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washington square news Vol. 40, No. 7

THURSday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012

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Violets take down Hunter College

NYC taxi fares see first spike in six years By Nicole Brown

Rachel Kaplan/WSN

NYU women’s volleyball avenged last year’s loss against Hunter College with a four set win last night at Coles Sports Center. By Nico Cantor Last night was Hunter College’s longest drive back up to the Upper East Side as the NYU Violets avenged last year’s loss against the Hawks in a four set win at Coles Sports Center. The Violets improved their record to 4-3 and held a winning record for the first time this year.

“I think the last two years we’ve had a hard time being mentally prepared for the match-up,” said head coach Jolie Ward. “Our goal was to come back and show that we were more prepared coming into this match.” The Violets lost to the Hawks at last year’s Tear It Up event, which had snapped NYU’s 19-match home winning streak.

Tisch junior collaborates on first EP, ‘Look UP’ By Sydney Wu

To find inspiration, all Tisch junior Kiah Victoria needs to do is look up. The vocalist, who studies at The Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at Tisch School of the Arts, released her first EP in August. Titled “Look Up,” the extended play album consists of five R&B-soul tracks that focus on a theme of looking upward for love, trying to find it and define it. “‘Look Up’ came to me because when I walked down the street [I realized] that I don’t look up that much,” Victoria said. “There’s a sky and there’s the buildings and it gets kind of

crazy. It’s kind of a metaphor to not get caught up in right here. All of the songs have [an allusion] to an upward motion.” Victoria began singing when she was a child. She was born in Germany and lived in several different places before moving to New York at age 10 to star as Young Nala in Disney’s “The Lion King” on Broadway for six months. During Victoria’s senior year in high school, she applied to several universities for musical theater, but felt she was meant to be at Clive Davis. The first song she ever wrote was to get into the department.

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“It was all about revenge,” said junior Alexandria Mao, a captain and outside hitter. The match began with NYU running a 6-2 offense with setters captain junior Hope Bogle and freshman Emily Moore. Outside hitter sophomore Vera Shulgina gave her team the momentum needed to wrap up the first 25 points while Mao put the set away

with her clean swings and uncontested kills. She was NYU’s go-to offensive attacker as the Violets won the first set 25-22. The second set was rougher on the Violets. After an early timeout where NYU was winning 5-2, the Hawks went on a huge run. Hunter middle blocker Lucia Stosic racked

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For the first time since 2004, the New York City Taxi & Limousine Commission increased the cab fare. Last May, the commission received a proposal from the yellow cab industry to increase fares as much as 20 percent. After much consideration and the commission’s vote, NYTLC agreed to raise the fares by 17 percent in July. Under this change that took effect earlier this month, every one-fifth of a mile will cost 50 cents — instead of 40 cents — after the initial cost of $2.50. In 2004, the fare increased approximately 26 percent, and stopand-go traffic calculations rose two years later. NYTLC spokesman Allan Fromberg attributed the fare raise to the high gas prices. “[The last increase] was swallowed up by gas prices, and drivers are making less than they were then,” Fromberg said.

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App shows healthy dining options By Tatiana Baez and Hye Joon Lee ARAMARK launched CampusDish, a new mobile application that provides dining information to college students last month. Available for free download in the iPhone, iPad and Android app stores, CampusDish provides dining hall menus with nutrition facts, including calories, total fat and vitamin counts to its users. This semester, NYU teamed up with ARAMARK to offer the app to the university’s community. Vassar College, Baylor University and the University of Central Florida also provide CampusDish. The NYU section on the app contains dining menus for Hayden, Third North, Rubin and Weinstein dining halls. CampusDish allows

students to search for different locations and types of food on campus. Students can also advance their searches by inputting specific criteria to find which dining hall and which meal would best match their preferences. “[The app] gives students access to pertinent information quickly on their smartphones,” said George Hellen, senior district manager for NYU Dining. “It will help students make better choices when it comes to eating, and the ability to eat healthy is important to the university.” Hellen said NYU students have been asking the university to provide a service like CampusDish. “The research we’ve done pointed out that students would like to get this information on their phones without having to look to a book

via CampusDish

The app provides a nutrition guide to dining hall cuisine. or the computer,” he said. Lisa Young, a nutritionist and adjunct professor in the

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Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

Washington Square News

Editor-in-Chief AMANDA RANDONE Managing Editor

JAEWON KANG Web Managing Editor

Amy Zhang Deputy Managing Editor

4TH

Emily Yang

WEEKEND AGENA:

SOHO EH

STON

Assistant Managing Editors

Hanqing Chen DANIEL HINTON Creative Director

MERYLL PREPOSI senior staff

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

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

deputy staff

university Tatiana Baez city/state Kayana Jean-Philippe,

1. via nyaa.edu 2. via blog.urbanedgeny.com 3. via thornews.com 4. via mcnallyjackson.com

2 - 8 p.m. Wilkinson Gallery Fellows Exhibition | 111 Franklin St.

