NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 72
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013
nyunews.com
Violets cross country ranks nationally
Students react to gay hate crimes
By SYDNEY PEREIRA
Four meets into the season, the NYU men’s and women’s cross country teams are nationally ranked, 11th and 16th respectively. In the atlantic region, they are also ranked first and third. “When we came in this season, none of us were quite sure what to expect,” said Dylan Karten, men’s team captain and CAS senior. “Since I got here, we had a lot to look back at.” “Some of the work ethic was lost, and being back at square one has humbled us a little bit,” he said. “It made people work harder to get to the level we were once at. Now, there’s no taking it for granted.” In their last meet, the Dickinson College Long and Short Invitational on Sept. 28, both sides beat teams that were originally ranked higher than the Violets. The women’s team finished first with combined scores from the 6-kilometer and 4-kilometer races, while the men finished second behind host Dickinson College with combined scores from
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By LARSON BINZER
CORALINE WANG FOR WSN
Reddit co-founder talks entrepreneurship, inspiration at Tisch Hall. Drawing on the example of a Gallatin alum, Alexis Ohanian encouraged aspiring tech wizards and entrepreneurs to adopt a go-getter attitude in the social media business age in a discussion yesterday.
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Miley Cyrus delivers unpredictable, impressive mix of songs on ‘Bangerz’ By MACKENZIE BRADY
The self-proclaimed “new and more mature” Miley Cyrus made her album debut with the release of “Bangerz.” With it
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comes bad news for her detractors — it’s not Hannah Montana hits the club. As much as the pop culture world tries to pin her down, “Bangerz” proves that there is more to Cyrus than we give her credit for. If this album is a train wreck, it’s a train wreck in which the listener doesn’t mind being along for the ride. There are songs about twerking, popping molly and house parties, but, perhaps shockingly, those do not make up the majority of the album. Cyrus knows what people expect from her, and she is determined to do the opposite. The album seems content to flip from the hip-hop heavy “Do My Thang,” where
Gay hate crimes have been on the rise in New York City, including one high-profile incident that occurred near NYU. On May 18, 32-year-old Mark Carson was fatally shot at point-blank range while walking in Greenwich Village. The New York Times reported that by May 2013, gay hate crimes in New York City were 70 percent higher than in May 2012. In addition to Carson, same-sex couples have also been targeted over the past several months. On May 5, a gay couple that was holding hands was beaten by a group of men near Madison Square Garden. Another gay couple was attacked outside a Chelsea movie theater on Aug. 14, after the assailants insulted their sexuality. Hate crimes against same-sex couples have affected gay couples at NYU in terms of their comfort with going out into the city together.
Cyrus asserts how much she has grown up, to a ballad, “Maybe You’re Right,” that sounds clean and innocuous enough to fit in with her Disney days. As soon as you think you know where she’s going, Cyrus belts out an Amy Winehouse-esque “FU.” She crosses genres without apology and, more often than not, pulls it off. The exception is the weakest song on the album, “4x4,” which is so ridiculous no parody could prove more ludicrous than the track itself. It is difficult to believe that this song was made in earnest. Listeners will cringe when they
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
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Greenmarket vendors celebrate 35 years of service
Intelligent robots needed in modern work force
After serving Union Square patrons for over three decades, vendors reflect on the martket’s impact.
Too much time is spent fearing robotics and not enough time is spent developing the technology.
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TECHNOLOGY on PG. 7
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
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TOP TWEETS
Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ
WOMEN IN ROCK By JAKE FOLSOM This week, Sleigh Bells released its third LP, “Bitter Rivals.” Sleigh Bells deliver music that spans genre and time, with guitar that recalls ’80s hard rock and metal. But frontwoman Alexis Krauss rarely breaks from her understated delivery, keeping it icy cool or singsong. For anyone with a soft spot for Tawny Kitaen or “Rock of Love,” this can be disappointing. Sleigh Bells utilize face-melting guitar, but rocking out doesn’t seem to be Krauss’ thing. Those who heard “Bitter Rivals,” and were left wanting for a can of hairspray and set of pipes, there is this list. Songs that feature, or at the very least celebrate, the elegant ladies of hard rock’s years past.
Adam Alter @adamleealter
Study by NYU's Nick Hayes: in general, men prefer to be powerful; women prefer to be loved
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“Oh, Pretty Woman” — Van Halen “Crimson and Clover” — Joan Jett
“Terror on the Town” — Lizzy Borden “Here I Go Again” — Whitesnake
Blog Editor
AMY ZHANG
news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,
I'm so glad I go to NYU. I wouldn't know what to do with myself at real college.
“Alone” — Heart
LYANNE NATIVIDAD
SENIOR STAFF New York University Law @nyulaw
Taylor Armstrong @taytayarmstrong
“Bathroom Wall” — Faster Pussycat
Creative Director
KALEEL MUNROE
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“Don’t Call it Love” — Girlschool
HANQING CHEN
Special Issues Director
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Eight NYU Law alumnae were featured on Super Lawyers list of the New York Metro Top 50 Women.
