NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 40, No. 11
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012
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High Line presents final stage to public
NY State Sex Ed standards absent
By BIANCA MUKHI
Come October, the latest segment of the High Line that is still being developed can be visited and explored by the public. In coordination with Openhousenewyork’s annual architectural showcase and UNIQLO, Friends of the High Line is offering an opportunity for visitors to view the third and final installment of the park before it undergoes construction over two weekends next month. Originally the site of an elevated freight train line, the High Line — which runs roughly one mile from Gansevoort Street to 34th Street between 10th and 11th avenues — has been renovated into a public park space. It was founded by Friends of the High Line, a non-profit organization formed in 1999 by members of the park’s local community, and the group continues to maintain the park. Since the start the High Line’s construction in 2006, the park has opened Section One in June of 2009 and Section Two in 2011.
HIGHLINE continued on PG. 3
By VERONICA CARCHEDI
BIANCA MUKHI FOR WSN
MLB Fan Cave Concert Series continues with stellar line-up The MLB Fan Cave on West Fourth Street and Broadway may seem like an unlikely concert venue, but it has hosted bands such as Neon Trees, The Fray, Young the Giant and most recently, The All-American Rejects.
By MAEGAN VAZQUEZ
Visitors to the latest photography exhibition at the Tisch School of the Arts can glimpse 20th-century America through the eyes of the Communist Party. “The View from Left Field,” curated by Deparment of Art History professor Shelley Rice, is an eyeopening photo series composed of images rescued by the Tamiment Library at NYU. The photo morgues were donated by “The Daily Worker,” the official newspaper of the American Communist Party. Unlike most photo series similar to “A View from Left Field,” the photos were selected because they are visually intriguing, not just for their historical value.
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STORY ON PAGE 4
Tisch exhibit offers view from ‘The Left’
“Most historians and archivists work with images as illustrations for their historical ideas,” Rice said. “My photo students and our history students were working with these images because they were beautiful.” However visually stunning the images were intended to be, Rice said they are seen through a historical prism. “These images represent what is ideologically important for the party,” she said. “You’re seeing history through the filter of this party, which was a very important part of American history.” A group of 20 undergraduates helped choose the photos that went
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A report released last week by the New York Civil Liberties Union highlights the faults and gaps of the sexual education curriculum of 82 New York public school districts. The NYCLU, a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization, claims that certain sexual education programs in New York state present incorrect medical information to students. The report, titled “Birds, Bees and Bias: How Absent Sex Ed Standards Fail New York’s Students,” states that although 93 percent of school districts provided information on HIV and AIDS, as stipulated by a 1987 New York state law, only 56 percent of the information was complete and scientifically accurate. This disparity, according to the assistant advocacy director of the NYCLU, Johanna Miller, resulted from a lack of state-established standards for sexual education. “All the things you see in the
‘Wallflower’ adaptation plays it safe By J.R. HAMMERER
Throughout “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” the new film based on the best-selling young adult novel, the main characters are always referencing other media. When teenage outcast Charlie (Logan Lerman) meets the hip, beautiful Sam (Emma Watson) and her step-brother Patrick (Ezra Miller), they start discussing music by The Smiths, which marks the beginning of their friendship. The trio also attends a screening of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” This setup sounds like yet another coming-of-age flim designed for hipsters because that is ultimately what viewers will see. But the three leads manage to take the predictable story and build some real weight into the relationships. Lerman, with his vulnerable eyes and
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Miller, Watson and Lerman star in new coming-of-age film. soft demeanor, makes an appealing lead; the “Percy Jackson” actor is surprisingly impressionable as he charts Charlie’s ups and downs. Watson, in her first leading role post-Hermione, is a tad miscast as the spunky manic pixie dream girl — the part would have been perfect for a young Winona Ryder
— but a sweet chemistry develops with Lerman. Watson also convincingly portrays Sam’s varying emotions without losing her American accent. But Miller, who was phenomenal in “We Need to Talk About Kevin,” completely steals
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Friday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Barnes & Noble | 33 E. 17th St.
Friday, Sept. 21, 8:00 p.m. Union Square North Pavilion
Sunday, Sept. 23, 7 p.m. The Homestead at Bedford Cheese Shop | 67 Irving Place
Actor Johnny Depp will join author Damien Echols to discuss Echols’ new book “Life after Death.” This memoir details the time Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, spent on death row after being wrongfully convicted of murder.
This is the last night of the bi-weekly Summer Nights Series hosted by Arte Institute. The final show will be performed by The Lumiphonic Creature Choir, a multimedia act featuring a 12-headed audio-visual instrument. This interactive show is bound to turn heads.
Beekeeper Marina Marchese will host a honey and cheese tasting at The Homestead. Each person who attends will take home a jar of locally harvested honey.
