WSN100212

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 40, No. 17

MONDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012

nyunews.com

High cigarette taxes may be futile

Students react to protests in Spain

By HELEN HOLMES

By NATASHA BABAZADEH MADRID — Tens of thousands of people participated in a demonstration last week, calling for new elections and protesting the austerity measures in Spain.

Spain is currently experiencing a high unemployment rate of 25 percent. Among the youth and population of more southern regions, this rate has even reached 50 percent. The scale of discontent among the population is rapidly escalating, too.

The austerity measures made by the Popular Party have taken a toll on many Spanish citizens, and protesters are demanding new elections after claiming to be misled by Prime Minister Mariano Rahoe.

Due to the government’s mishandling of the current economic crisis, protesters took to the streets to surround the lower house of Congress in Madrid.

The series of protests that have

SPAIN continued on PG. 6

GLORIA LEE/WSN

Twin Shadow performs with uncontainable energy Twin Shadow and Niki and the Dove put on a lively and eccentric performance at the Williamsburg Music Hall last Friday night, commanding the stage with their charisma and feeding off the enthusiastic crowd.

READ THE FULL STORY ONLINE AT NYUNEWS.COM

South Korean tourists flock to Think Coffee

By MARGARET WEINBERG

For years, Think Coffee blended in with the rest of the Greenwich Village caffeine joints. With its delicious beverages, enticing desserts and hip, lively atmosphere, it was a local favorite — nothing more.

That was until 2009, when one popular South Korean game show changed everything.

The South Korean game show, “Infinite Challenge” featured the Mercer Street branch of Think Coffee during a segment in which contestants were made to order a complicated American espresso drink. Funny antics ensued as the participants dressed in flashy costumes and stumbled over their words. With a camera crew in tow, the customers and baristas alike were surprised by the scene that was unfolding before them.

And the antics have not ceased.

Think Coffee has experienced an influx of South Korean tourists in the past few years — from individuals to tour groups — marveling at the famous featured

site and ordering their own complicated espresso drinks.

Not all Think Coffees have seen this growth. Chris Zen, a manager at the Fourth Street branch, estimates that up to 20 percent of their customers are Korean, but is unsure if this is because of the game show or just the growing diversity of the NYU population.

However, Jason Scherr, owner of Think Coffee, confirmed that South Korean visitors to the Mercer branch have increased dramatically since the “Infinite Challenge” episode aired.

Think Coffee has now opened three stores in South Korea to please its growing fan base in that area.

“I am not sure that it further increased after our stores opened in South Korea, but there are quite a number of people who have visited our stores in both countries,” Scherr said.

Surprisingly, not many NYU students have noticed this trend.

TOURIST continued on PG. 5

Low-income smokers in New York state spent close to 25 percent of their income on cigarettes in 20102011, according to a study conducted by the Public Health and Policy Research program of Research Triangle Institute International.

The report, which released last month, showed that New York has an lower smoking rate than the rest of the nation overall — 16.1 percent compared to 22.2 percent — the report reveals that low-income smokers take a bigger hit in New York than across the country.

According to the report, those belonging to the lowest income group — those that make less than $30,000 anually — in the state spent 23.6 percent of their annual household income on cigarettes, compared to 14.2 percent nationally.

Grace Nathans, a freshman in the NYU College of Nursing, said the only dent taxes have on smokers is on their wallets, not their habits.

SMOKERS continued on PG. 3

‘X-Factor’ misses ‘Idol’s’ high notes

By BRIA MARIETTE When Simon Cowell announced that he was leaving “American Idol” to executiveproduce the U.S. version of “The X-Factor” in January 2010, both critics and fans couldn’t help but worry about the future of “Idol.” Nevertheless, “Idol” remained the highest-rated reality singing competition on television.

“The X-Factor” was a huge success in the United Kingdom, and Cowell was hoping that same success would translate across the pond.

Fast-forward to the U.S. premiere of “The X-Factor” in 2011 where the anticipation was high — judges included former Pussycat Dolls lead Nicole Scherzinger along with familiar faces Paula Abdul and Simon Cowell. In spite of all this, ratings for “The X-Factor” were dismal. The show premiered to only 12.5 million viewers instead of the 20 million Cowell had predicted.

Why didn’t “The X-Factor” become the runaway hit Fox

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Even with Simon Cowell, “The X-Factor” has lost “Idol’s” audience. had hoped for in the fall? Critics of “The X-Factor” pointed to excessive hype around the judges as the source of the show’s demise. In response, producers revamped the show by replacing Scherzinger and Abdul with two new judges — Britney Spears and former Disney star Demi Lovato. Fans and critics were curious to see the chemistry between

the new judges, but more importantly the interaction between Spears and Cowell — Spears has never been known for stunning vocal talent. So far, the change has not done the trick for “The X-Factor.”

The show premiered to 8.5 million viewers this season, 35 percent lower than last

IDOL continued on PG. 4

2

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM

ON THE SIDE

COMPILED BY THE

WSN STAFF

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Yogurt. Often overlooked in dining halls, this dairy delight is a refreshing and tasty alternative to traditional breakfast foods. Better than over-cooked sausage or soggy eggs, yogurt is so delicious you’ll forget its main ingredient is milk. Go to any dining hall’s salad bar, pour some of the cool concoction in a bowl with strawberries and granola, and enjoy a fruity treat.

Most people are unaware that Alfred Hitchcock’s “Dial M for Murder,” one of his most efficient and claustrophobic thrillers, was originally shot in 3D during the original craze for the technology.

Now Film Forum is showing Warner Bros.’ new digital restoration of the film, so you can finally see it asHitchcock intended.

- J.R. Hammerer

- Peter Slattery

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

Editor-in-Chief AMANDA RANDONE Managing Editor

JAEWON KANG Web Managing Editor

AMY ZHANG Deputy Managing Editor

EMILY YANG Assistant Managing Editors VIA FLICKR.COM

Creative Director

MERYLL PREPOSI

STAFF

SENIOR STAFF

RECOMMENDATIONS

VIA SELFCONTROLAPP.COM

HANQING CHEN DANIEL HINTON

Having trouble staying focused with your mountain of homework? The Self-Control App will keep you on track by blocking Facebook, YouTube or whichever website is keeping you from finishing your assignments on time. Add websites to your blacklist and set the timer for up to a full day. This app is truly a lifesaver.

Wilco’s “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” is a modern classic.

Everything from its tumultuous release — its label refused to distribute the album — to its sophisticated lyrical content makes this album immensely important. It is no exaggeration to say that “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot” will be listened to for generations to come.

