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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS “I was hesitant whether to apply to Film “So, I was down to 3 options

and ended up choosing New York because I found out something about my

major and thought that

it was perfect. I want to

and TV at Tisch or Business with Stern. At the time, I was just like ‘follow my

dreams’ so I picked Tisch hoping to do

an Econ minor or major moving forward.”

Shobhit Jain, Junior Stern-Tisch Dual Degree

go into medicine and work for a company like Doctors Without Borders.”

Grace Yun Freshman Nursing and Global Health

Alex Guhde, Junior Vocal Performance

Ginnila Perez, Freshman Global Public Health and Sociology

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Tom Fogele Freshman Mathematics

NYU Tisch. It is a smaller group of

people, with a focus on classical back-

“We just like met randomly. We

ground going into

were just on the street waiting

contemporary.”

for something in line and just started talking.”

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Midwest so there isn’t much diversity there. I really wanted to have a lot

of experiences that would help me develop as a person.”

Elizabeth Ha Freshman Mathematics

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Crossword ACROSS

17 18 19 20 21 22

23 26 28 32

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DOWN 1 Dick’s

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ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE E B B E T S

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accompanier 3 Some slip-ons 4 Bluegrass genus 5 Trooper, e.g. 6 It comes before Iyar 7 “Go anywhere, do anything” sloganeer 8 Lab sounds? 9 Actor John of “American Pie” films 10 A hafiz knows it by heart 11 P.R. person 12 Swinging rhythm 13 Some prosecutors, for short 14 Wear over a petticoat 15 Service lines? 21 Spread out … or struck out 22 Hang over one’s head 23 Drops in the bucket 24 What a saw often has 25 Give ___ (mind) 26 Raise, in a way 27 [wolf whistle] 28 Ally in a partnership 29 Take the edge off 30 V composition, perhaps 31 Indicators of possessiveness 33 45-Down, for one: Abbr.

Edited by Will Shortz 1

No. 0321 10

16 17 18

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Read us online: nyunews.com

37 38 39

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PUZZLE BY FREDERICK J. HEALY

It’s observed as far west as Ind. in the summer

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Opera conductor Daniel

Bad marks

Alternative to “?” in some listings

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Steinhardt receives STEM grant By LEXI FAUNCE Deputy News Editor

The National Science Foundation has given the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development and the Stanford University Graduate School of Education a $3 million grant to develop a curriculum for fifth grade science students who are learning English, NYU announced in a press release last week. The curriculum will adhere to the Next Generation Science Standards, a program developed for K-12 students who are nonnative English speakers to establish a solid science foundation before entering post-secondary education. The program combines language learning with science by having an emphasis on skills such as listening, reading, speaking and writing. The standards were created by 26 states in conjunction with a writing team and partners across the country, and were released in 2013. Three years of the four-year

project, which started Sept. 1, will be dedicated to refining course materials, while the last year is set aside for a pilot study to field test the curriculum. The study will examine the impact of this new curriculum on science learning, language development and how teachers adapt to the new instructional practices. Guadalupe Valdés, a professor of education at Stanford University and a principal investigator on the NSF grant, said Stanford will be working closely with NYU to ensure the Next Generation Science Standards are being fully implemented into course materials. “We will be collaborating in the development of materials and working as a team,” Valdés said. “We will field test and pilot materials in school districts in both California and the New York City areas.” Among the researchers on the NYU side are Okhee Lee, a professor of childhood education at NYU Steinhardt, and Lorena Llosa, an associate professor of education at NYU Steinhardt,

both of whom are principal investigators on the project. Steinhardt sophomore Kassidy Williams said she thinks the new curriculum will be ideal for English language learners interested in science because the STEM fields are not particularly diverse, and English language learners sometimes aren’t given as many opportunities as those who fluently speak English. “I definitely think it was a good idea to give the grant to Steinhardt — all of my teaching classes so far have stressed the importance of gaining teaching skills, not just focusing on content knowledge,” Williams said. “The program will only be effective if the lessons are taught in a way that the children understand and connect with, especially considering many of them are English language learners, and Steinhardt is the part of NYU that really focuses on producing effective teachers.” Steinhardt sophomore Ann Guo, a native of Shanghai, said she feels this project is going

CRIME LOG

sept. 6 to 12

By CHRISTINE WANG Deputy News Editor The NYU Department of Public Safety received reports of seven incidents of larceny, two incidents of controlled substance possession and one incident of criminal mischief between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12.

Larceny At 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 7, a non-NYU contractor reported that she left her purse unattended on a theater seat in the Steinhardt Education Building at 2 p.m. and discovered her purse missing two hours later. No suspect was identified and police notification was declined. At 8:52 p.m. on Sept. 7, a student stated that she left her necklace inside an unlocked drawer in University Hall on Sept. 3 at 5 a.m. When she returned on Sept. 7 at 8:35 p.m. she found the necklace missing. Police were notified and the incident is under investigation. At 4:43 p.m. on Tuesday, a student reported that he accidentally left his bicycle unsecured at the bike rack in the Schwartz Plaza at 9:30 a.m. When he returned at 4:25 p.m.

his bicycle was missing. The police were not notified. At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, a student stated that on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m., an unidentified male approached him and offered him a CD while he was walking north on Broadway between West 4th Street and Washington Place. The student reported that once he opened his wallet to give the unidentified male money, the unidentified male grabbed a $20 bill out of the student’s wallet and sprinted away. Police notification was declined. At 9:19 a.m. on Wednesday, a student stated that he was approached by three unidentified males as he was walking on Broadway in front of the NYU bookstore on Tuesday at 1 p.m. The three males gave him a CD and demanded the student hand over money. The student further reported that as he opened his wallet, one of the males grabbed all of the bills ($73) and they all left. Police were not notified. At 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, a student reported he locked his bicycle to a New York City bike rack in front of 25 West 4th St. at 8 a.m. He returned at 2 p.m. and discovered the bike was missing. Police notification was declined.

At 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a student reported that he secured his bicycle to the handicap ramp in the courtyard of Vanderbilt Hall at 10:50 a.m. After returning at 2 p.m., he discovered his bicycle was missing. Police were not notified.

Controlled Substance At 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, NYU Public Safety received a report of an alleged controlled substance in a Weinstein Residence Hall room. When they arrived on the scene, they recovered a small amount of marijuana. At 3:13 p.m. on Wednesday, NYU Public Safety responded to a report of an alleged controlled substance in a Carlyle Court residence hall room. Upon arriving, they recovered a small amount of marijuana.

Criminal Mischief At 6:15 p.m. on Sept. 7, a doorman stated that he noticed graffiti on a scaffolding outside of Silver Towers on Bleecker Street. Police were notified. Email Christine Wang at cwang@nyunews.com.

VIA NYU.EDU

Researchers at NYU Steinhardt and Stanford received a $3 million grant to develop STEM curriculum for 5th graders. to transform the way knowledge is taught by focusing less on having the students memorize facts and instead emphasizing learning the material in depth. “Since English is my second language, I can really understand that learning science in another language can be really tough especially for younger students,” Guo said. “If this curriculum really works, I believe

it’s going to help the students build more confidence in their academics generally and will help retain or even boost their interest in STEM, one of the most needed areas of study in today’s global job market.” Additional reporting by Christine Wang. Email Lexi Faunce at lfaunce@nyunews.com.

