make or break you. When it makes you, you feel that much more independent. But those who it breaks find that the Princeton Review doesn’t have much to say when they’re getting bumped off the sidewalk by cutthroat yuppies on their way to class. They see that it’s awfully sparse on the part about navigating a weird community of little communities, and no book can substitute for the incessant pressure of feeling like you’re in constant competition with every student you sit next to in class. Pinch, you’re not dreaming anymore — and those opportunities that you hung your hat on when applying here are suddenly weighing on your shoulders. CAS senior Charlotte Sparacino, a transfer from Boston University, felt the added pressure that accompanies New York City almost immediately. “I think the atmosphere at NYU was very different [than] BU, and much of that was rooted in NYC itself,” Sparacino said. “In Boston, everyone is kind of the same, strolling around in their Boathouse, Patagonia and Herschel backpacks.” For most NYU students who have adjusted, that life sounds terrible. They have come to know and love their flexibility. But for those who haven’t fallen in love with a movie-made New York City lifestyle, it can be a little harder to adjust and a lot easier to reminisce on the comfort of home, wherever home is. “There is so much pressure to explore yourself here; you sort of have a bigger pressure to find yourself,” Sparacino said. “So in that sense, it’s kind of like the amount of options here can scare you, and that’s what makes you sick for some sort of safety at home.” The juxtaposition of being a college kid with so much to do and explore

— both introspectively and outwardly — and attending a school where everything is very much now, now, now can lead to inner conflict nearly impossible to untangle. What do you do if you hate NYU? What do you do if you can’t handle New York City? What do you do if you just want to go back home, but you don’t want to admit defeat? “I think one of the dreamiest aspects of NYU is how easily it could turn into your home — this mindset that NYU is the answer to everything you’ve wanted in life, and it’s a quick path to your own independence and making your own new ‘home,’” Phoebe Walsh, a junior in Gallatin, said. “It can be hard when the endless job opportunities and lifestyle you try to make your own begin to not cut it for you. I think a lot of people have trouble admitting they are homesick at NYU because nobody wants to be the kid that can’t make it New York City.” So many students do end up finding their way, making this a new home and revelling in the pre-professionalism that NYU offers. But no environment is perfect for such a diverse student body, and some students are better suited to grow in a more traditional environment, one that fits more closely to what they came to know growing up. But, for all the above reasons, it’s often hard for teenagers or twenty-somethings to admit that — and inherently admit that they’ve changed significantly since they decided to don the Violet. “I just didn’t think I had the same hunger that a lot of the student body has — a hunger that is definitely motivated by city life,” Grace Fellman, a Washington University in St. Louis sophomore who transferred out of NYU after her freshman year, said. “The pre-professional nature was definitely something I was aware of and something that drew me to NYU initially, but I didn’t understand that it wasn’t really positive for me until I was truly in school.” The crucial transition from high school to college is mystifying, and can spiral out of your hands quickly if you’ve decided that this dream isn’t the dream you want to realize, or the way you want to realize it. But the stigma associated with leaving NYU, or taking as much time as you need to adjust, is largely unfounded and in many cases, a side effect of internalized pressure. In the end, a dream school is just a buzzword that a survey birthed, not a definite reality that any prospective student needs to live out.

Email Bobby Wagner at bwagner@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

By Rachel Ruecker Sports Editor On the first day of freshman year, I gave each of my roommates a bottle of maple syrup and a package of maple sugar candy. Everything that came after felt somewhat inevitable. I am from Canada. Like, excessively so. I have spent most of the last year here at NYU fostering the moniker “Rachel from Canada,” rather successfully. Though Canada and America are inarguably quite similar, there are still so many differences I hadn’t even considered — despite living 30 minutes from the Washington State border and visiting the Evergreen State often throughout my life — until I moved here last fall. I’m billed as an international student on paper, but whenever I go to international student events, I hear a symphony of languages and accents so much more diverse than my own. I don’t hold the advantage of being able to apply for a job or go to a clinic other than NYU’s if I get sick. Despite this, I look and sound (for the most part) pretty darn American. I’m a blonde, white girl from the suburbs of Vancouver and had to deal with much less adversity to get here than other international students surely did — students who might be dealing with cultural shifts immeasurably more complicated than my own. Nevertheless, I do miss Canada and the West Coast often and always. I miss the mountains in the distance punctuating the North rather than the Empire State Building. I miss my favorite hockey team playing at a reasonable hour. I miss my favorite kind of chips and chocolate bar. I miss not being made fun of for spelling favorite with a “u” in it. I miss not being constantly congested by the polluted New York City air. I miss 18 years of familiarity. But after the excitement and wonder of reuniting with family and friends this summer faded, I quickly hungered for my life in New York once again. My small suburban town didn’t quite cut it for me anymore. It felt different — almost as if I’d outgrown it, though I owe it everything I have.