JOHNNY DEPP AND DAMIEN ECHOLS
SUMMER NIGHTS
RED BEE: LOCAL HONEY AND CHEESE TERROIR
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
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A budding Walter White
A 24-year-old woman in Minneapolis accidentally texted a police officer’s number regarding a marijuana sale. The texter, Najileh Cekoc Sengbloh, is now facing drug charges. The text she sent read, “Got your greens, let me know what you need.” The cop who received the message responded with an amount, and then they agreed upon a meeting time and place. The woman admitted to posting an ad on Craigslist regarding the deal and then replied to a phone number that had initially contacted her. On Monday, she was released from custody. — UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL
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UCLA cancels plans of developing college education for undocumented students — THE DAILY BRUIN
LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY
Citygoers spend their day in the sun in Washington Square Park.
PHOTO BY BRITTANY ELLIAS
LSU evacuated, reopened after campus bomb scare — THE ADVOCATE
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FRANCIS POON About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
New faces for Student Affairs By MARILYN LA JEUNESSE and DEBORAH LUBANGA The Division of Student Affairs welcomed new administrators at the start of this academic year. WSN spoke with the recently added members about their goals and aspirations. MONROE FRANCE France has devoted six years to bettering programs at NYU. He began working at the university in 2002 as the coordinator of Social Justice Programs, took a hiatus in 2005 and returned in 2009 as the director of the LGBTQ Student Center. In his new position as assistant vice president for Student Diversity, France is in charge of staff at the department and maintains events like the Martin Luther King week and NYU Portraits: VOICES of a People. What France loves the most about his job is that the university is always pushing its limits. “NYU is always trying to make events better, more interesting and cutting edge,” he said. “There is always the opportunity to create.” When France is not busy creating new programs for students, he is discovering eateries around the Village or running into celebrities.
“The first summer I was here I met Lenny Kravitz at the gym,” France said. “It was 13 years ago but it seems like it just happened.” PASCHA MCTYSON Raised in the South Bronx, McTyson always wanted to come to NYU. Although she attended the University of Massachusetts Lowell, she said she developed an interest in higher education careers while working in the UMass Student Activities Office. “I’d done a program when I was in high school where I actually was part of a program for high school seniors that were looking into going into the medical profession,” McTyson said. “So I’m not in the medical profession but I did have a lot of kind of first hand exposure to college through that at the medical school.” As the new director of the Center for Student Activities, Leadership and Service, she personally advises 11 clubs, meets with the Student Senators Council and approves contracts for club events that involve non-NYU entertainment. McTyson said she hopes to keep student development at the forefront of everything she does.
CELIANY RIVERA-VELAZQUEZ Like many students and faculty members, Rivera-Velazquez did not start her journey to NYU in the United States. She grew up and attended school in Puerto Rico before coming to the United States to pursue a doctorate degrees in Media Communications and Gender and Women Studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. “I’ve always been interested in that merge, that combination that happens in between what I would say is gender and sexuality and art,” Rivera-Velazquez said. “The marriage of gender and sexual and art and performance has always been something that I am very interested in.” She started her work at NYU as the assistant director for the LGBTQ Student Center in 2009 and is the first woman and immigrant to hold the position. “Being part of the moment in which you convince somebody that LGBTQ populations are worthwhile to invest in,” she said. “I’m really, really excited about the opportunity to have that voice and to have that power.” Marilyn La Jeunesse and Deborah Lubanga are contributing writers. Email them at university@nyunews.com.
Protesters against NYU Law trustee unite for second rally By NICOLE BROWN Approximately 30 people gathered at Bobst Library yesterday afternoon to participate in a follow-up protest to last week’s rally held by the Student Labor Action Movement against Daniel Straus, a NYU School of Law Trustee. Last Tuesday, counter-protesters allegedly interrupted the demonstration of more than 100 nursing home workers and NYU students by threatening and insulting many demonstrators. A video of the counter-protesters threatening a student was put on YouTube last week and has received more than 10,000 views at the time of press. Gallatin junior Caitlin MacLaren, an organizer of the protests, said it was clear to many members of SLAM that some demonstrators were not nursing home workers as they had claimed. “When asked where they worked, some said, ‘the Straus Institute,’ which obviously is not a nursing home,” MacLaren said. Dan DiMaggio, a second-year sociology graduate student at NYU and a member of SLAM, said the purpose of yesterday’s rally was to raise awareness
of issues surrounding Straus and the presence of counterprotesters at last week’s rally. “We want to inform the campus and also demand that [NYU] President [John] Sexton and [Law School] dean Revesz publicly repudiate these actions and demand a public apology from Straus,” DiMaggio said. Adaner Usmani, a fourth-year sociology Ph.D student, was physically accosted at the rally last week. “I think it is absolutely shameful. We are pretty confident that they were planted by Straus or the company,” Usmani said. “They seemed to have no idea where they were or who they were going against.” Usmani said there was a higher students turnout yesterday. “The struggle for them is still going on, they are on their 78th day of the picket line,” he said. In addition to demonstrators holding up signs and chanting, the rally included speeches from multiple nursing home workers and Usmani. Additionally, protesters delivered letters to Sexton and Revesz to make their concerns known.
