NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 40, No. 29
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012
nyunews.com
New fare increases proposed by MTA
Final debate gets mixed reactions
By TANAY HUDSON
By TONY CHAU and NICOLE BROWN
Last week, the Metropolitan Transit Authority proposed to raise the local bus and train fares. The proposal includes four possible plans that could bring in about $450 million in additional revenue to fill the MTA’s budget deficits. Two of the proposals would increase the base MetroCard fare to $2.50 and raise the monthly unlimited MetroCard to $109 or $112. The other two propose to leave the base fare at $2.25 and increase the monthly unlimited MetroCard to either $119 or $125. Each proposal also includes an additional $1 fee for every new MetroCard. Also, each of the proposals include an increase of 8.2 to 9.3 percent in the price of the rides of the Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North Railroad. The MTA already attempted to ease its debt by putting advertisements on MetroCards. MTA media liaison Aaron Donovan said even though the advertising revenue has
MTA continued on PG. 6
FILE PHOTO BY RACHEL CABITT
Students watched the candidates discuss foreign policy issues during the final debate.
President Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney met on Monday night at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla. for the final of three presidential debates. Even though the topic of the debate was foreign policy, both candidates routinely skidded away from the foreign policy question and instead gave responses that dealt with domestic policy and the economy. “You know, under my leadership, what we’ve done is reformed education, working with governors, 46 states,” Obama said. “We’ve seen progress and gains in schools that were having a terrible time, and they’re starting to finally make progress.” When they did get back to foreign policy, major subjects of debate included Iranian nuclear development, China as a
DEBATE continued on PG. 3
SoHo restaurant offers the comforts of Italy in NYU’s backyard By ALYSSA NOUD
Make your way into the heart of SoHo and you will come across Salumè, a traditional Milano salumeria serving the Italian panino with a modern twist. This past February, renowned restaurant owner Michael Spalding took over Salumè and combined the traditional salumeria of Milan with the desires of a metropolitan market. “Like in Italy, where ingredients are very localized, Salumè mixes the Italian product with product[s] that they get right here in New York City and the surrounding area farms,” executive chef Steven Hubbell said. “Everything is fresh. The sandwiches are never pressed, and we try to bring in as fine of ingredients as possible.” In addition to using seasonal, fresh ingredients, the Salumè panino is also on the cutting edge of sandwich design. What makes them different from the average sandwich shop is that Salumè features a selection of spirit-washed panini; the sandwiches are prepared with fine liquors and spirits. However, if you’re thinking you need to be 21 years old to order one of these alcoholinfused bites, think again. By the removing the alcohol from spirits then vacuum-packing the meat with only the distilled liquor, Hubbell is able to capture spirits’ unique fla-
COURTESY OF SALUME NEW YORK
The Salumè panino combines fresh ingredients from New York City and Milan. vors in the meat but eliminate the possibility of diners getting tipsy from a bite. Joseph Steinberg, a Tisch alumnus, loves the concept. “The Parma Black Label panino is actually my favorite sandwich in the city,” Steinberg said. “You can really taste each distinct ingredient, and the kick of the gin gives the meat a great flavor.” The spirit-washed panini menu fea-
tures the Surryano with asiago d’Allevo, fig mustard, peppermint and, as its signature spirit, Bulliet Rye. There is also the Mortadella, which features the flavor of Il Moscato Di Nonino Grappa. Using only high-end spirits such as Italian grappa and American rye, Salumè has redefined the idea behind the process of marinading meat. In addition to their panini, the menu
at Salumè also includes a variety of small produce sides, such as Giardiniera — pickled seasonal vegetables. The menu also includes freshly made salads. If you solely want to enjoy Salumè’s meats and cheeses, you can order one of their signature Salame or Formaggio boards. Every day at 4:30 p.m., they offer an aperitivo menu tasting. Each week Salumè will introduce a new list of ingredients used in 12 to 15 small dishes. The food during aperitivo, which means before in Italian, is complementary when you order certain beers and wine. “With our aperitivo idea, we try and do our best to ... push people to try the different types of beers and wines from the ... renaissance going on right now in Italy,” Spalding said. One can also take home the cured meats and cheeses by the ounce. The average panino at Salumè is about $13 while vegetables and salads range from $4 to $10. The boards range from $13 to $27. Salumè is located on 330 West Broadway between Grand and Canal streets, and they are currently in the process of opening a 10-seat food bar on the corner of Mott and Spring streets. Alyssa Noud is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM
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Editor-in-Chief AMANDA RANDONE
Marking the beginning of JJ Abram’s television empire is
Managing Editor
“Felicity,” the late ’90s gem from
Yertle the Turtle is an unap-
JAEWON KANG
Warner Bros. “Felicity” follows the
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characters played by a young Keri
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he sees, and he tries to see more
Foley as they navigate collegiate
by climbing on top of a pile of
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life in New York City in an obvi-
oppressed turtles. In his joyous
EMILY YANG
ous parallel to NYU. Heartfelt and
rhyming verse, Dr. Suess deliv-
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authentic, the show is virtually
ers a disarmingly simple story
HANQING CHEN DANIEL HINTON
without flaw. Tape cassettes, woolen
with a message complex enough
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“Felicity” is a delicious world of ’90s bliss.
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SENIOR STAFF Although Hitchcock declared it his best
Hugging the coastline of Brooklyn, the
film at one point, 1943’s “Shadow of a
Brooklyn Bridge Park is still being reno-
Doubt” rarely comes up in discussions of
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TODAY
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12:30 - 1:30 p.m. The Puck Building, Rudin Family Forum for Civic Dialogue, 2nd floor | 295 Lafayette
LIBERIA, KOSOVO AND AFGHANISTAN: CASE STUDIES IN SECURITY COORDINATION
Andrew Michels, senior civilian advisor in the Pakistan Afghanistan Coordination Cell, and Joey Ansorge, a consultant at the Security Sector Governance, will lead the final installment in the Wagner School of Public Service’s Conflict, Security and Development Series. It will examine creative policy approaches and practical innovations in responding to the challenges of security and development in conflict and post-conflict situations.