One list of “I miss” was replaced with another. I missed living with my best friend and being able to go on late night falafel and Papaya Dog runs. I missed the friendly greeting of the Lipton dining hall card swiper. I missed seeing the Freedom Tower to the south and the Empire State Building to the north as I walked to class each day. I missed being free to roam the city at all hours of the day and night without worry for when the last bus home would depart. I missed the noise, the excitement, the infectious rhythm of a city that doesn’t sleep. Now I am back in the city, living my dream but also constantly thinking of the home I have elected to leave behind for eight months of the year, though I still so deeply identify with it. I am caught in an unending cycle of homesickness. At home I constantly talk about New York and my friends and life there, and in New York I constantly talk about America’s shortcomings compared to the Great White North. I have two homes now — which is both a blessing and a curse.

Email Rachel Ruecker at rruecker@nyunews.com.

By Thomas Devlin Editor-at-Large Leave it to humans to diagnose people missing their homes with a sickness. God forbid someone live in a new place for the first time ever and take some time getting used to it. Nostalgia is out, everyone, and unfeeling ennui is very much in. That may seem a bit strong. It’s not like homesickness is deeply stigmatized, and we all can have sympathy with the NYU freshman who misses his or her parents. But there is still an element of abnormality about it, and this makes missing home more complicated than it really should be. Because, like an onion or any selfrespecting cake, homesickness has layers. If it were just the feeling of nostalgia, that would be one thing, but it is not. Bear with me. One of the times I was most homesick, I was visiting my friend in Florence, Italy. It was a beautiful Saturday, and we had just climbed to the top of Il Duomo, eaten gelato and walked along the river. To finish the night, my friend brought me to her favorite pizza place. The pizza I had there was perhaps the best thing I had ever eaten in my life. Before that point, I never really understood why everyone was always going on about how great food is. It had always just been something I needed to consume to be alive. But as I ate, I could not help but look up and say to my friend, “You know what I want more than anything right now? Joe’s.” The first layer of feeling here is the feeling of missing someplace else. Then, there’s the internal guilt that you’re not enjoying the present you’re living in. Finally, there’s the fact that whenever I complained about missing certain pizza or bodegas or Dunkin Donuts, people would respond with things like, “You’re in London,” “You’re trav-

eling Europe almost every weekend,” or “People would kill to do what you’re doing.” Very understandable responses, but hearing that made me not only miss home, but also feel like I’m not appreciating the present and wasting time on some whiny nonsense. I realized, however, that feeling bad about feeling bad is a bit too meta, anxiety-wise. Instead, I ignored people because everyone misses stuff, whether it be their family or the Old Spice Denali scent that they don’t sell in all of Europe apparently. Peeling back those other two layers of homesickness meant making a different mental adjustment: looking for the bad in everything. Yes, I know that’s somewhat bleak. Yet, in a lot of ways homesickness is like a longdistance relationship. You use what you knew before as a crutch and idealize every aspect of it. You think that you actually enjoyed Glaze, conveniently ignoring the fact you only ate there because it was cheap, close to you and comes with a little salad that makes you feel better about your health choices. And so the end of homesickness is like the end of a long-distance relationship: it comes when you realize the past was actually not that great and the present has plenty to offer. All of this is tied together neatly in the advice I give to anyone who is new to living in New York City. Basically, it’s not going to be as great as you imagined. The streets are literally filled with garbage. The disparity between expectation and reality is of course going to make you feel homesick sometimes, but don’t feel like the fact that you can go to the Empire State Building every day means your homesickness is stupid.

Email Thomas Devlin at tdevlin@nyunews.com.

