NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 77
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013
WSN GOES TO
nyunews.com From Oct. 9 to 12, New York Comic Con played host to a number of panels covering the latest movies, television shows and more. For WSN’s coverage of this year’s show, visit nyunews.com.
NEW YORK COMIC CON
University hosts disaster preparedness design competition By MIMI MCCANN
The Institute for Public Knowledge at NYU is sponsoring Rebuild by Design, a multistep design competition that allows teams to design projects that increase resilience against disasters in regions affected by Hurricane Sandy and aims to understand the impact Sandy has had on the community. Selected proposals will receive funding from the congressional Sandy relief bill. IPK is working on this project in col-
laboration with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the president’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force. Representatives from the task force reached out to Eric Klinenberg, the director of IPK, to see if IPK could provide institutional support for the initiative. Stage one of Rebuild by Design began in June with an application process that sought professionals with experience in landscape design, urban design, archi-
tecture, land-use planning, industrial design and communications. “148 international teams from 40 countries applied to be considered for the competition, [and] 10 were chosen by the Sandy task force in Washington, D.C.,” Klinenberg said. Those 10 teams are now nearing the end of stage two, which began in August and runs through the end of October. This stage, which is supported by a staff hired by Klinenberg and IPK, analyzes the region’s
needs and vulnerabilities after Sandy as a basis for identifying design opportunities. Rae Zimmerman, a professor of planning and public administration at NYU, emphasized the need to approach disaster preparedness on a regional scale. “We need to look at a site-specific geographic scale when we do disaster preparedness, [and we] shouldn’t lose sight of the fact that we need a citywide and
REBUILD continued on PG. 3
‘Darlings’ taps into history of Beat Generation By JEREMY PICK
It’s 1944 and things are changing in New York City. A group of young men are tearing down the normal conventions of poetry, forming what they call the Beat Generation and they are starting to take the city by storm. “Kill Your Darlings,” the first feature film from director John Krokidas, explores this transformation from the perspective of some of the poets involved, but the film spins the story in an unexpectedly darker direction based on true events. The film follows a young Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) as he is accepted into Columbia University and relocates to the Upper West Side. He doesn’t fit in right away, but things become more comfortable when he meets Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan), an eccentric student
DARLINGS continued on PG. 5
DAVID LIN/WSN
Humans of New York photographer hosts book signing at Barnes & Noble Brandon Stanton, the photographer behind the blog Humans of New York, spoke at Barnes & Noble on the night of Tuesday, October 15, for the release of his book, also titled “Humans of New York”. Stanton discussed the motivation behind the photo collection. He told attendees, “My goal, when I talk to these people, is that I want to learn something about each person I’ve never heard before.”
Diverse New York perfumeries offer personalized fragrances By DANA RESZUTEK
NOMKO BAATAR/WSN
The city’s perfumeries provide variety of customizable scents.
When preparing to go out, perfume is generally the last thing applied — the final touch that perfects your image. What you smell like can convey how you feel. But despite the variety of scents available in stores, not everyone will find a predesigned match in the fragrance aisle. With perfumeries that offer custom fragrances, there’s a simple alternative to finding a scent that’s guaranteed to match your body chemistry. Through a process that typi-
cally involves selecting from a wide range of oils and testing them to form your own scent, a custom fragrance may open the door for originality while insuring, with the help of perfume experts, that the combination will prove cohesive. A variety of perfumeries in New York City offer this process. The Fragrance Shop New York, located in the East Village, offers hundreds of scents and in an attainable price range between $28 and $67. Owner of the New York shop Lalita Kamut explained the process of how to choose the right
scents in a custom fragrance. “Your nose will tell you what’s right,” she said. “When we make the custom fragrances, you choose about three to six scents. We process by testing, and you’ll always know when the scent is right because it’ll feel the best on you.” Although the Fragrance Shop New York offers a walk-in environment, many other custom perfumeries such as Upper East Side’s Scenterprises LTD and Brooklyn’s Herbal Alchemy, further personalize the cus-
PERFUMERY continued on PG. 4
2
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
STAFF PLAYLIST
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
DIVA DEPARTURES In the media, there is talk of how Miley Cyrus’s recent exploits are groundbreaking for pop music. While it may be tempting to blindly follow the hype, it’s important to keep an eye on the past. It seems that every time a pop star alters his or her image like Cyrus did, the media has a field day. They make claims of a cultural watershed.
ENTERTAINMENT PODCASTS As WSN begins its regularly airing Arts podcast this semester, there are still plenty of podcasts on entertainment news that deserve a download as well. Depending on your tastes, tune in to these podcasts to keep you occupied on daily commutes.
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
Assembled here is a collection of moments where visible pop divas adopted a more adult identity.
“PODCAST BEYOND” The Internet’s number one PlayStation podcast, “Beyond” has been running strong for over 300 episodes. While the cast has rotated over the years, current mainstays Greg Miller, Colin Moriarty and Andrew Goldfarb discuss the latest in the world of Sony and the gaming world at large. The trio describes the show as a conversational podcast, so expect several tangential conversations, but the trio and their rotating guests never fail to bring listeners important PlayStation news while keeping things light and hilarious.