Weeknights 11:30 a.m. - 11 p.m., Weekends 11:30 a.m. - midnight Galli | 45 Mercer St.

Mondays to Saturdays 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sundays noon - 6 p.m. Moods of Norway | 75 Greene St.

7 p.m. McNally Jackson Books | 52 Prince St.

The Wilkinson Gallery at the New York Academy of Art presents its 2012 Fellows Exhibition: “Post Natural.” It features works that juxtapose classic technique with contemporary vision. The gallery is hosting a reception tonight from 6 - 8 p.m.

This rustic, home-style restaurant, which opened in SoHo last month, offers classic Italian favorites and innovative fare at reasonable prices.

Moods of Norway, a shop inspired by Norwegian culture, opened a New York location last week. The store offers a wide range of items including men’s and women’s clothing and Norwegian treats like candy and waffle mix.

Post Natural

gALLI

Norwegian SoHo Store

When it Happens To You For fans of the John Hughes 1980s Brat Pack, Molly Ringwald will present her fiction writing debut, “When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories.” Ringwald will talk about her experience writing with author Emma Straub.

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

Richard Zhang social media agent

Nicole Gartside

opinion page opinion editors

Atticus Brigham, CHRIS DINARDO deputy opinion editor

JESSICA LITTMAN

advertising business manager

REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager

Stefanie Yotka circulation manager

Chelsea Gold

SNAPSHOT

ON THE WIRE

Bird is the foul-mouthed word

A Rhode Island woman has been accused of violating an animal-noise ordinance. Lynne Taylor allegedly trained her pet cockatoo to curse at her neighbors, who are Taylor’s ex-husband and his girlfriend. The neighbors who accused Taylor said they have been victims of repeated curses from the bird; sometimes for 15 minutes at a time. Because a municipal judge denied Taylor’s request to dismiss the case last week, she now faces a small fine for breaking the ordinance. The judge issued restraining orders to make sure Taylor and her ex-husband’s girlfriend do not have contact with each other. — The Associated Press

university sales coordinator

Kaitlyn O’Brien sales representatives

Ellen McQueen, Melissa Ynegas sales ASSOCIATE

Gloria Lee

circulation assistants

Omid Golmohammadi, Max Kane

advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY University of Florida

Food truck brings Latin flair, mobile dining options to UF — Independent Florida Alligator

University of Georgia

Thousands of birds flew through the Tribute of Light’s beams that illuminated the night sky.

PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN

Three UGA students receive charges associated with manufacturing and distributing fake IDs — Red and Black

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About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

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nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | Washington Square news

Online database provides open access to undercover journalism By Nicole Brown

Undercover journalism has served the public well but does not receive the recognition it deserves, according to NYU journalism professor Brooke Kroeger. To shed light on the practice of the particular field of journalism, Kroeger, who is also NYU director of Global and Joint Program Studies, teamed up with the university’s Division of Libraries to create an in-depth database. “Undercover Reporting,” which went live in early August, is now available for public use online. It has over 2,500 articles written by undercover journalists, and dates range from the early 1800s to present day. The site organizes the articles into clusters, which are grouped by subject, author or theme. Users can browse through all the individual articles or search a specific topic, author, date, method of investigation or publication. Each article’s page has an illustration,

short excerpt, description and information about the author, publisher and time of publication. The database also provides links to the original texts. After writing her 1995 “Nellie Bly: Daredevil, Reporter, Feminist” biography about the undercover reporter, Kroeger said she saw the need for a simpler way to access undercover reports. The project was funded by NYU’s Humanities Initiative, which offers grants to faculty and students for projects it believes will promote interdisciplinary dialogue, teaching and research. University librarian for Journalism, Media, Culture and Communication Alexa Pearce said the Digital Library Technology Services team and various members of the Library created the infrastructure of the site. “This database is distinct because of its content, and because it is online-only,” Pearce said. “Journalists, researchers and members of the public who

would like to understand more about undercover reporting and its history will find it very useful.” Dan Fagin, director of the Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program at NYU, said the database will be beneficial to many. “I think [the database] is a wonderful idea and is going to be useful to student journalists and professional journalists, not just in New York but all over since it’s so easily accessible,” Fagin said. Lauren Holter, a CAS sophomore and journalism student, said the database will be useful when she needs to conduct research. “Having so much information dating back to the 1800s in a single database will eliminate the struggle of trying to find old articles buried in outdated filing systems,” Holter said. Nicole Brown is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.

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New app makes dining hall nutrition info available to students department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health at NYU, said students who have access to nutritional information concerning their food choices are more likely to make informed and healthy decisions. “One of the drawbacks of eating out is that we don’t have a clue what is in the foods prepared by others,” Young said. “This app can take the guesswork out of eating at the dining hall.” Before the university began offering CampusDish, students had to check dining hall menus online through the NYU Dining Services website or use the dining kiosks located in each residence hall. “[CampusDish] makes the entire process easier so that I don’t have to ask the cooks what they’re making for the day every time I go into a dining hall,” Steinhardt freshman Devonae Robinson said. The app also features a feedback tool that makes it easy for students to write comments and

Tatiana Baez is deputy university editor. Hye Joon Lee is a contributing writer. Email them at university@nyunews.com.