Illustrations by Grace Halio, Nina Jang and Anna Letson

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | NYUNEWS.COM

OPINION

EDITED BY EMILY FONG OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

POLITICS

Brazilian Machismo Still Running Rampant Post-Impeachment By CARA ZAMBRANO CORDEIRO BARRETO Contributing Writer Brazilian society is notorious for being dominated by machismo. As a Brazilian myself, I am unfortunately well aware that our young republic — and even our dictatorships — has always been led purely by men. This pattern has cemented women in supportive roles throughout Brazil’s history. Yet, it seemed as if change could have been on the horizon in 2010, when Dilma Rousseff was elected president. However, earlier this month, she was impeached under the accusation of a crime called pedaladas fiscais – meaning she used money from federal banks to

fund social programs without any disclaimer. Rousseff’s impeachment brings up a fear held by many Brazilian women: are we ever going to be truly in power? From the moment Rousseff reached the presidency, her decisions were always influenced by men; Rousseff’s ministry was formed based on the advice of her mentor, the former president Luis Inácio Lula da Silva. It soon became apparent after Rousseff was elected that she was merely a puppet in the hands of Lula. She became the scapegoat for all of Brazil’s disasters, even though it was not her that was responsible for them — it was Lula. The woman who was nominated by Forbes as one of the top 25 most powerful women of 2014 has

shouldered the blame and hatred that comes with her government’s entrenched corruption, demonstrating that she never received the proper respect and power that a president deserves. Rousseff did not cultivate a government based on feminist principles, even though she was supposed to be a strong feminine power. She is a well-educated, divorced single mother whom supporters hoped would be

one of the first political leaders to shed light on the ingrained sexism in Brazilian culture. But she failed to even encourage women to rise to power within her own administration. During her five years in office, only men were given important positions like the highest ministries’ chairs, and only 10 percent of the Congress were women. By choosing to not be an active voice for the biggest portion of Brazil’s population, Rousseff not only disappointed the people she had promised to represent, but also lost a considerable amount of political power that could have turned the tables for her before the impeachment process was too far along. For some unknown reason, Rousseff was unable to break free from

the men who ran the Planalto throughout her tenure and instead opted to continue down the same path as the corrupt leaders who came before her. While the impeachment process held a spotlight to the deep-seated sexism in Brazil, it shows that the country is still very far away from being the bastion of equality that its citizens thought it was. Rousseff was the first Brazilian female president — and that was certainly momentous — but the country still has a long way to go until there will be any chance for Brazilian women to truly be in power.

Email Cara Zambrano Cordiero Barreto at opinion@nyunews.com.

ECONOMY

Pay Interns Before You Profit Off Them By PATRICK SEAMAN Staff Writer Earlier this year, the New York State Bar Association Committee on Ethics ruled that law firms can bill their clients for hours worked by their unpaid interns. It is both upsetting and unsurprising that the State Bar Association — an institution with a huge voice in the science of jurisprudence and one that is designed to promote reform in law — would ever think to protect this unfair system of unpaid labor in law firms. Internships are one of a few ways prospective employees can get their foot in the door of their chosen field of work. And for the average law intern,

internships are the only plausible way that they can gain valuable experience and connections in the world of law. By ruling that firms can bill their clients for unpaid intern work, the State Bar Association makes it permissible to have law firms directly profit off of work that they themselves are not even paying for. This move will make unpaid internships far more financially attractive to law firms, which in turn will most likely lead to a decrease in paid entry-level positions. While there is a chance that law firms may not change their policies or the amount of paid internships vs. unpaid ones, the fact remains that the State Bar Association should be look-

ing to promote reform in law: abolishing the system of unpaid internships as the norm is a good start. Not paying interns who do valuable work for companies simply because they are being compensated in “academic credit” is already bad enough, considering that many students need supplemental income — especially when they live and study in a city that is as notoriously expensive as New

York. To also allow firms to charge clients for the work that those interns do is inexcusable and disrespectful. An internship is, barring prior connections to the industry, a necessity for anyone hoping to land a job after graduation, both in a specific field and in general. Students with experience from a paid internship program are much more likely to be hired than their unpaid counterparts, yet only a little over half of internships are paid. Combined with the Bar Association’s recent ruling, these statistics are certainly worrisome for college students looking to enter the workforce in the future. It’s important for firms with

internship programs to treat their interns with the respect they would have for a fullfledged employee. An internship — if there is considerable work being done by a staffer — should be paid, regardless of the academic credit received or the educational status of the employee. But even in instances where law interns receive no pay, firms should at the least respect their interns enough to not profit off their clients for work they themselves were not willing to compensate. In their ruling, the New York State Bar Association shamefully dismissed both notions.

