NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 39, No. 26
NYU Quidditch team gets club status By Jaewon Kang
The NYU Quidditch team has finally gotten off the ground — metaphorically, at least. After almost two years of trying to gain university recognition, the team officially gained club status last weekend. “Our team was notified this Saturday at the beginning of practice when one of our founding members received the email on his iPhone,” said CAS senior and club secretary Brittany Holzherr. “We then immediately announced it to the team and celebrated.” The club, formerly known as the NYU Hipster Horcruxes, was denied club status last year because it did not fall under the purview of the NYU Department of Athletics or the Student Activities Board. But with changes made to the Department of Athletics and the
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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011
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Rally held to support homeless LGBT youth By Elizabeth Maguire Over 50 NYU students gathered in Washington Square Park last night before joining hundreds more in Union Square to support the homeless LGBT youth population of New York City. Jesse Rueckert and Wesley House, both juniors in CAS and interns at the NYU branch of the Ali Forney Center, mobilized the student core to march and join the citywide rally in Union Square. The Ali Forney Center provides housing and other living essentials for homeless LGBT youth. Rueckert said he hopes the rally raised awareness of a group of people that is often brushed aside by government and the press. “It’s easy to cut funding for homeless kids because they don’t have anyone else to advocate for them,” Rueckert said. “We’re here to express to the youth themselves that we’re here for them, and we have their back.” According to a study released by the Center for American Progress, there are approximately 4,000 homeless people under the age of 18 sleeping on
ISAAC GREEN/WSN
Hundreds gathered in Union Square to rally in support of rights for LGBT youth. the streets each night. About 40 to 60 percent of these homeless youth identify themselves as LGBT. The event featured a speech
from Theresa Nolan, program director for NYC Green Chimneys, a group that provides a safe haven for homeless LGBT youth in New York City.
“Those of us that work with youth know that young people that are rejected from their
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Healthy alternatives to Coldplay plays it safe but stays sincere midterm stress-eating By Daniel Fuchs
By Nicola Pring
During October, many students are consumed with writing papers and cramming for exams. Surviving long study sessions can be difficult, but maintaining a healthy lifestyle can help you feel focused, prepared and ready to succeed on your exams. One of the most important factors in helping you make it through midterms is what you eat. During late-night study sessions, it’s easy to turn to junk food for comfort and a boost of energy, but too much sugar and caffeine will leave you feeling drained later on. Rather than reaching for a bag of M&Ms or potato chips as a study snack, it’s important to choose healthier al-
ternatives. “The healthiest snacks are real foods with one ingredient: apples, carrots, peanuts, raisins and any other fruit, vegetable or nut that you like, as unprocessed as possible,” said nutrition professor Marion Nestle. In addition to sticking to whole, unprocessed foods, it’s also important to choose items from several food groups. “The combination of healthy carbohydrates and protein make a winning combination for power snacks,” nutritionist Dara Bergen said. “Some easy ideas include an apple with peanut butter or whole grain crackers with low-fat string cheese or a handful
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It’s no secret that Coldplay has been one of the more polarizing acts of the past ten years. Coldplay’s not-quitestadium-rock has garnered the band millions of fans and a hefty amount of criticism. The group tries to add to this formula in “Mylo Xyloto,” its fifth album, by experimenting with various genres of music. The best moments on the album, however, are not when Coldplay tries to push the envelope but rather when it embraces it roots and lets go. From a melodic standpoint, there are not many changes to the fundamental Coldplay sound. There’s still a light, airy quality to it and, at times, it feels forgettable. Tracks
like “U.F.O.” and “Us Against the World,” two acoustic ballads, lack the sincerity that Coldplay needs to produce a quality sound. “Up in Flames,” with its monotonous bass, is repetitive and dry. The songs aren’t poorly produced or composed, but they feel flat against the booming, lively pop that helped to make Coldplay so popular. On “Princess of China,” the band’s collaboration with Rihanna, the bass-heavy, hip-hop-influenced production bursts forth with a contagious energy. “Every Teardrop is a Waterfall,” the first single off the album, is a
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pure party song — guitars flaring and beats electrifying the air. These moments are by no means melodically sophisticat-
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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY OCTOBER OCT. 25, 2002 Irish actor Richard Harris, best known for his roles as King Arthur in “Camelot” and Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” dies at the age of 72.
