NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 78
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013
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Gordon Brown leads review of Declaration of Human Rights By MICHAEL DOMANICO
NATHAN HO FOR WSN
‘Forbidden NYU’ cast discusses changes to show By NATHAN HO
“NYU. You love it. Now mock it.” This is the mantra of the annual “Forbidden NYU” which starts its latest round of performances on Friday, Oct. 18. “Forbidden NYU” is a musical parody hosted by the College of Arts and Science Theater troupe, reworking popular Broadway musical numbers to reflect qualities of NYU that students cannot live with or without. The performance has been a CAST production since 2008, when “FNYU”
first appeared as a series of one-act plays. This year, “FNYU” is directed by Steinhardt juniors Stephen Morrash and Torrence Browne. For this year’s incarnation, “FNYU” presents the Extreme Makeover Edition of 2013. Several songs from previous productions have been rewritten or cut, and eight new songs have been added to this year’s production. “We really pushed to re-imagine parts of the show and refresh it as a whole with new songs,” Morrash said. “The cast is incredibly talented and they have all been
hard at work for the last two months.” The satirical format of “FNYU” is inspired by the original Off-Broadway revue called “Forbidden Broadway.” By applying different lyrics and choreography, “FNYU” messes with the content of hit Broadway classics to target NYU tropes, such as the imbalanced gender ratio, the enormous LGBTQ presence, the stereotypes of the different colleges, and the cold atmosphere of New York City. “‘FNYU’ is a show written by NYU
FORBIDDEN continued on PG. 4
‘Slave’ delivers fresh take on familiar tale By ALEX GREENBERGER
One of the many reasons “12 Years a Slave” is great is its resistance against depending on violence to elicit an emotional reaction. Of course, because the film is a slave narrative, director Steve McQueen never holds back from showing the brutality of the whippings, rapes and emotional torture inherent in the practice of slavery. But McQueen doesn’t rely on this harsh material for dramatic effect. Instead, McQueen finds cathartic, emotional releases in lengthy, pensive shots of the film’s characters. Most of these shots are of the film’s protagonist — Solomon Nor-
thup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841, and then remained a slave for 12 more years. The long, reflective takes do little to advance the film’s riveting narrative. In fact, there are whole scenes of Solomon looking off into the distance, pondering his circumstances. The audience receives very few details prior to the shot, but they still can understand everything he’s thinking. That’s the sign of minimalist direction that actually works. McQueen’s impressionistic approach is what makes “Slave” such a fresh take on slavery. It lends the sweep-
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Chiwetel Ejiofor astounds as the lead in “12 Years a Slave.” ing tale a sense of cinematic grandeur that prevents it from being manipulative. If anything, McQueen helps the
audience stay on their toes. He forces his viewers to be
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Former U.K. prime minister Gordon Brown, who has been a distinguished global leader for NYU since 2010, is spearheading a commission to investigate whether updates should be made to the 1948 Universal Declaration on Human Rights. The first meeting of the Global Citizens Commission will take place on Oct. 18 at the University of Edinburgh. Even though the inaugural meeting is taking place in the United Kingdom, NYU will play an integral role in the work of the commission in examining the post-World War II document that provides a standard for human rights globally. “[NYU’s] Global Institute for Advanced Studies has helped to establish and provide the necessary funding for the Philos-
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University teams enjoy varying success over weekend By WILLOW FREDERICK
Women’s Tennis Ithaca College hosted the New York State Championships on Sunday, Oct. 13, where NYU’s women’s tennis team finished its fall season. Sunday concluded tournament play, where two number-one seeded Violets — Gallatin junior Mari Tzakis and LSP sophomore Madeline King — competed in the finals but ultimately fell short. Tzakis was defeated by the number-three seed from Skidmore College and King fell to the number two seed from Vassar College. King remained optimistic about the team’s play moving forward. “We wrapped up a good fall season at Ithaca this past weekend,” King said. “We had some tough matches and opponents, but it’ll help prepare us for the upcoming spring season.”
WEEKEND continued on PG. 8
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
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WEEKEND AGENDA
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HANQING CHEN
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BROOKLYN BACON TAKEDOWN Saturday, Oct. 19, 1 p.m. | The Bell House, 149 7th St. Anyone and everyone who enjoys the taste of bacon is welcome to the fifth annual Brooklyn Bacon Takedown, where the finest local cooks break out their best bacon recipes. Tickets cost $15.
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MICHAEL DOMANICO arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
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MAKE-A-WISH WALK AND 5K RUN Sunday, Oct. 20, 9 a.m. | Liberty State Park Walk or run at your own pace through Lower Manhattan as you do some good for those in need. The registration is at 9 a.m., with the run and walk each starting about an hour later. Proceeds benefit MakeA-Wish New Jersey.
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
3 PEARL JAM Friday, Oct. 18, 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m. | Barclays Center, Atlantic Avenue Eddie Vedder and the gang have been rocking out for a couple decades now, but they still have the same energy as younger bands. Tickets might be hard to come by, but they are well worth the price and effort to find.