Email Patrick Seaman at opinion@nyunews.com.

INTERNATIONAL

French Secularism Loses Original Focus By APARNA ALANKAR Contributing Writer Swimsuit season is coming to an end, but the burkini debate continues to rage on in France and around the world. Over 30 French municipalities have adopted bans on the burkini, a full-body swimsuit that resembles a standard wetsuit and is used by some Muslim beachgoers in place of hijabs or other forms of the veil. Political proponents of the burkini-ban defend their position by citing the traditional French principle of laïcité, or state-sanctioned secularism. Laïcité has been a cornerstone of the French Republic since the Revolution, but it has recently been described by critics as a “spear in xenophobic,

Islamophobic and sexist battles.” Laïcité originated with the purpose of enforcing secular education, but today, it is being used by towns “fighting for the ‘Soul of France’” to force Muslim beachgoers to remove their burkinis. Traditional French secularism has lost its roots and must be revised instead of continuing to be exploited for partisan ends. Laïcité was a concept implemented over a century ago during the French Revolution, representing a victory against the powerful Roman Catholic Church. It was the backbone policy of a 1905 law that limited the power of the church and outlined three terms: separation of church and state, freedom of conscience and freedom

to exercise any faith. The 1905 law banned religious teaching and affiliation from state schools and universities, instead making education about the principles of the Enlightenment and the French Republic. However, modern day France no longer has to contend with the Roman Catholic Church. Today, secularism in France has become an attempt at brokering ethnic

differences in society, often provoking accusations of bias and xenophobia. France has passed two laws banning the Muslim veil — one in 2004, which banned veils in public settings, and the other in 2011, which banned full face veils with risk of a fine. The laws were passed in conjunction with mainstream French politicians advocating for measures preventing veiled women from access to institutions and community privileges. Veiled women are rejected by employers, barred from school property and class trips, routinely searched by major stores and are targets of verbal abuse and even physical violence. Everything was done in the name of protecting France’s commitment to secular-

ity and laïcité. Laïcité clashes with the realities of modern day France and its growing Muslim community and is increasingly being used to infringe upon the rights of Muslim citizens rather than what it was actually intended for — to separate church and state. The burkini ban is the latest development in that trend. A burkini ban is senseless, unconstitutional and should not continue be upheld by a misinformed principle based on racial paranoia. If it continues, the French national motto, “liberté, égalité, fraternité” will begin to lose its meaning.

Email Aparna Alankar at opinion@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY EMILY FONG OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

UNIVERSITY LIFE

STAFF EDITORIAL

Grad Students Fleeced by ALI By PHOEBE KUO Contributing Writer While NYU strives to expand its global reach by recruiting more international students and opening up branches in exotic cities, the school’s central administration is not necessarily kind to the violets-to-be who apply for graduate programs with its language proficiency policy. Unlike most universities in the U.S. who only use the Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL, to determine students’ language proficiency level, NYU also insists students take English courses at its own language exam center called American Language Institute, or ALI. NYU does accept TOEFL as an initial requirement, but it now asks students to take additional courses with ALI. Individual schools like the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, and Tisch School of the Arts and Tandon School of Engineering should have the autonomy to decide the admission status of their applicants, and their decisions should not be restricted by requirements arbitrarily imposed late into the process. Regardless of their TOEFL scores and

the minimum requirement of TOEFL of the programs they are applying to, prospective NYU students still have to take an additional ALI exam composed of only speaking and writing tests. As if the test format for ALI is not problematic enough, NYU changed the language proficiency policy during admission season for graduate programs this spring, without notifying those who have already accepted admission offers. This information is not readily available — students have to deal with an unnecessarily bureaucratic process to sort out their admissions status. Some of the applicants receive their admission letter from the school under the impression that there are no ALI prerequisites, but once they joyfully registered as NYU students, they find that they are trapped. The admissions board of individual graduate programs and the applicants

were also unaware of this change and how it would hinder admitted students from planning their course loads and careers. A group of violin performance majors from Steinhardt were forced to give up their spots in NYU Symphony due to schedule conflicts from the additional English courses they were told they had to take after registration. Their scholarships were also weighed down with the extra tuition they had to pay for taking these mandatory ALI courses. Changing ALI policy during the admission process without giving notice to applicants and admissions officers is unfair to both. It affects an applicant’s right to make fully-informed graduate school choice. Schools should never have hidden costs or requirements. Policy changes, of course, are sometimes necessary. But the impact of these changes can be enormous. NYU should have planned a way to compensate students affected by the changes, instead of having them blindly deal with the consequences. The students should have the right to get what they were promised at admission.

