NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 39, No. 29
MONDAy, OCTOBER 31, 2011
nyunews.com
University clubs hit by budget cuts for 2011
Looking at Libya through the lens By Jessica Littman
By Jaewon Kang
When Bryan Denton graduated from Tisch in 2005 with a B.F.A. in photography, he went abroad like many college grads do. But he didn’t go backpacking through Europe or soul searching in South America. Instead, he packed his bags and settled in the Middle East. Denton has lived in Beirut, Lebanon, for the past five years and spent much of the past six months in Libya photographing the revolution for The New York Times. Now, Denton has an exhibit in the Tisch building on Broadway featuring his shocking photographs of the revolution. “I moved to the Middle East pretty much right after I graduated from NYU,” he said. Besides his photography classes, Denton took courses in Arabic, Islamic and Middle Eastern studies at NYU. In a panel discussion at NYU this past week, Denton talked about his experience in Libya. Traveling back and forth to the country during the rebellion, he experienced what he called a “stalemate” when there
A computer glitch has cost AllSquare Clubs part of their annual funding from the university. This month, the All-Square Student Budget Allocation Committee emailed all 296 active club officers to tell them their annual budget will be cut by 8.5 percent this year. In the email, ASSBAC co-chairs Rick Stern and May Zhan wrote that due to a computer glitch, ASSBAC did not receive the budgets from a large number of clubs. Additionally, the budget ASSBAC received from the university was less than expected. Groups that were granted club status this month were not affected by the cut. ASSBAC funds new and developing clubs with a predetermined budget that changes slightly from year to year. Stern said all clubs were encouraged to apply for contingency funding if their planned programming will be compromised by the cuts. “In the long-term, ASSBAC will conduct a thorough review of the budget application and allocation
R LIBYA continued on PG. 4
‘Foul is fair’ in the Square
The NYU group Shakespeare in the Square battled the elements to bring its production of “Macbeth” to Washington Square Park this weekend.
R BUDGET continued on PG. 3
STORY ON PAGE 3
Cross country teams take second at UAAs By Sara Levy
FILE PHOTO BY DAVID LIN
NYU senior Maeve Evans
JAMES KELLEHER/WSN
The NYU women’s cross country team came in second place Saturday in the 6k University Athletic Association Cross Country Championships at the University of Chicago. The second-place finish was the highest for the women’s team all season. The Violets scored a total of 68 points. Along with the impressive team showing, a number of runners had strong individual performances. Senior Maeve Evans finished fourth with a time of 22:27.13. Senior Paige Zelinsky finished fifth after coming from behind, at 22:27.52. Three juniors also scored high for the Violets. Junior Kirsten Keller came in ninth place, finishing at 22:46.79, junior Hannah
Satzke came in 22nd, with a time of 23:32.74, and junior Georgina Norton came in 30th, with a seasonbest of 23:55.09. “The girls raced really well,” head coach Nick McDonough said. “We’re looking forward to Regionals and qualifying for Nationals.” The men’s cross country team also placed second in the 8k UAA race, with all five scorers finishing in the top 20. The Violets finished with a total of 64 points, just behind Washington University in St. Louis. Junior Dylan Karten was the first of the NYU men to finish, coming in sixth place with a time of 25:49.60. Second for the Violets was freshman Sebastian Oja, in 11th place, finishing at 26:13.07.
R CROSS continued on PG. 5
Chinese acrobats soar through the Brooklyn skies By Nicole Gartside From their nearly impossible tricks to their whimsical costumes, the National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China stunned the audience at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday. This weekend’s performance marked the kick off to the company’s North American tour. Founded in 1950, the National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China are the first performing troupe started by the Chinese government. They have several national and international first-place awards to their name and have
toured in more than 40 countries. The Brooklyn Center’s first show took place at the Whitman Theater, in the heart of Brooklyn College. Despite the show’s stilted transitions from act to act — each performance was an individual entity, rather than part of a fluid story line — the show didn’t cease to amaze. It was broken up into acts, each with its own theme and costumes, highlighting impressive stunts like jumping through 10-foot hoops and juggling and tossing female acrobats across the stage while they delicately balanced cups on their feet.
R ACROBATS continued on PG. 4
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Washington Square news | MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
BEST OF WEB THE BEST T WEETS ABOUT
Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE
NYU
Managing Editor
KELSEY DESIDERIO
@terenceheng @ashika sigh, NYU doesnt give me financial aid. i need some divine intervention now. like win that car from macdonald’s.