“Edge of a Broken Heart” — Vixen
Web Managing Editor
Rembert Browne @rembert
two nyu freshman in coffee shop next to me on first date just traded soundclouds instead of numbers love is patient love is kind
MICHAEL DOMANICO arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
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news KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR,
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
RAQUEL WOODRUFF deputy opinion editors
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EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, PETER KEFFER
“Bad Reputation” — Joan Jett “Close My Eyes Forever” — Lita Ford
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“Every Rose Has Its Thorn” — Poison
ELLEN MCQUEEN
BUSINESS MANAGER CIRCULATION MANAGER
“Kiss Me Deadly” — Lita Ford
CHLOE COFFMAN
Kevin Hill @kevin_c_hill
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NYU was cooler in '11 #NYU #bobst #jaded
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ALISON LIZZIO
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ARIANA DIVALENTINO, ETHAN JACOBS
Mary C @marytc608
ADVISING
The kimmel playlist this morning >>>> #music #nyu #butreally
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EDITORS-AT-LARGE
JAEWON KANG, DAVID LIN, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG
CORRECTION:
A lone McDonald’s cup is left abandoned after being used to collect change.
PHOTO BY HANQING CHEN
In the Sept. 30, 2013 article titled “Elie Wiesel, Rwandan president discuss genocide,” a student quote was misattributed and not actually said by that or any student at the event. Additionally, Rwandan president Paul Kagame and Nobel Peace laureate Elie Wiesel were each misquoted in the piece. WSN regrets these errors.
GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Grant offers students professional training By NEELA QADIR
NYU has received a five-year grant totaling just under $2 million to create the NYU Science Training Enhancement Program, which will be run as a partnership between the NYU School of Medicine and the rest of the university to train biomedical graduates and postdoctoral students in their career paths. The leaders of NYU-STEP are director of` NYU Langone Medical Center postdoctoral office Keith Micoli, associate director of the NYU Washington Square postdoctoral office Christine Ponder and biology professor Carol Reiss. NYU-STEP is one out of 10 programs in the country funded by the National Institutes of Health, which awarded the grant, and is based on pilot programs developed by Micoli and other programs at NYU. Reiss said the program will provide graduate and postdoctoral students with training resources they do not currently have. “Research training, at the doctoral and postdoctoral levels, teaches many important critical thinking and research skills, but does not develop other professional skills and often does not provide trainees with career directions outside the academic research model,” Reiss said.
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Science students will receive more professional mentorship.
NYU-STEP offers formal courses, workshops, symposia, panel discussions, network building and internships. They will occur while the students are completing their research to allow them to assess their interests and skills in regards to what career they want to pursue. “In the spring, second-year graduate students in the biomedical sciences at Washington Square will be able to register for a one-credit Individual Development Plan course,” Ponder said. “We plan to offer many individual career development seminars.” Students have already started enrolling in the introductory course and more programing will begin in coming months. Chemistry graduate student Thomas Carberry, who is writing his thesis, said he enrolled in the program to explore different career opportunities. “I’d hope the program can give insights into the potential jobs for Ph.D. holders, since the current job market for professorial positions is slim and constant research seems rather monotonous for me,” Carberry said. The NIH was unable to comment about the grant because it can only comment on the current government shutdown. Reiss said the program directors are not sure if the medical center grants office received the federal money yet. “We received the ‘Notice of Award,’ but I do not know if the medical center grants office received the electronic transfer for year one,” Reiss said. “As of the end of last week, we did not have an internal account set up to charge against, but they may just have been busy with other things.”
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Reddit co-founder promotes entrepreneurship for students By PATRICK ANKER
Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian discussed entrepreneurship in the age of social media in Tisch Hall on Oct. 7. The event was hosted at the Paulson Auditorium at the Stern School of Business by the Gallatin Business Club and the Stern Entrepreneurship Exchange Club. As one of the founders of what is now considered the front page of the Internet, Ohanian opened the presentation with his desire to inspire entrepreneurial spirit in NYU’s budding tech wizards. His formal talk began with a statement that the world is round, but the Internet is not. “The World Wide Web is flat,” Ohanian said. “That is a really, really, really simple yet powerful idea. It is the world’s greatest stage and the world’s largest library, and it is at all of our fingertips.” Ohanian asked the audience if anyone had a published project that they were proud of and welcomed a student entrepreneur onto the podium to speak about his project — a website about himself. Ohanian praised the student for speaking in front of a crowd of random people and said he asked
CORALINE WANG FOR WSN
Alexis Ohanian discusses entrepreneurship at Tisch Hall. for a volunteer to prove a point. “That little gesture of being willing to put your hand up, and just go for it, is exactly what makes a difference between people who actually get [stuff] done and those who just think about it,” Ohanian said. He further sought to prove his point when he shared the stage with Gallatin alumna Lexi Lewtan, who discussed her role in the startup Betaworks, where she works as director of product and quality.
Neela Qadir is a deputy news editor. Email her at nqadir@nyunews.com.