Men’s soccer scores fifth consecutive win By Francisco Navas

Kaleel Munroe for WSN

Every fifth of a mile traveled in cabs now costs 50 cents after the initial $2.50. Javaid Tariq, co-founder of a union of taxi cab drivers called New York Taxi Workers Alliance, said this increase was a major victory for the group. The NYTWA has petitioned for years to increase taxi fares, holding demonstrations in front of city-wide garages that lease the taxis to the drivers. Tariq said from leasing taxis and paying for gas every day, taxi drivers can pay more than $300 per day to work. Economics professor Karl Storchmann said he understands the need for a fare increase. “A raise of 17 percent in eight years translates into an average annual rise of 1.98 percent,” Storchmann said. “During the same time, the price of gasoline has risen from $1.86 to $3.87 per gallon. That is a growth of 108 percent, or an average of 9.6 percent per year. Clearly, the 17 percent taxi fare raise looks fairly modest.” Even though economics professor Lawrence White believes the rise is reasonable, he said there may be some decrease in ridership as a consequence. But Tariq does not believe taxi business

suggestions and report any problems they encounter while using the app. “Customer suggestions are reviewed and will be used to make improvements where needed,” said Carmen Mayes, the marketing manager for ARAMARK at NYU. Although the newly unveiled app is currently only available for a limited number of schools, ARAMARK hopes to expand app usage to all campuses using ARAMARK dining services. “ARAMARK Higher Education accounts that are linked to CampusDish are able to have their dining and nutritional information available on the app,” Mayes said. “The app is newly launched, but over time all ARAMARK Higher Education accounts will be available.”

SPORTS

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NYC Taxi and Limousine Commission increases fares by 17 percent

will suffer because fares in New York City are still cheaper than other parts of the country, especially when people travel in groups and split the fare. Tisch sophomore Carlos Perez agreed. “People will complain about price hikes, but at the end of the day I don’t think it will deter them from using the cab system because it’s such a huge part of their everyday lives,” Perez said. However, Stern sophomore Arunima Penmetsa said the increase may hurt the industry. “On one hand I’d say it would deter New Yorkers from taking cabs because there are already less expensive alternatives out there, so any rise in taxi fares would hurt demand or tips for drivers,” Penmetsa said. Fromberg said the commission will begin exploring the fare again every two years to ensure that drivers can make a profit though gas prices continue to increase. Nicole Brown is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

In their first away game of the season, NYU men’s soccer won 4-0 versus the City College of New York in Purchase, N.Y. With this victory, the Violets continue their winning streak, making their record 5-0-0. The last time the Violets began the season with a 5-0-0 record was 1994, when current head coach Joe Behan was a player on the team. “We had a good start in ’94 like now,” Behan said. When asked to compare the ’94 team with the 2012 squad, he stated, “I would pick this team, but not by much.” Forwards Kyle Green and Billy Cordova, and midfielders Niki Chow and Nimo Bergstroem each scored a goal. Many of the offensive mistakes that led to the low score of last Wednesday’s game against Stevens Institute of Technology were not evident in the 4-0 finish. Forward Kyle Green had a strong start and put the Violets on the scoreboard in the 22nd minute after a through pass from midfielder Nimo Bergstroem. “It was great to score today because sometimes the first can be the hardest to get out of the way, but now that I have I’m hoping to open the floodgates and chase down the NYU goal record,” said Green, who is a senior this year. In the 2011 season, Green led the team in points, goals, shots and shots on goal. Similar to their victory against Stevens, NYU held possession in the midfield, but scored only one goal during the first half. They surged in the second half, scoring two goals in 3 minutes right off the whistle to kick-start the end of the match. Cordova scored

the final goal in the 67th minute. “This was a lighter game ... one of those games we had to win just because we were the better team by far,” says forward Paolo Luciano. The two goalkeepers, Jonas Poster and Forrest Sexton, have kept a clean slate for a combined total of 197 minutes. On Tuesday Sept. 11, it was announced that the Violets are ranked 17th according to D3soccer.com’s Top 25 Poll, and 22nd according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Top 25 Poll. The ranking was achieved by defeating two ranked teams — 18th ranked Stevens Institute of Technology and previously 22nd ranked William Patterson — consecutively in the two games before this victory. Only one other team in their conference has a 5-0-0 undefeated record: the Brandeis Judges, a team ranked 20th for the second consecutive week. The Violets will face the Judges in their last game of the season. “Anything can happen,” Coach Behan said. “We don’t want to look too far into the future.” “Every time we play them [Brandeis] it is a tough game.” Defender Juan Velez said. But for now, the Violets can savor their victory. “This game was huge for NYU, as it was our first game on the road,” Bergstroem said. “This is the mentality we went in with and successfully executed.” The Violets return to the field on Saturday, Sept. 15 at 12 p.m. against Baruch College in Maspeth, N.Y. Francisco Navas is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | nyunews.com