Email Phoebe Kuo at opinion@nyunews.com.

CULTURE

Militant Protests Miss The Point

By RIYA PATIL Contributing Writer

Amid news of Brock Turner’s release from a California prison, protesters armed with rifles and signs reading “If I rape Brock will I only do 3 months?” and “Shoot your local rapist,” lined up outside the Turners’ Ohio home last week. Turner received a six-month sentence after being found guilty of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman at Stanford University, but was released after a short three months due to good behavior. Although well-intentioned, the violent nature of the protest, paired with its misconceptions about sexual assault, adopts a dangerous perspective outside the bounds of the rule of law. Throughout the trial, Turner continually argued the rape was to be blamed on alcohol and college party culture. It’s no surprise that in response, Stanford University changed its alcohol policy, banning hard liquor at all on-campus parties. Not only does this move imply that Stanford is allying with Turner’s argument that alcohol was responsible for the rape, but it also deflects some of the blame on to the victim, who had been drink-

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ing as well. The protesters were justified in their anger, but not in their actions. Rally organizer Micah Naziri demonstrated flawed logic when he told The Guardian, “The number one reason why we had this armed protest was to make a militant feminist statement in favor of self-defense of would-be rape victims.” Saying that rapes would not occur if victims could defend themselves is similar to saying that rapes could be prevented if girls refrained from drinking. Both ways of thinking pit the crime on the victim, and both ways of thinking are grossly uninformed about the actual causes of rape: lack of clarity about consent, low prosecution of sexual assault and a history of university culture not protecting victims of sexual assault. These are just some of many potential reasons why rapists feel empowered to rape. The mob is pushing an

inaccurate agenda, while also crossing the line between peaceful protest and unruly vigilantism. Though it’s appalling and shameful that Turner only served three months for his crime, the fact of the matter is that he did so completely in line with our justice system. The mob outside his house, armed with rifles and signs demanding violence, sends a very clear and dangerous message: the mob has the authority. We the people are, to a certain extent, in charge of holding our justice system accountable. But it is important to distinguish between holding the courts accountable and blatantly disregarding the law. Threatening brutality only places us in the same group of people as Brock Turner. The concern of sexual assault is very real on all college campuses, including NYU. We have the same duty as the protestors: to promote discussion and knowledge about consent, to protect and empower the victims of sexual assault and to hold our institution and criminal justice system accountable — only without the lawless uproar.

Email Riya Patil at opinion@nyunews.com.

9/11 Requires More Nuanced Remembrance

Yesterday marked the 15th anniversary of the most deadly terrorist attack in U.S. history. Thousands of New Yorkers attended tributes and ceremonies throughout the city, where they commemorated the lives lost following the destruction of the twin towers. The events that occurred on 9/11 still — and always will — hold a significant place in the collective memory of the nation. For many, this tragedy is simply a historical point in time, but for those who live and work within New York City, the day is particularly meaningful. This event is also important to a number of NYU faculty, staff and students. Yet, for a university that is supposed to be definitively “in and of the city,” NYU does surprisingly little to commemorate this important event. With so many students hailing from states or nations physically untouched by 9/11, recognizing the ties between the city and Ground Zero can be difficult. Belonging to the New York community demands a respect for these ties that is more profound than a mere glance at memorial displays in storefront windows. Students are free to seek this appreciation themselves, but the university has a unique opportunity to offer remembrance programs that highlight the significance of 9/11 to its incoming classes. If the goal of NYU is to create global-minded citizens, then the first step is to reckon with the history of their city. NYU would do well to provide some way of introducing students to serious discussion of the complicated aftermath of 9/11. Many professors and staff have been personally affected by this tragedy, and letting them share their stories would create a powerful and emotional foundation for a student’s continuing education in New York City. Hosting an event that discusses the complexities of 9/11 today would allow students to plumb the depths of this subject in an intelligent and nuanced manner. This does not mean there needs to be a mandated course on the history of the city — an optional discussion, seminar or lecture annually hosted by the Center for Multicultural Education and Programs, for example, would suffice. Too many students are drawn to NYU’s promise to be immersed in the city without properly understanding what that immersion entails. We are lucky to have the opportunity to learn and participate in NYC — not merely to consume the experiences that it has to offer, but to reflect on our role within that community. In the end, scholarship is the greatest thing the NYU community can give to incoming students, the future New Yorkers. A flashpoint event like the 9/11 attacks leaves deep physical, mental and political scars that NYU students would benefit from closely studying. After all, understanding the wound is the first step to healing it.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at opinion@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., SB#07, 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