CORALINE WANG FOR WSN
Lewton reflected on her undergraduate life at NYU, including how she became an entrepreneur, what NYU offered and how NYU fell short for her. “You really just have to get yourself out there,” Lewtan said. Jamie Lau, a 19-year-old audience member visiting from Vancouver, Canada, said he has heard other businessmen and entrepreneurs emphasize Ohanian’s message — just do it. “That’s what the message I got out of it was, and that’s a simple but great statement,” Lau said. President of Tech@NYU and Stern senior Emanuel Hahn said part of Reddit’s success is how it unexpectedly became a popular social media outlet. “Alexis Ohanian, and his cofounder Steve, deserves a lot of credit for taking that chance,” Hahn said. “That’s the nature of entrepreneurship, taking a chance on something that might not obviously succeed.” Patrick Anker is a contributing writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
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LGBTQ community reflects on safety in NYC since gay hate crime increase
“I have thought about [our safety], just in going out,” said Tisch second-year student Nick Grubbs, who is in a same-sex relationship. “There are times when we’re like ‘should we be holding hands in this area?’ ... In general I don’t feel unsafe as a gay individual.” This summer, an NYU student was allegedly the victim of an off-campus attack. A queer gay CAS junior, who wishes to remain unnamed for legal purposes, was allegedly assaulted by one of his suitemates, who was not an NYU student, and the suitemate’s girlfriend at their Bushwick apartment. A heated dispute occurred over letting two of the NYU student’s friends, who were both male, stay the night. “I hear [my suitemate] yelling out in the common room, like how I am always having guys over, and how I take showers with them,” the student said. “He thought the guy on the couch was another one of my lovers.” The student went to the common area to talk to the suitemate, who, according to the student, tended to be aggressive toward apartment residents, and yelling allegedly escalated to a physical conflict. “He beat me, just out of nowhere he started slugging me in the head. He punched me like three times in the head, then my roommates pulled him off of me,” the student said. “I was crying a lot. Then I went up to him and I was like, ‘Why would you punch me?’ because it went so quickly from us yelling to him calling me a faggot then punching me.”
Shortly after the alleged assault, the student and the girlfriend exchanged words in regards to her boyfriend’s actions, and she allegedly hit him as well. The student’s friends called the police on his behalf, and the student said an officer told him that his attacker would be charged with a hate crime felony, while the girlfriend would be charged with a misdemeanor. However, both were charged with a misdemeanor. “I have to be seriously injured or die for it to be charged as a hate crime,” the student said. To combat levels of discomfort among LGBTQ groups and individuals, NYU’s LGBTQ Student Center hosts events all year, including anti-violence programs. “We haven’t done anything specifically in response to the hate crimes, but we’re open to it, should someone come to us concerned,” LGBTQ Center assistant director Christopher Woods said. During Transgender Awareness Week in November, the center is planning to host a self-defense class associated with the Audre Lorde Project. Assistant director of NYU public safety Jay Zwicker said the department recognizes the severity of the hate crimes, but since the end of last academic year, the only hate crime to be reported to NYU occurred in June and entailed anti-gay slurs. Woods said although the West Village and Greenwich Village have a reputation of being a safe LGBTQ environ-
ment, he advised students to use common sense. “[New York City] is a city at the end of the day,” Woods said. “I caution people to be aware of their surroundings and who is around them and what is happening around them to keep safe.” Larson Binzer is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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A couple was insulted for their sexuality and assaulted outside the Clearview Cinemas in Chelsea.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
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Union Square Greenmarket celebrates 35 years of fresh produce By HELEN OWOLOBI
In the 35 years the Union Square Greenmarket has been in business, it has remained a renowned hotspot. The market’s popularity has started a resurgence of farmer’s markets and offers some of the freshest products for New Yorkers and NYU students alike. “I’ve been here since the Greenmarket opened,” said Joan Acocella, a Greenmarket regular. “It was much smaller. It was much less deluxe. The Greenmarket is now more expensive than some grocery stores, but the quality is always better.” It’s the quality Acocella speaks of that attracts flocks of New Yorkers to Union Square every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. With over 140 regional farmers, fishermen and bakers selling their wide variety of products,
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Customers can pick from a host of healthy options at the market. Greenmarket must be visited for fresh fall produce. Bodhitree Farm, a popular, allvegetable vendor, presents their wide-ranging produce with a brief description and cooking tip for each vegetable they sell. Debi Farmer, who works in
farm management at Bodhitree’s Burlington County farm, gave a description of their fall produce and one of her favorite recipes. “[In the] fall season, you have the whole brassica family [including] cauliflower, cabbages, broccoli, sweet potatoes, root
Spice up dishes with apple-infused recipes By KATE MARIN
With the fall semester in full swing, the first signs of autumn’s apple harvest are slowly making their way into the city. Whether you prefer Red Delicious, Gala or Granny Smith, stock up on these refreshing and nutritious fruits at your local farmer’s market, and embrace the season with these mouthwatering recipes.
1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. 2.) Halve apples and clean out the seeds and core. Use a small spoon to create space inside the apple, creating a small bowl. 3.) Fill this bowl with your crumble mixture and then place apples into a small glass dish. 4.) Bake the mixture for 20 to 30 minutes until the apples are soft.