Deputy Managing Editor
RUSSELL STEINBERG Assistant Managing Editor
KIRSTEN CHANG
@njdesantis A sign I’ve been in New York too long: just tried to enter Metro by swiping my NYU ID instead of my SmarTrip card. #fail
Creative Director
TERKA CICELOVA senior staff
@CagedWonder you can spot a tisch kid from a mile away because they make SO MUCH eye contact when they meet you. #nyu #imnotaproducerstopsmilingatme
@soccerboyLA I just had the best disco nap, y’all! Feel like a freshman at NYU, about to hit up the clubs. Except it’s five hours earlier than club time.
@GraceEcton The christian lady singers in front of bobst are so gay for each other.
@ssacchet Bobst = some kind of purgatory for intellectual livestock holding students hostage until it’s time to be killed. Midterm slaughterhouse.
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 entertainment jonathon
dornbush 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
1 Literary New York Halloween Party
6:30-8:30 p.m. | NYU Bookstore Come to the bookstore in costume and enjoy free refreshments, book signings and performances. Justin Long-Morton and Persia Walker will make appearances.
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Village Halloween Parade 7 p.m. | Sixth Avenue
Dinu Ghezzo 70th Birthday Concert
If you’re a student living in Greenwich Village, you can’t miss this parade. Don your Halloween garb and stay for the entire night, or just stop by to observe the festivities.
Attend this free music composition program at NYU’s Frederick Loewe Theatre.
8 p.m. | Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 W. Fourth St.
opinion page
opinion editor JOHN SURICO deputy opinion editors ATTICUS
BRIGHAM, MARIA MICHALOS
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager
Stefanie Yotka
ILLUSTRATION
ON THE WIRE
circulation manager
Saving screams
university sales coordinator
A doll proved better than a smoke detector for a Tennessee family last week. A high school girl was assigned a baby doll that simulates real-life infants by crying, waking up in the middle of the night and needing to be fed. Usually a heavy sleeper, the girl woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of the doll crying. When she got up to check on the baby, she heard glass breaking downstairs. Going to investigate the sounds, she immediately smelled smoke and she, her mom and her mom’s boyfriend evacuated the burning house. The family believes that without its fake bundle of joy, it would have never been able to flee the fire that destroyed the family’s house. — The Huffington Post
Syracuse University
SU scientists explore concept of water on Mars — The Daily Orange
More ironic: J-Sex or JWoww?
ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM
University of Montana
Freshman starts Hindi language club — The Kamin
MEagan Driver
Emilia Mironovici sales representatives
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
MICHAEL SUMMERS editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITOR-AT-LARGE
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.
nyunews.com
nyunews.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011 | Washington Square news
New York Waterway to cut ferry pollution By Tony Chau In an effort to become more environmentally friendly, the New York Waterway is introducing new technology to their ferries, reducing pollutants from its fleet by 30 tons each year. As the largest private ferry operator in the country and owner of the highly popular East River Ferry service in New York City, NY Waterway recently revealed plans to install diesel oxidation catalysts to all 31 vessels of its fleet. Diesel oxidation catalysts aid a chemical reaction that breaks down harmful pollutants and helps reduce carbon monoxide emissions. The company is about twothirds of the way through installing the catalysts, according to Paul Goodman, the CEO of BillyBey Ferry Co., which operates under the umbrella brand NY Waterway. NY Waterway is also replacing the engines of nine of its ships with advanced Tier-II engines, which are the highest EPA standard engines available on the market. These new engines would eliminate two tons of sooty exhaust material per year.
Goodman also predicted that the new Tier-II engines would arrive by December and hopes to have half of that installation done by mid-2012. A number of organizations, including the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Federal Transit Administration, the New York City Department of Transportation and NY Waterway itself, have contributed financially to the project. “This project is unique in that NY Waterway is the first marine company in the world to start a program to demonstrate and deploy these types of technologies and has done it voluntarily — not through regulatory requirements,” said Dayle Zatlin, the assistant director of communications of NYSERDA. And fortunately for the eight million ferry riders per year, Goodman does not expect the $8 million price tag to affect the current fares. “This project is being watched internationally as a model whose technology could be adapted to ferries around the world,” Zatlin said. Tony Chau is a staff writer. Email him at cstate@nyunews.com.
