NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 68
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013
nyunews.com
Professors seek to decrease solar energy costs By NICOLE BROWN
Stern professor Bryan Bollinger and his colleague at Yale University, economics professor Kenneth Gillingham, are entering the third round of a project on the diffusion of solar technology. This fall, Bollinger and Gillingham will be using the $2 million three-year grant from the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative to continue their research on how to increase the use of solar energy and solve the problem of high costs. The two are working with SmartPower, a green marketing firm, and the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund, which started the Solarize CT program last spring. The program attempts to make solar energy accessible for consumers through grassroots marketing and a tiered pricing system. Solarize provides towns with contractors to install solar energy, and the installation prices decrease when the number of residents that adopt solar
energy increases. Part of their plan this fall will be to implement variants of the Solarize program. One is called the Solarize Choice, where they will provide a town with more than one contractor, and the other is called Solarize Express, which will reduce the time of the program from 20 weeks to 10 weeks. Bollinger said in the first and second rounds, the program has had successes in towns in Connecticut and Massachusetts, but it is not clear what components of the solarize program are most important. “Our funding is essentially to fund additional solarized programs in Connecticut and other towns, where we actually modify the program,” Bollinger said. “This will help us to access what components are crucial in leading to such success.” Gillingham said the objectives of their project are to determine a cost-effective
SOLAR continued on PG. 3
DANIEL YEOM FOR WSN
Spot deconstructs dessert norms with autumn-inspired tapas Chef Ian Kittichai debuts a new line of desserts at Spot’s two locations this October. Dishes include the Big Apple and the peach crumble and will be available alongside Spot classics like the chocolate green tea lava cake.
STORY, GALLERY ON NYUNEWS.COM
Orlando Bloom-led ‘Romeo’ mired by cheap gimmicks By IVY OLESSEN
The worlds of “Pirates of the Caribbean” and “Romeo and Juliet” feel as though
they exist in different universes. One reminds audiences of Hollywood’s fascination with handsome men embroiled in swordfights,
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Condola Rashad performs among stunning set design.
while the other evokes memories of grueling high school essays, the dread of pop quizzes and the horror of Elizabethan English. But in David Leveaux’s Broadway adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet,” now playing at the Richards Rodgers Theatre, these two worlds are connected by the presence of Orlando Bloom. Bloom stars as Romeo, opposite Condola Rashad as Juliet, in a modern-day version of the classic story. The play literally starts with a bang — a jarring explosion at the beginning of the
ROMEO continued on PG. 5
Women’s tennis competes in regional championships By SYDNEY PEREIRA
From Sept. 28 through 30, Williams Smith College hosted the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional Championships in Geneva, N.Y. at the Hobart-Williams Smith Tennis Center. CAS sophomore Ashley Masanto and Stern sophomore Alison Wang from the NYU women’s tennis team both played a Round of 16 in singles and advanced to the semifinals together in doubles on Sunday. In singles play, Masanto started the weekend by defeating senior Emily Maggiore of the State University of New York at Oneonta 6-1 and 6-0, and she defeated freshman Sydney Arsenault of Williams Smith, dropping only two games on a straight set win. On Sunday, Masanto’s singles run
ended against junior Yuliya Orkis of Brooklyn College, 1-6 and 2-6. “Overall, I think I played well,” Masanto said. “My opponents were strong, so I tried to stay focused during every point.” After defeating freshman Hannah More of Williams Smith, 6-1 and 7-5, Wang won a three-setter against junior Alison Tepas of Nazareth College. Wang and Tepas exchanged tie-breakers in two sets. Finally, Tepas fell to Wang in the third set, 10-7. Wang lost to junior Jessica Bourque of Stevens Institute of Technology on Sunday, 6-1 and 6-2. Wang and Masanto began their doubles play on Sunday, Sept. 29 by winning a Round of 16 in doubles against Ithaca College’s sophomore Marni Blumenthal
WTEN continued on PG. 8
2
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
STAFF PLAYLIST
TOP TWEETS
Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
CMJ Artists
JORDAN MELENDREZ
By JAKE FOLSOM
Web Managing Editor
This week, WSN writers applied for passes to cover New York’s annual music festival, CMJ. The music marathon is known for keenly predicting tomorrow’s popular acts. Honoring that tradition, here is a list of the breakout singles that debuted in past CMJ festivals and skyrocketed in indie and mainstream radio. < Playlists
WSN Arts Playlist
Edit
Clear
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Now Playing >
JORDAN HALPIN @jordanx93x
HANQING CHEN Creative Director
Just emailed New York University … Can’t believe this might actually be happening!! #fingerscrossed #summerinNYC
LYANNE NATIVIDAD Blog Editor
AMY ZHANG Special Issues Director
KALEEL MUNROE
Delete
SENIOR STAFF
Shuffle Playlist
news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,
“Off the Record”
My Morning Jacket
“Ready to Die” Andrew W.K.