JORDAN MELENDREZ Web Managing Editor
HANQING CHEN Creative Director
LYANNE NATIVIDAD Blog Editor
“MY BROTHER, MY BROTHER AND ME” The trio of brothers Griffin, Justin and Travis McElroy have all lived interesting lives, and they’ve put their experiences to good use in this life-advice podcast. Each week, the brothers answer emails from listeners about any number of problems or goings-on in their lives. They try to offer productive advice while often cracking each other up. While the podcast is over 170 episodes deep, start with episode 161, a compilation of the McElroy brothers’ favorite moments.
AMY ZHANG Special Issues Director
KALEEL MUNROE
SENIOR STAFF
news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,
MICHAEL DOMANICO arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
DEPUTY STAFF
news KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR,
“We Can’t Stop” — Miley Cyrus “Fantasy” — Mariah Carey “Give Your Heart a Break” — Demi Lovato “Nasty” — Janet Jackson “I Kissed a Girl” — Katy Perry “Crazy in Love” — Beyonce “Spinning Around” — Kylie Minogue “Why Can’t I?” — Liz Phair “Since U Been Gone” — Kelly Clarkson “Material Girl” — Madonna “Motivation” — Kelly Rowland “Physical” — Olivia Newton-John “My NameIs Not Susan” — Whitney Houston “Gimme More” — Britney Spears “Wrecking Ball” — Miley Cyrus PHOTOS: JANET JACKSON, BEYONCE, MARIAH CAREY, KATY PERRY, BRITNEY SPEARS - VIA FLICKR.COM | ALTANO - VIA IGN.COM | MCELROY - VIA FLICKR.COM | WHITE - COURTESY OF AMC | PLAY STATION - VIA US.PLAYSTATION.COM | HANKS - VIA FACEBOOK.COM FRONT PAGE PHOTOS: ARCHER - COURTESY OF ARCHER NETWORKS | THE WALKING DEAD COURTESY OF AMC | GOOSEBUMPS - COURTESY OF SCHOLASTIC | R.L. STINE - VIA RLSTINE. COM | SUPERMAN - COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. | TRUE BLOOD - COURTESY OF HBO
SNAPSHOT
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
RAQUEL WOODRUFF deputy opinion editors
“THE COMEDY BUTTON” What happens when a group of friends and editors from various web outlets come together to discuss their lives? The often hilarious and always crude “The Comedy Button.” Each week, Brian Altano, Scott Bromley, Anthony Gallegos, Ryan Scott and Max Scoville reminisce on the strange experiences of their lives, as well as look back on their pop cultureladen childhoods. All real-life friends, the cast frequently play off one another to amusing results. While not every episode is a standout, their hits — like the two most recent episodes covering two of the cast’s marital engagements — will likely having you quoting them for weeks to come.
“FIREWALL & ICEBERG PODCAST” Every week, TV critics Alan Sepinwall and Dan Fienberg sit down to discuss the latest TV news, as well as discuss some of the week’s biggest episodes and premieres. The two have a fantastic repartee, bouncing off one another to provide smart insight with a healthy dose of entertainment. Sepinwall’s history writing about and knowledge of the business make this podcast a particularly worthy listen. TV junkies will not want to pass up the chance to hear these two debate the best and worst of the television landscape.
“THE NERDIST PODCAST” In recent years, Chris Hardwick has built an empire out of the Nerdist, a brand spanning television, podcasts, the Internet and more. Over 400 episodes of the flagship podcast have been produced, and it shows no signs of slowing down. The majority of its episodes feature Chris Hardwick interviewing a celebrity guest, who can be anyone from actor Tom Hanks to game designer Ken Levine. His co-hosts Jonah Ray and Matt Mira have great chemistry in conversation with Hardwick, and you’re sure to find at least a few celebrities who often indulge in hilarious and insightful discussions.
EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, PETER KEFFER
ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER
ELLEN MCQUEEN
CIRCULATION MANAGER
CHLOE COFFMAN SALES MANAGER
ALISON LIZZIO
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
KALEEL MUNROE UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATOR
CLAIRE MAHANY
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
ARIANA DIVALENTINO, ETHAN JACOBS
ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORS-AT-LARGE
JAEWON KANG, DAVID LIN, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG
CORRECTIONS In the Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013 article titled “Students chalk up park for breast cancer awareness,” two students’ class years were incorrect. Colleges Against Cancer plans NYU Relay. They are not separate organizations. Additionally, CAC hosts many chalk it up events throughout the year, and this was not the second annual such event.
A cairn rests in front of one of Cloudland Canyon’s waterfalls in Rising Fawn, Ga.
PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK
In the Wednesday, Oct. 9 article titled “Physics professor earns research grant to explore quantum theory of gravity,” NYU physics professor Georgi Dvali’s work was reviewed by an international panel of scientists. It was not reviewed by 25 scientists. WSN regrets these errors.
GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
NYU student assaulted while walking home in East Village
By ALEX HUIBONHOA
A 20-year-old NYU student was put in a chokehold and nearly raped, according to police, on Thompson Street, between Prince and Spring streets, on Oct. 8. The student assaulted on Thompson Street did not report the crime to the university, but NYU Public Safety notified students following the attack after they learned of the incident following a report in the New York Daily News. “Upon receipt of this information, a notification to the residence hall directors and other administrators with student [and] campus responsibilities was electronically sent on [Oct. 11] for posting in residence halls and other locations on campus where students, staff and faculty may have the opportunity to read it,” said Jay Zwicker, the assistant director of Public Safety. He said students should be aware of several resources available to them to increase their security, like Safe Ride and NYU Safe Havens. CAS sophomore Isabela Fonseca said the news of the assault in SoHo made her more uneasy about traveling at night. “[The assault] definitely made me more worried about walking around at night,” Fonseca said. “Normally when I come back past 1 [a.m.] I take Safe Ride or walk with a large group of people.”
According to the NYU crime reports, forcible sex offenses have increased from six to 11 between 2010 and 2012. Zoe Ragouzeos, the assistant vice president of Student Mental Health and director of Counseling and Wellness at NYU, said the Campus Security Report reflected incidents on campus including reports from people unaffiliated with the university in Washington Square Park and public streets surrounding the campus. At the same time, new measures encouraged victims to report sexual assault incidents. “NYU’s Office of Community Standards and the Office of Equal Opportunity engaged in a campaign to heighten awareness and reporting,” Ragouzeos said. CAS junior Eda Kurc said the size of NYU could impede students’ willingness to seek help from the university. “The fact that NYU is such a large school also makes it a school that is difficult to trust in terms of personal problems students may have,” Kurc said. “ I would rather tell my parents and seek help that way rather than go through [NYU’s] bureaucratic procedures that could take forever.” Licensed professionals and a hotline are available for students to use 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. However, CAS
junior Tiffany Yam said she did not feel comfortable using these services. Though she said she did not seek out the university’s help for sexual assault, she did attend the available counseling for personal issues. “I understand the Student Health Center is a place for temporary relief, but I don’t trust school services,” Yam said. “During my sophomore year I went for NYU counseling, and they were only able to offer me six to eight sessions before they would refer me to an outside counselor. I did not feel comfortable trusting a counselor with my problems when I knew it was only temporary.” While some students
have said they avoid university services, Alessandra Pia De Constanzo, a CAS junior, said NYU students have diverse options available in the city in addition to the university. “If the resources provided via the school are not enough, there are thousands of options within New York City that NYU can recommend to you,” De Constanzo said. “It is important that the university provides care whether the victim feels ready to file the report or not, and I think the confidentiality policy helps relieve some of this stress for the victim.” Alex HuiBonHoa is a contributing writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
A student was attacked on Thompson St. last Tuesday.
REBUILD continued from PG. 1
Institute of Public Knowledge hosts multi-step disaster resilience design project in light of Hurricane Sandy
regional planning perspective so that local and larger plans don’t conflict,” Zimmerman said. David Wachsmuth, a doctoral candidate in sociology at NYU and a member of the Rebuild by Design research network that helped the teams with analysis, explained the long-term goals of these projects. “[The end results] could be things
like new infrastructure to deal with floods, new processes for helping governments cooperate with each other [or] new building codes for houses to be put on stilts,” Wachsmuth said. “The things that NYU is running are going to wind down at the end of October when the research is done.” In the next stage, the teams will
COURTESY OF REBUILD BY DESIGN
Organizers present qualifications for submissions for the competition.
review what they have learned, and in the final stage they will propose projects. “Congress has put aside quite a lot of money for rebuilding in the region, and this project is basically trying to come up with some good ideas for how to spend that money,” Wachsmuth said. Klinenberg said each of the teams will present three to five design opportunities at an event at NYU on Oct. 28. Klinenberg acknowledged the honor for himself and for IPK to play a leadership role in this project. “The Institute for Public Knowledge has played a special role in the public debate about what happened during Sandy as well as what we can do to remake the city,” he said. Mimi McCann is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
3
U.S. higher education expanding abroad
COURTESY OF DUKE UNIVERSITY
Duke University’s China campus is due to open in 2014. By EMILY BELL and NICOLE BROWN Since 1990, there has been a 80 percent increase in the number of international branches of American universities, according to University of Albany professor Jason Lane in a Bloomberg News article published earlier this month. NYU is a growing part of that statistic as it continues to expand through the Global Network University, including NYU Shanghai’s inaugural class this fall. NYU’s vice president for global programs Nancy Morrison said that NYU has influenced other universities’ developments abroad. “I do think it’s fair to say that NYU’s global model has certainly garnered a lot of attention from around the world, and we often hear from colleagues at other institutions who are keen to learn more about it,” Morrison said. Similar to NYU, Duke University is expanding into China with a campus in Kunshan, which will start classes in 2014. “We want our students to be globally engaged citizens,” said Donna Lisker, associate vice provost for undergraduate education at Duke. “We believe exposure to other countries through global education programs is a crucial part of a well-rounded education and makes for students with strong portfolios to offer to potential employers and graduate programs.” According to the Bloomberg News article, Stanford University and Columbia University have been reluctant to have campuses in China for fear of a lack of academic freedom. Yale-NUS, a partnership between Yale University and the National University of Singapore, welcomed its inaugural class this fall, but some faculty expressed concern over media censorship and tolerance of the LGBTQ community, according to the article. However, Yale-NUS freshman Timothy Lim, who is from Hong Kong and has spent time in the U.S., said he has not ex-
