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NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 70

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013

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AlcoholFYI initiative takes to Twitter

By KAV HARJAI

Twitter fanatics may have spotted a trend in the NYU community.

Residence hall Twitter accounts launched an initiative in September to tweet alcohol-related facts with the hashtag #NYUTHEMOREYOUKNOW. These facts are part of the Residential Life and Student Affairs’ initiative AlcoholFYI, which was designed to caution students about the dangers of underage alcohol consumption.

Vice president of communications of the InterResidence Hall Council Harrison Hill explained that the tweets attempt to encourage students to

Flaming Lips, Tame Impala rock Terminal 5 Rock outfits The Flaming Lips and Tame Impala played to a packed crowd at Terminal 5 on Tuesday, Oct. 1. Headlining the show, The Flaming Lips played a host of new songs from the band’s latest album, “The Terror,” as well as many classic hits.

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Student bulletin site gains traction at NYU

By DEBORAH LUBANGA

When CAS sophomore Ethan Lew walked through the halls of his dorm last year, the number of bulletin boards overflowing with advertisements for tutoring services and items for sale overwhelmed him. Believing many college students do not have time to sift through this clutter, Lew decided to create an online service to keep things organized.

On Sept. 15, Lew launched jigitt. com, a virtual college marketplace providing students with a safe platform to buy, sell and trade items within the NYU community.

When considering a name for his website, Lew preferred something unique and catchy over a generic name.

“I wanted it to stand out kind of like ‘Yahoo’ or ‘Google’ where the words Yahoo or Google don’t necessarily mean anything,” Lew said. “But once that term is used a lot they adopt the meaning of what the website is. So I want Jigitt’s definition to be my website.”

Lew defines the website as a middle ground between Craigslist and Facebook. It allows users to search for keywords like on Craigslist while having the same security as an NYU Facebook group. “[Jigitt] is more local, which also makes it safer because you know you’re dealing with NYU students,” Lew said. “And it’s also less time to have a transaction because you can agree to meet on campus.”

Stern sophomore Kevin Dang is responsible for marketing and providing business advice. Dang met Lew after seeing an ad on Jigitt.

Response has already been positive from some users of Jigitt.

“I’ve sold tickets on there and I had a much bigger response than I expected,” CAS sophomore and Jigitt user Kush Fansiwala said. “I got like six or seven responses on the ad and I had it up for maybe four or five days.”

Anyone seeking to reach out to the NYU community can post and search advertisements on Jigitt for

JIGITT continued on PG. 4

follow the university policy on underage drinking, which is prohibited in residential halls.

“Many of the tweets take an unorthodox approach to alcohol education and make residents think about other ramifications of drinking, such as the financial strain and long-term health and wellness impacts like impotence and weight gain,” Hill said.

For example, Weinstein residence hall tweeted “AlcoholFYI: Excessive drinking can decrease the amount of testosterone in a man’s body and cause impotence. #NYUTHEMOREYOUKNOW,” and Rubin

ALCOHOL cont’d on PG. 3

Timberlake reflects on role in ‘Runner’

By MOHAMED HASSAN

In the past few years, Justin Timberlake has significantly altered his image, transforming himself from a dreamy pop star to a serious and multifaceted actor by taking on roles such as Sean Parker in “The Social Network.” Now, on Friday, Timberlake can be seen in “Runner,

SCOTT GARFIELD/20TH CENTURY FOX FILM CORPORATION

Justin Timberlake co-stars with Ben Affleck in “Runner.”

Runner,” perhaps his most unlikely career move to date.

In “Runner,” Timberlake plays Richie, a Princeton college student who loses his tuition money through an online poker game.

After confronting the man he believes cheated him — the corrupt gambling mogul Ivan Block (Ben Affleck) — he finds himself becoming Block’s protégé. Anthony Mackie co-stars as an FBI agent who uses Richie as leverage against the dangerous man.

“I’ve never played a character quite like this,” Timberlake said in an online video chat with WSN alongside Mackie. “It was a lot of fun for me to be the guy who’s in the eye of the storm that everything is kind of happening to, versus the instigator.”

Mackie described a similar motive for choosing to tackle his role.

“For me, I wanted to do the movie because it’s different than everything I’ve done before,” he said. “I’ve never really been able to be the off-the-handle, crazy cop guy. And it [was shot] in Puerto Rico, and I love rum. So I was like, ‘I can shoot

a movie in Puerto Rico and drink rum. So why wouldn’t I do that?’”

But filming the movie did not always feel like a vacation. Timberlake and Mackie both discussed the pains of filming one particular chase scene.