Weather Hampers Cross Country By Rachel Ruecker Sports Editor

The Violets’ cross country team participated in Vassar College’s Ron Stonitsch Invitational in Poughkeepsie this weekend with a number of exciting finishes to start off their season running. The women launched into their fall season coming eighth of 15. Williams College emerged victorious coming in first overall. Standout performances came from junior Megan Davis, who came in 39th in a field of just under 200. Senior Kassi Chrysanthopoulos was at the front of the pack, but unfortunately, her success was hampered by an injury. Davis thought the race’s difficulty bodes well for the team moving forward. “It was definitely a character

building race,” Davis said. “The course itself was tough and the hot conditions did not help, but I think the whole team is stronger just from getting through it. We had a lot of girls who did not race this weekend because — as it’s still very early in the season — we are being very cautious about anything that could develop into a serious injury. Once we have those girls back — and the weather cools down just a bit — I think we are going to have a very competitive team with the potential to have a very successful season.” Freshman Isabella Steains also competed and came a respectable 63rd in her first race for NYU. The men finished third in a field of 14 behind only Williams College and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, who

came in first and second, respectively, to show that the Purple Valley Classic hosts will be in the hunt for first in two weeks’ time as well. Senior standout Jorge Maldonado breezed through the 5k track in just 19:08.01 to come first overall in the race. Other top-20 finishers for NYU include juniors Max Mudd and Neil Saddler, who came in 10th and 18th, respectively, as well as sophomore Matt Osubor, who rounded out the gang for 20th. Maldonado had lots to say about the team’s season opener. “I feel like I performed satisfactorily, but I hope to improve as the season progresses,” Maldonaldo said. “As a team, I think we gave a good effort. It’s been a tough week of training, and to be able to come close

Violet Volleyball Wins Big

The Violets’ Cross Country team took to Poughkeepsie to participate in Vassar College’s Ron Stonitsch Invitational this weekend. to teams ranked ahead of us is very showing of the potential we have. As long as we start to train consistently and we keep our team healthy, I see a great future for us.” The women and men will

hit the track next on Sept. 24 at the Purple Valley Classic, hosted by Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Email Rachel Ruecker at rruecker@nyunews.com

Golf Struggles Through Week Two By MICHAEL THOMPSON Staff Writer

By MICHAEL THOMPSON Staff Writer

Determined to improve upon a 2-2 start to the season last weekend, the NYU women’s volleyball team traveled to New Paltz, NY this weekend, taking three out of four matches at the Hawks Invitational. The Violets handily defeated the Sage Colleges and Mount St. Mary College on Friday before dropping a four-setter to Clarkson University. However, the team was able to bounce back in its second match on Saturday, sending host SUNY New Paltz home in four sets. The Violets made it look easy on Friday, kicking off the action with a painless victory over the Sage Colleges 25-10, 25-11 and 25-17. There was no doubt the Violets were leading the charge. Junior middle blocker Rayne Ellis finished with 14 kills, while sophomore setter Kathryn Goyette finished with 33 assists. The same momentum was seen later that day against Mount Saint Mary, with the Violets once again firmly in control, taking sets 25-15, 2520 and 25-17. Familiar faces filled the stats sheet, as Ellis again led the Violets with 13 kills and sophomore outside hitter Shelby King close behind with nine. Goyette finished with eight assists, while her counterpart sophomore

