NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 61
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2013
nyunews.com
SLAM delivers message to Sexton
First Town Hall opens discussion Members from the University Space Priorities Working Group answered questions from the NYU community.
STORY ON PAGE 3
By CASSANDRA CASSILLAS
WILLIAM MARTIN/WSN
Dressing rooms come loaded Alum Shaka King with expectations for shoppers talks debut film By HANNAH TREASURE
From the moment we walk into a store, the flashy allure of American shopping culture tries desperately to impress us — expertly dressed mannequins line the entrance, beautifully composed color schemes catch our eyes and strategically placed signs remind us of that ubiquitous “20 percent off sale.” But what about the moment when we leave the sales floor and enter the dressing room? That seemingly small transition from public to private can end up feeling drastic. Like some carnival house of mirrors, the dressing room can warp our self-image, especially when we’re alone. These minutes of privacy are contingent on the tiniest aspects. Even nuances in lighting can enhance or detract the overall mood. Hollister, for example, is known for its sultry, dimly lit fitting rooms. Their light bulbs are placed at the top rather than near the sides of the mirror to have a slimming effect, and the semi-darkness brings an aura of privacy, reminiscent of techniques used in clubs and bars, where the name of
the game is flattery. Similar to this is the difference of a bolt-locked dressing room rather than just a tiny curtain between you and the crowds of other shoppers. But when shopping by ourselves, regardless of the fitting room’s aesthetics, we’re confronted with nothing but a mirror that we sometimes can’t help but fill with judgments of ourselves. “Why doesn’t this size fit me? Have I gained weight? What was I thinking picking this out? Could I really pull it off? What will people think of me wearing this?” We falter under pressure to blame our bodies for unfit clothing rather than the items themselves. In these moments, shopping becomes a personal evaluation rather than a decision to buy. Despite huge sizing disparities between stores, the uncertainty or even shame we often feel in asking for a different size can only indicate an alarming image of the society we live in — a society that tries to identify our bodies as uniform, numerical sizes.
MELTDOWN continued on PG. 8
‘Newlyweeds’
PROTEST continued on PG. 3
By KATIE SCHILLER
Shaka King’s debut stoner melodrama and comedy “Newlyweeds” took him on a wild ride long before its theatrical release. Written and directed by King, “Newlyweeds” earned him a spot on the 2011 NYU Purple List — a list that honors the work of graduate film students at NYU Tisch School of the Arts. And then, earlier this year, “Newlyweeds” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. “Newlyweeds” follows Lyle and Nina, a young Brooklyn couple struggling in their relationship as their affections for each other are overshadowed by their love of marijuana. Shot by shot, the film takes the viewer through their daily lives, revealing their relationships, jobs and lifestyle, suggesting the nearly lethal effect marijuana can have as the dominating factor in one’s life. In an exclusive interview with WSN, King explained how the film was very much inspired by his own experiences and the neighborhoods he grew up in
NEWLYWEEDS continued on PG. 4
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The NYU Student and Labor Action Movement met in the lobby of Bobst Library yesterday afternoon to deliver a letter to NYU President John Sexton. The 12 students from SLAM were rewarded when the letter was personally accepted by Lynne Brown, the senior vice president of university relations. The letter demanded that NYU ask the brands that produce the university’s apparel to sign the Accord on Fire and Safety in Bangladeshi factories and to terminate contracts with brands that do not comply. In April, an eight-story building in Savar, Bangladesh collapsed and killed 1,129 people and injured approximately 2,500, prompting the accord. The legal agreement targets retailers, labor organizations and nongovernmental organizations and is meant to protect workers from preventable building collapses, fires and accidents. Several companies signed the accord in May. “Sweatshops are particularly relevant because we wear ap-
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
OWS ANNIVERSARY:
The Editorial Board reflects on the Occupy Wall Street’s legacy and American society two years later. HOUSE on PG. 7
9/9/13 1:33 PM