“Halfway Home” TV on the Radio
HAZEL CILLS @hazelcills If someone could bring, like, at least 3 bags of Cool Ranch Doritos to the NYU library I will give you a NYT Op-Ed
ELLE VEEZY @ellevarner Such an honor performing and celebrating my school tonight cheers to the greatest staff and program of all time #NYU #REMU #Clivedavis
“Myth”
Beach House
“I Love It” Icona Pop
HASHTAGNYU @HashtagNYU
“Bitch Don’t Kill My Vibe” Kendrick Lamar
“Ready for the Floor”
When you’re watching the #BreakingBad finale, remember that Vince Gilligan, the show’s creator, is an #NYUAlum! #NYU
MICHAEL DOMANICO investigative KAYANA JEAN-PHILIPPE arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
DEPUTY STAFF
news KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR,
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
RAQUEL WOODRUFF deputy opinion editors
EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, PETER KEFFER
Hot Chip
ADVERTISING
“Polish Girl”
BUSINESS MANAGER
ELLEN MCQUEEN
Neon Indian
8 Songs PHOTOS VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
GABRIELA CHING @gabrielaching50m So excited to visit NYU Wednesday and see Phoenix in Brooklyn that night
SNAPSHOT
CIRCULATION MANAGER
CHLOE COFFMAN SALES MANAGER
ALISON LIZZIO
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
KALEEL MUNROE UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATOR
CLAIRE MAHANY
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
ARIANA DIVALENTINO, ETHAN JACOBS
MICHELLE WOLF @michelleisawolf4h They should teach a required class at NYU called Pay Attention When You Walk and Don’t Talk So Loud.
ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORS-AT-LARGE
JAEWON KANG, DAVID LIN, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG
TAYLOR STEVENS @taylorjoy3155h My dream school since I was 13. Maybe for my Masters ... #NYU A homeless man collects several discarded items and sits comfortably in an old red couch.
PHOTO BY HANNAH LUU
PHOTOS VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG | FLICKR.COM | RAMIRO S. FUNEZ
GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
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 Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Health care startup headlines tech meetup By BAILEY EVANS
A crowd of around 50 gathered at Google Headquarters in Chelsea on Sept. 30 to kick off Tech@NYU’s StartUp Week with a keynote speech from Joshua Kushner, the founder and managing partner of Thrive Capital. Kushner, 28, provided insight into today’s technological and entrepreneurial climate, as well as explained his latest venture called Oscar, a company he founded that is seeking to revolutionize the health care system in America. “The ambition of the business is to take technology and data and humanize the experience,” Kushner said. “[The relationship between you and your health insurance] is arguably the most important relationship any individual has outside of rent, from the human perspective in that its your health and the financial perspective.” Speaking on the eve of the launch of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance and the deficiencies in the industry resonated with the crowd of predominantly college students. “I just graduated, and I don’t have health insurance,” NYU alumna Jennifer Kim, 21, said. “Twenty-two and 23-year-olds don’t visit the doctor all that often, but the demographic that does need a service like Oscar won’t necessarily take advantage of it.” Oscar seeks to offer what Kushner said other health insurance companies do not — service to the consumer. He said the company would provide customers with the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to get the medical care they need based on their symptoms. “Slow and steady wins the race,” Kush-
ner said. “We’re trying to build a fantastic team that is trying to continuously innovate. We’ve got our work cut out for us, but people really don’t like their insurance companies throughout America.” Stern senior and president of Tech@ NYU Emanuel Kahn explained that Kushner was a fitting speaker for the group’s Startup Week because he applied technology to tackle a real-world problem that millions of Americans, including NYU students, are facing. “We wanted someone fresh, and Josh fit the bill,” Kahn said. “He’s young, ambitions and successful, but he’s also really humble.” The Startup Week’s theme this year is Startup School, and events are geared toward examining how technology affects media, fashion, music, investments and other areas. The rest of the week features guests who speak on these topics. “We wanted to focus on fashion and music and all those topics that are really interesting to people,” Kahn said. “We wanted to target as many students as possible because we wanted to show that technology affects every industry that students care about.”
Public Safety releases Campus Security and Fire Safety Report
By MICHAEL DOMANICO and NICOLE BROWN
The latest Campus Security and Fire Safety Report from the university’s Department of Public Safety, released on Sept. 24, shows that most of the crimes occurring around campus do not involve NYU students. The report takes into account all crimes occurring in the area around the Washington Square campus. The report, which contains statistics for the calendar years 2010 to 2012, shows zero weapons-related arrests in 2012, as well as significant decreases in drug-related and alcohol-related arrests on public property. The report cites 49 drug-related arrests in 2012 and 142 alcohol-related arrests, down from 67 and 220, respectively, in 2011.
“By far, most of the individuals issued citations for violations of the alcohol and drug laws in the public property areas such as Washington Square Park are not affiliated with NYU,” said Jay Zwicker, the assistant director of Public Safety. While arrests around campus may be decreasing, there was a noticeable increase in instances of alcohol-related disciplinary action, jumping from 1,615 in 2011, to 2,086 in 2012. But Zwicker pointed out that these variations are common. “There are always fluctuations from year to year in the number of referrals for drug and alcohol violations of law to the Office of Community Standards,” he said. “I am unaware of any particular factors for the changes that occurred from 2011 to 2012.”
Bailey Evans is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Tech@NYU is celebrating its Startup Week, a semesterly event.
FILE PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN
NYU’s Public Safety Department works with NYPD officers.
