SPORTS AT NYU
STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
Local Roots CSA launched at Langone By GRETA CHEVANCE Contributing Writer
NYU Langone medical students and employees are now able to conveniently purchase high-quality, freshly grown produce from local farms. This is thanks to a partnership between Langone and the Local Roots Community Supported Agriculture, which will deliver fruits and vegetables directly to the hospital. The initiative began last year, when medical student Noah Berland contacted Local Roots to provide an accessible CSA for medical students. The NYU CSA started in a dorm and provided produce to 30 medical students. Berland used this pilot program as proof of the concept’s success, hoping to eventually gain administrative support. “We chose Local Roots because they are able to do a lot of work that other CSAs often place on members,” Berland said. “After its success, and working with Danielle Lavarone and Dr. Deborah M. Axelrod, we were able to contact the wellness program for NYU Langone Medical Center and get them all on board.” Wen-Jay Ying, program director and founder of Local Roots NYC,
Islamic Center focuses on refugees By RAVEN QUESENBERRY Contributing Writer
In an attempt to tackle the issues countless Syrian refugees face on a daily basis, the Islamic Center at NYU held a semi-annual town hall meeting Monday. Speakers like Linda Sarsour, the executive director of the Arab-American Association of New York, and Ridwan Adhami, the Islamic Relief USA creative director, exchanged ideas that will prepare the nation’s communities to welcome refugees. Sarab Al-Jijakli, the national president of the Network of Arab-American Professionals, organized the event. He said many members of the New York City community want to ease the plight of refugees, but don’t know how to get involved. “We feel like we’re so far away from a lot of the motion, a lot of the action and the support,” AlJijakli said. “There is a role we can play. We as a community can work together to be involved.” Additionally, Adhami explained that people must fully understand the process that refugees face in order to help. Often, when refugees first arrive in Greece, they need medical attention. However, in addition to their physical needs,
described a CSA as a market that allows people to get their produce directly from the farmer. The model is a subscription-based system in which members receive their produce on a regular schedule. “CSAs have been around in the United States since the 80s, but Local Roots NYC has tweaked the traditional model to be more convenient to the New Yorker,” Ying said. “We offer shorter CSA seasons. As opposed to the traditional 24-week CSA model, we offer three separate seasons that are 12 weeks long.” Jenna Agins at NYU’s Real Estate and Development Facilities assisted in relocating NYU CSA, which is now at the Alexandria Center for Life Science and is expanding to all employees, as opposed to just students. Agins said that NYU also hopes to find additional locations for Local Roots. “The more people we have interested, the more employees that take part and enjoy it, the more we will expand the program,” Agins said. Berland developed the program along with other students who joined CSA and the faculty at the School of Medicine. However, student involvement is primarily in CSA membership.
PHOTO BY HON-LUM CHEUNG-CHENG
NYU Langone has partnered with the Local Roots Community Supported Agriculture to make local produce accessible to Medical Students and Employees. Picking up groceries through CSA allows students to not only save money by cooking more at home, but also make their diets healthier. CSA members may also participate in a recipe swap. NYU CSA has a wide variety of produce, including vegetables, pasta, fish and cheese. The price depends on the share options the individual selects. Honey can cost $10 dollars per week and vegetables can cost $17 dollars per week. Berland says NYU CSA is a better alternative to grocery shopping be-
cause the food is harvested daily at a local farm. “Everything is local, so you are supporting your local economy and reducing emissions needed for transportation,” Berland said. “The grocery store is designed to direct you towards foods that make the grocery the most money, which is mostly packaged frozen foods.” CSA member Sri Dattatreya is not a medical student but purchases groceries from Local Roots at NYU Langone. “[The produce] is food that makes
you want to cook,” Dattatreya said. Through Meet Your Farmer events, students participating in the CSA with NYU are able to meet some of the farmers Local Roots works with and learn the different ways in which the produce is harvested organically. Beyond the NYU CSA, Local Roots will have a Pop Up Thanksgiving CSA, as well as one in the winter season open to students, faculty and staff. Email Greta Chevance at news@nyunews.com.
NYU begins search for new provost By ALEX BAZELEY News Editor
STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK
Gerrard Khan, Sarad Al-Jijakli, Lind a Sarsour, and Ridwan Adhami Spoke at the Town Hall event to discuss how Syrian refugees can be helped in the United States. they require compassion. “They needed someone to hug, someone to speak Arabic with,” Adhami said. “They needed somebody to just be human.” After reaching Greece, the refugees will travel 70 kilometers by foot to a port city, where they will take ferries to Athens. Once safely on the mainland, they will travel to countries like Germany and Sweden that have opened their borders. They won’t necessarily speak the language, understand the monetary system or know how to become employed — but many have no other option. Being integrated into society is painstaking in the United States as well. Becoming a resident takes three years and involves interviews, background searches and screening by multiple agencies. Afterward, the International Rescue Committee will only support them for a few months. To help, Al-Jijakli and the NAAP suggest that the community offer monetary donations, mentoring and volunteer operations to organizations like the Arab-American Association of New York. There is an overwhelming need for support, but the help of the New York
community would go a long way. Sarsour called upon the individuals in the audience to take a stand. “We are trying to create local welcome committees.” Sarsour said. “This is the evolution of our community, brothers and sisters. We just need people like you.” Many audience members took the disheartening tone of the evening as a call to action. CAS freshman Michael Ho said the town hall meeting motivated him to become more involved by opening his eyes to the severity of the refugee crisis. “As students, we get very distracted with classes and responsibilities. And because of that, we forget about what’s going on in the world,” Ho said. “This has just made me want to do more: to tell people, to help.” This was exactly Al-Jijakli’s aim with this event. He said he wants to enlighten the public and to build a network that will combat the trauma these refugees face. “We can help them,” Al-Jijakli said. “All we need is to expand the circle of ‘we.’” Email Raven Quesenberry at news@nyunews.com.
NYU announced their search for a new university provost in an email to the NYU community on Monday. Current provost David McLaughlin has held the position since 2002. In the email, Richard Foley, chair of the Provost Search Committee, says that few appointments will be more critical than the choice of the next provost, and says that the university is hoping for input from the community. “The challenges NYU and other higher education institutions face in the coming decade are substantial, which makes the community’s input all the more valuable as we go forward in the search process,” the email reads. The email announced an open listening session in which all members of the NYU community can have their voices heard regarding who should fill the role of provost. The session will be held in the Rosenthal Pavilion on Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. A separate session for faculty only will be held the following week. Prior to holding the position of provost, McLaughlin was the director of the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, where he announced he will return at the end of the academic year in
his annual message to faculty last month. “I have agreed to continue to serve as Provost through this academic year, after which I will return to the faculty of the Courant Institute and join the faculty of Tandon School of Engineering and the affiliated faculty of NYU Shanghai,” McLaughlin said. President-Designate Andrew Hamilton, who will take over in January, followed up with the announcement of the search committee in an email to the faculty. “I see the provost as my partner in developing strategic priorities, critically assessing our academic strengths and weaknesses, and nurturing and sustaining cultures of excellence and innovation in New York and across our global network,” the email reads. In 2002, in a statement released after being he was appointed provost, McLaughlin outlined his view of what the provost’s mission should be. “Academic and educational priorities must be central to every major decision,” the statement reads. “Faculty and students are the heart and soul of the University — with faculty providing the essential foundation of the permanent University, upon which our students build the future.” Email Alex Bazeley at abazeley@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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CRIME LOG
oct. 5 to 12
By JUSTINE MORRIS Deputy News Editor
COURTESY OF YASIR ALI
Tandon senior Yasir Ali was was a finalist and Audience Choice Award winner at the 2014-2015 NYU Entrepreneur Challenge.
Student app manages wait times in hospitals By CHRISTINE WANG Deputy News Editor
In a struggle against long hospital wait times, Tandon senior Yasir Ali launched MedTimers this past April to help medical facilities efficiently manage patient flow and publish real-time wait times for patients. The young entrepreneur was a finalist and Audience Choice Award winner at the 2014-2015 NYU Entrepreneur Challenge. Ali said trying to balance the ambitious startup with college life was a time-consuming but rewarding journey. “MedTimers was not an overnight idea,” Ali said. “The entire creation of startup took months of research, reiteration, customer discovery and a bit of destiny.” In the early stages, Ali realized a problem with his company was hospitals would not reveal their patient flows without incentive. A chance interview led Ali to refocus MedTimers’ goal from simply publishing real-time wait times to helping hospitals optimize their time by providing a patient flow management solution. “As the ball was rolling with with my technical co-founder, I decided to apply to an internship at Two Toasters; I really hoped that I would get that position, but little did I know that this interview was going to offer something much greater,” Ali said. “Midway through the interview, the interviewer had told me of his UPenn roommate that was also working on a healthcare startup called 1DocWay, and informed that he can get us in touch.” The chance encounter also helped him locate his very first customer, a hospital in Saint Louis. When discussing the origin of MedTimers, Ali credits the NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge as the genesis of his startup. “I heard about the NYU $200K Entrepreneur Challenge and decided to give it a shot,” Ali said. “I wasn’t sure as to what I was get-
ting myself into, but I went ahead and applied for the competition.” This year’s Entrepreneur’s Challenge kicked off last month; participants will spend the next eight months trying to make the awards ceremony in May. CAS sophomore Alisha Jadhav said she believes that MedTimers can help reduce hospital wait times, which will help her also as a future medical worker. Jadhav said Ali’s success, from winning awards on the Entrepreneur Challenge to being featured by Daymond John from Shark Tank, will make the company a hit. “I am very inspired to see that even someone so young can implement something so innovative and revolutionary,” Jadhav said. “Medtimers would take the stress off a lot of patients and doctors, leading to better overall care and attention towards the patient. As a future medical worker I think if a system like this is in place by that time, facilities would move a lot more efficiently.” Cynthia Franklin, the adjunct professor of Entrepreneurship at the NYU Stern School of Business and organizer of the annual NYU Entrepreneurs Challenge feels although the competition is diverse, finalists — including Ali — share very similar traits from year to year. “The primary similarity we see is perseverance and a willingness to test and refine their ideas,” Franklin said. “Teams that advance to the finals are those that are able to demonstrate early signs of market acceptance.” Ali has his own advice for innovative young minds who dream of creating their own startup. “If there’s one lesson I could tell young entrepreneurs is to create their own footsteps,” Ali said. “Don’t be scared to make your own story. And, don’t be scared to try new things. Change comes from within yourself and the right mindset is the first step to success.” Email Christine Wang at cwang@nyunews.com.