Leslie eLab reflects on first year By TEGAN MOSUGU Contributing writer The Mark and Debra Leslie Entrepreneurs Lab celebrated its one year anniversary on Thursday to commemorate its accomplishments of the past year and inspire future entrepreneurial ventures. Two years ago, students with an interest in entrepreneurship did not have a place to call home on campus. However, that all changed in 2014 when the eLab opened in the heart of NYU’s Washington Square Campus. The space was created to serve the needs of NYU’s entrepreneurs across schools and interests in the university. Moreover, the eLab acts as a connection between student, faculty and researchers. The goal was to design a space that fosters cross-industry collaboration between the NYU and NYC entrepreneurial community. Freia Lobo, Vice President of Tech@NYU, attributes the lab’s creation and accomplishments to the work of Vivek Patel, co-founder of Tech@NYU. Lobo said the eLab has provided a much-needed space for students to have meetings, build community and also form friendships. “Even in a year, we’ve seen such a massive difference in turnout, community and friendships within our club,” Lobo said. “Now, when people have a free moment and want to hang out with someone or work on a project there is a physical space they can go to.” The lab organized 275 events

within its first year of inception, with less than half organized by the staff of the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute. Students from nearly all of NYU’s colleges have used or continue to use resources the lab has to offer, and despite reports of a widening gender gap in Silicon Valley, 41 percent of the people who use the lab are female. CAS sophomore Terri Burns, president of Tech@NYU, said eLab is the only space on campus where students can put their hands on startup initiatives. “The lab provides a space for students to explore their entrepreneurial interests in a really organic and seamless way,” Burns said. “The lab was built specifically for people to work on, explore and share their business and startup ideas.” Like many other students, Burns feels grateful for having the rare opportunity to test out new apps and programs created by her peers, and that such experiences help her learn not only as a student but also as a professional. Frank Rimalovski, Executive Director of the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute, hopes that in the years ahead the lab will continue to expand its influence across the university. “The lab will continue to endow students with the skills and perspectives on what it takes to build a successful startup,” Rimalovski said. Email Tegan Mosugu at news@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

Rally calls on US to support refugees By MADDIE NORWOOD Contributing Writer

VIA NYU.EDU

Project 49 initiative is designed to create more transparency and communication.

SSC campaign to improve transparency By ALEX BAZELEY News Editor

In an effort to promote transparency and foster more community among NYU students around the world, the Student Senators Council announced a new campaign for the student government titled, “Project 49” in an email sent out to students last Wednesday. The plan, crafted over the summer, focuses on making room for more communication between the Student Senators Council and the NYU student body. The title alludes to the more than 49,000 student the Student Senators Council represents around the world. In 2001, the SSC allowed students to attend its meetings after complaints about its closeddoor policy. Now, Gallatin Senior Michael Hengerer, the Chair of the SSC and one of the principal creators of the plan, said he hopes the plan will further the discussion between the NYU community and its student government. “I don’t think that the SSC was ever intentionally not transparent, but I think we can do a better job publicizing what we are actually doing to further student interests,” Hengerer said in an email. “We have many channels of communication through which we can share very important information affecting the student body, and this year we are working to find new ways to use those.” Marc Wais, the Senior Vice President for Student Affairs at NYU, noted that the SSC’s attempts at greater transparency had no bearing on the university’s decisions to do the same. “The university will continue to share information with the campus community that it is required to, and other information that it believes is useful and appropriate,” Wais said in an email. To improve communication, Project 49 promises weekly updates, open-office hours

and additional opportunities for students to participate. The plan also addresses the network of global NYU communities across the world, and will try to bring together a student body that can often feel disconnected. Hengerer said he hopes to introduce more virtual and livestream opportunities to bridge the gap between students across the world, as well as utilize specific site ambassadors to engage various campuses. Steinhardt junior Hannah Weverka, however, admitted she is pretty blind to student politics, a view that likely reflects much of the student body. “I don’t pay much attention to student government,” Weverka said. “I don’t know what their duties are so I can’t say if I’m being represented.” Another aspect of Project 49 focuses on restructuring the SSC, the structure of which Hengerer called confusing in its current state. An internal review of the entire student government is in the works, and the plan is to engage the entire student government network, from the student body president to a hall council representative. Under Hengerer’s leadership, the SSC plans to focus on addressing the cost of tuition at NYU, a subject that the university welcomes student voice in. Wais also voiced his support for connecting the global NYU community, a difficult task to take on. “I fully recognize the challenge of connecting and engaging students at a university that is so large, complex, decentralized, and fluid, with students constantly circulating throughout our global network,” Wais said. “I applaud the SSC’s decision to strategically tackle [the lack of community] head on. If they are successful, I believe it would be a game changer.” Email Alex Bazeley at abazeley@nyunews.com.

As curious passersby looked on, a large crowd gathered in the plaza in Union Square at noon on Saturday, some waving Syrian flags and others holding up signs declaring “Refugees are welcome here” and “#NYCSaysWelcome.” Organized by activists including NYU doctoral student Ella Wind and Stern graduate student Yusef Khalil, the rally was meant to draw attention to the plight of refugees being driven out of Syria by a violent civil war. The rally took place a day after President Barack Obama announced that the United States would take in 10,000 refugees. The White House had previously said that only 5,000 to 8,000 would be offered refuge. Although speakers said this was progress, they argued that the country could accept many more refugees. Sarab AlJijakli, another one of the organizers, said this was progress but he is still disappointed in Obama’s response. “Obama has stated that he will allow up to 10,000 in a symbolic gesture to allow some people in,” Al-Jijakli said. “But yet, the IRC — the International Rescue Committee — and other NGOs have stated that, at the very least, we should be allowing up to 65,000.” Two speakers at the event were Shafeka Hashash, president of NYU’s Students for

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NYC Syrian refugee solidarity rally in Union Square. Justice in Palestine, and activist Hamid Imam. Imam led the crowd in chants such as “Save Syrian children” and “Let them in, let them in.” Linda Sarsour, sister of AlJijakli, highlighted the plight of the refugees, of which much of the public has not been aware. “If they had a choice, they would stay in the beautiful country that they were born and came from,” Sarsour said. “When people go to the point of risking their lives and the lives of their children, we shouldn’t be asking whether we welcome these people into our country.” James MacDonald, a Chicago-based pastor who has published several books, protested the rally, arguing that refugees allowed in by the United States could be terrorists. “The FBI has admitted in the last couple of days that it is unable to tell which of these people has terrorist ties,” MacDonald said. “I believe the FBI’s statements, especially in light of the Obama administration’s proven incompetence in anything to do with foreign affairs.” Zoe Margaronis, a Columbia sophomore, said she likes how much coverage is being given

to the refugees. “I think it’s really important that finally the world and the media seems to be paying attention to what’s happening,” Margaronis said. “It’s not a new phenomenon.” Sandra Soueid, 19, who attended the rally, was born and raised in the United States but has Syrian parents. “My uncle was pulled off of a bus by someone from ISIS just because his name was written on a piece of paper they had,” Soueid said. “I don’t even know why his name was there. They kept him in a room for 24 hours, like, just standing there. They eventually let him go and he fled to Turkey.” Soueid added that it felt good seeing so much support from both within and outside of the Syrian community. “It’s the first [rally] that I’ve seen so many non-Arab, nonSyrian people here,” Soueid said. “It’s really awesome that so many people came out here in solidarity. I like that this movement has really been picking up.” Additional reporting by Christine Wang. Email Maddie Norwood at news@nyunews.com.

