WSN091714

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

washington square news Vol. 42, No. 62

Wednesday, september 17, 2014

nyunews.com news

inside this issue

Student debt relief program announced

NEWS

By John Ambrosio News Editor

staff file photo by felipe de la hoz

First listening session underwhelming The presidential listening session on Sept. 16 was held for factuly. story on PG. 3 Beauty & Style

staff photo by shawn paik Staff graphic by cicek erel

New designer Target collaboration released Target teams up with Altuzarra for a high-end fashion line. story on PG. 5

Strand Bookstore evacuated yesterday at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Emergency vehicles line Broadway yesterday after an evacuation of Strand Bookstore.

The FDNY said the evacuation was possibly caused by pepper spray.

STORY ON PAGE 3 ARTS

Opinion

Surprises abound at Trends emerge in London Parachute concert

By Allison Stubblebine Contributing Writer

An increase in the population of smokers raises concerns. story on PG. 7 arts

via 1stirish.org

New play featured in Irish festival “Man in the Moon” analyzes tragedy but provides comic relief. story on PG. 8

jubilee continued on PG. 3

Beauty & STYLE

By Elizabeth Grap Contributing Writer

NYC must combat smoking rate

To help students face the ongoing debt crisis, activist group Strike Debt announced this morning that they have purchased $3.5 million worth of student debt through their Rolling Jubilee project.

Strike Debt also announced their new student debtors union, the Debt Collective, which will allow students and former students to take collective action against debt.

The debt erased by the Rolling Jubilee project belonged to 2,761 former students of the for-profit Corinthian College and was purchased for nearly three cents on the dollar from creditors who either had issued or purchased the students’ debt from private loans. Levia Welch, a former student at the Corinthian College school Everest College, said she was relieved when the Rolling Jubilee approached her to purchase her debt.

“They sent me a letter in the mail

Parachute’s Sept. 12 concert at Irving Plaza was packed with anecdotes from lead vocalist Will Anderson and surprises, including an appearance from members of O.A.R. Even before Parachute, an alternative pop rock band from Charlottesville, Virginia, came on, the packed room was given an impressive show from solo acoustic act Jeff LeBlanc, who opened with a mix of pop, rock and folk. LeBlanc’s raspy falsetto fit his sound well, captivating the crowd in a way that opening acts rarely ever do.

LeBlanc’s set was filled with personal stories, including one detailing his mother’s ecstatic reaction to a song of his that made it to the small screen. The choice of songs for the evening proved to show off his

wide range of talents. During “What Do You Got To Lose,” LeBlanc showed off his beatboxing abilities, and he later played an impressive rendition of “Mirror” by Justin Timberlake.

Following LeBlanc, Parachute played a total of 16 songs, from older favorites, such as “She Is Love” and “Kiss Me Slowly,” to their newest hit single, “Can’t Help.”

Anderson also shared stories between songs, including a long-winded anecdote about living in the Upper East Side of Manhattan for the summer. Anderson added that he even invited a worker from his favorite frozen yogurt place to the show.

The band has surely come far from their “Losing Sleep” days.

Anderson’s voice has noticeably gained a bit of an edge, which was especially obvious during “American Secrets.”

parachute continued on PG. 8

This London Fashion Week has been truly redefining. Every designer from Richard Nicoll to Lucas Nascimento took risks by completely changing their brand’s trademark looks and playing with new, fun ways to dress the modern woman. Some brands explored the athleisure style and worked with androgynous, comfort-driven pieces, while others kept it very feminine and formal.

One of the biggest looks from London Fashion Week Spring/ Summer 2015 was the boxy jacket. Keep your eye out in the next year because you are sure to see many box-cut trench coats along with other A-line suits and masculine pieces.

To juxtapose the intenseness that the boxy silhouette brings, a modern take on athletic wear seems to be a huge up-and-coming trend as many of the weekend’s lines were filled with athletic wear. Some designers even did away with

heels altogether and went for a more laid back aesthetic. Here were a few favorite collections from the week:

Richard Nicoll Richard Nicoll left behind his previous androgynous style for a much softer, feminine look.

The designer, who in the past has stuck to mostly masculine, box-like contours in his clothes, premiered a line filled with silk, tassels and a cool blue palette.

The colors in his Spring/Summer 2015 line ranged from a lilac purple to a shimmery silver and the clothing embodied an ethereal glow. The models seemed to float as they walked down the runway in iridescent halter dresses and oversized trench coats. To add balance to the femininity in the pieces, many of the outfits contained loose-fitting A-line coats with strong defined shoulders.

Topshop Unique This weekend the brand decided to push its limits and play

London continued on PG. 4

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Washington Square news | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | nyunews.com

on the side

Compiled by the

WSN staff

Washington Square News

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

Editor-in-Chief

nicole brown

By the third week of class, you’re probably ready to stop doing all the readings professors are assigning. Sometimes, it’s actually worth doing the reading, though. Here are four times the WSN staff was pleased with a book on the syllabus:

Managing Editors

emily bell dana reszutek Assistant Managing Editors

casey dalrymple bryna shuman

Although Camus’ greatest work comes in at just under 130 pages, “The Stranger” packs the punch of a thousand-page epic. This odd, unsettling 1942 novel about a man whose life is turned upside down by a crime, is now required reading for anyone studying existentialism or philosophy — but deservedly so. “The Stranger” is by turns horrifying and moving, and it refuses to let go once it winds its way into readers’ minds.

