NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 82
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013
MTA proposes to join subway cars By PATRICK ANKER
Subway cars may become less crowded in the future. The Metropolitan Transit Authority’s Capital Needs Assessment for 2015 to 2034, released this month, describes future plans of the company, including the purchasing of trains with open gangways. Open gangways, like MTA’s articulated buses, unify all the cars within a train, creating one single car. “The open gangway model is something we are looking at to improve traffic flow in and out of subway to reduce loading times and even out available space in the cars,” MTA director of external communications Adam Lisberg said. Thomas Prendergast, CEO and chairman of the MTA, said at a New York State tourism campaign unveiling on Monday that this future improvement is seriously being considered.
“The systems that are purchasing cars now are buying what they call ‘articulated cars’ that have open gangways,” Prendergast said at the event. “It’s not the entire length of the train. It’s generally three or four cars, and they’ll have two of those units put together, which is what the [Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation] had back in the thirties.” Urban planning and transportation professor at NYU Wagner Zhan Guo said the gangway could alleviate some of the congestion in many subway cars. “Think about the space between the two passenger cars,” Guo said. “If that space could be used for the passenger capacity instead of not used, I think that could increase the capacity of the subway, even with the same kinds of platforms [used today] and of course the
Every time students walk into their Village Records
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Globally Queer? series analyzes queerness in Japanese society By KAVISH HARJAI
The NYU Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality and the Department of East Asian Studies co-hosted an event titled Queer Japan as part of the Globally Queer? series on Oct. 23. Social and cultural analysis professor Lisa Duggan, who started this series in the
fall 2012 semester, said the purpose is to show that queerness has a different meaning depending on where one lives. “I think the important thing is the question mark,” Duggan said. She said the question mark denotes the question of what queerness could mean in other countries. Robert Campbell, associate direc-
tor of the NYU Center for the Study of Gender and Sexuality, said the first event in the series was Queer Asia: Performing Global Diaspora. Since then, the series has also featured Cuba and Africa, and Queer Canada will be held next spring. “[Globally Queer?] was chosen as
JAPAN continued on PG. 3
SUBWAY continued on PG. 3
Students work to help Australian band Tigertown find its big break By NICOLE DEL MAURO
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class, they are no longer students — they are music executives trying to help a band break out into the public eye. Village Records, a class for juniors and seniors in the Music Production Program at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development class, is designed for music business students looking for hands-on experience in the music industry. Each semester, students vote to select a band, promote it and help it break into the music indus-
TIGERTOWN cont’d on PG. 4
FELIPE DE LA HOZ FOR WSN
Professors, journalists discuss National Security Agency’s surveillance programs In a panel titled The State of Surveillance: Legal, Cultural and Technological Perspectives, panelists spoke about the controversy concerning Edward Snowden and the NSA, as well as took questions from audience members.
STORY ON PAGE 3
Snicket discusses latest book series By JEREMY GROSSMAN
Daniel Handler has been depressing children since at least 1999, when he released “The Bad Beginning,” the first in the successful “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books. Although he also writes for adults, Handler is better known by his pseudonym, Lemony Snicket, which he uses for his children’s books. In an exclusive interview with WSN, Handler discussed his new children’s series, “All The Wrong Questions,” and the second install-
ment, “When Did You See Her Last?” which was released last week. Although “Unfortunate Events” officially ended in 2006, this new prequel series exists in the same universe, replacing Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire with a young Lemony Snicket, as he steps into the shoes of a noir detective and looks for missing people in the grim town of Stain’d-By-The-Sea. While readers may initially miss the Baudelaires, “Questions” has everything they’ve come to love
SNICKET continued on PG. 5
COURTESY OF MEREDITH HEUER
Handler uses his pen name Lemony Snicket for his children books.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
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HANQING CHEN Creative Director
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KALEEL MUNROE
Can I take your picture now? Yes, but can I take the picture with my duckie?
What can you play? “Anything.”
SENIOR STAFF
news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,
MICHAEL DOMANICO arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
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news KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR,
Are you guys together? Oh, no, no! We’re just best friends who met in college. Okay, thanks for everything! No problem. But man, you just planted a bomb! Now we have something to talk about.
What would you say is the happiest moment of your life? The happiest moment of my life was actually on Sept. 4. My son was born. He is 10 days old.
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER copy THOMAS DEVLIN
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ALISON LIZZIO
Did you guys play music together? — Yeah, I mean, we used to sing at one time. — We had a little band going on. — Now I do this as a hobby, make a little money here and there, y’know, nickel and dime. You do what you enjoy in life.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve faced? When I had to close down my shop after over 31 years. What kind of shop was it? It was a Scandinavian shop that sold imported European goods. Do you miss it? Yeah, but I wouldn’t be having ice cream with him right now.