Cinnamon Baked Apples Serves: 2 to 4
Honey-Basil Apple Grilled Cheese Serves: 1
2 medium-sized apples of your choice, cored and hollowed 1/2 cup old fashioned rolled oats or any muesli (Red Mills gluten-free muesli) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 2 tablespoons maple syrup
2 slices sourdough bread 1 tablespoon honey (or a fruit spread such as fig butter) 2 slices cheddar cheese (or cheese of your choice) 1 small apple, thinly sliced 3 to 4 fresh basil leaves Coconut oil spray or butter
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Honey-basil apple grilled cheese puts a fresh spin on a familiar dish.
1.) Lay sourdough slices on a flat surface and spread both sides with honey or a fruit spread of your choice, covering the surface. 2.) Lay one slice of cheese on a slice of bread, then place sliced apples, fresh basil leaves and the remaining slice of cheese on top. 3.) Cover with the other slice of sourdough, honey or fruit spread side facing down. 4.) Place a skillet over low heat and spray with coconut oil, or melt a small amount of butter in the pan. 5.) Grill sandwich for two minutes or until the cheese begins to melt and the bread appears golden-brown. Then flip and repeat. 6.) Remove sandwich from heat and enjoy warm. Kate Marin is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
crops, all Asian radishes, beets … things like that,” Farmer said. Farmer recommends simply roasting the beets, peeling them, soaking them in olive oil and seasoning them with salt. Lucky Dog Organic, another Greenmarket staple, offers allorganic servings of vegetables. Farmer and co-owner Richard Giles sell numerous types of vegetables during the fall season, such as kale, collards, spinach, beets, carrots, potatoes, onions, garlic and celery. Their bestsellers during the fall are the potatoes and kale, which also comes in a salad mix. Giles suggests using kale in an easy to make salad. “Just get olive oil, chopped up garlic and some really good sea salt,” Giles said. “Chop up the kale, wad it up in your hand with olive oil, almost crush it up a little bit, put the sea salt on it, mix the chopped garlic in it, and just eat for
days as a salad.” The Greenmarket also has some great options for people who don’t cook much. Beth’s Farm Kitchen offers a variety of jams, pickles and preserves. Elizabeth Beals, manager of their farm in Stuyvesant, N.Y., recommends pumpkin butter. “We make [pumpkin butter] in 16-ounce jars, and it’s pumpkin puree, sugar and spices,” Beals said. “You can simply spread it on your toast in the morning for a fall, pumpkin spice, seasonal treat.” Whether it’s fresh produce or gourmet preserves, the Union Square Greenmarket offers incredible options for the fall. Any NYU student who’s looking to add some fall-time flavor to their dishes should definitely make the quick trip to Union Square. Helen Owolobi is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Celebrate National Pizza Month with NYC’s top slices By BRENDA LIU
October is National Pizza Month, which means it is time to embrace and celebrate some of New York City’s rich pizza history. Of the many delicious pizza joints all over the city, here are some of WSN’s favorites.
Artichoke Basille’s Pizza When walking through Washington Square Park, Artichoke Basille’s Pizza boxes can often be seen in the hands of passersby. The toppings make this pizzeria one of the most unique in the city. Rather than use the classic cheese, pepperoni or sausage toppings, this shop tops its pizza with artichokes. Sold for $4.75 per slice, this delicious pizza place can be found at 111 MacDougal St. Joe’s Pizza Joe’s is a true New York City experience. The restaurant is small and grimy, and the line is out the door during peak hours. But the pizza is worth the wait and less-than-ideal eating conditions. Joe’s serves a classic, crispy, thin-crust style pizza, and the slices contain just enough grease to not overwhelm the taste. Joe’s is also a celebrity hotspot. When inside the restaurant, customers can see a wall covered with photos of big names that have dined there, such as Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris and Ben Affleck. Priced at $2.75 for a slice of cheese pizza and $3.50 for a slice with toppings, this pizzeria is located at 7 Carmine St. Two Boots This pizzeria is a West Village staple. From eggplants to crawfish, Two Boots offers a vast variety of toppings. The restaurant, located at 201 W. 11th St., even offers whole-wheat crust. Sold at $4 per slice, the Tony Clifton is a classic choice — it comes topped with wild mushrooms, sweet red pepper pesto, Vidalia onions and mozzarella cheese. A regular slice of cheese costs $2.85. Viva Herbal Pizzeria Love pizza but cannot eat cheese? Viva Herbal Pizzeria offers diners the option to create a slice of pizza for $2.40. With slice options ranging from vegan to meat lovers, the choices should satisfy a
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Artichoke Basille’s Pizza forgoes cheese and tops its slices with artichokes. variety of palettes. Viva Herbal is located at 179 Second Ave.
