NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 80
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013
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NYU Fales repairs CBGB footage
Edith Windsor presents SAGE Awards At this year’s SAGE Awards and Gala, the Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders raised money and presented awards to prominent figures in the GLBT community.
STORY ON PAGE 3
By ANN SCHMIDT
NYU’s Fales Library is in the process of restoring the Pat Ivers and Emily Armstrong Go Nightclubbing Archive, located in the Downtown Collection, by the end of the year. There will be a viewing of the footage in spring 2014. This archive contains punk rock footage from CBGB and other New York punk venues at the beginning of the punk rock movement in the 1970s. CBGB — originally Country, BlueGrass and Blues — was a music club that opened in 1973 and was founded by Hilly Kristal. The club aimed to promote the music of its namesake, but it actually became one of the most imporKAREN REYES FOR WSN
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Katy Perry stays in pop Duo introduces Neopolitan from comfort zone on ‘Prism’ Westhampton Beach to West Village By CHRIS FELDSINE
Despite what the snobbish may say, pop music of today is no worse than of years past. Listeners in the ’60s were blessed with the Temptations and Dusty Springfield, but they also endured Freddie and the Dreamers and Petula Clark. The radio has long been inundated with cheesy pop, but it is not necessarily true that contemporary pop is abysmal. This is not an apology for bad pop so much as it is a caution against blind criticism of pop giants like Katy Perry. Her new album, “Prism,” won’t convert those not already among her legions of fans, primarily because
it is exactly what it strives to be — a conventional pop record. Accordingly, it is overwrought, juvenile and unabashedly hedonistic. Pop stars are not — and should not — be appreciated for their maturity, but the immaturity displayed by Perry throughout “Prism” is more distracting than it needs to be. No one would mistake this for an introspective record, and Perry is intent on asserting that it isn’t. Her celebration of partying is occasionally complemented by tender songs, such as “By the Grace of God” and “Double Rainbow,” but these slow moments are few and far between.
PRISM continued on PG. 5
By HELEN OWOLOBI
After years spent finding the finest Italian ingredients, perfecting their own recipe, and ob-
OLIVIA ELLIS FOR WSN
Jason Brunetti runs a pizzeria with his father.
serving the emergence of Neapolitan pizzerias in New York City, father-and-son duo Michael and Jason Brunetti opened Pizzetteria Brunetti. Originating in Westhampton Beach with a location that Michael Brunetti described as the “pizza closet,” Pizzetteria Brunetti has expanded to the West Village with an enjoyably larger location. The West Village location, which opened on Sept. 30, is already garnering attention due to its cult following from Westhampton, its use of high quality, authentic Italian ingredients and the ever-friendly service of the Brunettis and their staff. “About five years ago I was sitting in a salon — I was reading GQ magazine and I saw an article on the renaissance of Neapolitan pizza,” Brunetti said, recalling how he decided to open Pizzetteria Brunetti. Brunetti was stirred by the rich history of Nea-
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
COURTESY OF NYU ATHLETICS
Golf team plays season’s final tournament
Opinion: US must intervene in Syria
NYU Reacts: Gay marriage in New Jersey
The golf team traveled to Hudson, N.Y. to participate in the final tournament of the season at the National Fall Classic against four other universities and colleges.
While the U.S. buckled under the pressure of the budget talk stalemate, our inaction on the Syrian conflict has provided dire consequences for the Syrian people.
Members of the NYU community reflect on the significance of the legalization of gay marriage in New Jersey as same-sex couples are walking down the aisle.
STORY on PG. 8
STORY on PG. 7
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE STAFF PLAYLIST
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Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ
By JAKE FOLSOM Throughout last week, New York’s annual music marathon, CMJ, generated excitement and long lines throughout the city. The festival is often regarded as a kingmaker — an opportunity to launch bands into the next tier of success. This year has been no exception. The blogosphere has been abuzz with hype for new standout acts, as well as perennial favorites. Assembled here are tracks from artists who managed to grab attention among the many featured at CMJ. Get into these tracks now, so tomorrow you can remind your friends you told them so.
MYLES MCNUTT @Memles
I loved the discussion, but my second favorite part of Skype chat with NYU transmedia class was watching people identify TV swag behind me.
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CHILDISH GAMBINO @DonaldGlover
me and my friends are gonna play some of the new album in washington sq. park now, youre around.
ABRIL COSTANZA @AbrilCostanza
“Irons” — Woodkid “Climbing Walls” — Strange Talk “Tongues” — Joywave F*** U Betta – Neon Hitch “From Nowhere” — Dan Croll “It’s Real” — Real Estate “Husbands” — Savages “Down in the Valley” — The Head and the Heart “Red Eyes” — Thomas Azier “Villages” — Alpine “Reflektor” — Arcade Fire
At a mandatory event for my NYU class. It includes Halloween themed candy and the movie Hocus Pocus #NYU2017
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TA-DAAAAAA! @havuqtefinished
Glad the NYU track team chose this moment to run by in a shirtless herd
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little known fact about me: senior year of high school, I filled out an entire NYU musical theatre application and then never sent it.