I hate taking portraits. More specifically, I hate taking pictures of people. When it comes to asking someone if I can take their picture I find myself second-guessing on each occasion. I would pass by an interesting person sitting in the park, stop and pretend to look at my phone, all while contemplating and rethinking whether I should just go up and ask if I can take their photo. What if they think I'm strange? What if they think reject me? What if they think I'm bothering them? It wasn't until I heard about Brandon Stanton, the man behind Humans of New York, that I stopped second-guessing myself. Here's this one guy who was taking a simple idea of photographing everyday New Yorkers and asking them questions. He commits to walking the city street and talking to a dozen strangers every day. Lately, I've been obsessed with trying to talk to strangers. It still disappoints me to be rejected, but it's better than not asking at all. And even if I don't get a picture after talking to a stranger for a couple of minutes, just hearing their slice of life is worth it.
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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 | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SSC PANEL DISCUSSION Join us for our first panel with the Student Senators Council today from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Kimmel Center for Student Life in room 406. Student senators from various schools will discuss student debt, financial aid and university budget. Moderators will be taking questions from the live audience and Twitter with the hashtag #askwsn.
Sorority holds bone marrow registration in Kimmel By KLEIN ALEARDI
Kappa Kappa Gamma hosted a bone marrow registration event in partnership with the Icla da Silva Foundation, a New York-based organization for recruiting bone marrow donors, on Wednesday, Oct. 23. Eighty-one possible donors visited the top of the stairs in Kimmel where they had the inside of their cheeks swabbed. The information from the swab was added to the Be the Match registry, a list of bone marrow donors used to find donor matches for patients. Icla da Silva is the largest recruiting center for the Be the Match registry. It was established 20 years ago in New York in honor of Icla da Silva, a 13-year-old Brazilian girl who died of leukemia after not being able to find a donor. “It’s easier to find a match within the same racial and ethnic background,” said da Silva’s brother, Airam, who is the president of the organization. “There’s a great need to create awareness and education within the racial ethnic background.” The plan for a drive at NYU began when CAS junior Meredith Menache approached CAS sophomore Daniella Giardina, who was on the executive board of Kappa Kappa Gamma last spring, with the idea to host a marrow drive. She first heard of Be the Match through a friend who was diagnosed with lymphoma in the May of 2012. Manache’s friend’s transplant rejected the bone marrow and that is when she became involved in this cause. “[The failed transplant] still gave him some extra time and as soon as he told me about it, I signed up. Since then, I’ve become more passionate about it,” Manache said. Menache explained that the process of donating bone marrow was once painful and dangerous. Today, donors are put under general anesthesia and have a needle stuck in their hip to collect bone marrow, but not enough that it affects the immune system. “We want to show people that it’s not that scary. Having some tenderness in your hip for three days is nothing compared to what you’re doing for someone else,” Menache said. This drive is sponsoring an 8-year-old boy named Luis who has been looking for a donor since June. “The specialist at Icla told me I should choose a patient to honor at the drive,” Giardina said. “I saw the picture of Luis, read his story and knew he was the right choice. He’s an 8-year-old with leukemia, but he’s so optimistic and bubbly. He won’t give up fighting, and he won’t give up staying positive.” CAS sophomore Erin Flanagan was convinced to donate when she saw the group in Kimmel. “They said it only takes five minutes and all you have to do is fill out a form and swab your mouth. And you could save a life,” Flanagan said. “How can you say no to that?” Klein Aleardi is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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SUBWAY continued from PG. 1
MTA considers eliminating subway car gangways
same kinds of subways.” According to The New York Times, the open gangway proposal said the Toronto Transit Commission reported an eight to 10 percent increase in available capacity since their introduction of the open gangway model two years ago. Despite Toronto’s figures that affirm Guo’s predictions, the MTA is not committing to the idea just yet. “This is just a concept at this time,” Lisberg said. “We don’t even have a physical mockup for this yet.” LS freshman and New York City native Abbey Rowe said the MTA should focus on service expansion rather than upgrades, especially to the Lower East Side where she lived. “It seems unnecessary,” Rowe said. “Making one continuous car isn’t going to be worth the cost of replacing the existing ones or the cost of changing the tracks to accommodate them.” Although cost is definitely a key factor
in consideration for the proposal, the MTA plans to look forward to the future. “You have to figure that of our past 35 plus years, that’s well into the 21st century, and we don’t want to be buying a car that’s out of date
A variety of scholars and experts gathered to discuss the state of surveillance in the United States as part of a roundtable discussion on Oct. 23 at the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life hosted by the New York Institute for the Humanities at NYU, the Institute for Public Knowledge and NYU School of Law’s Brennan Center for Justice. The discussion honed in on the controversy surrounding Edward Snowden’s revelations about the scope of surveillance programs conducted by the NSA, as well as the efficacy of these programs in addressing counterterrorism and their relation to technological innovation. Co-director of the liberty and national security program in the Brennan Center of Justice Faiza Patel moderated the roundtable. The other panelists were director of national security studies at Georgetown University Carrie Cordero, NYU Media, Culture and Communication professor Danah Boyd and journalists Peter Maass and Eyal Press. Patel framed the discussion from both a historical and contemporary standpoint. “The last time that government surveillance was so completely at the center of the public debate was back in the 1970s when a congressional committee by Senator Frank Church uncovered massive illegal spying by the intelligence agencies,” Patel said. Patel said these scandals led to massive alterations of surveillance laws, which kept the prevalence of surveillance at bay until the 9/11 terrorist attacks. After 9/11, surveillance programs expanded in the interest of national security and counterterrorism but caused concerns, including oversight, secrecy, abuse and efficacy. Boyd addressed technical aspects of the surveillance laws, expressing the concern that America’s legal infrastructure is outdated compared to the advanced technology that surveillance agencies now use.
Patrick Anker is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
JACOB GIANARIS FOR WSN
The MTA considers removing the gangways between subway cars.
Panelists consider leaks, surveillance in modern era By ANDREW SPOHN
with what most of the industry is doing,” Prendergast said.
Cordero countered by stating that congressional and legal oversight keeps surveillance within proper bounds. “The oversight structure really should give Americans confidence that the government is not abusing the legal authority [it has] been granted,” Cordero said. From a journalistic perspective, Maass and Press weighed in on the risks journalists take when covering surveillance stories and whether Snowden is a whistleblower. Press stated that Snowden is a typical whistleblower despite the mainstream media calling him a leaker. Maass said the administration’s policies motivate journalists to be more vigilant in uncovering government secrets. During the question-and-answer portion, the audience posed questions about the international ramifications of American surveillance, the security of all the government’s encrypted data and the legal system’s ability to cope with changing technologies. “I think that we are going to see increasing levels of distrust, both in regards to government and corporation,” Boyd said. “As we increase the levels of distrust, we actually do ourselves a disservice that undermines the foundations of Ameritocracy.” Andrew Spohn is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
JAPAN continued from PG. 1
Queer Japan uses media, literature to explore culture a series due to a need to address and question queer, gender and sexuality studies on a global, transnational level,” Campbell said. Each event hosts different panelists, who give their own respective presentations, followed by a group questionand-answer session. The Queer Japan panel was composed of Gallatin professor Nina Cornytez, East Asian studies professor Yukiko Hanawa and Boston University professor J. Keith Vincent, who teaches modern languages and comparative literature. Cornytez started the presentations and outlined the definition of queer. “Judith Halberstam once said, ‘Queer refers to non-normative logic and organization of community, sexual identity, embodiment and activity in space and time,’” Cornytez said. Cornytez focused on Japanese film and showed clips of “Summer Vacation, 1999,” which provided an example of queerness in Japanese media. Vincent spoke about Japanese literature and queer theorists, and he delved into the queerness contained in popular Japanese culture, such as anime and manga. Hanawa spoke about Japanese queer research and looked at queerness through a historical and feminist lens, and criticized the Western representation of Japan in media. Gallatin junior Ferdinand Tomassini said his interest in East Asian literature brought him to the panel discussion. “If I can take one point from all three presentations, it would be the idea of shifting gender norms, shifting hetero-norms,” Tomassini said.
FELIPE DE LA HOZ FOR WSN
Carrie Cordero and Faiza Patel discuss the current state of surveillance.
Kavish Harjai is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
EDITED BY JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
WHAT’S IN YOUR BAG? By ALYSSA BUFFENSTEIN
ALYSSA BUFFENSTEIN FOR WSN
SCPS freshman Georgie Fu is frequently attending career fairs, making connections and building her reputation in the hotel industry. Don’t be fooled though — she suits up and hands out business cards, but her artistic flare will never go unnoticed. When looking in her backpack, it’s evident Fu is passionate about the business world but has interests that extend beyond her desired profession.
Leather Organizer At first glance, Fu’s leather binder looks like a free school supply she was given by the School of Continuing and Professional Studies. But the inside is filled with pockets, slots for business cards, space for pens and a notepad. Fu has already stocked it with potential flyers and business cards she has gathered at career expos. Fu said she thinks it is good to look professional when meeting potential hotel or hospitality chains for which she could work. Fu said she decided she wanted to pursue hotel management after working the hostess desk at a popular restaurant in her hometown. “I realized I just want to stay modern in today’s innovative world,” Fu said. “And that’s exactly what the hospitality industry is.” “What the Dog Saw” by Malcolm Gladwell Malcolm Gladwell is known for his anal-
ysis of social observations and data, so his novel, “What the Dog Saw,” offers more than a breezy thriller would. Fu said she does not fear learning, though, and has already read some of Gladwell’s books. She said she is fascinated by his ideas. “Every book of [Gladwell’s] is a good dose of interesting facts,” Fu said. “It’s easy to spark a conversation by bringing them up. It just makes things less dull to talk about.”
Sketch Book Despite her busy schedule, Fu always finds time to release her creativity. She carries a small sketchbook, and keeps it readily available for moments when she feels inspired. Her drawings range from elaborate cityscapes to abstract faces. Colored Markers Dumping out a pencil case of what seemed like a hundred markers, Fu enjoys adding a splash of color to her art. “I used to always draw in fine black and white pen, but that got boring,” Fu said. She is never limited on choices, as she has markers for almost every shade. Fu said she likes to experiment with different palettes, but she said her favorite was mint green. Alyssa Buffenstein is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Tisch alum scares up success with haunted house experience By ALYSSA BUFFENSTEIN
Come October, haunted houses pop up around the city to celebrate Halloween. They tend to follow the same cycle — you walk through a dark maze, squeeze your friends’ hands, scream, then you laugh when amateur actors with gruesome prosthetic makeup jump out from the shadows. This predictable formula diminishes the fear factor, which is why Tisch alumnus Josh Randall and creative partner Kristjan Thor founded Blackout Haunted House in 2009. After graduating in 2000, Randall worked in traditional theater before moving into the realm of haunts. Subverting the idea of traditional haunted houses, the show takes an artsy approach to the genre of interactive scares. Wanting to make a tangible impact on participants, Randall and Thor found their niche in the fear medium. In past years, attendees have reported being handcuffed and water boarded. But now the creators said it is time for Blackout to grow up. “While we’ve used a lot of shock tactics in the past to convey our message, this year’s show is specifically more psychological, and hopefully, emotional,” Randall said. “That’s one of the bigger changes from last year.” The experience, falling somewhere between Marina Abramović’s 2010 performance at the Museum of Modern Art, “The Artist is Present,” and the first “Saw”
film, puts participants through the ringer of taboo, surreal, disgusting and morally questionable actions in the name of being scared. “It’s in the haunted house realm, but we think of it very much as an immersive theater piece,” Thor said. “I would much rather live in the realm of Marina Abramović than the world of haunted houses.” This year’s Blackout is subtitled Elements — based loosely on earth, air, water and fire — to target fear at the most basic level. Thor said the idea is to break away from common haunted house topics like killers and clowns. “It pushes different buttons, but also gives the audience something new,” Randall said. “Anyone who’s expecting to come inside and encounter the things they’ve read about from years past is going to be surprised.” Despite new subject matter, the Blackout’s rules are the same. Anyone who enters must be over 18 and
must walk through alone. They must also sign a waiver before entering, agreeing to let the actors touch, push and shove them. There is a code word for those who decide they need to get out, and the receptionist informs participants that they might be bleeding when they exit. The possibility of real harm, ironically, seems to attract more participants. CAS sophomore Simone Sutnick is a self-professed haunted house-lover. She has visited haunts across the country, and is intrigued by Blackout’s reputation. “Blackout definitely seems different,” Sutnick said. “Usually the actors are supposed to scare you and walk away … [Blackout seems] like it takes scary to a different level.” Blackout is located at 164 11th Ave., between 22nd and 23rd streets. Tickets are available through Nov. 10. Alyssa Buffenstein is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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Blackout Haunted House plays with visitors’ psyche.
TIGERTOWN continued from PG. 1
Steinhardt Village Records class turns students into music executives
try. This semester, the class is working with Tigertown, an Australian band, and thanks to Village Records, the band is now being featured in Billboard magazine. The class is structured like a independent music label and the students make every decision necessary to run the project. At the beginning of the semester, students choose to break into different groups, including public relations, product management and marketing. Steinhardt junior Sarah Segner said while the music business program is very practical, this class puts a unique emphasis on being completely student-run. “You’re expected to have all of that knowledge,” Segner said. “And you’re expected to make intelligent business decisions, which is really different.” So far, Segner and Steinhardt senior Grace Harris, members of the press, publicity and partnership team, have written press releases for the band. “[We’re] making sure that how we describe
their music, how we describe their dynamic, is how they want to be presented to the world,” Harris said. “So we worked a lot with their manager on fine-tuning the language of exactly how they want to be presented. Same with the publicist, figuring out, ‘how does the band want to be seen in the U.S. market?’” Harris and Segner have also written an article about Village Records and Tigertown for Billboard for the class. This is the first time, Village Records has established a relationship with Billboard. NYU’s press team sent pitch letters to invite reporters to the Village Records class and Billboard, intrigued by the class, contacted NYU. Instead of sending reporters to cover the project, Billboard suggested two students from Village Records write the article for an insiders’ look on Village Records and their project. The article was published on Billboard’s website to incorporate multimedia aspects, such as links to Tigertown’s performances. Segner and Harris will continue working with Billboard
throughout the semester to document the rest of the Tigertown project. As a part of the project with Village Records, Tigertown’s press was handled by the NYU students and were showcased with CMJ Holdings, a music event and publishing company. Tigertown also self-produced a record in Steinhardt’s James L. Dolan studio. Clinical associate professor of music business Catherine Moore, who designed the structure of the class, said the student-run class has proved effective. “Students [have] the opportunity to see their initiatives come to fruition,” Moore said. “And that’s also where it’s different from an internship because … by and large at an internship, you’re going to get instruction. Whereas with Village Records … all bets are off, and everything’s on the table.” Nicole Del Mauro is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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Students work together to help promote Tigertown.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
‘Gravity’ proves audiences want to watch smart films By ZACK GRULLON
After four years in development hell, with months of actors considered for the lead roles and a protracted post-production schedule that delayed the film’s release for a year, “Gravity” made its premiere at the Venice Film Festival earlier this year to rave reviews. But critical praise never guarantees financial success. Just look to Alfonso Cuarón’s last film, “Children of Men,” a critical success but box office bomb, for proof. In addition to a $100 million budget and not being attached to a franchise, “Gravity” made Warner Bros. nervous about how it would succeed at the box office. But none of that mattered — audiences have loved “Gravity.” As of last weekend, the film grossed $171 million domestically, and it’s been the number one film at the box office for three weeks straight. So how did this happen? Having two A-list stars in Sandra Bullock and George Clooney definitely helped. In addition, Bullock plays a strong dramatic role rather than her typical neurotic woman. With critics suggesting Bullock is destined for Oscar gold, audiences may have even come to “Gravity” just for the showcase of a strong lead female character. The success also results from its IMAX 3D format, which brings in more money than traditional theaters. And because of this format, “Gravity” is a particularly immersive experience. It’s not uncommon when word spreads that a film is only shown in IMAX as a cheap cash grab. But after “Gravity’s” release, word spread that IMAX 3D offered the complete showcase of its technical achievements. Another large source of its
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success came from Warner Bros. releasing “Gravity” during the fall against lesser competition. The biggest opening night opposition was “Runner, Runner” which received a disastrous critical response. The following weekend debuted “Captain Phillips,” which featured a big name actor and enjoyed similar critical acclaim. However, “Gravity” had the advantage of being groundbreaking cinema, while “Phillips” was more of a traditional story. Nevertheless, the strongest contribution to the success of “Gravity” is the most obvious one — it is a one-of-a-kind film. Too often, Hollywood executives believe reutilizing similar tropes from other successful films will surely garner profit, leading to several critical and financial flops. With obnoxious tent poles being released out so frequently, it seems as if executives believe audiences are simple-minded. Hopefully, the success of “Gravity” will encourage producers to support originality and ambition, as it clearly still appeal to the average moviegoer if handled with the utmost skill. Zack Grullon is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
Despite controversy, ‘Blue’ offers insight into complex relationship By ALEX MUJICA
Hyped as the most controversial film of the year because of its NC-17 rating and arguably pornographic use of lesbian sex, “Blue is the Warmest Color” manages to not only live up to its reputation as a risqué film, but it actually surpasses these wild expectations by giving viewers much more than anticipated. It is a three-hour character study that builds a strong connection with the protagonist — a bond so strong it has a power that other character studies rarely achieve. The film follows a 15-year-old French girl, Adèle (Adèle Exarchopoulos), as she falls in love and engages in a complicated relationship with the older, bluehaired Emma (Léa Seydoux), while coming to terms with her own sexuality and desires. If there’s one word that could describe the style of this film, it’s intimate. There are at least 10 minutes of long and intense sex scenes between Adèle and Emma, which almost fall into the genre of pornography. But unlike pornography, the viewer can sense love between the characters. Adèle is mesmerized by how free and mysterious Emma is, while Emma admires Adèle’s innocent and soul-searching ways. Combine these emotional feelings with two attractive girls, and the film includes sex scenes that could make even porn directors blush. Writer-director Abdellatif Kechiche also uses food to portray
COURTESY OF SUNDANCE SELECTS
Adèle and Emma begin a complex, intimate, risqué relationship. the passion between Adèle and Emma. The characters always seem to be eating something, especially Adèle. The genius behind watching Adèle eat is how much insight it gives the viewer into her persona — every time she takes a bite of food, whether it’s a chocolate candy bar or spaghetti, her face lights up and conveys the greatest pleasure. Adèle finds enjoyment in physical gratification, but as the story progresses, one begins to realize how her carnal — and perhaps simple — desires in life might not be enough to satisfy Emma, an intellectual who is seeking great questions through her art. The scenes that leave a mark on the viewer, however, aren’t the pleasure-filled moments, but the sequences of heartbreak. While Adèle makes a few foolish mistakes, her heart is always pure,
and she never truly means to hurt anybody. The backlash and heartbreak she suffers from the aftermath of her errors are enough to bring an audience to tears. It’s hard not to empathize with a character who bares all of her feelings instead of putting on a brave face for show. The true theme that “Blue is the Warmest Color” addresses is the consequences of two different worlds colliding. The film raises questions of whether a simple, pleasurable life or an ambitious, intellectual one is better. Even if one can determine which is preferred, can these two different desires or lifestyles co-exist in a healthy relationship? Perhaps not, Kechiche suggests, but there is beauty in the struggle. Alex Mujica is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
SNICKET continued from PG. 1
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Sandra Bullock co-stars with George Clooney in “Gravity.”
‘Series of Unfortunate Events’ author Daniel Handler discusses follow-up series
from Handler — his signature wit, wealth of vocabulary and penchant for questions that lead nowhere. In fact, Handler treats an interview just as he would one of his books.
What prompted you to embark on a new book series in the same universe as “Unfortunate Events?” While working on “A Series of Unfortunate Events” I read a Raymond Chandler novel and it occurred to me that the journey of a noir detective — curious about things, ordered by powerful people first to investigate and then to stop investigating a world of sinister secrets and conspiratorial complications in which our hero must make his own moral path despite temptations and threats abound — was also the journey of childhood. I decided if I ever wrote a new series, it would be from this angle. What excites you about the
second book? Kidnapping. But who isn’t excited by kidnapping? Have you found that most readers of your new series are original readers of “Unfortunate Events,” or are they a mostly new or younger audience? Both, it seems. My readings for “All The Wrong Questions” are heavily populated by children and former children alike. Are you marketing to a new audience, or the same one ones who fell in love with “Unfortunate Events?” I’ve never liked the term “marketing.” It just makes me imagine thumping melons. How do you decide how much to relate this new series to “Unfortunate Events?” Can we expect more connection to that series in future books? As with all connections, the more you look the more there are. Your books are more challenging and have deeper themes than much of children’s literature. What are you trying to teach young readers in your books?