On the surface, James Joyce’s “Dubliners” might come across as a disparate series of short stories united only by the characters’ titular location. It can be boring for a ninth-grade English class, or even for the casual reader, but through thoughtful examinations and class discussions, it becomes hard not to realize the profound themes of aging, death and paralysis that run throughout Joyce’s work. Joyce’s ability to tell stories while still letting the reader personally explore his characters’ world makes each of the 15 vignettes intriguing, eventually mesmerizing and ultimately unforgettable.

Alex Greenberger, Arts Editor

Ife Olujobi, Entertainment Editor

“The Stranger,” Albert Camus

“Dubliners,” James Joyce

Web Managing Editors

cicek erel kavish harjai Creative Director, Special Editions

lyanne natividad Creative Directors

Julie ciccone olivia martin

senior staff

news JOHN AMBROSIO, VALENTINA

DUQUE BOJANINI features HANNAH TREASURE arts ALEX GREENBERGER sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO copy THOMAS DEVLIN multimedia SHAWN PAIK under the arch blog JONATHAN

KESHISHOGLOU social media ARIANA DIVALENTINO senior editors TESSA AYSON, SCOTT MULLEN, VALERIE NELSON, MARINA ZHENG

deputy staff

While the length of John Steinbeck’s “East of Eden” may initially put off some readers, this masterpiece of California-centric literature is an English-class classic for a reason. An epic tale that follows the trials and tribulations of two generations of Californian farmers, this novel centers around the biblical trope of the prodigal son and the ultimate quest for forgiveness for past injustices. Filled with tragedy, crumbling family ties and a hint of hope, Steinbeck’s prose immerses readers in the lives of the characters within his intricate plot.

Olivia Martin, Creative Director

“East of Eden,” John Steinbeck

Well written, thought-provoking and dizzying in scope, “Going After Cacciato” uses a heady, fractured writing style to explore some of the most universal themes — duty, escape and love. Working with the framework of a Vietnam war epic, the novel almost immediately splits into two distinct stories — the stark, realistic “Listening Post” chapters that follow Paul Berlin’s night on watch duty, and the fantastical “Road to Paris” chapters that follow the transglobal journey of Berlin’s squad.

Throughout, O’Brien weaves together the smaller vignettes found in each section into a larger story, which reveals Berlin’s dissolution and struggle to find purpose as a soldier in a purposeless war.

KRISHNAMOORTHY, MARITA VLACHOU features BAILEY EVANS beauty & style DAVID BOLOGNA violet vision blog GIANNA COLLIER-PITTS dining REBECCA RIDDLE film ISABEL JONES entertainment IFE OLUJOBI music ALEXA SPIELER theater/books NIKOLAS REDA-CASTELAO the highlighter blog MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE sports TONY CHAU multimedia hannah luu

opinion page opinion editor

CHRISTINA COLEBURN deputy opinion editors

OMAR ETMAN, ADAM FAZLIBEGU, TESS WOOSLEY

advertising business manager

ALISON LIZZIO

John Ambrosio, News Editor

“Going After Cacciato,” Tim O’Brien photos via wikipedia.org

SNAPSHOT

news LARSON BINZER, RAHUL

today on campus

University and alumni coordinator

claire mahany sales manager

ARIANA DIVALENTINO sales representative

ETHAN JACOBS Sales associate

emma howcroft

Telling Your Global Story The Wasserman Center for Career Development is offering a workshop on how to use your study abroad experience as a talking point with potential employers from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Graphic DesignerS

jillian branchaud KALEEL MUNROE circulation manager

JESSICA TIEN

advising

Benjamin Gilman info session A workshop on applying to the Benjamin Gilman international scholarship will be held at the Academic Resource Center from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Stressbusters Wind Down Wednesday While photographing the streets with a phone can prove to be stealthy, there are still times when people can blatantly tell you are taking their picture, like this time on Tottenham Court Road, London.

PHOTO BY daniel cole

Wind Down Wednesday, part of the university’s Stressbusters program, will take place at the Student Health Center from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. today’s events are free for NYU students.

GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS.

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER

JIM LUTTRELL EDITORs-AT-LARGE

KRISTINA BOGOS, rachel kaplan, MICHELLE LIM, CLIO MCCONNELL, jordan melendrez, jonathan tan 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 the managing editors at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

nyunews.com

nyunews.com | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | Washington Square news

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Low attendance at listening session

By John Ambrosio News Editor The Presidential Search Committee held the first of four listening sessions yesterday in the Eisner and Lubin auditorium and invited all NYU faculty to discuss the search process.