perienced any hindrance on his education in Singapore. “During our module about same-sex marriage, debates and discussions have not been restrained, rather enhanced by an alternative interpretation from the variety of backgrounds of the Singaporean students who aren’t always influenced by the Western media’s interpretation of [homosexuality],” Lim said. Some NYU faculty have also voiced concerns about academic freedom at some of NYU’s global sites and last April, the Faculty Advisory Committee on NYU’s Global Network was established to address these concerns. “[Our goal is] to ensure the academic quality and disciplinary integrity of all NYU’s global programs,” said co-chairs of the Advisory Committee, Eliot Borenstein and Una Chaudhuri, said in an interview with WSN for a previous article. Some schools, such as George Mason University, have had difficulties establishing campuses abroad due to low enrollment. George Mason closed its campus in the United Arab Emirates in 2009, only four years after its establishment. However, enrollment at NYU’s global programs has steadily risen. “NYU has more students studying abroad each year than any other school in the country, and currently more than 40 percent of undergraduates now study abroad during their time at NYU,” Morrison said. The Global Network University is comprised of portal campuses in New York, Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, as well as 11 other study away sites. “As an institution, NYU has long prided itself for being in and of New York City, and as our world becomes increasingly interconnected, we recognized that we are living in a time that demands that students not only want to be in and of the city, but in and of the world,” Morrison said. Emily Bell and Nicole Brown are news editors. Additional reporting by Andrew Spohn. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
4
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
BEAUTY AND STYLE
5
P O T
Worldwide beauty secrets, products for makeup, skincare By BRYNA SHUMAN
Different cultures have different takes on beauty routines, and there are always tips and secrets to be learned. Take a look at some of the best beauty products that people from around the globe swear by.
Tissue Masks from Asia Tissue masks, a skincare staple in Asia recently gaining popularity in the United States, are designed to restore a fresh and healthy glow to your skin. The cloth mask allows the active ingredients to better absorb into your skin, thus increasing the ingredients’ effectiveness. Garnier has introduced a mask specifically designed to lighten dark spots (Garnier Skin Renew Dark Spot Treatment Mask, $16.99 at garnierusa.com). Kohl Eyeliner from the Middle East Kohl has been used for centuries as eyeliner in Middle Eastern countries, but modern Western versions offer the same look without toxic lead sulfide. Rimmel London’s Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal ($4.29, Ulta.com) is long lasting and comes in 10 different shades. Argan Oil from Morocco Argan oil, found in the native argan tree of Morocco, has many uses that women of the Moroccan Berber tribe have sworn by for years. Argan oil is useful on the skin as an anti-aging agent and to repair acne marks and scars, and on the hair to prevent frizz and repair heat damage. Eden Allen sells pure argan oil from Morocco for $18.00 per 1 fl. oz. (edenallure.com), worth buying because of the high quality of the oil and considering that proceeds benefit the Berber tribe. BB cream from South Korea Its recent popularity in Western markets can be deceiving. Short for blemish balm or base cream, BB cream originated in South Korea. The foundation-like cream is designed to even out skin tones and provide light coverage while also hydrating and protecting skin against sun and aging. BB creams in local drugstores tend to be little more than tinted moisturizers. Opt for an international product for better skin health properties. Try Skin79 Super Plus Triple Functions BB Vital Cream ($35.00, skin79northamerica.com). Lip Butter from Greece Many lip balms offer no more than color or shine, but lip butters from Greece offer more natural benefits. Lip butters are designed to condition and soothe dry and irritated lips, thanks to the diversity of plant life in Greece used to create the product. Korres, which started as a small, natural pharmacy in Athens, now sells cosmetic products globally. Try Sephora’s Korres Lip Butter ($12.00, sephora.com). Bryna Shuman is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com. PHOTOS: GARNIER – VIA GARNIERUSA.COM | RIMMEL - VIA RIMMELLONDON.COM | EDEN - VIA EDENALLURE.COM | SKIN79 - VIA SKIN79NORTHAMERICA.COM | KORRES - KORRESUSA.COM
EDITED BY ARIANA DIVALENTINO BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
PERFUMERY continued from PG. 1
New York City’s unique perfumeries provide ample options to create well-matched scents
tom fragrance process by requiring a scheduled appointment geared toward private customization. But these sessions generally indicate a higher price point. Scenterprises LTD offers their smallest bottle for $50, while Herbal Alchemy starts at $125. CAS sophomore Josefa Bitenc said she preferred the idea of a tried-and-true fragrance that many people enjoy. “I like the novelty of custom perfumes, but I feel like I don’t have good enough knowledge of fragrance to find a custom scent that works for me that’s better than the perfume I already have,” Bitenc said. Whether you attempt find a pre-existing,
brand-name fragrance, or opt for the customization process, know
that there is a scent out there is a scent out there for you.