I don’t set about to teach anybody anything. A curious story, told in a curious way, is its own reward, and I suppose its own lesson. Many of your readers may never connect you with the name “Daniel Handler.” How do you feel about that? Very secure, when handing over my credit card. How do the fans of your adult books compare to the fans of your children’s books? It’s difficult to generalize. I suppose most readers of my adult books are older. How did you gain such an impressive vocabulary? Practice and pretension. What’s next for you? I am at long last finishing my pirate novel. It also has kidnapping in it. I do hope I’m not in an abduction rut. Jeremy Grossman is arts editor. Email him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
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THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS
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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
NEW YORK
STAFF EDITORIAL
Bloomberg will leave legacy in urban policies By OMAR ETMAN
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is a polarizing leader, but his statement last week announcing the completion of the second phase of Water Tunnel No. 3 served as a reminder of his substantial accomplishments in the infrastructure of New York City. He is a city-planning titan, and Water Tunnel No. 3 is proof of that. The tunnel, one of the city’s largest infrastructure projects ever, has been under construction since 1970, and the newly opened section will supplant Manhattan’s existing water line. As Bloomberg nears the end of his third and final term, analysts and commentators are beginning to predict how history will judge his tenure. They can’t fairly do so without considering his successes in urban development. Bloomberg has placed much emphasis on making New York City a more pleasant place to live, aggressively pursuing projects benefitting pedestrians and parks. In his 13 years in office, Bloomberg’s team has helped create more than 300 miles of bicycle lanes. And with the recent implementation of CitiBike in May, he’s transformed a segment of
the city’s transportation landscape. From the construction of the stunning High Line and 85-acre Brooklyn Bridge Park to the makeover of the area surrounding Ground Zero and Times Square, Bloomberg’s influence is discernible everywhere. Unfortunately for his legacy, these feelings don’t exist where it matters — in the pockets of average New Yorkers. The Mayor’s efforts at beautifying the city have been effective, but like most of his Manhattan-centric policies, they have only benefited a small portion — a wealthy portion — of New Yorkers. In the past decade, housing has become less affordable and homelessness has risen over 60 percent, rendering circumstances too difficult for many to appreciate the changes Bloomberg has made. More progress on social service infrastruc-
ture, while not glamorous, would have served the people well. Although Bloomberg’s policies have catered to well-heeled New Yorkers, his aesthetic mark on the city is visible to all. The past 13 years have seen New York City become a more beautiful place to live, bolstering the region’s cultural importance. The expanding park network serves as a much needed escape from the highspeed insanity of urban life, and the renewed focus on the needs of pedestrians makes life easier for the majority of New Yorkers who don’t drive. Whether Bloomberg’s successor will maintain the momentum and keep building — literally — is anyone’s guess. But whoever does succeed him in January will have to find a balance, one that has eluded the incumbent for too long, between gentrifying the city and bettering the welfare of its average citizens. While polls are conflicted over his success as mayor, Bloomberg’s urban planning prowess provides cause for a favorable conclusion. Omar Etman is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
POLITICS
WHO, MOH should not give in to Western pressure By NINA GOLSHAN
In September, the World Health Organization released a study conducted with the Ministry of Health of Iraq that sought to determine whether there was a rise in the birth defect rate affecting children born after concentrated U.S. bombings on Fallujah and Basra in 2003. After much controversy over almost one year of delays, the report’s findings are an alarming reminder that WHO — a supposedly impartial agency of the UN that is concerned with international public health — seems to have buckled under the weight of political pressure from the United States and United Kingdom. Public health professionals in Iraq’s Ministry of Health concluded that there is “no clear evidence to suggest an unusually high rate of congenital birth defects in Iraq” after conducting surveys in over 10,000 households across several Iraqi districts. The use of surveys immediately calls the credibility of its findings into question. The summary report admits the study has limitations, including the reliance on a mother’s memory regarding details about birth complications that may have occurred over a decade
SUBMITTING TO
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ago. The study admits that these methods of data collection are “less reliable” than others. No real scientific evidence was collected or presented. A retired WHO expert spoke to The Guardian — one of the the only major news publication performing investigative reporting on the WHO study — and confirmed that the report was “not of scientific quality” and that the chosen family members were “not qualified to make a diagnosis.” He asserted the definite possibility that pressure coming from the United States and the United Kingdom could have led to the lack of depth in this report, and cited reports in 2001 and 2004 that were suppressed because the United States influenced them. The findings of this study clearly contradict the statements made by MOH officials to the BBC in spring of 2013,
when they admitted to “damning evidence that there has been a rise in birth defects and cancer rates.” The conclusions reached by several peer-reviewed studies conducted by independent nongovernmental organizations, and experts on environmental health and toxicology are also contradicted. Using scientific data — the collection of hair, soil, water samples and past medical records — the reports determined the rise in birth defects is unusual. The cause, they found, is an unnatural level of enriched uranium, frequently present in high-grade weapons like those used in the 2003 attacks. The stakes for the United States and United Kingdom in terms of international standing are high, and release of official reports confirming birth defects as a result of bombings would come at a severe cost. Although there is no conclusive evidence that political influence resulted in the lack of quality in the recent WHO report, the organization should be held accountable for this breakdown in scientific value and should recognize its duty to public health over any political intimidation. Nina Golshan is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