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‘Dead Petz’ isn’t for everyone By TYE MUSANTE Contributing Writer

Miley Cyrus has had a busy and controversial year, to say the least. In the last seconds of her stint at this year’s VMAs, Miley hurriedly announced that “Miley Cyrus & Her Dead Petz” would be released for free online on her independent record label “Smiley Miley” via Soundcloud. The 92-minute odyssey is, on the surface, a perplexing journey through Cyrus’ mind. If “Can’t Be Tamed” was the first crack at Cyrus’s newly minted promiscuous stage persona, it must be said that “Bangerz” was only a glimpse into the reality of Miley Cyrus, as the album’s content was still largely controlled by a record label and polished for pop radio. However, “Dead Petz” explores themes of existentialism, concern for the environment and experimentations with drug use, lesbianism and, most importantly, a new sound. Enlisting the help of Flaming

Lips frontman Dennis Coyne and Mike Will Made It, the mastermind behind “We Can’t Stop,” Cyrus crafted an album that dives headfirst into psychedelia. Coyne’s influence on the album is overwhelming, touching every note with his signature dreamy stylings. Long-time fans of Cyrus will be confused and disappointed by “Dead Petz.” Gone are the pounding beats that dominated Cyrus’ biggest hits, and gone are the soaring catchy choruses that infected our minds. They are replaced by dreamy instrumentals and floating, distant vocals that are vaguely reminiscent of an early Lana Del Rey. By freeing herself from longtime collaborators such as Dr. Luke and Rock Mafia, Miley suddenly finds herself with a massive amount of breathing room. Fans who are looking for more of “Wrecking Ball” and “Party in the USA” will probably hate this album, but luckily, releasing the album for free means that

Cyrus no longer has to worry about a commercial failure. In fact, Cyrus’ decision to not charge a fee for the album could be interpreted as her own generosity and distaste for capitalism, but it looks more and more like a smart marketing plan when one realizes how unfit the album is for Top 40 radio. Lyrically, “Dead Petz” is not the strongest material in Cyrus’s repertoire, and her constant references to drug use and sexual exploits come off as obnoxious and forced at times. The album is also riddled with entrylevel existential statements — some eye-opening, others mundane, such as with this line: “the sun insists on gladness / but how can I be glad now my flower is dead” (The Floyd Song). Regardless, because the lyrics are not especially eloquent and well-formulated, we see a more genuine, private view of her personal thoughts. Email Tye Musante at music@nyunews.com.

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Miley Cyrus dropped a surprise 90-minute album.

‘Cooties’ will come back to haunt you By SYDNEY REYNOLDS Contributing Writer

STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK

Lynn Emanuel speaking at the Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House.

Poets Emanuel, Hahn showcase work at NYU By LAURA CASADO Contributing Writer

Friday night’s poetry reading, the second in the Fall 2015 Reading Series, featured poets Lynn Emanuel, recipient of the National Poetry Series Award for her volume titled “The Dig,” and Kimiko Hahn, winner of the Theodore Roethke Memorial Poetry Prize. The Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House has been home to the distinguished Creative Writing Program at NYU since 2007, fostering a community between student and faculty and providing a place for artists to explore and showcase their work. Lynn Emanuel began the evening by reading from her newest book, “The Nerve of It: Poems New and Selected.” Her voice, exquisitely translated words that criticized the art of living and human relation to tragedy. In a piece inspired by Franz Kafka’s “Metamorphosis,” she wrote about her self-proclaimed obsession with the notion of a woman transforming into a dog. She sees this hypothetical existence as

similar to marriage, the wife ordered about tyrannically (fetch, lie down) and becoming used to such treatment — “I was dog. I embraced it. And then … I was replaced by it.” Kimiko Hahn, who teaches an MFA program at CUNY-Queens College, read an array of pieces mainly from her most recent volume, entitled “Brain Fever.” Her methodical tone and pointed phrasing complimented the content of her selection, which fused scientific facts and research with relatable observations about life. In a particular poem called “In Childhood,” Hahn examines the loss of imagination that comes with growing old, asking, “where do all the gone things go, when the child is old?” She remarks that as we grow older, we only think logically rather than outside of the box. Emanuel’s ambiguous perception of tragedy and art perfectly contrasted with Hahn’s prose, which was riddled with scientific terminology and historical facts. Email Laura Casado at books@nyunews.com.

In our world, cooties are an imaginary disease made up by children — an innocent illusion used to ostracize peers. On the playground, if you’re infected by cooties, a classmate can protect you by reciting and drawing on your body with their finger. In the world of the movie “Cooties,” however, cooties turn children into bloodthirsty murderers. The condition is a food-borne virus that only affects prepubescent individuals and nothing can be done to prevent contamination — all the children of the city of Fort Chicken become cannibals. The epidemic begins with one suspicious-looking chicken nugget and a girl who clearly didn’t care enough to think twice about its inedible appearance. Once infected, children receive blister-like spots on their faces and mouths and develop an insatiable thirst for human blood. This is the world of “Cooties,” directed by Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion. Inadvertently sucked into the epidemic, Clint (Elijah Wood) is a struggling writer from

New York City who returns to Fort Chicken as a substitute teacher at his former elementary school. While teaching and working on his first novel, Clint runs into an old friend Lucy (Alison Pill). He and Lucy, along with four other educators, find themselves battling the disgusting and terrifying disease. Amid their own day-to-day crises of being 20-somethings in the education system, they are now also forced to face this horde of savage students. Their options are to escape the children and find a way to safety, or be eaten alive. The measures these characters take to escape death and the bond they create during this journey is exactly what makes this film spectacularly hilarious and frightening at the same time. “Cooties” features a knockout and diverse cast, with Elijah Wood at the helm. The cast, featuring well-known comedians Rainn Wilson (Wade), Jack McBrayer (Tracy), Allison Pill (Lucy), Nasim Pedrad (Rebekkah) and Leigh Whannell (Doug), creates the perfect balance of comedy and horror. Each of these characters delivers perfect one liners, , which

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

‘Cooties’ stars Elijah Wood, Alison Pil, Rainn Wilson and Jack McBrayer. lightens up the morbidity of disease-ridden children eating human intestines and playing with the bodies of their victims. The cast brings just enough comedy to this bizarre and freakish twist on an infantile game, which makes the otherwise grotesque story enjoyable. This movie may not be for the faint of heart, but if you can make it through a little bit of blood and guts, the overall tone of the movie completely overshadows the more sickening aspects of the film. “Cooties” premiered at the Sundance FIlm Festival on Jan. 18, 2014 and will be in theaters nationwide on Friday Sept. 18. Email Sydney Reynolds at film@nyunews.com.

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NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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Alums improv their way to MoMA By RYAN MATERA Contributing Writer

Trained at NYU comedy groups Dangerbox and Hammerkatz, the members of the improv troupe Gentlemen Party are making their mark on modern art. The Museum of Modern Art hosted a show in conjunction with their exhibit on Gilbert & George, the ‘70s art duo known for focusing the artistic lens from the artist to the audience. Gilbert & George merge life and art together in real-life sculptures, in which the two artists stand still in imitation of statues. The exhibit, which runs until Sept. 27 at MoMA features their postal sculptures, magazine sculptures, charcoal on paper sculptures, drinking sculptures and video sculptures. The PopRally event featured a showcase by the popular improvisational comedy group Gentlemen Party. In conjunction with the comedy group, the event

was disk jockeyed by the Gilbert and George-inspired duo AndrewAndrew, whose setlist brought nostalgia and irony in the form of ‘80s pop hits blended into modern musical styles. Their show goes beyond just music, incorporating aspects of performance art. They would stroll the event with a microphone and comment on various people and relationships. This form of artistic expression may not necessarily contain a statement, but simply brings joy and leaves the viewer thinking creatively and asking questions. The sketch portion of the show included cast members singing fish to sleep and using corpses as puppets. Throughout the act, Gentlemen Party kept the crowd’s attention with choreographed music and dancing, employing a wide range of performative acts. The most impressive portion of the show was the group’s

REVIEW

STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK

NYU comedy troupe performs at MoMA’s Pop Rally event. almost telepathic improv. Gentlemen Party expertly captures the building feeling of audience excitement from their quick wit and rapid fire jokes. Their performance was like a lightning storm: thrilling and dangerous, yet mesmerizing. Unlike most modern groups, their material seems fresh and their enthusiasm is channeled into their work. Playing off missteps and technical difficulties, they always say yes and squeeze every ounce of humor out of each situation. Gentlemen Party is playing at the People’s Improv Theater on Sept. 19 and 26. Email Ryan Matera at entertainment@nyunews.com.