The meeting was not open to the press and student senators council chair Jules O’Connor, the only undergraduate student on the committee, was not in attendance.

Three other members of the committee did not respond to emails from WSN seeking comment.

NYU spokesman John Beckman said the meeting was closed to students and media in order to keep the event as candid as possible and allow for uncensored contribution.

“The faculty on the committee felt that the session should go forward without a press presence — their feeling was that it wasn’t a press event, but an opportunity for NYU faculty to speak and be heard, and that the presence of the media can have the effect of reducing the kind of candor and forthrightness they’re seeking,” Beckman said in an email.

After the hour and a half meeting, CAS faculty member David Vintinner noted the low attendance rate.

“It’s a shame more faculty did not come,” Vintinner said.

Ellen Schall, the coordinator of the search committee, said progress was made inside the listening session.

“We had a very productive meeting,” Schall said.

Both Vintinner and Schall declined to comment further on the listening session.

Kait Mitchell, a third semester journalism graduate student who was at the meeting, said there were only five faculty members in attendance — two professors, two deans

and one member who did not identify himself.

“It’s quite a statement from the faculty obviously, that there was no one there,” Mitchell said. “And [a faculty member even] said it was a statement.”

Mitchell said the faculty members used the meeting to voice their concerns about the search process. She said one of the faculty’s chief concerns was their belief that NYU’s president should not have a business background, but instead be an academic who is among the top in his or her field.

Mitchell added that the committee rarely responded to the faculty’s concerns.

“They stated that they were not there to answer questions,” Mitchell said. “They were just there to hear concerns, so they really didn’t get much of a response from them overall, they just tried to accept graciously these very negative concerns.”

Mitchell also said some faculty, whose names she did not hear, voiced concerns over the distrust between faculty and administration.

“The dean from Tisch made the point that her own faculty that work under her at Tisch don’t even trust her anymore,” Mitchell said.

“They think she’s part of the administration, being the liaison between the administration and faculty. And they’ve stopped inviting her to faculty meetings. Everyone talked about this huge distrust between faculty and administration.”

There will be three more listening sessions this month, one for students on Sept. 19 at 11 a.m., another for faculty on Sept. 30 at 12:30 p.m. and one for staff on Sept. 30 at 2:30 p.m.

Additional reporting by Alanna Bayarin. Email them at news@nyunews.com.

on nyunews.com

NYU, Barnard and Columbia join in Middle East panel

photo by fadumo osman

A panel convenes to discuss differences between Sunni and Shia sects of Islam at Hemmerdinger Hall on Sept. 16.

Read the full story at nyunews.com

staff photo by shawn paik

The New York Fire Department is on the scene of the evacuated bookstore.

Strand evacuation lasts half hour

By Kavish Harjai Web Managing Editor

Employees and customers of the Strand Bookstore on 12th St. and Broadway were evacuated yesterday at approximately 4:30 p.m.

Strand customer Reagan Rodriguez said she and her friend were caught off guard by the evacuation. “[My friend and I] were just inside reading and [my friend] heard people coughing and all of a sudden I felt like something was stuck in my throat,” Rodriguez said. “I just started coughing and we noticed everybody was doing the same thing so we just got up because we were scared. We didn’t know what was going on.”

Rodriguez remained outside the bookstore after the evacuation to learn what caused her to start coughing.

“Some people are saying that it was pepper spray,” Rodriguez said. “Nobody knows yet. We are just waiting to find out, because you want to know what you were exposed to.”

A spokesperson from the New York City Fire Department confirmed around 7 p.m. that the evacuation occurred because something was sprayed into the air, possibly pepper spray.

Four large fire trucks and three command vehicles were at the scene.

Large groups of employees and patrons crowded across the street from the store.

There was caution tape surrounding the portion of the sidewalk in front of the bookstore. Only New York Fire Department employees and Strand administrative staff were allowed within the boundaries of the yellow tape.

Around 4:53 p.m., Strand manager Eddie Sutton said everything seemed to be okay.

“The fire department has checked it out,” Sutton said.

“They are turning the [air-conditioner] on.”

At 4:57 p.m., the evacuation was over and employees and patrons were allowed back in the store.

Email Kavish Harjai at kharjai@nyunews.com.

jubilee continued from PG. 1

Debt group to set up NYU chapter

stating that Everest was [treating students unfairly],” Welch said. “And I think it was $696 that they paid off for me, so they said I don’t owe that at all. It’s pretty good.”

The goal of debt buys like these is not to effectively reduce the estimated $1.2 trillion of student debt, but to raise awareness of student debt and the secondary debt market, Social and Cultural Analysis professor and Strike Debt member Andrew Ross said.

“We use the publicity to shine a light on particular household debt, until now it’s been hospital debt, but now it’s student debt,” Ross said.

Strike Debt organizer Thomas Gokey said the Rolling Jubilee project may not do many more debt buys like this. The group’s efforts are shifting away from small scale debt buys and toward a model of collectivization, Gokey explained.