Dana Reszutek is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
NOMKO BAATAR/WSN
Bottles of organic perfume line the shelves at a local New York perfurmerie.
Find comfortable, stylish pairs of shoes to prepare for city nightlife By DAVID BOLOGNA
City nightlife shoes with high heels and rough straps can cause agonizing stress for the feet, leaving wearers to decide each weekend if the price of pain is worth it the fashionable footwear. Instead of a stilleto, avoid hobbling out of the club and try a wedge or platform shoe. While platforms may seem even more impractical than stilettos, they are quite cunning. With the front placement of a platform underneath the ball of the foot, it actually balances out the high heel of a shoe to provide a sense of stability and dramatic height. For some of the more comfortable nightlife shoes, check out Strut of NY. Located on 14th Street and Fifth Avenue, this boutique is an official Jeffrey Campbell retailer. These shoes are some of the hottest clubbing shoes sold and are deceivingly comfortable. A pair of spiked blue suede platforms are sold for $89. “When I wear shoes, I have to commit to them, and they’re not that bad because they’re easy to walk in,” CAS freshman Daliah Ross said of a pair of Jeffrey Campbells she owns. For even more support, check out the pink snakeskin wedge, another Jeffrey Campbell model, at $70. This shoe provides the unmatched support of a wedge and still looks incredible. If those shoes are too steep in price, Strut carries plenty of knock-off brands that are a bit less comfortable but still mimic the
unforgettable Campbell style. Down the street on 18th Street and Fifth Avenue, try H&M’s faux leather boot with a quilted front section and side zipper. This edgy model looks and feels great at just $50. For a cleaner look, try H&M’s smooth platform ankle boot for $40 or its wedge-heel sneaker for a casual look at $35. “They definitely go with the urban feel,” Stern freshman Maria Alejandra Vasquez said. If making a statement is what’s in mind, venture to the Bowery between Bleecker and Houston streets for the most outlandish boutique of all. With manageable comfort, Patricia Field’s
Iridescent Snake Heel is a hybrid platform stiletto at a reasonable $48. With the yellow Rocky Lace Up Boot for $88, style and stability collide in a perfect match. For the ’90s club kid in all of us, the Quzmo Platform Sneaker offers the most comfortable, practical and fashion-forward nightlife shoe for $80. The trick is to stick with the flat form, the wedge or the platform shoe. With any of these three models, a combination of chic style and comfort are sure to let you dance the night away. David Bologna is a contributing writer. Email him at bstyle@nyunews.com.
SHAWN PAIK/WSN
Wedge or platform shoes offer both comfort and style on a night out.
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
‘Beyond’ delivers strong acting, middling narrative experience By ALEX RAKOWSKI
When developer Quantic Dream released “Heavy Rain” in 2010, it was a breath of fresh air. Rather than build a game focused on mechanics, “Heavy Rain” first and foremost served as a story with added, albeit minimal, gameplay. You didn’t so much play it as you watched it while occasionally interacting. Three years later, “Beyond: Two Souls” looks to replicate that success and do it with some big names to boot. “Beyond” is the story of Jodie Holmes, a girl with an entity named Aiden that is constantly with her at all times. The story takes place over the course of 15 years. The narrative is nonlinear, jumping around the timeline of her life without warning. The setup is confusing to say the least — the player will witness a scene in which Jodie is a child, only to jump
5
to an adult Jodie moments later and to then be thrown into a scenario featuring a teen Jodie. Considering the over 10-hour length of the game, its lack of focus leaves the player confused. As troublesome as the narrative can be, it’s brought to life wonderfully by the actors. Ellen Page lends her voice and likeness to star as Jodie, delivering an incredible performance. The always creepy Willem Dafoe costars as Nathan Dawkins, a doctor studying Jodie and Aiden at the Department of Paranormal Activity. Their performances amaze, as the majority of the game’s acting is brought to life via motion capture. The game appears startlingly realistic, with Page looking especially true-to-life at times. While “Beyond” is an interactive drama meant to be watched more than played, the controls that are in place work well.
COURTESY OF SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT
Players explore 15 years of Jodie’s life in “Beyond.”