- Darby Weyland

- Jason Boxer

university GENTRY BROWN city/state TONY CHAU arts STEFAN MELNYK features NICOLA PRING multimedia JAMES KELLEHER copy JORDAN MELENDREZ senior editors HANNAH BORENSTEIN,

CARRIE COUROGEN, JULIE DEVITO, BRIDGETTE DORAN, JONATHON DORNBUSH, CHARLES MAHONEY, COLE RILEY

DEPUTY STAFF

university TATIANA BAEZ city/state KAYANA JEAN-PHILIPPE,

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

GRAPHIC BY KATHARINE RYAN FOR WSN

CLAIRE ZAJDEL books/theater CLIO MCCONNELL film JEREMY GROSSMAN entertainment SAMANTHA RULLO music JOSHUA JOHNSON features KATYA BARANNIK beauty & style HILARY PRESLEY dining LAVYA YALAMANCHI special issues ESHA RAY sports MARY JANE DUMANKAYA, SARA LEVY, SEBASTIEN VAN HEYNINGEN multimedia GLORIA LEE, JONATHAN TAN foreign correspondent

RICHARD ZHANG social media agent

TODAY

1

5:00 p.m.

Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Cinema Studies, Michelson Theater, 6th floor | 721 Broadway

SHADOW OF A DOUBT: HITCHCOCK ON AUGUSTINE, FREUD AND HORRENDOUS EVIL

Jeffrey Stout of Princeton University’s Department of Religion explores the Catholic inclinations in Hitchcock’s “Shadow of a Doubt.”

2

3

6:30 p.m.

Humanities Initiative, 5th floor | 20 Cooper Square

8:30 p.m.

Barnes & Noble | 33 E. 17th St.

HITCHED TO EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE UNIVERSE: ENVIRONMENTALISM AND FRANK MOORE’S ART City University of New York philosophy professor Noël Carroll, and “Toxic Beauty: The Art of Frank Moore” curator Susan Harris explore Moore’s environmental activism and the roles of science, public policy and law in relation to humans and the natural world.

STEPHEN COLBERT ON AMERICA AGAIN: RE-BECOMING THE GREATNESS WE NEVER WEREN’T

In his new book, “America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren’t,” comedian Stephen Colbert and his television show writers offer advice on how to solve America’s problems.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

NICOLE GARTSIDE

OPINION PAGE opinion editor

CHRIS DINARDO deputy opinion editor

JESSICA LITTMAN

ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER

REBECCA RIBEIRO CIRCULATION MANAGER

CHELSEA GOLD

UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOR

SNAPSHOT

ON THE WIRE

Party time

A rowdy party at the University of Tennessee caused student Alexander Broughton, 20, to be hospitalized last week. The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the university uses a bizarre way of getting drunk, known as an Alcohol Enema, where students insert rubber tubing into their rectums and use it as a funnel for alcohol. This resulted in Broughton losing control of his bowels and defecating on himself. The police questioned whether the student was sodomized. His blood alcohol level was at 0.448 percent — nearly six times state legal driving limit.

— NBC

KAITLYN O’BRIEN SALES REPRESENTATIVES

ELLEN MCQUEEN, MELISSA YNEGAS SALES ASSOCIATE

GLORIA LEE

CIRCULATION ASSISTANTS

OMID GOLMOHAMMADI, MAX KANE

ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER

KEITH LEIGHTY UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA

EDITOR-AT-LARGE

— THE DAILY TAR HEEL

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.

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

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.

Burglaries rise on campus and in residence halls

A band jamming in the fall weather as onlookers walk by in Washington Square Park.

PHOTO BY BRITTANY ELIAS

UW partners in design of Afghan school — THE DAILY

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

FRANCIS POON

NYUNEWS.COM

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SMOKERS continued from PG. 1

Low-income smokers spend more than average on cigarettes “I think that addictions are addictions and adults should be able to make their own decisions, regardless if its detrimental to their health,” Nathans said.

“People have clearly proven that they’re going to buy cigarettes no matter what the cost, so raising the tax seems like it will just hurt, not help.”

Audrey Silk, founder of the group NYC Citizens Lobbying Against Smoker Harrassment, said this is due to their societal disadvantages in an increasingly health-conscious world.

“This study forces the anti-smokers to admit that punitive cigarette taxes are undeniably regressive,” Silk said. “But there’s good reason to fear that their solution to this glitch in their anti-smoker experiment will be to punish smokers more severely.”

Sally Guttmacher, professor of Public Health at NYU, draws a direct correlation between the likelihood of smoking and one’s education level.

“Smoking is inversely related to educa-

tion. That is, people with more education are less inclined to smoke,” Guttmacher said. “So, it follows that people with a lower income who smoke will be spending more of their income on cigarettes. Most NYU students are not from low income families, so I think they would be like others in their social class.”

Though prices that average about $13 per-pack prove to be a potent hit on the low-income smoker’s bank account, NYU students are not at all exempt from the fallout of heavy prices.

Steinhardt senior Jonny Flannes, who estimated that he spends around $150 per month on cigarettes, recognized the problem raised by this report.

“I’m from California, where cigarette packs are like $4, so I started smoking out there,” she said. “I think it’s sad, you know?”

Helen Holmes is a contributing writer.

Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

Study links sugary drinks with weight gain

By KAYANA JEAN-PHILIPPE A study released by The New England Journal of Medicine last month revealed that the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages among adolescents has affected the rise of obesity in the United States.

David S. Ludwig and Cara Ebbeling, a director and associate director for the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, respectively, conducted the two-year-long study.

During the first trial of the study, which conducted at Boston Children’s Hospital, 224 overweight or obese adolescents who reported consuming at least one serving of an SSB daily were selected at random for the study and divided into two groups.

For one year, the experimental group received home deliveries of bottled water and diet beverages, which virtually eliminated their consumption of SSBs. This group only gained an average of 3.5 pounds, while the control group, drinking sugary beverages at what was presumed their usual rate, gained an average of 7.7 pounds.

A second trial was held at VU University Amsterdam, where 641 randomly selected average-weight schoolchildren between the ages of four and eleven were separated into two groups. The children who consumed eight ounces of a noncaloric, sugar-free beverage daily gained an average of 6.39 kilograms while the control group who consumed a 104-calorie SSB daily gained 7.36 kilograms on average.

Researchers then conducted a oneyear follow-up, assessing the results and drawing conclusions. They found that adolescents who eliminated SSBs not only gained less weight, but also had no increase in

body mass index compared to the control group.