But Tim Hodges, chief strategy officer at Straus’ CareOne Management, denies the accusations that Straus’ company hired the counter-protesters. “On their own initiative and on their own time, employees of both CareOne and HealthBridge Management chose to show their support for those companies by attending the rally and showing that there’s another side to this,” Hodges said. No counter-protesters were present at the rally yesterday, but SLAM members suggested that they were hiding in bushes and sitting on benches in the park. The rally also attracted a small crowd of people on the sidewalk. LSP freshman Andie Salgado said he did not understand why the protest was going on at first. But after hearing more information, she expressed concern. “Instead of helping the workers, [Straus] will just stop donating money to NYU, which will only hurt the students,” Salgado said. Nicole Brown is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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NYCLU study finds bias, inconsistency in NYC Sex Ed report, no matter how offensive or how medically inaccurate, are permissible under New York state law,” Miller said. “Districts are using things that are no longer accurate on HIV, or they are using materials that they pulled together from the Internet, because no one is telling them not to.” The report also acknowledges the problem of school districts using value-laden materials when teaching controversial topics. About 35 percent of districts were found to use textbooks with anti-abortion biases, and several referred to fetuses and embryos as babies. Although many advocates would assert that medical information should be presented without a moral slant, according to Steinhardt professor of History and Education John Zimmerman, it can be difficult to separate values from sexual education. “There is no such thing as a value free statement about sex,” Zimmerman said. “I think it’s inevitable that on a subject as contested and as controversial as sex there would be enormous variation among districts.” The NYCLU recommends the state decree a comprehensive sexual education program, one that teaches abstinence, as well as pregnancy and STD prevention methods such as condoms.
A major complaint in the report is that even though 80 percent of schools address condom use in their curricula, only one in three school districts actually demonstrates their proper use. This resonates with former New York state public school student and CAS sophomore Tamara Mizhquiri, who graduated from Wappingers Central School District. “They didn’t actually show us how to use a condom, they just told us about it,” Mizhquiri said. Mizhquiri said LGBTQ and sexual identity issues were not covered in her sexual education class. The report claims this as a fault of many heterocentric curricula. In a statement responding to the NYCLU’s report, Dennis Tompkins, the chief of External Affairs at the New York State Education Department, said the department would examine the report. He also stressed the importance of an up-to-date sexual education program. “We’ll carefully review the report and its recommendations,” Tompkins said. “Our goal is to make sure students get accurate, sound health information.” Veronica Carchedi is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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High Line to open final section to public before construction begins Section Three, the final section, is expected to open in October. However, reservations must be made in order to attend the walking tour that will preview new components. Reservations cost $5 for the first weekend, Saturday, Oct. 6 and Sunday, Oct. 7. Tickets will be available through ohny.org on the morning of Thursday, Sept. 27. Reservation will be free for the second weekend, Saturday, Oct. 13 and Sunday, Oct. 14. The reservations can be made through thehighline.org beginning at noon on Thursday, Sept. 17. Japanese retail store Uniqlo has supported the park’s maintenance for two years. The company is inviting the public to join them for the unveiling weekends, where they will be giving each visitor a piece from their innovative Heattech garment collection. “By continuing our support of this unique project, Uniqlo hopes to continue to become a part of New York culture and at the same time celebrate the one year anniversary of the Fifth [Avenue] Global Flagship Store opening,” said Melissa A. DiSalvo, the public
relations liaison for Uniqlo. Kate Lindquist, Friends of the High Line communications and marketing director, also extended the invitation. “We encourage people to come see the self-seeded landscape that inspired a community to join together to save this historic structure and transform it into one of the city’s best-loved public places,” she said. Zoe Kearl, a High Line frequenter and junior in Gallatin, said she was supportive of the project. “I think that the city needs more public spaces. Sometimes being surrounded by concrete can get overwhelming and it seems obvious that good urban planning allows for an escape from the ridiculous crush of everyday life in New York,” Kearl said. “Uniqlo getting on board as a corporate sponsor only serves to prove the point that sometimes money can work for good, not evil.” Bianca Mukhi is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES MLB Fan Cave hits home run with free music By AYDEN ROSENBERG
A chaotic blend of tie-dyed Doc Martens, torn denim, faded tattoos and zebra guitar straps commanded the attention of the crowd at The All-American Rejects’ concert last week. The set list was a seamless mix of old and new songs, each one injected with an equal dose of the band’s signature spunk. This concert was not just 100 people standing around listening to music — it was a party. The show did not take place at one of New York’s typical concert venues like Irving Plaza or Webster Hall. The All-American Rejects played at the MLB Fan Cave on the corner of West Fourth Street and Broadway as part of the new MLB Fan Cave Concert Series, which is quickly becoming a popular Greenwich Village venue. The series, which began in April, proves there is more to the Fan Cave than the baseball-themed events it usually hosts. “The Cave is where baseball meets pop culture,” said Lauren Verrusio, producer of the Concert Series. “It’s got something for everyone.” The venue, which stands at the old site of the iconic Tower Records, has hosted some of the biggest names in music. OneRepublic, Young the Giant, Daugh-
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NYU students, professor compile images of labor movement
try, Neon Trees, Jason Aldean and The Fray are just a handful of the artists who have graced the Cave stage over the past few months. “Artists want to perform here because it provides a really fun, intimate setting,” said Lauren Verrusio, the producer of the MLB Fan Cave Concert Series. “The Fan Cave is the only venue of its kind, so the concerts it hosts are equally as unique.” Over the next few weeks, the Fan Cave will feature three diverse acts. All Time Low will perform on Sept. 26, Talib Kweli on Sept. 27 and Lifehouse on Oct. 1. These shows, like all shows at the MLB Fan Cave, are live, free and open to the public. CAS sophomore Anna-Lisa D’Onofrio attended The All-American Rejects concert and plans to attend shows at the Fan Cave in the future. “The All-American Rejects show was insane, so I’m excited to see how [the Fan Cave is] going to top it,” D’Onofrio said. “I’m already counting down the days.” Check out MLBFanCave.com for full-length recordings of all past Fan Cave concerts from April through August are available.
