NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 39, No. 27
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011
nyunews.com
Tisch prof Swados tells her story in new memoir
NY to open first center for LGBT seniors
By Gentry Brown
By Claire Zajdel
Tisch professor Elizabeth Swados has done it all. She’s a Tonynominated director, a composer, professor and most recently, an author. Robert Hershon, co-editor of the Brooklyn-based Hanging Loose Press, may have put it best when he introduced Swados at the NYU Bookstore Monday night. “There are many different Lizs, and each one wears a different hat,” he said. Swados stopped by the bookstore to talk about her new book, “Waiting: Selected NonFiction,” which does its best to display her “different hats.” The book is a collection of stories from her life and sheds light on everything from her schizophrenic brother to what it’s like to work with celebrities like Sean Penn.
The nation’s first ever senior center for the LGBT community is set to open in Chelsea January of next year. The center, which will be located on 27th Street and Seventh Avenue, will serve the needs of the estimated 100,000 elderly LGBT New Yorkers. The center will be opened by Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders, and will eventually help up to 300 people every day. It will provide special programs and about 130 hot meals per day. SAGE hopes the center will increase awareness of the services they offer to the elderly LGBT community. “These Innovative Senior Centers will make New York City an age-friendly city for all New Yorkers,” Department for the Aging commissioner Lilliam Bar-
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AARUSHI CHOPRA/WSN
Commuter Idol
For the first time ever, NYU commuters competed for a solo spot in this year’s Ultra Violet Live talent show. Tisch senior Thais Francis took home first prize with his bongo medley of pop songs.
Skype security under scrutiny By Eric Benson The next time you decide to use Skype, beware — someone may know exactly where you are. A recent study conducted by Polytechnic Institute of NYU professor of computer science and engineering Keith Ross showed that Skype users, and possibly users of other peer-to-peer sharing systems, can obtain IP addresses
VIA SKYPE.COM
Skype may put users at risk.
of other users without making a single call. “The most important vulnerability of Skype is that an arbitrary stranger can track the locations of any Skype user,” Ross said. According to Ross, the process of using Skype to obtain someone else’s IP address was not particularly hard to do. “Once you know that the vulnerability is there, it is not very difficult,” he said. “Any talented high school hacker could launch the attack.” The study, which tracked thousands of Skype users over a twoweek period, took place during the summer of 2010 at the Polytechnic Institute at NYU, along with a partner team in France. Ross explained that while Skype is running on a computer, an attacker can call a user by blocking network packets — blocks of data
carried by the computer network. The attacker was then able to gain access to the user’s IP address. Obtaining an individual’s IP address allows infiltrators to determine his or her exact location. In fact, users do not even have to be on the same contact list in order to learn each other’s IP addresses. To Ross, who has spent years studying peer-to-peer technologies, the results of the study came as a jarring surprise. “I hope Skype, at the very least, modifies its software, so the IP address is not as readily available,” he said. “If this is true, it is a big problem for Skype because folks may avoid using it,” said Tucker Balch, associate professor of interactive computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology. “This attack
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Exhibit looks at the jewelry behind history’s finest artists By Erin Kim Twenty-five years ago, sculptor Bernar Venet rolled a piece of silver into an engagement ring for his soon-to-be wife Diane. Through this encounter, not only did Diane’s relationship with Bernar grow, but so did her love for the art of collecting jewelry. Now, Venet is the guest curator of a new exhibit at the Museum of Art and Design devoted to that passion. Titled “Picasso to Koons: The Artist as Jeweler,” the exhibit boasts more than 180 bejeweled masterpieces from some of the 20th century’s greatest artists. “Really, I do not talk about jewelry, I talk about art,” Diane said. “It is art in miniature [form] and it is a miniature museum that I have and I enjoy
[sharing] so much.” But few of the world-renowned artists featured at the exhibit were known for the splendid jewelry they made behind the scenes. “Almost all of these pieces were made by the artists for friends,” exhibit guide Leila Zogby said. “They are tokens of affection and very few of them were made for commercial purpose. The artists had to come out of their comfort zones and design [using] material they were really not familiar with.” Among the most memorable pieces on display are Andy Warhol’s Times/5 watch and Roy Lichtenstein’s brooches, which serve as a testament to the pop art world. Warhol’s watch, a collabo-
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Washington Square news | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS 1
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Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE Managing Editor
KELSEY DESIDERIO Deputy Managing Editor
RUSSELL STEINBERG
1. Unknown Mortal Orchestra Though their first album was released in June, this Seattle band is only now getting the attention it deserves. Currently on tour with Toro y Moi and Bass Drum of Death, UMO has much more in store. But for now, take a listen to their self-titled debut album. Warning: May induce psychedelic experiences. — Gabi Jensen