‘Greenlight’ returns after decade By CECELIA F. CHARENDOFF Contributing Writer

NYU students were able to preview the first two episodes of “Project Greenlight” on Wednesday. A Q&A with producer Marc Joubert and the show’s winner Jason Mann was also hosted. Mann and Joubert answered questions about both the TV show and their moviemaking process, which is fitting for “Project Greenlight’s” goal as a series: to strike a balance between the drama of TV and the real life process of making a film. HBO’s documentary series “Project Greenlight” returns after a decade-long hiatus to bring audiences into the complex process of making a feature film. Produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, “Project Greenlight” takes a first-time director and gives them $3 million and a support team to create

their first feature film. “’Project Greenlight’ differs from other reality shows because the winner is revealed in the first episode, which gives the series an opportunity to highlight the creative and constructive process rather than the competitive aspect. Finalists are given a generic comedy script and must make a short film that conveys their vision and ability in working with raw material. The winner is chosen on the basis of these thirteen shorts, as well as each contestant’s original submission material. The final decision was made by Damon and Affleck along with a team of producers and the Farrelly brothers, renowned comedy writers. Although the interviews are only a small part of the series, they set the tone for the shows. In the process of picking a winner, the producers discuss the

talent of each contestant and raise questions about diversity, material, style and collaboration. They then decide if the contestant is a sound financial investment. The show provides a rare inside view of the industry behind our entertainment. “Project Greenlight,” like other reality shows, is not immune to exaggerating content to create dram. Between the directing team made up of a recently broken up couple and the constant battle over shooting, the show delivers on its entertainment value each week as a reality show, as well as giving viewers a perspective of the filmmaking process. The show works because it combines the look at the technical process of making of a large film with the reality-show drama provided by the cast. Email Cecelia F. Charendoff at entertainment@nyunews.com.

838 BROADWAY, fifth floor

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Austrian horror movie was released in the US on Friday.

‘Goodnight Mommy,’ good luck sleeping By JOHN POPE Contributing Writer

In the Austrian thriller “Goodnight Mommy,” written and directed by Severin Fiala and Veronika Franz, there are no jump-scares, no evil monsters and there isn’t a group of friends that gets killed off one-by-one. Yet “Goodnight Mommy” is one of the scariest movies of the decade, ranking among films like “It Follows” and “The Babadook.” “Goodnight Mommy” is a masterful blend of sympathetic characters, captivating cinematography, shocking twists and horrifying plotlines. The movie begins with an array of cinematic brilliance as the camera scans the wilderness of a small Austrian town. The two twin boys Elias and Lukas, played by twins Elias and Lukas Schwartz, explore the gorgeous landscapes while playing tag. After an eerie stillshot of Elias trying to find his twin brother in a cave, the boys arrive home to their mother, who recently had facial plastic surgery. She resembles a mummy; her face is wrapped up in bandages and only reveal her mouth and a pair of sunken eyes. Her behavior seems odd to the boys, who claim that she has never acted so strangely. After a series of unpleasant encounters with their mother, the twin boys declare that an imposter has replaced her. From then on, the movie unfurls into a horrific, captivat-

ing thrill-ride, with a plot twist you would never expect. Perhaps what makes “Goodnight Mommy” so unique is the plot direction of the film. Fiala and Franz not only wrote the story, but also they knew how to tell it. Their skillful direction only reveals itself at the end — while the shots of nature at the start of the movie seem meaningless at first, as the plot reveals itself, all these ostensibly pointless parts of the film begin to make sense. Furthermore, Fiala and Franz take their time telling the story. No scene is too rushed or too short. The whole film is fleshed-out and has an ominously calming tone like “Foxcatcher” but is a little more intriguing. The tone starkly contrasts with the horror happening on screen when the film reaches the end, but not in a “nails-on-a-chalkboard” way. By its end, the film’s contrast creates an unforgettable experience for the viewer. “Goodnight Mommy” calmly takes your breath away and doesn’t give it back to you until the very end. Even though the beginning of the film is drawn out, you can’t help but forgive the Austrian filmmakers because of how they horrified you and restored your hope in finding quality scary stories. “Goodnight Mommy” is playing in theaters nationwide. Email John Pope at film@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

A lot of people say there isn’t much of a community at NYU. They obviously haven’t studied abroad. I spent my freshman year in London and as a result, I have an amazing community. Throughout the years I’ve become closer with individuals I didn’t even know that well in London. But, the fact that we spent our freshmen year abroad gives everyone a strong bond to each other. During our sophomore year at the New York campus we met some students that spent their freshmen year in Florence and some that spent it in Paris. Now, these kids are also part of our community. Going abroad is amazing. If you don’t believe me just look at this collection of photographs over the past few years. If we hadn’t gone to a new country these photos wouldn’t exist and our community wouldn’t either.

HANNAH LUU

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

A common misconception about NYU’s student community is that it’s virtually non-existent. Many applicants are discouraged by the decentralized campus and disjunct student communities. At first, I had similar concerns. However, after spending some time walking through the bustling roads and pathways in and around Washington Square Park, I’ve found the opposite to be true. While taking pictures and interviewing for this article, I’ve met an array of cool, talented and unique individuals (some of whom are featured here). We aren’t a conventional community. We are scattered around the vast and crazy city that is New York, but we are brought together by our rich and weird personalities.

JAKE QUAN

Much like New York City, NYU is constantly in motion. We hustle up stairs, dodge across the street between speeding taxis and squeeze onto crowded subway trains. No matter our academic pursuits, we're always searching, writing, analyzing and inventing. We are a community eager for knowledge and new opportunities that has no equal — a community perfectly at home in the city that never sleeps.

CALVIN FALK

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

FEATURES

EDITED BY NINA JANG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

Initiative draws line on campus smoking By DISHA GUPTA Contributing Writer In an effort to combat smoking on campus, the NYU Student Senators Council launched the Tobacco-Free Initiative, a plan that aims to make NYU tobacco-free. Smoking tobacco kills over 480,000 people in the United States alone each year and that number seems to be only rising. Outside of two smoking hotspots on campus, Weinstein Residence Hall and Bobst Library, purple dots have been painted on the ground with the phrase, “let’s keep NYU tobacco-free.” These dots serve to designate the smoke-free zones in front of each building. Chair of the SSC and Gallatin senior Michael Hengerer believes the initiative will bring a positive impact to the NYU community. “The initiative represents our commitment to making NYU a healthier place for all members of our community,” Hengerer said. Despite this effort to make campus smoke-free, most students have yet to even notice

the dots adorning the sidewalks CAS freshman Tiffany Bai said she thinks the initiative will not be effective. “The dots don’t discourage students from smoking,” Bai said. “They just make them move to a different place on campus.” SPS freshman Michelle Liu says that while she has noticed the program, she initially did not know what purpose they served. “People don’t look at the ground so people won’t notice them,” Liu said. “Most students are too busy to stop and look at the signage around them.” Valeria Rodriguez, a CAS freshman living in Weinstein, believes the university should work on actively promoting the initiative. “I see people smoking outside of Weinstein and Bobst on a daily basis,” Rodriguez said. “And the dots won’t stop [smoking] if people don’t know about them or what they are.” Rodriguez believes that while the dots will decrease, but not eliminate, the amount of smoking in front of Weinstein and Bobst, they do not combat the is-

STAFF PHOTO BY HARK KAWNWAL

As part of the SSC’s tobacco-free initiative purple dots have been painted outside of Weinstein and Bobst. sue of teenage smoking. They will, however, succeed in limiting the amount of secondhand smoke inhaled by bystanders around these two hotspots. To keep pushing for change, Rodriguez, like many, hopes for a comprehensive initiative approach. “The next step in the TobaccoFree Initiative should be to inform teenagers of the harms of smoking,” Rodriguez said. Email Disha Gupta at features@nyunews.com.

Kimmel exhibit spotlights activism By ALIYA IKHUMEN Contributing Writer

In the midst of the busy street filled with cars and fast-paced New Yorkers, a calm but festive energy exudes from Liam Alexander’s portraits. Pedestrians admire the inspiring and intriguing pieces as the subjects themselves smile with pride and embrace their families. The works are on display in the Kimmel Windows at the corner of 3rd Street. One part of I-Thou, Alexander’s portrait series, focuses on 11 individual portraits of social activists who have devoted themselves to social causes like LGBTQ rights, immigration rights and Black Lives Matter. The second part is a mixed-media group exhibition on view in the Stovall Family Gallery on the eighth floor of Kimmel, curated by Pamela Tinnen. The goal of I-Thou as a whole is to facilitate conversation about the concept of “other”. The artist visually explains this by deconstructing and then reconstructing a narrative, taking a photograph and turning it into a collage of mixed-media.