Panelists discuss global M.P.A. program
By JULIANNE MCSHANE
The Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and the University College London presented a panel discussion on the changing landscape of global public policy on Sept. 30 at NYU Washington, D.C., which was broadcasted online. The discussion was an opportunity for the panel to introduce the joint Global Executive Master of Program Administration degree program between NYU Wagner and UCL.
The panel consisted of four senior policy experts from diverse backgrounds, including Google and the World Bank, who discussed changes they believe should be implemented in public policy education and the impact of Internet, technology and globalization. Paul Smoke, co-director of the new program and director of international programs at Wagner, said the decision to host the event at NYU D.C. stemmed from the desire to reach the broadest possible audience.
VIA TWITTER.COM
The panel talks about the program in Washington, D.C.
3
“To discuss these important policy issues, we wanted to reach New York and the D.C. audiences,” Smoke said. “We’re also able to reach a global audience via the [streaming] of the event.” Among the panelists was Wagner dean Sherry Glied, who said the variety in experiences and backgrounds that the panelists brought to the discussion showed students the diverse careers in public policy. “The panelists’ backgrounds and organizations illustrate the mix of domestic and international work in the public and private sectors that we want to help students explore,” Glied said. Susan Molinari, vice president of public policy and government relations for the Americas at Google, discussed the ability people have to instantaneously access information. She said college students need to have technical skills and be thinkers who can anticipate problems before they arise. “Think really big thoughts, and set your goals so that you are uncomfortably ex-
cited,” Molinari said. Stern freshman Adeline Guo, who is studying business and political economy, watched the event online and agreed with many of the points the panelists made. “This seminar reiterated the idea that public policy can’t just be limited to just the domestic sector anymore,” Guo said. “It’s a changing world, a growing world, and we need to be conscious of our roles in the global sphere.” The discussion was also aimed at introducing the new degree program. The yearlong, full time program will launch in September 2014 and is aimed at mid-career civil servants who already have seven to 10 years of experience. As part of the program, students will spend their fall semester at Wagner in New York and their spring semester at UCL. They will also spend their summers in various global sites, working on client-based Capstone projects. Julianne McShane is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
Burglary and forcible sex offenses were the most common crimes not including arrests, with 19 and 11 reported instances, respectively. Zwicker noted that larceny remains the most frequent oncampus issue. Larceny is not included in the annual crime report, even though NYU maintains records of these thefts. Larceny is different from both burglary and robberies — burglaries involve breaking and entering, while robberies involve threats or assault. “Theft or larceny of unattended property, especially small electronics such as laptops, tablets and smartphones, remains the most prevalent type of crime not only at NYU but almost every university and college,” Zwicker said. The university’s consistent levels of low-crime are due in part to NYU’s relationship with the New York City Police Department, Zwicker explained. “The most important message students, and the entire university community, can draw from the report is that the Department of Public Safety maintains an excellent relationship with the NYPD,” he said. Nicole Brown and Michael Domanico are news editors. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
SOLAR continued from PG. 1
NYU, Yale professors receive grant to further study of solar power
marketing approach to accelerate the diffusion of solar energy and to figure out why new technologies are adopted. “The grant allows us to run a set of randomized controlled trials to see what interventions work better than others, while also funding our social network research,” Gillingham said. Bollinger and Gillingham published a paper last year about the social influences that affect the solarization of a community, and now they want to better understand those influences. “The whole point of the project is to assess the impact of possible interventions that could be used to help consumers understand the value of installing solar,” Bollinger said. NYU environmental studies professor Mary Killilea said the cost of solar energy is one of the main
challenges associated with its use, and she stated that Bollinger and Gillingham’s research will be beneficial. “It’s good to see them spending money on this research,” Killilea said. “We need to understand what kind of market and what kind of social structures are going to allow for that diffusion as this technology develops and becomes more affordable as well.” Bollinger is hopeful that this research will help spread the use of solar energy. “Solar energy is a fascinating topic, and it’s crucial for energy dependence and a variety of things down the road,” Bollinger said. “Solar has a lot of potential.” Additional reporting by Davis Saltonstall and Emily Bell. Nicole Brown is a news editor. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
4
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
EDITED BY DANIEL YEOM DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Ilili executive chef offers to-go food options at Box By ADU MATORY
Already the executive chef at the upscale restaurant Ilili, Philippe Massoud opened his newest brainchild on Sept. 18. Serving Lebanese-inspired street food on the go, Ilili Box maintains the quality of Massoud’s flagship restaurant in a less formal atmosphere. A wide selection of sandwiches and spiced drinks immediately catches the patrons’ attention. The zesty red lemonade ($5), incorporating basil and blood oranges, refreshes the palate in between bites of any dish. NYU sophomore Christopher Roderick, however, preferred green lemonade, made with mint, ginger and cucumber. “Cucumber has been a trending vegetable in the health world,” Roderick said. “And I was surprised at how well its subtle green taste complemented a tangy lemon kick.” The decadent duck shawarma
wrap ($14) comes with fig garlic whip, scallions and pomegranate seeds to form a tantalizing sandwich with an occasional explosion of sweetness. A twist on the traditional Mediterranean staple, Korean and Mexican-inspired falafels ($10) are among the aromatic vegetarian delicacies offered.