“There was this burnt out building we were shooting [the scene in],” Mackie said. “It was literally mud and goop, and all kinds of shit everywhere … and there was this other actor in the scene … he was a big, stocky dude, and he was beating the shit out of Justin every take.”

“He was going hard on you,” Mackie said to Timberlake. “I was like, ‘Yo, glad it ain’t me.’ I was in the background laughing at [Timberlake]. That was my favorite moment.”

Of course, with his level of fame, rumors frequently surround Timberlake’s future career moves, the most recent of which suggested he would be playing the Riddler in an upcoming Batman film. Timberlake shrugged

JUSTIN continued on PG. 5

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PAGE TURNER: AAWW FOOD AND BOOKS FESTIVAL DISCOVER YOUR PURE POTENTIALITY: MINI RETREAT Saturday, Oct. 5, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 6, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. | NYU Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life, Room 475 This workshop promises to help you break from negative habits and achieve your full potential, allowing attendees to find a more inspired, powerful way of living.

Saturday, Oct. 5., 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with after-party at 8 p.m. | Atlantic and Third avenues Featuring over 40 writers, artists, activists and performers as well as many Brooklyn food vendors, Page Turner is a free event where guests can explore make-a-poem booths and attend dumplingmaking sessions. Ashok Kondabolu of Das Racist hosts the after-party.

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“HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON: A DANCE ADVENTURE” Saturday, Oct. 5, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. through Sunday, Oct. 6. 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. | Skirball Center for the Performing Arts “Harold and the Purple Crayon: A Dance Adventure” is based on Crockett Johnson’s beloved children’s book series.

This version features a score by musician Andrew Bird and is told through dance by Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

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FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE, SOUL ASYLUM AND EVAN DANDO Saturday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m. | Webster Hall, 125 E. 11th St.

Dwight Reagan stands with “Uncle Ron” and an American flag to protest President Barack Obama’s visit to Chattanooga, Tenn.

PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK

See the masterminds behind the 2000s anthem, “Stacy’s Mom,” perform with Soul Asylum and Evan Dando of The Lemonheads at the local venue Webster Hall. Tickets cost $32.

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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.

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City sees increase in film industry NYU hosts student debate alongside Chinese broadcast

By ANN SCHMIDT

The growth of New York City’s film and television industry has accelerated over the last decade.

Last year, 267 films were shot in New York City, a major increase from the 188 a year before. A record 27 television series are expected to be filmed in the city this season, according to the New York City Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment.

Tisch film and television professor David Irving said the expansion of the industry is due to the New York state film tax credit, which was recently extended until 2019 and encourages film and television production in the city.

“The current, and well-funded, New York state tax credit would

tempt any production to shoot in New York,” Irving said.

Stern professor William Greene, who teaches a course on the economics of the entertainment and media industry, agreed that the tax credits are helpful, but said the rise in the film and television industry is due to overall industry growth and the continued appeal of New York.

“I believe filmmakers would come here anyway,” Greene said. “New York will always be the destination.”

Richard Shelgren, a producer who has worked with different forms of media from commercials to fulllength films, attributed the surge to the use of technology and the Internet, as well as the general talent and hard work of those in the city.

FILE PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN

Made in NY panel highlights New York film talent in Brooklyn.

“[Using technology to improve the industry] is already happening in other places,” Shelgren said. “New York is able to capitalize on that better.”

This use of technology and media creativity has been encouraged by Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s two new initiatives, the Cornell NYC Tech’s degree program in Connective Media and the Made in NY Media Center, which were announced Oct. 1. “[The growing industry] fits in well with Mayor Bloomberg’s tech initiative for the city, since the world of media production is going digital,” Stern marketing professor Sunder Narayanan said.

Between 2004 and 2012, the city’s film and television industry has created 30,000 jobs, according to the Mayor’s Office. Since 2002, the industry’s direct spending has increased over $2 billion.

Tisch sophomore Melissa Garcia, studying film and television production, said the growing industry is an opportunity for more internships and the expanding industry is causing her to rethink her future plans.

“While I’ve mainly been considering Hollywood or mainstream television, I have been playing with the idea of just staying in New York City permanently and producing indie films instead,” Garcia said.

Ann Schmidt is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.

ALCOHOL continued from PG. 1

Residence halls use hashtags to inform students about dangers of alcohol, other substances

residence hall tweeted “#AlcoholFYI A daily glass of wine will add 10lbs each year #nyuthemoreyouknow #rubincares.”

However, some students said they interpreted the university’s initiative as a way to instill fear in students, and that they would not change students’ views.

“Fear is not the way to combat the issue,” CAS freshman Max Raderstorf said. “I am educated on the topic of alcohol, and I have heard just about anything that you can throw at me.”