into the gallery. The eye-catching images range from Holocaust postcards featuring piles of corpses to a photo of an Amish family vacationing on a beach. “We were looking at them as pictures,” said Tisch senior Jonno Rattman, who has worked on the exhibition for the past year. “A picture needs to speak as an image and it also needs to inspire inquiry.” In putting the exhibition together, Rattman scanned numerous images and curated a reference catalogue at the gallery, which contains the original states of the photos. The process proved to be difficult, as some of the photographs were not labeled. “Each box is like a little slice of the 20th-century as viewed from the left,” Rattman said. “It’s
Professor Rice’s exhibit features visually stunning photography of 20th-century America.
Nasim Mirzai, a CAS junior majoring in Art History and an NYU Fine Arts Society officer, describes her bag as a bottomless pit filled with surprises. To Mirzai, it may be a never-ending pouch, but it is also the bag of a creative, fashionable student.
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SCHOOL NOTEBOOKS Mirzai’s art history notebooks are excellent representations of her love for art and travel. One notebook is covered with Vincent Van Gogh’s “Almond Blossom” painting — Mirzai had this same image in poster form hanging above her bed during her freshman year. The serene painting still keeps her calm, cool and collected when school is stressful. Mirzai’s second notebook is covered by a world map, which makes the plain black notebook a lot more fun. She uses the notebooks to plan meetings and organize museum outings for the Fine Arts Society. 1
“FIGHT CLUB” “‘Flight Club’ is different from the types of books I normally read, but I am purposefully reading it slowly because it’s just so good,” Mirzai said. Reading is one of her favorite pastimes, and she is a fan of classic novels by authors like Jane Austen. “I felt like the only person who hasn’t read [‘Fight Club’] or at least heard of it,” Mirzai said. She borrowed the book from her friend, and it has been in her bag since last school year. 3
TEA COLLECTION Mirzai recently developed a love of tea as a replacement for coffee. “Coffee did crazy things to me,” she said. Mirzai always carries tea in her purse — especially for when it gets cold. Throughout winter she always has a mug in hand. Mirzai enjoys traditional, tasty tea varieties like Earl Grey, Moroccan mint and chai. 4
DARK CHOCOLATE Mirzai says Trader Joe’s dark chocolate is what is her perfect pick-me-up. “When life has me down or I am stressed out about school, I have my dark chocolate to get me through it,” she said. A little piece of chocolate is the perfect way for Mirzai to recuperate from her hectic work schedule. 2
Maegan Vazquez is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
CARINA WONG FOR WSN
Ayden Rosenberg is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? By KAITLIN CHRISTY
like the Internet in analog form, but it’s not searchable, so you’re really just stumbling across history in objects.” “It’s interesting to see [the photographs] represented as documents rather than photographs, for artistic purpose,” said Sarah Steele, an alumna of Tisch’s photography program. “The View from Left Field” is open and free to the public at the Tisch’s Department of Photography and Imaging at 721 Broadway, eighth floor, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. The exhibition runs until Nov. 17.