SNAPSHOT
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COLLEGE MUSIC JOURNAL MUSIC MARATHON Saturday, Oct. 18 and Sunday, Oct. 19 | Various sites in Manhattan and Brooklyn Every year, CMJ brings the biggest indie bands to New York City, and the huge five-day festival is running throughout this week and weekend. Shows this weekend include The Dismemberment Plan at Terminal 5 and The Long Winters at the Bowery Ballroom, as well as various music showcases from different countries.
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CORRECTION
A group of visitors on segways ride along the Chicago coast of Lake Michigan.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN
In an article titled “Gay hate crimes rise in New York City,” published on Oct. 8, program administrator Chris Woods was incorrectly identified as assistant director of the LGBTQ student Center. Additionally, Woods’ tips and strategies for students were incorrectly summarized as common sense. The article also incorrectly states that the center is hosting programs in light of the recent crimes. While the center has not yet created a program or event in response to the hate crimes specifically, it does offer self-defense events, such as one for the upcoming Trans Awareness Week. The article has been further clarified online.
WSN regrets these errors.
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About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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WSN to host Renovations aim to make dorms Sandy-proof student senators discussion panel By KAV HARJAI
WSN is hosting its first panel with members of the Student Senators Council next week on Thursday, Oct. 24 at the Kimmel Center for University Life. At this event, WSN will ask the senators to weigh in on financial aid, student debt and NYU’s budget. Students are invited to be a part of the audience and to come with questions for the senators. Throughout the semester, WSN will be moderating multiple panel discussions, and will touch on issues including the university’s expansion abroad, the 2031 plan and shared governance. Students who cannot attend the panel on Thursday evening can tweet @nyunews with their questions, followed by #askwsn. The discussion will also be recorded and available to watch on nyunews.com after the event. Stay tuned to our website for the time and location. Of the 23-member SSC, three students are confirmed for the panel, including Mariam Ehrari, a CAS senior and the chair of the Student Senators Council; Harris Inskeep-Rosenfeld, a CAS senior and the vice chair of the University Committee on Student Life; and Annie McWilliams, a senator and second-year graduate student at the Stern School of Business. During the panel, a moderator will ask senators questions about the relevant topics before opening up the floor to questions from the audience. Read print and online articles next week to help you catch up with any news you might have missed about the issues that will be discussed at the panel. Also, be sure to check out our YouTube account, youtube.com/wsnnyunews, to find out what your school presidents have been up to.
One year after Hurricane Sandy hit New York on Oct. 29, 2012, NYU has completed some initiatives in response to the needs of displaced students. Initiatives included incorporating a local emergency generator for Brittany residence hall during its scheduled renovation, which the university confirmed to be successful. “The recent renovations did include emergency safety measures,” university spokesman Philip Lentz said. “Brittany is now equipped with ‘house’ or local, emergency generators. As for the future, Hayden residence will be renovated beginning May 2014. We are currently studying the most efficient energy source for that building.” In July, the university also announced plans in the Preparation and Response Performance Review to install sufficient battery back-up and additional means of lighting in evacuation paths. NYU also planned to expand the emergency generator distribution to increase food storage and serving capacity in the event of an extended power outage at Palladium residence hall. At Lafayette residence hall, the university outlined the concept of installing a portable generator connection. The debilitating effects of the storm were felt by those in residence halls, although Goddard and Weinstein residence halls remained with electricity because they drew power from a different source. Only five of the other residence halls, Palladium, University,
Alumni trio set record with multiplayer game By PATRICK ANKER
The Tisch School of the Arts’ Interactive Telecommunications Program holds the newest Guinness World Record, which honors the Largest Multiplayer Game Played on a Single Screen. In an Oct. 8 NYU press release, the university announced that the Guinness World Records had recognized the multiplayer game “SPLAT” with the achievement. ITP alumni Phil Groman, Danne Woo and Federico Zannier created the game for a live audience to play with their smartphones. Each player controls a bird on a telephone wire that is suspended above a roadway. The objective of the multiplayer game was to drop bird waste on vehicles below. Woo said the inspiration for the game came from a class taught by Daniel Shiffman called Big Screens in ITP, which is a two-year graduate program dedicated to exploring all uses of technology in day-to-day life. “The objective of the class is to create content for the 120 foot by 20 foot video wall at the [InterActive Corps] building in Chelsea,” Woo said. “Considering the very wide format of the screen, birds sitting on a telephone wire pooping on cars below seemed to be a perfect concept.” Frank Lantz, the director of the NYU Game Center, said “SPLAT” offered a fresh take on multiplayer gaming. “SPLAT represents a new direction for large-scale multiplayer experiences in shared physical space,” Lantz said. “I think you’ll start seeing more games