CAS freshman Revathi Krishnan also said the tweets will not affect her decision to drink.

“I’m fine with drinking,” Krishnan said. “What someone else thinks doesn’t affect me. I have it under control.”

NYU spokesman Philip Lentz said

AlcoholFYI is not the only program aimed at alcohol and drug education.

“The tweets are one of a number of initiatives conducted in the residences to help inform students about the consequences of using alcohol and other substances,” Lentz said.

“These include evening programs run by the residence hall staff, residence hall floor signage and bulletin board informational literature.”

Some of these evening programs include Third North residence hall’s recent Cocktails with a Twist program, which was aimed at educating students about the dangers of rohypnol, the date rape drug.

A resident assistant, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said discussing underaged drinking was important.

“We go on hospital runs and see

the effects of people not knowing what they are doing,” the RA said.

“But because [the Twitter initiative] is coming from an authority who has an underlying motive, it may be ineffective as opposed to a student saying, ‘Hey, be careful.’”

Despite what some students have said, Hill said these initiatives appear to have a positive effect on the students.

“It seems as though the tweets have garnered attention throughout the NYU community,” Hill said. “The Inter-Residence Hall Council believes that the tweets are effective insofar as they provide residents with information that will help them make better informed decisions about drinking.”

Kav Harjai is a contributing writer.

Email him at news@nyunews.com.

VIA STARDEBATE.COM

CCTV’s second annual debate series comes to NYU.

By RAMIRO S. FUNEZ The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development will host China Central Television’s “Star of Outlook” Global Elite Debate Competition at the Kimmel Center for University Life on Friday and Saturday.

The Global Elite Debate Competition seeks to create a dialogue between cultures by allowing Chinese and American students to engage in speeches and debates.

This is the second year CCTV will hold the competition in the United States — it launched its first series of debates at the University of Pennsylvania last year, where Steinhardt alumna YangYang Fang served as a lead organizer. After co-hosting the competition in Philadelphia, Fang pitched the idea to Steinhardt professors and was able to convince NYU to host the competition this year. The topics of this year’s debates and speeches will focus on education and its effect on culture, finance, environment, technology and philosophy. “[Fang] believed that NYU, given its global reputation as a premier research university, would be an excellent location for this year’s competition and the university agreed,” NYU spokesman Philip Lentz said.

Fang, who will be moderating some debates this

year, said she feels extremely honored to host the opening and closing ceremonies. She said she feels passionate about the program’s goals and said the broadcast would publicize NYU Shanghai.

“The event is educationfocused, but wants students to have fun in the process of the debate,” Fang said. “We believe firmly in the success of the event, as the selected participating students have shown much enthusiasm and all preparations have been finalized.”

The competition, which will be broadcast on Chinese television later this year, is a partnership among CCTV, the Dong Fang International Center for Educational Exchange, the Allen Asia Alliance and the YC International Group.

“The Global Elite Debate Competition is a unique platform to promote knowledge exchange and cultural understanding between the young student leaders of China and the United States,” Dong Fang International U.S. representative Chen Wang said in a press release.

“Holding the event at NYU helps showcase the university’s global commitment to higher education,” Lentz said.

Ramiro Funez is a contributing writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.

Students build diverse community at Shanghai campus

By AFEEFA TARIQ

A month after NYU Shanghai welcomed its first class, previous concerns over space, campus diversity and civil liberties are improving.

According to an NYU press release published in 2011, the main campus would be located in Shanghai’s Pudong district to immerse students in Chinese culture. Currently, the campus is located on borrowed space at East China Normal University.

“Our permanent campus building

in Pudong has all 15 stories built, it’s all glassed in, and the roof is on,” Jeffrey Lehman, the vice chancellor of NYU Shanghai. “We’re right on schedule to move in next summer.”

Lehman, who previously served as president of Cornell University and dean of the University of Michigan Law School, said the administrators are also seeing more diversity in its student body.

“Everything I see so far — from the multicultural performance groups during the talent show, to the multicultural parliamentary body that

drafted the student government constitution, to the multicultural study groups preparing for classes — tells me our students are all in to seize their moment,” Lehman said.

During its inception, NYU Shanghai also received heavy criticism for opening campuses in repressed countries such as Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. The NYU press release said that students at NYU Shanghai were going to be encouraged to engage in open inquiry and classes would demonstrate academic freedom.

Usman Shahid, a freshman at NYU Shanghai, said he thinks that the Shanghai campus does not limit freedom of expression.

“Most of us are free to speak, write and do what we please,” Shahid said.

Amy Zhao, another member of the inaugural class of 2017, said she believes that the quality of education is the same as it is at the Washington Square campus.