U.S. surveillance causes problems with allies
United States espionage programs are compromising foreign relations with our allies. According to a White House statement released Wednesday, President Obama spoke to German Chancellor Angela Merkel by phone, vehemently denying allegations that the United States has been monitoring her phone calls. Obama did not reveal whether the United States has done so in the past. Merkel is not the first leader to voice concerns about the U.S. surveillance program needlessly monitoring foreign nations, including allies. French President François Hollande contacted Obama earlier this week to complain about the NSA probe in France, prompting director of national intelligence James Clapper to rebuke the incriminating reports. Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta challenged Secretary of State John Kerry about intelligence services’ interception of Italian telecommunications data, just as the Mexican government recently announced its intention to investigate claims that the United States spied on President Enrique Peña Nieto’s emails. Most strikingly, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff canceled her visit to the White House last month after The Guardian columnist Glenn Greenwald reported that the NSA had been intercepting her communications, as well as those of Brazilian civilians, for over a decade. The consecutive grievances reflect the international community’s overwhelming dissatisfaction with the extensive reach of U.S. surveillance, casting doubt on U.S. claims that these reports are unfounded. Tensions with foreign allies have risen significantly within the past few weeks, and the invasion of privacy is hardly representative of appropriate conduct between allies. Although President George W. Bush controversially asserted the United States as the international sheriff, the Bush administration was ironically honest about its agenda, whereas the Obama administration disingenuously invokes the moral high ground. If Obama is to maintain some semblance of trust, he needs to reassess the octopus-like reach of the NSA and other intelligence programs to ensure that this backlash does not damage our relationships with our allies beyond repair. The standard reasoning used to justify extensive surveillance of American citizens — to protect the nation from terrorism within its borders — hardly applies to world leaders of friendly nations. In his September address on Syria, Obama assured the public that “America is not the world’s policeman.” While it seems the president has persuaded the American people of this by supplementing conventional military tactics with secret surveillance programs, these practices demonstrate that his philosophy is more similar to his predecessor’s than most believe.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-chair), Harry Brown, Marcelo Cicconet, Christina Coleburn, Omar Etman, Nina Golshan, Nicki Sethi
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
8
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
EDITED BY FRANCISCO NAVAS SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Homefield advantage matters with evenly matched teams in World Series By BRITTANY YU
For the first time since 1999, the teams with the best records in their respective leagues are playing in the Fall Classic. With 97 wins each, the St. Louis Cardinals and the Boston Red Sox will face each other in what is one of the most evenhanded series in recent memory, despite last nights results. Both teams led their leagues in scoring, and both have dominant pitching, whether it comes from the starting rotation or the bullpen. The Red Sox have been hitting a significant amount of home runs recently, but most of their offensive advantage is on the basepaths. Boston stole a total of 123 bases in 142 attempts in the regular season, and they already have 11 stolen bases in 10 postseason games. This bout of base-stealing will likely diminish, as the Cardinals have five-time-Gold-Glover Yadier Molina behind the plate. While this is technically a rematch of the 2004 World Series, the rosters are quite different from what they were nine years ago. Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz led the Red Sox’s rotation, while the Cardinals had Adam Wainwright and Michael Wacha as the team’s
NYUNEWS.COM
KEITH ALLISON VIA FLICKR.COM
Jon Lester pitches in Game 1 of the 2013 World Series. one-two punch. The Boston bullpen is anchored by closer and AL Championship Series MVP Koji Uehara, who posted a 101-9 strikeout to walk ratio during the regular season. But the Cardinals have a stronger bullpen overall, with Trevor Rosenthal and a dependable group of middle relievers. The outcome of this year’s World Series might come down to homefield advantage. The AL won the All-Star Game for the first time in four years, so Boston has a slight advantage over St. Louis. Allen Craig will be making his much-awaited return from the disabled list as the designated hitter for Games 1, 2, 6 and 7 in Boston. In last night’s game, Adam Wain-
VIA FLICKR.COM
Right-handed pitcher Adam Wainwright starts with a loss.
wright and Jon Lester, both wellrested from their most recent championship series starts, faced off in Game 1, but Boston’s left hander showed clear dominance. Whether it was homefield advantage or Boston’s hitting, Wainwright allowed five runs in the first two innings and had a terrible gaff caused by miscommunication that is sure to show up on ESPN’s Not Top 10. When second base umpire Dana DeMuth’s call was reversed, the Red Sox secured an early 3-0 lead after Mike Napoli’s base-clearing double. The Cardinals defense made two errors early in the game and three overall. Boston’s explosive offense and St. Louis’ poor field play led to a 5-0 score by the end of the second inning and a final of 8-1. The winner of Game 1 has won the World Series 22 of the last 27 years, but only time will tell if Boston can follow that pattern. NLCS MVP Michael Wacha starts tomorrow, and will need to help the Cardinals win to create momentum going into their three home games. The Red Sox need to continue with solid offense and pitching while the Cardinals must play clean baseball to have a chance in this series. Brittany Yu is a contributing writer. Email her at sports@nyunews.com.
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