ARTS

edited by STEFAN MELNYK ARTS@nyunews.com

Talking Heads, St. Vincent an intriguing collaboration

By Patrick Jaojoco

When two music powerhouses like Talking Heads’ David Byrne and St. Vincent’s Annie Clark come together, it’s difficult to categorize the collaboration in either artist’s oeuvre. The pair’s album, “Love This Giant,” instead serves as a layered exploration of two separate influences. Clark’s quirky pop arrangements are unmistakable, and Byrne brings a “Burning Down the House” type of funk that St. Vincent could not fully achieve alone. The opening track, “Who,” is a perfect example of the collaboration, with a brilliant horn introduction reminiscent of St. Vincent’s guitar riffs that leads into a simple, heavy kick drum and snare beat. Byrne takes lead vocals, and his robust voice is fitting for the song’s funk musing. Yet the two take turns throughout the album, and Clark’s beautiful, wispy voice is almost drowned out and fails to blend well with the accompanying music. Ultimately, the songs featuring

Byrne’s lead vocals are the strongest on the album – especially “I Should Watch TV,” the record’s best track. Here and throughout the album, the combination of Clark’s arrangement skills and an additional brass section make good songs great. But Byrne’s voice provides a certain dynamic tension that better compliments the album’s unique funk-pop. Gravelly synth riffs start off “I Should Watch TV,” providing a background of alienation that the lyrics explore. Byrne’s commanding voice naturally complements the unsettling tone that underlies the entire album. The song’s breakdown into an overpowering minor progression seems to bring the entire album’s odd funk to a climax as Byrne eerily chants, “How am I not your brother?/How are you not like me?” The actual final track, however, “Outside of Space and Time,” is anything but climactic. A good stand-alone piece, it seems out of place in the album’s overall structure. The ballad’s vocal melody and song structure are

Courtesy of 4AD/Toto Mundo

the simplest on the album, and it is a bit unsatisfying as an end to such an explosive collection. The album’s horn arrangements are so strong and the funk so lively that an easy-to-swallow ’80s ballad is an odd choice to close the terrifically clamorous 45-minute set. “Love This Giant” is a collaboration that is not as good as its components. But, it is still an unquestionably intriguing and thoroughly worthwhile set of songs that leaves one wondering how on earth an indie-pop brass section could be so good. Patrick Jaojoco is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.

Pulitzer Prize-winner falls short By Leora Rosenberg

“I’m not a bad guy,” Junot Diaz writes to begin his short story collection,“This Is How You Lose Her.” From there, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author jumps into nine vignettes that revolve around love. The stories mostly focus on Yunior and his brother, Rafa, young immigrants who came to America from the Dominican Republic. They callously womanize their way around, but just as the book threatens to deteriorate into a swaggering recollection of past sexual encounters mixed with much-deserved heartbreak, Diaz suddenly shifts gears. Romantic love takes a backseat to the familial variety as Rafa slowly and bitterly succumbs to cancer. Yunior flashes back to memories of his father, a frightening man who brought his sons to the openness of the United States only to confine them to their bedrooms. The book’s highlight is a short story previously published in The New Yorker, related to Yunior only thematically; “Otravida, Otravez” seems to span a woman’s entire life. Using a female narrator, Diaz advises girls recently arrived in the United States, a country that offers the quintessential social dream but forces them to sever familial bonds. It’s the complications that bring out the tenderness, and by the time Yunior starts whining about

his broken heart again, the reader understands his environment well enough to sympathize. Diaz draws together the meandering short stories by zeroing in on the voice of a Latin-American immigrant. His energetic second-person sentences are filled with Spanish and profanity. The lowbrow diction feels honest and powerful, but occasionally grows tiresome. Several of the long dialogues are built with banalities, and Diaz sometimes strains too obviously for colloquial eloquence. One passage reads, “The daughter doesn’t seem to understand what’s happening but when the door shuts she lets out a wail that coils around you like constantine wire.” He’s referring to the loops of razor wire used on top of prison walls, and though the metaphor does evoke the neighborhood, it’s wrong for this narrator and for the cry of a child. The wonderful moments shine, but since Diaz is a master writer who based Yunior largely on his own experiences as an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, he has little excuse to let the short stories fall flat. “This Is How You Lose Her” by Junot Diaz released worldwide on Sept. 11. Leora Rosenberg is a staff writer. Email her at books@nyunews.com.

Phoenix, Hoffman stun in “The Master” By Alex Greenberger Like a child lost in a hedge maze — running into walls, stumbling around, retracing steps, losing sight of time and place — “The Master” unfolds as a complex, elliptical story. Events appear to happen within other events: The film flips back and forth in time without transition. For any other film, such a serpentine structure would cause its story to crumble under the weight of its multitudinous layers, but Paul Thomas Anderson’s directorial efforts keep “The Master” going strong at all times. This brave masterpiece shows Joaquin Phoenix in his most brilliant performance as Freddie Quell, an alcoholic World War II veteran. In 1950, Freddie is attracted to a cult named The Cause and led by a man known only as The Master, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, and his wife Peggy, actress Amy Adams. But to what does the cult’s name refer? Why is Freddie an alcoholic? What are the cult’s and Freddie’s goals? The audience will not be spoon-fed the answers, nor will the story unfurl in strict adherence to cause and effect. For some, this will be frustrating. For others, this will be perplexing. For many, this will be rewarding.