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6 - 7:30 p.m. Kimmel Center for Student Life, Room 802 | 60 Washington Square
OUR ENERGY EFFICIENCY PARADOX: PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS TO ‘NO-BRAINER’ SOLUTIONS
In this lecture, Elke Weber, co-director at the Columbia University Earth Institute’s Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, will discuss the human causes of climate change and its reasons and consequences in a psychological dimension.
7 p.m. BookCourt | 163 Court St.
JUNOT DÍAZ
Díaz, a 2008 Pulitzer Prize-winner for “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” is appearing at the BookCourt for his most recent novel, “This is How You Lose Her,” a finalist for the National Book Award.
university GENTRY BROWN city/state TONY CHAU arts STEFAN MELNYK features NICOLA PRING multimedia JAMES KELLEHER copy JORDAN MELENDREZ senior editors HANNAH BORENSTEIN,
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Lady’s day off ends in allegations of faked abduction
In San Antonio, Texas, a 48-year-old woman named Sheila Bailey Eubank faked her own kidnapping to get a day off from work. Earlier this month, authorities found Eubank bound by rope in the back seat of her car. She claimed to have been abducted at knifepoint by an unidentified drug dealer and forced to drive around the city to make stops for him. However, after the police discovered security footage of Eubank at a local convenience store buying lottery tickets at the time of her alleged abduction, she confessed that she fabricated her story. She is being charged with aggravated perjury. — THE HUFFINGTON POST
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Northwestern homecoming hosts first-ever charity paint fight — THE DAILY NORTHWESTERN
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The view of the under construction One World Trade Center from University Place.
PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN
Professor presents new research on chimpanzee interaction — THE POST
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FRANCIS POON 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 Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
DEBATE continued from PG. 1
Candidates avoid foreign policy in final debate rising global power, the war in Afghanistan and cooperation with Pakistan. “It’s also essential for us to understand what our mission is in Iran, and that is to dissuade Iran from having a nuclear weapon through peaceful and diplomatic means,” Romney said, referring to his strategy for Iran. Mark Galeotti, academic chair of the Center for Global Affairs, said even though Romney made good points on Iran, they were no different from Obama’s agenda. “To be honest, I think Obama won that point in a sense that Romney was willing to talk tough but really had no practical answers as to what he would do differently,” Galeotti said. The candidates also vowed to draw a strict line with China. “That’s why on day one I will label them a currency manipulator which allows us to apply tariffs where they’re taking jobs,” Romney said. “They have to understand, we want to trade with them, we want a world that’s stable, we like free enterprise, but you got to play by the rules.” But Everett Myers, a professor of Finance, Law and Taxation at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, advised against that strategy. “I think that is not ... an appropriate policy, day one, for the President of the United States,” Myers said.
Christine Harrington, an NYU professor of politics, gave the overall victory to Obama. “President Obama had such deeper knowledge in comparison to Romney,” she said. “He was very clear on what was going on and spoke at a certain level of depth. Romney, in my view, was really just treading water and quite frequently repeating what Obama said, and often going against what he himself has been running on for.” John Gershman, associate professor of public service at the Wagner Graduate School of Public Services, agreed. “I think Obama totally wiped the floor with him,” Gershman said. “Arguably in substance in the first debate, Obama and Romney were relatively similar but in style Obama clearly lost. In this debate, Obama won both in style and substance.” LSP freshman Zachory Nowosadzki, however, tallied it as a draw. “This debate seemed to go pretty even between Obama and Romney,” he said. “Both of them said the same things about most of the important issues like Iran and Israel and the differences they had felt slight.” Additional reporting by Andrew Karpan, Kevin Burns, Margaret Eby, Tricia Lin and Joon Lee. Nicole Brown is a deputy city/ state editor. Tony Chau is city/state editor. Email them at cstate@nyunews.com.
NYU dentistry professor receives grant for research in New York City By KEVIN BURNS Mary Northridge, assistant professor of epidemiology and health promotion at NYU’s College of Dentistry, was awarded a five-year, $3.7 million grant to continue her research on how the elderly in low-income, racial and ethnic communities in New York City access oral healthcare. The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research and the National Institute of Health’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research awarded the grant to Northridge and her team after eight years of their extensive research and many applications. Northridge’s research began in 2004 when she co-found the ElderSmile Program at the Columbia University of Dental Medicine. This program is aimed at giving Hispanic and African-American older adults in New York City access to dental care. According to a press release from the NYU College of Dentistry, Northridge found that edentulism — the condition of lacking teeth — was diagnosed in 27.3 percent of adults 65 and over nationally, compared to 19.5 percent for adults 65 and over participating in the ElderSmile Program. “Certain older adults living in poorer communities in New York City have remarkably good oral health compared to the U.S. national average, and we want to understand why,” Northridge said. Northridge now plans to use social science methods, including focused group in-
Hackers leak NYU data banks By KEVIN BURNS Identity Finder, a data security company, confirmed a large breach at over 50 of the nation’s top universities earlier this month, including NYU, according to a press release. A hacker group by the name of Team Ghost Shell claims responsibility for the attack. The group said it targeted 100 universities worldwide, taking more than 120,000 student, faculty and staff accounts. The account information gathered was dumped onto websites like Pastebin. Identity Finder could only confirm 40,000 exposed accounts but said the hackers could have had access to many more. Among the stolen information, Identity Finder was able to confirm tens of thousands of email addresses, thousands of usernames and passwords and one bank account number. The group said that no Social Security or credit card numbers were taken. NYU spokesman Philip Lentz, said that of the information that was taken, only two local databases were from NYU servers. “No files were lost,” Lentz said. “Rather, the local databases were posted on the Pastebin website. The university’s Information Technology Services unit is now working with the administrators of two local databases to
better secure their files.” He confirmed that no sensitive personal information was comprised. Aaron Titus, a representative for Identity Finder, said most universities use a computer language used to make queries into databases for storing student, faculty and staff information. The hackers, he said, used a basic SQL injection, a technique often used to attack sites, to access this information. “The hacks were not so much sophisticated as they were persistent,” said Titus, who said the hackers must have spent months scanning various universities’ databases for weaknesses. Nasir Memon, director of the Information Systems and Internet Security laboratory at Polytechnic Institute at NYU said universities face Internet security difficulties, mainly because so many people access the university network on many different machines. “Universities like to have open environments. This makes things difficult,” Memon said. “You can’t really lock the university network down.” Titus reflected Memon’s sentiments by saying that many universities have individual departments that are in charge of securing their own databases and may not have tightly regulated security.