“Since it is a new campus, the school pays a lot of attention to the quality of education,” Zhao said.

“Our learning style is very flexible and we all have opportunities to chat with our professor personally.”

Zhao also said NYU Shanghai is culturally diverse.

“It is a very special environment because in China it is really hard to gather the people from forty three countries together and we even live and learn together,” Zhao said.

“NYU Shanghai is a miracle.”

Afeefa Tariq is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM

FEATURES

EDITED BY JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

JIGITT continued from PG. 1

Jigitt creates virtual bulletin board for college community

free. However, there is a $10 fee for posting jobrelated advertisements in order to maintain the website without passing the costs on to students.

In the near future, Lew plans to alter the site so that only users with verified NYU email addresses can view certain types of posts, such as those related to student parties.

Most recently, Lew has extended Jigitt services to Brandeis University and Baruch College and plans to branch out to schools geographically close to NYU and his hometown of San Diego.

“My goal for the next year is to be launched successfully in around 60 schools,” Lew said. “I want to keep expanding and keep helping students buy and sell their stuff safely and easily.” *Kevin Dang is a con-

tributing writer for WSN’s sports section.

Deborah Lubanga is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Jigitt combines aspects of Craigslist and Facebook.

DAY IN THE LIFE Day in the Life is a recurring feature where students with interesting lives share what it is like to spend a day in their shoes.

By BRYNA SHUMAN Anyone familiar with musical theater is fully aware of how time-consuming it can be — participating in one show alone is a taxing time commitment. But Gallatin sophomore and self-proclaimed musical theater junkie Kerry Candeloro manages to study speech pathology, theater and sociolinguistics and devote most of her day to the art.

8 a.m. | Candeloro is up bright and early to start her day by rushing tickets for a Broadway show, which she does successfully. Candeloro has had a passion for musical theater ever since seeing a production of “Cinderella” when she was 9-years-old.

“It was my first show, and I’ve known ever since that, that’s what I wanted to do,” Candeloro said. “My dream job is to be an accent coach for actors.”

10 a.m. | Candeloro interns at the Broadway Dreams Foundation, a national nonprofit musical theater training organization. Students of all ages learn from various Broadway actors and directors.

As an intern, Candeloro helps with the organization and promotion of upcoming events. The hard work she does with the foundation has paid off before. This past summer, Candeloro was invited to provide backup vocals for Broadway Dreams Foun-

NYU Irish film festival explores ethnic themes

By HALEY STEINBERG

Upon arriving in New York in 2011, independent producer and director Niall McKay had a chance encounter with a representative from the Glucksman Ireland House at an Irish Council event. They instantly recognized the potential for a mutually beneficial relationship.

Friday Oct. 4 marks the beginning of New York’s third annual Irish Film Festival, which was founded as a partnership between McKay and Glucksman House. At the festival, six critically acclaimed contemporary Irish films will be screened at the Cantor Film Center over three days. Question-and-answer sessions with the filmmakers and industry panels will also be available to the public for a small price.

“It was a marriage made in heaven,” McKay said of the collaboration with Glucksman House. “We provide them with a great screening series.

They provide us with great support, a fantastic venue and a wonderful group of people to work with.”

McKay said niche film festivals are becoming increasingly important.

“Like everything, funding for film has plummeted dramatically in recent years,” McKay said. “There is a new breed of filmmaker emerging, and these new filmmakers are making commercially successful, low budget films.”

Screening on the festival’s opening

night is “Run & Jump,” which follows a troubled Irish family in the wake of personal tragedy and stars “Saturday Night Live” cast member Will Forte.

The films feature both personal stories and larger themes such as homecoming, as noted by Assistant Director of Glucksman Ireland House, Anne Solari.

“Ireland has been defined by consistent emigration out of the country,” Solari said, citing the mid-19th century Great Famine. “Some of the most moving films have been about families, friends, couples and communities being reunited.”

NYU Tisch and Steinhardt sophomore Becca Schuchat said she wanted to go to the festival to experience a different kind of film.

“I’m excited to see the stories and artistry that emerge from such an old and rich culture,” she says. “And knowing Ireland, I’m sure there will be some beautiful landscapes.”

Both McKay and Solari were excited about the future of both the Irish Film Festival and Irish cinema in general.

“Ireland has always had more than its fair share of world-class writers, poets and musicians,” McKay said. “But now we are beginning to have more than our fair share of world-class filmmakers.”

Haley Steinberg is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.

dation’s artist in residence, Joey Contreras, on his latest album.

1 p.m. | After grabbing a white pizza at the Kimmel Center for Student Life for lunch, Candeloro heads to a meeting for Gallatin Theatre Troupe, of which she is an active member. The troupe is a student-run organization geared to help students interested in theater production.