NYU screens film on Iranian education system By Ace Stelter In partnership with Amnesty International, NYU’s Baha’i club hosted a screening of the new documentary “Education Under Fire,” which looks at the Baha’i faith and the persecution its members face in Iran. Baha’i arose in Persia in the 19th century and supports the belief in spiritual unity of mankind. There are an estimated five million people of Baha’i faith around the world and some 300,000 individuals in Iran. But in Iran, Baha’is are not allowed to receive education beyond high school. Todd Schwarz, member of the Amnesty USA Board of Directors, kicked off the event by condemning the practices taking place in Iran. “The denial of human rights is illegal,” Schwarz said. “It is unjustifiable, it is wrong and, like many of you, I’m sure we simply will not stop fighting.” The documentary was composed of a series of interviews including some with Baha’i students and family members who were persecuted for being
of Baha’i faith. In response to the discrimination, the Baha’i people have been creating their own colleges and online courses at great risk of persecution from the Iranian government. The most successful example has been the Baha’i Institute for Higher Education. “Baha’is are the second largest non-Muslim sect in Iran,” said David Hoffman, founder and executive producer of the “Education Under Fire” initiative and documentary. “Denying 300,000 that are attempting to participate in society will have a debilitating impact on the entire country.” Some members of the audience were moved to tears during the documentary. “I am working in the area of human rights in the Baha’i international community,” Martha Estafanos, a graduate student from Columbia, said. “As a Baha’i this is dear to my heart. It was a very beautiful and moving film.” Ace Stelter is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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‘Foul is fair’ in Washington Square By Ihaab Syed Few theater troupes have to compete for their audience’s attention with inclement weather, yelling passersby and barking dogs. This weekend, the NYU student group Shakespeare in the Square performed Macbeth in Washington Square Park. The group was created last year by current Tisch sophomores Rose Bochner and Dan Hasse. “Macbeth” was the group’s first play as an official NYU club. Originally slated for Saturday, the outdoor performance was rescheduled for Sunday afternoon because of the sleet and cold weather. Still, many cast members were determined to perform on Saturday in spite of the heavy precipitation. They braved the cold, wet weather and presented their first act to an equally determined umbrella-clad audience. “It [was] my greatest fear that people [would] confuse this for some sort of haunted trail,” Hasse said. Even so, dozens of spectators flocked around the statue of Holley Park on the west side of the park for the show on Saturday and Sunday. And many of them stayed for the entirety of the two-hour play. Gallatin sophomore Charles Kennedy, who came to the performance on Sunday, thought the play was a “great use of Washington Square Park.” Krystian Nathan, a tourist from Washington, D.C., stumbled upon the performance. Nathan, a Shakespeare enthusiast who had assistant-directed his high school’s rendition of Macbeth, was lured in by the show. “I enjoyed the openness of the production, how they [included]
the audience in the show,” he said. Actor and Tisch sophomore Chris Kappel’s character, the drunken porter, was meant to be the tragedy’s comic relief. “Part of our slogan is that we perform as Shakespeare intended, in front of a loud and possibly distracted audience,” Kappel said. Despite all of the commotion nearby — including a protest, rowdy football players and occasional, oblivious walkers who strolled through the stage midscene — the show went on. In fact, the somewhat hostile atmosphere only served to highlight
the talent and determination of the actors, who captured the audience’s attention. Reflecting on the show, Hasse called Macbeth a success “just because it happened,” despite the obstacles. Shakespeare in the Square is already planning its spring production, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Currently made up mainly of Tisch sophomores, the enterprising troupe is looking to expand its membership to students from all NYU schools. Ihaab Syed is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
KRISTINA BOGOS/WSN
“Macbeth” was the group’s first performance of the semester.