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“These tertiary systems are a risk because many are not under high security,” Titus said. Titus added that information security is ultimately up to the university. “It is hard for students to protect themselves,” he said. “Once you give your information to a third party, you don’t control it.” Nakul Prajapati, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, another targeted school, was worried that her school was not prioritizing security enough. “I understand it’s a public university so accessible information is a priority,” she said. “But students are paying for a sense of security on campus, and I think that precedent should carry over to the Internet, too.” Steinhardt sophomore Saudy Melo said the security breach may be received differently to students considering the generation’s digital prowess. “Our generation is a little less concerned about what losing your sensitive information really means,” Melo said. “I expect my sensitive information to be secure. I expect it to not leave the university’s database, just like a bank, or any other institution I would give my social security number, too.” Kevin Burns is a staff writer. Email him at university@nyunews.com.
terviews and systems science modeling, to understand these figures and discover how these low-income communities overcome barriers to access care. She hopes her research will help address some of the nation’s health care problems and benefit elderly Americans across the country. “The aging of the population in the United States and around the world is placing enormous pressure on health care systems,” Northridge said. “Our hope is to intervene earlier in the disease process using community-based screening approaches for oral health problems.” Louis Terracio, dean of the College of Dentistry, said the award presents an important contribution to the school. “Dr. Northridge’s grant is perfectly aligned with the College of Dentistry’s curricular focus on preparing dental graduates who are competent to treat our nation’s aging population in a holistic way,” Terracio said. “We are very proud of our colleague, Mary Northridge, and of her entire team, and congratulate them on their success in obtaining this grant.” Northridge added that her work is part of a greater effort to address problems within the American system of dental health care. “For our parents and grandparents and eventually ourselves, we need to create holistic, humane systems of care,” Northridge said. Kevin Burns is a staff writer. Email him at university@nyunews.com.
Woman falls to death on University Place By TONY CHAU
A 57-year-old woman, who lived on Avenue C in Stuyvesant Town, leaped to her death from the eighth floor of 113 University Place a little after noon on Monday, according to the New York Police Department. NYU spokesman John Beckman said the individual was not affiliated with the university. At the time of press, the NYPD had not released the woman’s identity. The policeman on the scene said the office she jumped from was undergoing renovation at the time of the incident. “We saw something fall from the sky,” said Chess Vass, a 23 year old who was at the Stromboli Pizza and Pasta restaurant located across the street. “We didn’t see what it was exactly, but we heard the noise, and when we looked over we saw her lying there motionless.” Other witnesses said the incident was shocking and traumatizing. Another witness Zach Staggers, 26, who was at a deli across the street when he saw the woman fall, said the incident was surreal. “It was strangely quiet right after it happened and nobody ran up or anything,” Staggers said. Staggers estimated that approximately 20 witnesses were in the vicinity when the woman jumped. Andres Acuna, who is the chef manager of Vive La Crepe located on University Place, told a similar account. “The impact, it was really loud,” Acuna said. “Everybody heard it.” Multiple witnesses agreed that
first responders came to the scene within minutes. Officers blocked off the sidewalk and occupied the area for almost two hours until medical examiners arrived at approximately 2:36 p.m. to remove the body. Dylan Mesanko, 21, recalled what he was told by his friend, who was too distressed to speak publicly about the incident. “He heard a thump,” Mesanko said. “He thought it was a truck going by.” Mesanko expressed his own sorrow for the incident. “It’s sad when something like this happens,” he said. “It’s crazy. It was nuts.” CAS sophomore Victoria Allen described the scene 20 minutes after the victim was reported to the New York Fire Department. “I was walking to class around 12:10 [p.m.] when I reached University and 13th,” Allen said. “I saw all of the crime scene tape and I saw a white sheet on the ground across the street and a lot of police officers.” “I wasn’t sure what had happened,” she added. Beckman said any student who witnessed the event and was disturbed by what he or she saw should visit the NYU Wellness Exchange. He also urged students who saw anything that might assist the police investigation to approach NYU Public Safety and share their information. Additional reporting by Veronica Carchedi, Daniel Hinton and Hanqing Chen. Tony Chau is city/state editor. Email
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM
DINING
EDITED BY LAVYA YALAMANCHI DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
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Pumpkin flavor fixes for fall 4.
5. 2. 3.
ALL PHOTOS VIA YELP.COM
By DYLAN FREEHAUF As October’s days get shorter, many begin to crave the perfect pumpkin pie: rich, creamy filling with a hint of spice, buttery crust that flakes effortlessly and a scoop of vanilla ice cream or dollop of whipped cream to sit atop it all. But limiting one’s pumpkin experience to pie is a crime against this month’s favorite squash. Here are five delicious dishes to expand your pumpkin palate. 1. PUMPKIN ICE CREAM Sundaes and Cones | 95 E. 10th St. Sundaes and Cones, known for their unique flavors like wasabi and taro, have added a pumpkin flavor for the fall. A perfect treat for the last warm days of the year, this ice cream is bursting with flavor, and complemented with an almost batter-like sweetness and a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg. $3.50 for a single scoop in a wafer or sugar cone. 2. SWEETIE PIE PUMPKIN DUMPLINGS Dumpling Man | 100 St. Marks Place Each dumpling made at Dumpling Man is created in the classic northern-Asia-style: handcrafted with care and packed with fla-
Festival fuses film, food
By THOMAS VALLS
You could be three Warsteiner beers deep and the carpet would still reek of melted butter. Film and food junkies alike hunker down and dip their breadsticks into tiny paper cups of melted Jarlsberg cheese, which absorbs the breadsticks that sink like quicksand. Meanwhile, Alobar presents a savory and sweet pork and quail egg crostini: stunningly tender maple-cured pork over ricotta, topped with a freshly fried quail egg.