2. “Love Sex aur Dhokha” As three provocative tales in one, director Dibakar Banerjee’s “Love Sex aur Dhokha” succeeds both as an intensely dramatic collection of stories and a meditation on the surveillance power of modern technology. Filmed on all different types of technology (home video cameras, security cameras, spy cameras), “Dhokha” can feel seductively voyeuristic. The film can also be uncomfortable to watch, as the viewer sees the dark underbelly of underground pornography and forbidden inter-caste love. However, this is all part of the film’s appeal. It pulls the viewer in for the same reason it pushes the viewer out; it makes the darkness personal and violently real. — Charles Mahoney
3. “Two Headed Boy Pt. Two” by Neutral Milk Hotel When people discuss their favorite songs from “In the Aeroplane Over the Sea,” this song somehow never finds its way into the discussion, but it is quite possibly the most heart-wrenchingly honest one on the entire album. Jeff Mangum shows off all the strangest themes of the album and delivers them with a rawness that could bring tears to your eyes. — Patrick Caddick
5. AlterNet.org Are you tired of sugar-coated, thoughtless mainstream media that offers nothing but polarizing one-sided opinions? AlterNet.org is an award-winning online magazine providing independent news as an alternative to traditional media fluff. With articles covering topics like the environment, human rights, media, health care and civil rights, AlterNet aims to inspire action and advocacy through compelling investigative reports and critiques of society and police. — Jason Hang
4. Miranda July’s “No One Belongs Here More Than You”
6. The Dodos, “Live In Amsterdam”
Every winter, I yearn for some sort of sign that warmer weather and warmer people exist — usually found in a good book. I recently picked up this 2007 collection of short stories in a handy dandy bright yellow paperback. Chock full of witty writing and cute anecdotes, this is a book to read when you want warmth. — Ritu Ghiya
This digital recording is available for free on the band’s website and showcases their amazing ability to create awe-inspiring live shows. It rounds out to be nearly an hour and 15 minutes long, and is captivating for every second. If you like The Dodos or if you have a soul, you can’t miss this. — Gabi Jensen
Assistant Managing Editor
KIRSTEN CHANG Creative Director
TERKA CICELOVA senior staff
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,
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,
JESSICA LITTMAN
TODAY
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ID Theft and Basic Banking
“In Search of Good Food”
5 - 6:30 p.m., Kimmel Center, Room 905
Learn budgeting strategies and the basics of banking, and get an understanding of identity theft. Pizza will be served.
3 Faculty Recital
7 p.m., Gallatin Lounge 1 Washington Place, Fifth Floor
Follow Antonio Roman-Alcalá, an urban farming activist from San Francisco, on his search for California’s “sustainable” food system at a free screening of “In Search of Good Food.”
opinion page
opinion editor JOHN SURICO deputy opinion editors ATTICUS
8 p.m., Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 W. Fourth St.
BRIGHAM, MARIA MICHALOS
Piano studies professor Jeffrey Swann will play the music of Chopin, Liszt and Donatoni.
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager
Stefanie Yotka circulation manager
SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
Un-bee-lievable
Millions of bees escaped from a flatbed truck on a Utah highway after the driver lost control, hit a concrete barrier and overturned near a construction zone. Although there was a net around the hives, most of the 25 million fugitive bees broke out, causing Interstate 15 to close down for several hours. During that time, local beekeepers worked to gather the bees, but many that weren’t collected may have died in the accident or in the cleanup. Those that were collected were packed into trucks and driven to Bakersfield, Calif., for almond pollination in the spring. — Reuters
MEagan Driver
university sales coordinator
Emilia Mironovici sales representatives
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
MICHAEL SUMMERS editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITOR-AT-LARGE
Loyola University Chicago
New student center will serve alcohol — The Loyola Phoenix
University of Montana
Fresh crabs are on sale at a Chinatown street market.
PHOTO BY KRISTINA BOGOS
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Griz players tasered, arrested after exchange with police — Montana Kaimin
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 | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 | Washington Square news
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Tisch professor shares life story in new memoir Swados said her book is largely about her mentors, and how they affected her energy, writing and passions. She hopes that one day she will have a similar effect on some of her students. “The book is a tribute to the people and things that I care about,” she said. “It holds all of my adventures, all of my big mess-ups.” During the event, Swados read from a chapter called “Waiting,” noting how she was chronically early for things like appointments and dinners, which gave her extra time to simply sit and observe. After taking a long breath, she went on to list all the things she no-
ticed people waiting around for in life, ranging from trains to marriage proposals. And while Swados dedicates just a single chapter of her memoir to the eight years she spent running NYU’s Reality Show, she still considers it one of her most substantial projects. “It is deeply important to me, as are the kids who do it,” she said. “The entire Reality Show could be a book on its own. It is just a wonder in itself; the chapter in the book is only a short homage.” After becoming a full-time professor at the Tisch School of the Arts in 2004, Swados was saddled with the respon-
sibility of taking on the Reality Show and producing a performance that would be for the students, by the students. Within the past year, the show has made it to NYU Abu Dhabi and recently opened up to college students citywide. “The message is very strong and validated. Students don’t leave feeling converted. It is easy to identify with and gives information,” she said. “I work to give freshmen who are so scared, thrilled, but also so lost a place of understanding.” Gentry Brown is a deputy university editor. Email her at gbrown@nyunews.com.