The NYU Department of Public Safety received three reports of controlled substance, six reports of larceny and one report of a forcible sexual offense between Oct. 5 and Oct. 12.
Controlled Substance On Oct. 6 at 10 p.m. in 2nd Street Residence Hall, a small amount of marijuana was recovered after Public Safety responded to a report of a controlled substance. On Oct. 9 at 6 p.m. in Brittany Hall, Public Safety responded to a report of a controlled substance and recovered a small amount of marijuana. On Oct. 11 at 9:15 p.m. a small amount of marijuana was recovered in a 7th Street Residence Hall dorm room after Public Safety responded to a report of a controlled substance.
Larceny On Oct. 6 at 11:15 p.m., an NYU employee said she locked her bike on the corner of West 3rd Street and Sullivan at 12:15 p.m. and when she returned, the lock was on the ground and the bike was missing. A police report was filed. On Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m. Public Safety received a report that a student left his backpack in the laundry room at Hayden Hall on Oct. 5, and found the backpack missing when he returned to get it. Police notification was declined. On Oct. 6 at 5:30 p.m., a student reported that he left a pair of his jeans in the laundry room at Hayden Hall on Oct. 5 and noticed his jeans were missing when he returned. Police notification was declined. On Oct. 6 at 12 p.m., an NYU employee reported that a laptop he had left in a cabinet in his office in Bobst Library in September
was missing when he checked in the cabinet on Oct. 6. NYPD was informed. On Oct. 8, a student reported that he had locked his bicycle to a bike rack on Greene Street at 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 and found his bicycle and lock were gone when he returned on Oct. 8. Police notification was declined. On Oct. 9 at 10:54 p.m., a student reported that at approximately 2 p.m. on Oct. 8, she secured her bike outside Shimkin Hall and when she returned at 4:30 p.m. the bicycle and lock were both missing. NYPD was not informed.
Forcible Sex Offense On Oct. 6 at 12 p.m., a former student reported that in March or April of 2014, she was sexually assaulted by another former student in Lafayette Hall. Police were contacted to file a report. Email Justine Morris at jmorris@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
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FIT panel talks fashion, Instagram By LILY DOLIN Contributing Writer
The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology is highlighting global fashion and technology this month with “Global Fashion Capitals,” an exhibit showcasing diverse fashion styles from around the world. As a part of this themed month, the museum hosted a talk on Thursday about how Instagram is revolutionizing the fashion industry. The panel featured museum curator Ariele Elia and fashion blogger Vanessa Rosales, whose Instagram has over 40,000 followers. They discussed how Instagram enables people around the world to connect to and adopt different cultures and styles. Rosales stressed how Instagram has evolved into a major marketing platform for fashion designers to sell their products and meet with potential buyers. Elia revealed that she acquired pieces for the “Global Fashion Capitals” exhibit by following different Instagram accounts and contacting the owners about works of particular interest. Rosales noted that Instagram exacerbates users’ obsessions with instant media and evolving fashion, arguing that Instagram and fashion are the perfect pair because both showcase art in a way that introduces new styles.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
The Global Fashion Capitals exhibit at FIT explores the history of the established fashion capitals and the emergence of new prominent fashion cities. After the talk, audiences could visit the accompanying exhibit. The exhibit begins with a slideshow of different street style Instagram posts taken from all over the world. Following the slideshow, viewers are treated to styles from Tokyo, New York and other metropolitan areas where fashion flourishes. Walking through the exhibit is like traveling around the world: the pieces from each capital reflect their respective cultures. Each section also contains ensembles from different time periods, providing viewers with historical and global fashions. For example, the Parisian fashions feature slim cuts and tight-fitted evening gowns. Seoul, on the other hand, produces dresses and ensembles with Korean writing and references to Korean pop culture. Being able to compare and contrast global style makes for a fascinating exhibit. “Global Fashion
Capitals” features work from famous designers like Donna Karen, Ralph Lauren, Alexander McQueen and Paul Poiret, as well as works from lesser known artists. One of the most spectacular pieces in the exhibit is an evening dress made by New Delhi designer Wendell Rodricks. The dress, made from nylon net and synthetic satin, is a burst of red and gold. The light, almost-translucent bottom pairs nicely with the gold and red dots that pop off the dress. FIT did a consummate job in putting together panels and exhibits that highlight the constantly evolving world of fashion, allowing visitors to experience global fashions for themselves. “Global Fashion Capitals” runs until Nov. 14. Email Lily Dolin at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Elba shocking in ‘Beasts’ movie By ZACH MARTIN Film Editor
It seems that the next step in Netflix’s ongoing plan to conquer every form of entertainment is releasing high budget, dramas on its streaming platform simultaneously with a theatrical release. Tisch alumnus Cary Fukunaga’s “Beasts of No Nation” is the first foray into this uncharted territory and it is certainly a bold choice. Based on the 2005 novel of the same name by Uzodinma Iweala, the film is a disturbing account of the indoctrination and exploitation of a child soldier in an unnamed African country. It’s a technical marvel, but it has a flawed story that falters when the scope is expanded beyond the experience of one boy. Fukunaga, most recently known for his work on the first season of “True Detective,” brings a similar unnerving sensibility to the story of Agu (Abraham Attah). When the film opens, Agu is living happily with his family in a country that is beginning a long civil war.
Soon, government forces arrive in the village and kill Agu’s father and brother, forcing him to flee and find a group of rebel mercenaries led by the Commandant (Idris Elba). The Commandant takes Agu on as a protege and manipulates him to think killing anyone they see is a way of taking revenge on those who killed his family. The images onscreen are haunting and unforgettable. Fukunaga deftly portrays the brutality of the war with sharp and well-placed bursts of color that contrast the otherwise dull landscape. This includes a particularly harrowing one-take tracking shot that follows Agu as he invades a home with other soldiers and believes he sees his mother. While the startling images and production design leaves a lasting mark on the viewer, Agu’s story does not. This is not the fault of Attah, who subtly uses his facial expressions to show Agu’s initial terror at the traumatic events around him and his gradual descent into brainwashed numb-
ness. Instead, the film shifts focus halfway through, taking on the point of view of the Commandant. Elba is fantastic as the abusive and vicious commander, but the emotional power of the film is lost when Agu’s plight is forgotten about. In the end, the story comes back to Agu but the shifts in perspective detract from the emotional resonance and power of the ending. The film’s account is resonant of Ishmael Beah’s memoir “A Long Way Gone,” a narrative of his experiences as a child soldier in Sierra Leone. Directed by an American filmmaker and starring a British actor, the film deserves credit for not exploiting the experience of a child soldier for white-washed heroism. Instead, “Beasts of No Nation” is emotionally exhausting and powerful yet imperfect. “Beasts of No Nation” will be released on Netflix and in select theaters this coming Friday. Email Zach Martin at zmartin@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF EM WATSON
Ben Steinfeld, part-time Gallatin faculty and Fiasco Theater co-artistic director teamed up with Broadway veteran Alexander Gemignani to create a new musical at NYU Gallatin, “Diamond Alice.”
Gallatin seniors shoplift in ‘Diamond Alice’ By ANNALUZ CABRERA Contributing Writer
Gallatin part-time faculty member Ben Steinfeld worked in collaboration with Broadway actor Alexander Gemignani to create the original musical “Diamond Alice,” in which Alice Diamond and her gang of women challenge the audience to root for the criminally selfish in this musical. The play, performed at the Jerry H. Labowitz Theatre for the Performing Arts, was written and directed by Steinfeld, with lyrics by Gemignani. The 20th century London musical ties a heartwarming story about sisterhood to an exhilarating crime narrative. The title of the musical is based on the Forty Elephants Gang, an all-female shoplifting circle. Only a few furniture pieces and two columns covered with advertisements appear on stage. The sparsity comes to life, however, as the three young and playful sisters are introduced to the audience by stating their main aspirations. Alice Diamond (Tisch senior Olivia Wendel), the protagonist, wants independence. Her sister, Maggie Hughes (Gallatin senior Katherine Romans), is a recent war widow and angered by the state of the country. The third sister, Lady Victoria Brittenham (Gallatin senior Gwen Hornig), cares only about climbing the social ladder. Gemignani’s lyrics showcase the sisters’ initial closeness and how their differing goals cause a cataclysmic divergence in their relationship. It is only after Maggie’s volatile temperament lands her in jail that she is able to reconnect with Alice. Maggie and Alice enlist the help of Lady Victoria’s maid, Rose O’Leary, who is exasperated with the way she is treated, Gert Holmes, a soci-
ety reporter who only wishes she could write about actual news and Millie Brown, a bar owner who wishes to be a famous singer. These roles are played by Gallatin seniors Kathryn Gemma Faughnan, Kerry Candeloro and Sarah Flamm, respectively. The three contrasting characters reconcile differences and clashing personalities in order to jailbreak Maggie. The cast all played their roles marvelously. However, there were two stand-out performances that felt the most consistently convincing. Romans does a wonderful job capturing Maggie’s anger — her facial expressions and mannerisms never break her constant rage and resentment. Faughnan as Rose shows an incredible transformation between the character’s initial meekness and her later bold and impassioned search for independence. Additionally, her Irish accent was particularly exceptional. The stage allowed the audience to feel connected as the actresses moved to and from the corners of the set. Unfortunately, there were several instances where the cast fought to make themselves heard through competing voices. When the cast sang collectively, though, the music thrived. The performance would have been improved tenfold had they been microphoned. Steinfeld did great work with the actresses despite the minimal props and sometimes overwhelming orchestrals. Overall, Steinfeld and Gemignani did an exceptional job in turning a historical gang into a fictitious but sweet rendition of history. “Diamond Alice” closed on Saturday after seven performances. Email Annaluz Cabrera at theater@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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EDITED BY AUDREY DENG ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Stunning minimalism in ‘The Assassin’
By MIN-WEI LEE Contributing Writer
Nie Yinniang (Shu Qi) opens the film with a brutal assassination, which, in black and white, makes the violent scene appear like an illustration. Though the film eventually transitions to color after the title card, it retains a starkly naturalistic and minimalist feel so far removed from the spectacle of its predecessors. Much of Western audiences’ prior knowledge of the Chinese Wuxia, or martial arts hero genre, in Chinese film is predicated on Zhang Yimou’s visually breathtaking “House of Flying Daggers” (2004) and earlier war epic “Hero” (2002). Both films aim to impress by their sheer scales of grandeur, which fit into the
contemporary notion of a genre flooded with visions of saturated colours, pristine landscapes, fantastical martial arts choreography and painstakingly detailed production design. Helmed by Taiwanese director Hou Hsiao-Hsien, who picked up the award for Best Director at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, “The Assassin” tells the Tang dynasty tale of Nie, a girl abducted by nun Jiaxin (Sheu Fangyi) as a child and trained to be a lethal assassin who eliminates the politically corrupt. Nie is sent back to her province of Weibo and is tasked with killing Lord Tian Ji’an (Chang Chen), a renegade governor to whom she was betrothed as a child. Nie is left to confront her past and wrestle with the morality of killing a man trying to keep his crumbling fam-
ily and political life together. Hou reinterprets the genre by stripping the exaggerated drama from the simple yet affecting story. Hou’s long-time collaborator and director of photography Mark Lee Ping Bin keeps everything in a relatively wide shot, immediately inserting the objectivity of distance between the audience and the characters on screen. Camera movement is similarly minimal and pragmatic, only used to facilitate the improvisations of the actors, who, when set against vast landscapes, resemble the ancient figures of fastidiously composed classical Chinese paintings. At the New York Film Festival’s press Q&A, Hou emphasized his dislike for acting rehearsals, claiming that they prevent the
By ALLISON STUBBLEBINE Entertainment Editor
By DANIEL G. VALENTE Contributing Writer
WSN: When did you start making music? JW: I started making music when I was a senior in high school in 2008. I picked up guitar a few years before and I did a lot of pop-punk covers (Green Day, Blink 182, Fall Out Boy etc). I slowly transitioned into writing music — my early stuff was a mix of synthpop and pop-punk. It sounded really bad.