John’s of Bleecker Street Founded in 1929, this pizzeria still uses a coalfired brick oven. John’s does not serve single slices, but the thin crust, New York styled pies are $14.50 for a small with 6 slices and $16.50 for a large with 8 slices. John’s can be found at 278 Bleecker St. Spunto Spunto is well known for its crispy thin-crust pizza. It offers a variety of lunchtime specials. Patrons can order two slices of cheese with a soda or water for $5. If customers desire a healthier option, another choice is one slice with a small house salad and drink for $6. Spunto stops serving slices after 5 p.m. Visit Spunto at 65 Carmine St. Brenda Liu is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM BANGERZ continued from PG. 1
Cyrus sheds old image, proves her staying power on ‘Bangerz’
hear Cyrus say “Driving so fast ‘bout to piss on myself.” Hyperbolic moments aside, Cyrus cannot be reduced to moments of caricature. While you’re still hung up on Cyrus urinating on a car seat, she has already moved on to more subtle vulnerability on “My Darlin’,” in which Cyrus croons, “I didn’t pop no molly but you still got me sweatin’.” For Cyrus, a song about a spiraling wedding engagement wouldn’t be complete without a drug reference. The lyrics are occasionally awkward, and her attempt at rapping sounds absurd, but for an album meant to debut
the new incarnation of this pop star, Cyrus’ “Bangerz” has nothing to be ashamed of. The album does not once stop for air. Flailing, desperate and compelling, it requires repeat visits, just like her VMA performance. As soon as we’ve come to a conclusion as to who the real Cyrus is, she pivots. The song “Someone Else” comes on to remind us that we haven’t a clue. Hannah Montana may be gone forever, but “Bangerz” proves Miley Cyrus is here to stay. Mackenzie Brady is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
Bells leaves ‘Bitter’ taste with third album By ZACH MICHAEL
Sleigh Bells’ development from its debut album to its newest release, “Bitter Rivals,” demonstrates a fascinating progression. When the band’s first album “Treats” dropped in 2010, the bandmates displayed a clear knowledge of their profession. They knew how to craft hardhitting, distorted drums and electric guitar lines, and turn such formidable ingredients into sticky, powerful pop. The band gained a reputation for a gritty, layered, sound, and “Treats” offered a diverse tracklist — for instance, the standout, funkinspired “Rill Rill,” which built on a sample of “Can You Get to That” by Funkadelic. After “Treats,” sophomore album “Reign of Terror” proved more ambitious, employing sophisticated chord changes. Unfortunately, the results were often disappointing. After all, the standout moments on “Treats” weren’t ones of intricate construction, but rather of broad gestures — a recognizable sample, or an excellent guitar jag. In its third album, “Rivals,” Sleigh Bells takes the direction from “Reign of Terror” a step further. “Minnie,” the album’s third track, encapsulates the band’s current state — a lone electric guitar introduces chord changes from the outset. The track feels calculated and obvious, whereas “Treats” taught us the band is best in sweeping, innovative strokes. When contrasted with its predecessor, which delighted in head-banging sounds, “Bitter Rivals” is a frustrating showing. Still, for all its frustrations, “Rivals” can be stimulating — Sleigh Bells does not shy away from ex-
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perimentation. Now more than ever, the two members of Sleigh Bells, Alexis Krauss and Derek Miller, find it fitting to match harsh production with harsh music. The guitar hooks sound more metal than ever. Krauss and Miller have abandoned the less-evocative riffs of yesterday that suggested a new, playful blend of punk and noise-pop. When it’s not the chord changes, it’s the melodies Krauss is crooning that sound off-putting. “24” starts off promising, with a harmonious bout of guitar picking, but the song feels like a bad joke. Krauss sings a melody incongruous to the rest of the song — the percussion and guitar pummel on, while Krauss sings a mellow, dreamy, echoey middle eight, evocative of bad ’80s music. “Young Legends” is the one song on “Rivals” that gives reason to be optimistic about the band’s musical future. The drums and guitars are gaudy enough to make the listener feel the Sleigh Bells wallop that fans adore, but the music is more melodic and tonal. While their musical experimentation is admirable, hopefully in the future Sleigh Bells can strike the right balance — wicked instrumentation with meticulous musical construction. Zach Michael is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
Surfer Blood brings summer vibes to Bowery Ballroom By HANNAH PARK
The current weather in Manhattan may mark the end of the summer season and its accompanying mentality, but sunny beach vibes filled the Bowery Ballroom on the evening of Oct. 6. Surfer Blood, natives of West Palm Beach, Fla., are no strangers to constant sunshine and helped the crowd escape the gloomy October night with a lively set of surf rock tunes. Opening the show, mustachioed one-man wonder Andy Boay performed psychedelic beat boxing. He fused his sound with electric guitar riffs and screeching vocal sound effects. Rainbow lights illuminated the stage as he stood in darkness. It was a gorgeous sight to behold, and, following the enigmatic first act, Team Spirit maintained a level of intrigue. The garage punk rockers took over the stage with their seemingly neverending cacophony of songs, challenging the evening’s summery atmosphere with their cheeky single, “Fuck The Beach.” With only a modest audience present for the opening bands, the anticipation and heat within the venue increased as the main act’s scheduled performance drew closer. At 11 p.m., an unexpected character sporting gray ZZ Topesque facial hair appeared on stage, claiming to be Surfer Blood’s “wealthy but disappointed uncle.”