Flicking the right analog stick performs most actions, and there are many to perform, ranging from killing helicopter pilots to making dolls have a tea party. The minimalist controls help the player focus on the story. Player choice is a key part of the “Beyond” experience. Players can have Jodie lie to someone, tell the truth or use Aiden to wreak havoc all in one scenario. All choices are presented as if they’re impacting the story, though sadly this is more an illusion than true player agency. “Beyond” is a ride that the player is along for, not one of which they are the conductor. “Heavy Rain” offered a true sense of control for the player, where every choice drastically affected the outcome of the plot. The way “Beyond” fails to incorporate the will of the player in a major way feels like a huge step back. With “Beyond: Two Souls,” Quantic Dream tried to oneup the studio’s previous work. In terms of presentation, they outdid themselves, creating a truly beautiful and well-acted video game. It’s the story, however, that ultimately fails — a confusing tale of a girl and her ghost that seems to be leading nowhere five hours into the game is the ultimate downfall of a game meant to emphasize the importance of its narrative. Alex Rakowski is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
DARLINGS continued from PG. 1
Supporting cast elevates exploration of Beat Generation in ‘Darlings’
COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Allen Ginsberg and Lucien Carr develop a strong friendship in “Darlings.” known for breaking the rules. Ginsberg and Carr hit it off immediately, but Carr is haunted by his past, which slowly unravels as the film progresses. Integrated into the proceedings is David Kammerer (Michael C. Hall), a mysterious poet who has some sort of connection to Carr. The film ends up being less of a Ginsberg biopic and more of a twisted romance-mystery revolving around Carr, with Ginsberg finding himself lost at the center of things. While Radcliffe makes for a perfectly decent Ginsberg, the real powerhouse performances come from Hall and DeHaan. The two are explosive as Kammerer and Carr, both individually and when matched as a pair. Their relationship is terrifying and their chemistry is spot-on. The supporting actors also do justice to their real-life characters. Jack Huston is excellent as Jack Kerouac, and Ben Foster gives a great performance as William Burroughs. Elizabeth Olsen plays Kerouac’s girlfriend, and while she should have played a larger role, Olsen does her best with a minute role. David Cross also gives a surprisingly dramatic performance as
Ginsberg’s father, who must deal with Allen’s antics at Columbia while at the same time trying to figure out what to do about his mentally unstable wife. Krokidas’ direction is sharp and inventive, creating an independent sensibility and giving the film a unique voice. In particular, Krokidas nails the thematic string of “the lifecycle” that carries throughout the film. This theme explores the idea that all events ultimately lead back to their beginnings — Krokidas ties this to the idea of the Beat Generation replacing its predecessors. His methods are not exactly subtle, but it works well in the context of the film, especially given how ostentatious the characters are supposed to be. Most importantly, “Kill Your Darlings” feels fresh. What could have been a History Channel special is actually poetic and involving. With its excellent performances and its thoughtprovoking story, Krokidas’s first feature is able to find a distinct voice. It’s indie filmmaking done right. Jeremy Pick is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
Paul McCartney channels old sound on latest album By MACKENZIE BRADY
For any other musician, “New” would be a seminal work — an album that puts an artist on the map. Unfortunately for Paul McCartney, the former Beatle has released so many great albums, “New” simply blends into his discography. “New” stays within McCartney’s comfort zone of late 1960s Beatles’ pop songs, even though his status as a rock icon comes largely from the Beatles’ progressive experimentation. The iconic British act used looping and distortion before any equivalent act, and their influence on contemporary pop culture cannot be overstated. With albums like “Sgt.
Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and “Band on the Run” included in his catalogue of work, McCartney sounds tame and predictable on “New.” While no track absolutely disappoints, none of the songs seem poised to enter the McCartney hall of fame with the likes of “Maybe I’m Amazed,” “Yesterday” or “Hey Jude.” This is an album for diehard McCartney fans — the ones who know every word to every Wings song and refuse to sell their Beatles wigs. Full of harpsichord, large horn sections and charming harmonies, “New” is packed full of songs that sound like B-sides to “Sgt. Pepper.” In an obvious reference to McCartney’s teenage years as a
Teddy Boy in Liverpool, “Early Days” gives fans further insight into the famed Lennon-McCartney dynamic. At it’s best, “New” feels like a victory lap. McCartney has nothing left to prove, so he takes the most iconic sounds of his career and gives them a 21st century update with the help of trendy producers Mark Ronson and Paul Epworth. It’s hard to fault McCartney for relying so heavily on the Beatles’ sound when he helped to create it. It’s his signature sound he is replicating, and when nearly every other band strives to emulate the Beatles, why wouldn’t he want to show them all how it’s done? With two of the four producers on the album, Giles
Martin and Ethan Johns, being children of the Beatles’ producers — Glyn Johns and the oft-alleged fifth member George Martin — it makes sense that this album would rehash what made McCartney great in his prime. The opening track “Save Us” features a riff that sounds like a Wings cut circa 1980, while “Appreciate” makes use of the guitar looping first used on “Tomorrow Never Knows.” The single “New” could have easily been on “Magical Mystery Tour.” An overall enjoyable album, “New” falls short of the bar set impossibly high by McCartney’s previous work. Something all four members of the band struggled with was overcoming the behemoth that is the Beatles’ leg-
COURTESY OF HEAR MUSIC
acy. On “New,” McCartney works with his past instead of purposely avoiding it. It’s the album every Beatles fan would want him to produce, which, when it’s all said and
done, is certainly nothing to scoff at. Mackenzie Brady is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
6
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
Interested in working for us? Come to our Sunday Pitch Meetings. NEWS: 5:30 P.M. FEATURES: 6 P.M. ARTS: 6 P.M. SPORTS: 6:30 P.M. MULTIMEDIA: 7 P.M. OPINION: 7 P.M.