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Over the weekend, the women’s volleyball team took three matches at the Hawk Invitational in New Paltz, NY. setter Daryl Mitchell finished with 21. However, not all was well for the Violets this weekend, as the team dropped a match to Clarkson. The Violets bounced back after losing the first set 25-15 as they took the second 25-21 to even the score. However, it wasn’t enough as Clarkson took the third set 25-21 and eventually put the Violets away in a thrilling 30-28 fourth. Team leaders include sophomore middle blocker Gretchen Cash with 13 kills, and King, who finished with nine. Fortunately, there was an opportunity for redemption later, as the Violets ensured that they finished above .500 for the weekend with a fourset win over SUNY New Paltz 27-25, 25-21,16-25, 25-13. The first set was the most hotly contested, with both teams trading points until the Violets were able to gain a twopoint lead in the extra portion of the frame. They followed this up with another solid set in the second before dropping the third. However, the small dip didn’t matter in the end, as the Violets played a fantas-

tic fourth set, similar to some earlier in the weekend. The Violets led in every major category. Freshman outside hitter Caroline Rapp led in kills this time around with 15, while it was business as usual for Goyette with 35 assists. Goyette was beaming with how the weekend turned out and how the team really gelled. “[I]t was an awesome weekend for us,” Goyette said. “We had so many learning opportunities and made quick changes that clearly pushed us toward three victories. After dropping the first match of the day on Saturday against Clarkson, we were more determined than ever to beat the host team, New Paltz. With two early-season tournaments in their rearview mirror, the Violets, now 5-3, play across the East River this Tuesday against Brooklyn College before traversing the Hudson for the Ducks Classic in Hoboken, New Jersey on Friday.

Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.

With a longer, more challenging course and trying pin positions on Sunday, the NYU men’s golf team struggled to remain consistent after their impressive season debut last week. The Violets finished fourth in a sixteam field at the Lake Placid Invitational this weekend, with two players cracking the top ten. The Violets played competitively on Saturday, finishing with a team score of 312, 16 strokes behind eventual champion Middlebury College and nine behind second-place Skidmore. However, Sunday was challenging, with the Violets shooting a combined 323 to lock into a fourth place finish. Though the Violets fielded a fresh batch of players this weekend, the result was still a bit underwhelming. Freshmen Jensen Li and Matt Shen were among those in a four-way tie for ninth place. Both played two consistent rounds on the 7,340 yard course. Li shot a five-over 77 on Saturday, but posted an 81 on Sunday, which

elevated him two spots on the leaderboard. Meanwhile, Shen improved upon his Saturday 80 to shoot a six-over 78 on Sunday. Elsewhere on the course, senior captain Eric Tarakjian finished tied for 13th with a total score of 159, while junior Bryce Holmes and freshman Kelly Sun finished in a tie for nineteenth with scores of 162. First-year Violet Justin Chan rounded out the Violets’ field in 30th, shooting a 171. Li and Tarakjian tied for the Violets’ best single-round score, posting a pair of 77’s. The men are off next weekend, but return on Sept. 24 for the first leg of the Liberty League Championship in Baldwinsville, New York. The tournament kicks off in September, but the final two rounds will be played in April 2017. Meanwhile, after a week off, the women’s team returns to action this weekend at the Ann. S. Batchelder Golf Invitational in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.

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The men’s golf team, through a strain to perform consistently, finished fourth in the Lake Placid Invitational this weekend.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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SPORTS

EDITED BY RACHEL RUECKER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Soccer Fights, Gets Mixed Results By BEN GOODKIN Contributing Writer

It was a very eventful weekend for the NYU soccer program as both the men’s and women’s teams played multiple games across the tri-state area. The women’s team spent the weekend in Hoboken, New Jersey playing two games at Stevens Institute’s Engineering Cup. They faced off against Massachusetts Institute of Technology on Saturday and took on the nationally ranked host Stevens on Sunday afternoon. The weekend started well for the Violets as it took just seven minutes for junior midfielder Steph Ho’s header to finish off a beautiful corner kick and give NYU an early advantage. The extreme heat and humidity didn’t slow the Violets’ attack as they doubled their lead on a 35th minute goal by junior forward Charlotte Herbertz. A beautiful free kick goal from MIT at the beginning of the second half gave the Engineers hope, but junior forward Teressa Fazio added a much needed insurance goal in the 66th minute, securing the Violets a 3-1 victory. On Sunday, the women faced the 14th ranked Stevens Institute Ducks in a back-and-forth battle. Stevens opened the scoring with goals in the seventh and 33rd minutes, but NYU quickly retaliated. Fazio’s second goal of the weekend, along with junior forward McKennah Spagnola’s long strike, which bounced off the crossbar and into the goal, equalized for the Violets with 28 minutes to play. The game remained even until overtime when Stevens found the back of the net to win the game in the 106th minute. The loss was the Violets’ first of the season, dropping their record to 3-1. It was an equally challenging weekend for the NYU men as they couldn’t quite conquer the heat