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Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE Managing Editor
KELSEY DESIDERIO Deputy Managing Editor
RUSSELL STEINBERG via freerepublic.com
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Assistant Managing Editor
KIRSTEN CHANG
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Creative Director
TERKA CICELOVA
OCT. 24, 1945 The United Nations is formally established less that two months after the end of World War II.
senior staff
via pICTURESDEPOT.com
26 OCT. 26, 1825 The Erie Canal officially opens connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean.
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OCT. 27, 2004 The Boston Red Sox finally break the “Curse of the Bambino,” winning their first World Series since 1918.
amanda shih
deputy staff
university gentry brown, julie
devito, susannaH griffee city/state hanqing chen, brian
tam, emily yang music parker bruce film/books stefan Melnyk theater ERIC SHETHAR features EMILY MCDERMOTT dining SARAH KAMENETZ fashion CARRIE COUROGEN sports SANCHAY JAIN production MERYLL PREPOSI multimedia DAVID LIN copy MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN,
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OCT. 28, 1962 The Cuban Missile crisis comes to an end as Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev promises to remove nuclear weapons from Cuba.
university JAEWON KANG city/state AMY ZHANG arts CHARLES MAHONEY features AMANDA RANDONE sports JAMES LANNING multimedia LAUREN STRAUSSER enterprise ARIELLE MILKMAN special issues FRANCIS POON brownstone JAKE FLANAGIN copy jack brooks senior editors elizabeth gyori,
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TODAY
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Abrahm Lustgarten of ProPublica: Thoroughly modern muckraking
NYU/SongwRiters Hall of Fame Master Session
Join NYU’s journalism department for a discussion with ProPublica’s Abrahm Lustgarten about his investigation of the BP oil spill and hydrofracking.
Take in a discussion and a performance by guitarist Glenn Frey of The Eagles.
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Twin billing Identical twins Jessica and Jennifer Patterson are used to sharing a birthday. And now, their children will have to do the same. Last Wednesday, the twins gave birth just eight and a half hours apart. Jennifer gave birth to her daughter, Adalynn Rose Patterson, before Jessica gave birth to her son, Mason Douglas Patterson. — Associated Press
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Arizona State University
Professor encounters voyeur in ASU restroom — The State Press
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The campgrounds of Harriman State Park were empty last weekend thanks to the cold weather.
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KATIE THOMPSON 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 Kelsey Desiderio at managing@nyunews. com or at 212.998.4302.
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nyunews.com | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011 | Washington Square news
Protesters to leave banks in favor of credit unions
RALLY continued from PG. 1
Rally held for homeless LGBT youth
By Ace Stelter
families are more at risk of depression, more at risk for [suicide], more at risk for drug addiction and more at risk for homelessness,” Nolan said. The protestors’ goals went beyond drawing attention to their cause. Many expressed concern at the lack of government funding for programs to support homeless youth. Last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo cut the state’s budget for homeless youth programs by 50 percent. At the moment, only 250 shelter beds are available for the homeless youth population of New York. “This year, we are not only insisting that they stop cutting our funding but demanding that the government commits to providing funding for an extra 100 shelter beds a year until there are no longer wait lists at any youth shelters,” Rueckert said. Elizabeth Maguire is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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The rally raised awareness for underprivileged LGBT youth.
On Nov. 5, a national movement will urge people to leave their large corporate banks in favor of local credit unions. The idea came about after Kristen Christian, a gallery owner in Los Angeles, learned that both Bank of America and Wells Fargo would soon be charging their customers a monthly fee to use debit cards from their bank. Over 61,000 people have already responded “attending” to Christian’s Facebook event. “I started this because I felt like many of you do,” Christian said in a quote on her Facebook event page. “I was tired — tired of the fee increases, tired of not being able to access my money when I need to, tired of them using what little money I have to oppress my brothers and sisters. So I stood up.” Anyone with an account at a credit union is automatically a member, and thus has a say in that union’s decisions. “Press reports have shown
New fleet of cabs will not be wheelchair-accessible
By Rachel Hawatmeh
A new wheelchair-accessible taxi cab was introduced last Thursday, but it may not be around for long. The non-wheelchair accessible Nissan NV200 “Taxi of Tomorrow” will permanently take over the streets of New York City in 2013, replacing all MV-1 wheelchair-accessible cabs. Currently, of the city’s 13,237 taxicabs, 232 are wheelchair accessible. But according to assistant attorney Natalie N. Kuehler, those few hundred taxicabs are not in operation at the same time. Non-disabled persons can hail a cab within 10 minutes 87 percent of the time, but only 3 percent of disabled persons can find a cab in that same time frame, according to the Justice Department. Earlier this month, a lawsuit was filed against the TLC because the lack of wheelchairaccessible cabs violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit include nonprofit organizations such as the United Spinal Association, Taxis for All Campaign, Disabled in Action and the 504 Democratic Club. But some do not see a problem. “In 10 years of driving, I have picked up a blind person twice and a person in a wheel chair
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FILE PHOTO BY KELSEY LEDGERWOOD
Wheelchair-accessible cabs will not be available by 2013. once,” said taxi driver Hardev Singh, describing the unlikelihood of encountering people in wheelchairs hailing cabs. Anne Davis, former Chairman of the Taxis For All Campaign, has been operating her scooter for 27 years. “I don’t even bother,” Davis said about how often she hails a cab. “Last Saturday I really needed a taxi, but I didn’t see one that was wheelchair-accessible come by.” Although the MV-1 is the first wheelchair-accessible taxicab to be built solely for those with disabilities, it does not necessarily solve the problem. “The same issue is still on the table,” said Ahvi Spindell of the Media Relations of the United Spinal Association. “The city has yet to mandate the next generation taxi that is wheelchair accessible.”