This is the Food Film Festival of New York City, and it may be the epitome of reasonable perfection. The festival celebrates food film, which congregates film and food artists alike to fetishize the mouthwatering and inspiring artisanship that is all things to be eaten. On Thursday, the AMC Village 7 housed the Food Film Festival’s Farm to Film to Table: Meat Your Butcher, one of six events throughout the festival’s five-day run. Meat Your Butcher showcased sustainable meat butchering
COURTESY OF NEW YORK FOOD FILM FESTIVAL
Attendees of last Thursday’s Food Film Festival enjoyed drinks.
with the world premiere of “Meat Hooked!,” a feature documentary by Suzanne Wasserman depicting the rise and fall and rise again of New York butchery. Before the screenings, moviegoers were handed amusebouches of the food that were showcased on screen. Prior to “Meat Hooked!” there was the short documentary “Farm to Table,” which showcased George Weld’s Williamsburg eatery Egg and how most of its food is produced on its own farm outside of the city. Filmgoers were delighted with pickled treats from the farm which were crisp, earthy and delicious. After viewing the delightful “Farmer Poet,” another short film, festival staff distributed white paper bags filled with bacon popcorn. It’s caramel corn for carnivores: sweet bacon mixed with salty popcorn. While the gorgeous talents of Dickson’s Farmstand and Fleisher’s Meats were displayed, Jeffrey Ruhalter, who was the original butcher for the Essex Street Butcher Shop, had the most captivating story. Tisch Senior Monica Skoko said she enjoyed attending the festival. “It’s pretty epic,” Skoko said. “This is the most, and the greatest, food that I’ve ever had in the city. [It’s] like Downstein on a sugar high.” Thomas Valls is a contributing writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com.
vor without the heaviness of any excess dough. The Sweetie Pie is stuffed with homemade pumpkin pie filling and steamed goji berries. It is also covered in a mixture of condensed milk, honey and cinnamon — a sweet sauce perfect for pumpkin. $4, cash only. 3. PUMPKIN PANCAKES Café Orlin | 41 St. Marks Place As if anyone needed another excuse to order pancakes at brunch, which Café Orlin serves until 4 p.m., the cafe’s seasonal pumpkin pancakes, appearing seasonally on the menu, have given us one. They are dense, sweet and served with a dollop of cinnamon yogurt, which complements the rich pumpkin flavor. Try them before they disappear until next fall. $10. 4. PUMPKIN RAVIOLI Cucina di Pesce | 87 E. Fourth St. Ravioli stuffed with any squash — butternut, acorn, summer — are a treat, and pumpkin ravioli are no different. At Cucina di Pesce, they stuff their ravioli with pumpkin and ricotta cheese and serve it with a fresh homemade pesto sauce, creating a
tasty combination. If you have a kitchen, look no further than Piemonte Ravioli Co. at 190 Grand St. to buy dry pumpkin ravioli to make at home. Having made fresh pasta daily for 90 years, they have perfected a pumpkin ravioli that does not disappoint. $12. 5. SECRET LIFE OF PUMPKIN RICE PUDDING Rice to Riches | 37 Spring St. Ice cream is a classic and fro-yo is trending, but if you’re looking for an alternative to frozen dairy products, rice pudding is worth a try. It’s creamy without being heavy, and the soft rice adds a unique texture. Rice to Riches may have steep prices, with eight ounces costing $7, but the variety of flavors and the quality of the pudding are unmatched. Try the seasonal special: Secret Life of Pumpkin. If you’re feeling daring, grab some friends and opt for the Sumo, 40 ounces for $25. They say it serves five, but that won’t stop you from facing the behemoth alone. $7 to $9. Dylan Freehauf is a staff writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com
New Filipino gastropub offers family-style dining By CELESTE ZHOU The popular East Village Filipino restaurant Maharlika has proven to be a huge success since its opening in 2011, garnering numerous awards and crowds of loyal followers. Though the owner Nicole Ponseca hoped to introduce Filipino food to the world with Maharlika, she still had ideas she cherished and loved that did not fit with the concept of the restaurant. So she decided to open a new spot, a gastropub that offers the same style of Filipino food but in a different fashion. She called the new restaurant Jeepney. “Tomboy[s], fast women, fast car[s] and great food. I think that’s the personality behind Jeepney,” Ponseca said. Compared to the elegant and feminine Maharika, Jeepney is more robust and a lot louder. Apart from the style, Jeepney’s menu also embodies a unique concept: family-style dining. “At Jeepney, the food [is meant] to be shared,” Ponseca said. “You have portions good for one to two people but also more.” CAS freshman Germaine Low expressed concerns about the restaurant. “The last thing you want ... is to be cheated by some kind of rip-off fusion Asian food that
has conformed to mass consumerism,” Low said. However, Ponseca worries less about the balance between fusion and tradition than about what goes into the food she prepares. It is with love and real ingredients that she hopes to provide a very specific pizazz to her food. “With fresh ingredients and made daily, that’s the Filipino food I respect and love and want to introduce to the world,” she said. “It’s my goal to push Filipino food forward to cross over in a big way and stay real.” Ponseca also had a more profound motivation behind starting Jeepney. “I want a successful business. But the success will come more for me as well when people are interested in traveling to my country,” she said. “I want to introduce both the culture and food,” Ponseca added. Even the name Jeepney reflects Ponseca’s wish, as it refers to the stripped down World War II jeeps that were re-introduced as fancy taxis in the Philippines. Jeepney is located at 201 First Ave. between 12th and 13th streets, and dishes that serve two to four people range from $14 to $19. Delivery services will be available in December. Celeste Zhou is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY STEFAN MELNYK ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Great cast performs romantic classic By DYLAN JARRETT