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Frontman JP Pitts sings Surfer Blood hits like “Floating Vibes.” He introduced the band as any supportive uncle would, forewarning the audience of a disappointing set. After this sarcastic interlude, Surfer Blood emerged on stage and promptly jumped into the show with the instrumental piece “Neighbor Riffs.” The audience remained still — aside from the occasional head nods and hip sways — until lead vocalist and guitarist JP Pitts left the stage to join the crowd in the next number, “Fast Jabroni.” He embraced the intimacy and sang directly into the faces of enthusiastic audience members. The band’s set included songs from their two albums “Astro Coast” and “Pythons,” as well as their EP, “Tarot Classics.” The audience favored the band’s earlier, more organic tracks from “Astro Coast,” as the synchronized drum and guitar rhythm of “Floating Vibes” drew the night’s
loudest cheering and applause. Surfer Blood’s humble stage presence could be mistakenly perceived as a lack of skill with live performances. However, having toured extensively in the past few years, they are simply letting their music speak for itself without a need for excessive showmanship. Their upbeat hooks and contagious melodies are executed effortlessly, resulting in an engaging display of true musicianship. Because of the band’s unique sound, the audience was reminded that the sentiment of a cherished season could transcend through their music. Surfer Blood left the show, and, in their wake, an audience dreaming of an endless summer. Hannah Park is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
Character actor James Spader discusses villainous role in ‘Blacklist’ By KEITH ALLISON
Over the years, James Spader has established himself as a skilled actor, able to sink into many eccentric roles. His impressive resume of television roles ranges from Robert California on “The Office” to his Emmy-award winning performance in “Boston Legal.” However, for his recent starring role on “The Blacklist,” Spader takes a more villainous approach. In “The Blacklist,” one of the fall’s most successful new series that was recently been picked up for a full season, Spader plays Raymond “Red” Reddington, an exgovernment agent now marked as one of the FBI’s Most Wanted fugitives. The show begins with Red’s mysterious surrender to the FBI and his questionable offer to assist in the capture of a terrorist many believed to be dead. But Red is helping under the condition that he speaks to only one person — an FBI profiler, Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone). “That character … he seemed like he’d be great fun to play in the pilot, but he also seems like he’d sustain over the course of the season
and even over the course of multiple seasons,” Spader said in a conference call with WSN. “I look for things that are very different from my life [when choosing roles] and things that are curious and idiosyncratic to me.” Many critics have compared Red and Elizabeth’s characters to that of Hannibal and Clarice Starling from “The Silence of the Lambs.” Spader said he understood the comparison but believes it will not last. “I understand that [comparison] based on the pilot, because you know so little, and also because of the imagery in the pilot with somebody who’s shackled to a chair in a big containment cell and this young FBI woman coming in,” he said. “It’s very different from the sort of obsessive sort of psychopathic obsession [in ‘Lambs’],” Spader said. “[My character] clearly has a very real, given, one-sided, but very real relationship with her and has intimate knowledge of her background and her past. And I think that the similarities between these two [stories] disappear very quickly.” Spader has played many dark characters, including his role as the villain Ultron in the upcom-
ing “The Avengers” sequel, “The Avengers: Age of Ultron.” Spader discussed his method for playing such a broad range of characters. “You know, I look to the story and I look to the influences or relations in whatever that character’s life happens to be,” he said. “All those things sort of come together and marry with a given set of circumstances in the story and on the page.” Spader spoke favorably about the pacing of “The Blacklist’s” story. “The writers have done a great job in terms of balancing what you learn and what you don’t learn, and then how you learn it and whether what you learn is right or wrong,” he said. The actor also discussed his confidence in the writers of the show to maintain a level of mystery. “I think one of the great things about this show is that it can shift directions very quickly and it can shift with great [misdirection] too,” Spader said. “So just when you’re feeling comfortable with something, you realize that you’re not.” Keith Allison is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Edited by Will Shortz
Crossword ACROSS
41
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in Majorca 8 ___ blanche 13 Top of the line 14 Use a surgical beam on 16 Be of use to 17 Wii 19 Money makers 20 Farther away, quaintly 21 One-celled organism 22 Birdie beater 23 Oui 25 Chevy S.U.V.’s 28 All’s partner 29 Very eager to see something 30 Send in 33 Org. for Wizards and Magic 36 We 40 Rep.’s counterpart
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rider quaintly 4 Stereotypical 44 cowboy name 5 Attacks à la 46 “Ghostbusters” 52 6 Baltimore footballer 53 7 Easy ___ 8 Tried to seduce 54 9 Zoo feature 10 Long-limbed 11 Championship 57 12 Someone ___ 58 (not mine) 60 15 “In the Valley 61 of ___” (2007 film) 62 18 Not found in 63 many stamp collections, say 64 23 Steams (up) 24 Not bad 65 25 Military base tune 26 “A Death in the Family” novelist TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 27 Instrument N E B O N B O S S used to play E T A P E R A K E 25-Down C H A Y E S A K I N 30 Charlotte of K E O R T O L E S “The Facts of F I N A L P H A S E Life” E N C E E T O N 31 Yellowstone M E E T S E D A M grazer U R E P U L S A T E 32 AWOL chasers S W I N E S E T 33 Red feature S O A N V I L of Ronald N N A I S E E L L E McDonald L E S T I M D E A D 34 Total failure S T E E L Y G A Z E 35 Antenna users E R R S S E V E N 37 They’re often C O S T T R E S S archived 43