BUDGET continued from PG. 1
University clubs hit by budget cuts in 2011 process and implement new policies to make sure this has little chance of happening in the future,” he said. All-Square Clubs typically submit a budget request in the middle of the spring semester for the following academic year, explaining how their funds will be spent. After ASSBAC reviews the budget request, the committee then allocates the funds. But because of the computer malfunction, ASSBAC did not received approximately 20 percent of the budget requests by the start of this academic year, Stern said, and therefore were not accounted for when determining club budgets. Stern said there was a club budget reduction last spring. “[Club budgets] always subject to reductions, based on the total amount of clubs requesting funding, amount used by the club in the previous year, specifics of the re-
quested budget items and any other issue that may arise with the club during the academic year,” he said. Club officers have voiced their concerns over the reduction. Celina Lara, a CAS junior and the president of the Icing on the Cake club, was disappointed when she first heard the club’s budget was cut. Each of the club’s workshops has cost approximately $200, she said. With the previous budget, the club was able to give supplies to about 30 members at each workshop last semester out of the club’s 700 plus members. “The budget decrease further limits our club in terms of how many cake workshops we may have or how many members that are allowed to come to each workshop,” Lara said. Zach Feldman, Steinhardt senior and president of the NYU Vocaholics, said the budget cuts will affect the club’s ability to
purchase uniforms, go on tours and record an album. “We submit our budgets so ridiculously early on, months before the new school even starts, that I’m at a lack of understanding as to how there wasn’t enough time to figure this out before people started having events and expenditures for the new school year,” Feldman said. Stern junior and president of the Vietnamese Student Association Mary Pham said she thinks the budget reduction was due to “a huge slip on [ASSBAC’s] part.” “For any club, no matter what their budget is, an 8.5 percent cut is a lot,” she said. “I’m hoping that they’ll be generous with the contingencies this year to make up for their mistake.” Jaewon Kang is university editor. Email her at jkang@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011 | nyunews.com
FEATURES
edited by AMANDA RANDONE features@nyunews.com
Weather the storm with these urban umbrellas The Artist: Salamander Umbrellas, amazon.com ($16.91-$21.21) These umbrellas are decorated with classic paintings from Monet and Van Gogh. While less compact than some other options, the eye-catching capacity is undeniable. The curved handle is classic and makes it easier to hold on to whenever the wind picks up.
VIA AMAZON.COM
Whoever called Seattle the “Rainy City” must have never lived in New York. As fall rolls in, so do the rain clouds (and as this weekend showed, snowstorms as well). For students, this is just one more element to tackle along with their rush to and from class. But why not tackle it in style? You don’t have to compromise to stay dry. There’s an umbrella out there for everyone. — Nicole Gartside
The Fashionista: Kate Spade, katespade.com ($75)
The Frugal-ista: Totes Compacts, amazon.com ($6.49)
The Practical One: Davek Solo, davekny.com ($99)
This city-inspired umbrella will not only keep the rain away, but it will also turn plenty of heads. It’s truly the perfect umbrella for the urbanite who’s willing to splurge. The 14-karat gold-plated hardware is sure to ooze charm and class when the weather gets you down.
While perhaps a bit less dependable, this umbrella will certainly keep you dry. These pieces are available at practically every Duane Reade near campus and are excellent for storing in your purse or schoolbag so you’re always prepared for a surprise shower.
As one of the more expensive brands, Davek is also one of the most dependable. The solid steel, automatic open/close and attachable clip with leather strap are designed for ultimate wind resistance and any possible weather the city can bring — and it’s all backed by an unconditional guarantee.
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Nicole Gartside is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
ACROBATS continued from PG. 1
Chinese acrobats soar through Brooklyn skies According to Rick Berubé, the center’s director of marketing, the college chose to open with the National Acrobats because of their incredible skill and the fact that they had never previously toured in North America. Berubé also said he felt that an in-
ternational troupe would reinforce the center’s mission for the arts, which is “to present outstanding performing arts that reflect Brooklyn’s multicultural communities, so each season includes several international performances.” The center works to bring spec-
COURTESY OF THE Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts
Two acrobats exhibit poise and precision in their balancing act.