JAMES KELLEHER/WSN
Swados read aloud from her new memoir at the NYU Bookstore on Monday.
Experts debate Obama’s jobs plan
JAMES KELLEHER/WSN
After the debate, nearly 70 percent of the audience approved of the president’s jobs plan. By Eric Benson President Barack Obama’s recently proposed jobs plan was the subject of last night’s Intelligence Square Debate. Spectators filled NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts to see top economists and researchers debate the merits and faults behind the president’s plan. Defending the measure were Cecilia Rouse, former economics adviser to Obama, and Mark Zandi, chief economist for Moody’s Analytics. Opposing them were NYU law professor Richard Epstein and senior fellow at the Cato Institute Daniel Mitchell. According to Obama, the American Jobs Act will stimulate the economy with $447 billion in employer tax breaks, jobless reintegration, state aid and infrastructure projects. But Mitchell disagreed, saying that economic stimulus can be useless and often dangerous. “There’s no way the govern-
ment can put money into the economy without taking it out from the economy,” he said. “Economic stimulus hinders the economy’s ability to adjust to the mistakes that get it into the recession in the first place.” Epstein agreed, noting that today’s politicians are fundamentally wrong in their approach to monetary distribution. “If you decide to go through with stimulus, you are taking money from people who know how to use it and putting it into the hands of people who do not know how to use it: politicians,” Epstein said. However, the opposing team argued that the principles of Keynesian economics — economic stimulus, in particular — are crucial as the unemployment rate remains at a staggering 9.1 percent. “Stimulus efforts are to provide support in a time of crisis, not meant for long term,” Zandi said. “Keynesian economics work at certain points in time,
and if we go back into recession we will be hurting ourselves in the long run.” The panelists also discussed the proposed reduction in unemployment discrimination, like regulations that prevent businesses from advertising for jobs solely for people who are currently employed. “In terms of unemployment discrimination, the worst thing we want to do right now is discourage workers from getting jobs,” Rouse said. By the debate ended, the audience sided with those for the president’s proposal. Audience approval of the bill jumped from 45 percent before the debate to 69 percent afterwards. The number against the plan also increased, but not by as much, climbing to 22 percent from 16 percent. Before the debate, 39 percent of the audience was undecided, while just 9 percent remained unsure after it ended. Eric Benson is a staff writer. Email him at university@nyunews.com.
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NYU-Poly professor questions Skype’s security system is not available for all [person-toperson] platforms, and it seems like it would not be hard to fix.” But Adrian Asher, Skype’s chief information security officer, defended the program’s security. “We value the privacy of our users and are committed to making our products as secure as possible,” Asher said in a statement. “Just as with typical Internet communications software, Skype users who are connected may be able to determine each other’s IP addresses.” Several frequent users of Skype said they were shocked to learn of these findings. CAS freshman Chenghan Kuan said she calls home to China using Skype multiple times per week. “I don’t even know how to react,” Kuan said. “I just hope that Skype takes care of this soon
because it doesn’t seem like there’s anything that we can do on our side.” LSP sophomore Demi Suzuki, who uses Skype for work whenever she cannot make it into the office, said the potential invasion of privacy was enough to make her abandon the service altogether. “Given the wide range of things people can do with a limited amount of information these days — online or not — security is important,” Suzuki said. “If platforms like Skype can’t fix this problem, then I will use a different video chat platform.” Ross and his team will present their research on Nov. 2 in Berlin. Additional reporting by Tony Chau. Eric Benson is a staff writer. Email them at university@nyunews.com.
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City to open nation’s first LGBT senior center rios-Paoli said. The center will be a place for LGBT seniors to feel welcome and accepted. Though all DFTA supported centers and associations are open to the elderly, many seniors of the LGBT community feel that their peers are not always accepting of their sexuality. A SAGE survey conducted in 2004 showed that LGBT seniors are twice as likely to live alone than their heterosexual peers. “In this case, I would guess the pros outweigh the cons,” said CAS sociology professor Paula England, who specializes in care work and sexual behavior. “LGBT elders often have special needs. They need info on medical practitioners and counselors who are not homophobic.”