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PUZZLE BY DAN SCHOENHOLZ
38 39 43 44
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45
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49 50
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47
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54
48
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56
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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 8, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
TECHNOLOGY
Criticism of robotics prevents tech advances By MARCELO CICCONET
Residing in one of the more bizarre neighborhoods of the Internet is the webpage of the Cambridge Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, whose purpose is, according to Catherine Rampell of The New York Times, to “research a ‘Terminator’-like scenario in which supercomputers rise up and destroy their human overlords.” How far exactly are we from such a scenario? Last week, according to the BBC, “‘Terminator’ self-assembling cube robots” have been revealed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. But don’t freak out just yet. In the “Terminator” films, an android is made of a certain material that can reassemble itself, assuming different shapes when in liquid state. What the researchers at MIT made, although impressive, is merely a conceptual project. It is a set of cubes that can configure themselves in different patterns, using internal flywheels for movement and magnets for connection. What it does best is provide further evidence for how far reality and fiction are in robotics. Although robots do indeed pose an economic challenge, there is too much
discourse about the threat of intelligent machines and not enough work on actually creating them. Of course robots are threatening, but so are automobiles, gunpowder and uranium. There are many examples of the use of technology for destructive purposes and of the struggle to keep them away from the hands of unprepared individuals. But if one looks at history without cynical bias, one can’t help noticing how much it has improved our overall quality of life. Here’s a short list of robots that would be welcome and that are far from becoming reality. 1.) Robotic Housekeeper. Its only threat would be perhaps giving too much leisure time for the owners to engage in menial tasks. 2.) Robotic Firefighter. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, in 2012, there were 83 on-duty fatalities in the
country. It would be nice if dangerous rescuing missions were performed by an army of robots. 3.) Mechanic. 4.) Lawn mower. 5.) Farmer. 6.) Cab driver. 7.) Personal dance instructor. The probability of robots turning against humans is microscopically small — now and for many decades to come. Any person who ever tried to contribute to the field of artificial intelligence will confirm this. Science fiction writers can wonder about it, but the issue is far from critical. As for the economic threat of job loss, it is real, but only because we live with such rudimentary technology that so many human individuals still have to make a living doing repetitive and boring tasks. These are precisely the things robots are very competent at and what they should actually be doing. Intelligent robots should be welcomed in any future we envision for ourselves. And criticism is not only premature, it’s damaging. It focuses unnecessary attention on unrealistic downsides, thus impeding a technologically advanced and desirable future. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
GOVERNMENT
El-Sisi poised to become Egypt’s president By OMAR ETMAN
Gamal Abdel Nasser is widely regarded, among Egyptians and historians alike, as the best president Egypt has ever had. Nasser was so loved that when he attempted to resign in 1967, his constituents wouldn’t allow it. An outpouring of public support coaxed him back into office. Now, 40 years after Egypt’s victory over Israel in the Yom Kippur War, revered Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is the most powerful figure in the once-great nation — and with good reason. His charisma and firm leadership style bear a clear resemblance to Nasser’s, making him a suitable candidate for the country’s highest seat. Deposed President Mohamed Morsi promoted el-Sisi to minister of defense in August 2012, helping catapult the general into the spotlight. Less than a year later, el-Sisi and his army ousted the cruel Muslim Brotherhood leadership because it had “failed to meet the demands of the Egyptian people.” Anti-Morsi advocates were overjoyed, and el-Sisi became a national hero seemingly overnight. In the months following the coup, el-Sisi has been quick to remind the
SUBMITTING TO
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Egyptian people that his actions as general — deposing Morsi, and urging mass demonstrations, utilizing fatal violence to silence Brotherhood opposition — have been in the best interest of the Egyptian people. Although it is comforting to accept el-Sisi’s justification for his behavior, the cynical explanation for it is more probable — his decisions were made in his best interest. El-Sisi may have been quietly vying for the presidency all along, and while that is an impossible notion to verify, it cannot be dismissed. However, el-Sisi’s intentions matter little in discussing his merits as a general and potential president. El-Sisi, like Nasser, was raised poor. Both rose to power through hard work, and both stood steadfast in the face of pushback from the Mus-