PHOTO BY ABRAHAM GROSS

Exhibition was just opened at Kimmel gallery featuring work by Liam Alexander and curation by Pamela Tinnen. Alexander starts this process by photographing some of his subjects in front of familiar backgrounds, such as a grandparent’s home, to depict how both the artwork and reality are simultaneously deconstructed. Each one of the 11 portraits consists of an activist’s photograph that has been dismantled and then rejuvenated to create a new image all together. This harmonious art form not only layers photos, but also layers painful histories. The patches in each collage symbolize how these activists attempt to stitch their communities together each day. The muted hues of purple, blue, and black bleed to the bottom of the paper and emphasize the severity of their efforts and pain. Alexander is confident in his influence, using his art as a vehicle for social change. His life experiences greatly affect the works he produces.

“I feel like I can connect to this stuff, and if you can just connect to that a little bit then you can see into what goes on,” Alexander said. “I have a platform. And people listen to me and like my art. And that was an opportunity for me.” Tinnen explains that working together is crucial to initiating unity and understanding. “We can’t solve all the problems but if we try to understand that we’re all in this together or at least that we are all human, then maybe that’s the first step”. The artwork aims to bridge the gap between I and Thou by connecting the people who visualize, see and live this pain. This collection will be outside the Kimmel Windows and on the eighth floor until Oct. 16th. Email Aliya Ikhumen at features@nyunews.com.

VIA NYU.EDU

There are a variety of lunch options all through NYU.

To meal plan or not to meal plan? By NATALIE HANSFORD Contributing Writer

Whether you’re a fan of Weinstein Chick-Fil-A, Kimmel pasta, Hayden cookies or all three, you can probably agree that NYU offers a wide variety of lunchtime meals. However, when faced with the allure of a cheaper bursar bill and appetizing local restaurants, it is not surprising that some students question if NYU meal plans are actually the best lunch option. Some students opt to pursue alternatives to NYU’s meal plans. CAS sophomore Alex Mitter brings lunch to campus as a cheap alternative to purchasing a meal plan. Mitter currently spends $25 a week on groceries at Trader Joe’s. During these weekly shopping trips, she invests in plenty of pasta, as well as ingredients for making salads and wraps. Most of the food Mitter purchases can be eaten cold and still tastes delicious, even if made the night before. Despite the fact she’s saving money, Mitter admits being without a meal plan is less convenient because she has to pack her lunch and plan out meals in advance. “You also lose the social aspect because you don’t always eat in a dining hall,” Mitter said. Steinhardt junior Malerie Thiel combats the socializing issue by using Campus Cash when eating in dining halls with friends. There is no minimum amount of Campus Cash that students must purchase, so it’s less of a commitment than a meal plan. Plus, many restaurants around Washington Square Park accept Campus Cash, meaning that students can sample a variety of res-

taurants. For Theil, favorites include Fresh & Co., Just Salad and Chipotle. Chipotle was a decisive factor in Tisch sophomore Dylan Malburg’s decision to end his meal plan, in fact. After taking time to calculate the price of an average on-campus lunch, he discovered he typically spends around $12, which is less than the cost of each meal swipe on his plan. “Once I found out a Chipotle meal was about the same price as an NYU meal, the decision wasn’t difficult to make,” Malburg said. CAS sophomore Dana Martinez doesn’t entirely agree with Malburg’s logic. “I don’t think it’s that concrete,” she says. “Every meal you have for lunch is not going to be the same price.” For Martinez, the meal plan acts as stress-relief. Instead of spending time thinking about where she should eat lunch and how much money she should spend, Martinez can head to a dining hall between classes and easily get food. Martinez says the dining halls have plenty of delicious meals to choose from — particularly Kimmel, her favorite place to eat on campus. “You can get pasta, sandwiches, Asian food, Mexican,” Martinez said. “It’s all really good, I’ll probably still have a meal plan next year.” NYU has a ton of great dining options, both inside the dining halls and around the square. In the end, the decision to purchase a meal plan or not comes down to your personal budget, schedule and eating habits. Email Natalie Hansford at dining@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

FEATURES

EDITED BY NINA JANG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

Clothes fight baby beauty standards By MADISON REIS Contributing Writer

Last April, NYU employee Jason Y. Evans snapped a photo in NYU’s very own bookstore of a girls’ “I hate my thighs” onesie right next to a boys’ “I’m super” onesie, complete with a cape and all. Evans posted the photo to Facebook with the caption: “I had a very difficult time not raging out about this in the college store. These are onesies … for infants … guess which one is for girls and which one is for boys. THIS is the problem.” The same Wry Baby onesie that made international headlines for body-shaming baby girls had the NYU community up in arms and taking to social media to express their concern over the outfits. Within hours, the onesie was removed from the bookstore. Evan’s photograph showed that the pressure placed on girls to worry about their appearance has gone so far as to be imposed on babies, whereas young boys are only praised. Well good news is here: this back-to-school season, 10 independent businesses are tweeting

#ClothesWithoutLimits. After seeing the NYU onesie scandal followed by a number of other kid-clothing atrocities, a group of moms had had enough. There are no limits to a young girl’s dreams, and Clothes Without Limits’ supporting boutiques understand this. Little girls are not all models, princesses and actresses, they are scientists, athletes, leaders and sometimes a combination of all of them. These clothes are showing no limits by featuring dinosaurs, robots and graphics like “Smart Girls Club.” Free To Be Kids even turned the table and made a boys shirt with a kitten that says, “I’m a cat guy.” Now you may be thinking, babies can’t even read; why does it matter? Maybe it’s irony, maybe it’s just funny. But this has as much to do with the kids being labeled by the adults as it does with the kids labeling themselves. The New York Times did a study on elementary school teachers and found that the teachers overestimated male students’ abilities in STEM subjects while simultaneously underestimating female students’ abilities in the same areas.

Clothes Without Limits is an campaign initiative that promotes that girls are intelligent and boys can be sensitive and that the clothes they are given should respect and reflect their diverse interests whether science, fashion, sports or leadership. They want to change the gender expectations of dressing, and make it more about just being a kid. Email Madison Reis at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Interested in working Come to our Sunday pitch meetings!

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Clothes Without Limits is a campaign that features children’s designers who make feminist and empowering clothing instead of conforming to traditional gender norms.

SPORTS | 5:30 P.M. OPINION | 5 P.M. 838 BROADWAY, FIFTH FLOOR

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

OPINION

EDITED BY TOMMY COLLISON OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

MEDIA

Progressive movies can foster progressive audiences By MICHAEL DELLAPI Contributing Writer Never in my lifetime would I have expected one of the most gender-conscious movies of 2015 to have been a film centered around Tom Hardy grunting into a muzzle for two hours as he drove monster trucks through flame tornadoes. As a culture, we are taught to believe that the aforementioned synopsis is the definition of testosterone, which is why it was a pleasant surprise to find that “Mad Max: Fury Road” was actually a feminist piece at its core. Now more than ever, we find ourselves in a time of social revolution, with popular culture gradually following

suit. However, the typical movie audience is not always intrigued by a movie’s social activism. Any look at this year’s box office, for example, will indicate that a majority of audiences are primarily interested in sequels and book adaptations. Films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” and “Straight Outta Compton,” however, prove that social commentary can, in fact, be marketable. Critical responses to the two aforementioned films have largely been positive, with “Mad Max” receiving a 97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes and “Straight Outta Compton” earning 89 percent. The widespread popularity of these two films provides a crucial statement about the

evolution of popular culture as a whole, as it proves that important social issues are becoming part of everyday discourse. Despite their progressive values, these two films were marketed using common tropes associated with films of their respective genres. “Mad Max” was deliberately advertised as a brainless action film that was light on substance and heavy on explo-

sions, yet it directly contradicts action movie stereotypes. Similarly, “Straight Outta Compton” is more than just an homage to a revolutionary rap group; it is a timely statement about police brutality that is still relevant today. By no means are both of these films perfect, but they still make strides toward creating more culturally significant content for a mainstream audience. The disparity between advertisement and content is vital in establishing an audience that is consistently aware of issues plaguing modern society. “Mad Max” reminds its audience that there is still an enormous gap in sexual representation in media, in turn encouraging the viewer

to take a more active stance in what they see in theaters and on TV. It is entirely necessary for mainstream films to include social commentary to encourage a broader audience to grapple with these difficult social questions. This discussion need not be limited to a film audience. Content creators, whether they be writers or directors, can take important cues from films like “Mad Max” or “Straight Outta Compton.” The inclusion of social commentary woven into the fabric of the film adds to the long-lasting relevance and cultural significance of the film itself. Email Michael Dellapi at opinion@nyunews.com.