“There are now two wheelchair-accessible taxi cabs available in the market place, the MV-1 and the Ford Sienna,” he said. “All it means is that the taxicab owner now has two options. It doesn’t mean the city is complying with the ADA.” Ronnie Ellen Raymond has been experiencing 12 years of frustration with the lack of accessible taxicabs, especially on the Upper West Side. “If I sit on the corner trying to hail a cab I might sit there for the rest of my life,” she said. “It’s not realistic. I rarely see a wheelchair-accessible taxi on the Upper West Side, and if I do, someone is already in it. Someone not in a wheelchair.” Rachel Hawatmeh is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
credit unions getting an influx of people and money,” said Patrick Kefe of the Credit Union National Association. “[We’ve seen] up to 50 percent increase from this time last year in number of accounts. There were hundreds of new accounts being opened in the last three weeks.” But while credit unions offer most of the same basic services as the larger banks, including debit and credit card accounts, mortgages, loans and checking and savings accounts, the only disadvantage for many is location access. Credit unions are also unable to offer some of the perks that large banks can afford, such as automatic savings, sky miles and points that can be used for prizes. “In an ideal world, we would all join credit unions,” CAS junior Mohammad Gardezi said. “Our charges would not be based on nefarious credit margins.” According to NYU econom-
ics professor Paul Wachtel, while credit unions cannot replace larger banks, the increased competition has created a positive effect. “Credit unions can often offer better deals but do not have the same range of services that make the big banks attractive, and they may not offer an ATM or branch on every corner,” Wachtel said. “They have always been out there to provide some competitive pressures on the big banks which is a good thing.” David Backus, also an economics professor at NYU, does not foresee Bank Transfer Day as having a profound effect on the large banks. “Competition is always a good thing,” Backus said. “I’m delighted to see more of it in consumer banking. Still, I doubt we’ll see the big banks lose much of their market share on this one. I wouldn’t be sad to see it happen, but I don’t think we will.” Ace Stelter is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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Quidditch team an official NYU tournament club New Club Development Program, the team, now known as the NYU Nundu, will be able to fly free. According to Bob Butler, executive director of the Center for Student Activities, Leadership and Service, the Department of Athletics initiated a policy this summer requiring new club sports seeking recognition to be NCAA- or Olympic-recognized sports. Upon the implementation of this policy, the SAB this year began accepting applications to its NCD Program from recreational sports clubs that would have been referred to the Department of Athletics, Butler said. The Quidditch Club will now be granted tournament club status, allowing the members to travel to tournaments with their budget, donated funds and university funding. Along with other NCD clubs, it will also have a club advisor, receive seed funding and have access to campus media and financial services. The club’s progress will be evaluated next March by SAB, Butler added. If it has completed the NCD program, it will be awarded All-Square status and return to NYU in the fall of 2012 as a fullyrecognized All-Square club. “It feels fantastic to have club status at NYU,” club president and CAS junior Sarah Landis said.
Landis said the club will use funding from the university to purchase team jerseys. She added that because the club is in the preliminary stage of development, it will work closely with the university to create a working budget for the future. The Quidditch Club, which recently selected its World Cup team of 20 members, has been growing this year, with over 140 students on its listserv and a group of about 60 members regularly showing up to practice. It also recently received an anonymous $1,000 donation. “Last year was our first time playing in the World Cup, and this year, with almost double the teams, we are very excited about all the new competition,” Holzherr said. But Quidditch teams at some other schools have not been as lucky. Emerson College, which trounced NYU in last year’s World Cup, does not fully recognize Quidditch, which was brought to its campus in 2008. “It is amazing they got official standing as a club,” Allison Gillette, Quidditch commissioner at Emerson College, said. “That is something extremely hard to do at college campuses, especially for Quidditch.” Jaewon Kang is university editor. Email her at jkang@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011 | nyunews.com
DINING
edited by SARAH KAMENETZ DINING@nyunews.com
MIDTERM continued from PG. 1
Healthy alternatives to midterms stress-eating
of walnuts with a small pear.” Some NYU students are skipping the junk food and trying to abide by these healthy-eating basics during exam periods. “I definitely feel the stress more when midterms come around,” LSP sophomore Bohan Phinale said. “Eating well before and after classes makes me feel better throughout the day.” Tisch sophomore Bryn Herdrich agreed. “I try to stick to lean meats and veggies during midterms,” she said. “I know that if I eat mac ‘n’ cheese before studying, things aren’t going to be good later.”