The SAGE center already has programs at the LGBT Community Center in the West Village and in Harlem. SAGE has plans to change the national landscape of LGBT senior care and programs and promote a new generation of programs for the health of LGBT seniors. Monroe France, director of the NYU Office of LGBT Student Services, agreed. “I think that it’s a fantastic idea,” he said. “I know people have built communities themselves like this in the past, and the results have been transformative, and I think the same will happen here.” Claire Zajdel is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 | nyunews.com
fashion The need-to-know for Halloween nails By Erin Kim Whether you plan to go all out or keep it cool for the upcoming festivities, spicing up your nails for the season is a chic and easy way to celebrate Halloween. But instead of painting your nails with the typical bright orange and black hues, try out these designs for a night of trick-or-treating. Your new nails might not scare anyone away, but they will definitely stir up surprise among friends and fiendish foes alike.
ERIN KIM/WSN
VIA REFINERY29.COM
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Spider web nails
Bloody Mary nails
Frankenstein stitches
This one is for those without a rainbow of colors in their kit. Apply any color as a background, then use a darker one to draw webs. For best results, use a nail polish with a precision brush. Swing by CVS to pick one of these up for $5 to make your work easier. Even if the lines aren’t perfect, it’s Halloween — the messier it is, the scarier it is.
Imagine if Jackson Pollock painted his nails — that’s the look you want to emulate. To avoid a scary mess, tape around your fingers, then coat your nails with white polish. Using a thin straw, blow red nail coloring onto your nail beds. Avoid using a red polish that you particularly love — you’ll end up using tons of it.
Paint half of your nail a lighter green and the other half a darker shade. Carefully paint between the two and cross-hatch for stitches reminiscent of Frankenstein. For extra pizzazz, try out glow-in-the-dark polish. If you’re not feeling the stitch look, you could always opt for zipper-themed nails instead.
Erin Kim is a staff writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
Knockoffs good for quick fashion fix By Alexia de Castro Marini
At one time or another, all fashionistas are faced with the same tough dilemma. When seeking a new bag, what should you buy? Designer, non-designer or that tricky cheat: a knockoff ? Students, in particular, must make this decision when seeking a carryall for school. An everyday school bag doesn’t last very long, especially with all the heavy books and daily wear and tear. A fashionable bag is far more desirable, but is the high price worth the investment? I went to Canal Street for the first time to check out the infamous counterfeit business, hoping I could find a purse that was both cheap and trendy. But when I arrived, I was overwhelmed. I didn’t
know where to look or go. The streets are filled with small stores with fake bags of all sizes, colors and designs similar to luxury brands, all for inexpensive prices. Most of these shops sold an imitation of a medium Longchamp shoulder bag, a popular style among many NYU students. The typical retail price is $125; in Chinatown, it costs $25. While the material felt comparable, the shape was noticeably different from the original. As with many bags sold out in the open, you could easily tell it was fake. Better counterfeits are hidden in lesser-known locations, near busy streets and sold carefully by people roaming the sidewalks. Many of these mysterious sellers discretely approached me and asked if I wanted to buy a bag.
VIA FABANDFRU.COM
Knockoff totes and counterfeit clutches typically retail at $25.
Eventually, I said yes. One woman took me to the corner of the street and gave me a folded paper with small pictures of all the models and designs she had. Once I chose the model, a Louis Vuitton Neverfull PM handbag, she gave me a price, which was negotiable. The real deal usually sells for around $770; its fake twin was going for $120. However, I said I would only pay $100. After some hesitation, the woman accepted and radioed another person who brought me the bag. As I held the fake Louis Vuitton in my hand, I couldn’t decide if I should buy it or not. It seemed real at first glance, but after examining it closely, I started to spot the differences. A slew of questions bombarded me: Is it really that cheap? Would it be better to invest in a good quality, non-designer bag or to save and splurge on the real thing? Will people be able to tell it’s fake? I decided to wait and not buy the bag that day. I had too many doubts. As it turns out, that’s common with many other NYU students. All in all, counterfeits are good for a quick fashion fix, but if you’re looking for something with function that will last, you might want to look the other way. Alexia de Castro Marini is a contributing writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
FASHION CALENDAR Patrik Ervell Pop-Up Store by Graham Hudson for BOFFO
Tommy Hilfiger Fragrance Launch
Oct. 21 - Nov. 2 57 Walker St.
Oct. 27, 5:30 - 7 p.m. Macy’s Herald Square (151 W. 34th St.)
With sleek and modern clothing set against a monochromatic background, this blend of art and fashion is sure to provide shoppers with a brand-new experience. Browse through wreckage and materials found at old construction sites like concrete blocks, scaffolding and wooden planks.
Stop by the launch of Tommy Hilfiger’s new men’s and women’s fragrances for a night full of classic American prep. You’ll get a chance to meet the brand’s ambassador, Brad Goreski, watch a mini fashion show, test out the fragrances and take home some fun goodies of your own.