tacular shows to the community, bringing stars and entertainment to its Brooklyn neighborhood. “It’s affordable,” audience member Yen Wong said. “I thought it was fantastic. It’s like Cirque du Soleil but more authentic, less Vegas.” Wong brought her whole family to the show at the Brooklyn Center, which was named “Brooklyn’s Best Theater or Theater Group for Kids” by Nickelodeon’s 2009 Parents Connect Parents’ Picks Award. The sideshow “buffoonery” and intricate, colorful costume pieces captivated younger kids, while the intense and awe-inspiring acrobatics kept older audience members engaged and exhilarated. Joe Fonseca, an audience member and martial arts master, said the show was beyond his wildest expectations. “[It was] phenomenal,” he said. “I couldn’t believe they could do half the stuff they did.” Nicole Gartside is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
LIBYA continued from PG. 1
Tisch grad’s exhibit captures Libya through the lens was not much military action. “Then things started to move very fast,” he said. “Before we knew it, within a week I was driving into Tripoli with the rebels.” Denton spent much of his time in Libya living with rebels. Many of his photographs document daily life contrasted against the horrific violence in the region. One photograph shows a group of men performing an evening prayer while under attack. “These are men praying during an artillery barrage,” Denton said about the picture. “Faith for
them has been a guiding force since the beginning.” The exhibit also shows a picture of a young rebel fighter recovering from a battle wound that cost him one of his legs. One of the man’s brothers had died and another of his brothers went missing in the attacks. “That young man told me he wished he had died because he had no idea how he was going to continue his life if the revolution didn’t come through,” Denton said about the photo. Denton said his time at NYU
influenced his photojournalism techniques. “Slowing down and really getting close to people, which is something I really focused on at NYU, is something I would like to do more,” he said. Denton has returned to Beirut, but his exhibit will stay in the lobby of the Tisch building at 721 Broadway through Nov. 19. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. on weekdays and 12 – 5 p.m. on Saturdays. Jessica Littman is a staff writer. Email her at jlittman@nyunews.com.
The Perfectionist: Totes Bubble Umbrella, amazon.com ($19.42) This umbrella provides complete coverage of the upper body, surrounding you in the transparent bubble for which the umbrella was named. It may not fit in your bag, but it will definitely keep you dry. Its clear top also allows for optimal viewing, perfect for navigating those crowded city streets.
VIA DAVEKNY.COM VIA AMAZON.COM
nyunews.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011 | Washington Square news
5
SPORTS
edited by JAMES LANNING SPORTS@nyunews.com
Violets’ tournament hopes take hit with loss to Emory By Daniel Hinton
The NYU women’s soccer team beat Carnegie Mellon, 3-2, on Friday, but lost a double overtime thriller by the same score to Emory on Sunday. The makes NYU a long shot for its first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2002. Last week, the Violets traveled to Pittsburgh for the first match of a three-game road trip to finish the regular season. The action started early on, as sophomore forward Erin Ahmed scored off of an assist by junior midfielder/forward Serra Tumay. Eighteen minutes later, Tartans freshman forward Madison Nagle placed a header into the net off a free kick. Ten minutes into the second half, NYU sophomore forward/midfielder Imani Ribadenyera received a pass from sophomore defender-forward Mary Clair and finished with a well-placed kick into the far corner to break the tie. Carnegie Mellon evened the score again in the 73rd minute, when freshman forward Savina Reid scored her team-leading fifth goal of the season.
But the Violets were determined to earn their first road win in University Athletic Association competition this season. Sophomore forward Leslie Smith’s go-ahead goal in the 88th minute sealed the deal for NYU. NYU’s victory was its second in three days and its first since being ranked No. 7 in the East Region by the NSCAA. NYU then travelled to Atlanta on Sunday for another thrilling match. The Eagles have remained undefeated on their way to clinching the UAA title. NYU would prove to be their most competitive opponent yet. “The UAA is obviously a very competitive league, but these two games have shown us that we can compete on a national level,” freshman goalkeeper Meg Patten said. Erin Ahmed put the Violets on the board first with a penalty kick in the 34th minute but Emory sophomore defender Lauren Gorodetsky scored on a free kick 10 minutes later. Emory continued to out-shoot the Violets and took the lead 25 minutes into the second half, thanks to freshman forward Charlotte Butker’s goal off a corner kick.
One minute later, the Violets became the first team to score twice against Emory this season, with junior forward Erin Haggerty’s third goal of the season. Despite a strong effort by the Violets, including Patten’s career-high eight saves, the Eagles would not be denied. Sophomore midfielders Lauren Drosick and Kelly Costopoulos connected for the game-winner seven minutes into overtime — with Drosick assisting and Costopoulos scoring. “The Emory game was one of the best games I’ve seen my teammates play in,” Patten said. “We were disappointed with the outcome but proud of ourselves for scoring two goals on a team that has allowed two goals all season and [for] playing with heart.” The Violets are now 2-4 against UAA teams and 11-6 overall. NYU will conclude the regular season on Saturday at Brandeis University. The match is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. in Waltham, Mass. Daniel Hinton is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
FILE PHOTO BY RACHEL KAPLAN
Forward/midfielder Serra Tumay
Men’s soccer loses pair of heart-breakers By Sara Samarasinghe It was a heartbreaking weekend for the NYU men’s soccer team. The Violets suffered back-to-back double overtime losses, first to Carnegie Mellon on Friday, then to Emory University on Sunday afternoon. On Friday in Pittsburgh, the Violets trailed the Tartans 1-0 in the second half, until NYU freshman Nimo Freitag Bergstroem provided the equalizer on a free kick by junior forward Paolo Luciano, with only five minutes left. “Although this weekend was a blow to the team’s morale as far as results go, there are many positives that can be taken from this weekend,” Freitag Bergstroem said. “Losing twice in double overtime shows that we are a team that never gives up. I believe we are on track as the team is growing stronger and becoming a family.”