Childish Gambino stands among fans in Washington Square Park to promote his new album.
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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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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Poly prof. receives grant for frequency research
SSC PANEL
DISCUSSION
Yesterday, WSN highlighted core arguments of student debt at NYU. Today we will give you background on another key topic — NYU financial aid. Student senators will also cover financial aid at WSN’s panel discussion on Thursday, Oct. 24. Audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions, and students can also submit questions from Twitter with the hashtag #askwsn. NYU has a net price calculator that uses rates from the 2011 to 2012 academic year to estimate a student’s total price of attendance. The website states that in 2011 to 2012, 56.09 percent of incoming freshman received grants or scholarships from NYU or the government. According to the most recent College Board data, only three percent of students receive their full need. NYU recently launched the Momentum Campaign, in an attempt to raise $1 billion for financial aid in six years. So far the campaign has raised over $200 million. NYU spokesman John Beckman has said that NYU spends over $195 million on scholarships each year. Additionally, since 2003, NYU has increased the budget for financial aid over 130 percent, and the average grant now covers 21 percent more of tuition at 55 percent. The panel discussion will be held this Thursday at the Kimmel Center for University Life, room 406, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
This week, WSN’s Under the Arch blog tackles Tests, Trials and Tribulations just in time for midterms. We feature the students and community members you don’t usually hear from, and who each have a troubling, amusing, or inspirational story to tell. Our first two posts are up, so make sure to visit wsnunderthearch.com. Follow WSN on Twitter and Facebook to receive an update when we post.
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By AFEEFA TARIQ
Theodore Rappaport, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, and Auburn University professor Shiwen Mao received a $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to further research the new frequency band, 60 gigahertz, which can be used for long distance outdoor and indoor radio, wireless and other networks. The grant is under NSF’s Networking Technology and Systems program, which aims to gain a better understanding of the characteristics of the frequency and develop protocols for the future. Rappaport, who is also the
founder and director of NYU Wireless, said the Federal Communications Commission recently approved the frequency band for long distance outdoor use, possibly to replace fiber connections between buildings, as well as indoor networks. “We are studying how this new frequency band, which is 10 times higher in frequency than today’s Wi-Fi networks, works, what type of antennas should be used and what the coverage distances we could expect inside a building or in an outdoor urban environment like Manhattan,” Rappaport said. “We will develop new contention algorithms that allow many wireless nodes to connect with each other and to avoid interfering
with each other.” Mao said their findings will be integrated into the wireless engineering curriculum at Auburn, and students at both universities will gain knowledge from the research. “Graduate students will work on various aspects of the project at both [NYU-Poly] and Auburn as part of their dissertation work, and gain valuable experience and training on 60 GHz communications and networks,” Mao said. “Undergraduate students will work on related projects through supplement funds from the NSF’s Research Experience for Undergraduates program.” NYU computer science professor Dennis Shasha said this research is outstanding.
“Sixty gigs supports such a large signal bandwidth that signal wires, whether in hospital operating rooms, airplanes or even in data centers, will largely become superfluous,” Shasha said. “This will save in physical resources and make our lives even more signal rich.” Rappaport hopes to better the future of frequency bands with this research. “We hope to create new mathematical models that let engineers use this new spectrum in an efficient way and will make measurements using futuristic radios that will use this new frequency band,” Rappaport said. Afeefa Tariq is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
SAGE Gala awards elder LGBTQ figures By LARSON BINZER
LGBTQ advocates and special guests came together for the 18th Annual Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders Awards and Gala, the evening of Oct. 21 at Gotham Hall. By the end of the night, the SAGE organization met its fundraising goal of half a million dollars. SAGE is a nationwide organization that serves to improve the lives of older LGBTQ adults by helping to ensure their financial and physical wellness as well as providing a supportive community to members of the growing LGBTQ community of elders. Special guests were award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and Edith Windsor, a plaintiff in the case United States vs. Windsor, which ultimately led to the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act. Windsor was awarded a Presidential Medal at NYU’s spring 2013 commencement ceremony for her influence and work in the gay rights movement. Jewish Home Lifecare was presented the Aging Service Leadership Award for its top standards in elderly care and current project, The Living Center, which will
KAREN REYES FOR WSN
Edith Windsor presents an award during the SAGE Awards and Gala. Windsor advocates for GLBT rights. open in 2017, as the first elderly care center in the nation to have a special wing for LGBTQ residents. Chris Kann was presented the Ken Dawson Advocacy Award. Kann hosts New York City’s annual Toys Party in conjunction with SAGE to raise funds and collect toys for various children’s organizations. Jay Lesiger was presented the Joyce Warshow Lifetime Achievement Award, having worked with SAGE for more than 30 years and serving on the Board of Directors.