Need a few suggestions for delicious, healthy snacks? Try these two easy-to-make options: Take a break from studying and whip up a yogurt parfait. Start with plain, fat-free Greek yogurt and add fresh strawberries and blueberries. The yogurt is rich, creamy and a great source of protein, and the fresh fruit provides vitamin C. Add a small handful of granola for an extra boost of fiber, but be careful because most granola-based cereal contains processed sugar. Stir in a drizzle of honey as a natural sweetener. If you’re in the mood for a savory snack, try making your own
hummus. Chickpeas — the main ingredient in hummus — are a delicious source of protein and iron, which can help you maintain energy during long days of classes and studying. Simply blend one can of chickpeas with a quarter cup of olive oil in a blender or food processor. Add one tablespoon of lemon juice and one teaspoon of cumin. Try your fresh hummus with baby carrots, cucumbers or wholewheat pita bread. Nicola Pring is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Brooklyn Tacos hits Manhattan By Claire Zajdel Nestled in the cozy Essex Street Market, Brooklyn Tacos is making its Manhattan debut. The taquería is the brainchild of business partners Jesse Kramer and Erica Molina. Although this is their first year at Essex on the Lower East Side, they have been diligently building their business into a successful brand. Brooklyn Tacos started out at a local farmer’s market, and the two owners were serious from the start about building a successful business. The business found its stride at the Brooklyn Flea Market in Williamsburg, where the owners began serving up their food every weekend. Kramer and Molina also founded the catering side of their business after they moved to Hester Street Fair and realized they needed something more permanent. “We realized we needed somewhere to work in the off-seasons,” Kramer said. Now at the Essex indoor market, they have reinvented their look and are working at establishing their brand. Brooklyn Tacos’ three seated counter front is serving up more tacos than ever before. The most popular taco is their Chilorio Brisket, an award-winning dish featuring brazed beef brisket that is slow-cooked for four hours. The brisket itself is tender and satisfying, but the toppings — hot sauces, onion, corn, pep-
NYU’S Most Influential Students
RACHEL SANDERSON FOR WSN
By Rachel Sanderson The time has come to bid farewell to ice creams and sorbets. But don’t despair — replace those summer treats with a few fall ones of your own. This unique apple pie cupcake recipe will leave you feeling all warm and cozy on those brisk autumn evenings.
Caramel Apple Pie Cupcakes Yields 24 cinnamon cupcakes:
CLAIRE ZAJDEL FOR WSN
Try the Chilorio Brisket or Guaco Taco at Brookyn Tacos. per and cheese — is what makes the meal special. Another favorite, the Guaco Taco, caters to veggie lovers. It features guacamole as its main ingredient, but what really sets the Guaco Taco apart is its finish of Brooklyn Tacos’ habañero sauce. “We like to cover everyone and every dietary restriction — gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian,” Kramer said. These unique tacos are both tender and flavorful, and a lot of that flavor comes from the habañero. They use soft corn shells that wrap the fillings in a tight, warm embrace. The tacos are arranged precisely in the shell, with the brisket or guacamole filling the bottom, followed by a mixture of peppers, onions and corn. The entire taco is deca-
dently sprinkled with cheese and topped with a drizzle of sour cream and chili sauce. “We’re always trying to be different,” Kramer said. And they certainly are. Brooklyn Tacos is trying to redefine tacos, but still manages to keep its taste authentic. Customer service comes first at this new eatery. The owners are personable and friendly and remember their customers’ names, even though they’ve just opened. “We really want our customers to feel that feeling of being at home when they come here,” Molina said. And with welcoming smiles and warm tacos, they’re succeeding. Claire Zajdel is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
Each year, we profile 15 NYU students who have had a positive impact on NYU and the surrounding community for our Influential Students Issue.
presents
Stay warm with a touch of apple and caramel
We are currently accepting nominations for our 2011 issue which will be published in December. We would greatly appreciate it if you could nominate an exemplary student who has had a profound impact on the NYU community. To submit a nomination, please email the student’s name, year, school, contact information and a 150-word statement about why the student has been nominated to influential@nyunews.com by Nov. 11.