The film’s ability to elicit a number of emotional responses from the audience — even if those responses are simply depression and confusion — is reminiscent of director Stanley Kubrick. When modern filmmakers are compared to Kubrick, it is frequently an exaggeration, but nothing in recent years has come closer to reincarnating his style than this film. Long gone are the techniques and styles of Anderson’s previous films. “The Master” is Anderson at his very finest and his very coldest. Mihai Malaimaire Jr.’s stunning, harsh, elegant cinematography conveys a sense of the film’s power. The drab blues and bright whites immerse the audience in the film. The viewer may be lost and confused while watching Anderson’s deliberately cerebral, labyrinthine work of art. But “The Master” is partly about the search for the self and who has power in that quest; is it he who searches for the way or those who show the way? “The Master” asks this enigmatic question in a 137-minute visual essay on loss, lust, sustenance and disillusionment. Viewers will be unable to avoid an emotional response to this film. Alex Greenberger is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.

nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | Washington Square news

Features

edited by NICOLA PRING features@nyunews.com

P O T

Lesser-known Manhattan attractions

There are certain landmarks that are always associated with New York City — the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, Times Square. These locations are constantly mobbed by tourists who are eager to see what they know to be the epitome of the Big Apple. But there are other attractions that capture the essence of Manhattan without hoards of people. The city is full of unique places that are smaller and lesser-known than some of the bigger, pricier attractions. Here are New York’s top five hidden gems.

By Bryna Shuman

1. The City Reliquary The City Reliquary is a hole-in-thewall museum that features quirky artifacts from New York City’s past. It is so small that if it not for the colorful window display, you might walk right past it. Make no mistake though; the museum makes full use of its two rooms. Walls and shelves are packed in an organized chaos with New York memorabilia of all kinds. The museum is home to permanent exhibits of bizarre artifacts and rotating exhibits for community collections. 370 Metropolitan Ave. $5 suggested donation

2. 3. 5.

1.Jonathan Tan/WSN 2. Jonathan Tan/WSN 3. via ology.com 4. Jonathan Tan/WSN 5. Jonathan Tan/WSN

2. The Paley Center for Media The Paley Center for Media is a hidden gem for television enthusiasts. Paley’s media collection contains almost 150,000 archived television shows, advertisements and radio programs — all of which can be watched on either private or group consoles in the center’s viewing library. Useful for both research and catching up on your favorite television program, the Paley Center is a great resource for students. Be sure to check out Paley’s upcom-

Poetry book illuminates worldview

By Keerthi Harishankar

Words have the power to shape people, and can even change the course of their lives entirely. In her new book “My Poets,” NYU associate professor of English, Maureen McLane explores how poetry came into her life at certain junctures and molded her perspective of the world. On Tuesday, McLane spoke about her new book and answered questions from panelists and the audience. The event was hosted by the Humanities Initiative at NYU, which was created in 2007 to highlight the work of the university’s humanities faculty and students and to expand the role the humanities play in our global network university. McLane referred to “My Poets” as an NYU book, as she wrote it while she was at the university. The Humanities Initiative aided in funding the project. McLane is also the author of four other books, but she said the process of writing “My Poets” was a distinctly different experience. “I would say that once I started this book, I had a more vivid sense of [what the whole book would be], whereas when I’m writing my poetry books I often don’t know until I’ve been writing for a long while what the totality might be,”

McLane said. “But this one, when I started, I realized would be a project, and that I would be choosing poets based on their intersection with life moments.” McLane also expanded on the idea of the interface between art and life. “Repeatedly I was reading something at a certain time, and it chimed with my experience. So, for example, I’m reading poems by Louise Glück at the moment I am undergoing a divorce ... or I am thinking about Emily Dickinson’s work after 9/11 and thinking of her as a poet of terror,” she said. “But more generally I found that often, at very emotionally intense life junctures, there was something I was reading that was very powerful, anchoring, illuminating.” At the event, McLane read an excerpt from “My Poets” before the focus shifted to the panelists. Among them was Mclane’s colleague, professor Catherine Robson, and professor William Corbett, who was formerly Mclane’s teacher. During the question and answer portion of the event, McLane spoke with vigor and humor about poets such as Gertrude Stein, Wallace Stevens and Emily Dickinson. Professor Robson spoke highly of McLane not only as an author, but also as an educator. “To have someone with that kind