POLITICS

Bernie Sanders presents the new American campaign By EMILY FONG Contributing Writer The election media circus is in full swing, and its ringleader is none other than the wiryhaired Vermont senator that has captivated liberal hearts: Bernie Sanders. His campaign has achieved nationwide recognition with a grassroots movement, overtaking Democratic party frontrunner Hillary Clinton in key states like Iowa and New Hampshire. Though he may be the underdog, Sanders has led his campaign to unprecedented success on the national stage. But perhaps what is even more important is the engine that drives Sanders’s political machine — the Internet. The

Internet’s vital role in political affairs isn’t a new phenomenon. Anyone can tell you about Twitter’s role in the Arab Spring or Black Lives Matter demonstrators using Facebook to organize rallies and protests. Barack Obama’s clever use of YouTube and other social media sites to rally supporters and broadcast his message put him ahead of his opponents in 2008. However, while the Obama campaign was carefully crafted and optimized for maximum exposure, the Sanders campaign is an almost entirely different beast. Support for Sanders predates even his presidential announcement; a “Sanders for President” subreddit was created in late 2013 to garner support on the

relatively remote chance that Sanders would run. The subreddit now has more than 100,000 subscribers and connects readers with resources and organizers. Freelance coders helped build the Sanders campaign a website, created websites dedicated to winning Sanders the nomination and slowly but surely helped to swell the ranks in the grassroots movement that the campaign has become

known for. The point is not simply that Sanders has attracted attention online, but the Internet itself has facilitated a new era of political mobilization. It is a natural consequence of the desire to effect change in a world where convenience is king. From their laptops and phone screens, activists now have a way of drawing people to their cause almost instantaneously. The Internet is now an indispensible tool for political organizing. It helps that the kinds of people who get their news online are young and tech-savvy. The 2008 and 2012 elections represented a turning point in voter demographics; an uncommonly large upswell in young

voters helped to sway the election in the Democrats’ favor. That trend will continue well into the future, and as younger Americans become politically active irrespective of their position on the political spectrum, it looks more and more likely that their platform of choice will be online. Americans are no longer content with simply absorbing information; they now want to take part in an active dialogue with the candidates for political office. Any candidate hoping to capture this increasingly active sector of the electorate will have to learn to use the internet in the way that Sanders has. Email Emily Fong at opinion@nyunews.com.

ENVIRONMENT

NYU could fight deforestation with chopsticks By SUNNY HONG Contributing Writer Though we often come across the term deforestation, it is common for many of us — with Washington Square Park full of greens and Central Park just a metro ride away — to forget about the forests that provide us our notebook paper and paper towels. I, too, am guilty of such ignorance and find myself grappling with what it means to be eco-friendly. I was thus shocked to recently find out that disposable chopsticks — the little bits of wood that accompany every plate of sushi — are a major contributor to deforestation. What struck me as even more peculiar,

however, was noticing that such disposable chopsticks are supplied to students at our very own dining halls. With wooden chopsticks at the Palladium dining hall and bamboo chopsticks at Upstein, the thought of tens of thousands of disposable chopsticks being discarded every week by our extensive NYU population is worrisome. The fact that chopsticks are a source of deforestation is not recent news. Several organizations in China have been addressing the ecological harm of disposable chopsticks since 2006, yet this issue has persisted throughout the past decade. China, the largest chopstick-supplying nation, continues to produce 57 billion pairs

of disposable chopsticks annually, which equates to 3.8 billion trees being destroyed to create singleuse dining utensils. Globally, 80 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks are discarded by some 1.4 billion people each year. Deforestation is a glaring ecological problem in the U.S. as well, where only 14 percent of the 15 million tons of wood waste

generated is recovered. With the U.S. and other nations deforesting by the seconds, it is terrifying to think that something as little as disposable chopsticks contributes to the stripping of the Earth. While actions on both national and international levels are necessary to reduce disposable waste, even the smallest individual action can create a positive impact. It is time that NYU starts replacing disposable chopsticks with reusable ones, all for the benefit of the environment. Perhaps one intriguing perk to consider for the NYU administration is the economical benefit of investing in metal or washable bamboo chopsticks. Given that

a single pair of metal chopsticks costs 78 cents and supports 100 meals, its long-term financial benefit is incomparable to that of a 7 cent one-use pair. For NYU to make the switch to reusable chopsticks does not simply revolve around the ecological nor the economic reasons, but also the fact that we would firmly position ourselves as an institution committed to creating a sustainable future. The change from disposable to reusable chopsticks should be the first of many steps NYU takes this academic year to promote a greener, more eco-friendly campus. Email Sunny Hong at opinion@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY TOMMY COLLISON OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

ENVIRONMENT

Iran Deal opposition based on arms deals By MICHAEL FRANK MELLO-MORALES Contributing Writer Freshman Republican Sen. Tom Cotton from Arkansas authored an open letter on March 9 to leaders of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The letter, whose signatories included 46 other Republican senators, mostly seemed to mock the Iranian leadership. It accused them of being ignorant of how the U.S. government functioned, and overall made clear just how opposed Cotton was to a deal. Less than 24 hours after publishing his nowinfamous letter, Cotton appeared at an event sponsored by a lobbying group for defense contractors, a group that would financially gain from conflict in the region. Cotton’s vilification of the deal comes fundamentally from a conflict of interest. Throughout the Iraq War, we saw private companies like Halliburton to Blackwater benefit from the U.S. war machine. The Iran Deal, however, could herald a peaceful resolution to current Iranian tensions, which must take priority over the profits of defense contractors. Over 50 years ago, Dwight Eisenhower gave his famous warning that

“we must guard against, the acquisitions of unwarranted influence… by the military-industrial complex.” Though this warning is both important and pertinent today, it was under Eisenhower’s watch that the strained relationship with Iran began. In 1953, the CIA led a military coup in Iran, ousting the democratically elected leader of Iran, Mohammad Mosaddegh. This coup and the subsequent installment of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as leader of Iran was carried out as a means of ensuring the safety of Western oil interests in the region which Mosaddeq had sought to nationalize. Over the next 25 years, the dictatorial Shah would proceed to oversee some of the world’s worst human rights atrocities, all the while maintaining U.S. support. U.S. aggression against the Iranian people would not stop until 1979, when a

successful grassroots overthrow of the Shah made Iran the Islamic Republic it is today, thus ending the United States’ alliance with the Iranian government. Under Ronald Reagan, the United States would turn its attention to another Middle Eastern country, Iraq — under the leadership of our thenally Saddam Hussein — backing them in their near decade-long war against Iran, again for reasons concerning oil and profit. We must not allow the interests of the military-industrial complex to dictate our foreign policy. Unfortunately, these conflicts of interest shows signs of continuing in the 21st century, from Dick Cheney’s involvement with Halliburton, an international oil company with interests in the Middle East, to Republican appearances at defense contractor events. By highlighting the ulterior motives that have defined U.S. foreign policy since World War II, it is the job of journalists everywhere to uncover these conflicting interests and highlight them for the sake of our democracy. Email Michael Frank Mello-Morales at opinion@nyunews.com.