like this in the coming years,” he said. Setting the Guinness World Record was a goal for the trio. They said they believed the scale of this project could garner enough attention to set a record. With this goal in mind, the trio’s presentation at the IAC building received an audience of 300 people, with 113 playing at the same time. “Networked smart phones and networked public screens are an untapped platform for creating social game experiences in public spaces,” Lantz said. “‘SPLAT’ is an experiment in tapping that potential.” “This has been a long-time dream for all three of us and really pushed us to try and up the number of possible players,” Woo said. “The months of hard work leading up to that moment had paid off.” The creators took the idea of the game and founded their own business, known as BigPlay. “We are eager to move forward with it and find clients that need to create interactive content for large crowds,” Woo said. “This would be perfect for conferences, sporting events, marketing events, interactive billboards, etc.” “SPLAT” is not the only upcoming project of note from the trio of designers. According to an Aug. 11 article in The New York Times, NBC News plans to install Groman as project lead of Stringwire, a Twitter aggregate news system he invented, which sends tweeting individuals at newsworthy locations messages to capture video of the scenes. Patrick Anker is a contributing writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
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Brittany Hall’s renovations included a local emergency generator post-Sandy. Founders, Third North and Gramercy, had local, emergency generators. Other halls, such as Rubin, were left with only 90 minutes of battery-powered emergency lighting — available only in hallways and staircases. “This is according to the NYC Code,” Lentz said. “The rationale is that 90 minutes is enough time for the residents to evacuate the building. During these 90 minutes, there is emergency lighting in the hallways and stairwells, and there is enough power for the fire safety panels.” Evacuation for Rubin was mandated two days after the superstorm, and several other evacuations were mandated as generators lost power. Students were set up with cots in the Kimmel Center for University Life and the Palladium Athletic Facility. While the inconsistencies in dorm
safety left some residents unprepared, NYU staff launched various initiatives to improve safety in future situations similar to Sandy. Several students reflected on the aftermath of Sandy and New York City post-storm. CAS junior Jenny Peng, who stayed in Brooklyn the week after Sandy, praised NYU’s efforts to ensure student safety following the storm. “For the most part, NYU security was great. There were officers in the buildings at all times,” Peng said. “The administration was attentive. They sent university-wide emails to all students, about a few each day, to keep everyone posted.” Kav Harjai is a contributing writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
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Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown leads UN review commission
ophers’ Committee, whose work is providing the intellectual underpinnings for the Global Citizenship Commission,” said NYU’s deputy president Diane Yu. Yu said several NYU faculty members and administrators are serving on the international commission or helping to manage its activities and securing outside funding to support the commission. They will be joining a number of world leaders such as Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, as well as professors from Princeton and other universities. The Philosophers’ Committee, which will lead the intellectual considerations of the commission, is led by Jeremy Waldron, a professor at both the NYU School of Law and Oxford University. NYU President John Sexton, who is also serving on the commission, stated that the commission’s goals line up with NYU’s expanding global presence. “We think NYU, with its unequalled global presence, its network of academic sites and its diverse group of students and faculty, is espe-
cially well suited to support the commission’s activities,” Sexton said in a press release. Malala Yousafzai, a young girl Pakistani who rose to fame after being shot by the Taliban because of her activism for female education, will be a guest of honor at the Oct. 18 meeting. Yousafzai is also scheduled to deliver a speech. Yu said a select group of students at NYU London will be able to attend the event. CAS sophomore and politics major Natalie Jean said the declaration should be reviewed by modern-day leaders. “It’s not much of a surprise that the Universal Declaration on Human Rights
is currently in the midst of debate,” Jean said. “Violation of human rights is not something that just happened during [World War II]. It’s happening everyday, and if it is not discussed then history will be repeated. We do not have the option of staying silent. We are the Malala Yousafzai generation.” Yu said the revised document will be submitted to the UN General Assembly for consideration in 2015. Additional reporting by Nicole Brown. Michael Domanico and Nicole Brown are news editors. Email them at news@nyunews.com.
FILE PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN
Gordon Brown addresses the audience at an NYU lecture.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
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Students seek to add NYU chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho
By KATHRYN JONES
When Gallatin junior Tiana Morrison arrived at NYU for her freshman year, she was disappointed with the lack of Greek organizations dedicated to black culture. Hoping to change that, Morrison is in the process of adding a chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho to NYU, which would make it the university’s first black sorority. Morrison aspires to bring both a culture and serviceoriented organization to campus while strengthening the school’s community. “I was actually trying to research any black sorority at NYU, and I couldn’t even find anything on Google, so that just says something about what we need,” Morrison said. “I feel like this [sorority] is giving those people who don’t have an outlet or an opportunity or an organization here already to find that place, to find that home, that venue to make change and bond with others.” Morrison wanted to establish a Black Greek letter organization chapter at NYU after seeing historically black Greek life at her friends’ colleges and portrayed in movies. When Morrison was a
sophomore, she began researching different organizations during the fall semester. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. stood out among other sororities. With a Gallatin concentration in youth development and community change, Morrison praised the organization for being service-oriented with a motto of “Greater Service, Greater Progress.” “We do a lot of community service,” Jeannine Hunte, vice president of the Kappa Sigma SGRho NYC Alumnae Board, said. “Our headquarters require five projects.” For NYU SGRho, currently an interest group, potential members have already participated in the African-American Parade on Sept. 15 and performed volunteer work at soup kitchens. On Oct. 19, the group will be volunteering at a walk to raise funds for Lupus research. When fully recognized as a chapter, SGRho will become the only BGLO at NYU. “It gives the minority population at NYU more social opportunities and more opportunities to get involved in campus life in a unified entity,” Danissa House, a graduate student
and SGRho member, said. “Imagine that within the next five years, SGRho will not be the only one on campus,” said Alain Balan, a CAS senior and Black Student Union president. “There will be other young black leaders on campus that will take the initiative to see something like this happen, and it will happen soon.” “My whole goal is just to create a community and add another aspect of diversity on campus,” Morrison said. SGRho has recently been approved as an interest group, and will be confirming their status with the Inter-Greek Council Recognition Committee on Oct. 18. After the committee’s confirmation, SGRho will await approval for colony status. Jones said once the sorority becomes a colony, SGRho can initiate members and petition for full chapter status as early as one semester after becoming a colony. Morrison and Hunte said SGRho plans to tackle the requirements early in hopes of receiving chapter letters by fall 2014. Kathryn Jones is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
FORBIDDEN continued from PG. 1
‘Forbidden NYU’ uses theater, comedy to mock college life, university tropes
students for NYU students. It’s something everyone at this school can relate to and laugh at,” Browne said. Students began preparing for the show during the first week of classes, when the directors hos-ted auditions. Ensemble member and Tisch sophomore Olivia Daniels said that auditions consisted of a series of impromptu exercises, vocal testing and a quick dance number. The group has been working to memorize lines, choreography, and songs since then. The cast held rehearsals for several days a week throughout September and have been holding daily rehearsals for the past two weeks. One of the new songs in this year’s production is “Seasons of Loans” written by NYU alumnus Seth Blinder. The song is a parody of “Seasons of Love” from Broadway classic “Rent.” The ‘FNYU’ ensemble laments over the “two hundred sixty five thousand six hundred dollars” in student loans many NYU students will have to pay in the future, sarcastically hinting that educa-
tion is simply paying to have “the time of our lives” taken away from students. The show’s cynical take on NYU and the hilarious combination of its lyrics and choreography creates a style of comedy that is easy to follow. Forbidden NYU 2013 will have three showings — 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18 at C95 in the Global Center, 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19 and 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 20, both at the fourth floor auditorium of the Kimmel Center for University Life. Nathan Ho is a contributing writer. Email him at features@nyunews.com.
NATHAN HO FOR WSN
Performers rehearse original song and dance numbers.
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? By ALYSSA BUFFENSTEIN CAS sophomore Simone Sutnick may be studying art history, but the contents of her bag reveal that art permeates her life in more ways than powerpoint slides and lectures. As an artist, Sutnick has a hand for line drawings and an eye for aesthetics. Beyond Prismacolors, Sutnick carefully packs her backpack every morning with stylish, practical items that prepare her to be ready for anything.
Pink Ribbons Sutnick carries an acid-wash denim JanSport backpack that she personalized with embellishments. Two pink ribbons represent breast cancer awareness, a cause that resonates especially with Sutnick. “My aunt died of cancer a few years ago,” Sutnick said. “In January 2012 I co-coordinated a music for awareness concert that raised $3,000 ... I like to show my support.”
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Art Supplies Sutnick always has creative essentials on the go — sketching pencils, Prismacolor pens, a white leather-bound sketchbook and a portfolio to store finished drawings. These drawings encapsulate Sutnick’s artistic style — old school tattoo-inspired line drawings accompanying witty captions like “Psychics R Psycho.” “The Philosophy of Andy Warhol (From A to B and Back Again)” is Sutnick’s current inspirational read. She admires his perspective on life and prolific status in the art world.
Souvenir from Colombia Left over in a pocket of Sutnick’s bag is a souvenir from her summer trip to Bogotá, Colombia. A box of matches decorated with the symbol of the sacred heart from a popular restaurant in Bogotá reminds her of her Colombian heritage, while adding another visually interesting object to her assemblage of essentials. iPad Sutnick uses an iPad to snap pictures, stay connected and take notes in class. However, what she enjoys most about the tablet is not its utility, but its case. Made of leather and featuring a fiery-toned deer, it showcases her style while keeping the iPad safe. Back-up Items “I’m secretly a mom,” Sutnick said jokingly, alluding to the precautionary Tide to Go pen, hand sanitizer and eye drops in her backpack. Her artistic eye extends to her personal appearance — she keeps a makeup bag and plenty of lip balm with her. Sutnick likes to look orderly, so she keeps her bag stocked in case she needs to freshen up. The contents of her backpack suggests how Sutnick likes to be prepared for anything, whether it’s sudden artistic inspiration or chapped lips. “I don’t like to be without things,” Sutnick said. “It’s one of my fears to need something and not have it.” Alyssa Buffenstein is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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SLAVE continued from PG. 1
Stunning performances, directing from Steve McQueen, script capture essence of freedom in ‘Slave’
thinking continually, much like Solomon, who must remain constantly aware of his surroundings to survive. Early on in the movie, McQueen makes the important decision of abstracting the narrative by interspersing Solomon’s miserable life on a plantation with memories of his wife and children. It may not seem like McQueen is doing anything worth noting, but before the title credit even rolls, it’s obvious the film isn’t about simply being a slave. Rather, it’s about bigger ideas than those simply grounded in history. “Slave” also excels above most films of its kind because it touches on universal themes. It’s a film about remaining hopeful in the worst conditions and, more importantly, it’s a film about the meaning of freedom. These may sound like heavy charges for the film, but screenwriter John Ridley articulates the big ideas behind “Slave” with an astounding amount of clarity. Despite both a surprising lack of dialogue and any constraints that may accompany the adaption of Northup’s autobiography, Ridley tells an epic story
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in such a concise manner that every scene seems necessary in the grand scheme of the film. With Ridley’s screenplay come marvelous performances, particularly from Ejiofor, as well as Lupita Nyong’o, who plays a slave forced into a relationship with her master. It would be near impossible not to sympathize with Ridley’s characters because of these performances. Even those in the supporting cast — Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender, Sarah Paulson, Benedict Cumberbatch — deliver spectacular performances in their short screen times. But without McQueen, “Slave” would have been a very different work. The film would have lost its humanity, and it could have had the unfortunate problem of being just another slave narrative. That is not at all what “12 Years a Slave” is. In fact, it’s the opposite — a masterpiece and an epic that is destined to become a classic. Alex Greenberger is film editor. Email him at agreenberger@nyunews.com.
Musician, lyricist discusses life in documentary ‘Enzo’ By IFE OLUJOBI
“Enzo Avitabile Music Life,” the latest documentary from Jonathan Demme (director of “The Silence of the Lambs”) is aptly named. In his film, Demme captures legendary saxophonist Enzo Avitabile and his music as one unit, and he does so with great respect and admiration. From the moment Avitabile appears on screen, it is difficult not to be somewhat charmed by his excited, eccentric personality and his one dangling earring. At the start of the film, Avitabile is on his way to a venue to perform songs with some talented musician friends. That performance continues in various spots throughout the film, along with several other musical interludes. Those who don’t know Avitabile are introduced to him not only as a musician, but also as a talented and passionate lyricist. Avitabile sings about children, poverty, disadvantaged people and world crises in his music, and his Italian lyrics, which are translated to English for the film, are pure poetry. The same passion apparent in his songwriting runs through all aspects of his life. Anything Avitabile takes on, whether it be performing, composing, teaching or studying music, is done with conviction and enthusiasm. Although he devotes his life to music, he still finds time to spend with his two daughters, acting as a mentor and role
model, especially after his wife passed away. Interviews with his daughters provide some of the few glimpses of Avitabile’s life the audience observes outside of the music. Avitabile also talks candidly about other topics in his life when prompted, such as his relationship with religion and his travels as a young saxophonist. But once he starts discussing music again, he can’t stop. Avitabile is able to talk not only of his own music and style, called Bottari, but he also offers a wealth of knowledge about the foundations of all different types of music. Although the songs in the film are written and composed by Avitabile, a collection of successful and equally passionate musicians play with him, all of whom contribute their own flavor to his pieces. As a true lover of music, Avitabile welcomes improvisation and personalization from his backing band and collaborators. “Enzo Avitabile Music Life” isn’t a blockbuster. It isn’t a thrilling drama, gut-busting comedy or a documentary that becomes a big hit because of its shocking or heartbreaking content. It is a film made well and with care, and gives a deeper look at a man who has made music his life — and the successes that have come of his lifelong devotion. Ife Olujobi is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
‘Reign’ brings youthful energy to period drama By LAURA WOLFORD
On The CW, any idea can become a teen drama. Tonight, Oct. 17, the network introduces its new series “Reign,” loosely based on the story of a young Mary, Queen of Scots, and her marriage to the Dauphin of France, Francis. In this adaptation, Mary arrives at a French palace after an assassination attempt. At the palace, not everyone is excited about her arrival — Francis’ mother, Queen Catherine, for example, has been foretold that Mary will bring death to her son. Luckily, Mary is not alone. Her four best childhood friends join as her ladies-in-waiting to make Mary as desirable as possible to Francis. But even after Mary and Francis are betrothed, alliances can change. So now, Mary needs to woo Francis into loving her so he will marry her, even if it’s not to his country’s benefit. But there appears to be another threat lurking in the woods. There is some kind of supernatural force that can only be sustained with blood sacrifices. The pilot episode of “Reign” clearly mashes together several different genres which will hopefully be connected in a more organized manner once the show finds its footing. The CW’s view-
ership is heavily made up of teenagers — a massive and influential audience — so whatever direction “Reign” finally decides on will be crucial to its success. Particularly amusing on the show is Mary’s relationship with her four ladies-in-waiting. The five girls prepare for the day by helping each other with makeup and hair. There is even a scene where they all start dancing together at a wedding. It’s like “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” with corsets and crowns. Mary’s behavior is not a realistic portrayal of how a lady at that time would behave, and “Reign” has taken the liberty of making her seem like a regular teenage girl, perfectly fitting with the show’s youthful energy. The set design and costumes are gorgeous and period appropriate. The story elements aren’t too ridiculous — after all, they’re what you would expect from a CW show. If the show can produce episodes with more succinct plot lines and hold to the story the writers want to tell, “Reign” could sell itself as a youthful version of “The Tudors,” which definitely wouldn’t be a bad thing. Laura Wolford is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 Atlantic City hot spot, with “the” 4 Line out of N.Y.C. 8 Badge, maybe 13 ___ Nazir (“Homeland” character) 14 Lettuce 16 Black Sea getaway 17 Land on the Black Sea: Abbr. 18 Film lead character featured in a Disney World attraction 20 Dines 22 Put down 23 Pizazz 24 Remark about the end of 18-Across 26 Hamlet’s parts 28 They’re often seen with bows 29 By and by 30 Recoiled (from) 31 Kind of printer for home or office
36 Kit ___ 37 School door sign 38 Mideast inits. 39 Remark about the end of 31-Across 42 1%, say 44 Bucolic settings 45 Short-story writer Munro 46 One that sucks at work? 49 2000 N.L M.V.P. who played for the Giants 52 Kind of jacket 53 Politico Mo 55 Owner of Half.com 56 Remark about the end of 49-Across 59 Saddler’s tool 60 Bar stock 61 “F” accompanier, perhaps 62 Arctic explorer John 63 XX 64 Was attractive 65 Turk. neighbor
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE J A W S
A M A S
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A R R E M B L I A T E T O N A M D B O A L E T E N S M A C O T R S E
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E L I O Z W A S G T O I E E S R D U R T A C T H
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DOWN 1 Tibia connections 2 “Er, yeah, regarding what happened …” 3 Things that zip up to go down? 4 Subj. of an Austin library and museum 5 Mosul residents 6 Appear over? 7 Did some garden work 8 Tube inits. 9 Where a photographer might take shots? 10 Unpleasantly pungent 11 View from Valence 12 Bros 15 Connecting inits. 19 Alternatives 21 ___-Coburg and Gotha (former British ruling family) 25 Soft spot 27 Land on one side of Lake Titicaca: Abbr. 29 Hardly inept 30 Item attached to a boot 31 Angle 32 Base for some Chinese art 33 Trendy features of some high-end gyms 34 Eroded 35 It may have a ring collar 37 Dress to wow
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PUZZLE BY IAN LIVENGOOD
40 Four-time Indy 500 winner 41 Little, in Lille 42 Dobby, e.g., in the Harry Potter books 43 Modern verbal crutch 45 Blazing
46 They may accompany trains
51 Texas city named for a president
47 Ghost story? 48 Certain cocktail, informally
54 Notre-Dame-___Champs (Paris Métro stop)
49 Leto of “My So-Called Life”
57 Ply
50 Hunter who says “Be vewy vewy quiet”
58 Fresh
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
ADVERTISING
Google ads miss nuance of real-life influence By MARCELO CICCONET
In a terms of service update released last Friday and effective Nov. 11, Google announced the start of its use of shared endorsements on its advertising network. The program is similar to Facebook’s Sponsored Stories, launched back in 2011. Users who reveal their endorsement may serve as pitchmen to their friends in an eventual ad. A possible reason, and the most appealing aspect of Google’s initiative, is that it resembles the word-ofmouth effect, a powerful advertising strategy in real life. Or, possibly because Facebook had already experimented with the option, Google was more open to the idea. The search giant might have also just adopted the competitor’s approach for fear of missing online ad money’s migration to social networks. But Google shouldn’t bother copying Facebook. Although the ad format is relatively successful — Facebook’s Sponsored Stories made about $4 million per day by the end of September 2012 — user complaints eventually led the company to decide to drop the feature. In fact,
Facebook was the subject of a class action lawsuit for using Sponsored Stories without permission. Second, advertisers are indeed becoming more faithful to social websites. But simply adopting a social media platform’s format of selling ads is not a guarantee that it will grab attention if the website doesn’t have an appealing audience — which is still the case with Google Plus. Third, the word-of-mouth effect is very difficult to implement. The nuances of real world influence are too complex to simulate — especially since the psychology of online interactions differs from face-to-face relationships. The main problem with most online ads is that the websites portray-