Kaitlin Christy is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
EDITED BY NICOLA PRING FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Book nerds flock to Brooklyn By HELEN HOLMES
The annual Brooklyn Book Festival is an oasis for both literary mavens and the casual explorers. The festival, now in its seventh year, will be held on Sunday, Sept. 23 at Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza. Since 2006, the book festival has served as a mecca for authors, publishers and readers alike. Initially intended to serve as a venue for Brooklyn writers, the event has expanded in recent years to include prominent authors from all corners of the United States, such as Dave Eggers and Dennis Lehane. Brooklyn Borough president Marty Markowitz helps sponsor the event each year. “Brooklyn, or ‘Book-lyn’ as I like to call it,” Markowitz said in a press release, “has more writers per square inch than almost anywhere else in the country, all contributing to our growing reputation as the epicenter of the literary universe where authors from across the globe gather each fall for...one of the world’s most prestigious free literary festivals.” This year the festival is extending its offerings to more than one day’s worth of literary entertainment. Events leading up to the festival began on Sept. 17 for the aptly titled Bookend. They include readings, lectures and parties and
COURTESY OF KATHRYN KIRK
Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza will host authors and publishers. will continue throughout the week with Literary Trivia Night, Librarian Olympics, the Third Annual Brooklyn Indie Party and more. On Saturday, Sept. 22, the festival will present the Best of Brooklyn, Inc. award. Each year, the BoBi is given to an author who has significantly impacted literature. This year’s recipient is Pete Hamill, prolific journalist and Brooklyn native, who is a distinguished writer in residence at the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute at NYU. “[I have been] formed as a writer by [Brooklyn’s] people, its Vermeer light, the human scale of most of its neighborhoods,” Hamill said. Hamill believes Brooklyn is the perfect place for the festival. “It’s the borough, after all, that gave us Walt Whitman.” he said. “It’s, today, the borough that shelters many superb writers. A place
where walking the dog could inspire a novel or a poem.” If the free entrance and the promise of intellectual stimulation are not incentive enough to hop on the train and attend Bookend events or the festival on Sunday, consider the guest list, which includes writers Mary Higgins Clark, Joyce Carol Oates, Sapphire and Colson Whitehead. Nearly 300 others will be hosting panels, readings and workshops. Bookend events will take place through Saturday evening. The festival will begin at 10 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 23 at Brooklyn Borough Hall and Plaza, 209 Joralemon St., Brooklyn. Helen Holmes is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Edited by Will Shortz ACROSS 1 Swiss ___ 6 Derive (from) 10 Multimillionselling band from Australia 14 Sacré-___ (Paris landmark) 15 Syringe 16 Actress ___ Flynn Boyle 17 Aetna competitor 18 Blood-sharing? 19 Bloodhound’s lead 20 Prison guard system? 23 Level of achievement 25 These days 26 Healthful cooking option 27 “Let’s see that again in ___” 29 D.O.J. heads 30 Hipster Capitol Hill worker after collapsing?
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48 Windows forerunner
49 Now, in Nicaragua 50 Investor’s info 51 Two-finger salute 53 Gofer 54 “Swan Lake” move 58 Didn’t sell 59 England’s Isle of ___
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM
ARTS
EDITED BY STEFAN MELNYK ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
‘Dredd 3D’ too serious to entertain audiences By CASEY LENT
In the world of “Dredd,” the tenderest moment comes when a character stitches together a wound. Judge Dredd is a product of his environment: a police officer in a post-apocalyptic future, devoid of emotion. He has no levity, and his superhero catchphrase is merely a description of his profession: “I am the law.” Dredd is a cipher — a square jaw under a goofy mask, which is in some ways all the better — on paper, that is. The “Judge Dredd” comics are sagas of absurdist violence, buoyed by the darkest of humor. The exposition the comic medium demands is given enough space for the detailed setting to grow and settle on the page, and the hero is not undone by his own humorless manner. In the film, however, there is hardly a line of dialogue not growled or slurred, while characters deliver crass and obvious exposition. Styled as a neo-noir narrative, the movie is at its most engaging when it gives up its cliched attempts at character growth — a strange weakness, considering its usually reliable screenwriter Alex Garland (“28 Days Later”). Despite the poor script, the movie does impress with its cinematographic trump card: Slo-Mo-fueled shoot-outs. Slo-Mo, a drug that decelerates its
user’s surroundings to 1 percent of their actual speed, is a convenient and effective device that allows director Pete Travis and cinematographer Anthony Dod Mantle to execute some genuinely inspired camera movements. These high frame-rate showdowns find sublimity in brutality — think “Mythbusters” meets Rob Zombie. The Hong Kong action cinema subgenre has seemingly found its logical conclusion in the adaptation of a 35-year-old comic about police officers. And what a police drama “Dredd” is. The grizzled Dredd (Karl Urban) is burdened with the wide-eyed rookie Cassandra Anderson (Olivia Thirlby) before being dispatched to a massive building controlled by prostitute and druglord Ma-Ma (Lena Headey). Urban, his head stuffed in a helmet throughout the film, may be excused for delivering a mostly unengaging performance. But Headey’s weary and disillusioned Ma-Ma seems pulled from another movie. The film ultimately falls to Thirlby, who steals every scene in which she appears. It is ironic that in an adaptation of a comic series founded on dark humor, the few smirks the film ellicits are the most clichéd aspects of “Dredd.” Casey Lent is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
Band of Horses fun, but simple By JOSHUA JOHNSON