WANT Agency Sample Sale Oct. 26 and 27, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. 262 Mott St.
Calling all frugal fashionistas! WANT agency is holding a sample sale that will offer discounts of up to 70 percent off brands like Acne, Swims and Nudie Jeans. Be sure to stop by an ATM on your way — they only accept cash. Happy shopping! — Katya Barannik
nyunews.com | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 | Washington Square news
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Exhibit looks at the jewelry behind the artist ration with Movado, has five faces that represent five different time zones, bright orange hands and black and white images of New York City in the background. Lichtenstein’s brooches, with their patterned dots and simple shapes, maintain the designer’s classic comic-strip feel. Personal pieces by Yoko Ono and Man Ray, a handcrafted bronze necklace by Alexander Calder and nature-inspired headpieces and bracelets reminiscent of the 1960s, also stand out in the exhibit. GianCarlo Montebello, an artist who collaborated with Ray, said jewelry-making offered an organic feel different from any other form of craftsmanship he had experienced. “For some artists, when they make something, it is a closed space,” he said. “[But with jewelry] they make jewels for the body, the movement. It is living.” Hermes Knauer, a metal conservator and armorer himself, said the exhibit motivated him to continue crafting pieces of his own. “I like making things, so it’s giving me some inspiration to go home and start again,” Knauer said. “Isn’t that part of the mission of museums, [educating] and showing someone something and they go ‘I’ve had a dream and I want to do this?’ If they then are inspired and do it, isn’t that good for everyone?”
presents
NYU’S Most Influential Students Each year, we profile 15 NYU students who have had a positive impact on NYU and the surrounding community for our Influential Students Issue. 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.
The Museum of Art and Design is located at 2 Columbus Circle. The exhibit runs through Jan. 8, 2012. Student tickets are $12 each. SHERRY GRIFFIN
Exhibit showcases jewelry of artists from Picasso to Koons.
Erin Kim is a staff writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
Stay cozy and warm in your summer wear By Shannon Loughran For those of us whose coldweather clothing remains at home, dressing for the chillier seasons can create quite a dilemma. When what we crave are cable knit sweaters, but only find cardigans and miniskirts in our closets, it’s time to start being creative. But don’t fear, there are many ways to transition your summer pieces into fall ones without looking like you still belong on the beach. First and foremost: layer, layer, layer. If you have multiple cardigans, layer one on top of another over a basic T-shirt. This is a great way to mix different colors and prints while staying warm. Pair with jeans or cords on the bottom, and you are good to go. Similarly, layering crewneck sweaters on top of button-down shirts is a great way to add some warmth without the bulk of a heavy coat. To complete the collegiate look, opt for a pair of penny loafers. Another quick fix is to add tights. Simple and cheap, a pair of tights is the ultimate transition piece. American Apparel and Urban Outfitters both have a wide array of styles and colors to choose from. Try a pair of maroon
or deep purple tights, which are just as versatile as black, but add a twist. Deep purple looks great with a cream-colored sweater and canary yellow accents. Whether jean, leather, cargo or blazer, we all have our preferred style of jacket. Now is a great time to use your jackets to play with dimension. Layer a long sweater under a jean jacket or a thin blazer under a cropped leather jacket. The mixture of fabrics and pro-
portions is as functional for the fall as it is fashionable. The transition from summer into fall can be a bit of a shock, especially when torturous wind gusts blow down Broadway. But with some layering and winterappropriate accessories, your summer wardrobe will last long after Labor Day. Shannon Loughran is a staff writer. Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.
VIA TOGANDPORTER.COM
Layers and tights can make your summer wardrobe winter-friendly.
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The new york times crossword & daily sudoku Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Humped ox 5 Indo-European language speakers 11 Longtime Elton John label 14 “___ (So Far Away)” (1982 hit by A Flock of Seagulls) 15 Cut some more, maybe 16 “Atonement” author McEwan 17 California home of the Crystal Cathedral 19 Something thatʼs burned 20 Morlockʼs counterpart in science fiction 21 It may be felt by a blackboard 23 Hums 26 California locale just south of Camp Pendleton 29 Flightless flock 30 Home ___ 31 Israeli arms
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60 Urban areas (as hinted at by the circled letters in this puzzleʼs grid) 66 “Naughty!” 67 Rests atop 68 “At Last” singer James 69 Urban grid: Abbr. 70 Obfuscate, in a way 71 Pringles alternative
Down 1 Turn one way before turning the other 2 Prohibition ___ 3 Rare site during Prohibition 4 Like scuba diving 5 View from the Leaning Tower 6 Neighborhood 7 “___ out!” (shout by a 24-Down) 8 Hubbub 9 Skin care product name TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 10 Severe A P I A L U C A S 11 Toyota Camry, e.g. N A C L E R O D E E T C U T A I R E R 12 Collapsed 13 Ursula of “The C O M I N A N Blue Max” O N A L A N T H E M S 18 Trains to Wrigley N O A H S L A W 22 Sch. in G G U R A L I R A Jonesboro A R D I P L O M A C Y 23 Little, in Lyon D U E S F L O 24 See 7-Down M A X I J E N A 25 Causes of some traffic slowdowns R P R I S E Z O N E S E Y O X O L A K 27 Cousins of girdles A R E N T A C A R S 28 Sufficient, R A L T O A C T I informally S F O O L P E O N 30 Thing
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33 Alias 35 The Rolling Stonesʼ “___ You” 36 ___-green 39 Puerto ___ 40 Ornamental crescents 41 After a fashion 42 One who deals in rags?