“We intentionally stopped raising new funds at the end of last year, because the Rolling Jubilee was always intended as a temporary project,” Gokey said. “We want to pour our tactics into things that can really make changes.”

Those tactics, Gokey said, include Strike Debt’s new Debt Collective. Gokey said the new project will provide students with resources to collectivize.

“It’s sort of similar to a workers union; workers were able to organize and take action not as a bunch of individuals, but as a group,” Gokey said. “In a lot of ways, the debtor’s union is a lot like the worker’s movement in the 21st century. Debt is a form of wage theft where they’re actually stealing your future wages.”

Ross added that the Debt Collective, which will set up chapters at schools around the country, will provide students with other resources, including legal counseling and IT support, to help them resolve their debt problems.

Ross said the project began this summer with the same students who were involved in this most recent debt buy, but added that the project’s larger roll out is still being planned.

While NYU students have not been involved in any of the Rolling Jubilee’s debt buys, Ross said the issue of student debt is important on

NYU’s campus.

“Students debtors at NYU are still stigmatized,” Ross said. “But we hear more and more about students at NYU who are just leaving because they’re just not prepared to have their futures foreclosed. To overcome that isolation we need to be in contact with other people who share their predicament.”

Members of Student Labor Action Movement agreed, and said in a statement that the issue of student debt was one that can only be solved as a group.

“SLAM supports RJ’s Debt Collection campaign, and not just because our own Lucy Parks dropped out of NYU for these same financial reasons,” the statement read. “We support RJ because the problem they’re fighting is systemic and has or will affect all of us here in the 99 percent — it is only through everyone’s united struggle to combat the debts imposed on us that we will win a significant victory; and we will win.”

Email John Ambrosio at jambrosio@nyunews.com.

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Washington Square news | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | nyunews.com

BEAUTY & STYLE

edited by david bologna bstyle@nyunews.com

eyebrows Cara Delevingne

Fashion student describes London style

By Gabriella Bower Contributing Writer

cheekbones Kate Moss

teeth Georgia May Jagger

Chin Cara Delevingne staff graphic by kavish harjai and lyanne natividad

British stars bring style with natural facial features

By Madison Reis Contributing Writer

From their adorable accents to their love of tea, there seems to be an obsession with the British.

With London Fashion Week in full swing, we are provided with a chance to appreciate the unique beauty of some of Great Britain’s most famous faces.

Cara Delevingne’s eyebrows sparked a craze for a powerful, bold

look. Ditch the tweezers and wax, and keep your brows their natural thickness to achieve Delevingne’s look.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s lips are full and luscious. After three of her Victoria’s Secret fashion shows, Huntington-Whiteley even expanded her career, delving into acting for “Transformers: The Dark of the Moon.”

The gap tooth phenomenon, started by Georgia May Jagger,

caught many off guard. But after countless magazine covers and makeup commercials that displayed her iconic gap tooth, Jagger made a name for herself and her teeth.

The most influential of them all is Kate Moss. Moss created a revolution with her small frame and defined cheekbones.

Email Madison Reis at bstyle@nyunews.com.

London continued from PG. 1

London Fashion Week presents unique styles

with very bright, sporty pieces.

As Cara Delevingne opened the show and strutted down the runway, it was clear the brand was leaning toward a younger, more playful look for the season.

Filled with retro-styled clothing, the brand stuck to a color palette of dark blues and wine reds. Structured A-line skirts paired with a range of anoraks made for a stark contrast in the color scheme.

Temperley London This year’s Temperley London collection was all about the comfort — every look was completed with a pair of canvas sneakers. Additionally, versatility was key as the line was

WSN: What school are you in, what is your major and what year are you?

RW: I’m a junior in Gallatin and concentrating in medieval art history, specifically in gothic architectures and the image of the macabre. That and fashion design.

WSN: Describe the program you are a part of in London.

RW: I am in the Gallatin Fashion Program, where I am taking Fashion Industry, Fashion History and Fashion Body.

It’s a well-rounded program to explore fashion as an interdisciplinary discipline. I am also taking Seeing London’s Architecture, where I will be sketching London’s architectures throughout class.

WSN: What is your ultimate goal for a career?

RW: My dream job would to be my own boss. Ultimately, I want to become a creative designer of a brand. I would be fine with it being either my own brand or another label.

Either way, I want to have creative freedom.

full of interchangeable separates and daywear suits. The line leaned away from femininity and toward sexy androgyny with flared trench coats and ambiguous silhouettes. The collection was comprised of a muted color palette mostly containing whites, blacks, and earthy reds.

WSN: How does the street style of London differ from that of New York?

RW: Londoners seems to care more about tailoring — jackets, vests, etc. — along with

From playful palettes to silhouettes that allow for chic comfort on the go, the Spring/ Summer 2015 collections from across the pond certainly made an anticipated splash for the coming season.

Email Elizabeth Grap at bstyle@nyunews.com.

As fashion week sets in New York, it is just rising in London.