The dairy-based desserts, such as the clotted cream ashta ($5) with hibiscus and roasted pineapple, leave a light, fragrant aftertaste. Ilili Box also offers gluten-free variations of almost all its dishes. The kiosk stands in the Flatiron District, near the cross-section of Broadway and 23rd Street. While
COURTESY OF ILILI BOX
Ilili Box serves a Lamb Pastrami sandwich with wasabi mayo.
Village ice cream parlor serves homemade flavors By MADISON FRASER
Everyone jokes about quitting their day jobs and pursuing their wildest dream. David Yoo, a former graphic designer and streetwear fashion businessman, however, followed through on that when he opened Davey’s Ice Cream in the East Village. Davey’s, which makes its desserts from scratch, opened on Sept. 13. When walking into the East Village store, customers can watch the process through a glass window. “Our business is going to be seasonal,” Yoo said. “As it gets colder, we’ll begin to make more hearty, warmer flavors.” The first fall flavor on the menu is sweet corn. With a dash of salted caramel sauce on top, it tastes like a creamy, delectable corn bread. The next flavor slated for release is pumpkin spice. Yoo’s personal favorite is the Mexican vanilla, which is made with a distinct, smooth Mexican variety of vanilla extract that he imports to the store. “It tastes fresh and homemade, and definitely not artificially flavored,” Tisch freshman Nicole Dawson said.
Davey’s strong coffee flavor is made from beans from Birch Coffee, Yoo’s favorite coffee shop. He was inspired by the shop because it imports beans from Kenya — it adds an extra kick to the flavor. But beyond the exotic and special menu options, the classic flavors are great as well. Cookies & cream is made with fresh cookies and a fudgy-like vanilla ice cream. “It’s super rich and has an extremely good cookies to cream ratio,” Tisch freshman Alisha Litman-Zelle said. A single scoop of ice cream costs $4.25 and two scoops cost $5.50. Freshly made waffle cones are $1.25 extra. Yoo anticipates his store fostering a microcosm of ice cream lovers. “I want to make the best ice cream around, but I also want the store to be a place where people can hang out and feel welcomed,” Yoo said. “Everything here is relaxed.” Davey’s Ice Cream is located on 137 First Ave. Madison Fraser is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
STEFANIE CHAN FOR WSN
The Mexican vanilla ice cream is made with imported vanilla extract.
eating in the square, surrounded by potted flora, the bustle of cars zipping by is forgotten after biting into one of the mouth-watering sandwiches. While it’s perfect for a quick lunch, Ilili Box is a bit pricey for a student budget. But it is definitely worth trying for those in the mood to splurge. WSN sat down with Chef Massoud for a short Q&A.
Q: How does serving food in a grab-and-go atmosphere differ from serving in the upscale restaurant to which you are accustomed? A: The beauty of it is that the experience is very linear. There’s just a direct connection from the food being cooked to the food going straight out to the customer. In addition, it’s a lot more playful because a sandwich can be like a permutation. It can evolve into so many different concoctions. Unlike having a composed dish, which is a lot more studied and
precise, a sandwich is a lot more playful. But the pressure to execute a delicious bite is still there. Q: This kiosk is the product of winning a competition organized by the Flatiron/23rd Street Partnership? A: We put the neighborhood before ourselves and that was always our intention. We wanted to do something that fulfilled the neighborhood’s needs and then we would find a way to make it a successful business. That was the way we approached it. And we offered a decent amount of variety. Ilili Box is located at 999 Broadway and is open Monday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Adu Matory is a contributing writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com. Check out the full version of the article at nyunews.com.
Trio of owners bring San Diego-style taquitos to LES
FELIPE DE LA HOZ FOR WSN
The cheesy taquitos come with pickled jalapeño relish, cheese and sour cream. By HELEN OWOLOBI Finding taquitos that are baja fresh in the Lower East Side is a rarity — one that inspired Matthew Conway and his two partners to open Taquitoria. The three co-owners, Brad Holtzman, Barry Frish and Matthew Conway, all worked under Iron Chef alum Marc Forgione at Restaurant Marc Forgione, where they came up with their taquito-filled idea. After a trip to San Diego and sampling the best taquitos Southern California had to offer, the trio came back to New York and designed a business plan. The result was Taquitoria — a hip restaurant on Ludlow and Houston streets, serving its authentic namesake dishes at a reasonable price since Sept. 17. “If you’re in a hurry, on a budget, you’re out drinking or you don’t have time to sit down for dinner, this is a perfect option,” general manager Holtzman said. The menu is simple and straightforward. There are four filling options of chicken, beef, pork or beans, and two styles — classic or cheesy. Classic comes with guac sauce, shredded lettuce and cotija cheese,