3:30 p.m. | Candeloro rushes to class once her meeting wraps up. Her favorite class this semester is an honors seminar she is taking through CAS, which examines how art and the brain interact by looking at various art forms, from acrobats to hospital clowns, and relating them to neuroscience.

5 p.m. | Candeloro, who has been cast as Rosencrantz in the Performing Arts Faculty of Gallatin’s upcoming production of “Hamlet,” attends rehearsal in the evening. Rehearsals for the show have just begun, and the cast is still spending a lot of time becoming familiar with the text. Candeloro auditioned completely on a whim and without any advanced preparation, but said that Shakespeare comes naturally to her.

“In high school, I had the opportunity to see ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Stratfordupon-Avon, Shakespeare’s birthplace,” Candeloro said. “Ever since then, I’ve really enjoyed Shakespeare. ‘Hamlet’ is

one of my favorites, so it’s an honor to be a part of this production.”

9 p.m. | Candeloro catches a performance of “First Date,” a Broadway musical, and take pictures with star Zachary Levi at the stage door. A late dinner at Shake Shack of shack burgers, fries and a vanilla milkshake marks the perfect end to a busy day.

Bryna Shuman is a staff writer.

Email her at features@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF KERRY CANDELORO

Kerry Candeloro spends much of her time working with musical theater.

NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

ARTS

EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM JUSTIN continued from PG. 1

Timberlake, Mackie trade stories, laughs about work on ‘Runner’

off that rumor with a smile.

“The Riddler thing came up because someone asked me if I would play Robin [alongside “Runner” co-star Affleck], and I said no, respectfully,” Timberlake said. “They said, ‘Well, what about a villain? Then I was asked who my favorite superhero villain was, and I did say that my favorite is the Riddler, but that’s as far as [I will be] going with it.”

Timberlake also reflected on the theme of the American Dream, a central idea in “Runner.”

“The American Dream, in

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my opinion, has always been the same,” Timberlake said.

“I think what’s changed is technology … the only thing that’s new about the American Dream is the access we have through the technology, to do things faster than we ever have.”

“That’s what was so fun about this movie,” he said. “Making a movie about something that’s happening right now.”

Mohamed Hassan is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.

VIA CBS.COM

Film, television star reflects on creative process, new CBS sitcom Tisch alum Jerry O’Connell discusses his new CBS sitcom, “We Are Men” and offers advice for students aspiring to work in the entertainment industry.

Go to nyunews.com for the full interview.

NBC introduces audiences to unlikable ‘Family’ in sitcom

By JEREMY PICK

If you’ve seen a city bus in the past two weeks, then you’re bound to have noticed an advertisement for NBC’s “New Family of Comedies.” One of these is Mike Sikowitz’s “Welcome to the Family,” a show that revolves around a Caucasian family and a Latino family learning to get along when their lovebird children discover that they’re expecting.

Shows like “Family” represent the network’s strategy for the fall, one that’s trying to capitalize on the success of broad sitcoms like “Modern Family.” But in a time slot once occupied by modern classics like “The Office” and “30 Rock,” one must wonder how “Family” compares.

Mike O’Malley, otherwise known as the host of Nickelodeon’s “Guts” for a solid three years, or most recently as Kurt Hummel’s father on “Glee,” stars as Dan Yoder.

His teenage daughter, Molly — who conforms to any and all teenage stereotypes — has just graduated from high school. Dan and his wife Caroline are looking forward to getting some alone time once Molly leaves for college.

But trouble arises when Dan decides to shape up and hit the local boxing gym. He has an uncomfortable run-in with the gym’s owner, Chuey (Ricardo Chavira). The two don’t get along — Chuey thinks Dan is spoiled, and Dan thinks Chuey is judgmental.

Unluckily for the both of them, Chuey happens to be the father of Junior, Molly’s boyfriend and baby daddy.

With the children’s revelation to their parents, the two fathers must learn to put aside their differences.

The biggest issue with “Family” is that it’s a show about a group of people who hate each other. These characters don’t inspire much sympathy, and it’s difficult to connect with anything they say or do.

For example, Junior is depicted as a super smart kid throughout the entire pilot. He’s valedictorian of his high school and he’s on the path to Stanford — why he would fall for a girl as dimwitted as Molly doesn’t make any sense. And unfortunately, for a show created by a former “Friends” writer, “Family” isn’t all that funny. Only one or two lines from the first episode deserve a laugh.

“Family” demonstrates a severe misdirection for NBC, a network whose Thursday night lineup has always been a sacred haven of sitcoms, from their “Must See TV” campaign to their more recent “Comedy Night Done Right.” “Welcome to the Family,” at least in its pilot, fails to live up to the pedigree of those previous lineups. The characters require major adjustments, and the writing needs punching up. For now, this is one family with which you can avoid spending time.

Jeremy Pick is a staff writer.

Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

Mike O’Malley stars as a confused father.

Beautiful visuals, impressive audio fail to overcome poor acting in ‘Parkland’

By KATHY DIMAYA

“Parkland” is neither as thought-provoking nor as illuminating as it aspires to be. Considering its material — several untold perspectives of the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination in 1963 — this failure is particularly disappointing.

“Parkland” features a tremendous cast, including Zac Efron and Billy Bob Thornton as a doctor and FBI head, respectively.

Unfortunately, the marquee names do little more than fill space when the film truly needs a stronger plot. For the most part, the acting is mediocre, especially

VIA FACEBOOK.COM

from Efron. His out-of-place good looks, ceaseless pout and blank stares distract rather than impress. Meanwhile, Thornton simply yells at every other character to an exhausting degree.

Despite the dull acting in “Parkland,” one actor emerges as the real gem of the film. Paul Giamatti shines as Abraham Zapruder, the astonished eyewitness and cameraman to JFK’s last moments. He exemplifies exactly what every other character should have been.

Giamatti plays his role true to life, without frivolous melodrama or artificial excess.

James Badge Dale is also quite good as Robert Oswald, Lee Harvey Oswald’s humiliated brother.

A mysterious character in the first portion of the film, the audience only sees the name Oswald on his office desk while he is working. As “Parkland” continues, however, the viewer learns more about Robert, and much of that is the sophistication and subtlety of Dale’s performance.

“Parkland’s” semblance of a plot is a shaky one despite its foundation in true events. The film amounts to nothing more than a mishmash of little narratives cobbled together into a mess of confusion. This storytelling style does little to complement the film’s technical aspects, which are surprisingly impressive.

One of the film’s sole redeeming qualities is its stunning cinematography. The effective use of drifting camera shots and blurry backdrops demands the viewer’s focus on each main character individually, fully absorbing the dialogue and allowing them to interpret the scene at hand.

Audio also plays a prominent role in the film because sounds signify various meanings. A baby crying at Oswald’s funeral, for example, demonstrates the ways Robert Oswald’s life will always be tainted. A telephone ringing at Zapruder’s home shows how his life has been permanently altered by the assassination. The sounds are haunting in their own distinct ways, showing what is most important about a specific moment.

Despite how unbalanced and complicated the film is, “Parkland” still presents exemplary stylistic elements. But style and cinematography do not capture the attention of audiences — characters and performances do. Writer and director Peter Landesman seems to have entirely misunderstood this concept, and this mistake ultimately sinks “Parkland.”

Kathy Dimaya is a contributing writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.

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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword Note: A certain three-letter word, appropriate to this puzzle’s theme, goes in the unnumbered center square.

ACROSS 1 Fig. mentioned in Miranda warnings 4 Feudal V.I.P. 8 Made ends meet?

14 Your substitute?

15 Arabian Peninsula land 16 Lead dancer in a ballet company 17 Exonerated boxer who is the subject of a Bob Dylan song 20 Exceedingly 21 Tennis’s Agassi 22 Capt. : Navy :: ___ : Army 23 Grazeland?

24 Young ’uns 25 Drops 27 Transition 29 ___ and the Waves (“Walking on Sunshine” band) 31 Superman’s dog

33 2008 recipient of govt. largesse 34 Piercing gaze 35 Ingredient in a witch’s potion 39 Address for a G.I. 40 Weighted fishing nets 41 Walt Disney World’s ___ Lagoon 45 Name dropper, often?

46 Get extra value from 48 “___ a Spell on You” (1956 hit) 50 Nevada birthplace of Pat Nixon 51 Resident of an elaborate underground “city” 52 Hidden valleys 53 Farm females

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE B I T S

A C H E

B E E R

H O P E S

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R A T A

E E S N S U L E N I S I S S T U E S I D E T A R A L E R I D D A B O A R T

M A T T A T E A M S E R E

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55 Minor-leaguer whose team is named after a Coney Island roller coaster 59 Orangutan locale 60 Land with a harp on its coat of arms 61 ___ lane 62 Measure of a man?

63 Falls into decay 64 Revolutionary icon DOWN 1 Tenderfoot 2 Hustling is the same as cheating, according to these authorities 3 Where to work out 4 Its code uses just G, T, A and C 5 Four of a decathlon’s 10 events 6 Enforced silence 7 Giant Ferris wheel on the Thames 8 Easily passed 9 Terre in the eau zone?

10 Border 11 Name in old graffiti 12 Be sassy, with “off’ 13 Autumnal hue 18 Uses sock puppets to talk to a therapist, say 19 Voting against 25 Is suitable for 26 Ogling wolfishly

Edited by Will Shortz 1

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PUZZLE BY TIMOTHY POLIN

27 Med. readout 28 Vast treeless area 30 Go up, up, up 32 “That being said,” in textspeak 36 Mess hall queue 37 Green, juicy fruit 38 Ending for a record-breaker 41 Certain teachers 42 Unctuous

43 Enlightening experience 44 Ambassador from the Holy See 46 Certain teacher 47 Onetime sponsor of what is now Minute Maid Park 49 Part of an affair to remember?

52 Latch (onto)

54 Portentous nights 56 Air Force ___ 57 It means “white” in Hawaiian 58 Instant

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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

ACTIVISM

Global Citizen Festival validates slacktivism

By OMAR ETMAN

The Global Citizen Festival returned to New York City for a second time last Saturday to much fanfare and acclaim. And why not?

An opportunity to enjoy Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys, John Mayer and Kings of Leon free of charge, and help eradicate poverty, is worthy of excitement, right?

Not so fast.

The lure of the heavily publicized Central Park concert is understandable, but it also undermines the intrinsic rewards and extrinsic impacts that come from substantive humanitarian work. Winning tickets to last weekend’s show involved entering a lottery, but this process was not simple. After registration, potential concert attendees were encouraged to watch videos, sign petitions and share posts on social networking sites to earn points. Eight points guaranteed one entry in the lottery.

Such a system demands feigned interest and an inordinate amount of free time to watch long videos and read insubstantial articles about improving maternal health.

During the daylong event, speakers and musicians echoed sentiments touted on the website. Concertgoers were repeatedly told that they were saving the world. Really? Being drunk on the Great Lawn and humping a nearby audience member to the tune of “If I Ain’t Got You” is saving the world? The problem with negligible participation in humanitarian causes, and being wrongly told again and again that it is impactful, is that it weakens the necessity for active involvement. Why donate further when it takes minimal effort to save the world? While the Global Citizen Festival is a profitable event and raises considerable funds for worthy causes, it discourages contribution past the most basic level.

In the Oxford Dictionary, slacktivism is defined as “actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement.” The Kony 2012 movement was slacktivism, a feel-good undertaking with little practical impact, and so is Global Citizen’s effort. But this is not to say that slacktivism should end.

Slacktivists have ignited important conversations that have the potential to blossom into meaningful change. The Global Citizen Festival has brought needed exposure to issues, such as poverty, gender inequality and child mortality, that are resolvable, but the commercial altruism the concert engenders makes few strides toward finding legitimate solutions. It serves the charity’s operators more than the struggling children on the other end. Saving the world isn’t easy, and Global Citizen shouldn’t trick people into thinking it is.

Omar Etman is a contributing columnist.

Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.

GAY RIGHTS

Gay men should be allowed to donate blood

By LENA RAWLEY

One of my friends was recently turned away from a blood drive when he disclosed he was gay and sexually active. Although he has tested negative for HIV, the group running the blood drive would not allow him to participate. They told him it was simply a cautionary measure.

Since 1977, the Food and Drug Administration has upheld a policy that defers sexually active gay men from donating blood, even if they tested negative for HIV. When the policy was instituted at the height of the AIDS epidemic, it was justifiable. However, it is 2013 — this policy has lost its relevance and is now a discriminatory measure against gay men.

The FDA entertains a deceptive stereotype that gay men are consistently having promiscuous, unprotected sex. But the hypocrisy behind the policy is that heterosexual donors can give blood without being scanned for HIV. While HIV testing is recommended for donors, the FDA does not enforce a test prior to the donation. Only after blood is taken is

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it tested for contamination, which makes it more unreasonable and inequitable that they deny gay men to give blood, considering it will be tested post-donation. Conceivably, a gay man who is HIVnegative cannot give blood, but a straight man who is HIV-positive can. It is no surprise then that the American Medical Association opposed the archaic policy on the basis that it was offensive and not based on sound science.

Not only is the act of rejecting a gay man’s blood offensive, it’s also dangerous. By turning away blood, the FDA significantly decreases the pool of eligible and clean blood donors. As of June, the American Red Cross cited system-wide blood shortages,

stating they were down about 10 percent from the previous year.

The situation had only worsened

by September — Red Cross president Bernadine Healy claimed it was one of the worst shortages the Red Cross has faced. As blood is vital to many medical procedures, such a shortage results in the cancellation of necessary surgeries. Getting rid of the ban would result in an increase in donations of clean blood.

The FDA must wake up today and part with the discrimination of the past by lifting the the ban.

This year, the country has witnessed significant strides in gay rights and keeping such an archaic policy in place is shameful.

If the U.S. government recognizes gay marriage, the FDA should allow gay men to donate blood. Gay men are not a threat to the blood pool. HIV is no longer a gay disease — it is a reality for many different people, gay or straight. We may sleep with different partners, but in blood we are all equal.

Lena Rawley is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

CNN has responsibility to inform, not entertain

Ever since its revival, the CNN television program “Crossfire” has been met with much controversy. The show is supposedly designed to present a debate between politically liberal and politically conservative pundits and offer unique, challenging perspectives to the public. However this description is deceptive. As suggested by its name, the show is about exchanging fiery partisan jabs and preemptively halting any nuanced discussion or compromise.

There has been controversy over CNN’s lack of disclosure regarding the hosts’ political involvement with possible guests on the show. Senator Rand Paul received donations from one of the multiple conservative groups of which Newt Gingrich was a member. Senator Paul has already been featured as a guest on the show within its first month on air. The integrity of journalism depends upon eliminating conflicts of interest in the news, and “Crossfire” fails to do this at the most basic level. CNN claims objectivity by arguing that both sides are well represented. But this makes the term objectivity wretched, as the presentation of two contrasting viewpoints does not eliminate bias — it merely places places them side by side.

Jon Stewart, in a brief appearance on “Crossfire” in 2004, argued the show does not present the various nuances of a political issue, but rather tries to create drama and tension between left and right. Interestingly enough, there doesn’t seem to be much of a distinction between “Crossfire” and Stewart’s own program, “The Daily Show.” In effect, “Crossfire” is as much about drama as “The Daily Show” is about humor. Both shows entertain, feature a cast of memorable characters and sometimes provide valuable opinions or news. The struggle between objectivity and entertainment is deeply entrenched in the corporate media world.

The fundamental question that arises is whether a forprofit news company, such as CNN, has any choice but to adopt an entertaining approach to their product because they need to make news profitable. But CNN does have a choice. The corporate news outlets feed on people’s desire to watch shows that reinforce — rather than challenge — their beliefs. But the excuse that people like these shows does not remove the ethical and moral responsibilities that journalism entails.

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 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Unlikely women’s tennis doubles team proves perfect

By FERENC PUSKAS

Tennis wasn’t Stern sophomore Alison Wang’s first choice. Actually, she began her athletic career with ice skating. She only started playing tennis at the suggestion of her parents. While she heeded their advice, she saw it as a recreational sport.

“I didn’t start to take [tennis] seriously until my coach suggested I play in tournaments,” Wang said.

“That’s when I really fell in love with the sport.”

This past weekend, Wang, along with LSP sophomore Ashley Masanto, competed at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Northeast Regional Championships.

They both reached the round of 16 in the singles bracket. However, it was in the doubles where the two were able to excel and reach the semifinals. Although they didn’t advance past the semifinals, their progress and partnership provide hope for the future of NYU women’s tennis. While Wang’s journey to collegiate

tennis came unexpectedly, Masanto has a different tennis background.

“I started watching professionals play when I was 9 and I thought it seemed like fun so I started [to play],” she said.

Masanto led St. Francis Preparatory School in Fresh Meadows, N.Y., to a three consecutive CHSAA Championships and helped lead her second high school, Baldwin Senior High School in Baldwin, N.Y., to a conference title. When Masanto arrived at NYU, she was ranked in the top 100 for the class of 2012 women’s tennis recruits.

This unlikely pair has proved to be a winning combination. Although Masanto and Wang are only sophomores, they have already established themselves as two of the premier tennis players on the team, and they show no signs of stopping.

“This year is different from the past because my game has improved, and I’m a stronger player,” Masanto said. “I love

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the competition and the feeling of winning a match.”

On the court, the duo bring out the best in each other by working together.

“Our styles complement each other and we always encourage each other to do our best,” Masanto said.

Head coach Horace

Choy said the nature of their relationship makes them tough to beat.

“They really get along,” Choy said. “Neither gets down on each other and they are able to pick each other up.”

This encouragement on the court has bolstered

a solid friendship off the court as well. Masanto and Wang have become great friends, and being on the same doubles team only strengthens that bond.

“Having teammates to rely on both during matches and outside of tennis is terrific,” Wang said.

Wang and Masanto will play with the women’s tennis team on Friday, Oct. 11, at the New York State Division III Championships at Ithaca College.

Ferenc Puskas is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF ALLISON WANG AND ASHLEY MASANTO

Sophomore tennis duo Alison Wang and Ashley Masanto bond on and off the tennis court.