Courtesy of Farrar, Straus and Giroux

of generosity of spirit, imagine what that’s like in the classroom,” Robson said. “She listens incredibly closely, but she’s also got so much to tell them.” CAS senior Judy Zhou took a course with McLane last spring. “[McLane] really got me to think about poetry in a much more exciting way,” Zhou said. “I’ve read her poetry, too, so I’m really interested in her as a writer and as a teacher ... I really admire her and her work.” “My Poets” is now available in bookstores. Keerthi Harishankar is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

ing public events, including fall TV previews and digitally remastered “Doctor Who” screenings. 25 W. 52nd St. $8 with an NYU Student ID 3. Bodies: The Exhibition Rejoice, biology majors. Housed at the South Street Seaport, “Bodies: The Exhibition” displays over 200 perfectly preserved human bodies and organs. Specimens offer a deep look at the intricate workings of the human body, allowing for a thorough understanding of human anatomy and biology. “Bodies” offers discounted tickets for students. 11 Fulton St. $22.50, Monday through Thursday; $23.50, Friday through Sunday 4. The International Center of Photography The International Center of Photography features beautiful exhibitions and photograph collections. Exhibits are supplemented with film clips, newspaper articles and other assorted documents that enhance the understanding of the

images. The ICP is currently featuring an exhibit on everyday life during South Africa’s Apartheid Era, and also offers a wide range of photography courses. 1133 Sixth Avenue $10 with a student ID 5. Socrates Sculpture Park A large, artistic billboard over the main entrance identifies Socrates Sculpture Park as something special from the moment you enter. The park is not an ordinary public park: It exhibits large sculptures year round. The current exhibit is the “EAF 12: 2012 Emerging Artist Fellowship Exhibition,” which includes pieces by 15 artists selected for their passion for public art. The park also features a weekly farmers market, outdoor movie screenings, live performances, concerts and festivals — all with a fantastic view of the Manhattan skyline. 3205 Vernon Blvd, Queens. Free entry Bryna Shuman is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

VICTORIA continued from PG. 1

Tisch junior inspires listeners through her first EP Earlier this year, Victoria was offered the chance to audition for NBC’s “The Voice,” a reality television show featuring celebrity vocal coaches for aspiring professional singers. She took a leave of absence from NYU for the show, but just before her audition, the final spot was filled. Victoria was disappointed at first, but re-enrolled in her classes at Tisch and realized the ordeal was a blessing in disguise. “The entire experience taught me so much about myself and the kind of human and artist I want to become,” she said. “Reality talent shows are a brilliant concept, but after going through the motions, I am at peace in knowing that I am going to build my career and my art from the ground up. You gotta rise up.” Victoria’s perspective aligns perfectly with the theme of “Look Up.” “I can’t get enough of the EP,” said Tisch senior Ray Rock, who is very familiar with Victoria’s work. “It’s

super solid and cohesive.” Victoria said she looks up to Toluwanimi Adeyemo, a Tisch junior who produced the EP. “It’s so cool going to him with these simple chords and he layers on all these amazing things,” Victoria said. “I didn’t realize what the song could be, but I feel like he brought it to another level. We just create together.” Adeyemo believes Victoria is a phenomenal artist with a bright future. “She has the ability to relate to and awe people in the same breath,” he said. “I think with whatever sophomore EP or perhaps full-length album that is created, she will use that very well. That’s the kind of person she is.” Victoria is currently working on songs for her second EP. “Look Up” can be downloaded for free or with donation through bandcamp at kiahvictoria.bandcamp.com. Sydney Wu is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

Washington Square news | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | nyunews.com

WVOLLEYBALL continued from PG. 1

Women’s volleyball continues streak with strong showing up 11 blocks while Paulina Jobczyk got several of her seven kills in the set. Sophomore Allie Williams tallied some kills, tying the set at 23. The game was tense, and the score was 25-25 when a poor set choice to the middle cost NYU a set they should have easily won. After a disappointing second set loss, the Violets were determined to win. “We finally realized we had to come together as a team and play,” Williams said. “Coach talked to us and said ‘You guys need to get out there and lead,’” Mao said. “Each girl on the court took it upon themselves to pick it up a couple notches.” NYU came out with lively energy and started the set off with an 11-0 run. Mao and Williams totaled 14 and 20 kills, respectively. Senior captain libero Kaylee Schanda

contributed with a great defensive effort with 17 digs on the night. The Violets ran away with the third set 25-6, and entered the fourth set running a smooth offense. The night was topped off by an incredible play by Mao in the fourth set, as she dove to keep the ball in play. After a quick reaction from the offense, the Violets were able to win the point and gain momentum to seal the victory. Overall, the team looked extremely pleased with their win as they performed their post-victory cheer. “It was a really big statement for the rest of the season,” Mao said NYU will travel to Rochester this weekend to partake in the RIT Invitational, their first game is Friday, Sept. 15 at 5 p.m. against St. Lawrence University. Nico Cantor is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation The new york crossword & daily sudoku 620 Eighth Avenue, New York,times N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Thursday, September 13, 2012

Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Droplet 5 They’re seen on the neck 10 Small step 14 Turning point 15 Caravan parking spot? 16 Club of song 17 It comes out of a trunk 18 Up 19 Part of FEMA: Abbr. 20 “There’s no hope!” 22 Objet ___ 23 With 24- and 45-Across, game represented by this completed puzzle’s grid 24 See 23-Across 25 Imitator of

Bush the elder on “S.N.L.” 32 Salmon variety 33 Spoil 34 Teacher’s note on a failing test 35 “… and she bare ___”: Ruth 4:13 36 Rat-___ 37 Line at an airport 38 Mad Libs specification 39 Be blue 40 “The First Time ___ Saw Your Face” (Roberta Flack #1 hit) 41 River of York 42 Chemical suffixes 43 Common restaurant fish

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE B A E Z

C O L A

A M U R

L U A U

J A C O B

A D A N O

C L I M B D O W N

B O R N

A S T E R I S K

A M A Z O N

I S C I V A S M I N A X T B L E I O N N O S

R O N B O R E O B O O X I N C O N G A U F R I T S E E R T T E N S O E N T N S P E E B O R C A N O R A D I I A N E E D B O N D S

A R O N M A N I E N O N A N E N T E R O H O M E V A L H E U S O R I A O S D I Z E Z I A E M S D A Y

45 See 23-Across 46 Turn blue, maybe 47 Mini-terrors 49 Handle online 56 Common restaurant fish 57 Force out 58 Old-timey oath 59 Calendar heading: Abbr. 60 Like a mouse 61 Tear apart 62 Flat sound 63 Fearful sort 64 Turning heads, perhaps DOWN 1 Island with a Hindu majority 2 Way out 3 Form of relief 4 Society add-ons 5 Rain man? 6 Skateboard park feature 7 In ___ (actually) 8 Relationships 9 Employee data: Abbr. 10 Whizzed through 11 Classic Andy Warhol subject 12 Place to take binoculars 13 1984 U.S. Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics 21 Dog command

14 17 20

No. 0809 9

45 47

23 25

46 48

Puzzle by Joe Krozel

25 Playmakers? 26 Independent 27 “Fame” actress 28 Tear apart, oldstyle 29 In distress 30 Gulf moguls 31 “You betcha!”

32 Aids for camp chefs 44 Objectivist Rand 48 School period: Abbr. 49 They usually end at six 50 Roman 112 51 Eyeglass

holders 52 New Haven alumni 53 Writer James 54 Language known to native speakers as Gaelg 55 It’s a small whirl after all

For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.

nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | Washington Square news

opinion

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

social media

Online condolences miss emotional connection By Sasha Leshner My news feed is a slew of uninteresting comments and photo albums of my notquite friends, periodically updating every few minutes. Out of the ordinary, mundane blue haze of activity, an enormous banner draws my attention to a page that apparently 56 of my friends have liked, and whose three big, bold letters capture my attention: RIP. Even in an age where more and more of our lives are online, I still feel uneasy with the idea of a live-streaming memorial on Facebook. The page is littered with emoticons and grammar mishaps, as new posts pop up every few seconds; each commenting on what I learn has been a young girl’s suicide. The over-stimulating effect is unsettling while the posts suggest that a few of these very emphatic users knew the girl personally. This makes the comments seem like empty words rather than genuine grief or grateful relief to the girl’s parents — whom I doubt are on their deceased daughter’s Facebook page hours after her death. It seems the bustling online community is walking a fine line between sympathy and self-gratification, creating a spectacle of suicide in an attempt to

appear compassionate online. This isn’t to say the motive behind creating a platform for mourning and memories to be shared is a negative thing. But what online obituary pages have taught me is that the sobering effects of the event are rarely felt with a Facebook post. After offering condolences, many feel exempt from repeating the senitiment with those affected in real life because the commenters have made their appearance online. In a way, there is a desensitization transpiring between the computer screen and the real world. It seems the majority of posts on these pages is somewhat absent — they may give the poster a sense of participation, but in reality their presence doesn’t extend beyond the screen. The Internet is not merely creating a community for the online world — it is inventing a no-man’s land between congregation and isolation. Acting from behind the pixilated masks created from our relationship statuses and profile pictures, we keep our distance while upping our friend count. Ironically, these friends are hardly accounted for — approximately 57 percent of us talk to people more online than we do in real life. With over half our interactions now scripted in

Facebook’s custom font, the connections the site was created for are now struggling to escape the cyber-sphere. Regarding sensitive topics like suicide, I can’t help but feel that bringing such lifealtering events down to the blasé level of Facebook is an exploitation of death in an attempt to humanize the online world. It is embarrassing how the posts deal with this grave subject — one reads, “I think she would be so happy to know that she has over three thousand likes on her profile picture and over 200 people telling her how pretty she is.” Is this what Facebook has conditioned us to believe is important? To cheaply suggest that she would have been happy enough in life if more people typed how they thought she was pretty in a certain picture? This is an indication of the shallow lives online communities lead us towards. Even when well-intentioned, the overly casual, all-inclusive, immature site diminishes natural emotional repercussions in exchange for a demeaning charade of falsified sympathies that never leave the Web page. Sasha Leshner is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