WSN: Can you walk me through the story behind your “Ease My Mind” Remix for those who aren’t familiar? JW: I made the “Ease My Mind” remix around the time I did my Gallatin Colloquium in 2014. After I had finished it, I sent it to my friend Stephen from Fight Clvb. I actually met him in a studio session with another NYU grad Prince Fox. He’s actually friends with Skrillex and was nice enough to forward it to him.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
“The Assassin” displays the struggle between duty and morality in ninth-century China. research and designs. Simple, deliberate, and intensely poetic, “The Assassin” is a true stylistic reflection of its unassuming but brilliant auteur. “The Assassin” opens in select theaters on Oct. 16. Email Min-Wei Lee at film@nyunews.com.
Alum stars in ‘That Reminds Me’
Alum Wolf talks snacks, ODESZA Electronic music producer Sajeeb Saha, known by his stage name “Jai Wolf,” has an interesting success story. After graduating from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, Jai Wolf established himself as a mainstage phenomenon at venues such as Hard Summer and Coachella. Wolf spoke with WSN to discuss his success story, future plans and favorite late-night snack from his NYU days.
actors from delivering an organic performance. Hou references the tense scene where Lord Tian tries to kill Lady Tian (Zhou Yun), and Zhou spontaneously draws out the scene by commanding the attending servants to clean up the mess, hiding any anxiety by re-establishing her strength and resolve in front of her children and staff. While nowhere near as extravagant as other Wuxia films, “The Assassin” possesses rich historical details through its costuming and impressive production design. Hou describes in detail how Tang dynasty architecture is surprisingly best preserved in Japan, where parts of the film were shot, and how the study of vast historical archives about the Tang dynasty greatly informed the film’s
COURTESY OF LOREN WOHL
Jai Wolf performing at his sold out show at Rough Trade. Within minutes, Skrillex tweeted me “SIQ REMIX!” The song was released through thissongissick.com as a free download a few months later on June 1. A few weeks later, he played it out live at Glastonbury in the UK for the first time. He played it at every single festival that summer as well as on his Fall tour. Around August, we entered talks with his label OWSLA to sign it as an official release. Fast forward to November 2014 and it was officially out on the remix EP. And to go back to the previous question, this is when things started to pick up. It led to official remixes for Odesza, Alesso, Dirty South as well as a release on Kitsune. All of this led to playing shows nearly every single weekend in 2015 and it just snowballed from there.
WSN: I always like to get an insight to what inspires the artists I speak to. If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be? JW: It’s pretty hard to pick just one song. Can I pick one artist? I could listen to Kanye forever.
WSN: When did things really start kicking off for you in college? JW: I’d say things started to pick
up towards the end of 2014. I [graduated in] 2013 at NYU and slacked off really hard doing music that they didn’t let me graduate. I got my degree a year later and then I sort of just locked myself in my basement and worked really hard on music.
WSN: Any tips for aspiring producers? JW: If you’re serious about making music, my only tip is to not give up. I’ve been producing for seven years and for many years my music sounded terrible. It takes a lot of time and dedication to get where you want to be — and it’s a continuous process. I know I also have a long ways to go. Never settle for where you are and never give up.
WSN: Lastly, RL Grime said Joe’s Shanghai was his NYU grub spot—what was yours? JW: My go-to food spot was this chicken and rice / halal cart on 14th and Third. It’s on the south west corner. I know 53rd and Sixth (The Halal Guys) is like the famous spot but I gotta say my boy Mitu at 14th and Third cooks up a way better platter. Been going there since freshman year when I was at Founders. Email Daniel G. Valente at music@nyunews.com.
Jenny Paul, alumna of the no-longer-existent NYU Collaborative Arts Project 21 musical theater training program, is the star and co-creator of new web series, “That Reminds Me.” The series, only seven episodes long, launched on Oct. 6 live from the Wix Lounge in Chelsea. “That Reminds Me” aims to bring together baby-boomers and millennials with a web series they can both enjoy, employing similar comedic styles of shows like “Modern Family” and “Arrested Development.” Jenny Paul plays lead Janie, the somewhat wiser older sister. Two more of the show’s producers join the main cast as well, with Chelsea Roach as Kelsey, the oddball younger sibling, and Monica Cangero as Elaine, their recently widowed mother. The green core cast is supplemented with more experienced actors as well. Greg Mullavey — “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman” leading man, joins this quirky family as Grandpa Kelsey. Greg Carter, a New York theater veteran plays Carter and Steven Hauck, an actor of stage and screen, plays Martin. Over the course of the first 10 minute episode, we are introduced to each of the leading ladies as they talk over the breakfast table. They discuss their contrived problems with intense intimacy: Kelsey recaps her adventures as a cat walker before breaking into her story of how she drunkenly declared her love for her boss’s butt and lost her job. The writing style of the episode is not far from a diary, albeit a familyshared diary, which is reflected in the fastidious and personal
dialogue. When viewed in the context of a web series, the stylistic choices make more sense. The actors execute lines with rapid-fire delivery, and storylines are developed in a rush — miss a single line and you could be awfully confused for the next episode. Perhaps too much weight is placed in trivial moments, which makes the series difficult to follow. Despite the show’s poorly distributed plot line, the show was not without shining moments. Right from the start, the girls sing a gender equality song. Later, during Elaine’s speed-dating flashback, she gives a long winded speech about the exact moment she will know that she has found the one. Perhaps it is the web series format that truly proves the talent of the cast of “That Reminds Me.” Any nine minute episode on a still-developing formant really needs to have a solid crew and plot in order to generate a returning audience — and believe me, I will be tuning back in to find out more about this wild family. At the premiere event, the audience got a sneak peek of the series pilot before it went live online as well as a preview of the Thanksgiving episode. The preview depicted an unorthodox Thanksgiving Day meal, one without turkey and, as expected, an odd lineup of family members. The clip, running less than a minute, allowed us to be roped into the rest of the characters without giving away too much of the series’ plotlines. The next installment of “That Reminds Me” goes live at 9 p.m. on Oct. 20. Email Allison Stubblebine at astubblebine@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
EDITED BY NINA JANG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
On the job: Phylicia Ashley By DANIELA COBOS Contributing Writer
PHOTO BY TIFFANY CHEN
Pumpkin flavored bagels are another seasonal alternative to Pumpkin Spice.
Five fall foods that are better than a PSL By DIAMOND NAGA SIU Contributing Writer
Although a certain Starbucks drink gets all the attention, there are a plenty of other treats to enjoy that are only available in the fall. Here are five of the best treats to enjoy before winter sets in.
Mallomars East Coasters knows that when the cold comes, so do Mallomars. These chocolate covered graham cracker and marshmallow treats are only sold from October to April, and 85 percent of Mallomar sales are in the New York City metropolitan area. The cookie has been deemed “the cookie that comes out in the cold” by New York Times and “the cookie everyone likes to hoard” by NPR. Although they are only available during cooler months, fans have come up with multiple methods to store them during the May to September interim. If you’d like to stock up, try putting your Mallomars in the freezer — fans say that the cookies not only keep longer, but are also even chewier cold.
Orange Oreos Chemically addictive and surprisingly vegan, it is difficult to resist a classic Oreo. Or a double-stuffed one. Or an orange one to embrace the season change. These have a little more cream than their original counterparts and exude the Halloween spirit with the black cookies and orange cream pairing. Not only do these cookies come in different colors, but they also have different designs stamped on — all fit for a spookily tasty time.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese
Want a classic New York City breakfast? Grab a bagel and cream cheese. But for the more adventurous or pumpkin-craving individuals, the classic breakfast staple can be spiced up with pumpkin flavored cream cheese. The seasonal treat is available at bagel shops like Murray’s (500 Sixth Ave.) and grocery stores like Trader Joe’s. You can use it as a spread or dip for snacking, for cooking (try making it into pumpkin cheesecake) or even just for eating from the tub.