SOCIAL ISSUES

Students must be wary of cultural appropriation By DEVYANI SHEKHAWAT Contributing Writer During Welcome Week, NYU held a “Music Festi-ball” for the class of 2019. When NYU announced that their theme for this year’s Welcome Week was “music festivals,” many were excited. At the same time, some people, myself included, were very skeptical about how this would turn out. Music festivals are notorious for cultural appropriation through the use of Native American headdresses and South Asian bindis. The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is especially inafmous for this. In fact, during Coachella this year, many South Asian women posted pictures of themselves in bindis on social media with the hashtags “#ReclaimTheBindi” and #CoachellaShutdown, in order to fight against the cultural appropriation that occurs at the popular music festival. Thankfully, the staff of this year’s Welcome Week made it a point to ask students not to appropriate other cultures during the Festiball. However, it is up to students to choose to be more sensitive about the

SUBMITTING TO

clothing they take from cultures outside of their own. Some excuse their culturally appropriative behavior as appreciation for other cultures. If you are using something from another culture purely for aesthetic reasons, your behavior is appropriative because you are belittling the significance of that item in another culture. Appreciation, however, is a bit trickier. It is not enough to recognize which culture an item is from, and its significance; it also has to do with why and how you are using it. For example, if you are invited to participate in a cultural event such as an Indian wedding, where it is normal to wear bindis, go ahead. A good example of appreciation versus appropriation is Angelina Jolie wearing a hijab while in the Middle East ver-

sus Lady Gaga wearing a burqa with the intent of being controversial. The context under which a person uses something from another culture is very important. I can only speak from the perspective of a South Asian woman who grew up in America. While growing up, I was discouraged from openly displaying my culture. I, like many South Asian women, refused to wear things from our culture, like bindis or lenghas, in fear of what others would say. We would be ridiculed — “dothead” used to be a popular slur against Hindu women— and harassed. Even now, if I go out wearing a bindi, people accuse me of ridiculous things like being a terrorist or refusing to act American, while celebrities like Kylie Jenner are praised for their aesthetic and style when they wear bindis. It is past time for people to stop borrowing from cultures that don’t belong to them. The Welcome Week rules are a good` first step, but the most important change must come from the culture at large. Email Devyani Shekhawat at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Leslie eLab fosters entrepreneurial spirit

The Mark and Debra Leslie Entrepreneurs Lab celebrated its first anniversary last week. As NYU’s startup incubator, the eLab provides space and resources for NYU students looking to get their entrepreneurial ideas off the ground. In an economy increasingly defined by apps and programs, the existence of the eLab signifies that the university is willing to engage students outside the classroom and foster their innovative spirits. The administration is to be commended for offering the space, as the eLab is that rare kind of space that simultaneously helps students develop professional skills while simultaneously encouraging their creativity. One of the most important functions of the eLab is providing a space for students with big ideas to connect and meet. No matter what each student may bring to the table, it is important to have a common space where ideas can be pitched, different talents can find each other and work together and outside perspectives can be found. The Zuckerbergian stereotype of starting a million-dollar company alone in your college dorm is out, and creating the Next Big Thing in collaborative spaces like the eLab is in. Alongside the technological capital that the eLab provides — everything from soldering irons to Raspberry Pis — the space provides students the opportunity to build social connections in a way that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Perhaps most importantly, the eLab’s success is shared among various student groups which make use of the space. This is evidenced by the fact that fewer than half of the 275 events held at the eLab during its first year were organized by the NYU Entrepreneurial Institute. Two brains are often better than one, so it is no surprise that the eLab’s success revolves around the opportunities it provides for real-life social networking. Having a dedicated space for technology-minded groups to meet has boosted the membership of many of NYU’s student groups, and this will surely be the eLab’s enduring success — creating community and encouraging personal growth. It is imperative NYU does not stop here, and thankfully, it doesn’t look like it will. The LaGuardia Studio, which is slated to open Oct. 1, will give students access to new technologies such as 3D printers and digital pigment printmaking. Additionally, the administration should publicize more events at the Polytechnic School of Engineering, ensuring that technologically minded students are moving between Manhattan and Brooklyn, meeting as large and varied a group as they can and listening to as many ideas as possible. The world of technology has a lot to offer the students of NYU, and it is services like the Leslie eLab that will ensure that we can all take part in it.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tommy Collison (Chair), Richard Shu (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

SPORTS

EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Tennis opens with mixed results

By RACHEL RUECKER Contributing Writer

Amid all the U.S. Open excitement, the NYU men’s and women’s tennis teams got their seasons underway with a tournament Friday and Saturday at The College of New Jersey in Ewing, New Jersey. On Friday, the doubles teams took the court with mixed results. The men’s and women’s teams started 2-2 on the first day, but dropped three out of four games on the second day to finish 3-5. For the men’s team, there were positive takeaways from their overall losing records. Freshman Shrikar Kundur and Matt DeMichiel, junior Umberto Setter and freshman Benedict Teoh, and senior Sidd Thangirala and freshman Yanik Parsch all emerged victorious. Their teammates, junior Sammy Aronson and senior David Zumwalt, were narrowly bested 9-8 in one of the closest matches of the day. Parsch was pleased with the way the team, even after losses, remained positive and focused. “There was no negative body language or negative emotions,” Parsch said. “I think that we will perform very well in the upcom-

ing tournaments based on seeing our intense practices and strong devotion to the success of the team.” The women’s team received strong performances from senior Carmen Lai and junior Laila El Dessouki, two upperclassmen who had an extraordinary run as a pair last season. The two took their opening match 8-5. Senior captain Madeline King and her sophomore partner Nicole Schnabel took their match by the same count. Freshmen pair Allie McGinty and Vanessa Scott also performed well early in their first season with the squad, cruising to a comfortable 8-3 victory. Lai was pleased with the early-season showing of their first year players. “It was so great to see our three freshmen performed very well with excellent sportsmanship,” Lai said. “We have a much stronger team com pared with last year. And I hope we will achieve higher as a team in the coming matches.” On Saturday, the singles competition was in full swing. The men’s team finished 8-6 in the tournament, which included many standout performances. Setter, who enjoyed success the previous

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Aronson picked up a win for the Violets on Saturday. day beat Pierce Cooper — TCNJ’s star — in straight sets. Straight sets seemed to be the theme of the day as DeMichiel and Parsch followed their Friday successes with 2-0 singles records on that day. The women finished an even 1010 split in their singles showing. Lai, Schnabel, Scott and McGinty all won 2-0 during their singles matches. El Dessouki was also victorious with her impressive 6-1, 6-4 score against TCNJ’s Maddy Stoner. King, the squad’s captain, capped things off with 6-1, 6-3 win. The Violets will compete next at the Vassar College Invitational Sept. 19 and 20. Email Rachel Ruecker at sports@nyunews.com.

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Frias had a pair of double-digit-kill matches for the Violets on Saturday.

Strong second day for volleyball, breaks .500 By TONY SCHWAB Contributing Writer

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Setya placed fourth overall during the Saratoga Invitational.