“Nobody does what SAGE does,” Lesiger said. “And now that we have so many amazing rights, [that] certainly as an older LGBT man, I never dreamt we would have. SAGE is clearly at the forefront of this.” Windsor presented the Paula Ettelbrick Community Service Award to Roberta Kaplan for her work in United States vs. Windsor. Windsor, who has been on the SAGE Board of Directors and received the Lifetime Achievement Award prior to her court
appearance, created a unique energy at this year’s Gala. “Edie’s been our hero for years, long before the Supreme Court case,” SAGE executive director Michael Adams said. “If you look around, there is an incredible energy and buzz in the room.” Windsor said students should be aware of the difficulties LGBTQ elders face, and many attendees at the Gala said students should be learning more about the movement for elderly LGBTQ rights. “I’m not sure that [LGBT] understanding and awareness extends to aging,” STAGE senior director of programs Catherine Thurston said. “LGBT people have the same challenges that all people have as they age, with an additional layer of what it means to be LGBT in this world.” Attendee Joseph Aboud, a Steinhardt sophomore, said it is important for students to be mindful of the elderly LGBTQ community. “I think the elderly community is one that’s forgotten about more often that not,” Aboud said. Larson Binzer is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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NYU Fales Library receives scenes from home of ’70s punk rock movement
tant venues for the punk rock movement. Marvin Taylor, director of Fales Library and Special Collections, said that acquiring the Go Nightclubbing archive was an important step in documenting the punk era in New York, as well as the downtown art scene as a whole. “[CBGB] became the place where bands that came to be called ‘punk’ played,” Taylor said. “You cannot understand … punk’s role in art, music, and popular culture without confronting what happened at [CBGB].” Professor Stephen Duncombe, who teaches classes on the history of mass and alternative media in Gallatin School of Individualized Study, echoed the significance of the CBGB footage. “Punk rock prided itself on erasing lines between spectator and performer,” Duncombe said. “To be able to see all the elements firsthand is invaluable.” Audience participation was a key part of
the performance in the punk rock movement, which is another reason why the Go Nightclubbing footage is such a valuable addition to the Downtown Collection. The Downtown Collection originated in 1993 and focuses on the culture of SoHo and the Lower East Side from the 1970s to the 1990s, using a documentary strategy to assemble all the aspects of the changing artistic practices of the times. Taylor has been an important figure in collecting all the materials for the Downtown Collection, especially the Go Nightclubbing footage. The Downtown Collection is an important archive to have because of the implications that the time period has even today. “In the mid 1970s, the creation of two important generative music styles happened within 10 miles of each other,” Duncombe said. “There was hip-hop in the Bronx and punk rock downtown.
Most popular music [today] is a derivative of one of these two forms.” Professor Vivien Goldman of the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music also describes CBGB as a valuable location in the history of music. “More music that stands the test of time came out of that dump [CBGB] than from far fancier nightclubs,” Goldman said. That NYU now has some of the best footage from the invaluable CBGB is something that is well celebrated. Katie Fustich, an LSP sophomore, said she is excited about the addition to the Downtown Collection, even though she plans on studying animation and studio art. “I would definitely try to see the footage if at all possible. It’s so cool to see little clips and read little stories about places like CBGB and try and piece together an essence or mental image of its heyday,” Fustich said. “And for someone who wasn’t alive during
that time but really identifies with what it stands for, it would be awesome to add another piece to that mental puzzle.” Ann Schmidt is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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CBGB served as the major go-to club for punk bands in the 1970s.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
EDITED BY DANIEL YEOM DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Nugget Spot offers twist on classic snack with variety of choices By CHRISTINA YELIN CHUNG
The Nugget Spot opened its doors earlier this month, offering visitors juicy poultry, vegetable, seafood or dessert in fried, nugget shapes. Jason Hairston, the owner and chef of The Nugget Spot, was born and raised in New York City. Hairston, who was exposed to a variety of cultures while working in kitchens, said the restaurant will soon offer exotic combinations like jerk with mumbo sauce or General Tsostyle crusts. “We just experiment and find something that works,” Hairston said. “And when it does, you know. It’s just like magic.” The Nugget Spot also offers fried pork, fish and brussel sprouts. Each delectable batch comes with one house-made sauce selection ranges from $5 to $7. Extra sauces are 75 cents each. The restaurant also has a variety of sides available, such as nacho mac ‘n’ cheese and mixed greens ($3). “The nuggets taste authentic in the sense that they don’t taste like they are full of chemicals or preservatives,” CAS sophomore Sanjana Sinha said. “They taste fresh and are pretty filling.” The restaurant’s variety of sauces are great as well. The SHHHH sauce is a combination of creamy, smoky and savory flavors that pairs well with any nugget. The Smokin’ J’s BBQ sauce, Hairston’s personal favorite, is perfect with a southern fried chicken nugget. “The southern fried chicken nugget has been the most popular so far,” Hairston said. A typical basket consists of eight to 10 nuggets, and each serving of nug-
gets is made fresh to order. “People seem to expect their orders right away,” Hairston said. “They’re not sitting around all day, waiting for people to buy them. They’re meant to be enjoyed right then.” Even though it has only been open for two weeks, a strong customer base has already formed. Hairston said some customers return to the restaurant constantly, some even come two or three times a day. Of course, dealing with the pressures of running a fast-growing eatery on his own is no easy task. But Hairston said he understands the reality of the situation. He said his desire is to perfect and fine tune the operation, and then take in a higher customer volume. There will also be new items soon to coincide with Thanksgiving, including turkey meat with cranberry sauce and a butternut squash side. Hairston is also working on providing a discount for NYU students. The Nugget Spot is located at 230 E. 14th St., between Second and Third avenues. Christina Yelin Chung is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
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Nuggets come with a customer’s choice of several dipping sauces.