lim Brotherhood. Like Nasser, el-Sisi has proven effective at cultivating nationalism. Egyptians are once again proud to proclaim their love for the country. El-Sisi’s speeches are confident yet deliberately tactful. He has quickly become the voice of a battered republic. If el-Sisi chooses not to run for president, he will remain general of the army and a chief player in the Egyptian government. His high political standing is unlikely to diminish soon. If he chooses to run, his centrality in Egyptian politics will feed his unrivaled legitimacy. No opposing candidate would stand a chance, as he is too prominent and too revered to lose. The largely Egyptian Coptic Church has expressed support for el-Sisi, and so have countless leading political activists. Although el-Sisi isn’t unanimously backed, the support he has garnered is considerable. Decades removed from Nasser’s reinstatement, the Egyptian people, after enduring much tumult in recent months, have made their opinion known again. They want el-Sisi for president. Omar Etman is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Supreme Court docket will test precedent
Unlike the rest of Washington, D.C., which is still shut down, the Supreme Court returned in full force to the bench on Oct. 7. The Justices’ docket is filled with highly controversial cases that touch on key social and electoral issues including abortion, contraception and campaign funding. The conservative majority on the bench of the highest federal appellate court in the United States has presented itself with an opportunity to undermine firmly established legal precedents. The cases which they have chosen to hear — and the controversial issues within these cases — insinuate political tact in the advancement of partisan goals. Like most other aspects of the Affordable Care Act, the contraception mandate is also being heard by the Supreme Court. The court will rule on the constitutionality of a provision in the law that requires large firms to provide contraception in employee health plans. The hostile Tea Party caucus in the House of Representatives cited this provision as a reason to shut down the government. In a continuing resolution, they demanded an objection of conscience for employers. The Supreme Court will also hear two cases pertaining to abortion. One of them, Cline v. Oklahoma Coalition for Reproductive Justice, threatens to limit the use of abortion-inducing pills. The other, McCullen v. Coakley, concerns buffer zones for protesters outside reproductive clinics. While neither case directly implicates the imperative features of the Roe v. Wade decision of 1973, they do begin to erode the prohibition of undue burden on women’s access to abortion. The Supreme Court will also rule on McCutcheon v. FEC — a challenge to the aggregate direct campaign contribution limits in place since the Watergate scandal that safeguard elections against potential corruption. Without aggregate spending limits in place, direct contributions will inevitably return and force candidates to rely on a tiny group of wealthy donors to bankroll their campaigns. If McCutcheon were to be approved by the court, it would be damaging to the state of campaign financing. The last judicial term ended on a high note for liberals when the court affirmed the constitutionality of gay marriage twice. Now, with the justices back at the bench and existing legislation in jeopardy, the future looks less rosy. In the coming months, the justices will be ruling on extremely controversial cases that could have a damaging effect depending on the decision. Reverence for established legal precedent must supersede factional politics.
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, 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.
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SPORTS
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NYUNEWS.COM XCOUNTRY continued from PG. 1
NYU cross country runners aims to carry national success on to UAA, NCAA championships
the 8-kilometer and 4k races. After recovering from a stress fracture over the summer, women’s team captain and CAS junior Emily Cousens’ first race was the 6k, where she finished second. Other notable racers were LSP sophomore Lily Corsaro in third and Gallatin senior Hannah Borenstein in fourth. In the 4k, Tisch junior Sarah Czuprynski finished third. “I’m happy with my race last weekend,” Cousens said. “It was a slow course and my first race back, so I wasn’t too worried about the time. I’m happy to know that my strength is still there.” On the men’s side, three athletes were in the top 10. Karten placed first and set an 8k course record, 25:46.3, at Big Spring High School. CAS senior Ross Wistar and Gallatin junior Sebastian Oja placed third and fourth respectively. In the 4k, CAS junior Dharan Kadiyala finished seventh. Along with winning first and second individually, Karten and Cousens were named Eastern College Athletic Conference Division III Metro/Upstate Runner of the Week for their performances at the Dickinson Long and Short Invitational. Looking toward the future at the UAA Championship and NCAA Atlantic Regional Championship, the team hopes to continue its success and solidify its high ranks. “We will be looking to compete
hard and try to win the UAA meet,” head coach Nick McDonough said. “We are ranked second on both sides in the UAA right now. Regionals we will look to win, but more importantly finish in the top two or three to assure ourselves a trip to the NCAA final.” Running at the NCAA National Championship is not new for the cross country team. The men’s team has qualified for NCAAs since 2006 and won the Division III National Championship in 2007. Since taking over the women’s team in 2008, McDonough helped lead the women’s team to NCAAs since 2009. “I am extremely pleased by our teams’ cross country success, not only this year, but for most of the last decade,” director of athletics Christopher Bledsoe said. “The suc-
cess we are having this year continues to demonstrate the hard work and dedication that McDonough and his student-athletes have been displaying through the years.” The team will race at the NYC Metro Championships at Van Cortlandt Park on Oct. 11. The meet doubles as Family and Alumnae Day as well. Since this is an annual meet, the athletes look forward to comparing their times from last year on the home course. “It’s fun to race there because we can compare our times to previous years,” Cousens said. “It’s a tough, fun course, and it’s Family and Alumnae Day so a lot of fans come out.” Sydney Pereira is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
FILE PHOTO BY PRIYANKA KATUMULUWA
The women’s cross country team has recently risen in rankings.