NYUNEWS.COM
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Wednesday, October 16, 2013
THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS villain 6 Newton, e.g. 10 Ernie known as “The Big Easy” 13 “That’s ___” 14 Make a point, perhaps 15 Word before dog or dance 16 Endothermic 18 Mike and ___ (candy) 19 Former Brit. Airways vehicle 20 Humorist Frazier frequently found in The New Yorker 21 Number of drummers drumming, in song 23 Birth place 28 “___ Place” 30 Free ticket 31 First-stringers 32 Rack-it game?
34
1 “Aladdin”
ANSWER K A L E S
U T E R I
H A A G U E L E M A G
B A L I
M E T A L
Q I D
K S Y U A N G K O B B R C A D N S
37
41 42 43
It may be attached to a windshield, in brief Life-size likeness of Elvis, maybe Start to sneeze? Some are liberal Devoutness Resident of Riga Carol kickoff A fan might need one Fragrance Former Giant Robb ___ “Independence Day” vehicle Utter Unaffected by emotion Feature atop the pyramid on the back of a dollar bill Fontana di ___ Blade brand
66
67 68
“The Joyous Cosmology” subj. Pit Dr. Larch’s drug in “The Cider House Rules”
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
exercise 44 3 Popular retirement spot 46 4 Weaponize 47 5 One serving under Gen. 60-Down, 52 informally 53 6 The Huskies of the N.C.A.A. 54 7 Affirmative action 57 8 Pique 58 condition? 9 Roosevelt and 63 Kennedy 10 ’Enry’s fair lady 11 Magic, e.g., once 64 12 Eschew 65 frugality 14 Increase TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE dramatically U A T T Y P H O O N 17 Legal encumbrance N T O H O R M O N E O W N E D A S N E R 22 Punch lines? S T E A M E D A G O 24 Just slightly 25 Final “Romeo R E L A Y and Juliet” A I N T S O A T S setting N D A I K O W T O W 26 Nanos, e.g. K E T C H U P O D E 27 Baby powder H O H O R A T I O ingredient B O T T L E 28 Clip A R A K C H O W 29 Touchdown B O R E D O M I M O data, for short O N I C H A T T E R 32 Series opener D I N C O L U M N S 33 Leftover bit E N G C H I N E S E 34 Splits the tab
4
5
6
16
9
10
24
12
34
35
36
54
55
56
18
25
26
29
21
22
39
40
27
30
31
32
37
33
38
41
42 44 48
11
15
20 23
47
8
17
19
28
7
14
DOWN 1 ___ of Life 2 Part of a Latin
3
13
No. 0911
43
45
46
49
50
52
51
53
57
58
59
60
61
63
64
65
66
67
68
62
PUZZLE BY PATRICK BLINDAUER
35 36 38 39 40 44 45 46
When repeated, miniature golf Ocular malady Part of a stable diet High hairstyle Level The Eagle that landed, e.g. Puts into law Trouble spots?
47
Sitting stand
55
48
They can see right through you
Grandly celebrate
56
Fragrance
59
Stibnite, for one
60
See 5-Down
61
Swinger in the woods?
62
Cellar dweller
49
Played (with)
50
How many bootlegs are sold
51
Fanta alternative
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
TECHNOLOGY
Elderly, underprivileged need Internet access By HARRY BROWN
Access to the Internet has become an essential facet to American modern life. It affects all avenues of dayto-day affairs, from applying for jobs to accessing health care information. It is a crucial component for the United States to continue its innovation and remain globally competitive. However, a growing number of older and underprivileged Americans are still cut-off from the Internet. It’s an issue which goes largely unreported and one which must be resolved urgently. Last month, the Pew Research Center released a survey detailing that over 15 percent of adults in America still do not use the Internet. Unsurprisingly there’s a strong correlation between age, education and Internet usage in the survey. In an era when Americans are being forced to work longer in their later years, accessing the Internet for submitting resumes is essential. People who don’t are economically disenfranchised from a vast swathe of potential jobs. 44 percent of Americans aged 65 and older do not use the Internet. The survey highlighted many of
the reasons for Americans not going online, including usability, a lack of interest and insufficient understanding. However, a project in Philadelphia, a city in which 40 percent of residents lack access to the Internet, offers a model of how to connect the country. The Free Library of Philadelphia Hot Spots program, initiated in 2012, aimed at addressing the widespread disconnect. Through local initiatives and free computer access, classes and training at all public libraries, the program provided Internet access to underprivileged neighborhoods. The vast majority of nonusers gained access to computers due to a small amount of investment in training and education. The White House is in tune with the direction of affordable Internet access and technology education. ConnectED, an ambitious project by the Obama administration,
seeks to ensure that 99 percent of American students will have highspeed Internet access by 2018 so America’s classrooms remain internationally competitive. Thankfully, this latest initiative does not require congressional approval and can be rolled out immediately with the help of private sector investment. The White House must ensure that rural school and communities receive the greatest assistance, as they have a history of significantly lagging in technology. In the digital age, access to highspeed Internet and appropriate information technology education is vital for the sustainability of the U.S. economy. The latest initiative from the White House is a step in the right direction, but more must be done to ensure that America’s elder generations are given adequate training in an era when having basic IT skills are a prerequisite for securing the most basic of jobs. Staying connected is not a luxury anymore. It’s a basic necessity. Harry Brown is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
ACTIVISM
Yousafzai deserves recognition, not antagonism By CHRISTINA COLEBURN