“No other single food product has been shown to change body weight by this amount over a year simply through its reduction,” Ludwig said in a press release.

According to the release, these findings altogether suggest that teens are more likely to make healthier choices when they are more easily accessible.

However, Arlene Spark, professor of Nutrition and Public Health at Hunter College, said regular consumption of SSBs are not the only cause of obesity.

“Regular consumption of SSBs is really a proxy for a poor diet that is rich in refined carbohydrates and likely also rich in fat and low in fiber,” Spark said. “For people who are regular consumers of SSBs, eating well is not generally a priority.”

Mayor Bloomberg recently approved a ban on supersized sugary beverages. By eliminating the sale of SSBs in cups larger than 16 ounces, the Bloomberg administration hopes to slash New Yorkers’ calorie consumption.

Though Spark acknowledged the increase in public awareness since the ban was enacted, she worries that it may take away individual choice.

For CAS sophomore Jayson Dorsett, learning about SSBs’ affect on weight gain did not alter his previous opposition to Bloomberg’s ban.

“It’s public awareness advertisements that have an actual impact on public opinion, not the authoritative bans that eliminate choice,” Dorsett said. “Use the truth to sway public opinion, not the law.”

Kayana Jean-Philippe is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at kjeanphilippe@nyunews.com.

3

Entrepreneur boot camp offers business insider tips

By ANDERS MELIN

Over 200 former and current NYU students gathered at the Stern School of Business on Sunday for the Entrepreneurs Challenge Boot Camp organized by the Berkley Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

The event featured innovation consultant guru Bob Dorf lecturing the attendants on customer discovery and development. Dorf, who has been part of seven start-ups over the past 22 years and co-authored “The Startup Owner’s Manual: The Step-By-Step Guide for Building a Great Company,” identified the primary stages of business development — identifying the product, identifying the market and figuring out if there is an actual connection between the two — as the most integral of each startup.

“Most business fail because they assume they know what problem they must solve and exactly what they need to offer to do so,” Dorf said. “In reality, you have no idea by definition who your customers will be on day one. The only way to find out is to get out of the building and start talking to people.”

Teams have little more than two weeks left to develop their ideas before the submissions are due on Oct. 17, and most of the attendants see the event as a crucial tool to help them sharpen their focus. Dorf ’s emphasis on doing market research in an environment relative to the contestants’ respective focus area struck a chord with a majority of the attendants. Among them is Ali Al-Ebrahim, an NYU-Poly junior and mechanical

NYU welcomes new professors

By VERONICA CARCHEDI

engineering major.

“Listening to Dorf, most people probably feel their ideas are under attack,” Al-Ebrahim said. “‘I don’t have to talk to people.’ But it’s all about finding the demand and finding the market.”

Also present at the event was Luke Williams, newly appointed executive director of the Berkley Center, who voiced his vision about teaching entrepreneurship to students as a way of thinking rather than an individual skill.

“What they really gain through this process is creative confidence,” Williams said. “The confidence to know that they have the mindblowing creative insights to come up with gamechanging ideas and see those through. The competition, and the prize money, is just a vehicle for people to learn how to be an innovator and entrepreneur.”

Erike J. Mayo, NYU alumus and founder of Enigma Canon, a New York-based firm helping entrepreneurs to found smarter startups, applauded the bottom-up approach of the boot camp but said the camraderie and exchange of ideas were even more valuable.

“Each of us helping each other is far more valuable than what you’re going to learn in a textbook,” Mayo said. “But that only goes to a point. At the end of the day, it’s all business.”

Al-Ebrahim, who was surprised about the 200 people who attended the events, agreed.

“It’s a competition, right?” Al-Ebrahim said.

“And they basically teach you how to compete. Why would you want to miss that?”

Anders Melin is a contributing writer.

Email him at university@nyunews.com.

1

2

COURTESY OF NINA KATCHADOURIAN AND JENNIFER ZOBLE

NYU has welcomed many professors at the start of this upcoming academic year. WSN meets two of the newest members of the NYU community.

1. NINA KATCHADOURIAN, clinical assistant professor of Gallatin School of Individualized Study Katchadourian is a visual artist and has exhibited her work for 25 years in museums such as the Museum of Modern Art PS1 and Palais de Tokyo. For the past seven years she was the viewing program curator at The Drawing Center in New York.

Katchadourian teaches sound art and will teach experimental drawing in spring semester. What drew her to Gallatin was its interdisciplinary approach to education, which she said mirrors her experience at Brown University and the University of California, San Diego, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Fine Arts, respectively.

NYU appealed to her because of its size and wealth of resources, she added.

“It’s kind of like a giant squid,” Katchadourian said. “I’m trying to figure out what the tentacles are and where they go and what connects to what. But the fantastic thing is exactly that. It’s a huge place and there is so much to it.”

Eventually, Katchadourian hopes to teach classes on humor, family and experimental video. After years of heavy traveling, she is pleased to have a position that will allow her to remain in New York, both at her studio and among the NYU community.

2. JENNIFER ZOBLE, master teacher of Liberal Studies Program Zoble received her B.A. in theater studies from Wellesley College and her Masters of Science for Teachers from The New School.

She served as New York Theatre Workshop’s first director of education before pursuing further study at the University of Iowa, where she earned Master of Fine Arts in nonfiction writing and literary translation.

She is co-editor of InTranslation, an online project of The Brooklyn Rail. She translates Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian literature, which she started learning only four years ago, and hopes to teach a translation course at NYU in the future.

This year, Zoble is teaching Writing I and II in LSP. Her students produce formal essays in addition to personal observation and reflection-based writing exercises.

“Personal writing can be a reflective tool as students embark on their college careers,” Zoble said. “It’s an opportunity for them to think about how their experiences inside and outside of school have shaped their identities and views.”

Zoble is excited to be back in New York and use its cultural resources in her teaching.

“I consider myself very fortunate to have gotten a job in such a vibrant place,” Zoble said.

Veronica Carchedi is a contributing writer. Email her university@nyunews.com.

4

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM

ARTS

EDITED BY STEFAN MELNYK ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

IDOL continued from PG. 1

Chasing a dwindling audience, ‘X-Factor’ struggles to catch-up year’s premiere, and came in second place to rival show “The Voice.”

Just as “The X-Factor” was about to begin, “Idol” announced that they were also shaking things up and bringing on three new judges.

Randy Jackson will now be joined by country star Keith Urban, pop icon Mariah Carey and hip-hop star Nicki Minaj. While Urban has enjoyed a successful country career and Carey has sold over 200 million records, Minaj is a bit of a wildcard, better known for her colorful costumes and animated style of rap than her singing. “Idol’s” loyal fans and new judges have all but guaranteed a number-one spot for its January premiere.