Band of Horses began its career with “Everything All in Time” and “Cease to Begin,” fantastic albums that revealed frontman Ben Bridwell as one of indie rock’s freshest voices. After a three-year break and multiple lineup changes, BOH returned in 2010 with the solid but ultimately underwhelming “Infinite Arms.” While the record had its moments of greatness, it failed to capture the splendid essence Bridwell and company exuded in their first two works. The band’s fourth studio album, “Mirage Rock,” unfortunately follows in the inconsequential footsteps of “Infinite Arms,” and the result is the band’s weakest album yet. “Mirage Rock” begins promisingly with lead single “Knock Knock,” an exuberant albeit ordinary rocker with catchy “woo-hoos.” Towards the middle, however, the record runs into trouble. Bridwell has never been afraid to wear his influences like a badge of honor, but tracks like “Slow Cruel Hands of Time” and the first half of “Dumpster World” fail to even register as new Band
of Horses songs. Instead, they feel like recycled songs by the band America. “A Horse With No Name” is a fine tune. After all, it is Walter White’s favorite driving song. But like a great joke, it’s never as good the second time around. Although “Dumpster World” picks up after the first couple minutes, it’s hard to get that far when the first half sounds like “A Horse With No Name Part 2: Still Nameless.” Bridwell’s influences used to be endearing, but on “Mirage Rock,” they’re merely distracting. The biggest problem with “Mirage Rock” is joyless in comparison to Band of Horses’ previous records. Bridwell’s soulfully jubilant voice allowed him to sing naively flowery lines, but his delivery on much of the album, especially “How to Live,” is flippant and careless. “Mirage Rock” does have a few bright spots, like “Everything’s Gonna Be Undone,” an example of acoustic folk done right, and “Feud,” a frantic rock song featuring Bridwell’s excellent falsetto. Perhaps if “Mirage Rock” was the group’s first release,
COURTESY OF COLUMBIA RECORDS
it would seem less insignificant in the Band of Horses canon. With its simplicity and obvious influences, the record certainly feels like a freshman release. A listener unfamiliar with the band may find pleasure in its undeniably agreeable sound, much like a first-time flier might be excited by the thrill of just being in an airplane. However, “Everything All in Time” and “Cease to Begin” are like the first class cabin on an airplane — once you’ve been there, stuffing yourself back into economy doesn’t really seem worth the trouble. Joshua Johnson is music editor. Email him at jjohnson@nyunews.com.
WALLFLOWER continued from PG. 1
Despite strong cast, ‘Wallflower’ fails to live up to source material the film as the out-and-proud Patrick; he takes what could have been a one-note stereotype and makes it human. The performances range from good to excellent, but the rest of the movie fails to live up to the stellar actors. Directed and adapted by the novel’s author, Stephen Chbosky, “Wallflower” isn’t translated to the screen — it’s transcribed. Chbosky plays it too safe with his own text, refusing to reshape it for a new medium. Subplots involving Charlie’s teacher and his sister (Nina Dobrev) feel ancillary to the main story, and the flashbacks to his late aunt don’t reveal so much as muddle the storyline. When Chbosky does attempt some cinematic tricks, they’re heavyhanded and over-edited. These missteps are tragic, for in
spite of its familiarity, the material could have made for a much better film. Unfortunately, it’s too firmly chained to its source to stand on its own. In the movie’s strongest sequence, the newly forged trio drives through a tunnel, and Sam stands up through the car’s sunroof with wind flying through her hair as David Bowie’s “Heroes” plays on the radio. It sounds hackneyed on paper, but it works — until Lerman blurts out that he feels infinite, turning a transcendent moment into a cheesy one. While “Wallflower” is effective in its own way — fans of the novel will likely enjoy it — its loyalty to the words ultimately keeps its power finite. J.R. Hammerer is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY CHRIS DINARDO OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
LIBYA
STAFF EDITORIAL
U.S. aid essential to keep radicals at bay
By RAQUEL WOODRUFF
Last Tuesday, on the 11th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, U.S. Ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens and three members of his staff were murdered in what was a preplanned attack by Islamist radicals. President Obama’s spokesman denies that the attack was precipitated — most likely in fear of revealing inadequacies in national intelligence and embassy security in Libya, and not so much because of claimed lack of evidence. Several media pundits and journalists, like The New York Times’ Roger Cohen, claimed the attack resulted from Muslim outrage over an American video portraying the Prophet Muhammad as an idiotic womanizer. While the film did spur the riots that occurred in Benghazi and may have influenced the time of the ambush, the attack was precalculated by al-Qaeda sympathizers, with help from the eastern Benghazi extremist group, Ansar al-Sharia, with the intention of damaging U.S.-Libya relations. Stevens, who was fluent in Arabic, was a well-liked and respected diplomat in
Libya. He shared a great relationship with Mohamed Yusuf al-Magariaf, the president of the General National Congress, and the Libyan people followed his important influence in the ousting and death of Muammar Qaddafi. The militants who attacked him were not avenging Americans for some anti-Muslim video — they were attacking U.S. policy. Disguised as a religious battle, the radicalization in the Middle East is really the result of a cultural war. Driven by notions of absolute male superiority, Islamic extremists hate Americans because we live in a culture where women are educated and think, speak and wear what we want. This is about a hate for U.S. and Western culture — not a devotion to religion. The attackers were reported to be well-organized, well-trained and heavily armed with accurate aim. Given that only five U.S. ambassadors have ever been killed in the entire nation’s history — and a single ambassador in the last 33 years — the attack has much larger implications as to where America currently stands in the Middle East.