Pie Face brings sweet, savory treats in time for winter
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A mix of pies are baked in the oven at Pie Face’s new 13th Street location. By NATHAN HO Winter in New York City can be brutal. As the season approaches and the temperature drops, the best way to warm yourself up is with a hot pie and a mug of strong coffee. Pie Face is a new Australian cafe-style pie shop that opened on 13th Street and Fourth Avenue on Oct. 8. The shop, which serves savory and sweet pies, makes a perfect place to hunker down in the wintertime for a snack. A combination of four savory pies, including chicken curry, tandoori vegetable, BBQ pulled pork and Philly cheesesteak, cost approximately $20 after tax and is a perfect amount for two people to share. The pies are all baked in a hot soft crust shell and have a face drawn on top. After the first bite of the BBQ pulled pork, a diner will immediately regret not having something under his or her chin, as the pie filling can be extremely dense. Meat is not the accentuated flavor in this pie, but rather the smoky, sweet and salty BBQ sauce. The Philly cheesesteak gives off a strong cheesy aroma, and the meaty pie filling includes folds of roast beef drowned in hot melted cheese. The chicken curry disappoints. Instead of spicy curry, the pie had more of a creamy gravy, mixed with a variety of vegetables and large chicken cubes. The tandoori vegetable
is the best of the four aforementioned pies. What it lacked in texture, it makes up for in a surprisingly complex flavor. The sauce has a spicy bite at first, which is followed by a strangely sweet aftertaste. CAS freshman Christopher Zhao enjoyed the pie’s chunky texture. “It tasted like Japanese curry,” Zhao said, “[which is] a taste I like.” Pie Face U.S. marketing director Tennille Scicluna said the restaurant has been expanding rapidly. “We’ve grown from one location to seven in less than two years,” Scicluna said. “We have lots of regular customers who visit us every morning for their coffee and breakfast.” Scicluna also said the restaurant prides itself on its student-friendly environment. “We think NYU students will love the fact that we’re open 24/7,” Scicluna said. “We are working on delivery at this location and will be on Seamless soon.” Besides its flexible open hours, Pie Face also has free Wi-Fi, so students can spend a winter afternoon working and feasting on hot pies. Pie Face is located on 127 Fourth Ave. Nathan Ho is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
BRUNETTI continued from PG. 1
Father, son expand Pizzetteria Brunetti restaurant, menu with new location
politan pizzas, which originated in the same place of his Italian heritage, Naples. Brunetti visited all of the New York City pizzerias that were a part of this Neapolitan style revival, and came up with Pizzetteria Brunetti. “That was my inspiration, basically my desire to get together with my son and do a business together,” Brunetti said. “Also to revisit my heritage and have this wonderful part of history and this wonderful tradition of food.” With the West Village location, the Brunetti’s have expanded their menu to include non-pizza dishes such as the popular a’ parmiggiani e’ mulignan ($15), a savory, layered eggplant dish, various salads or their sfizi meatball dishes. The pizzas range in price from $11 to $44, with most around $20.
To the Brunettis, ingredients are essential to the final pie. “It’s so important to use the kinds of ingredients that were used traditionally in Neapolitan pizza,” Brunetti said. San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella di bufala and Caputo flour are some of the fine ingredients that the Brunetti’s have specially imported from Naples to keep their pizzas authentic and fresh. The Brunettis even imported a specially made wood burning brick oven, nicknamed Bella for its beauty, in order to maintain the Neapolitan cooking traditions. “The plan of the future is to really get this restaurant running to the quality and level of food and hospitality that we have set for ourselves,” Brunetti said. Brunetti isn’t set on the lo-
cations of future Pizzetterias, but he is definitely happy with the new West Village spot. Customers from all over, including original Westhampton pizza goers, are attracted to the new location. Tisch junior Caroline Kaplin is one of the new Pizzetteria enthusiasts. “The pizza here is delicious,” Kaplin said. “Although pricey, you are getting exactly what you pay for, top quality, authentic pizza. I definitely recommend it.” Pizzetteria Brunetti sets itself apart from the myriad of pizza restaurants in New York City in a number of ways, but not in the least with its slogan. “People deserve the best, to eat well and be treated right,” Brunetti said, reciting the restaurant motto. “I think that that probably sets us apart.”
Pizzetteria Brunetti is located on 626 Hudson St.
Helen Owolobi is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
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Brunetti’s West Village location offers a host of classic pizza dishes.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
CMJ 2013 continues tradition of embracing undiscovered talent By BRIAN CAPUDER
The CMJ Music Marathon is a five-day music extravaganza that has taken place in New York in mid-October since 1980. This year, CMJ sprawled out to over 80 venues in New York from Oct. 15 to 19. Over 1,400 artists came in an attempt to be noticed and deemed the next big thing in music. It’s not a festival the way Lollapalooza and Coachella are festivals — rather, it’s more along the lines of South By Southwest. The primary difference between CMJ and SXSW, however, is that SXSW is a platform that will catapult an act into the indie mainstream, whereas success at CMJ means more attention from blogs. CMJ is merely a stepping stone that provides an act the opportunity to be on the radar of the indie world. As one might imagine, most bands come out of CMJ unno-
ticed. This happens in part due to the nature of CMJ — at 10 p.m. on each weekday of CMJ, there are at least 15 shows happening at once. Even though people journey from all over the world to attend, the sheer volume of shows makes planning a tentative schedule near impossible. This can be discouraging for musicians, especially local acts hoping to use CMJ to step into the spotlight only to find just their friends in the audience. The biggest acts that performed this year were The Head and The Heart, Father John Misty, Savages and Real Estate. CMJ always puts together a few surprise events — this year it was a pair of secret Arcade Fire shows in Brooklyn Oct. 18 and 19. They performed for about an hour each day and were a huge topic of discussion among concertgoers. But such bands are already huge names among indie-rock
fans — they do not cater to the festival’s overall spirit. Crowds at other shows experienced shorter waits and bigger surprises. Woodkid, for example, known previously for his music video direction (Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream,” Lana Del Rey’s “Born to Die”), became a hot topic when the line for his CMJ show spanned multiple blocks, all thanks to word of mouth and hype. Electronic bands Strange Talk and Joywave both scored minor hits on the blogosphere with previous singles (“Climbing Walls,” “Tongues”), but thanks to the exposure at CMJ, only time will tell how big their next singles will be. As much as CMJ is not the place to see an act that is already big, in true indie rock spirit, it’s the place to watch a band before success hits. Be on the lookout for CMJ’s ripple effects in music world buzz in coming months.
AFI mixes familiar sound with fresh material
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By ALYSSA BUFFENSTEIN
Alternative-rock outfit AFI has come a long way since its punk-rock days of the ’90s, replete with one-minute songs and yelling and screaming about anti-authoritarian themes. Rather than continue with variations on the same theme, the California four-piece reinvented their sound with each album since 2003’s “Sing the Sorrow.” Exploring new musical avenues is risky — it could add a fresh sound, something a band over 20 years old needs, but it could also alienate fans drawn to the band’s early days. “Burials,” AFI’s ninth studio album, avoids this issue by blending elements of previous successes while evolving into something divergent from its past. Beginning with a track reminiscent of “Miseria Cantare” off “Sing the Sorrow,” “The Sinking Night” is a multilayered, slow build of cinematic grandeur. “I Hope You Suffer,” the second track and first single, runs in the same vein. The next 11 songs range from catchy pop melodies juxtaposed against emotional, vengeful lyrics to more typical rock riffs featuring singer Davey Havok’s signature mix of crooning and growling. On first listen, the album plays on elements of AFI’s previous efforts. “A Deep Slow Panic,” with its dance-like introduction, is the album’s answer to “Veronica Sawyer Smokes” from the band’s 2009 album “Crash Love.” Additionally, “No Resurrection” sounds like it could be a bonus track on 2006’s “Decemberunderground,” with screeching guitars and an interplay of Havok’s voice with gang-vocal responses. Despite any similarities, AFI’s latest work has merits all its own. Havok demonstrates impressive vocal range and control on “Burials.” “The Embrace,” for example, features the singer jumping from aggressive screaming to careful serenading to powerful, rock-god bellowing. The rest of the quartet matches Havok’s work on the album. Percussionist Adam Car-
son’s intricate, dynamic drumming, combines with Hunter Burgan’s strong baselines, anchor effect-heavy songs, such as “Wild.” Jade Puget’s guitar work is particularly noteworthy on the pop-rock track “Greater than 84.” The two aforementioned songs are the band’s take on summer jams — pop intros and choruses blend with energetic musicianship and experimental effects to create toetapping, memorable songs that still scream AFI’s signature sound. The songs are layered and big in sound, begging to be belted while driving with the windows down. The build up that begins with the foreboding introduction only escalates as the album progresses, leaving the listener waiting for an explosive release. Unfortunately, “Burials” never quite reaches such a climax. The concluding track, “The Face Beneath the Waves,” ends with the same sense of anticipation as the introduction. Even without an ultimate catharsis, the album is powerful. It invokes energy, giving it a promising live potential — and judging by the number of sold-out shows on the band’s current tour, it delivers on this front. “Burials” nods to the band’s rich history, while also building on AFI’s familiar sound with dynamic layers and showcasing the band’s extreme technical skill. Alyssa Buffenstein is a contributing writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
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Visit www.wsnhighlighter.com for more coverage of the CMJ Music Marathon.
Brian Capuder is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
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Woodkid performs at Webster Hall on the first day of CMJ. PRISM continued from PG. 1
Despite familiarity, Perry destines ‘Prism’ for pop success It can be exhilarating to listen to Perry soar from the lowest end of her vocal register to the highest, as she does on “Roar” and “Unconditionally,” but her talents are not enough to compensate for uninspired songwriting. For all her bleating on “International Smile,” listeners inevitably become tripped up in the web of cliches — egregious even by pop standards — “She’s got that, je ne sais quoi, you know it/So tres chic, yeah, she’s a classic/But she’s footloose and so fancy free/Yeah, she dances to her own beat.” Still, several of the songs on “Prism” are so engaging as stand-alone tracks one can’t help but acknowledge Perry’s talent. The aforementioned “Roar” has already become Perry’s eighth number-one single, and it seems probable that “Unconditionally” will become her ninth. Both are infectious anthems of self-empowerment that demand to be played at the highest volume. Marred as it is by Perry’s rapping, “This Is How We Do” is as entertainingly decadent as “Last Friday Night” and shows a rare glimmer of wit. “This Is How We Do” works well as a sharp parody of Montell Jordan’s “This Is How We Do It.” Like her earlier records, “Prism” demonstrates that Perry’s talents are better suited to the single rather than the record. It isn’t
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necessarily problematic to sing about the joys of partying from early evening into late morning, as she does throughout “Prism.” But listening to someone sing about the same thing for the majority of a 50-minute album is exhausting — especially since, compared to the abundant party jams, the slower songs on the album are rarely highlights. How seriously can you take a song that compares a love interest to a double rainbow? Perry may well be the contemporary counterpart to Petula Clark. Similar to Clark, Perry is a popular musician who offers very little of substance to the listener — just infectious pop for the sake of fun. Nevertheless, Perry demonstrates enough talent to sell a three-minute single, and that alone should ensure the commercial success of “Prism.” Chris Feldsine is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 Place for washing instructions, often 6 Houdini feat 12 Free TV ad, for short 15 Wack 16 One end of a pencil 17 Grain beard 18 1990 Kevin Costner film 21 Reason for an R rating 22 Urban ordinance that might apply to a late-night party 23 1990 Nicolas Cage film 27 November exhortation 28 “Nice!” 29 Mont Blanc, e.g., to locals 30 Flu symptom 31 “___ Boys” (Alcott novel) 32 “___ Maria”
33 Drilling sites 34 18-, 23-, 51and 56-Across? 38 One of two used facetiously in Mötley Crüe 41 “Oedipus ___” 42 Combat 45 Attendees 46 Ballet bend 48 DVD player button 50 Bushels 51 1967 Dustin Hoffman film 53 Not a club for big shots? 55 “Get the Party Started” singer 56 1989 Robin Williams film 61 Part of E.T.A.: Abbr. 62 “As you wish” 63 For all ___ 64 Neighbor of Homer 65 In public 66 Misses at a bullfight?: Abbr.