When Douglas Hodge steps onstage in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s production of “Cyrano de Bergerac,” it is hard to look at anything but the enormous protrusion sticking out of the middle of his face. It’s long, it’s disturbing, and it draws every eye in the theater to Hodge, who plays the title role in this production of Edmond Rostand’s 1897 classic. “Cyrano de Bergerac” is the story of this nose and the man who bears its burden. Denied any chance for love by his hideous countenance, Cyrano is nevertheless a poet, a soldier, a romantic and a truly remarkable man. When the object of his affections, the beautiful Roxane (Clémence Poésy, “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”), falls for the handsome yet ineloquent young cadet Christian (Kyle Soller), Cyrano seizes the opportunity to express his love for Roxane vicariously through Christian. The play is a classic; for good reason. It still holds its own after a hundred years of production history. This production, though, directed by Jamie Lloyd, distinguishes itself with the performance of its leading man. Hodge, last seen on Broadway in “La Cage Aux Folles,” is a perfect Cyrano. He pines and writes and waxes poetically, his moods and his tone shifting quickly but seamlessly from line to line. Hodge and his prosthetic nose are truly the heart and soul of this production. He is accompanied by a wonderful supporting cast, including Poésy, Soller and Patrick Page as the villainous Comte De
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‘Silent Hill Revelation’ brings scares to big screen By JEREMY GROSSMAN
COURTESY OF ROUNDABOUT THEATRE COMPANY
Heartbreaking story of love and triumph in “Cyrano de Bergerc.” Guiche. Each actor contributes his or her talents to craft the tragic love story around which the play is centered, and they play their parts well. Poésy plays a spunky yet naive ingenue, woefully ignorant of Cyrano’s feelings for her. Soller’s Christian is as much of a bumbling idiot as ever, yet the actor makes his idiocy impossibly endearing. Page, of course, is every inch the smooth-talking, slimy nobleman from Rostand’s original play. Together, they lead a strong ensemble cast. The production is not perfect, however. While the design is truly spectacular, transporting us back to 17th century France the moment the curtain goes up, there are several scenes — mostly ones where Hodge is not on stage — that could be tightened. But Hodge’s performance alone is reason enough to see this version of “Cyrano.”
True, it is impossible to look away from his face when he enters, but by the end of the play all eyes are on Hodge for another reason — he has drawn us into Cyrano’s world. He shows the audience a brilliant man who is unable to share his epic love when he desires nothing more than to tell Roxane he loves her. The audience laughs with him, cries with him and above all, loves him. And by the time the curtain closes, not a single person so much as notices his nose anymore. “Cyrano de Bergerac” is playing at the American Airlines Theatre, 227 W. 42nd St., through Nov. 25. For tickets and more information, see roundabouttheatre.org. Dylan Jarrett is a contributing writer. Email her at theater@nyunews.com.
Franchises like “Paranormal Activity” are known for their agonizing commitment to patience, with most of the scares coming from simply waiting for something scary to happen. But then there are others, like the “Silent Hill” franchise, that don’t know the meaning of the word patience, with horror constantly shoved and thrown at the audience. And yet, for many, “Silent Hill: Revelation 3D” may be the perfect Halloween treat. It delivers what it promises: monsters, scary images and spooky settings. The movie is the equivalent of an actually frightening haunted house. Based on the popular video game franchise, the sequel to 2006’s “Silent Hill,” “Silent Hill: Revelation” doesn’t offer anything remotely new and is littered with inconsistencies, but at the very least knows its standards and doesn’t bother trying to aim higher. Adelaide Clemens stars as Heather, a mopey teenage girl burdened with nightmares she cannot explain. When she comes home one night to find her father missing and a haunting message written on the wall — “Come to Silent Hill” — Heather grabs her mysterious new friend Vincent (Kit Harington from “Game of Thrones”) and sets out looking for answers. Once she finally makes it to Silent Hill — not so much a place as an alternate dimension of horror — Heather finally gets her answers. But
those who see “Revelation” for the penetrating story or psychological layering of the early “Silent Hill” games should prepare to be disappointed because it’s the monsters that are at the heart of this film. For example, a gigantic spider composed entirely of heads, all snatched from its victims, or a group of knife-wielding, faceless nurses that are only capable of moving when they hear a sound and, most significantly, Pyramid Head, the horrific creature that has become the franchise’s most iconic symbol. It would be foolish to apply any sort of symbolic meaning to this randomly compiled group of monsters. Even if the games merit a metaphorical reading, the movies certainly do not. The monsters exist here for no other reason than to scare the audience — particularly the gigantic spider, whose multiple heads are thrust at the audience in a surprisingly impressive use of 3D. Clemens and Harington are fine in their roles, although the preposterous script deprives their characters of any kind of depth. “Silent Hill: Revelation” may disappoint fans who were hoping for a more thoughtful sequel to the poorly received “Silent Hill.” But then again, there is nothing profound about walking through a haunted house, and to expect anything else from this film will only yield dismay. Jeremy Grossman is film editor. Contact him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.