while cheesy has a mix of nacho cheese, sour cream and pickled jalapeño relish. The prices for these deep-fried, palette pleasers are $5 for three or $8 for five. They all come with their specialty Pancho red sauce, and you can add extra guacamole, sour cream or pickled jalapeño relish for $1 more. Holtzman also aims to attract a college audience. “I remember being in college,” Holtzman said. “I wish I had a place like this “We would love for the NYU students to grab a hold of it and make it their own.” With the loud hip-hop music, edgy graffiti walls and friendly, hospitable service, Taquitoria could be the new late-night snack spot for NYU students. Lesley Greenberg, a junior in the College of Arts and Science, was a fan of everything Taquitoria had to offer. “I really liked the friendly service,” Greenberg said, “and the fact that I had great-tasting taquitos ready for me within five minutes was awesome.” Taquitoria is located on 168 Ludlow St. Helen Owolobi is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM ROMEO continued from PG. 1
Despite impressive performances, stage design, ‘Romeo and Juliet’ production disappoints show is accompanied by a sudden blackout and fire. However, these gimmicks feel cheap during the play. It is unnecessary for Bloom to make his first entrance on a motorcycle, which is absent for the rest of the play. And while the fiery stage effects are impressive, they serve little purpose. Shakespeare plays do not require these types of stunts for a sense of vitality. In many ways, this production of “Romeo and Juliet” feels like Bloom’s show, and his star persona helps fill many of the seats. His performance is quite good, considering this is his first time both on Broadway and performing Shakespeare. His co-star Rashad also plays her part well. At 26, she is a decade younger than Bloom and plays an almost shockingly youthful Juliet, who is only meant to be 13. However, the supporting cast carries the production. Shakespearean English rolls out of the mouths of stage veterans like Jayne Houdyshell and Chuck Cooper with such effortlessness one would think they spoke in verse at home. The younger actors also exhibit a wonderful ease with the language as they liven the stage with full-bodied gestures. The design elements are also superb. David Weiner’s lighting is beautiful, and subtle shifts in color projected onto the back screen aid every scene change and clarify the passage of time. Jesse Poleshuck’s set is elegant and simple from the opening of the play to the end. The famous balcony scene appears
5
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Bloom and Rashad work well as the Shakespearean duo. strikingly because the balcony itself is so visually pleasing. At one point, the sparseness and beauty of a simple sunrise is almost heartbreaking. Despite the high-quality production and talented actors, this adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” suffers from its own bombasity. True Shakespeare fans will be turned off by the play’s obnoxiously sensationalist elements, while high school English classes will still be dozing off, except during the brief appearance of Bloom riding on a motorcycle. Ivy Olessen is a contributing writer. Email her at theater@nyunews.com.
Lorde embraces normal teenage life on ‘Pure Heroine’ By ERICA GONZALEZ
Lorde’s first studio album “Pure Heroine,” includes 10 songs, such as current hits “Royals” and “Tennis Court,” which all demonstrate Lorde’s characteristic nonchalant vocals, buzzing synthesizers and minimal, yet thumping beats. The 16-year-old from New Zealand is a younger, cooler version of Lana Del Rey, but is more electric and sounds more energetic. She has teenage spunk, but is not as in-your-face or desperate as Miley Cyrus. Lorde’s unique sound shines on the overnight chart-topping single “Royals,” a pulsating, snappy, female harmony-infused critique of the shallow lifestyle commonly illustrated in contemporary pop music. Lorde glorifies the real teenager — the youth who “didn’t come from money.” “Royals,” first released in 2012 on Lorde’s EP, “The Love Club,” served as the perfect preface to “Pure Heroine,” which does not stray far from the single’s overall sound or lyrical messages. In “Team,” she declares “We live in cities you’ll never see on screen/ Not very pretty but we sure know how to run things,” exalting the teenager who thrives in a grunge environment. Like “Royals,” “Team” takes another hit at mainstream pop music themes with lyrics like “I’m kind of over getting told to put my hands up in the air/So there.” As someone who grew up in a neighborhood that draws no “post code envy,” Lorde sings of a teenage lifestyle that involves partying in average-sized homes, loitering on sidewalks and congregating below underpasses rather than Porsches, exclusive
clubs and bottle service — illustrated on “White Teeth Teens.” She is a self-proclaimed president of the average youth, and her allegiance proves strong. She refers to her people with we. Lorde does not try to separate herself from a background others would call shameful, and unlike rappers who boast about their rags-toriches stories, Lorde does not try to take individual ownership of her background. In “Tennis Court,” another single released earlier this year, her loyalty is tested. Lorde describes her nascent fame and its perks. She rides a plane for the first time and gets “pumped up from the little bright things,” but she sees through the materialism and phoniness. Her first line is biting — “Don’t you think that
it’s boring how people talk?/ Making smart with their words again, well I’m bored.” Critics have argued that Lorde’s vocal and musical maturity far surpasses her age, which is true. Her tongue-incheek lyrics are uncommon even for older artists. But thanks to her young start as an artist, watching her grow and seeing how her perspective evolves will be enjoyable. Take note of her lyrics in “Still Sane.” Lorde recognizes that she’s a rookie in the grand scheme of music, but she’s working hard and is determined to make her mark — “I’m little but I’m coming for the crowd.” Erica Gonzalez is a contributing writer. Email her at music@ nyunews.com.