Although the Benghazi attack was premeditated, it does not necessarily mean intelligence was aware of their plans. It does, however, raise questions of national surveillance, considering Stevens was known to travel with rather little security, and the assailants may have devised a strategy to take advantage of that fact. While President Obama has promised justice, sending 50 Marines to Tripoli and ordering heightened security at all American diplomatic locations, deep-seated security issues in Libya still remain. The government cannot curb the heavy artillery that multiplied during the protests, and there is no operating justice system. But more importantly, the fatal assault on the U.S. consulate demonstrates that extremism is still emerging from underneath the rubble of the Arab spring, and it is not going away. With Libya’s government still shaky and developing, it is crucial that the U.S. play a significant role in helping stabilize the nation’s political system in the face of radicals who will, at any moment, take the opportunity to take out its legs. Raquel Woodruff is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
INTERNET
Passive activism on social media ineffective By SAMEER JAYWANT Every October for the past few years, I’ve noticed that an unusual phenomenon takes place on Facebook: a significant number of my female friends start posting colors as their statuses. The first time this happened, when I was in high school, my curiosity was piqued and I asked one of my friends about the significance of the colors. She replied, “Oh, it’s our bra colors.” Baffled, I asked what could possibly be motivating this TMI overload. She said, “It’s to spread awareness of breast cancer.” I’m pretty sure I lost brain cells that day just processing the absurdity of that notion. Slacktivism is informally defined as the act of passively supporting an issue or social cause with minimal-effort measures that have little or no effect other than to tap into the satisfaction that accompanies philanthropy. While most commonly observed on social media outlets, slacktivists can also pretend to actively support charitable causes in real life, such as signing up for grassroots organizations without actually working for them or buying commercial products like those Livestrong bands everyone used to wear in middle school — though at least they actually generate revenue
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for the cause. That said, Facebook and Twitter seem to have created a trend of people self-aggrandizing through mediocre, half-hearted empathy for serious problems like disease and human rights violations. Anybody remember “I like it in the closet, kitchen, bedroom.” Ladies, suggestive descriptions of where you keep your handbags contributes nothing to battling cancer. This only serves to cheapen the importance of these issues through mindless social media trends. Slacktivism is easily justifiable by the live and let live tenet — it’s not hurting anyone, is it? In a way, it kind of is: True activist organizations that actually depend on social media are finding a previously potent medium diluted by lazy college students procrastinating in coffee shops. Facebook and Twitter, when used properly, are a couple of the most powerful tools in the world for collective action and grassroots communication for realworld events. The 2011 book “Sandstorm: A Leaderless Revolution in the Digital Age” explores this complex and essential role of social media in the Arab Spring, particularly in Egypt, where information about protests was spread largely through these outlets. Perhaps the best-known example of slacktivism is this year’s Kony 2012 phenomenon, which, in a span of weeks, showed just how vulnerable we
are to digital oversimplification of salient problems. Kony 2012 almost broke out of the realm of slacktivity, as it actually raised awareness and money for a previously underrepresented human rights issue; unfortunately, the filmmakers knew exactly the audience they were targeting and vastly misrepresented not only essential information about Joseph Kony, but also solutions to the problem itself. As such, thousands of people foolishly called for U.S. troops to risk their lives in Uganda after watching 30 minutes of propaganda. This is not to say the Internet plays no role in promoting social or charitable causes. It can help start a dialogue about these issues; in fact, successful campaigns for true solutions to global issues — including those as local as the NYU Oxfam Facebook group — now depend heavily on social media to raise support. It is simply unfortunate that true activism has become somewhat tainted by its evil twin brother. So the next time you think about changing your profile picture to a Pokémon during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, consider the percentage of the 6 million American children who are abused each year whose living situation will improve because of your Geodude. Sameer Jaywant is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
NY Sex Ed standards not up to par Last week, a report released by the New York Civil Liberties Union found that sexual education in the state’s public schools lacked overarching standards regarding how matters of sexual health are taught. The report found that information being taught in the state’s public high schools about HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases was out of date and inaccurate. First, LGBTQ issues were not covered at all. Second, a New York high school student said he was never shown how to use a condom, only told. According to the report, only two-thirds of schools that taught students about condoms actually demostrated how to use them. Teachers who were not given a comprehensive curriculum to teach had to independently search for information online. The NYCLU urged the state’s Education Department to update its current program and apply more rigorous regulations to the curriculum. The adoption of these standards is a necessary part of a more well-rounded health education within the public school system. According to Johanna Miller, the report’s author, New York’s teen pregnancy rate is now the 11th highest in the nation. A shift to evidencebased information will be one of the most effective steps in reducing unplanned pregnancies. Abstinence-only education has proven to be inadequate, which is not surprising since it is estimated that over 40 percent of New York’s high school students are sexually active. We should expect our students to be supplied with as comprehensive a curriculum as necessary to live an informed, healthy life. This approach should place no limit on the choices they make, nor weigh the morals of said choices. Without a formative education on matters ranging from HIV and AIDS to LGBTQ issues to abstinence and safe sex, we can not expect our students to fully understand the risks and consequences. Other approaches are being championed here on campus. The Peer Health Exchange, an undergraduate club at NYU and other universities in the city, place college students in the classroom to teach the material. Further promotion of volunteer club programs like the Peer Health Exchange could foster better knowledge of sexual matters among our state’s high school students. If a homogenized sexual education curriculum is implemented statewide, our students and the community as a whole will reap the benefits.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Chris DiNardo (Chair), Jessica Littman (Co-Chair), Nathaniel Chumley, Christopher Drake, Sanchay Jain, Sasha Leshner, Peter Murphy, Raquel Woodruff and Richard Zhang.