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 cup milk 4 large eggs 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon (or allspice) 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Ingredients for apple filling: 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 1/2 pounds honey crisp apples (about four), peeled, cored and finely diced 1 tablespoon granulated sugar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon water
1. Preheat oven to 350 F and place cupcake liners in two 12cup muffin tins. 2. Heat milk and butter in a small saucepan over medium heat until butter melts. 3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. 4. Using a mixer, beat eggs and sugar until the mixture becomes thick — about five minutes. 5. Add flour mixture and beat at low speed until ingredients are incorporated. 6. Combine milk mixture and vanilla and beat until blended. 7. Fill pans evenly and bake for 16-18 minutes.
1. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. 2. Add apples, sugar and cinnamon. 3. Cook until apples appear tender and their juices release — around 10 minutes. 4. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water. 5. Add cornstarch mixture to apples and stir until thick. Take away from heat and cool to room temperature. After the cupcakes have cooled, cut a small portion of the center out and fill with the apple filling. Replace the center and pipe the tops of your cupcakes with your favorite cream cheese frosting and drizzle them with caramel.
Rachel Sanderson is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011 | Washington Square news
ARTS
edited by CHARLES MAHONEY arts@nyunews.com COLDPLAY continued from PG. 1
Coldplay plays it safe but stays sincere in new album ed, but they exemplify Coldplay at its most sincere, at its most energetic and, most importantly, its most fun. Conceptually, “Mylo Xyloto” is based on a love story in an urban environment. The story flows adequately. Sometimes, it’s even interesting. We meet the two unnamed characters on “Hurts Like Heaven” and “Paradise,” watch them inch closer to each other on “Charlie Brown,” see them meet on “Us Against the World” and attempt to escape and fall in love for essentially the rest of the album. A number of songs, however, tackle the “trapped in, desire to escape” theme and tend to address it with the same metaphors and imagery. “Up With the Birds” is lyrically almost the same song as “U.F.O.” The concepts work best with the most bombastic, grandiose instrumentals and production. On “Hurts Like Heaven,” lyrics like “So on concrete canvas and a glowin-the-dark concrete canvas/ I will make you a mark” work in tandem with up-tempo,
wispy instrumentals. “Paradise” paints a powerful tableau as lyrics like “But it flew away from her reach and the bullets catch in her teeth” push against the bubbling synthesizers. The lyrics work best when they aren’t trying to evoke the concept, but rather melt into the rest of the song, painting a complete image. Coldplay probably doesn’t deserve all of the hate that it receives. Coldplay seems to try too hard and often fails to break musical barriers. In fact, all of Coldplay’s best moments throughout the years — “Yellow,” “Fix You” and, yes, “Paradise” — are when it abandons faux-experimentalism and just lets its creativity fly free. Music does not always have to be an edgy, genre-bending experiment. It just has to be sincere. The best — and the worst — moments on “Mylo Xyloto” make that clear. Daniel Fuchs is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
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Justice nails balance rock and retro By Alexandria Ethridge If anyone can make arena rock modern and cool, it’s French house duo Justice. Unlike their 2007 debut album, “†,” their second album, “Audio, Video, Disco” demonstrates a heavier metal influence as the pair incorporates real guitar and bass into their unique electronic sound. The result is equal parts rock opera and nu-disco, as well as an album that was definitely worth the wait. Starting the ’80s revival is “Horsepower,” a voiceless track that shows the new direction Justice is taking with its sound. It is “Phantom of the Opera” set to a dance beat with a death metal opening. Next is the album’s single, “Civilization,” which combines distorted bass and metal-influenced synthesizers with an upbeat dance tone. Despite a slow start, the song picks up at the chorus and delivers the nudisco sound that Justice first helped popularize in 2007. The best and possibly most ’80sinspired song is “New Lands,” with its classic opening guitar riff and a chorus that alter-
nates between lone vocals and a thrashing blend of electric guitar and bass. But the album’s strength falters on “Brainvision.” The track’s repetitive electric guitar riffs are vanilla compared to its predecessor’s in “On’n’On,” which combines a synthesized VIA AMAZON.COM harpsichord “Audio, Video, Disco” is near perfection. sound with rhythmic drums to produce one of the stron- hesion. The French musicians gest tracks on the album. Even know which of their songs are weak songs like “Ohio” and best without lyrics, leaving half “Audio, Video, Disco” are not of the tracks without vocals entirely unbearable. The for- and letting their precision do mer contains questionable lyr- all the talking. Justice’s excelics such as “Ohio, Tennessee, lent taste has been reaffirmed California, endlessly” sung in after successfully mixing ’80s a heavily synthesized whisper, metal with an opera aesthetic but the distorted guitar riff while still remaining quintesredeems the track. The titular sentially French. Just try not to song is actually quite good, but hurt yourself from headbangit is a bit too soft — a letdown ing too hard. after the explosive “Helix.” “Audio, Video, Disco” is a sol- Alexandria Ethridge is id album that is only slightly a staff writer. Email her marred by songs that lack co- at music@nyunews.com.
Variety show offers another version of Billboard favorites By Eric Shethar When a performer promises that he or she is “gonna have to teach you some life lessons tonight,” rarely does it include a cover of Outkast. But when Bridget Everett, one of the three twisted geniuses behind the monthly cabaret collective “Our Hit Parade” is the one doing the teaching, I listen up. Hosted by (and featuring) the downtown trifecta of Everett, Kenny Mellman and Neal Medlyn, this monthly variety show brings together the most unapologetically irreverent personalities from the glittering gutter of New York performance to cover the current Billboard Top Ten, to a stunningly strange effect. When I went last month, it was the final show of their summer hits retrospective, which had surveyed the summer singles of the ’80s and ’90s and the formative 2000s. Molly Pope kicked things off, giving old school cabaret realness with a brassily literal (and literally insane) rendition of Beyonce’s “Crazy In Love.” In light of coy patter, Pope gave us a breezy rundown of her (unsuccessful) attempt
at seducing her summer subletter during the blackout of 2003, all while serving up an increasingly frenzied performance which turned Beyonce’s cool and collected provocation into a deranged ode to sexual frustration. Cole Escola (of Logo TV’s nobudget sketch comedy show “Jeffrey and Cole Casserole”) shook the ostrich feathers and French lace off of the Moulin Rouge tie-in single “Lady Marmalade,” an ode to the courtesan life, delivering all four divas parts in a sequined tube top and crotchless spandex, assuredly putting the “work” back into “sex work.” Mellman (known by some as Herb, the ivory-tickling foil to Mx. Justin Vivan Bond’s boozy chanteuse alter-ego Kiki), took a leaf out of a more sincere book with a smoldering medley which started out with an innocently matter-of-fact cover of Sondheim’s “I’m Still Here.” Soon throwing in verses from Destiny’s Child’s “Survivor” and LCD Soundsystem’s “Losing My Edge,” Mellman’s performance became a tribute to the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and the death of Jamey Rodemeyer, the 14-year-old
gay teenager who committed suicide in September. In lesser hands, this shift in tonal gears could have flopped harder than “Burlesque,” but as his number boiled over with weary rage, Mellman elevated the seemingly superficial pop he drew from to a new level. Celebrating everything from the pompous swagger to the surprising insight of mainstream pop, “Our Hit Parade” takes the guilt out of all of our FM guilty pleasures. For the closing number, the cast gathered onstage to serenade the tipsy crowd with Miley Cyrus’s “The Climb.” Sung by a teenage pop star who makes millions of dollars, the ode to struggle has always rung more than slightly hollow, but coming from the fabulously sordid crowd of “Our Hit Parade,” the song never sounded better. “Our Hit Parade” plays monthly, including tomorrow, Oct. 26, and Nov. 16 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, at 425 Lafayette St. near Astor Place. Tickets are $20. Eric Shethar is theater editor. Email him at eshethar@nyunews.com.
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“Our Hit Parade” offers renditions of hits from the ‘80s, ‘90s and early 2000s.