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
‘October List’ puts fresh spin on crime novel format By ASHLEY AHN
With several bestselling crime novels under his belt, author Jeffery Deaver knows best when it comes to the formula for cooking up another crime success. “The October List” is no different. The fast-paced fiction is a complex, page-turning thriller with one big twist — it begins with the end. Deaver dives into the climax of the story by beginning with the last chapter of the book and progressing backwards. He quickly introduces Gabriela McKenzie, a mother desperate to reclaim her kidnapped daughter. The same chapter introduces Daniel Reardon, McKenzie’s handsome and wealthy companion, whom she has only known for two days, and Joseph Astor, the sadistic kidnapper. Although the novel begins in vague fashion, it is precisely this technique that keeps readers enticed, as Deaver leaves deliberate clues that come together as the book progresses. Early on in the novel, Gabriela and Daniel have several encounters with the po-
lice as they venture off in search of the coveted October List — a mysterious list left behind by Gabriela’s boss, which everybody is trying to acquire. This list is also the key to reclaiming Gabriela’s daughter. As the two heroes tear up Manhattan in order to find the list, a series of compelling characters arise to further complicate the matter at hand. Although Deaver focuses the plot on Gabriela and Daniel’s journey to retrieve ransom for Gabriela’s daughter, the novel itself is built upon several different stories. Deaver masterfully weaves in the lives of smaller characters, like mob boss Hal Dixon, leaving readers with all the dots to connect the story, but no pencil. Deaver purposefully places vague details throughout the chapters, making the reader completely blind and ill informed in comparison to the characters of the novel. With the readers left in the dark, it is only natural for an onslaught of questions to follow — who is the man in the yellow shirt? Why is Gabriela bleeding from her mouth? How did Gabriela and
Daniel meet? And, most importantly, how will Gabriela find her daughter? Deaver leaves a trail of loose ends that requires the reader to take a leap of faith in trusting that the story will tie up nicely. It is not until the very last chapter of the novel that Deaver fully explains the origins of Gabriela, Daniel and the October List and pieces together the blanks. Although “October” is an addictive read, the journey is unfortunately far more interesting than the destination. With the entire basis and meaning of the book stuffed into the very last chapter, the ending feels unfair in relation to the story that preceded it. Ultimately, “The October List” is fastpaced and well developed. It provides a refreshing approach to the standard crime novel, as it requires readers to think just as much as the characters do. Even though the ending seems shortchanged, the novel’s engrossing nature makes it a must-read. Ashley Ahn is a contributing writer. Email her at books@nyunews.com.
VIA JEFFERYDEAVER.COM
6
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
Interested in working for us? Come to our Sunday Pitch Meetings. NEWS: 5:30 P.M. FEATURES: 6 P.M. ARTS: 6 P.M. SPORTS: 6:30 P.M. MULTIMEDIA: 7 P.M. OPINION: 7 P.M.
NYUNEWS.COM
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, October 1, 2013
THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 Chowder ingredient 5 Go fish 10 “Dear” advice-giver 14 Opera set in Egypt 15 Pricey watch 16 Hacienda room 17 Product of colliding weather systems 19 Lowlife 20 Extra-powerful engine 21 Mr. ___ (Peter Lorre role) 22 What some strummers strum, informally 23 Fainting fits, e.g. 25 Grinders 27 Carve in stone 29 Manage 32 “Bonanza” brother
35 1982 Fleetwood Mac hit whose title is sung three times after “Come on and” 39 Altar constellation 40 Tolkien creature 41 Coupe, e.g. … or a hint to 17and 64-Across and 11- and 34-Down 42 Breach 43 Expert 44 Really enjoys 45 “All ___ are off!” 46 Annoy 48 McEntire of country 50 Rustic accommodations 54 Cheap booze 58 Digging 60 Meara of comedy 62 More than elbow 63 Weenie
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE L A M P
E L A L
F L A S K
R E R U N
O C H S
V E I L
G I N A
I T U N E E S A S O T R O B R S A N T G H E E
T G L O O A O L P S W E B S H O A S Y A N O N F A D A G E N M I R A E N N A N G V P F E N E A R S E R C U T C T I E K S T S
O T E T V E I R L B L U I S N E D D A T E
B A M A U D O R T A L K M E S A S R A C E I P E D A P S E L A N E E R S S P L U S I O L I E N E T D G E S
64 Annual tennis tournament played on clay 66 “Bye now” 67 Do without 68 “Dies ___” (hymn) 69 Bowlful for Bowser 70 Admittance 71 At sea DOWN 1 Flings 2 Began to smoke 3 Dig, so to speak 4 Children’s game in which players “knuckle down” 5 Kennel sound 6 Usual figure 7 Melancholy 8 Slow, musically 9 Laud 10 Give one’s word 11 Behind the scenes 12 Feeling down 13 Thanksgiving dish 18 Shed 24 Vowel sound represented by an upside-down “e” 26 Teen follower 28 Happening with lots of laughs 30 Sitter’s headache 31 Goes on and on and on 32 Bucket of bolts 33 How many times Laurence Olivier won a Best Actor Oscar
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
3
4
5
14
8
9
10
24 27 33
41
43
44
46
25
35
40
59
63
30
31
56
57
26 29
36
37
38
39 42 45
47 50
13
22
28
34
12
19 21
23
11
16
18
20
58
7
15
17
32
6
No. 0827
48 51 60 64
52
53
49 54
61
55 62
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
PUZZLE BY JACOB MCDERMOTT
34 Metaphor for a sharp mind 36 Mormon Church inits. 37 Forbidding, as an expression 38 Sullen sort 41 Angry, with “off” 45 Aromatherapy purchase 47 Kind of doll
49 Claptrap 51 Faux pas 52 Noted bankruptcy of 2001 53 Hägar the Horrible’s dog 55 Switch from amateur status 56 Eye parts 57 Article of faith
58 Ancient Andean 59 Dog on TV’s “Topper” 61 M.I.T. grad, often: Abbr. 65 Coquettish
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
RELIGION
Richard Dawkins’ rhetoric has weakened By MARCELO CICCONET
I rarely idolize writers or public personalities. But last Wednesday I found myself in a long line at Kimmel Center to get my copy of Richard Dawkins’ new book signed after a talk he gave. The talk at NYU was part of a series of appearances to advertise the launching of his memoir, “An Appetite for Wonder: The Making of a Scientist.” The novels describe the events which led to his well-known intellectual position as a proponent of new atheism, and in particular to the writing of “The Selfish Gene,” the book that turned him into a global celebrity in the ‘70s. I have yet to read the book, but his talk at Kimmel and the extended interview he gave to John Stewart on “The Daily Show” already shows that his discourse has grown milder, less combative. He seems to have extended his reach to broader concerns instead of only ridiculing religious practices in interviews with creationists. Dawkins has certainly made a lot of religious enemies, but he has also angered atheists. Critics argue that he ignores the social and