Economy

Tax holiday: right gift for economy By Sameer Jaywant Creativity. It is perhaps one of the least likely words one might use to characterize the current approach to the fiscal situation in the United States. It might also, however, end up as a vital piece of the economic recovery puzzle that policy makers face today. In the midst of an election where the challenging candidate for the presidency has said, “I believe in an America where millions of Americans believe in an America that’s the America millions of Americans believe in,” it is clear there has not been an abundance of innovation emanating from either party. Thus, it is important to highlight the few creative ideas we come across in American economics these days. A little over a month ago, the Massachusetts state legislature approved a sales taxfree weekend for the second weekend of August, the eighth time in nine years that has been done. The tax holiday, covering items under $2,500, drew thousands of additional consumers. People even road-tripped from neighboring states to capitalize on the savings. Many are suffering from the economic downturn and needed the temporary tax cut to buy essential goods for the upcoming school

SUBMITTING TO

year and holiday season. The artificially induced version of Black Friday also affected the supply-side of goods markets with stores such as Best Buy saturating their shelves and calling in additional employees to work during the weekend. The effectiveness of tax holidays remains subject to debate, with some economists and professors calling it a political gimmick and a Populist attempt to coax the public into doing something they inevitably would have done without the 6.25 percent savings. Additionally, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick expected the revenue shortfall from the weekend to hit $20 million and passed a supplemental budget through the legislature to offset the losses. Nonetheless, tax holidays are still important because they aim to jump start the fundamental cog in our economic system: consumer demand. Yes, the Massachusetts holiday primarily affects only state residents, and yes, the demand spike is extremely short-term. But for once, we see a policy that strikes at the heart of our sluggish economic recovery and injects local businesses and manufacturers with the extra sales they desperately need to stay afloat. Consider the alternative: a revenue shortfall caused by loosened tax policy on wealthy individuals and large companies.

Assuming wealthy individuals would actually invest their additional savings — a huge assumption — into private companies, it is growing increasingly difficult for conservative economists to argue that these investments would actually trickle down to the less fortunate and unemployed, especially in light of data that shows American companies are sitting on record amounts of cash. This isn’t to say that every corporation in America is comprised of fat, Tammany Hall white guys with toilet paper rolls made of $20 bills stealing our money. Why would companies spend money to increase manufacturing and hire more workers when the public is buying fewer and fewer of their products? Simple: They wouldn’t. Anybody familiar with even the most basic of economics should know that. So although the Massachusetts tax holiday is not the grand solution to our financial woes, it is a short-term economic defibrillator that has proven on a small scale that lawmakers must take their cues from successful local economies and come up with fresh ideas to boost middle-class spending. Sameer Jaywant is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

staff editorial

U.S. policy in face of Libyan bombing Sad news reached the American people on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Four U.S. diplomats, including the Ambassador to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens, were killed in an assault on a consulate building in Benghazi. Some suspect the attack was a retaliation for the recent American-made movie, “Innocence of Muslims,” which caused outrage and protests throughout the region. Others believe this was the work of al-Qaeda in avenging the death of Libyan deputy Abu Yahya al-Libi. Either way, the weaponry used in the killings — mortars and rocket-propelled grenades — implies that the attack was premeditated. Destabilization has increased gradually in the region since the U.S.-led NATO intervention last spring deposed Muammar el-Qaddafi and turned the government over to Libyan rebels. Thus, the U.S. government is forced to deal with potentially dangerous long-term repercussions to an invasion that has been universally lauded for its short-term successes. Independently, this attack does not damage the relationship between the American and Libyan governments. The assault took place at a consulate building on American property. There was little that Libyan security forces could have done that American forces couldn’t, especially considering the new regime’s instability. Besides, the new Libyan government, installed in the wake of el-Qaddafi’s overthrow, was overtly supported by NATO. Unless the new Libyan government refuses to cooperate with subsequent investigations, there is no reason for the U.S. to weaken ties with a fledgling government in the midst of transitional turmoil. Rather, the U.S. should support any efforts to quell social unrest in the region. This instability allows religious fundamentalism to gain traction, as observed following the establishment of the provisional government in Iraq in 2003. The U.S. needs to allow Libya to foster its own governmental institutions rather than imposing its policies upon the country. In this way, America will hopefully learn from its past mistakes. Despite the distance between statements made by President Barack Obama and Gov. Mitt Romney about the embassy attack, whoever ultimately wins the election will most likely continue current policies when it comes to maintaining a relationship with the new Libyan government. We should only hope they don’t change course into strategies that result in greater turmoil.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Atticus Brigham (Chair), Chris DiNardo (Chair), Jessica Littman (Co-Chair), Nathaniel Chumley, Christopher Drake, Sanchay Jain, Sasha Leshner, Peter Murphy, Raquel Woodruff and Richard Zhang.

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, NY 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job

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nyunews.com | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2012 | Washington Square news

SPORTS

edited by THE WSN STAFF SPORTS@nyunews.com