The designers, the models and the stars will all shine again on the runways, but that is where the similarities end. Rachel Wang is spending her semester in London through the Gallatin School of Individualized Study’s Program in Global Fashion. Wang gave us some insight into the differences between the fashion weeks in each city.

well-crafted garments. I rarely see anyone with prints, and the colors tend to be more neutral. Especially since it’s autumn, people are wearing more tans. The most drastic difference would be men’s street style. Where in America, a tee and jeans are the common look, London men tend to wear slightly more formal clothes, with trousers or khakis and sometimes a jacket.

Wearing a casual suit roaming about seems to be the norm.

WSN: Which do you like better? Why? RW: It’s hard to say because in New York, every neighborhood has its own street style.

Downtown is an all black street look, uptown is all labels-chic. In London, the styles vary sometimes, but generally are about the same. I like both, to be honest.

WSN: Do people in London regard London Fashion Week similarly to how New Yorkers, or people everywhere for that matter, regard NYFW? RW: I think it depends. Of the four fashion capitals, New York is probably the most commercial, while London’s charm is the designer’s individuality.

It really depends on what you like and look for during the week, I suppose.

Just about 3500 miles separate these two fashion capitals, so it is no surprise that they contrast in style and culture.

New York has its multitude of neighborhoods while London has its rich history. New Yorkers wear black and Londoners wear tan. It is these differences that make the fashion industry truly a global community.

Note: Edited for clarity and syntax.

Email Gabriella Bower at bstyle@nyunews.com.

viA FACEBOOK.COM

Temperley London models wore sneakers at LFW.

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nyunews.com | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | Washington Square news

BEAUTY & STYLE

edited by david bologna bstyle@nyunews.com

Target works with Altuzarra for newest line

By Sophie Lewis Contributing Writer

or the office to date night. It features a mix of peasant sleeves, pencil skirts, high slits, python prints, trench coats and even a few gowns. The pieces can be deconstructed, mixed and matched with countless other items throughout the line, easily allowing for dozens of outfit combinations. The range also includes some highly covetable accessories, including waist-cinching crocodile belts, stilettos and a pair of thighhigh boots.

Target has collaborated with designers since 2003, beginning with Isaac Mizrahi, and followed by designers such as Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, Missoni, Jason Wu and Phillip Lim. Altuzarra is Target’s latest line and will no doubt lure the crowds of adoring fans as all of

the prior collections have.

While it does not feature quite as large a range as the Missoni collection and does not have any signature handbags like the 3.1 Phillip Lim line, the media buzz for this collection has been just as high, if not higher, as all of the past collections. Fashionistas across the country are preparing to line up hours before store openings just to be the first to get their hands on those limited edition pieces, notorious for selling quickly and never to be seen again. The frenzy is a bit maddening, but completely worth the wait to buy a designer item for under $100.

Target’s designer collections are heaven for any college student. Gone are the days of sacrificing the coveted high-fashion

shoe for that overpriced textbook. With Target, students can now afford both. Some industry professionals have questioned these Target collaborations in the past, not wanting to merge fashion with affordability for fear of it becoming too mainstream and cheapening the designer’s name.

But for college students everywhere, these collections are much needed. The collaboration with Altuzarra maintains all of the designer’s signature feminine silhouettes and chic prints, but at a price point that a student can actually afford. It is a win-win for everyone and well worth the early morning trip to Target.

Email Sophie Lewis at bstyle@nyunews.com.

2014

Joseph Altuzarra

Phillip Lim

2013

Prabal Gurung

Jason Wu

2012

Missoni

2011

Proenza Schouler

2010

Liberty of London

joseph altuzarra

lim

It is that time of year again for every budget-conscious fashionista to become an animalistic shopper at their local Target. It is time for Target’s next designer collaboration, this time with the 2014 Council of Fashion Designers of America Womenswear Designer of the Year, Joseph Altuzarra. The highly anticipated collection, comprised of nearly 50 pieces, priced $18 to $90, recently became available on Sept. 14 in Target stores nationwide and on Target and Net-A-Porter’s websites.

The collection is centered around the modern woman by combining sexiness with sophistication and allowing her to easily transition from school

phillip

5

2009

Alexander McQueen

Shaun White

2007

Patrick Robinson

Luella Bartley

2006

Paul & Joe

Jason Wu

ni

Isaac Mizrahi

2003 photos via facebook.com staff graphic by cicek erel

Target has collaborated with many notable designers over the years.

Here’s how the WSN editors prepped last week for New York Fashion Week coverage.

Ariana DiValentino Social Media Editor “I think a good cat-eye polishes [the look] off. That’s probably my number one when I want to look fashionable. I’m into highlighter; I’ve been using Benefit.

It’s good, especially for fashion week when you’re possibly putting it on at 9 a.m. and may not have the time to go to the bathroom and touch it up.”

Valentina Bojanini News Editor “I wanted to take advantage of fashion week as a space to play with clothing and the versatility of clothing...I had a cool headpiece, some awesome giant sunglasses and heels. I just celebrated the fact that it was a space where I could do that without people thinking it’s strange.”