psychological benefits provided by religious practices and instead attacks beliefs, dogmas, rituals and sacred scriptures. Although I agree with this criticism, I also think that people like Richard Dawkins and books like “The God Delusion” are necessary. As I wrote in a previous article, Dawkins provides an argument for individuals who want to eliminate religious superstition. There is a distinct lack of credibility for atheists after their religious ties are broken. While it’s easy to see what is wrong with blind faith, no alternative is provided and the atheist is left to deal with major life questions traditionally broached by religion — such as ethics, will and purpose. Dawkins’ new discourse indicates his awareness of these issues. It can
be seen predominantly in his interview at “The Daily Show,” when John Stewart asked about the consequences of knowing that man is just “individual genes fighting for their own survival.” “Natural selection working at the level of genes has put our bodies here and our brains here, but our brains are capable of taking off and departing from, cutting ourselves adrift from the dark side of our Darwinian heritage,” Dawkins said in response. “You don’t have to be pessimistic and say we’re only a machine for our genes. We rise above that. We’ve got big brains, we’ve got culture, we’ve got art, we’ve got music, we’ve got poetry, we’ve got science. We’ve left behind the wild world in which our genes were naturally selected.” Much like this response, I hope the author will further discuss secular accounts for major life questions in future publications. As is the case with religious criticism, a secular approach to those major questions is also necessary. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
SOCIETY
Texting and walking must be checked By BRITTANY SHERMAN
If you take a look around NYU’s campus on any given day, the flood of students glued to their phones is overwhelming. This trend has been confirmed on many college campuses, most recently at the University of Pennsylvania. The vice president of public safety, Maureen S. Rush, said, “We’re seeing people totally unaware of their surroundings, walking around streets with ear buds … their face totally in a different zone.” The effects of this trend are not to be taken lightly. Rush noted that the University of Pennsylvania hospital “has seen many a broken ankle because of people not realizing they’re walking off the curb.” A recent study released in August 2013 by Safe Kids Worldwide echoes the concern that young people have become distracted. The study shows that one in five high school students and one in eight middle school students were found to be crossing the street while distracted. Of the 34,000 teens, 39 percent
SUBMITTING TO
7
of distracted walkers were engaging in texting, 39 percent were wearing headphones, 20 percent were talking on the phone and 2 percent were playing games on their devices. The statistics from this study are daunting, as they show the degree to which young people are distracted. This distraction might be used as an explanation for the increase in injuries at the University of Pennsylvania. Ironically, it is these very devices designed to keep us connected and increase our awareness that are distracting us from our potentially dangerous surroundings. We are losing an important facet of life that technology has no way of repairing — our common sense. The idea of looking both ways before crossing the street has be-
come a secondary concern for young people, less important than looking down at the text messages or games on your phone. It is highly unfortunate that broken ankles and overall unawareness are the side effects of technological advances. Yet it is more regrettable that that these issues are not sufficiently addressed. We warn against texting and driving and have taken severe legal action in 41 states to tackle distracted drivers. But these same strict standard should be applied to walking while texting. This is a serious issue and should be tackled with the introduction of state laws. This may seem to be an extreme step, but it would certainly ensure that more eyes would be on the streets, rather than on our devices. For now, the best thing we can do is raise awareness. It should be discussed in the household, in schools, among loved ones and transmitted to police personnel. Only then can awareness spread and legal action be implemented. Brittany Sherman is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Shutdown shows reckless partisanship in congress
In a news conference late yesterday evening, President Barack Obama reprimanded the Tea Party faction of the Republican Party. Obama rightly declared that “one faction of one party in one house of Congress in one branch of government doesn’t get to shut down the entire government.” Despite the government shutdown, there is a more fundamental issue to address — paralysis and shutdown have become the new norm in the Capitol. The Tea Party is a scourge on government efficiency, and the electorate must hold members that ascribe to the group’s practices accountable for their detrimental actions. The current Congress, the 113th, is on pace to become the least productive in American history, and by and large, a small minority is to blame. While this Congress has passed some substantive legislation — namely relief for the Hurricane Sandy victims and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act — nearly all of prospective legislation has faced unprecedented opposition. The political climate has receded to an affair where an obstinate faction has the ability to impair the functions of the entire government, undermining any balance. Despite only having a 49 member caucus in the House of Representative, the influence of the Tea Party is far greater than their small number implies. Speaker John Boehner’s decision last week to succumb to Tea Party demands and make defunding Obamacare for one year a provision of continued government funding came as a shock to both Democrats and GOP members alike. Boehner’s inability to control this faction highlights his diminished influence over congressional Republicans. The economic impact of the shutdown is already being felt in the financial markets. The Dow Jones, Nasdaq and S&P all closed down in light of the heightened uncertainty. Obama also noted the human toll in his conference — two million civilian government workers and over 1.4 million active military personnel will not receive their paychecks. Entire departments will be forced to send their employees home, including NASA, the National Park Service and the IRS. These implications are evidence of the Tea Party’s blatant disregard for the basic provision of government services. Rather than working with their counterparts to fuse a compromise between two ideologies, a faction of the GOP has effectively muted a democratically elected voice and has significantly compromised legislative efficiency. The implications of a government shutdown are vast and damaging, and the very possibility that these results might happen exposes a portion of the Republican party as rampantly irresponsible. Ideological concerns, no matter how significant, are not cause for the subversion of the most basic functions of our government.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-chair), Harry Brown, Marcelo Cicconet, Nicki Sethi, Nina Golshan, Ian Mark, Omar Etman, Christina Coleburn
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.