and struggled to produce scoring chances on Saturday against Hunter College at Randall’s Island. Hunter started strong and took an early lead on Aiden Tucker’s sixth minute goal. Both teams failed to produce any legitimate chances until the 80th minute when Hunter College doubled their lead. NYU quickly countered as senior captain Petter Aasa scored his team-leading third goal of the year on a penalty kick just two minutes later. Their strong final push wasn’t enough, and the Violets suffered their second defeat of the young season. Sunday morning saw the men travel to Long Island’s much cooler temperatures and take on The College at Old Westbury. Sophomore forward Evan Reifsnyder opened the scoring early with a brilliant goal off a cross from junior midfielder Tristan Medios-Simon. Just

six minutes later, Dominic Guidance answered for Old Westbury, tying up the game 1-1. The teams battled for another 100 minutes with no score, and the game deadlocked at one. The draw moved the Violets record to 2-2-1 on the season. Junior forward Nicolas Notaro focused on the importance of improving throughout the season. “There’s a lot of work to do and we have to take advantage of this time before league play,” Notaro said. “UAA games are the ones we can’t afford to lose.” Both teams are back in action this Wednesday, with the NYU women traveling to Farmingdale and the men’s soccer team playing in Riverdale against the College of Mount Saint Vincent.

Email Ben Goodkin at sports@nyunews.com.

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The weekend was eventful for both men’s and women’s soccer teams who played multiple games across the tristate area.

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This weekend at the Lion’s Kickoff Tournament, the men’s and women’s tennis team played TCNJ in Ewing, NJ.

Individual Performances Highlight Tennis Opener By TONY SCHWAB Contributing Writer

Both the men’s and women’s tennis teams kicked off their season this past Friday and Saturday at the Lion’s Kickoff Tournament on the road against The College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey. Although neither team could manage an overall winning record, both had some standout moments. On Friday, the women competed in doubles, going 1-4. The first match saw sophomore Alice McGinty and freshman Rupa Ganesh fall narrowly, 9-8. After senior Laila El Dessouki and freshman Judy Kam retired from their match early, McGinty and Ganesh competed again, but this time lost 8-2. After this came a bright spot for the Violets, as Sachi Belwal and Ayesha Das prevailed 8-6 against Anna Prestera and Danna Tsay. In the final women’s match of the day, this same pair was defeated 8-3. On the men’s side, Friday saw NYU begin its singles campaign with a 5-3 record on the day. Playing for the first time as a Violet, freshman Michael Li defeated Thomas Wright 7-6(9), 6-2. Seniors Matt Demichiel and Umberto Setter and Jiri Honajzer all had relatively straight-forward victories, while junior Ian Combemale struggled. On Saturday, the women took the court for singles and struggled. They went 1-8, with Alice McGinty capturing a win as TCNJ’s Sneha Rangu retired due to injury. At the very least, the Violets managed to keep things close in some matches. Sophomore Fleura Shiyanova took

Brittney Reedman to three sets, ultimately falling 3-6, 6-3 and 106. Kam did the same in her match against Matty Stoner, winning the first set but going on to lose 2-6, 6-3 and 10-6. Belwal had a good first set against Anna Prestera, narrowly losing in a tiebreak, but then retired due to injury. The men struggled almost as much on Saturday, losing four of 12 singles matches. The bright spot was Setter, who won both of his matches in dominating fashion, beating TCNJ’s Wright 6-1, 6-1 and Matt Puig 6-2, 6-0. Matt DeMichiel got another win before Michael Li got the last. Ian Combermale lost both of his matches. The disappointing performance may have come from both rustiness as the team returns from summer and fatigue at the end of a long weekend of play. Following the tournament, DeMichiel was pleased with the team’s performance. “The guys competed well this weekend,” DeMichiel said. “It’s tough playing three matches per player with only a week of practice, but the guys were able to keep all of the matches close and interesting.” Overall NYU was 9-23 for the weekend. Next week, the men will take part in the Four in the fall tournament in the Bronx, while the women will travel to Poughkeepsie to compete in the Vassar College scramble.

Email Tony Schwab at sports@nyunews.com.

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