Candy Corn Whether you love it or hate it, Halloween candy will soon inundate your life, and candy corn will proudly lead the pack. Its infamous white, orange and yellow stripes inspire many foods as well as drinks, ranging from popsicles and Oreos to cocktails. The marshmallowbased candy has haters but also passionate fans, and you can even find recipes online to make it yourself.
Pumpkin Pie Thanksgiving can come early with this iconic pie. Whether it is homemade, frozen or store bought, nothing really screams fall more than a warm slice of pumpkin pie. However, this year’s pumpkin pies should be bought early since heavy summer rain severely affected pumpkin growth and production. The crop is 50 percent smaller than last year’s, so canned pumpkin — which most people rely on for their pies — might be tough to find this month. Email Diamond Naga Siu at dining@nyunews.com.
The average senior schedule includes going to class, homework, socializing, activities and preparing for graduation. For one senior, Phylicia Ashley, the schedule is a lot more challenging than one would expect: wake up at 5 a.m., go to work, go to class, participate in activities, mentor students, study, socialize, prepare for work, prepare for graduation, repeat. She interns about 20 to 30 hours a week for “The Today Show” while balancing five classes as well as mentoring members as academic chair of the Academic Achievement Program and seeking to empower women through leadership as vice president of Women of Excellent Strength and Tenacity. Ashley attributes her busy schedule as having an overall positive influence on her lifestyle. “Having this demanding internship and doing a lot on campus keeps my mind going, it keeps me proactive, and it makes me more efficient,” Ashley said. Her typical schedule on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
STAFF PHOTO BY JAKE QUAN
NYU senior Phylicia Ashley, outside the Silver Center for Arts and Science, where she studies Journalism. begins with work duties involve talking to reporters, formulating interview questions, helping in the control room, and controlling crowds in the plaza. By organizing her schedule to have class on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, Ashley has made it work. Mondays are particularly hectic; Ashley works from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and she goes to AAP Rap Session from 4:30 to 6 p.m., yet she still finds time to study, have meetings with professors, and mentor AAP members. Work continues at home on nights before she has her internship when she reviews the pitches for the next day. Is all of this hustle and bustle worth it? “Absolutely,” Ashley said. “I’m doing something I love. I’m getting experience for what I’m going to do after I graduate. I’m one step ahead.” No stranger to internships, Ashley has interned at ARK Media, CNBC, CNN, NBC Dateline, The Source Magazine, and currently “The Today Show,” to name a few. This real life experience has prepared her for a future career as an
on-air reporter. While she does plan for the future, Ashley does not neglect the present. Realizing how much she has on her plate, Ashely works to manage accordingly. “The most difficult part is that I have a heavy class schedule and I want to stay up late to study, but I need sleep to perform well at work in the morning,” Ashley said. Ashley said her friends’ support has helped her cope with her stressful schedule. “My friends are my support group. They’re driven and they understand my mindset. I have a family here on campus,” Ashley said. For Ashley, her taxing schedule is worth every sacrifice. Finding a balance between internship, classes and personal time, Ashley is certain that her efforts will prove to be beneficial in her future. “It doesn’t feel like work when I’m at work,” Ashley said. “I’m in a field that matches my personality and I’m pursuing a passion that I have and that I love.” Email Daniela Cobos at features@nyunews.com.
Rosanne Cash talks songwriting By ABIGAIL WEINBERG Contributing Writer
As the latest guest in Steinhardt’s Songwriters Hall of Fame series, songwriter Rosanne Cash appeared in conversation with NYU Songwriter-in-Residence Phil Galdston last Thursday. The The two spoke onstage at the Providence Playhouse discussing Cash’s extensive career and her approach to songwriting. Cash, a frequent guest songwriting teacher at Steinhardt, has released 15 albums which produced 21 top 40 hits and 11 No.1 singles. Additionally, she has four Grammys and 11 nominations to her name. Although she is the daughter of renowned country signer Johnny Cash, she seeks to be known for her own merits rather than her father’s legacy. During the interview, Cash displayed both a quick sense of humor and embarrassment at her past performances. When Galdston played a clip of Cash performing on The Late Show with David Letterman, Cash became flustered. “What am I wearing? I don’t
remember this outfit!” Cash said. Cash shared several amusing anecdotes about her interactions with people who were influential in the music industry. She once complained to George Harrison that her performance was not as good as it had been at rehearsal, to which he replied, “It’s never as good as rehearsal.” She also recounted coincidentally sharing a cab with the man who had reviewed her album “Interiors” for Rolling Stone 20 years prior. Though adamant that she exists as an independent artist from her father, Cash described his indelible impact on her life and career. “His music was inextricably bound with his fatherhood,” Cash said. “The sight of a back with a guitar slung over, it means daddy to me. That’s what father means.” When Cash was 18, her father wrote her a list of 100 essential country songs in an effort to expand her musical knowledge. In 2009, six years after her father’s passing, Cash released a cover album of twelve of the songs he had included in the list. Cash said that she had always
wanted to be a songwriter and that she quickly developed a knack for creating songs. She suggested that songwriters draw upon and fictionalize their past experiences when creating new lyrics. “You can write about the truth without writing about the fact,” Cash said. In recent years, Cash suffered a polyp on her vocal cords and underwent brain surgery due to a rare condition. She lost her father and stepmother in 2003, and her mother in 2005. These hardships, however, have spawned some of her most popular work. Cash’s most recent successes include co-writing songs for HBO’s “True Detective” and collaborating on a song with Elvis Costello and Kris Kristofferson. She attributes her passion for songwriting to her sense of feeling lost without it, especially in the wake of her recent hardships. “It’s only amateurs who only work when inspired,” Cash said. “Music is a more trustworthy way to God than religion.” Email Abigail Weinberg at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
FEATURES
EDITED BY NINA JANG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
By LINGYI HOU Staff Writer
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#PlusIsEqual calls for fashion equality
Lane Bryant, a long-established women’s plus size apparel retailer, is launching a national advertising campaign #PlusIsEqual to empower plus size women and call for equal representation of them in the media. The #PlusIsEqual campaign debut was in Vogue’s September issue with a photograph shot by fashion photographer Cass Bird, featuring top plus size models Candice Huffine, Ashley Graham, Precious Victoria Lee, Georgia Pratt, Justine Legault and Sabina Karisson. Appearing among photographs of stick thin models that seem to crowd the usual billboards and magazine pages, the ad has raised conversation around the fashion industry and equal body representation. “Size shouldn’t matter when
you’re talking about a woman who just wants to be fashionable,” Graham said in the brand’s press release. “We’re proud, strong, fashion forward, stylish...same as anyone else, with extra curves,” Huffine said in the same release. Following the campaign’s social media launch on Sept. 8, Lane Bryant staged a massive Times Square takeover event on Sept. 14 to invite New Yorkers and women around the world to celebrate their bodies. Hundreds of women gathered there and showed their support. According to the brand, 67 percent of U.S. women are size 14 to 34, and 92 percent of plus size women feel they’re not equally represented in the media. Lane Bryant asked women to speak and challenge the status quo in fashion and media. Linda Heasley, the company’s CEO and president, has stressed the need
for body acceptance throughout her time at Lane Bryant and continues to do so. “The inequality exists and we’re continuing to balance the equation,” Heasley said in a statement. “Plus Is Equal. Our women are not only equal they are sexy and fabulous!” Lane Bryant gets the message across by multiple channels, including stores, website, social media, billboards, TV and magazines. The company also created an app called “My Billboard” that allows users to upload a picture onto a virtual billboard in a city of their choice. So far, the #PlusisEqual campaign has garnered 1,383 supporters and 647,206 for social outreach. The campaign concluded Monday, Oct. 12. The #PlusIsEqual campaign is a follow up to the brand’s #ImNoAngel campaign last spring, which featured plus size models in its lingerie
Spa week, your ticket to relaxation
By LAUREN CRADDOCK Staff Writer
PHOTO BY ASHLEY ARNOLD
Spa Week is taking place from Oct. 12-18, with numerous $50 deals at many top New York City spas.
Skin Station at 113 Eldridge St. is featuring three specials this Spa Week for $50. This urban spa offers a 60 minute massage with your choice of signature, deep tissue or aromatherapy. Try a basic 75 minute facial or a brightening microdermabrasion facial for sun damage, acne and uneven tone. For a deep pore cleansing with skin polish and peel treatment, Skin Fitness by Julie Lindh is offering 60 minute facials. Located at 21 E. First St., this luxury spa also offers a 60 minute repairing facial for pigmentation.
Endermologie Cellulite Reduction Treatment to smooth away cellulite and firm the skin. A 50-minute deep pore cleansing facial is also available along with a 50-minute Hydro Microdermabrasion Treatment for fine lines, blemishes and hyperpigmentation. Located on 387 Sixth Ave., Vada Spa serves as a full service spa with an outdoor patio. If you are looking for a wax, this is definitely the place to score with hair removal for the lips and chin or a full body wax. The modern spa is also offering a 60-minute G.M. Collins Pure Oxygen Facial, an acclaimed technique that utilizes a continuous stream of oxygen to aid in skin repair.
West Village
Chelsea
Graceful Spa, located at 205 W. 14th St., is participating with three $50 specials. They offer a 70-minute hot stone massage, a 70-minute graceful massage and a 60-minute back facial. Just a few blocks away at 104 W. 14th St. is White Tea Med Spa, a full service, is a full service medical spa also offering three specials this week. Receive a 35-minute M6 Integral Cellulite Treatment or
Skin Spa New York at 55 W. 21st St. also has a variety of choices, including a 50 minute Swedish massage with lavender aromatherapy or a Micro Body Buff Exfoliating Scrub. You can receive either a Microdermabrasion Treatment or a Customized Facial with microcurrent add-on. If you’re interested in a tan or wax, this spot features an Organic Sunless Tan or Laser Hair
East Village
beauty standards, many of them are criticizing its ad campaign for lack of diversity and failing to reflect all sizes. The six models featured in the #PlusIsEqual only show one shape and size, leaving many in the plus size community unseen. CAS senior and President of the Feminist Society at NYU, Meghan Racklin was worried about the company’s real motivation. “I am wary of corporate ‘activism,’ in which the language of established activist movements is appropriated in service of selling a product,” Racklin said. “Lane Bryant’s campaign in particular rings hollow, given this story indicating that when it comes to the representation of their brand, they do not want significant body diversity.” Email Lingyi Hou at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Baking basics: from measuring to mixing
By ASHLEY ARNOLD Contributing Writer
New Yorkers can finally get their fix of facials and therapy without breaking the bank. From October 12-18, the city hosts Spa Week offering treatments, massages and more from top spas at affordable prices. These $50 deals are just some of the many opportunities to take advantage of.
line “Cacique,” and directly challenged Victoria’s Secret’s “Perfect Body” campaign that solely featured tall and thin women. Danielle Rammer, a graduate student at the Silver School of Social Work, praised the campaign as a way to change the wrong perception of women in our society. “I don’t like the unrealistic representation of women on fashion magazines,” Rammer said. “It gives a false idea to men and our society that what a real woman should be. All women should be appreciated no matter what size they are.” Steinhardt senior Destiny Lopez was also inspired by the movement. “As a woman with curves, it makes me very proud to see other curving women splatter across the New York City,” Lopez said. Though most customers appreciate Lane Bryant’s efforts to challenge
Removal Session for a basic bikini area or underarms.
Flatiron Essential Therapy Spa, another participant in this week’s event, is at 122 East 25th St. A golden Buddha statue welcomes you at the front along with a warm and friendly staff and a comfortable downstairs lounge area with rubyred patterned pillows, a plush velvet rug and beautifully decorated locker rooms. Here, you can also use the jacuzzi, sauna and steam room for free. Deals include a 50-minute pumpkin spice massage, where spiced pumpkin essential oils are used in either a deep tissue or Swedish technique, a 50-minute facial with an added pumpkin mask and finally an eyelash extensions that includes 70 pieces per eye (sadly a latte is not included). For a full list of Spa Week deals, check online at spaweek.com and type in your zipcode to find the nearest spas in your area. Email Ashley Arnold at bstyle@nyunews.com.
For many students, baking is a way to create the feeling of home while living on campus. The aroma of a freshly baked batch of brownies or a spiced pumpkin pie warms up the kitchen and results in a cozy room with sweet treats. But for people who didn’t grow up with a rolling pin in their hand, there are a few mistakes every beginner is guaranteed to make. Many amateur bakers skip baking’s first crucial step — prepping your pans. This insures that your baked good will be the proper shape and won’t be left behind in the dish. The easiest way to get your pans slick is with cooking spray, but if you don’t have it on hand, you can simply spread a thin layer of butter around the dish and then add a dusting of flour to prevent sticking. Shake the pan upside down over the sink or trash can when you’re done, so you don’t get clumps of flour in your cake. Then comes the most labor intensive part, the baking prep. Baking is a science. Unlike cooking, baking involves exact measurements. A common phrase in cooking is season to taste, but in baking, adjusting key ingredients like sugar can lead to disaster. One measurement that is often neglected is the oven temperature. Unfortunately, ovens often heat to temperatures slightly lower or higher than indicated. You can help keep the temperature even by preheating your oven for 15 minutes and keeping a metal on the bottom rack to radiate heat. In assembling batters, crusts or creams, many students might use the same tool to measure wet and dry ingredients. This leads to inexact measurements of each product.
As a rule, wet ingredients should be measured with glass measuring tools that typically come with a spout. For dry ingredients use metal or plastic measuring cups where measurements are made by filling to the top. Another common mistake is in mixing the batter. Over-beating batter increases the amount of gluten, and makes the final baked good tough. Batter should only be mixed until flour is no longer visible. Even once you’ve placed your cake or pie in the oven, things can still go wrong. It’s very tempting to open and close the oven door to check on the dessert. Just as measurements should be treated as a science, so should bake timing. Set a timer instead of using the eye to determine if a baked good is done. Opening and closing the oven can cause the oven temperature to plummet and the baked good to fall flat. Lastly, once out of the oven, make sure to allow for proper cooling times. In general, you should let your dessert cool partially in the pan to so it can set. After 10 to 15 minutes, remove it from the baking dish to let it finish cooling on the counter or rack. Leaving the baked goods to fully cool in a baking dish allows moisture to build up and creates a soggy cupcake or bread. On the other hand, taking your dessert out of the pan too early can cause it to break or crumble. Waiting for your delicious treat to cool is difficult, but your patience will be rewarded with perfect baked goods. Email Lauren Craddock at dining@nyunews.com.
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
budget boundaries leave athletics behind
BY TYLER EYRE
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN FORTE
STAFF PHOTO BY JAKE QUAN
PHOTO BY ANNA LESTON
NYU Football shirts are easy to spot around campus, but considering the fact that the university does not have a football team, all these shirts advertise is the idea that NYU sports are comical in comparison to what they once used to be. There was a time long before any current NYU student was born, however, when Violet football fans supported a reputable Division I football program. NYU has not hosted a football team in over 60 years, but their football history dates back to 1873 when they were one of the first college football teams established in the United States. In the 1930s, NYU football star Ed Smith became the inspiration for the model behind college football’s most prestigious award — the Heisman Trophy. Only 20 collegiate athletic departments in the United States operated at a profit last year, according to a recent study conducted by the NCAA. With no Division II or Division III institution operating
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN FORTE
out of the red, and less than 6 percent of Division I schools doing so, it’s not hard to see why NYU decided to drop the football program after the 1952 season, and why it’s not likely to come back any time soon. “There are several reasons why it would be extraordinarily difficult for NYU to bring back its football program,” said Assistant Director for Sports Information Jeffrey Bernstein. “For one, just generating enough interest in participating, to fill out a full roster, would be challenging.” Despite a multitude of logistical concerns, the largest issue for NYU remains a lack of financial incentive. The last fiscal year demonstrated median losses of $1.5 million for Division III college athletic departments, while seeing equidistant revenues that barely eclipsed six figures. Those revenues did increase for universities and colleges that hosted a football team, but the median total losses for those athletic programs also doubled to $3 million. For NYU, the addition of a football team would see the university entering a space
that has shown a 112 percent increase in athletic department expenses over the last decade. The cost of running a collegiate football program could be at least six times more expensive than NYU’s current highestexpense sport: men’s basketball. In comparison to other New York City schools that offer varsity football, Columbia accumulated over $3.2 million in expenses for their football team last year, while Fordham University in the Bronx totaled close to $6 million. The NYU men’s basketball team only showed expenses of less than $500,000 during the last fiscal year. With football being a financially unattainable option for NYU, the question then becomes if another sport can become large enough to be the proverbial bell-cow for the university, and supplement the losses of the athletic department. Could another team’s ascension to Division I provide enough revenue to at least close the gap? The next-highest revenue producing sport in the NCAA after football is men’s basketball.
STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI
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NYU’s men’s basketball team makes up nearly 20 percent of the total team revenue for the university. Hypothetically, looking past the red tape and the eligibility requirements NYU would have to meet to move up to Division I, the men’s basketball team is the most applicable choice for the school. The main incentive for a basketball program to make the jump to Division I is to participate in the annual NCAA Tournament and share in the tremendous revenue that it produces. For a university to see dividends from CBS and Turner Broadcasting’s 14-year, $10.8 million agreement, all they have to do is be classified as Division I. Each year, 70 percent of that television revenue is distributed evenly among every school in Division I. The remaining revenue is split between tournament participants, and in turn, their respective conferences. For every game played in the tournament, a team earns a unit — $260,525 in 2015 — that is then pooled and allocated evenly among all of the teams in its conference, regardless of record. The assumption that a program may take several years to become acclimated and competitive within the Division I environment is valid, but the program would still be able to see immediate revenue from the tournament television deal, and perhaps more depending on the relative success of their conference counterparts. But this additional stream would not be able to cover the incredible increases that would be seen in order to jump from Division III to Division I across all areas including recruiting expenses, staff salaries and facility upgrades. This brings to light the issue of where an NYU football or Division I basketball team would even play their home games. Aside from the absence of a football stadium, NYU does not presently boast facilities capable of handling potential Division I attendance for the 13 other athletic teams that would be required to jump up to Division I if the basketball team were to reclassify. “We used to play in the Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium,” Bernstein said of the defunct NYU football team. “The Polo Grounds are obviously no longer an option, and we’re currently not looking into renting out Yankee Stadium.” With renting is out of the picture, NYU Football would presumably be looking to build a new facility — and those costs could be astronomical. The Columbia Lions Football program is pursuing avenues to build a new stadium to share with professional soccer team New York City F.C., which is expected to cost at least $400 million. Renovating a facility to meet capacity requirements would also come at a considerable cost to NYU. In 2005, the St. John’s University basketball spent $30 million to upgrade several facets of Carnesecca Arena, making it the fourth largest indoor arena in the Metropolitan area. The upcoming renovation of the Coles Sports Center isn’t expected to cater to Division I capability requirements. Despite the potential that Division I football and other sports have to unite the student body, it’s just not financially feasible for the Violets. Without financial incentive, and without a strong fan base to sway the university, NYU basketball will stay a Division III team, and NYU Football will remain a joke on a T-shirt.