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.
8
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
WTEN continued from PG. 1
After strong play on first day, women’s tennis sophomores fail to claim victory
and graduate student Allison Young. In the quarterfinals, they defeated Vassar College’s freshmen duo Shayna Becker and Emily Hallewell 8-6. After two days of matches, Masanto and Wang played against Stevens Tech’s Bourque and junior Lisa Tessitore in the semifinals, where they lost 8-2. “Alison and I play well together, and we always encourage each other to do our best,” Masanto said. “Overall, I think it was a good tournament.” Bourque and Tessitore advanced to win the doubles title, and William Paterson’s freshman Brittany LaBruna won the singles title of the 2013 USTA/ITA Northeast Regional Championships. Masanto and Wang, along with the rest of the women’s tennis team, return to the courts at the New York State Division III Championships at Ithaca College on Oct. 11. Sydney Pereira is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF NYU ATHLETICS
Alison Wang returns a volley during her play at Williams Smith College.
Exorbitant contracts fail to guarantee ability of baseball players By TONY CHAU
It is no secret that the New York Yankees are not shy about spending money on the cream of the free agent crop. For the current season, three of the top five salaries in baseball are being paid for by the Yankees, and that does not include the $16.7 million salary captain Derek Jeter received. But there is absolutely no reason to conform to the 10-year, $305 million contract that star second baseman Robinson Cano requested last week, according to an ESPN report. The chances of the Yankees agreeing to Cano’s proposed contract are about as slim as their playoff chances — zero — especially because they are still suffering from the economic hangover that is Alex Rodriguez’s contract. This is probably just the first offer in what is destined to be a long negotiation process. But rewarding Cano, a player who has unquestionable talent but has often been criticized for lackadaisical efforts, with anything more than eight years, $140 million would be reckless and unwise. Even that kind of $17.5 annual salary contract would pose many risks. Earlier this year, fellow second baseman Dustin Pedroia of the Boston Red Sox set the standard with an eight year, $110 million contract. Cano may be a better player than Pedroia, who is a former Rookie of the Year and AL MVP, but
not by much. And Cano is definitely not better by more than $30 million. If Cano rejects such an offer by the only team he’s ever known, then the Yankees should let him test the market and see for himself that if the rest of the league is observant and logical, then Cano will not receive an offer greater than Pedroia. After all, the realities of these exorbitant near decade-long contracts are finally starting to settle in. The Yankees know this first hand and not just with Rodriguez. Former ace C.C. Sabathia still has three years and over $70 million remaining on his contract and is coming off the worst season of his career — 14 wins, 13 losses and a 4.78 ERA. Similarly, the once durable Mark Teixeira has become injury prone, spending nearly the entire season on the disabled list. With a drop in production in recent years, and three years, $67.5 million remaining on his contract, it won’t be long before the Yankees begin to regret that deal, too. This headache is not unique to the Yankees or to other teams in the MLB. The Los Angeles Angels have already begun to feel the harsh effects of these contracts, and they have only inked them recently. Albert Pujols, a hitter once as feared as any in the league, has also suffered from injuries and a drop in production. But Pujols is signed through 2021 and has $212 million remaining on his contract. The Philadelphia Phillies still have to pay Ryan
Howard over $85 million for at least three more seasons. They have a $10 million buyout for the 2017 season, even though it has been four years since he was at his prime. It should also be noted that none of these teams finished better than third place in their respective divisions. With all this guaranteed money on the books for the next few years and no foreseeable production to match it, this should serve as a warning to any team considering rewarding Cano, or any other player, with such an absurd contract. Tony Chau is a senior editor. Email him at tchau@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
Baseball contracts prices are rising even though players do not deserve it.
INFORMING YOU FIRST @nyunews
@nyunews
Washington Square News Have a story you want us to report? Email tips@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM