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57 R.S.V.P. part 58 Hog’s home 59 What a caddy may hold 60 What “aye” means
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
MATHEMATICS STAFF EDITORIAL
Mathematics provides extension of mind By MARCELO CICCONET
There are two common misconceptions about mathematics. Carl Gauss, one of the greatest mathematicians of all time, asserted that “Mathematics is the queen of the sciences.” But math is not a science because mathematical theories, once established, are not falsifiable even if “falsifiability” is widely regarded as one of the main characteristics of a scientific theory. A second conception is that math is a language. In the words of Galileo Galilei, “The universe cannot be read until we have learned the language and become familiar with the characters in which it is written. It is written in mathematical language.” Well, mathematics isn’t a language either. A language is simply a tool for communication. Although mathematical notation allows aspects of natural and fictional worlds to be discussed in an idiosyncratic fashion, this is a narrow detail in a much broader picture. In fact, mathematics is a tenable extension of how our brains represent reality. Take, for example, the circle of radius on 1, centered at the origin of the Cartesian plane. There are
many different ways of representing it. Here are three. First, there’s the parametric way. The points along the edge of the circle are defined by all the points which satisfy an equation involving cosine and sine. Second, there’s the implicit way. The circle is defined by the set of points in the plane whose distance from the origin is exactly one. Third, there’s the limit way. A circle is the limit of an infinite sequence of regular polygons contained in it, where every polygon on the sequence has one more edge with respect to its predecessor. Some representations are more useful than others depending on the situation. For instance, a limit representation is preferred in computer graphics for drawing a circle on a screen. On the other hand, the parametric representation of a circle is more useful in
certain problems, such as in computing the centripetal force in a curve. There is an additional, unique representation of objects found in our mental functions. Despite recent advances in artificial intelligence, the way in which we mentally represent objects and use them in computations remains a mystery. We do not know how our brain represents a circle. However, mathematics gives us a clue as to what this representation is. Mathematical constructs are themselves an extension of the representations of reality implemented in our brains. When our ancestors were using rocks to help counting, they were — for the first time — extending the representation and computing capabilities of their brains to outside their heads. Consider the importance of math to our increasingly technology-dependent world. Having the correct grasp of mathematics as an extension of how we represent reality is not simply a philosophical exercise. It is of practical relevance, especially because it guides how we teach it. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
U.S. should be more involved in Syria By CARLOS ESTEVEZ
Discussions of the Syrian crisis have been notably absent from many major media outlets in the past few weeks. National interest peaked in September over the prospect of military intervention and summarily faded as attention focused on the government shutdown. Nevertheless, as many as 600 Syrians continue to die each week because of the conflict. Behind these statistics lie grim stories of suicide bombers and cases of civilians who died while attempting to flee. Over 2 million Syrians have left the country in the past two years, while an additional 4 million have been displaced from their homes. Proportionally speaking, if the same percentage of citizens suddenly left the United States, it would equate to the entire population of the state of Massachusetts vanishing. The rising death toll combined with the increased presence of extremist rebel factions has worsened the situation in Syria. This marks a sad state of affairs, as our country no longer prioritizes the discussion on Syria and much
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or the prospect of intervention. The Obama administration stood on the sidelines for two years while it defined the red line as the use of chemical weapons. Bashar alAssad crossed this line unpunished and seems poised to retain power. Pundits have criticized President Barack Obama’s handling of the situation, as he made a threat and refused to substantiate. Nevertheless, by committing to a diplomatic approach, Obama did avoid the possible fallout from both Congress and the American public. He overestimated public support for military action as well as his ability to sway Congress toward intervention. With this being said, however, it seems contradictory that a major head of state reached a politically satisfactory agreement while the
situation in Syria worsens every day. The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons remains confident that Syria will meet the deadlines for decommissioning its chemical arsenal, but we are further away from a resolution to this civil war than a month ago. The loss of chemical weapons presents a small cost for Assad to pay for diverting the threat of international ouster. Meanwhile, American influence in the Middle East wanes and our credibility suffers. The American people can do more than just inform ourselves. We should not only revive the dialogue on Syria but also demand more from our politicians. Student organizations provide the means for such involvement, whether by phone banking our elected officials or raising funds for refugees. This issue only becomes more relevant as politicians turn to other matters, and the media quickly follows suit. Regardless of whether our priorities lie with American interests or humanitarian ideals, the only unacceptable position is inaction. Carlos Estevez is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Christie must shift social issue position for 2016 bid
On Oct. 21, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie rightly dropped his legal challenge to the State Supreme Court’s ruling on same-sex marriage, solidifying New Jersey’s status as the 14th state to legalize gay marriage. Christie, who is shaping up to be a 2016 presidential candidate, has the potential to help the ailing Republican Party. In years past, Christie has repeatedly voiced his opposition to same-sex marriage. When the Democrat-run state legislature passed a bill granting same-sex couples equal marriage rights in February 2012, he quickly vetoed it. Now, by lifting his challenge to the court’s ruling, Christie is not altering his stance on LGBTQ rights, but rather he is recognizing that he was fighting a losing battle. While civil rights advocates in New Jersey are probably happy there are no more hurdles standing between LGBTQ couples and marriage, Christie’s announcement stopped far short of an endorsement. A Christie spokesperson announced at a press conference yesterday morning, “Although the governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law.” Should Christie decide to run in 2016, his decision to drop his opposition to the law has the possibility of making social issues a divisive topic in the Republican primaries. With over 59 percent of Republicans still opposed to samesex marriage, his latest move will certainly anger social conservatives, who could be a crucial bloc in a 2016 run. Republicans have lost the last two elections in part because their appeal to the core conservative base alienated other groups. If they are to win the next election, the Republicans must recognize that the country has significantly evolved on social issues. A recent poll shows that 53 percent of Americans now favor gay marriage, whereas just 10 years ago, the majority opposed it. Christie has a fine tightrope to walk, as he needs to be careful not to anger the socially conservative in key primary states while also shifting his policies to reflect the national mood. This latest shift in position is an astute political judgement made with 2016 in mind. If he is to succeed beyond the primaries, Christie must appeal to a broader spectrum of voters, and yesterday’s decision was the first step in doing so.
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.