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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nyu's forgotten culture Now in my second semester of being sports editor at WSN, I’ve experienced my fair share of NYU sports. My first Violet sports outing was covering the men’s soccer match against the United States Merchant Marine Academy. It was a cold September night, and the team battled through a physical contest for an exciting 2-1 victory that left them with 7-1 record on the season and in good position to compete for a league title. I had arrived early, expecting the seats to fill before kickoff. But the stands were a ghost town and on the field. On the field you could hear a pin drop. NYU has 24,985 undergraduates. It’s ranked 32nd in US News’ annual National College Rankings. It has 13 campuses worldwide. It is at the forefront of one of the most diverse, high-achieving cities in the world. How, then, could a school as major league as NYU have such a minor league sports culture? Way back when, as unbelievable as it may sound, NYU was a national competitor in the two most mainstream college sports at the Division I level: basketball and football. The football team used to play in the prestigious Polo Grounds and Yankee Stadium. The basketball team was a perennial contender, finishing as national runners-up in 1945 and losing in the Final Four in 1960. This all came to an end in 1971 with a wholesale shutdown of NYU athletics. Since then, NYU has been a Division III school. A general campus-wide lack of interest has undermined the fact that nearly every Violet team remains competitive at the Division III level. There is an overriding sentiment among student-athletes and fans that unlike other schools, the culture that craves Division I sports has long been dead and will not come back to life any time soon. The question remains why NYU’s more competitive teams, which include women’s basketball and soccer, cannot garner even high school level support while participating in NCAA athletics. In a school as bustling and cramped as the downtown Manhattan campus of NYU, it comes down to two main factors: location of games and the overwhelming division of student interest among other aspects of college life. NYU Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Information Jeffrey Bernstein said these two factors play off one another and make it difficult for sports to keep the attention of NYU students. “There is definitely more of a challenge in keeping our students involved as spectators when comparing our ‘campus’ to those of other universities,” Bernstein said. “We cannot offer Friday night or Saturday afternoon football games in 100,000-seat stadiums, which are usually
used as campus-wide rallying points. Rural campuses also have a lot less entertainment options than does an NYU student who is in the middle of New York City.” Location, at least in the near future, does not seem a solvable problem. As of now, the only spectator sports that play within walking distance of Washington Square Park are volleyball, basketball and hockey. Soccer and baseball, each about an hour commute by subway, present the most difficult challenges for student support among all athletic teams at NYU. Men’s basketball captain Max Ralby recognized that playing in Coles has been beneficial to the attendance of his team’s games, and admitted that when Coles is closed and the basketball team is moved to Baruch College, it will be a much larger challenge to drum up a home crowd vibe. “It’s not really that enticing for students to go all the way to MCU park for baseball or all the way uptown for soccer,” Ralby said. “We live in New York City and these students have so much on their plates, whether it’s classes, internships. So it’s tough for them to go make that trip and take three or four hours out of their day.” Among athletes, there is disagreement about whether students would have interest in attending even if a convenient location made their options more readily available. A pair of junior soccer stars, captain Petter Aasa and goalkeeper Lucas Doucette, said given the amount of international students enrolled here, soccer could be one of the most widely supported sports at NYU if their games were closer. The team, who used to play at Pier 40 on the West side, now plays at Gaelic Park, a one-hour ride away on the 1 train to the Bronx. “It doesn’t matter the program they’re studying, whether it’s business or arts,” Aasa said. “A lot of people have in common that they would want to get the sense of school spirit into the athletic department.” As for athletics as a whole, Doucette was a little more skeptical about the possibility of transforming the entire sports culture here to mirror a state school environment. “I think the type of student that comes to NYU is the anti-jock,” Doucette said. “Obviously there’s always going to be a culture for people who love sports wherever you go, but I think that’s very much a minority here.” Through no fault of its own, NYU has created so many opportunities that there’s just no need for students to go out of their way to get to an athletic event. With so many other options available to them, there’s hardly any student who would find themselves at a Violets game out of boredom. This same idea is exactly what makes NYU so unique and attractive to prospective students.
“If you’re interested in painting, then Thursday night there’ll be this huge free painting thing,” sophomore diver Austin Campitelli said. “If someone is actually interested in something else then they’re going to go to that instead. I think that’s why NYU is unique in itself. As an athlete you have to know that before going in.” With all that in mind though, it’s still conceivable to think that a school with NYU’s resources could compete in Division I conferences similar to the Patriot League or the MAAC conference while maintaining its academic prowess. However, considering the financial implications of a reclassification to Division I, it’s just not a pressing concern for a school that is already enjoying the environment they find themselves in the UAA — one that includes an overt focus on academics coupled with a realistic outlook on the future of athletes’ careers after sports. NYU Athletic Director Christopher Bledsoe sees no better option than the current situation the Violets are in. “NYU is not planning to reclassify from NCAA Division III to NCAA Division I,” Bledsoe said. “NYU is very happy with our affiliation with the University Athletic Association, an excellent group of Universities that mirror our commitment to academics and athletics. We believe it is the best place for our student-athletes and our University. What Division I conference could offer us such an affiliation?” However, men’s hockey Head Coach Chris Cosentino, who is a strong proponent of impacting the community through athletics, believes NYU could be a better university if it had the resources and space to foster a sports culture. “In my honest opinion the only thing that really separates NYU from Ivy League schools is the athletics,” Cosentino said. “I think Ivy League schools give their students more opportunities in athletics. It’s no surprise that so many companies now love hiring athletes, because they know how to work as a team and overcome adversity.” In the short term, the question of how to foster a tighter knit athletic community at NYU seems to be far from answered. Between Violet Nation Giveaway Days, posters and emails, the athletic department is already doing as much as they can. It seems that sports junkies at NYU will have to overhaul the school’s culture from the bottom up, starting with attending more events and seeing the ways in which Violet athletes work within the Division III mold to make an impact not only on the field, but as growing members of the unique and individual NYU community. Until there is an overwhelming majority of students who demand a larger focus on athletics — which may very well never happen — a school that was once an athletic titan within New York City will continue to sport, at best, only a tiny niche community of athletes and fans.
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN FORTE
BY BOBBY WAGNER
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
OPINION
EDITED BY TOMMY COLLISON OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
EDUCATION
New education secretary must address student debt crisis By ANAND BALAJI Contributing Writer. President Obama’s controversial U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan recently announced he would be resigning from his position in December of this year. While Duncan has been lauded in some corners for increasing teacher accountability in public schools and the rollout of the Common Core program, many have criticized his push for unregulated charter schools that use federal funds without meaningful oversight. One of the most troubling aspects of Duncan’s tenure is the immense increase in student debt from $666 million at the start of
his term to $1.3 trillion in 2015. The Department of Education has done very little to address the recent growth of student debt, even though it poses a significant threat to American higher education. Duncan’s successor, John King Jr., has considerable experience as Deputy Secretary of Education and former New York State Commissioner of Education. His position on student debt reform is unclear. To successfully steer American education in the right direction, King must devote more time and resources to reducing student loan debt than his predecessor. The student loan crisis is quickly spinning out of control, as 1 in 4 Americans who have student debt
fall behind or default on their payments. Last month, the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau released a 151-page report detailing harmful practices within the largely unregulated student loan industry, including obstacles to refinancing, widespread misinformation, arbitrary fee increases and penalties. A significant part of the crisis can be attributed to the Department of Education’s
loan contractors who are charged with collecting and applying debt payments. These contractors have little oversight and have been accused of cheating Americans on their federal loans. These reports all indicate the Department of Education’s negligence when it comes to regulating and reforming the student loan industry. Duncan’s work may have had a substantial impact on the K-12 educational system, but he failed to address the growing crisis of debt that looms over American higher education. King’s proposals for improving the system remain uncertain, but the growing student debt burden must be one of the central focuses of his administration.
The purpose of college loans is to give students access to a university education and a chance at a better life, not to impose an impossible burden that will follow them throughout their careers. The Department of Education is obligated to rectify the unregulated market of college debt that values profit over the wellbeing of America’s students. King only has a year in office to make the necessary reforms, but this is enough time to reverse the rising tide of student debt. By giving this issue the attention it deserves he can hopefully lay the groundwork for positive change in the industry. Email Anand Balaji at opinion@nyunews.com.
INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS
Anti-Muslim sentiment clouds Iran Deal discourse By PRAGYA GIANANI Contributing Writer Amid all the coverage of the recent Iran Deal and Iran-U.S. relations more generally over the past few years, there has been little attempt to understand why Iran wants to acquire a nuclear weapon. Those who wonder about this begin to ask questions the media have entirely ignored because they collectively assume that Iran’s nuclear behavior has always been abysmal. If we go deeper into the issue, though, we discover that many common preconceptions of Iran do not hold water. The Western media, clouded by a thin veneer of anti-Islamic
sentiment, remains unwilling to see the Iran issue from any perspective but their own. Some worry that Iran wants to attack the United States. However, further research reveals this fear to be unfounded. Under the terms of the deal, 12,896 centrifuges — which are required to extract nuclear fuel — are required to be in storage. Furthermore, their uranium stockpile is to be diminished by 97 percent. These are undoubtedly progressive steps for Iran — steps that the media has taken great pains to ignore. After all, the media reported that former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Israel should be “wiped off the map.” A
closer look would debunk this myth with the accurate English translation of his statement in Persian, “It will not survive.” Yet the erroneous statement lives on as one of the most prevalent rumors of this century, due to the irresponsible reporting — if we can call it that — which has been done on it. The argument seen most often in the wake of this deal is
the possibility of Iran cheating on its obligations. “Do I trust the Iranians?” Hillary Clinton told supporters. “Absolutely not.” However, the International Atomic Energy Agency, as outlined in the deal, will inspect Iran’s nuclear activities at every stage, offering the international community transparency. Cheating isn’t possible without dire consequences for Iran. Despite these readily available facts, the public is still deeply suspicious of Iran’s activities. This is largely due to the negative connotations surrounding Islam. The media’s use of the phrase “Islamic Republic” to refer to Iran is a giveaway of the rampant Islamophobia that
permeates U.S. society. For example, we almost never refer to Pakistan as the “Islamic Republic of Pakistan.” Pakistan is Pakistan. Iran is Iran. But the media use the label “Islamic” to feed off the contrived fear of the religion, to gain cheap interest at the expense of good information. Any supposedly factual opposition to the Iran deal will crumble in the face of real, unbiased facts. Someone who still feels dread should know that their dread doesn’t translate to a fear of Iran’s nuclear weaponry. It translates to a fear of Islam. Email Pragya Gianini at opinion@nyunews.com.
CIVIL RIGHTS
Alabama must follow through on promised voter rights protections By ELIZABETH MOORE Contributing Writer The state of Alabama recently closed 31 driver’s license offices following an $11 million budget cut. Alabama representative Terri Sewell is demanding a “full and thorough investigation” into the closures, which she fears will disproportionately affect the voting rights of residents in poor, rural, predominantly African-American communities, just one year after the state began requiring that residents present valid photo identification to vote. Irrespective of the existing debate surrounding the issue on whether the decision to close these offices was racially
motivated, the fact remains that many Alabama residents are finding it increasingly inconvenient to exercise their constitutional right to vote. Actions must be taken to ensure that state budget cuts and their consequences, regardless of intent, do not disenfranchise citizens. Until just a few years ago, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 required that certain jurisdictions guilty of voter discrimination in the past seek approval from the U.S. Attorney General or the U.S. District Court for D.C. before implementing any change affecting voting. In 2013 the Supreme Court made the rule unenforceable through their decision in Shelby County v.
Holder. Since then, Alabama has followed the lead of more than 30 states in enacting voter identification laws with the stated intent of preventing voter fraud. This law, unchecked by the Voting Rights Act, is given new weight in the face of closures of offices that provide identification used for compliance with it. Representative Sewell has said the state’s decision to “limit
access to obtaining a driver’s license — while insisting on a photo ID to vote — is an unconscionable and overt barrier to voting.” Sewell is not alone in her vocal protests against the closures — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has denounced the state’s decision as well, calling it a “blast from the Jim Crow past.” Considering that license offices will close in eight of the 10 Alabama counties with the greatest share of non-white voters, the fear of discriminatory consequences is justified. In response to the outcry, Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill said that while driver’s licenses are the primary form of
identification used by voters, alternate forms of government-issued identification can be obtained at the Board of Registrars in every county and used at the polls. He has promised that a mobile ID van will visit every county in Alabama by the end of this month, and will return to counties that request it. The state must not only be sure to follow through on these promises, they must also find a way to inform the communities losing license offices of their alternative options or risk repercussions that create an unsettling echo of past discrimination. Email Elizabeth Moore at opinion@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY TOMMY COLLISON OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
UNIVERSITY
STAFF EDITORIAL
Silence on harassment allegations is unacceptable By DANA RESZUTEK Editor-at-Large There are many aspects of NYU’s inner workings that the typical student is unaware of. But when it comes to domestic violence allegations, it is debatable whether the university should remain quiet. Reports have surfaced regarding NYU macroeconomics professor Harilaos Kitsikopoulos, who took a sudden leave on Tuesday following charges of domestic violence including alleged assault and intent to cause physical injury. He has been replaced by another professor for the remainder of the semester, and has an upcoming court date in November. The unsettling details of Kitsikopoulos’ previous court appearance in May, which are readily available online, outline allegations against Kitsikopoulos of making violent threats towards his ex-girlfriend, their children and her new boyfriend since 2010. According to court documents, Kitsikopoulos allegedly made threats to the complainant via phone and email, sending messages such as, “I will shoot you all with a shotgun,” and, in May 2014, “I don’t care if you have an order of protection, I am going to hurt you. Your
face is going to be unrecognizable.” According to an email sent to his students, Kitsikopoulos took his sudden leave for “personal reasons.” In a response from the university, NYU spokesperson James Devitt said the university is aware of the charges, but “it is not the university’s practice to comment on what happens day-to-day in individual classes, nor is it our practice to discuss confidential employee matters.” But, if the public court documents are the fourth result when searching Kitsikopoulos’ name online, the university can’t consider the allegations fully confidential. The question then becomes how NYU chooses to distinguish between confidential information and protecting faculty by withholding information. The university itself would not be losing much, if anything, by suspending Kitsikopoulos from classes
until the charges were settled. If Kitsikopoulos had already been found guilty of the charges, NYU wouldn’t hesitate to remove him from his position as a professor based on the university Code of Ethical Conduct and Faculty Handbook. But the university’s first priority should always be creating a safe, enriching environment for students. Withholding such information, and trusting a professor accused of violent threats is absolutely unacceptable. Legal disputes are never an easy thing for private institutions to deal with, especially when they involve allegations against a faculty member. Of course NYU should respect the rights of the accused, but allegations of domestic violence and threats pose a level of danger to others. It is irresponsible that NYU has decided not to take visible action in addressing this issue that students are now aware of. The administration should have suspended Kitsikopoulos long before now, and should implement transparent regulations should such a situation occur again. Email Dana Reszutek at dreszutek@nyunews.com.
MEDIA
HONY showcases power of photojournalism By MANDY FREEBAIRN Contributing Writer For the past two weeks, Humans Of New York’s Brandon Stanton has been in Europe documenting the stories of refugees. Because of its accessible style — minimalist photos with short stories posted on a Facebook page — HONY has been able to reach a much wider audience on Facebook than most news outlets, given that HONY has 15 million followers to The New York Times’ 10 million. But putting a human face on the crisis, such as a woman whose husband was lost at sea, a man whose son was kidnapped and held for ransom and a former Syrian army officer who was forced to kill families in their homes, HONY’s coverage has galvanized public interest in a way that other media coverage has been unable to do. Photojournalism has been an effective tool in garnering sympathy and raising awareness for world issues since its conception. Earlier this year, a photo of a drowned Syrian boy whose body washed ashore on a Turkish beach went viral and sparked
SUBMITTING TO
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public outrage. There’s a difference, however, between sharing a photo on social media with a sympathetic yet empty caption and actually doing something helpful. HONY posts have actually been able to inspire helpful acts. Inspired by the heart wrenching stories of labor workers in Pakistan, HONY readers this summer raised over 2 million dollars to help end bonded labor. To conclude his refugee series, Stanton asked readers on Tuesday to donate to an existing Kickstarter supporting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a nongovernmental organization providing supplies to refugees. In just five days, the campaign has already raised over $1 million. The mass availability of Facebook also allows individuals to feel en-
gaged with the news. The comments section under each HONY photo has become a forum for people to offer their individual help to those in need. After Stanton posted the story of a refugee seeking help for his brother in need of surgery, a Facebook user in his area reached out with help to give, and Stanton put her in contact with the man pictured. While the mainstream media have been unable to facilitate this sort of personal connection, stories like these are a common occurrence on HONY posts. With its direct, forum-based platform and personalized accounts of a global crisis, HONY has been able to cover the refugee crisis in a more humanitarian and effective way than other news outlets. Given the derisive attitude of most journalists toward Facebook, it is ironic, then, that the most helpful and in-depth examination of what it means to be a refugee has come from a social media page. Email Mandy Freebairn at opinion@nyunews.com.
Boomers should not scapegoat millennials
Characterizing millennials as being lazy and entitled has become popular practice among older journalists. The L.A. Times published a piece headlined, “Millennials, you literally cannot call yourselves adults until you take this pledge,” which called on young people to rebuff common stereotypes. The pledge included not texting while eating and writing at least one yearly thank-you note, with “what’s left of” their cursive writing skills. The author of the piece later defended it, commenting that the outcry was “what you get when you raise an entire generation without spanking.” But as older generations spend their time penning angry diatribes — serious or otherwise — about the perceived shortcomings of our generation, young people are using technology to fix problems that we largely inherited from those older than us. One of the main problems with these articles is that nobody can agree on who is and isn’t a millennial. The term has no definitive dates ascribed to it, which is indicative of the fact that those who use it often just have a problem with young people generally. It is a word used to generalize and to stereotype across generational lines, and those who include it in their rants against the youth are as lazy as the millennial cliché they have created. Even bypassing the poorly defined label, so-called millennials have proven to be a fundamental block in catalyzing social change; the White House acknowledged that we will undoubtedly drive and shape the nation’s economy, while we also volunteer at almost double the rate of our parents. In large part, this desire to do good stems from a dissatisfaction with the institutions of the previous generation. Organizations such as Dosomething.org, which encourages young people in their communities to be agents of social change, are an example of our generation using technology to improve the world around us. On college campuses, we are constantly challenging the status quo and creating awareness using online platforms, including here at NYU. In 2012, students at Duke University started a social media campaign titled “Who Needs Feminism?” which not only addressed popular misconceptions regarding the feminist movement, but also pushed for equality among the sexes. The norms that millennials supposedly embrace — obsessive consumerism and self-absorbed pettiness — have been a cultural staple since the profileration of the celebrity endorsement, and are doubly reflected in the smug little treatises and think-pieces about how the kids these days are wrong. This intergenerational roasting is nothing more than a pointless exercise in passing down the blame for problems that the boomers themselves often caused. The only way anything will ever get solved is if we stop blaming and start properly thinking, and proper thinking begins with responsible journalism.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Tommy Collison (Chair), Richard Shu (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI
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.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | NYUNEWS.COM
SPORTS
EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Men’s hockey to defend win streak By RACHEL RUECKER Deputy Social Media Editor
Following a successful opening weekend at home, the NYU men’s hockey kept a perfect start to their season alive when they hit the road to play University of Massachusetts Amherst on Saturday night at the Mullins Centre in Amherst, Massachusetts. Continuing a common thread from the previous two games, the Violets picked up a lot of undisciplined penalties, which cost them as they found themselves down 3-0 by the end of the first period. Chances for the Violets to get on the board were squandered by an effective penalty kill from UMass, and when NYU looked like they were finally going to get on the board, they had a goal waved off. The first period’s bad luck clearly did not sit well with the Violets as they suffered from a plethora of penalties, including two short five-on-three’s. But with just 3:46 remaining, junior defenseman Evan Ripley got a big unassisted goal for the Vio-
lets, marking the beginning of a comeback effort, only to be negated minutes later as the Minutemen scored again to make it 4-1. The team kept hope, but knew they needed to refocus between the second and third period. Freshman Keaton Baum attributed their shift in play to the intermission between the last two periods. “Coach Cosentino really fired up the boys between the second and third, establishing what kind of team we needed to be,” Baum said. “We came out in the third with a completely different mentality.” At 2:51 into the third, Ripley struck again thanks to a quality pass from senior defenseman Curtis Fisher, making things interesting. Then, as the teams traded penalties and played 4 on 4, sophomore forward Michael Conslato had the Violets within one. Just 1:46 later, things were all tied up thanks to Baum. Suddenly reeling, UMass was forced to call a timeout. The momentum was
firmly in NYU’s hands by this point, and at 11:11, Conslato’s second pushed them ahead. The penalties continued, but the scoring did not, and NYU completed their first road game, and comeback, of the season with an exciting 5-4 win. Freshman Hamilton Whyte lauded Ripley for pulling the Violets out of their early hole. “Evan Ripley had a huge individual night that paved the way for our success,” Whyte said. “It showed a lot about the overall character of our team, and we are looking more and more dangerous as every period goes on.” The Violets returned Sunday morning to square off against Northeastern University in Boston. Though Northeastern dramatically outshot the Violets 17-6 in the first period, they could not capitalize on their multitude of opportunities. At the end of one, goals from Conslato and freshman forward Mason Gallegos gave the Violets a 2-0 lead. Senior goaltender Sam Daley was back in net and proved solid throughout the game, with some key
NYU men’s hockey keeps keeps their perfect streak alive by beating University of Massachusetts Amherst on Saturday night.
saves keeping the Huskies at bay. In the second period, freshman forward Matthew Welch scored his first goal with the team, giving them a 3-0 lead for the final period. Almost 5 minutes into the third Whyte made it a commanding 4-0 lead, with assists from Gallegos and Baum. Unfortunately, a shutout wasn’t in the cards for Daley as the Huskies got one past him mid way through the third. Things got scrappy toward the
end as penalties led to 4-4, 4-3 and 5-3 play. Northeastern took a timeout with 1:48 left, which proved somewhat effective as they converted on their 5-on-3 to score, but time ran out and NYU took the game 4-2. NYU is 4-0 on the season as they head home to defend this weekend’s victory over UMass back at the Sky Rink on Friday night. Email Rachel Ruecker at sports@nyunews.com.
NYU swimming dives into another win
NYU golf teams on solid track
By ASHLEY ARNOLD Contributing Writer
By MICHAEL THOMPSON Deputy Sports Editor
It was another busy weekend for NYU’s golf teams, as the women looked to stay consistently at the top of the leader boards, and the men hoped to build on their prior tournaments for a strong run in the spring. In Massachusetts, the Violets added another solid second place to their season, shooting a team score of 643, trailing only Williams College, who hosted the event. The team was led by the strong play of sophomore Alyssa Poentis, who finished in third place with an overall score of 156. Poentis, who took some time off to focus on her academics, said she was pleased by her performance in her first tournament back. “This weekend I knew I couldn’t expect anything if I haven’t been practicing,” Poentis said, “So it was a huge surprise I could even shoot in the 70s.” Also placing high on the leaderboard was fellow sophomore Kristin Lee, whose 160 landed her in eighth place. Although she struggled in the second round, it is Lee’s third top-ten finish in four events played this season. “I was pretty disappointed with the way I finished the tournament,” Lee said. “The second day, my touch around the greens were very incon-
FILE PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
Alyssa Poentis was NYU’s low scorer, helping the Violets place 2nd overall at the Williams College Invitational. sistent and I was not able to recover mentally from a few bad shots.” It was still highly successful for the tournament for the Lady Violets. The team has posted one victory and three consecutive second-place finishes this season. Meanwhile, it was the men’s turn to host the NYU Invitational, their final competition of the fall season. Looking to further improve, the Violets finished fifth in the field of nine teams, with a score of 643. Sophomore Bryce Holmes had his best performance of the season, shooting 151 and tying for fourth in the individual competition. Not far behind Holmes were sophomores Christopher Nolte and Daniel Lynch, who both cracked the top-ten with scores of 153 and 154. “I didn’t really have a great season and felt good that I played a little better to end on a strong note,” Lynch said. “It was a good tournament for me, but it was close to being very good. Golf is tricky in that way.” Both teams were optimistic after this weekend, and hope to parlay
their play into even better results. “I think our biggest attributor [to our success] is that we all want to better ourselves and do the best we can,” Poentis said. “We all have our own motivation which I think helps us play well.” After a 2014 season that saw the men’s team fight through adversity, it’s promising to see the men’s team pick up their performance early in the 2015 campaign. “The team had a tough season, as we had a player get injured another drop off the team, so we all had to grind it out and work together,” Lynch said. “Our coach [Todd Kolean] helped motivate us to finish strong.” The Lady Violets haven’t finished just yet. The team remains in Massachusetts for one more tournament this month, the Ann S. Batchelder Invitational. From there, the golf program takes a long rest before resuming with the second leg of the UAA Championship on March 13. Email Michael Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.
The NYU men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams kicked off their season on Saturday by defeating SUNY Cortland handily. The Men’s team beat SUNY Cortland 196-90. Junior Max Phillips won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:42.73. He also landed in second place in the 100-yard freestyle with 48.17. Phillips, and with junior Harrison Clewell, sophomore Joe Baron and senior Win Htet Oo achieved victory in the 400yard freestyle relay with a time of 3:13.88. “Between the returning swimmers and the freshmen I think we really showed everyone just how much potential our team has this year,” Phillips said. “For so many of us to be doing as well as we did this weekend I think that we are going to have a very strong team when championships roll around.” Sophomore Austin Palmer won the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 9:45.88. Junior Phillip Kang landed in first place in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 1:54.01 and the 200-yard butterfly with a time of 1:54.36. The women’s swimming and diving team also dominated the competition, defeating SUNY Cortland with 198-94. Sophomore Isabelle Kitze won the 100-yard butterfly with a time of
58.74 and led the 400-yard winning freestyle relay team with a time of 3:40.40. Kitze also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.57. Freshman Haley Wen got off to a strong start for her collegiate career, winning the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:12.64 and the 1,000-yard freestyle with a time of 10:40.52. “It went really well in terms of both my own performance and the team’s performance,” Wen said. “It was so much fun to watch all my new teammates swim for the first time and to race with their support.” Junior captain Elise Gibbs won the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:57.35. Gibbs also anchored the winning 200yard medley relay team with Krista Traub and sophomore Serena Yan, finishing with a time of 1:47.40. In the one-meter diving competition, sophomore Austin Campitelli, in her first competition since nationals last season, finished with a score of 259.14. Freshman Kelly Ryser was just behind her, totaling 254.40 points. Campitelli also took first place in the three-meter competition with a score of 265.35. The Violets’ next competition will be the University of Rochester Invitational this weekend on Oct. 2325 in Rochester, New York. Email Ashley Arnold at sports@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2015 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
13
SPORTS
EDITED BY BOBBY WAGNER SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Women’s soccer loses winning streak By BRANDON HERRERA Contributing Writer
VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM
In Saturday’s face off against the Tartans of Carnegie Mellon, the women’s soccer team saw their eight game winning streak come to an end at the hand of the Carnegie Mellon Tartans. Until then, their strong play in the past month earned them the 23rd spot in the Top 25 of the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division III Poll. Although they suffered a demoralizing loss, senior forward Melissa Menta knows the team will only grow from it. “I think we had an overall strong performance yesterday so if we can build on that and omit some of our mistakes, we should have everything we need to be successful this weekend,” Menta said. “Great teams can
stay focused for 90+ minutes straight. I know that we’re a great team.” The game was deadlocked at 0-0 until Carnegie Mellon’s Amelia Clark scored off a well placed corner kick by Tori Iatarola with 6:19 remaining in the second overtime period. NYU junior goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg helped keep the game within reach for the Violets for as long as she could with her outstanding nine saves. Carnegie Mellon (11-0-1, 2-0 UAA) outshot NYU (9-2, 1-1 UAA) 13-5 overall, 10-2 in shots on goal and had a 10-2 edge in corner kicks. Menta and sophomore forward Olivia Braender-Carr accounted for NYU’s two shot on goals with one apiece, while Menta and junior midfielder Lexi Clarke each recorded two shots. Tartans’ keeper Katie Liston made two saves to help shutout the
Violets. Despite the tough end result, senior defender Emmy Hattle looks forward to hitting the field again. “The team worked really hard this weekend at CMU,” Hattle said. “It was a tough loss but we gave our best till the very end. It was great to see the back line hold off one of the strongest offenses in the country. We now know what we are capable of and that sort of confidence is what we need going into the games this weekend.” NYU soccer returns to action on Friday, Oct. 16, when they head back home and host seventh-ranked Washington University-St. Louis at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, New York. The UAA matchup is scheduled to start at 11 a.m. Email Brandon Herrera at sports@nyunews.com.
Max Mudd helped the men’s cross country team finished second at the Metropolitan Championship on Friday, Oct. 9, at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.
NYU ranks high in cross country tourney By TONY SCHWAB Contributing Writer
The NYU men’s cross country team finished in second place overall at the Metropolitan Championships held Friday in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. NYU racked up 71 points, finishing behind only Fordham. The Metropolitan Championship marked a third straight strong outing to begin the season for the Violets. They placed second of 21 teams at the Saratoga Invitational to begin the season and third of 19 at the Dickinson Long-Short Invitational on Sept. 26. There were several individual standouts. Junior Jorge Maldonado finished fifth of 114 in the 8K course, with a total time of 26:48. Sophomore Max Mudd came in sixth with a time of 26:54.5. Coming in 20th was Sophomore Karn Setya with a time of 27:25.1. Also finishing in the top 40 were sophomore Neil Saddler, senior Daniel Rieger, junior Nick Karam, freshman Brandon Shirazi and senior Max Avila. Fordham University hosted the event, which featured teams from New York and New Jersey. Aside from NYU and Fordham, Rutgers, Columbia, Seton Hall and Marist were among the teams present. In the 8K race Fordham posted an average time of
of 26:47 while NYU averaged 27:13. Three of the top four finishers, Jonathan Annelli, Michael Turi and Thomas Slattery, were from Fordham runners. Maldonado spoke of the difficulties of the course and his hopes for the remainder of the season. He said the team will look to hit its stride before its biggest races. “Considering the conditions of the race, I think the team gave an ace effort and is ready to get the gears moving for some of our higher aspirations,” Maldonado said. “We want to take some names in the conference and the region. We’re looking strong and hopefully with the right motivation things should start piecing themselves together.” Next Saturday, the team will be part of two separate contests. Some of the Violets will be at the Inter-Regional Rumble at Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio. Others will be at the Connecticut College Invitational in New London, Connecticut. After starting the season with three straight top-3 finishes, the cross country team plans to extend their stride even further, saving their best performances for the end of the season and making sure not to peak too early. Email Tony Schwab at sports@nyunews.com.
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