Prior to Friday’s announcement of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize winner, favor seemed to rest on one name — Malala Yousafzai. After surviving an assassination attempt by Taliban gunmen last October, the 16-year-old became one of the world’s most recognizable activists, striving to raise awareness for girls’ education. Whether she receives a standing ovation at the United Nations, meets with President Barack Obama or appears on the cover of Time Magazine, Yousafzai continuously proves to be a formidable advocate against Taliban doctrine. Despite her heroism, elation ensued in her home country of Pakistan after the Nobel was awarded to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons last Friday. Resentful of her international renown, many Pakistanis disparaged Yousafzai as a so-called Western stooge, an agent of the CIA and a pawn of the secular world. Though the equating of her humanitarianism with anti-Western hostility is unquestionably misguided, the struggles of the region cannot be discounted. Civil unrest, poverty and
SUBMITTING TO
7
political volatility have plagued Pakistan for decades, creating a dismissive climate for young activist. Recent estimates revealed that 60 percent of Pakistanis live below the international poverty line of two dollars per day. Although the youth literacy rate was documented at 71 percent, the male to female literacy ratio rested at 65 to 40 — a staggering discrepancy. While these statistics are distressing on their own merit, their severity is magnified when considering Pakistan’s resentment of Yousafzai. Her vision to empower girls through education and the Pakistani desire to alleviate poverty are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, they reflect complementary goals. Female empowerment and economic development are positively correlated according to recent research. If embraced by her fellow Pakistanis, Yousafzai could function
as a potent symbol of strength and progress. With more enthusiastic inclusion, she could become an integral player in helping to mend Pakistan’s wounds. Though the depth of division is unmistakably profound, healing could occur more quickly if Yousafzai was depicted as an ally rather than an enemy. Irrespective of Pakistani politics and her Nobel loss, Yousafzai’s story is still one that commands awe and respect. Alongside her tangible elements of heroism — fighting for female education while fighting for her life — there are more implicit factors that make her such a remarkable figure. She offered a powerful, relevant and humanized face of oppressed Pakistanis to the world when it desperately needed one. Most significantly, the 16-yearold, despite her age, remains one of the Taliban’s most visible adversaries. Despite the reluctance to accept Malala Yousafzai by some Pakistani groups, she deserves the chance to be recognized as a unifying figure, not vilified as a national disgrace. Christina Coleburn is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
House fails to recognize debt ceiling compromise
The government shutdown that has resulted from political brinkmanship may hopefully end soon, as Senate leaders are nearing a bipartisan deal to raise the nation’s borrowing limit and fund the federal government. House Republicans, pressured by the Tea Party, have been unclear about supporting the Senate plan despite the looming Thursday deadline to raise the debt ceiling or risk default of the world’s largest economy. Now that House leaders have failed to pass their own plans, and there is only 24 hours before the deadline, the Republicans must act swiftly and responsibly to support the Senate’s proposal. As the Senate moves forward with attempts of compromise, the House is stagnating. Its most recent proposal has been postponed, evidence that Speaker John Boehner lacked the required votes. Both sides agreed that the shutdown should end and the debt ceiling be raised, but they differ as to the degree of concessions which are necessary and appropriate. Unfortunately for the House, enough GOP members didn’t think the proposal was sufficiently critical on Obamacare for it to warrant support. Though determined to reject the Senate bill for its insufficient curbing of Obamacare, House Republicans should reevaluate their obstinance and accept the proposal. Drafted with bipartisan collaboration, the Senate plan would tighten verification requirements and delay the act’s medical device tax for two years. While minor, the Senate’s concession is generous, especially considering that Republicans never had the electoral standing to make such ultimatums. The House lacked the votes to defund Obamacare, yet lawmakers stubbornly demanded its repeal, instigating the ill-conceived government shutdown. Resorting to the Senate deal, which would both reopen the government and prevent default on Thursday, seems a small price to pay for the Republicans’ misplaced pride. The consequences of a default can be catastrophic, both domestically and worldwide. At first, the U.S. Treasury would be about 30 percent short of the funds it needs to pay next month’s bills, which include $3 billion in federal employee salaries, $25 billion in Social Security benefits, and $29 billion in interest on debt. But even more critically, the U.S. wouldn’t be able to pay all its Treasury bondholders — such as the Chinese government — causing the bonds to be perceived as a riskier investment, which could ultimately prompt interest rates around the world to rise. Goldman Sachs estimates that, upon default, $175 billion would be immediately withdrawn from the U.S. economy, possibly leading to a severe recession. Given these dire consequences, Republicans should act sensibly and support the Senate proposal.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-chair), Harry Brown, Marcelo Cicconet, Christina Coleburn, Omar Etman, Nina Golshan, Nicki Sethi
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.