45 Last of the Mohicans? 46 Sow or cow 48 Part of S.O.P.: Abbr. 50 Flintlock accessory 53 Nimble 54 Kidney secretion 55 Start of some cycles?
58 Trouble spots? 61 Japanese supercomputer maker 62 That, in Tabasco 63 Cousin ___ of 1960s TV 64 H 65 Coltrane blew it
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Todayʼs puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
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nyunews.com | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 | Washington Square news
OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO opinion@nyunews.com
Economy
Solyndra must pay the price for loan scandal By Liz Beras
America is in the midst of a massive budget deficit. Given the circumstances, there is no question that the economy is in a volatile state with no room for mishaps. In 2009, the Obama administration rolled out a stimulus plan with the objective of creating jobs for Americans. Under this plan, California-based alternative energy company Solyndra has received $535 million worth of taxpayer money in loan guarantees to date. But the returns on the investment are far from acceptable: in the last month, Solyndra has laid off 1,100 employees, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and had its offices raided by the FBI after being convicted of fraud. Amid all the turmoil, CEO Brian Harrison resigned. This matter has failed to make the appropriate headlines given the impact it will have on the American people as the story continues to unfold. Solyndra can choose to either liquidate its assets and go under or restructure the company entirely. Although the decision may seem arduous, the choice is clear — Solyndra must pay the price for its failures. Americans are held responsible for their debt and there should be no double standard for corporations. The energy company denies accusations, yet Solyndra is currently undergoing hearings for
its bankruptcy, an investigation by the House of Representatives’ Oversight and Government Reform Committee and criminal charges by the FBI. Shortly after the company announced it was filing for bankruptcy, a string of emails were exchanged between White House administration officials and Solyndra executives. Solyndra spent a significant sum lobbying Congress for energy-related policies, which may have made the company more enticing to the government and contributed to its bankruptcy. In addition, government officials with close ties to Solyndra may have contributed to the increased support of the corporation, despite a decrease in profits. For instance, Energy Department official Steve Spinner insisted that the Solyndra deal be closed, even though it was recommended he was held back, given that his wife’s law firm represented Solyndra. Despite the minimal publicity this scandal has received, this green energy initiative is one of the many downfalls of the Obama administration. The $500 million that Solyndra acquired needs to be recovered, as it seems impossible to hold large corporations responsible for their missteps. And much to the left wing’s dismay, this cannot be blamed on the Republicans — the stimulus plan in 2009 was passed without a
single GOP vote. Comparisons have rightfully been made between the Solyndra scandal relative to the Obama administration and the Enron bankruptcy relative to the Bush administration in 2001. The Enron scandal, however, was transparent to the public and the Bush administration made no excuses for the matter. In reference to the Solyndra scandal, White House press secretary Jay Carney said, “There are no guarantees in the business world about success and failure.” This is simply not an excuse for the $535 million in question for Solyndra. When there are no guarantees for success, no loan guarantees should be distributed. It is common business knowledge not to inject a significant amount of funds, let alone taxpayer funds, if there is a high risk of failure. If the government picks which companies do and do not deserve government funds, there will never be success; evidently, we cannot trust that the government will make the right choices. The next time politicians enter a company deciding to make an investment, they had best bring along their balance sheets and leave their politics at the door. Liz Beras is a staff columnist. Her column, “Life is Pricey,” is written about economics and current events. It appears every Wednesday. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STudent Life-
Loneliness common but treatable for freshmen By Richard Zhang Loneliness is a major problem for many NYU students. Far away from parents, it’s easy to feel lost and overwhelmed, especially in a city like New York. My philosophy classmate, a sophomore, told me that when he came to NYU as a freshman, he felt so distressed and lonely that he felt like he had to hang out with people every night. In fact, that’s what many people would do to get rid of loneliness: they party hard, play video games and stay up until the wee hours of the morning. As a college student, I also feel lonely from time to time. I often think that there’s no way to totally escape it in college. A study by UCLA psychologist Letitia Anne Peplau defines loneliness as a “social isolation [resulting] from the loss or absence of a network of social ties.” In college, you cannot be always connected to the whole community. There will be
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times when you have to sit alone for the whole day, writing a paper or preparing for a midterm exam. Understanding that is the first step in combating loneliness. The next step is to embrace the feeling. When other people go to party and you cannot because you need to prepare for a test, don’t let the loneliness dominate you. Instead, tell yourself, “it’s natural to feel like this.” This thought process will relieve you of feeling worrisome when others are having fun. However, you do want to make sure that you maintain social ties with other people. I do not want to elaborate on this point because NYU students know how to party. What I do want to stress is that when you feel lonely, do not look for people who are also lonely, thinking that you have something in common and, therefore, want to stay together. According to a study led by psychologist and University of Chicago professor John Cacioppo, loneliness