Cross country top 10 in Saratoga By ASHLEY ARNOLD Contributing Writer

The NYU men’s and women’s cross country teams kicked off the 2015 season this weekend at the Saratoga Invitational, hosted by Rensselear Polytechnic Institute in Saratoga Springs, New York. With a total of 302 runners on 21 teams, the NYU men’s team finished second with 47 points to St. Lawrence University. Sophomore Karn Setya was NYU’s best runner, managing to finish fourth with a time of 19:14.8 on the 6K course. Freshman Matt Osbuor debuted and managed to place eighth with a time of 19:23.5. “I’m pretty stoked right now because I was eighth in overall and second for the team,”

Osbuor said. “Our number one runner was fourth overall and our third runner was right behind me. I was the only freshman in top ten and I’m just really excited.” Sophomores Neil Saddler and Max Mudd managed to land in 12th and 14th place. Sophomores Neil Saddler and Max Mudd managed to place in 12th and 14th place, with times of 19:27.8 and 19:30.4, respectively. Senior Daniel Rieger managed to place 21st with a time of 19:39.7. In the women’s competition, NYU placed in seventh with an overall score of 205 points in the 21-team 5K race. First place, again, went to St. Lawrence University with 54 points. Lily Corsaro, senior captain of the squad, was the

first finisher for the Violets. She placed 26th with a time of 18:54.1. Junior Justine Morris took 28th place with a time of 18:55.4. Freshman Stephanie Brooks, in her first competition for the squad, was encouraged by the way both teams performed, noting how well the men did. “The boys team did really great,” Brooks said. “The girls team finished 7th overall and didn’t have any placing finishers. But, it’s an opportunity for us to build on this season.” The Violets will head to the Monmouth University Invitational in Holmdel, New Jersey on Sept. 19. Email Ashley Arnold at sports@nyunews.com.

The NYU women’s volleyball team finished their weekend at the Hawks Invitational in New Paltz, New York with two wins and two losses underneath their belts. The Violets lost both games on Friday to SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils and SUNY New Paltz Hawks both in four sets. But on Saturday, they recovered, sweeping Sage in three sets and beating Mount Saint Mary 3-1. In the first game Friday, NYU went down 11-5 early in the first set, but managed to slowly come back and tie the score at 25 before falling 2725. In the second set they were not able to recover after losing eight of the first nine points and lost 27-15. The third set was close throughout, featuring five lead changes. NYU eventually won that set 2825, but went on to drop the fourth set, and the match, to Fredonia 25-21. In the second game, NYU took an early 10-3 lead and held off a New Paltz rally to win the first set 25-23. New Paltz would lead for the majority of the second and third sets, and win 25-16 and 2517, respectively. The fourth set was was tight, with New Paltz winning 26-24. Decca Borquist of New Paltz led the

match with 18 kills. The team’s fortunes would change on Saturday, where they dominated in their match against Sage, winning in straight sets, 25-20, 25-20 and 25-21. The Violets led for the entirety of the first game and nearly all of the second. The third game was closer, with Sage leading 20-18 before NYU won seven of the last eight points. Senior captain Nicole Frias would lead the team with 11 kills. Afterwards, she would be selected to the All-Tournament Team. Against Mount Saint Mary, NYU cruised to a 25-15 first set victory, at one point going on a 9-0 run. After losing a back and forth second set 27-25, NYU would come from behind in the third, winning the last ten points for a final score of 25-22. In comparison the last set was not as tightly contested. The Violets led for most of the way and and cruised to a 25-20 victory. Freshman setter Daryl Mitchell led the match with 30 assists. Next weekend the team will be traveling to Hoboken, New Jersey for the Ducks Classic. They will have matches against Kean University, Endicott College, Arcadia University, and Stockton University. Email Tony Schwab at sports@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Fazio stands out on and off the soccer field

By KYLE LUTHER Deputy Sports Editor

After a disheartening first round elimination from the NCAA tournament last year, the NYU women’s soccer team hopes to go further with a new offensive focus led by forward Teressa Fazio. The SPS sophomore from Cold Harbor Springs achieved many awards during her high school career including AllCountry honoree and the Scholar-Athlete award. When choosing which college to attend, Fazio ultimately decided

upon NYU because of the balance it offers between sports and academic prowess. “It gave me the option of being able to get an amazing education and play soccer as well,” Fazio said in an email. “I am studying sports management and I hope to get a masters in education.” After college, Fazio plans on hanging up her cleats and moving on from playing soccer to working for a sports organization in the city. Fazio appeared in all 19 games last year, starting in eight of them in her first season with

the Violets. She scored her first goal against SUNY Cortland and put the pressure on teams from then on, taking at least two shots on goal in five different games. She was also named a UAA Athlete of the Week for her performance against Cortland and finished the season fourth in total goals. After the first two games of the season, Fazio had a goal and an assist, helping the Violets to a 2-1 victory over Johnson and Wales College. With the loss of senior captain Cami Crawford and an influx of younger players, the Violets have

tried revamping their offense this season. “We have changed things up in terms of attacking,” Fazio said. “We are looking to be more versatile and unpredictable when attacking. We are looking to incorporate the new players in and have them adhere to our playing style as quickly as possible.” In line with the team goals, Fazio has been working on becoming more of a threat to score when she gets the goal. “Personally, I would like to work on my attacking and becoming more dangerous in

the final third, it sort of goes along with the team goal too.” Fazio said. In her free time, Fazio enjoys baking and cooking with friends, spending time with her family and rocking out to Kanye West. You can next see Fazio in action on Thursday Sept. 17th when the Violets take on Desales University at home in the Bronx and then on the 19th for the Violet Nation Give Away game against Bard College. Email Kyle Luther at kluther@nyunews.com.

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Glover scored the overtime winner in the 100th minute.

Soccer women win, men struggle By BEN GOODKIN Contributing Writer

INFORMING YOU FIRST

NYUNEWS.COM

It was a busy weekend for the NYU men’s and women’s soccer teams as both teams participated in tournaments across the Hudson. Saturday began with the men’s team suffering a close 1-0 defeat to Rutgers UniversityNewark, the host of the tournament. This was an especially difficult game for the Violets because they were forced to play with 10 men for over an hour after starting junior goalkeeper Lucas Doucette was given a red card just 30 minutes in. Although they were down a man, the Violets were able to hold Rutgers scoreless until the 67th minute of play when a bad bounce allowed the Raiders to get one past substitute freshman goalie Grant Engel. After freshman midfielder Ricardo Mitrano was sent off in the 75th minute, the game finished with just one goal. Later on Saturday, the women’s soccer team earned their second victory of the young season with a 2-0 win over Whit-

man College. Senior forward Melissa Menta scored both goals for the Violets, her first two of the season. It was a stellar defensive performance for NYU as junior goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg was only forced to make one save, recording her second shutout of the year. In a much more difficult challenge on Sunday afternoon, the Violets were held scoreless until the 10th minute of overtime when junior midfielder Julie Glover scored the game-winning goal for the Violets. It capped off a good team performance which featured Steinberg, who made 10 saves in another shutout. This latest win improves the NYU women’s season record to 3-1 with four games remaining before the beginning of conference play on Oct. 3. Sunday saw the men take the field again as they played against the undefeated TCNJ Lions. The Violets took an early 1-0 lead when sophomore forward Malcolm Montilus converted a penalty kick in the 18th minute. However, a seven-save performance by goalie Grant Engel

wasn’t enough, The College of New Jersey scored three unanswered goals to win the game 3-1. The loss drops the Violets to 2-3 with just three games remaining before the start of UAA play. Junior midfielder Bryan Walsh remained optimistic after the difficult weekend and believes that this young team learned a lot about themselves this weekend. “We discovered we have a lot of heart and passion for the game,” Walsh said. “Over the next week we will take advantage of all the game film we have available to improve ourselves for next weekend.” Both teams will be back in action later this week. First, the women will host DeSales University on Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. Then, on Sept. 19 at Gaelic Park, the women will host Bard College at 5 p.m. and the NYU men’s soccer team will host New Jersey City University at 7:30 p.m. This doubleheader will also be the first Violet Nation Giveaway Day of the season. Email Ben Goodkin at sports@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM

Community is a fickle thing, especially at NYU where living off campus and being detached from everyone is cool. As much as it pains me to say it, because I lose the small amount of credibility that I have, a lot of the community that I’ve found in my short time here has been through NYU programs. But I think that it’s OK because it has helped me to realize that what makes NYU’s community, or lack thereof, are the micro communities that thrive under it.

Photos are from camping with people in residence halls and residence life and a day trip with the people from my CAS cohort.

HANNAH SHULMAN