Dana Reszutek Managing Editor “I follow suit with the editors of major publications — usually minimalistic, low-key look.

I went for a fresh-faced look. I went with a sleek high ponytail — it always looks good, if you’re going for a simple, classic style.”

Emily Bell Managing Editor “When I realized I’d have to be maneuvering and standing in a crowd of photographers, I decided to change my outfit because I wasn’t going to have a seat...I also accessorized minimally because I knew I was going to be taking photos and I didn’t want long earrings getting caught on anything.”

so mis

Rodarte

NYFW tips from WSN staff

Cicek Erel Web Managing Editor “Especially for someone like Betsey Johnson, I think you’re supposed to have fun. [I wore] a bright pink shirt and a white patent leather skirt — something more out there. I found a vintage bag — it looked like candy!”

David Bologna Beauty & Style Editor “There’s a show that [I wore] all black for: a black boatneck tank, black high-waisted really long Aline pants...and giant four-inch platform, ’70s disco heels. The thing I think people don’t realize about black is that it can still be very elevated: it eliminates color so that you can focus more on shape and accessories.”

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Washington Square news | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | nyunews.com

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Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 The620Fornew york times crossword & daily sudoku Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Wednesday, September 17, 2014

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45 “I’m outta here!”

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3 Fighting words, of sorts

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4 Fishing place

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5 Medicare component 6 Twain’s New York burial place 7 Brat holder 8 Señora’s “some”

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10 Billy a.k.a. the Piano Man 11 Like golf course roughs, typically

14 Competent, facetiously

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12 Work stoppage declaration?

13 2000s, e.g.: Abbr.

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9 Caron title role of 1958

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18 Indigo source 23 Desktop problem

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE A D A M S

2 Like variety stores of old

21 Is down with

DOWN 1 Diminutive, in Dundee

Edited by Will Shortz

PUZZLE BY DAN SCHOENHOLZ

41 Get-together: Abbr.

25 ___ Poke (classic candy) 42 “Well, well!”

26 Seat for a service 43 Music star with 28 Good folks to an accent in her name know

50 Excellent, as a job

61 Kept in the cellar, maybe

51 L.B.J. in-law

63 Jenner of reality TV

52 Doctor’s penmanship, stereotypically

64 Israeli air hub locale

30 Volcanic spew

65 Big club?

56 Home to 46 Oblong pastries Samsung 31 White-glove affair 47 “You take credit 66 Times V.I.P.’s cards?” response 59 Smoke or salt 32 Body part 67 Children’s author used in some 48 Interpose 60 Bring in Asquith recognition systems Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday 34 Seafarer’s adverb 38 Exclamation point’s key-mate 39 Lacking polish 40 Big name in outdoor gear

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nyunews.com | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | Washington Square news

opinion

edited by CHRISTINA COLEBURN opinion@nyunews.com

higher education

Ivy League grade inflation unfair to students

By Vitto Bisin Contributing Columnist

Grade inflation at Ivy League universities has been a growing problem. Harvard University professor Harvey Mansfield was the first to report to the Boston Globe about the unrestrained grade inflation at the undergraduate college at Harvard. According to The Economist, Harvard’s average grade was a C+ in the 1950s, while now the median grade is an A-. Grades may be higher now than in the 1950s simply due to changing academic standards. Nevertheless, about half of Harvard students receive As and 82 percent of them graduate with honors. A startling figure, which raises the question — why is it even called honors?

Although students may find this grading system appealing, it is detrimental to many students.

With no way to differentiate one’s self, a possible employer will find it difficult to notice the difference between an average student and a star student, especially if that employer is unaware of the rampant grade inflation.

The most qualified applicant might not always be the one that gets hired. If the employer does not know of the grade inflation, then Ivy League students have an unjustifiable advantage over students at schools that do not over inflate grades. Employers will compare the inflated grades from Ivy Leagues with those from nonIvy Leagues, and favor students with a higher GPA. This advantage results in disgruntled non-Ivy League students, cynicism and employers slowly losing faith in grades as indicative factors of applicant potential. Without the ability to distinguish students from one another, employers could resort to other methods of hiring that may not be fair — such as assessing applicants based on their

personal connections.

In response to an article entitled “Don’t Send your Kid to the Ivy League,” by William Deresiewicz, Harvard professor Steven Pinker said the best solution to this dilemma is standardized testing.

Although in theory standardized testing would resolve the issue on entirely meritocratic grounds, this is not always the case. As Professor Pinker admits, standardized test results highly correlate with socioeconomic status, as families with more money can afford the time and cost of studying. At the same time, it also seems unfair to set a nationwide quota on As given by each college. An A from MIT has different value than an A from the University of Massachusetts, which makes it difficult to compare the two. Perhaps a mix of greater emphasis on standardized testing and more interuniversity grading policies would lead to greater meritocratic hiring. In the meantime though, Ivy leagues could try to reduce grade inflation.