Overwhelming ‘Atlas’ weaves past, present and future By ERIN WHITNEY
That moment when you know you’ve been here before, when you recognize a complete stranger, when a song overwhelms you with undeniable familiarity — is it re-incarnation, déjà vu or is all of time concurrent? “Cloud Atlas” poses these questions of eternal existence and the rippling effects of our every decision by following 10 peoples’ past and future lives in different worlds and eras. Based on David Mitchell’s genre-fusing, time-warping novel of the same name, and directed by Tom Twyker and Andy and Lana Wachowski, “Cloud Atlas,” jumps from an 1850s voyage to a 20th century romance to a dystopian, futuristic Korea and beyond. In each era we follow a different character’s story through letters, a diary, a manuscript, a film and a recorded message. The cast, which includes big names such as Tom Hanks, Jim Sturgess, Halle Berry and Susan Sarandon, all take on
several astoundingly different characters. Sometimes their extravagant makeup and shocking physical alterations make them unrecognizable. However, the actors’ incarnations are all morally and temperamentally similar — the valiant hero is always the hero, for example, while the ruthless villain is always the villain. There is a thread that flows through each of the film’s stories, connecting each character to another, allowing them to complete what was left unfinished in their previous lives. Yet the film is not presented in sequential order. Instead it skips and weaves between stories. At one moment, the film is an outrageous, modern-day comedy, but the next it becomes a futuristic action film reminiscent of “The Matrix,” showing the profound connections between the choices made in each setting. This onscreen déjà vu occurs off-screen as well, as the audience jumps from one time to the next, unsure of who is whom,
but catching hints of parallels throughout. Just as one of Halle Berry’s characters recognizes a musical composition from a past life, yet is unable to recall why, the audience also wanders through the first half of the film, discovering traces of connections as it moves forward. With three directors, two separate crews, over 50 characters and more than six plot threads, “Cloud Atlas” can be a confusing film. But it miraculously blends the themes and styles of each director with those of the various stories. The themes of subversion and revolution that align Sturgess’ characters echo the Wachowskis’ “V For Vendetta” (2005). Similarly, the enormous significance of every individual’s choice echoes a similar theme in Twyker’s “Run, Lola, Run” (1998). By threading genres together and assembling the multiple lives of each character, “Cloud Atlas” shows us the boundlessness of life. Erin Whitney is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM
MTA continued from PG. 1
MTA offers four plans to raise additional revenue, options increase base fare or monthly pass helped, these increases in fares are also necessary. “Advertising on MetroCards, while untested, is expected to provide a small fraction of the revenue we receive from traditional forms of advertising,” Donovan said. MTA chairman and CEO Joseph J. Lhota elaborated on why these increases are necessary. “Costs that the MTA does not exercise control over, namely those for debt service, pensions, energy, paratransit, and employee and retiree health care, continue to increase beyond the rate of inflation,” Lhota said. The public is not pleased with these proposals. A New York Citybased transit interest group, the Straphangers, proposed their own plan to help the MTA with their deficits in a press statement. “Blocking or reducing the fare increase is possible, if we get more help from Albany,” said Gene Russian of the Straphangers campaign. “One promising plan is to generate new revenue by both raising and lowering tolls on city bridges and tunnels in line with where there is the most and least congestion.” Lhota said the MTA will not exclude the public from this fare increase process. “In the spirit of transparency, the public will assist in shaping our fare policy,” Lhota said. “Feedback evaluating the specific alternatives we’ve put forward is particularly useful, but we value all our customers’ in-
FILE PHOTO BY KRISTINA BOGOS
Proposals can add about $450 million in revenue for the MTA. put, and we’ll consider changes to our proposals based on what we hear and read.” NYU commuters were not pleased with these proposals either, but were hopeful about the outcome. “I’m just hoping that they leave the regular fare the same because I usually don’t buy the monthly passes,” said CAS sophomore Jessie Somberg. “I made my internship so that I only have to travel there once a week.” Talia Delgado, a graduate student in the Silver School of Social Work, is not in favor of raising fares. However, if there is a raise, Delgado said she would rather the base fare increase and leave the monthly pass at the same price. “I think raising the fares is ridiculous because the state of the trains and the train service is disgusting,”
Delgrado said. “The trains are dirty, they are not on time, and there is always track work, so it’s preventing people from getting where they need to be in a timely fashion.” “I would consider raising the base fare and then just raise the monthly not as much because it benefits me,” she said. “I think most people that live in [New York City] take the monthly anyway.” The proposals will be subject to modification after the public review process and will be considered for implementation by the MTA Board at its Dec. 19 meeting. The new fare rates would go into effect on or around March 1, 2013. Tanay Hudson is a contributing writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 THE620NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Tuesday, October 23, 2012
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54 Precisely
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY CHRIS DINARDO OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
FOREIGN POLICY
U.S. embargo costs the Cuban people By CARLOS ESTEVEZ
Fifty-two years ago, the United States began a trade embargo against Cuba that remains a failure to this day. The embargo originally served as leverage for negotiations and a method of asphyxiating the Castro regime, as the Cold War transformed Cuba into a diplomatic proxy for the United States and Soviet Russia. The Cold War has faded into history, but the embargo still haunts the lives of Cubans. More importantly, it breathes life into the Castro regime. A quick glance at the different interest groups vying for and against the embargo reveals why the status quo persists and how it has divided Cuba. Democrats generally oppose the embargo, advocating compromise and discourse with Cuba. Republicans insist that the embargo is a crucial tool in negotiating a democratic transition within the island. The U.S. political system has essentially transformed this human rights issue into a choice between two diametrically opposed viewpoints. Both sides seek the same goal of attaining freedom for the Cuban people from their government, and both share a common ignorance as to the impact of the embargo on Cubans or on the regime. Politicians have taken strategic stances on this issue for