It’s still too early in the season to completely count out “The X-Factor,” but with disappointing premiere ratings the road ahead doesn’t look too promising. Unless “The X-Factor’s” producers can add something fresh to the show besides judges, “Idol” will continue to prevail for seasons to come.

Bria Mariette is a contributing writer.

Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.

Smooth performances can’t save ‘Butter’

By LAURA WOLFORD

Set in the cornfields of the Midwest, “Butter” explores how sex, greed, money and ambition can be dangerous — even in the simple world of butter-carving.

But while “Butter” provides some laughs and impressive casting, its story falls short of the mark.

Directed by Jim Field Smith (“She’s Out of My League”) and written by Jason Micallef, “Butter” follows contestants in the Iowa State Fair Butter Competition. When 15-year frontrunner Bob Pickler (Ty Burrell from “Modern Family”) steps down from his position as the sure-fire winner, his wife Laura (Jennifer Garner) decides to enter the competition herself.

But she encounters some unexpected competition in the form of a talented 10-year-old foster child named Destiny (Yara Shahidi), a greedy stripper (Olivia Wilde), and her husband’s biggest fan (Kristen Schaal).

When Micallef doesn’t know what to do with a scene, he relies on rude language to make the dialogue more interesting. The film is rated R, but even so, it feels incredibly crude and perverse for an otherwise fairly lighthearted story. Every 20 minutes there

Muse album chases new fanbase with mixed results

By ANDREW KARPAN It seems there comes a time in every band’s career when it feels obliged to try something different; to put its ear to the ground and come out with the music it presumes is popular with people who weren’t even listening to its music in the first place. Perhaps unsure of what to do with its success in the U.S. charts, Muse seems to be at that point. Having already long-since eschewed the mix of grit and space rock that ushered in its first wave of domestic popularity, the band half-heartedly gave up the pseudosymphonics of its last two albums to offer us a taste of the music its members think we like these days with its newest album, “The 2nd Law.” The first group-chorus hums of “Madness” wheeze an overproduced echo reminiscent of either legitimate ’70s funk or the backing tracks of contemporary R&B hits. Muse tries this a number of times in “The 2nd Law,” most impressively during “Big Freeze,” where lead singer and guitarist Matt Bellamy tries his hand at Eddie Hazel-style of playing the guitar. The band also throws in a few heavy, dance-floor drumbeats in songs like “Panic Station.”

However, when Muse dips back for its Grammy-certified sound, it dips back hard, trying to recapture its past success. Of course, having its own prelude makes the Olympic anthem “Survival” no less pretentiously awful.

Even the most obnoxious self-parody cannot get much worse than “I’ll light the fuse/And I’ll never lose.” “Supremacy,” which opens the album with a dirty, Queens of the Stone Age-style riff, eventually descends into a contest of grandeur between Bellamy’s vocals and uplifting brass. Even though Bellamy has namedropped

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

dubstep in reference to the album’s new sound, he waited until the finale to offer anything remotely post-’80s electronic. He decides to drop the bass, in a manner of speaking, over a sample of some worrisome spiel about unsustainable energy trends, which is apparently the theme for the album’s eponymous two-song closer. These songs are neither terribly groundbreaking nor outright terrible. They appear at the end, like a final checkmark on Muse’s list of new sounds it feels obligated to try.

As an album that tries so hard not to muddle through the middle of Muse’s own road, “The 2nd Law” succeeds in not being as bad as it could be. It will neither drive away its fanbase, nor bring back those who fled after “Black Holes and Revelations.” For now, at least, the energy seems pretty sustainable.

Andrew Karpan is a contributing writer.

Email him at music@nyunews.com.

VIA IMDB.COM

“Butter” suffers from a poorly scripted story despite a strong cast. is at least one mention of someone’s genitals. However, this method does occasionally work, like when Laura seduces her high school beau Boyd Bolton (Hugh Jackman) to help her triumph over Shahidi’s character.

The movie’s strength lies in its cast.

Garner masterfully embodies the stereotypical uppity housewife, but newcomer Shahidi steals the show, her loveable demeanor making it hard not to root for her. Wilde, Burrell and Jackman provide most of the laughs, turning the most poorly written lines into ones worth hearing.

Ashley Greene (“Twilight”), however, isn’t very credible as the angst-filled daughter of Garner and Burrell.

Despite a predominately talented cast, the characters are strikingly one-dimensional — especially Laura.

Her self-righteous personality is hard to pity, which is a problem considering she is the film’s protagonist.

Eventually, the film works up to a rotten conclusion, which is poorly written and gives the impression that the crew just wanted to finish the film. Ultimately, the only two redeeming qualities of “Butter” are its showcase of amazingly designed butter sculptures and the couple of chuckles the film manages to elicit.

Laura Wolford is a contributing writer.

Email her at film@nyunews.com.

Found footage breathes life into horror genre

By CHRIS SACCARO The found footage genre is currently the most fashionable format for horror films, thanks to the enormous success of movies like “Paranormal Activity.” However, keeping the genre fresh without being gimmicky is a huge challenge, especially when the idea of found footage is arguably a gimmick itself.

The much-anticipated “V/H/S” attempts to bring new life to an aging sub-genre by combining aspects of anthology filmmaking with the shaky-cam style. While “V/H/S” probably won’t be remembered as one of this generation’s greatest horror films, it is a bold attempt to revive the genre.

“V/H/S” is a collection of horror shorts strung together with an overarching narrative. The shorts are directed by some of the horror genre’s top directors, including Ti West, who directed the cult favorite “The House of the Devil.” The main story involves a group of delinquents who are hired to break into a rundown house to steal rare videotapes, each of which contains its own unique horror tale — an arc which fails to work on its own terms. However, on the whole, the movie delivers an innovative horror movie experience that will leave the audience feeling uneasy.

The best and worst thing about “V/H/S” is that the shorts vary

greatly in quality. The successful shorts, like “Amateur Night” and “10/31/98,” exhibit more ambitious filmmaking.“Amateur Night” is recorded through a pair of spyglasses, while “10/31/98” is recorded with a nanny-cam.

It is refreshing to see found footage stories that do not rely on a character unrealistically holding a camera for the entire running time.

While the less successful shorts are able to hide among the better ones, they still result in a movie that is unnecessarily long. All of the stories have at least one good scare or clever concept, but some end up being uninteresting and could easily have been cut out. The short titled “Second Honeymoon,” for example, is the only short to not involve any supernatural element. While this differentiation could have made “Honeymoon” stand out, it is simply not quite good enough to earn its exception.