Email Vitto Bisin at opinion@nyunews.com.

sports

Pitchers being pushed toward injury

By Sam Raskin Contributing Columnist

Given the number of throwing injuries in baseball, some viewers are under the false impression that pitchers simply cannot handle the pain or that the throwing motion is unnatural. However, these common misconceptions ignore the severity of elbow injuries that many pitchers sustain. As baseball players have gotten stronger over the years, the number of injuries has also risen.

Getting stronger may help a pitcher throw faster, but it also places more pressure on the ligaments in his elbow. The Tommy John surgery, a procedure that replaces the torn ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow with another tendon from the body, has grown in popularity over the past years. A torn UCL is extremely painful and cannot be handled with toughness alone.

There are arguably two main causes for this misapprehension.

The first is that the way a player is recruited or signed to play at the next level has changed. In addition to college coaches attending high school games during the spring,

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there are now several large tryout and tournament style showcases taking place all year round. These showcases are meant to exhibit a player’s skills to several coaches at once. As a result of the many showcases baseball prospects attend, they solely play baseball, instead of playing other sports during what was once the baseball off-season. A specialization in baseball results in a higher quantity of pitches thrown, making overuse of the elbow more likely.

Furthermore, the average pitch is now thrown at a higher velocity than in the past. One explanation for the higher velocity is that players partake in strength and conditioning programs. The average weight of an MLB player has increased from 186 pounds in 1960, compared to 209 pounds in 2010.

Although it may seem counterintuitive to think that a stronger, larger body is more injury-prone, the reality is that the harder the body will allow one to throw, the more force the UCL absorbs. Similarly, throwing in competition from mounds increases the speed with which a pitcher can throw, also contributing to pressuring the UCL. Casual tosses over the summer have been replaced with 17 yearolds’ adrenaline-powered heaves off mounds at showcases. The professional pitchers today are stronger, harder throwing and have more wear and tear on their arms than any pitcher from the past. Beginning in high school, pitchers are forced to perform in a highly competitive field that demands year round practice. Moreover, the increase in size and strength of players only makes them more likely to injure themselves, not less. Pitchers are not taken out of games because they are not tough, but because they have sustained a serious injury caused by the evolving world of baseball.

Email Sam Raskin at opinion@nyunews.com.

staff editorial

NYC smoking rates rise as budgets fall

For the first time in years, the number of New Yorkers who smoke has surpassed 1 million people. New data from the New York City Department of Health shows that 16.1 percent of adults identified themselves as smokers last year, which is a significant increase from the 14 percent in 2010. This is the highest number of smokers in New York since 2007. City officials blame anti-smoking campaign budget cuts for the rise.

Given that the budget cuts for anti-smoking campaigns is a national trend, it is more important than ever for New York to dedicate resources to tobacco control programs.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s budget for anti-smoking programs has been cut to $7.1 million, about half of its 2009 funds. In 2012, New York State spent only 16 percent of the $254 million recommended as an anti-smoking budget by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Meanwhile, New York State has the highest cigarette taxes in the nation, earning about $1.5 billion in 2012. Given this level of revenue, New York should be able to lead the nation in tackling the issue of high smoking rates.

At a time when cigarette smoking is on the rise, New York City’s budget must be adjusted accordingly to combat this trend. Anti-smoking legislation, such as advertisements and other programs that help people quell their addictions, must be given a higher priority in the city’s budget. Specifically, these anti-smoking campaigns must be aimed toward younger generations and infrequent smokers, as they are more likely to start smoking. New York City has implemented campaigns, such as offering free nicotine patches and advertisements that discourage smoking. However, Christine Curtis, an assistant health commissioner, notes that the strategies have not been as aggressive as they were since before the budget cuts. Given the success of the city’s anti-smoking campaigns in the past, it seems logical that the city would continue to invest in tobacco control programs.

However, Georges Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association, said a program’s success makes it more likely for its funding to be cut. “We have this terrible, terrible habit: we celebrate gains and the resources get pulled away from us,” Benjamin said. It is easy for the city to allocate its budget to its most pressing issues at the cost of other programs. However, tobacco control programs, like many others, require a continued financial commitment in order to be effective. Without additional funding, there is little chance that smoking in New York will decrease at the rate it once did.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Christina Coleburn (Chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Adam Fazlibegu (Co-chair), Tess Woosley (Co-chair)

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.

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nyunews.com | Wednesday, september 17, 2014 | Washington Square news

arts

edited by alex greenberger arts@nyunews.com

parachute continued from PG. 1

Parachute captivates crowd with new sound

Multitalented band member Kit French often took breaks from his spot at the keyboard for saxophone solos. New members of the touring band were featured on multiple songs as well, including a new song titled “The Other Side.”

During their 13th number of the night, “Something to Believe In,” members of O.A.R., the first band that Parachute ever toured with, came to the stage to play along.

The guitarist and saxophonist of O.A.R. both took turns playing solos, blending in with Parachute as if they always had been members of the band. The

band returned to play again for the last song of the night, “She Is Love.”

The crowd’s enthusiasm brought back Parachute for an encore less than 30 seconds after they had left the stage.