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Injury, miscommunication weaken Patriots players By CHARLES SURETTE
The struggles the New England Patriots experienced so far this season come as unpleasant — and unwelcome — surprises. Fans of the three-time Super Bowl champions have grown accustomed to the high-powered offense led by two-time NFL MVP Tom Brady obliterating opposing defenses with deadly efficiency ever since Brady took over the starting quarterback job in 2001. Brady’s accuracy and composure have led New England to become the team with the most wins in the NFL in the last decade, capturing 10 of the last 12 AFC East titles on the way to five Super Bowls. This year, however, Brady and head coach Bill Belichick have been dealt a massive blow after losing two of last season’s top four receivers in the offseason, including number-one receiver Wes Welker to the team’s AFC rival, the Denver Broncos, and
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Quarterback Tom Brady has been particularly mistake-prone. fourth-leading receiver tight end Aaron Hernandez to murder and firearm charges. Moreover, New England has been without leading tight end Rob Gronkowski for much of the 2013 season, thanks to multiple back and forearm surgeries in the offseason. Although Gronkowski returned for the Patriots’ Sunday
loss to the New York Jets, New England has had to make do with rookies Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson along with returning veteran Julian Edelman. Even after acquiring Danny Amendola from the St. Louis Rams to replace Welker, Brady has struggled to build chemistry with his receivers. Despite playing to a 5-2 re-
cord and a one-game lead in the AFC East, the Patriots’ offense has been noticeably sluggish, ineffective and rife with miscommunications between Brady and his receivers, who led the league in dropped passes this year. To add to New England’s woes, Amendola has missed significant playing time with groin and head injuries. And with the return of Gronkowski, it will take time for the tight end to regain his rhythm and timing. The fault for New England’s offensive issues does not lie solely with the young receivers but also with Brady himself. For all his accolades, victories and prowess, Brady has proved human at several times throughout the young season, throwing untimely interceptions and missing open receivers at inopportune times, in particular in losses against the Cincinnati Bengals on Oct. 6 and division rivals, the New York Jets, this past Sunday. Wherever the fault may
lie, Brady’s frustration in his team’s performance is evident, epitomized by multiple sideline outbursts at his young receivers. To add literal injury to insult, the Patriots’ once strong defense has been hobbled by key losses. They will be without defensive tackle Vince Wilfork and linebacker Jerod Mayo because of Achilles tendon and shoulder injuries, respectively. Cornerback Aqib Talib may be out for some time with a hip injury as well. For all the problems the Patriots have endured thus far, the team remains the favorite to be AFC East champions. They hold the advantage of playing in a weak division and remain the best team on paper. Moreover, so long as Brady captains the offense and football guru Belichick calls the plays, New England can never be counted out. Charles Surette is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Men’s golf caps off season at National Fall Classic By SEAN BILLINGS
NYU men’s golf finished fourth in the Hudson National Fall Classic, their last tournament of the fall season. Four other teams — Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Trinity College and Manhattanville College — competed in the tournament, hosted annually at the Hudson National Golf Club in Crotonon-Hudson, N.Y. “Today [Sunday] played a little tough,” CAS junior Matt Gjonaj said after the first day. “But tomorrow I’m expecting the team to go low. We know what the course looks like now, and we’ll have a better idea of how to get around the greens especially.” The men’s golf team rebounded from their day one score of 321, going on to shoot a 312 (633 two-day total) on Monday. However, they finished short of RPI
(620), Trinity (620) and Clarkson (631). Rensselaer beat Trinity in a tiebreaker to win the event. “There were better conditions today,” head coach Todd Kolean said after seeing the results of day two. “So it was a little easier.” CAS senior captain Tim Lau and CAS freshman Owen Lin led NYU, both tying for eighth overall with two-day scores of 159. Lin brought in the lowest score for the Violets on Monday, shooting a 74 (+3). Lau shot 80 in the second round on Monday, and Gjonaj finished tied for 18th after shooting 77. “It was good to see Owen and Matthew rebound after relatively poor rounds yesterday,” Kolean said. “Tim had a rough hole today, but fought back to finish with a respectable score as well.” Stern junior Kevin Chien, Stern freshmen Arjun Madgavkar, Gallatin sopho-
more Julius Oppenheimer and Tisch senior Cody Ball, all competed for NYU’s B team and finished 20th, 21st, 23rd and 25th, respectively. “The team shot better today and we shaved a lot of strokes,” Gjnonaj said. “We had a decent season, I think we all expected to do a little better. [I’m] expecting us to come strong next semester and do better than we did in the fall.” “Later in the season we’ve gained more consistency and look to have a big spring,” Kolean said. “I think the younger players will be a huge help.” NYU men’s golf will take to the course again for their first match of the spring season at the Red Tail Country Club for the UAA Championship in Orlando, Florida from March 11 to 12. Sean Billings is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF NYU ATHLETICS
Freshman Owen Lin led the men’s golf team during the weekend tournament.
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