the sake of elections, mainly appeasing the Cuban-American voting bloc with little regard to the people affected by the embargo. Cuban-Americans have ruled the discourse on the embargo, as they are among the few citizens with an interest in Cuban politics. The unacquainted observer might note that they stand united for keeping the embargo. A closer inspection reveals a highly divided community as diverse as the term Cuban-American, which more accurately describes 50 years of continuous migration rather than a given ethnic group. Many Cubans left at the onset of the revolution, leaving behind all of their belongings. Others left in Operation Peter Pan, in which parents sent their children to the United States due to rumors that the Castro regime would ship kids to the Soviet Union. These politically active groups mainly vote in favor of the embargo, directly influenced by their personal experiences. Younger generations of Cubans, those who left in the Mariel boatlift of 1980 and the Rafter movement of the ’90s, have slowly shifted the Cuban-American stance on the embargo. Perhaps because they lived through the hardships of the Cuban reality, they see little benefit in keeping the embargo. Even within Cuba, the ruling elite
benefits from the embargo while the average citizen suffers. Cuban Communism has made most citizens equally poor, and these poor Cubans oppose the embargo, while the government uses it as an excuse for all of Cuba’s dilemmas, including frequent electricity, food and Internet shortages. For this very reason, the Cuban government would face significant questions if the embargo ended. In fact, the word embargo rarely figures in Cuban politics. Instead, the Castro regime refers to it as a blockade. This implies that the United States blocks Cuba from contact with the outside world, which greatly overestimates the embargo’s impact on the Cuban economy. This ruling elite does not significantly suffer from the embargo. They enjoy a high standard of living, profiting from Cuba’s resources. Instead, the embargo only serves to legitimize Cuba’s revolution as a force struggling against the United States. Those who seek true freedom for Cubans and the end of the Castro regime should advocate repealing the embargo. Both the Castro regime and U.S. politicians benefit from the status quo at the expense of dividing and subjugating the Cuban people at home and abroad. Carlos Estevez is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
AWARENESS
Required civics class will engage, enlighten youth By SIDDHI SUNDAR I’ll be the first to admit that not too long ago, I was regretfully representative of a politically unaware American youth. Like the rest of my Facebook news feed, I’d get riled up about presidential debates and Supreme Court rulings at the most superficial level, taking a staunch stance for something I barely understood. In the era of profuse social media, the sheer number of tweets per minute proliferating the Twitterverse is enough to suggest that there are at least a few quasi-aware citizen journalists paying more attention to their news feeds than to the actual debate. According to research published by the court education project Discovering Justice, high schools required at least three civics classes in the 1960s. Today, few schools mandate even one. At the elementary and middle school levels, there is an even more chronic neglect of elementary civics requisites. The focus remains on elevating math and science standards and continually pushing students to the forefront of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math-
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ematics Movement. But without a basic understanding of the duties of citizenship, how can a student make the critical connections between education and its broader applications to society? Why are some countries more developed than others for reasons more nuanced than just historical developments? How does the growth of political structures actually impact policy-making? Most U.S. citizens become eligible to vote in their first year of college, and considering the dearth of civics studies in lower education, the transition between high school and the real world gapes with dangerous awareness holes. A mandatory civics class is in high order at the university level, one that allows for a more engaged and able-minded youth. The course should cover the foundations of the four basic subfields of political science: American politics to cultivate domestic understanding, comparative politics to broaden the global lens, international relations to foster familiarity with foreign policy and an introduction to political theory to instill a basic grasp of decision-making values. Of course, entire four-year tracks are devoted to these individual disciplines.
The civics requisite would just cover the ABC’s in a debate or discussionintensive atmosphere to enforce student involvement and proficiency. If enlightenment via the humanities and sciences is considered imperative among colleges that pride themselves on their substantive general education cores, then there is no reason for the absence of civics from that bracket. Yes, there is no lack of college students who gave up Thirsty Thursday to tune into the first presidential debate, but there are even more who watched that discourse with passionate yet equally unconvincing allegiances to candidates and policies they do not fully understand. Implementing a mandatory civics requirement at the university level can only do right by a nation whose public sector continually finds itself being transformed by young Americans. Even if such a class does not stir up an epiphany, at least students will know a thing or two more about making educated decisions on Election Day and beyond. Siddhi Sundar is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
TSA body scanner removals only small part of inefficiency The Transportation Security Administration announced on Sunday that full-body scanners will be taken out of major New York City airports, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International. The backscatters, the X-ray scanners in the airports, have long been a topic of controversy given the machines’ emission of invasively detailed body images and harmful radiation. While the TSA stated that the scanners are being removed to accommodate fliers and expedite the travel process, one may wonder whether there was political pressure to drop the controversial machines and appease an increasing chorus of critics. Regardless of motive, the removal of this technology demands a sigh of relief from civil libertarians, as these body scanners made clear that mere ownership of a plane ticket was enough to warrant a private body display, which left little to the imagination. Major airports across the country are replacing these scanners, including Los Angeles International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport. These major cities, with New York leading the way, feel confident that despite their high-profile status and greater risk for attack, they can protect fliers without using the controversial scanning technique. This move may set a precedent for the rest of the nation, perhaps inspiring the full body scanners to be phased out of U.S. airports completely. The TSA plans to distribute these scanners to smaller cities while replacing them with new millimeter wave scanners at larger airports. The new technology is less physically invasive and uses a cartoon silhouette of each passenger rather than an up-close examination of the travelers’ bodies. By using low-frequency radio waves, there are also lower health risks than the machines currently in use. There is a difference between risk mitigation and risk elimination, and while the pursuit of the latter is justifiable, it is impossible. In the wake of public criticism against wasteful spending, the TSA should focus its efforts on streamlining its current processes and reducing its inefficiencies. Removal of these body scanners is one small step in the right direction.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Chris DiNardo (Chair), Jessica Littman (Co-Chair), Christopher Drake, Sanchay Jain, Sasha Leshner, Peter Murphy, Raquel Woodruff and Richard Zhang.