The stage was flooded in plum and orange lighting, mimicking a sunset and setting the perfect mood to end the night. Each and every moment seemed flawlessly planned out, and the concert offered an amazing experience to everyone in the crowd.

Email Allison Stubblebine at music@nyunews.com.

photos by allison stubblebine

Both Jeff LeBlanc (left) and Parachute (right) impressed the audience at Irving Plaza.

‘Man in the Moon’ lands between comedy and tragedy

By Clio McConnell Editor-at-Large

Theater is at its best when it tells the truth, and if “Man in the Moon” is anything, it is painfully honest. Featured at Origin Theatre Company’s seventh annual First Irish play festival — “the world’s only all Irish theatre festival” — Pearse Elliott’s semiautobiographical script manifests as a pitch black comedy about suicide in Belfast.

Ciaran Nolan stars as Sean Doran in this one-man show, performing on a stage that is bare except for a lonely park bench. Over an hour and a half, Sean sits, slumps, stands and dances on this bench, recounting the good old days, which he spent with friends in the very same park.

Yet he is haunted by the untimely deaths of his young comrades, many of whom took their own lives.

Tragedy is layered with comedy, revealing that Sean’s life has taught him to hope for the best and expect the worst. Elliott presents the topic of suicide with due seriousness, but that is not to say there are no light moments. Sean is a man who has faced extreme hardship and still does not know how to appropriately respond, but Nolan’s sincere delivery excuses any lines that seem too lewd or too harsh.

As Sean traipses down memory lane, he takes on the voices of multiple characters, showing us the ghosts of relationships past.

Among the deceased are friends, family members and community legends, all of whom had lived their trun-

cated lives in the park where Sean now sits — a park which has seen better days itself.

There is a miniscule flicker of hope in Sean, but Nolan’s portrayal is mostly suffused in grief, anger and incredulity.

He stubbornly refuses to succumb to the destructive force that overtook most of his acquaintances, and the ending of the show surprises no one

somewhere around a dozen members last weekend, theater aims to reach its viewers, and it would be near impossible not to be moved by this candid show.

Though most of us are hopefully not so intimately acquainted with suicide as the playwright, this play does a wonderful service by opening up discussion on such a

via 1stirish.org

“Man in the Moon” is a one-man show starring Ciaran Nolan. more than Sean himself.

There are innumerable black box theaters in New York City, many of which go unnoticed or even unused. “Man in the Moon,” presented by Brassneck Theatre Company, is proof that productions do not have to be flashy or star-studded to be affecting. No matter how narrow or how small the audience, which numbered

morbid subject. It may sound like a depressing premise, but “Man in the Moon” is a play much more about living than it is about dying.

“Man in the Moon” is playing at the Times Square Arts Center, 300 W. 43rd Street, through Sept. 28.

Email Clio McConnell at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.

‘Parks and Recreation’ star speaks at bookstore

By Anubhuti Kumar Contributing Writer

At his book talk at the Union Square Barnes & Noble on Sept. 12, Nick Offerman, of NBC’s hit sitcom “Parks and Recreation,” had much to say about an array of matters including ballet, meat, theater and woodworking.

The event was held to promote the release of his memoir, “Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living,” which will be released Oct. 1. The book consists of anecdotes and advice straight from the life and mind of the comedy star.

The event was packed with Offerman’s fans, who looked forward to a new side of the talented actor. The majority of the crowd was there to see the man behind Ron Swanson, the director of the fictional Indiana city of Pawnee’s parks department in “Parks and Recreation.”

The talk started with Sarah Vowell — an American author and journalist who played the voice of Violet Parr in the popular movie “The Incredibles” — asking him about his childhood and inspirations, leading Offerman to talk about his upbringing in rural Illinois. Unable to experience diversity at home, he set out to find something different and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to study acting. After graduating, he started his career in theater and eventually moved into television. All of the details of which are chronicled in his book.

Amongst Offerman’s anecdotes of manliness and his love of meat were references to how his favorite literature influenced him and a recitation of a haiku from his memoir. In an explanation of his book’s title, Offerman talked about his business as a wood craftsman and boat builder.

via facebook.com

Nick Offerman’s memoir will be released on Oct. 1.

Offerman also named a few ballet positions and claimed to be able to execute them as well, setting him apart from his character in “Parks and Recreation,” who would consider such frivolities a waste of time.

“I know all that shit,” Offerman said, concluding his discussion of ballet in his usual blunt tone.

The second part of the event was an audience question-and-answer session. Offerman responded to a question about his relationship with his wife, “Will & Grace” star Meghan Mullally, and its resemblance to their characters’ relationship in “Parks and Recreation” (where Mullally has a recurring role as his second ex-wife, Tammy 2). Offerman said they are quite boring in real life.

With “Parks and Recreation” returning for its seventh and final season next year, Offerman’s book talk left fans wanting more of his deadpan humor. Until then, they will have to read “Paddle Your Own Canoe” when it comes out on Oct. 1.

Email Anubhuti Kumar at books@nyunews.com.