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, NY 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY THE WSN STAFF SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Men’s soccer wins on penalty kick in final seconds
By FRANCISCO NAVAS
On a chilly Wednesday night, NYU men’s soccer defeated the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy 1-0 at Gaelic Park with a lastminute penalty kick by senior forward Paolo Luciano. This win extends the Violets’ undefeated streak to 7-0-0. “What a way to win,” head coach Joe Behan said. With 10 seconds left in the game, the Mariners conceded a penalty kick off a handball
in the box. Senior captain Niki Chow, who usually takes penalty kicks for the team, was available to take the kick. But Luciano, who has been performing well offensively, got the chance instead. “Luciano is the spark,” assistant coach Ryan Finnigan said. When asked what his thoughts were before taking the penalty kick, Luciano said he “didn’t want to go to overtime.” “No one wants to have to work extra,” Luciano said.
Violets win at home in straight sets By NICO CANTOR Once again, it was a blowout at Coles Sports Center, as NYU women’s volleyball defeated the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Mariners 25-23, 25-11, 25-13. The Violets’ victory continues their undefeated record against USMMA. Last year, the Violets swept the Mariners in three sets, which may have caused NYU to have a slow start in their most recent matchup. “We came into this match a little lax, thinking that we wouldn’t have to work as hard,” junior captain Hope Bogle said. Despite this, the Violets began the match with a fourpoint lead, but their errors let the Mariners come back and keep it level all the way until the end. NYU controlled the tempo of the match with great serving, so USMMA had a tough time controlling the ball. Later, the Violets’ untimely blocking and miscommunication gave the Mariners more points. The turning point of the set came after head coach Jolie Ward called a timeout when the Violets were down 22-20 and USSMA held service. After the one-minute cooldown, the Mariners missed the serve and senior captain Alexandria Mao responded with an ace that boosted NYU to win the first set. “One of our biggest failures was coming out on the flat side,” Ward said. “We really didn’t come in wanting to claim the court.” At the break, it looked like the team’s mindset had changed. “We came back into the huddle and we said, ‘We know we’re better than this, we need to play our game,’” Junior right side Jenn Korte said. This way of thinking immediately improved their play. The
Violets started off serving well, attempting to get the Mariners’ primary hitter Cassandra Palma off her game. “We were trying to have a very aggressive serving pattern, and that helped us to keep them out of system,” Ward said. USMMA’s defense kept them afloat, but freshman middle blocker Nicole Frias and Korte eventually sank the Mariner’s ship. The duo crushed USMMA’s attack with strong blocking and powerful attacks. “I’m really glad we were able to step up and not go down to their level,” Korte said. The Violets found their rhythm, closing out the set by a 14-point margin. The team came together in the third set, thanks to Bogle. “Hope’s sets were very consistent,” said Korte, who benefited from her teammate’s pinpoint assists. Sophomore Vera Shulgina and Mao were the go-to hitters in the last set. Bogle balanced out her team as Shulgina, Mao, Frias and Korte shared a total of 31 kills. Coach Ward substituted other members of the team into the match to finish on a high note. “I had a chance to see a lot of people from the roster out on the court and get some playing time,” Ward said. The Violets closed out a quick match by running clean and effective offense. NYU is hosting the annual Violet Classic this Friday and Saturday. Teams from five states will be represented in the weekend’s tournament. NYU will try to extend their homegame winning streak to three matches when they take on the Wesleyan University Cardinals Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. Nico Cantor is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
“I feel sorry for the opposition, but we deserved it,” Behan said. NYU controlled the ball throughout the game, and the Mariners were unable to penetrate the bottom third of the field. “We had a couple of shaky moments, but we had a strong backline,” Luciano said. Junior defender Juan Velez, who is one of the most solid players on the field, dominated the defensive line. With his leadership, the Violets have only conceded two goals so far this season.
This shutout adds to goalies senior Jonas Poster and sophomore Forrest Sexton’s combined clean slate, which now amounts to 377 minutes. Coach Behan’s 3-5-2 formation was an important factor, contributing to this early-season success. The strong five-player midfield directed by Chow and sophomore midfielder Nimo Bergstroem adjusted swiftly and quickly dropped back to aid in defense. “It is imperative to continue
to work hard in order to fulfill our goals of maximizing our full potential,” Finnigan said. Finningan also commended senior forward Kyle Green, who recorded a match-high five shots, for his great performance. The Violets return to the pitch on Monday, Sept. 24, at 5 p.m. against Hunter College at Randall’s Island Field. Francisco Navas is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.