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can be contagious. He finds in his study, that “if one person reported feeling lonely, his closest connections (either family or close friends) were 52 percent more likely to report feeling lonely. Two lonely college students gathering together would only be worse because their loneliness affect one another and gets amplified. Finally, just bear in mind that the feeling of loneliness comes and goes. In Peplau’s study, while 75 percent of freshmen feel lonely at the fall term, only 25 percent continue to feel this way by the spring. Given an adequate amount of time, you will establish “the network of social ties,” making you less lonely and finally immersing yourself in the college community. Richard Zhang is a staff columnist. His column, “A College Student’s Handbook,” offers insight on college-related issues. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Staff editorial
University ‘clout lists’ an unfair practice
In 2009, the Chicago Tribune exposed the University of Illinois for having a “clout list” that kept a record of hundreds of “well-connected” applicants, giving them an enormous advantage over the rest of the applicant pool. The series, “Clout Goes to College,” led to the resignation of several trustees, the university’s president and an impending Supreme Court case between the university and the newspaper. The university is arguing that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects the educational records of all institutions, has been violated by the Tribune’s reporting of this list. It also argues that the campus will lose federal money if it releases additional documents to the newspaper that state the GPA, SAT and ACT scores of the clout list honorees. Despite the Department of Education insisting that it will not deny the university its funds, the WSN Editorial Board believes that the sheer existence of this privileged list should invalidate any federal protection FERPA guarantees. If these students are receiving an unfair advantage, they should not enjoy the same protections as students who are accepted based on merit. It is known that the University of Illinois is not alone in isolating those of privileged background in the admissions process — it just so happens that they were the only ones exposed. The support the university has received from other colleges makes this evident. What the Chicago Tribune has done is present a rare opportunity: to end such practices of legacy and preference that unfairly allow those who are not qualified to slip in through the back door, simply because of who they are or know. Through uncovering the corruption apparent in the university’s admissions process, hopefully other colleges will learn their actions do not go unaccounted for. Hence why other media groups, like The New York Times, have backed the Tribune’s side in the case. As a matter of press freedom, the WSN Editorial Board supports the role of the media’s job in a democracy, which is not only to expose the secrets of government, but also to have a watchful eye on other players in society.
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.
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, fifth floor, New York, NY 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or
job title. WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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Washington Square news | WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2011 | nyunews.com
SPORTS
edited by JAMES LANNING SPORTS@nyunews.com
Basketball in the post-NBA era By Sanchay Jain
on Dirk Nowitzki’s ALBA Berlin. Not only would American hoops fans have a stake in the action, but so would fans in both Italy and Germany. The second scenario deals with the rise of exhibition and charity games that have taken over the basketball world the past few months. While die-hard enthusiasts are familiar with some of the famous summer leagues such as the Drew League in California, the addition of many NBA superstars (Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, just to name a couple) exposed these leagues to the mainstream. At the same time, the level of play simply got better, featuring a mix of scrappy streetballers and flashy millionaires running up and down
the court and making eyepopping, exhilarating plays such as alley-oops and no-look passes. These exhibition games, which are still going on, feature the best elements of basketball: freakish athleticism, the battle of individuals within the dynamics of a team sport and most importantly, the game’s simplicity. Basketball is just as exciting at Rucker Park as it is in Madison Square Garden. While it’s great that the games over the summer were free for the public, how long do you think it’ll take before a handful of savvy entrepreneurs muster up money, sell off television rights to broadcast and pay the players to participate in these games? These exhibition events could then turn into a different kind of league, with the emphasis placed on dunking, crossover dribbles and shotblocking, creating a more fast-paced game. By starting from the ground up, this new league would create a foundation that is built on fans that simply could never abandon the sport. It is quite likely that we may see a combination of both systems, should this lockout extend over one full season, as it seems destined to do. And this illustrates why NBA owners should be more desperate than they are to get a deal done: Basketball in America is in serious jeopardy.