ing them appear to be sorry to show ad content, instead of proudly trying to connect brands with consumers. Most websites are afraid of bothering users by asking them directly about what kinds of products they would like to hear about, and instead try to guess what they want based on their online behavior — a task difficult even for a human expert. Businesses that have ever tried to reach an audience understand the importance of ads. Moreover, consumers are eager to learn about new products. These users would probably not mind spending a few minutes telling a website what kinds of ads they’d like to see. If a website were to show quality ads, or were willing to put business in contact with consumers, and vice versa, perhaps users would be less frightened of releasing personal information. And if Google Plus were the one to do so, perhaps people would finally consider using it. Copying Facebook’s approach certainly won’t do. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
JUSTICE
Al-Liby trial shows international equality By PETER KEFFER
Earlier this week in Lower Manhattan, Abu Anas al-Liby pled not guilty in front of a U.S. federal judge for charges of terrorism. Al-Liby is currently under indictment in the U.S. for alleged participation in the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya, which killed more than 200 people. In the coming months, he will be the subject of a federal criminal case. The ease and predictability of even this due process proceeding surpasses the unstable and interminable work of military commissions. In the years following 9/11, Guantánamo Bay has been stripped of its legitimacy as a practical institution. In the wake of these events, former UN Ambassador John Bolton proclaimed frankly that al-Liby is “not entitled to due process anymore than any combatant which takes up arms against the United States.” This claim is nonsense after clauses within the Military Commissions Act were ruled unconstitutional. In 2008, the Supreme Court affirmed in Boumediene v. Bush that constitutional detainee rights apply to both citizens
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and foreigners of any combat status. Nevertheless, Ambassador Bolton and others continue to accuse the federal system of incompetence in processing terror suspects. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told CNN that the federal trial of al-Liby is “not a proper way to gather intelligence in the war on terror.” Similarly, Ambassador Bolton stated that “this man needs to go to Guantánamo Bay for months or years for very painstaking and elaborate questioning.” One can reasonably assume that Ambassador Bolton intends for the man to be tortured. However, the utility of such a method is in considerable dispute. A report carried out by the Intelligence Science Board at the National Defense Intelligence College found that “psychological theory and some
related research suggest that coercion or pressure can actually increase a source’s resistance and determination not to comply.” Subjecting al-Liby to torture is at best counterproductive. The wanting nature of these interrogation techniques arises doubts as to the prison’s practical value. In the tumultuous years since 9/11, there have been seven convictions carried out by military commissions at Guantánamo, compared to 494 in federal courts. Additionally, the government spends $2.7 million annually per prisoner at Guantánamo, while imprisonment in the federal system costs $29,000. These figures are an exposure of incompetence at Guantánamo Bay. Not only are federal courts suitable when prosecuting terror suspects, they are preferable. The trial of al-Liby before a federal judge does not only befit international standards of human rights, it is also a prudent and competent measure. Guantánamo Bay remains scandalously open, yet the American detention camp in Cuba has proved itself inefficient. Peter Keffer is a deputy opinion editor. Email him at pkeffer@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Government shutdown typifies partisan politics
On Oct. 16, Congress passed a plan that would end the government shutdown and raise the debt ceiling. After almost three weeks of unproductive attempts to get President Barack Obama to compromise key aspects of the health care law, House majority speaker John Boehner backed away from his party’s obstinate demands and ultimatums that had held progress hostage. Although both chambers of Congress finally reached a deal and averted a global economic catastrophe, a dangerous precedent has been set on our government’s decision-making process. It is important to note that the bill is not indicative of comprehensive reform. The compromise simply reflects a stopgap that does not institute any systematic change, but only postpones the crisis to a later date. The government will only be funded at sequester levels until Jan. 15, 2014, and the debt ceiling will need to be raised again by Feb. 7. The bill calls for a conference committee to be created to resolve the deadlock and form a longer term budget. Yet, as history has demonstrated, such as the failed 2011 Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, committees rarely resolve entrenched partisan standoffs. Although Boehner received a standing ovation at Wednesday’s GOP meeting, his late attempt at a sensible compromise is hardly praiseworthy. Under his feeble leadership, Senator Ted Cruz and Tea Party Republicans held the government hostage in pursuit of an impossible ransom — defunding Obamacare. For three weeks, Boehner forfeited his speakership to the junior senator’s ill-conceived and extremist mandate, which not only lacked the necessary votes for execution, but risked a global economic collapse. Several Republican legislators, such as deeply conservative Congressman Peter King and Tea Partier Senator Kelly Ayotte, rebuked Cruz before Boehner called for a reality check. Boehner’s tactics were comically ineffective, demonstrating a disturbing inability to control Republican insanity. The Republican brand has clearly been tarnished. Despite Obama’s statement last night that “There’s no reason why we can’t focus on issues at hand,” present circumstances negate his optimism. The shutdown threat by Republicans on the far right set a new milestone on the party’s restless campaign to block Obama’s agenda, a campaign which had already reached an unprecedented mark. Since 2007, Democrats had to end Republican filibusters over 360 times — a record. As evidenced by the government shutdown, such partisan war is undoubtedly harmful to the country. It seems that our political system has become indefinitely fragmented, and any hope for substantive change rests on the American people’s courageous activism and intervention at the polls.