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The new york times crossword & daily sudoku Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 PC hearts 5 Capital ENE of Fiji 9 “Star Wars” director George 14 Mont Blanc, par exemple 15 Table salt, chemically 16 Chip away 17 Way to reduce spending 19 Broadcaster 20 Coach Parseghian 21 URL ending 22 ___ instant 23 Pre-sportingevent songs 29 Baldwin of “30 Rock” 30 Genesis mariner 31 Deli side 32 Fabergé collectible 35 River to the Caspian
37 Author Levin 38 President Taftʼs foreign policy 43 N.Y.C.ʼs Park or Lex 44 Union collections 45 “Alice” spinoff 46 Nimble-fingered 48 Long skirt 50 Malone of “Into the Wild” 54 Areas targeted for economic revitalization 58 Part of Miss Muffetʼs meal 59 Kitchen gadget brand 60 “Mighty ___ a Rose” 61 Director Kurosawa 63 Some vacation expenses … or a hint to the starts of 17-, 23, 38- and 54Across
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE A N D I
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T A L A T O B A S D E N B O O A C T S H I I R M N E E
R C H L Y J O S E S L E K L I I N S O O M O N E C T Y T I V E R A S T
R O P O V E S N E S L R E A A S T K E A I E M N P E P A D P I R A A N K L C K L M E T I A Y S O N E O N
A P P S R O O T O C K E R M E M U A V A S T H E R A G O G N G U I N I N G A T E D A Y E A A L A A M B E R S B A C H A H O Y
66 Echolocation acronym 67 Kind of sax 68 Play opener 69 Speaks silently 70 One pitied by Mr. T 71 McJob doer Down 1 Poolside enclosure 2 Mice or men 3 “This just in …” announcement 4 Line part: Abbr. 5 Composer Bruckner 6 Game with four “ghosts” 7 Post-O.R. stop 8 PC key near the space bar 9 Was biased 10 Heep and others 11 First wife of Julius Caesar 12 Suffix with block or cannon 13 Sun. speech 18 Prefix with friendly 22 Divided 50/50 24 Reykjavikʼs land: Abbr. 25 15th-century French king nicknamed “the Prudent” 26 Seniorsʼ org. 27 Painter Chagall 28 Have influence on 33 Wander, with “about”
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Puzzle by Daniel Raymon
34 In a mood to complain 36 Follower of a chat room joke 38 Miami-___ County 39 Place for a roast 40 More than liberal 41 Very expensive 42 Voodoo charm
47 Persian Gulf capital 49 Sees through, in a way 51 Intertwine 52 On the verge of 53 Invites to enter oneʼs home 55 Brings up 56 Heap kudos on
57 Suffix meaning “animals” 61 Balaamʼs beast 62 Fish in backyard pools 63 U.K. fliers 64 “Xanadu” rock grp. 65 Salary ceiling
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nyunews.com | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2011 | Washington Square news
7
OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO opinion@nyunews.com
Staff editorial
Blocking donations to WikiLeaks an infringement of basic human rights Yesterday, Julian Assange, the notorious spokesperson of the whistleblower group WikiLeaks, announced to the world that he would be shutting off the publication service due to financial concerns. These concerns, he said, stem from a blockade organized by companies like Visa and MasterCard that have prevented their users from donating to
the WikiLeaks cause. Now, the group will have to reconcile its financial downturn or, Assange warned, it will go bankrupt by the end of the year. By refusing to let its customers donate to WikiLeaks, it seems as if the political views of the financial companies mentioned above are inhibiting individuals’ choices of who or what to give
void of investigative journalism by revealing the secrets of the diplomatic world and demanding transparency in government. The unfortunate plight of the organization is a democratic tragedy — for it to dissolve because of its funds is a loss for all of us. To revive the company, credit card companies must lift this
money to. An ethical issue arises from this — can a credit company speak for the individual? If you own a credit card and the account is linked to your money, shouldn’t it be up to you to decide what you want to do with that money? With fewer long-feature works and more content-driven media outlets, WikiLeaks is filling the
ban that they have on WikiLeaks. Whether or not the hierarchy of Visa and MasterCard agrees with WikiLeaks is of no relevance; customers should not get punished for another’s disapproval. If the credit card companies do so, the organization can go on functioning and providing the world with the information it needs.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. Editorial Board: John Surico (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Maria Michalos (Co-Chair), Emily Franklin, Nicolette Harris, Stephanie Isola, Katie Travers and Lauren Wilfong.