Last week, I suggested that the current NBA lockout could spell the demise of the organization, sending the league on a downward spiral from which it may never recover. To some, the idea of no major basketball league may leave a massive vacuum in the professional sporting world, but there are alternatives to the current structure of professional hoops. There are at least two possible scenarios. The first involves the burgeoning international demand for the sport. This should come to no surprise for basketball fans in the wake of certain NBA players electing to sign contracts overseas for this season (Deron Williams being the most notable). While basketball may currently fall behind football and baseball on the American sports spectrum, it is the most popular spectator sport in several other countries around the world. With the NBA dying out, a smaller professional league in America could fall within the purview of FIBA, which could then become the powerhouse of the basketball world. The league’s crop of superstars would scatter around the world, creating a system with a tremendous amount of parity and creating a vibe of nationalism at the professional level. Just imagine millions of viewers from around the world tuning in to catch Kobe Bryant and COURTESY OF KEITH ALLISON his Virtus Pallacanestro Bologna squad taking Dirk might have to go overseas to keep playing pro.
Sanchay Jain is deputy sports editor. Email him at sjain@nyunews.com.
Women’s soccer clobbers CCNY, 5-0 By Daniel Hinton
The outcome of the NYU women’s soccer team’s final non-conference match of the regular season was never in doubt. The game was perhaps more lopsided than the 5-0 final score indicated, as the Violets outshot CCNY, 40-3 en route to their fifth shutout of the season last night at home at Gaelic Park in the Bronx. The goalkeeping tandem of freshmen Meg Patten and Jen Chuck preserved the shutout. NYU’s victory is its sixth consecutive in non-conference competition, as the Violets finish with a 9-2 record against non-University Athletic Association teams. “We don’t make much of a distinction between conference and non-conference games,” head coach Michele Canning said. “We try to set a certain standard for every game.” Nevertheless, after scoring two goals in its previous three matches, NYU’s offense exploded with two in the first four minutes of play on Tuesday. Only 48 seconds into the game, junior midfielder/forward Serra Tumay became the first of four Violets to put the ball in the net. Freshman midfielder Hannah Speer crossed the ball from the right corner to Tumay, who finished with the early game-winner. Less than three minutes later, junior forward Erin Haggerty won a loose ball and kicked it over CCNY goalkeeper Nicole Carroll’s hands for her first goal of the season. After receiving a pass by fellow junior forward Ashley McKenzie from the right endline, Haggerty netted her second and NYU’s third, 31 minutes into the match. The Violets entered halftime up by three, having out-shot the Beavers by a staggering 18-0 margin. NYU’s fourth goal came in the 80th minute, when the Violets had all but won the game. Freshman midfielder Claire Sha-
FILE PHOTO BY DAVID LIN
Junior forward Erin Haggerty nahan passed the ball back from the left side to freshman midfielder/forward Taylor Francoeur, who made a tough shot that curved over Carroll into the far upperright corner. But NYU’s offensive blitz did not end there, as freshman midfielder/ forward Cami Crawford added her team-leading seventh goal of the year with just over eight minutes remaining in the match. “We want to keep building on movement, especially in the final third and keep working on quick touches,” Canning said. Sophomore forward Erin Ahmed nearly added another point to the scoreboard in the 85th minute, but her shot bounced up and away off the crossbar. Next, the Violets will travel to Pittsburgh to face Carnegie Mellon University on Friday in the first of three consecutive UAA matches to finish the regular season. The match is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Daniel Hinton is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
NYU SPORTS SCHEDULE Friday, Oct. 28 Men’s soccer at Carnegie Mellon University, 5 p.m., Pittsburgh, Pa. Women’s soccer at Carnegie Mellon University, 7:30 p.m., Pittsburgh, Pa. Women’s volleyball vs. St. Lawrence University, 6 p.m., Rochester, N.Y.
Women’s volleyball vs. Nazareth College, 8 p.m., Rochester, N.Y. Men’s and women’s swimming and diving at Rochester Quad vs. University of Rochester, Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University, 6 p.m., Rochester, N.Y.
Saturday, Oct. 29 Men’s and women’s swimming at Rochester Quad vs. University of Rochester, Case Western Reserve University and Carnegie Mellon University, 9 a.m., Rochester, N.Y.
Men’s and women’s cross country at University Athletic Association Championships (hosted by the University of Chicago), 10 a.m., Chicago, Ill.
Sunday, Oct. 30
Women’s volleyball vs. Rochester Institute of Technology, 11 a.m., Rochester, N.Y.
Women’s soccer at Emory University, 1:30 p.m., Atlanta, Ga.
Women’s volleyball vs. SUNY Fredonia, 1 p.m., Rochester, N.Y.
Men’s soccer at Emory University, 11 a.m., Atlanta, Ga.