“V/H/S” is able to bring life to a tired genre, even though much of the film is not as strong as it could be. Many are getting tired of found footage films, but by making an anthology of short films, the directors behind “V/H/S” are able to deliver quick, exciting bursts of horror and doing away with the stale filler scenes typical of modern horror films.

Chris Saccaro is a staff writer.

Email him at film@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

DINING

EDITED BY LAVYA YALAMANCHI DINING@NYUNEWS.COM

5

P TO

5

St. Marks spots for cheap Asian eats

By MICHELLE LIM

1

In the mood for some great, cheap Asian food but unwilling to walk far from campus?

Check out these delicious, exotic restaurants right in the East Village.

2

3

5

4

PHOTOS BY BROOKE MUELLER FOR WSN

1. UDON WEST If you are looking for Japanese comfort food, Udon West might be the perfect place. Credited for its affordability and quality, Udon West is a hot spot for all NYU students. One favorite is the massive portion of Shrimp Tempura Udon, a $6.50 meal cooked right in front of you.

But get ready to wait in line during busy hours, as this hole-in-the-wall space fills up fast. Make sure to also check out the joint’s hearty curry selection — the Katsu Curry ($7.50) is the perfect complement for a chilly night. But be forewarned: This restaurant is cash only.

11 St. Marks Place 2. SPOT DESSERT BAR For anyone with a sweeth tooth, Spot offers a fun variety of pastries, ice cream, bubble tea and their famous tapas, all infused

with unique Asian flavors. Some favorites are the Green “Tearamisu,” a green tea, madeleine sponge cake topped with matcha green tea essence, shaved white chocolate green tea, and the Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream ($3 per scoop). Though it is a little pricey, this creative cafe provides a sweet atmosphere that is great for chatting with friends. Check out the daily special: Monday through Friday, from noon to 6 p.m., a cupcake and bubble tea combo for $5.

13 St. Marks Place 3. BOKA Why go up to Koreatown on 32nd Street when you can get the same food closer to campus? Serving the muchadored BonChon fried chicken, Boka showcases a wide range of Korean cuisine. The Kimchi Pancakes ($6) is a popular appetizer that can be shared with

company. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the lunch specials are served — including the Bul Go Gi, marinated barbequed beef, and lunchbox — with salad, miso soup and rice, for only $9.95.

9 St. Marks Place 4. PHO 32 Late-night cravings are hard to fight when a Vietnamese noodle shop is nearby. Pho 32 is not only open 24 hours but has speedy and reliable service. The entrees are affordable for college students: $7.95 for the famous pho rice noodle soup with brisket.

The vermicelli bowls are also reputable options ($9.25). It’s also important to note how vegetarian-friendly this joint is; an entire section of the menu dedicated to meatless eaters.

13 St. Marks Place

5. YAKITORI TAISHO For the meat lovers, a trip to Yakitori might be an ideal nighttime outing. With reasonable portions and decent prices, this Japanese restaurant is acclaimed for the succulent meat-on-sticks. For $13.50, you will be pleasantly surprised with 10 skewers of chicken, chicken skin, chicken gizzard, chicken meatball, pork and many other special combinations. With the fun and vibrant atmosphere, Yakitori is an easy place to catch up with friends while chewing on flavorful meat that mirrors authentic Japanese cuisine. Don’t be overwhelmed by the meat talk — there is also a great selection of rice bowls, grilled seafood, deep-fried tofu and sautéed eggplants.

5 St. Marks Place

Michelle Lim is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

TOURIST continued from PG. 1

South Korean game show brings tourists to Think But perhaps this is because of the increasing diversity Zen has observed. After viewing a YouTube video of the “Infinite Challenge” episode, most students found the video amusing.

Rebekah Jin, a CAS freshman, though previously unaware of the phenomenon, was interested in hearing about “Infinite Challenge.”

“I think it’s really funny how these high profile Korean celebrities were running around without being recognized by a lot of people,” Jin said. “Yoo Jae Suk, the one with the glasses in the video, is the same guy who’s wearing the yellow suit in ‘Gangnam Style.’

But the tourism increase has not passed by completely unnoticed. One Think Coffee customer, Fani Maksaquli, 25, overheard the NYU students being questioned about the video. Maksaquli was excited to hear about it because of a recent, confusing encounter he had involving South Korean tourists.

“There [were] five of them ... and they were very, very excited,” he said. “[I] took a picture of them in front of the sign but had no idea what was going on at the time.”

Margaret Weinberg is a contributing writer.

Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

Food truck expands to L.E.S. storefront

By KATYA SIMKHOVICH Yassir Z. Raouli had a dream to showcase all he can do with food; a dream that turned into a reality when he started The Bistro Truck in 2009 — when the recession created a market for all sorts of business endeavors. The Bistro Truck was very successful, serving a loyal following of gourmet street-food lovers.

However, Raouli felt his business was outgrowing the constraints of truckbased operation, so he decided to venture into restaurant ownership. Because of this ambition, Rustic L.E.S. found its humble beginnings in the Lower East Side. Located at 124 Ridge St., Rustic L.E.S. is a narrow space with a small bar, five bar stools, and enough tables and seats to accommodate 10 people.

The characteristically rustic space, renovated by Raouli himself, exudes a cozy, casual ambiance.

Kelly Cook, a freshman in CAS, enjoyed her first experience at Rustic L.E.S. “I liked the atmosphere,” Cook said. “It was really small ... like eating at somebody’s house. And I like how the chefs came out and talked to people. It was really intimate.”

The food is as comforting as the atmosphere. Notable items on the dinner menu include Braised Oxtails simmered in a flavorful sauce, and Gratin pomme de Terre, which is a hot, cheesy mélange of potatoes, chestnuts, walnuts and cheddar.

“All of our dishes are meant to be shared,” The online menu says. “You’ll

BRYAN NELSON FOR WSN

Rustic provides locally sourced food and a cozy atmosphere for its customers. find this greatly reduces food envy.”

When discussing the menu, the increase in Raouli’s enthusiasm is noticeable.

“We change the menu every week depending on what’s seasonably available.” he said. “We get all our produce from the Essex Market, which is a great market with lots of local and organic produce.”

But, Raouli does not feel the need to advertise where his kitchen finds its ingredients.

“I don’t think organic or local food is something to be capitalized upon,” Raouli said. “I don’t write it on the menu because it should be the default, not the exception.”

Rustic L.E.S. serves brunch, lunch and dinner. Brunch ranges from $3 for muf-

fins and croissants to $15 for a hearty Moroccan breakfast or a dry-aged burger.

Lunch items range from an affordable $6 for vegetables tagine to $12 for crispy chicken salad. Dinner is the most expensive, but also the most promising, with a selection of sides ranging from $5-$8, main dishes ranging from $12-$22 and dessert for $7. Considering the sustainability of the ingredients and how well prepared the dishes are, Rustic L.E.S. provides a reasonably priced dinner that will leave you enormously satisfied without emptying your wallet.

Katya Simkhovich is a contributing writer.

Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

6

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM

SPAIN continued from PG. 1

Spanish police, civilians clash during protest against austerity measures been occurring in Spain since May 2011 are referred to as the 15-M movement, El movimiento 15-M or the Spanish Indignants Movement.

Devoid of any major union or political party involvement, web-based social networks provided organization for this protest and all of those prior to it.

The police received prior notice of the oncoming protesters and blocked the routes to the parliament building with double metal barricades. Protesters remained and continued their demonstration before the police.

What started out as a peaceful protest broke into a violent clash between the demonstrators and the heavily armed riot police. Officers eventually took out their batons and even used rubber bullets to subdue the crowd of civilians.

Paul Funkhouser, an NYU Madrid student and CAS junior, attended the demonstration and noted several distinct similarities between the 15-M and Occupy Wall Street movements.

“Spain is not so different from the U.S.” Funkhouser said. “People are fighting cuts to social services and impunity for the financial sector. In Spain, like in the U.S., the two-party system is controlled by financial interest.”

“The movement is fundamentally nonviolent and the police have

Interested in working for us?

Come to our Sunday Pitch Meetings.

COURTESY OF PAUL FUNKHOUSER

NEWS: 5 P.M. FEATURES: 6 P.M. MULTIMEDIA: 6 P.M. SPORTS: 6:30 P.M. ARTS: 6:30 P.M. OPINION: 7 P.M.

Many arrests and injuries resulted from the clash in Madrid. been known to incite violence,” he added. “On Tuesday, I watched national police beat demonstrators with excessive force without provocation, comparable to the NYPD’s repression of Occupy Wall Street.”

As a result of the clash between protesters and the police, 38 were arrested and 64 injured.

Caridad Dawson, student life and wellness coordinator, expressed her concerns regarding the violence and the attendance of her students.

“Spain is going through a turbulent time due to the crises, no

doubt about that,” Dawson said.

“I worry about my students’ wellbeing because it can get violent and aggressive at the protests.”

“I don’t want them to be in the eye of a political hurricane; however, it is an exciting time,” Dawson added. “The Spaniards are really trying to make a change.

In due time, I definitely believe change will come.”

Natasha Babazadeh is a foreign correspondent. Email her at university@nyunews.com.

The New York TimesYORK Syndication Sales Corporation CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU THE NEW TIMES 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Traditional location of one of this puzzle’s theme words 6 Musical copyright org.

11 Came down with 14 1998 BP acquisition 15 “Phooey!”

16 Can 17 Opposite of an AC/DC song?

20 Sellout signs 21 Outdated tape format 22 Light units 23 Prefix with classical 24 Mother of Helen, in myth 25 Opposite of a Led Zeppelin number?

32 Most confident

33 Virginia’s Washington and ___ University 34 Classic actor ___ G. Carroll 35 Big arcade name 36 Plea at sea 37 Hit hard 39 Path of a pop-up 40 From ___ Z 41 Lea 42 Opposite of a Meat Loaf tune?

46 Movie-rating org.

47 Baseball’s Mel 48 Many a young summer employee 51 Crew member’s handful 52 Church niche 56 Opposite of a Bing Crosby hit?

59 Buckeyes, for short 60 Golfer Sam 61 ___ metabolism

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE Y A R D S H O E L A Y A D C A S H O N M E A T E A L I E D L A S E R S

O C E L O T

G R W A I V I E L M O W R A W F A T O L Y T L A F L O E I N D S O

E E Y O R E N U D E U N A

R M A N A D T O P L A N T I D O I L E I A C O C A S A O N T H E L N A I E T S F A S T A F R O S F E R R I A T E D R E D E

T A C T I C

I N A S E C

M I M O S A

J O V E

O M E N

B I N S

G N O O I N T T E

62 Summer hrs.

63 Utopias 64 Traditional location of one of this puzzle’s theme words Down 1 Scrooge-like cries 2 V.I.P. in a robe 3 An apple for Apple Inc., e.g.

4 Newspaperman Adolph 5 “Unbelievable!”

6 “Be that as it may …”

7 Complete collections 8 ___-Magnon 9 Olympics competitor 10 False start?

11 Buckled 12 “Olly olly ___ free” 13 Hamiltons 18 Stave off 19 Asian nurse 23 Not final, in law 24 Cleaning agents 25 Kama ___ 26 Chunk of land 27 ___ Lingus 28 Not personally engaged 29 Slur over 30 Give an indication (that) 31 MGM founder 32 Discontinued Swedish car

1

2

3

4

5

6

14

7

9

10

11

15

17

18

20

21

25

26

27

28

29

33

34

36

37

40 43

31

54

55

38

41

44

45

46 49

30

19

24

35

42

13

22

32

39

12

16

23

48

8

No. 0828

47

50

51

56

57

52

53

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

Puzzle by Lou Borenstein

36 Old philosophers’ place 37 Pants part that gets a lot of wear 38 Dallas cager, for short 40 Finished 41 Subway system 43 Breaking of a mirror, some fear

44 Revolt 45 Doesn’t ever throw anything away 48 ___ Shuffle 49 Untouchable leader 50 Letter-shaped fastener 51 Blink ___ eye

52 Ishmael’s captain 53 Currency unit whose symbol is “$” 54 Pole, for one 55 Magazine whose name means “she” 57 “Understand?”

58 Corp. hiree

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 2, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY CHRIS DINARDO OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

INTERNATIONAL STAFF EDITORIAL

Religion vs. law: equal battle

By RICHARD ZHANG

It all started with a conversation I had with one of my best friends, Murat, in Canada.

“Harper is anti-Islamic, to his soul,” said Murat, who is ethnically Turkish, referring to the current Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. “He let [a newspaper] put an article like, ‘You can’t fool us, Allah.’ When people said this is wrong, he said it is the freedom of expression.”

My immediate reaction was: “Well, it is the freedom of expression. Insults might be hurtful, but should never be removed from the protection of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”

But Murat, who seemed to be welldisposed, said, “There is a limit to every freedom.”

Murat is right in that there must be a limit to every freedom. But the limit is often ill-defined. When people do not have a consensus on where the limit should be set, it sometimes results in horrible disasters, such as the death of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and worldwide Muslim riots. The riots are against the American-made movie that portrays the Prophet Muhammad as a killer, a pedophile and a rapist. In the United States, however, the filmmaker still receives

protection from the U.S. Constitution.

The juxtaposing reactions to the film between Muslims and the West best illustrate their cultural hiatus. In the West, we define the principle of justice based on secular laws. The U.S. Constitution, the Canadian Charter and all other Western laws never recognize the supremacy of a particular religion but rather the supremacy of the rule of law.

Indeed, after witnessing the horrors of the Inquisition and the Holy Crusade, the West would never want another totalitarian group to enslave its people by exploiting religions. Though many Westerners still practice religions, the majority agrees on keeping the government independent from religious influences.

John F. Kennedy, for example, explicitly underscored the separation of church and state even though he was Catholic.

In contrast, the Islamic religion remains an integral part of most Muslim countries. Shariah law, for example, defines Islam as the religion of the state, thus recognizing its supremacy. As a result, all laws come from Allah, and Allah is superior to everything on Earth. Even though some Muslim countries do not practice Shariah law, Islam still influences their everyday words and actions, as they have been practicing it for many centuries. As Khalid Amayreh, a Muslim

journalist, said, “The Prophet is a million times more sacred than the American Constitution.”

So is the world doomed to spiral into an endless fight between two opposing ideologies? Can we prevent the recent tragedies and disasters from reenacting in the future? I cannot alter the minds or beliefs of others, but I hope that those who read this, regardless of which value system they uphold, can realize that the opposing side is just as correct as their side. An ideology has nothing inherently wrong. Whether one chooses religion over law or law over religion, it’s simply a choice he or she makes. At the end of the day, Westerners or Muslims, we all strive for the peacefulness and happiness of the entire humanity.

The cultural beliefs between the West and the Muslim world have their origins tied to complex chains of events in recent centuries. Their gap is impossible to fill up in the foreseeable future. But if one world can simply recognize and respect the existence of the other one, friendly conversations, like one between Murat and myself, are still possible.

Richard Zhang is foreign correspondent editor. Email him at rzhang@nyunews.com.

SECURITY

Airport security creates discriminatory policies

By CARLOS ESTEVEZ

Anyone who has flown in the past few years has gone through some form of screening by the Transportation Security Administration. Media outlets have made us painfully aware of recent additions to security procedures, particularly those involving the choice between X-ray machines and pat-downs.

These new screening methods have tested the patience of frequent flyers and have sparked debates on privacy and freedom. News agencies have seized this controversial topic, drawing attention to whether the new screening technology poses health risks or if it has proven effective in confiscating dangerous objects. These stories often take the form of personal narratives, pitting the elderly with metal implants against the intrusive hands of the TSA. For all the media attention airport security has garnered, mainstream media has missed perhaps the most controversial aspect of the subject: national profiling. Beyond profiling a given race or type of individual, TSA actually discriminates against citizens of certain nations.

For security purposes, some countries carry a stigma of dangerousness and possible terrorism. In practical terms,

SUBMITTING TO

7

this results in intense security rituals for every person born in that country, regardless of age, sex or legal status.

As a U.S. resident, I went through at least a dozen of these intense searches while traveling to and from various European countries.

These searches begin at the front desk, where airline personnel inspect passports, promptly stamping those from dangerous countries with the scarlet SSSS, which stands for Secondary Security Screening Selection. This branding preludes stringent security procedures for which the passenger has been randomly chosen. This first occurred to me on a flight to France: I was only 12, so I found great relief in being randomly chosen to go through an empty line. After years of going through the same line, I realized it was because of prejudices; a line made only for me and all other presumed terrorists. At the end of the line awaits a machine that envelops the passenger and checks their body for weapons. On another occasion, even after passing through this machine, I still had to be checked by K-9 dogs, as if the machine did not suffice to prove me innocent.

In terms of airport security, those presumed dangerous will never be cleared of guilt — in my case by virtue

of my birthplace, Cuba, even when these checks delay the airplane and the guards realize a 12-year-old American resident poses no more of a threat than anyone else on the flight. In Zurich, I once had to open my bags so airport security could go through each and every item in my suitcases. Security measures have never bothered me insofar as they do not discriminate between flyers.

These random checks have not occurred since I obtained a U.S. passport. Perhaps this small document defines me as a safe individual, guarded from prejudice. Perhaps it signifies a heightened sense of nationalism, which I lacked before.

In reality, a passport did not change me, but it revealed the reasons behind the TSA’s discrimination. By arbitrarily designating certain nations as dangerous, they clearly delineate the other.

Labeling certain people as dangerous might even legitimize the work of the TSA and emphasize the innocuous nature of most American citizens. None of these plausible explanations, however, serve as an excuse to national profiling, an issue that challenges basic rights without mainstream media attention.

Carlos Estevez is a contributing columnist.

Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

Romney’s column offers no answer to foreign policy In The Wall Street Journal today, Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney penned an op-ed titled “A New Course for the Middle East,” criticizing President Obama’s foreign policy.

Relying heavily on conservative talking points, Romney fails to provide readers with a single policy proposal he would pursue to bring stability to the Middle East. A candidate can only echo such GOP favorites as “American strength,” “soft power” and “in defense of freedom” so many times before the stench of ambiguity overpowers voters looking for concrete answers. “[America] needed a strategy for success, but the president offered none,” Romney said. Ironically, the Republican nominee offers no strategy himself. Instead he relies on vague rhetoric like “dignity of work” to condemn Obama’s policies overseas, and he claims that we need to “encourage liberty” instead of oppression and direct people’s life choices to counter extremism. Not only does this mirror Obama’s current foreign policy, but it leaves us with nothing but empty jargon.

A criticism of the Obama administration’s foreign policy is not only good politics — it is essential for robust debate. And Romney needs one. For someone who lacks foreign policy experience, it would be a way for him to prove his worth on the international stage. However, Romney’s attacks are partisan at best and irresponsible at worst. A criticism of current policy coming from the right is way out in left field due to its absurdity.

Merely mentioning the word Syria can not be passed off as having a suitable, safe plan for handling the escalating humanitarian crisis. Trumpeting the need for increased pressure on Iran is just pandering without substance. But while Romney drones on in nebulous campaign rhetoric, Obama is literally droning on in Pakistan and Yemen, without regard for Congressional approval, civilian casualties or military blowback. Where is that criticism? Obama has continued to prop up authoritarian regimes in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia while lauding democratic uprisings in Egypt and Libya. Where is that criticism?

Recent administrations have led us down an abyss when it comes to militarization since Sept.

11. Instead of drowning in the talking points that constantly echo off those walls, voters deserve a substantive rationale for American foreign policy.

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.

8

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY THE WSN STAFF SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Shutout loss leaves Jets fans nervous

By CHRISTOPHER MARCOTRIGIANO

The Jets are 2-2 to start the season, but the standings don’t even begin to tell the whole story.

The Jets are a struggling team right now, and fans are nervous that they will falter once again with Mark Sanchez at the helm.

Gang Green is coming off of an abysmal 34-0 loss at home to the San Francisco 49ers. The Jets won the previous week in a shaky game against the Miami Dolphins; one that many thought they would win handily. Sanchez has been inconsistent thus far, completing only 49 percent of his passes and turning the ball over six times — only throwing for five touchdowns.

The running game is also struggling, which has complicated Sanchez’s problems.

Shonn Greene is only getting 2.8 yards per carry, which is certainly not enough for an offense that relies on the running game to open up the rest of their playbook, including the crucial play-action pass.

As many saw coming, Sanchez’s struggles have led to calls for Tim Tebow to take over as the new quarterback. It has been unclear what Tebow’s role would be on the team ever since he was signed. Thus far, he has played a minimal role on special teams and has run the ball a few times out of the wildcat formation. Many fans want to see what the ex-Gator can do if given the chance to be a playmaker like he was with the Denver Broncos last year.

Such unrest will only complicate Sanchez’s seemingly fragile psyche and damage his compo-

sure under pressure in game action. Rex Ryan has repeatedly said, “Sanchez is our guy.” However, that excuse is wearing thin for many Jets fans.

In addition to the underperformance and a brewing quarterback controversy, the Jets’ locker room has been an injury ward early on this season. Both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball have been decimated by injuries. Cornerback Darrelle Revis tore his anterior cruciate ligament last week against Miami and is out for the season. In a similar non-contact injury, the Jets number one receiver Santonio Holmes injured his foot against the 49ers this week. According to the Jets, he is expected to miss multiple games.

Just how many games he will miss is yet to be determined because he is awaiting the results of an MRI. Also, standout rookie wide receiver Stephen Hill is experiencing trouble with his hamstring, which forced him out this past week. The lack of his two deep pass threats will be another factor in Sanchez’s struggles.

There’s an old phrase in sports that “winning cures everything.”

This is especially true for the Jets. If Gang Green can find a way to beat the surging Houston Texans next week, they will put many of these fears to rest — for now. A win will also bring about much-needed confidence for Sanchez and faith from the fan base. He did lead the Jets to two straight American Football Conference Championship Games. That counts for something, right?

Christopher Marcotigiano is contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

VIA FLICKR.COM

Sanchez has fans wanting Tebow to step in after poor performances.

Dickey Wright responsible for Mets win

By MICHAEL MANDELKERN

New York Mets legendary, retired first baseman and current broadcast analyst Keith Hernandez shaved off his iconic mustache outside of Citi Field last Thursday afternoon. Kristina DeBarge’s “Goodbye” blared through speakers on the partly cloudy day as Met fans attended the last home game of the 2012 season.

The game against the Pittsburgh Pirates held some significance. Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey, a strong contender for the National League Cy Young Award, aimed to become the first Mets starter since 1990 to reach 20 wins in one season.

At noon, 70 minutes before the first pitch, the parking lot was mostly empty and there was barely a line for tickets. And 30 minutes later, there were still more empty seats than fans. Despite an early omen of a half-filled stadium, 31,506 came into attendance.

Third baseman David Wright became the Mets’ all-time hits leader the previous night.

Starting pitcher Johan Santana threw the first no-hitter of the season on June 1. The fans expected a strong performance from Dickey, and he exceeded all expectations. Dickey struck out the top of the Pirates lineup in the first inning. He allowed two runs off of four hits in the second inning. But aside from that and a solo home run in the fourth inning, all the Pirates did was swing and miss at his fluttering and dancing knuckleball. He lasted a little more than seven innings, and the crowd roared exponentially louder after each of his 13 strikeouts.

The crowd murmured, however, at the bottom of the fourth inning when the Mets were down 3-2 and catcher Josh Thole weakly grounded out with two outs and runners on second and third. After watching a pathetic offense from July through September, I wasn’t surprised, but Dickey deserved better. He ended the top of the fifth inning in a nine-strikeout groove; the offense had to back him up this time. Wright stepped to the plate with two on base and the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning. The ball sailed in the air and the crowd was buzzing.

I stood up with my arms raised

VIA FLICKR.COM

Mets knuckleball pitcher R.A. Dickey lead the Mets to victory. and fists clenched. Once it landed over the right-center field wall, I bawled because of my euphoria. I gave a stranger next to me multiple high-fives and clapped so hard that I blistered my hands.

The score was 6-3 with four innings left.

Dickey was solid throughout the sixth, seventh and most of the eighth inning. The threerun lead put him at ease, and the crowd roared for every pitch. After 128 pitches he stepped off the mound slowly and soaked in a thunderous standing ovation.

I was nervous when the bullpen became responsible for the last four outs of the eighth and ninth innings. Sure enough, the Pirates hit a two-run homer to

CARTOONS CAN BE ABOUT THE GENERAL STATE OF THE 2012 ELECTION OR FOCUS ON ONE OF THESE SEVEN ISSUES FEATURED:

POLITICAL CARTOON CONTEST

1) FINANCIAL AID

4) ENVIRONMENTAL

STUDENT LOANS

5) IMMIGRATION

2) GAY RIGHTS

6) ECONOMY

3) WOMEN’S RIGHTS

7) HEALTHCARE

make the game 6-5. Luckily, reliever Bobby Parnell came in to save the day.

“This season hasn’t gone like we wanted, but this is a special moment and I’m happy to share it with all of you guys,” Dickey said after the game. “I feel like I’ve done all I can do.”

After the excitement died down and I was Manhattanbound on the 7 train, I was saddened to realize that I would have to wait until next April to return to Citi Field.

Whether the Mets are winning or losing, and even if Dickey is no longer on the team, I will be back.

Michael Mandelkern is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

GUIDELINES:

4 x 6 inches, 300 dpi.

Black and White or Color Include: name, email, school, telephone number, year Send as PDF to hborenstein@nyunews.com Cartoon will appear in the 2012 Election Issue and online.

>>> DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: OCT. 19 <<<