borough Beliefs
STudent Life
Banning circumcision harmful and unethical
How I learned to overcome the sophomore slump
By Atticus Brigham You probably haven’t heard, but “male genital mutilation” is a big problem in the United States. At least that’s what anti-circumcision advocates, self-called intactivists, claim. They are leading a fight for foreskins everywhere at the expense of parental rights, health benefits and religious freedoms. Intactivists assert that this painful procedure on a non-consenting patient decreases lifetime sexual pleasure. Such a genital-driven movement would not warrant attention were it not for its serious attempts to outlaw “penis editing” around the country. In addition to federal legislation, they have drafted bills in 46 states, including New York, none of which have passed. Opponents of these bills say circumcision increases sensation, but supporters retort that it causes premature ejaculation. A citizens’ initiative in San Francisco that sought to impose a $1,000 fine on circumcising any male under 18 was met with the statewide passage of a law guaranteeing the legality of the practice. Intactivists have compared circumcision to female genital mutilation practiced in Africa. They twist logic, arguing that though men and women are separate they should receive equal treatment. The truth is just the opposite. Differing biology confers differing protections. Female circumcision serves no medical purpose and is prohibited by federal law, while male circumcision has proven medical benefits and is specifically protected by federal and state laws. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 56.9 percent of boys born in the U.S. during 2008 were circumcised in hospitals. This is for good reason. Circumcision reduces the risk of HIV in heterosexuals. The World Health Organization recommends, “Male circumcision should be part
of a comprehensive HIV prevention package.” Furthermore, anesthesia is often administered during the procedure, eliminating pain. In the realm of pleasure, the American Academy of Physicians has concluded “No valid evidence to date supports the notion that being circumcised affects sexual sensation or satisfaction.” Such clear-cut scientific data makes intactivists’ claims look positively superstitious. If parents have no rights over their children’s bodies, wouldn’t forcing your child to wear braces be unethical? When parents spare no expenditure to ensure the health of their children they are to be commended, not condemned. Circumcision is medically beneficial, whereas purely aesthetic alterations of a child’s body are illegal. For example, parents are forbidden from forcing their children to get piercings, tattoos and breast implants as none of them serve to inherently enhance the quality of the child’s life. While the process of correcting an overbite may take years of painful braces and retainers, not to mention the social ostracization, there is an overall good being served by the process. Circumcision does not take nearly as long and, performed at the neonatal stage, is not even a remembered part of one’s life. Intactivists will continue to put forth rusty claims. Their wellworn arguments for genital sovereignty continue to have staying power with intellectual babies, but medical knowledge carries the day among the informed. Thus, the movement for parents’ right to choose should be proactive in combating this superannuated position. Atticus Brigham is deputy opinion editor. His column, “Borough Beliefs,” is on ethics, law and the city. It appears every Tuesday. Email him at abrigham@nyunews.com.
By John Surico Last Wednesday was the oneyear anniversary of an article I wrote entitled “Slowly succumbing to the sophomore slump.” Believe me, I have not been counting down the days until this date, waiting to shoot off confetti in the depressing confines of Bobst’s fourth floor, holding a balloon that just says “You’re Number One!” Its date became a matter of coincidence when I reread it the other day. It was a personal piece and could have been written by Holden Caulfield if my name wasn’t listed as the author. In an authoritative “Arrested Development”-esque voice, here’s what happened: As sophomore year advanced and time moved like a slug, everything seemed to be coming down around me — serious concerns about my majors, the implosion of social circles and a growing disdain for student life as a whole, to name a few. Upstein just didn’t taste the same. It was a reverse prose piece on the idea of the whole coming-ofage thing — Zach Braff, eat your heart out. Then I left the country. I escaped the urban jungle and retreated to the Tuscan hills. No, Julia, I wasn’t looking to eat, pray or love — eat maybe, but certainly not the other two. My semester abroad in Florence was planned beforehand, but it
SUBMITTING TO
intensified in justification with the sophomore slump. However, towards the end of the semester, I began searching pictures of Manhattan mementos from Woody Allen movies on Google. My sickness of the city was replaced with a longing to return. There was this grungy lack of tar and cement in Italy, as weird and industrial as that sounds. I left the country on May 15 and thus began what I have come to call “the junior year comeback.” Unlike the sophomore slump, the junior year comeback is fueled by a new Age of Exploration — except this one does not involve genocide or gold. After the near-death experience also known as my apartment hunt, I settled into an abode that does not involve my NYU ID or sneaking in 40s via a clunky backpack. Off-campus and on a new, independent grind, the year has held a slew of unseen obstacles of adulthood: finding quarters under my bed for the laundromat, writing checks for ConEd, stealing Internet from my neighbors and other mixed concoctions of inconvenience. Classes leave the “Intro To ... ” category and the doldrums of basic lessons behind. Now, courses start with “Advanced” or some more intricate description — this upgrade brings with it actual information relevant to your life that ends up augmenting career skepticism. With prereq-
uisites long gone, your trips to school become somewhat more substantial, especially now that you’re off a meal plan and living on a diet that consists strictly of 2 Bros and Oren’s. Okay, maybe those food choices are my own, but everything else still applies. Also, no offense to those still in the dorms, but living offcampus brings with it an entirely new experience of nightlife. Instead of heading to a friend’s dorm at night, you have to be buzzed up. Instead of RAs, the threat of the NYPD looms over your head. Strictly for noise complaints, of course. It’s something about this change of pace and the fact that the landlord will kick your ass to the curb if you don’t pay rent that officially places you in the New Yorker category. And maybe that’s where the sophomore slump came from. The weird transitional phase between the freshman experience and the rest of adulthood was an entrance to the Twilight Zone that’s somewhere between Sixth Avenue and the East River. It’s a time when you’re unsure of whether you fit into the city or can handle the onslaught of terribly boring lessons. It’s that moment when you realize that your college life shouldn’t ever be burdened, only brightened, by the Big Apple. John Surico is opinion editor. Email him at jsurico@nyunews.com.
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.