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.
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Giants struggle with injuries, poor coaching By CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO
The New York Giants’ fall from grace has been as precipitous as it gets in the NFL. Just two seasons ago, the club hoisted the Lombardi Trophy after winning their fourth Super Bowl, and Eli Manning was suddenly in the Hall of Fame conversation as one of the most clutch quarterbacks of all time. Fast-forward to today, and the Giants find themselves with a record of 0-6, which demonstrates their abysmal performance this year. Manning has thrown 15 interceptions in just six games. He is on pace to throw 40 picks, just two short of the all-time record. It is easy to harp on how bad the Giants have been this year, especially for a fan of the team such as myself. But the important question is, how did the organization let it reach this point? Is it due to factors that are out of their control? As one might expect, the answer lies somewhere in the middle. Every team in the league has to overcome injuries. After all, football is a violent game that takes a severe physical toll on one’s body. However, the Giants have faced an inordinate amount of injuries to key players. Safety Stevie Brown, who led the Giants in interceptions last season with eight, tore his ACL in a preseason game against the New York Jets. The recovery time for such an injury is usually about a year, thus Brown’s season was abruptly cut short. Also in the preseason, running back Andre Brown, who was projected to play a large role in the Giants offense, broke his fibula and was out for the first eight to nine weeks of the season. With these injuries alone — one on offense and one on de-
fense — the team has faced some direct consequences. After six weeks, the Giants are 28th in the league in total rushing offense (407) and 27th in the league in yards allowed (2,348). The Giants have also given up the most points out of any team in the league (209). The team has also suffered from poor returns from their drafts of college football players. Players such as cornerback Prince Amukamara, running back David Wilson and defensive lineman Linval Joseph, all of whom were expected to be top players after being drafted, have disappointed over the past few seasons. General manager Jerry Reese has also failed to fill key holes on the team through the draft or free agency, especially on the offensive line, which allowed Eli Manning to be sacked 16 times. The Giants’ failures have been a combination of bad luck and poor planning. Can they turn it around and return to respectability? Fans certainly hope so. Chris Marcotrigiano is deputy sports editor. Email him at cmarcotrigiano@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF AJ GUEL VIA FLICKR.COM
Defensive tackle Markus Kuhn is one of the Giants’ injured players.
WEEKEND continued from PG. 1
WEEKEND WRAP-UP Women’s Golf Also on Sunday, the NYU women’s golf team took fourth place at its last fall tournament in Wellesley, Mass. The Violets finished with a 340-stroke count the second day and a total score of 667 for the two-day invitational. They landed only seven strokes behind third-place Mount Holyoke College and 48 strokes behind the champion, Williams College. NYU captain and Steinhardt senior Kristina Shalhoup placed 14th overall, shooting a secondround score of 79, and CAS sophomore Elaine Tse finished eighth overall. “It was a tough weekend for us, especially on a course that we didn’t know,” Shalhoup said. “But, each and every player did their best to save strokes, and that’s definitely a quality we have to our advantage.” Shalhoup said she is looking forward to the team’s spring season with confidence, de-
spite what she said was disappointing play this season. “This team is enormously talented, and we have a lot of work we’re planning for the off season,” she said. “I’m really looking forward to our hard work paying off in the spring.”
Men and Women’s Soccer On Saturday, Oct. 12, the NYU men’s and women’s soccer teams hosted Case Western Reserve University at Gaelic Park in Riverdale, N.Y., for their opening game for the UAA conference. Women’s soccer tied 0-0 in double overtime, although the scoreless board did not do justice to NYU’s time of possession and dominant defense, backed by Steinhardt freshman goalkeeper Cassie Steinberg. Of their six shots on goal — Case Western Reserve had five — two hit the crossbar. In the men’s game, NYU tied Case Western 1-1 after two overtime periods and 110 minutes of play. Both goals were
scored within two minutes of each other early on in the first half, and the goalkeepers recorded five saves apiece. Stern freshman forward Bryan Walsh scored his second goal of the season, assisted by SCPS junior midfielder Tim Goldman, but Case Western outshot NYU 167. It was CAS junior midfielder Mickey Ingerman’s first game back from injury. “It was tough coming back from such a bad concussion, but I had a lot of support from my teammates, friends and family,” he said. Ingerman also gave his perspective on the position of the team given this weekend’s result. “We would have liked to get the win at home, but a tie still gives us a point,” he said. “The UAA is a very competitive conference and any point we can pick up is crucial.” Willow Frederick is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.