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, NY 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 150 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 | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY THE WSN STAFF SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Athlete explores entertainment, economics BY FRANCISCO NAVAS This week, our featured NYU athlete is senior forward Kyle Green of the men’s soccer team. Green is studying Economics in the College of Arts and Science, and he has scored nine goals in 11 games so far this season. Green was four years old when he first began playing soccer. “In my first game I scored like five goals,” Green said. “I knew this was the sport for me.” Green said his family has always been interested in sports. With two siblings playing collegiate soccer — an older brother at the University of Rochester and a sister at Wofford College — Green followed in his family’s footsteps when he began playing for NYU. In fact, Green points to soccer as a crucial part in his decision to attend NYU. “The school itself really drew me here, but also the fact that I could be playing here was a big part,” Green explained. “Coach Behan recruited me.” Coming from the Jesuit College Preparatory School in Dallas, Texas, which was ranked number one in the country in 2010 by ESPN RISE and coached by the legendary Charlie DeLong, Green had no trouble becoming an addition to head coach Joe Behan’s squad. Green is now fourth for NYU’s soccer points record. He has four regular season matches left to surpass the current record. “I’m just gunning for that num-
By NISHAAD RUPAREL
COURTESY OF KYLE GREEN
Senior forward Kyle Green is one of NYU men’s soccer star players. ber one,” Green said. “It’s a goal for me, but it’s not as high a priority as getting the win.” The Violets play in a crucial conference matchup against Carnegie Mellon University Friday, Oct. 26 at 1:30 p.m. They will complete their season with two final conference games against Emory University and Brandeis University. Besides being a passionate soccer player and fan, Green has hobbies and dreams that make him more than the player with number nine on the back of his jersey. Green is very interested in the arts, particularly film. “I’m a big movie guy,” Green said. “I’m always saying quotes from funny movies.” He cited “Space Jam,” starring Michael Jordan, as his favorite sports movie and stated that Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy was among his top five favorite films. Green is trying to look into a
career in the entertainment industry. He explained that while economics and entertainment study didn’t overlap, that was part of the fun. “It’s like exploring,” he said. Green also described his first full summer in New York City. “I did some stand-up comedy. That was quite the experience,” Green said. “It’s quite a daunting thing the first time.“ To explore this realm, Green has been taking classes at the Tisch School of the Arts’s Open Arts Curriculum. “Its something I’ll do more down the road once the season is over,“ Green said. When asked for one of his jokes, Green quickly responded, “The only joke is [junior defender and captain] Danny Weisbaum’s speed.” Francisco Navas is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Men’s soccer suffers loss in OT By FRANCISCO NAVAS
The 19th-ranked NYU men’s soccer fell to the Richard Stockton College Ospreys in overtime on Monday, with a score of 2-1 at Gaelic Park in the Bronx. This final regular season non-conference loss leaves the Violets, who started their season with a nine-game winning streak, with a 10-3-1 record. Unfortunately, this is the second loss the Violets have accrued from an unranked team. Since this was not a conference game, the Violets remain at the top of the University Athletic Association standings despite the loss. NYU held a 20 to 11 advantage in shooting and had 3 more corner kicks. Senior forward Paolo Luciano led the team with 7 shots, 2 of them on goal, and senior goalie Jonas Poster recorded two more saves than the opposing goalie. But the Ospreys were able to take advantage of their chances. Richard Stockton put nine of 11 shots on goal while only six
NYU sports teams can unite student body
FILE PHOTO BY MARGARET EBY
The Violets have lost three of their last five matches. of NYU’s shots were on goal. The Ospreys depended on heavy participation from junior forward Chris Katona for their fourth consecutive win. He was named New Jersey Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Week this season, as he is in a four-game goal-scoring streak. Katona put Richard Stockton on the scoreboard with a header goal in the third minute of the sec-
ond period off a 40-yard free kick from junior midfielder Anthony Fiorletti. Katona also assisted junior forward Pat Rafferty with a strong pass to give their finishing blow to NYU in overtime. Between Katona’s impressive participation came NYU senior captain midfielder Niki Chow’s goal that came off an assist from senior forward Kyle Green. This assist adds another point to Green’s run to become NYU’s new historic points leader. This goal came in the 11th minute of the second half, just eight minutes after Richard Stockton opened the score. The next match for the men’s team is against the number eight ranked Carnegie Mellon University. The Violets share the top spot in the UAA standings with Carengie Mellon. The match will be held on Friday, Oct. 26, at 1:30 p.m. at Gaelic Park. Francisco Navas is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
“Here at New York University, we’re part of a diverse community that embraces our differences. We’re not the type people that go to football games, paint our chests and then think we’re all the same.” That is more or less what NYU President John Sexton said at the Freshman Welcome Address in August. I am only a freshman. However, from what I know so far, President Sexton’s pride seems a bit misplaced, and NYU needs the sort of chest-beating pride that our president derided. Our student body recognizes its differences, but we do not come close to embracing them. Stern students cannot walk to class in professional attire without drawing judgmental glances from others. Meanwhile, Tisch students deal with remarks and opinions that label them as weird or fake. At the same time, CAS and Steinhardt students cannot even gain access to the wireless Internet in Stern buildings. The division between schools at NYU should be a greater cause for concern, but rather than trying to consolidate or unite, this university seems preoccupied with expansion. We are separated by the very nature of the university’s philosophy. NYU boasts that it has no gates, that its students have immersed themselves completely in the culture of New York City. But this immersion has come at a heavy cost. We, as a community, have absolutely no collective spirit and little common identities. We have nothing to bind us but our diversity. We may have a common name and a common banner hanging on each of our buildings, but there is no common feeling that a student gets when hearing Violets or Bobcat. Despite what President Sexton feels, NYU needs sports to become a preeminent institution in America. There is nothing wrong with painting our chests and cheering on our teams. We gain spirit through competitive sports, and only that spirit can unify a community this large and diverse. Some may say sports do not mesh well with the university’s identity. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Identity is not a fixed entity, but it is created and evolves over time. Sports are very much an integral part of our sto-
FILE PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN
NYU athletics should be a bigger part of student life. ried history. We have had All-American football players and national championship basketball teams. Ed Smith, a member of what once was the NYU football team, was the model for the Heisman Trophy. Sports at NYU make sense both as an investment and as a social improvement to the university. If we have the financial capacity to launch a campus in Sydney, Australia, we can certainly find the ability to improve our teams. America’s foremost higher learning institutions have a few things in common: academic excellence, first-rate resources and unparalleled spirit. At Harvard University, for example, spirit is a product of prestige and exclusivity. At Stanford University, spirit springs from their highly ranked football team and, believe it or not, chest-beating pride. At NYU, we have trouble forging school spirit from our differences. Investing in unity will reap dividends. Our improved spirit will attract talented athletes and more fans. By attracting more people, we become more competitive and, therefore, more prestigious. I assume that President Sexton would love to take NYU to a new peak, and if he is willing, a greater focus on sports gives him a way to do so. Prestigious universities such as Stanford understood the importance of sports in building a reputation. They have used their teams as a way to unite their student body and as a vehicle to brand their own image of excellence. We should do the same here at NYU. Nishaad Ruparel is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.