Swim teams stumble at Rochester Quad
While the Tartans outshot the Violets 15-8, NYU held a 4-3 advantage in corner kicks. NYU goalkeepers freshman Forrest Sexton and junior Jonah Poster combined for eight saves, while Carnegie Mellon’s Christopher Madden made three saves. Two minutes into the second overtime period, Carnegie Mellon’s Chris Wysocki scored on an assist from Kyle Young. The Violets had similar misfortune Sunday in Atlanta. Freitag Bergstroem scored early in the second half with his fifth goal of the season on an assist from freshman Mickey Ingerman. But Dylan Price tied it up for Emory with nine minutes left, sending the game into overtime. Sexton made consecutive saves and blocked a header off a corner kick, but Price put in the rebound in the 108th minute. “It was a rough weekend — we
had a couple of unlucky overtime losses,” Sexton said. “We are still a very young team and have some kinks to work out, but we fight hard every game and are showing some real improvement. I think the next few years will be very promising as the squad matures and gains experience.” The Violets will travel to Waltham, Mass., to face Brandeis University on Saturday, Nov. 5 in their regular season finale. The noon game is a must-win for the Violets, who sit at 7-8-1 for the year. In order to qualify for the ECAC Metro Tournament, they must finish the regular season with at least a .500 record. NYU has already expressed its interest in the tournament and wishes to be considered as a host. Sara Samarasinghe is a contributing writer. E-mail him at sports@nyunews.com
NYU Sports Briefs
The men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams brought home a total of just one win this weekend at the Rochester Quad in upstate New York. The men’s team was winless, falling to Case Western Reserve University, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Rochester. Meanwhile the women lost to Rochester and Carnegie Mellon but beat Case Western. Both teams are back in action on Nov. 12, when they face Wheaton College and the United States Coast Guard Academy. — Briana Hanratty
Struggles continue for women’s volleyball
Women’s soccer on tournament bubble
The women’s volleyball team has been plagued by inconsistency all year, and this weekend was no different as the Violets split their four matches at the New York State Challenge in Rochester. Sophomore Alex Mao led the Violets to wins over Lawrence Univeristy and Nazareth College on Saturday, but NYU fell short on Sunday against Rochester Institute of Technology and SUNY Fredonia. The University Athletic Association championship, beginning on Friday, is up next for the Violets. — Laura Buccieri
At 11-6, the women’s soccer team seems to be a lock for an ECAC Metro Tournament berth, but head coach Michele Canning’s club is looking for more. The Violets haven’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2002 when they lost to William Smith in the regional final. In order to have any hope of making it to the Big Dance is year, they must defeat Brandeis Saturday afternoon on the road. — Russell Steinberg
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nyunews.com | MONDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2011 | Washington Square news
7
OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO opinion@nyunews.com
A College Student’s Handbook
How to beat the college breakup By Richard Zhang My friend, a physics graduate student at NYU, described his senioryear breakup like this: “For several weeks, it felt like there was a monstrous black hole inside me. My mood is free-falling, and I just can’t help it. It’s all my fault.” It is normal to blame yourself after a breakup. According to the attribution theory in psychology, humans are naïve scientists who try to find a cause for everything that happens. If we cannot find an external cause for a particular event, we tend to attribute the cause to ourselves. However, it is absolutely crucial not to be a naïve scientist when being dumped. On the one hand, it doesn’t matter if it’s your fault or not; the truth is, your relationship has ended. Finding the right person to blame does not help mend your relationship. On the other hand, the breakup itself causes enough suffering, and blaming yourself only makes
it worse. According to a study conducted by University of Michigan, the emotional pain is very similar to physical pain. In fact, you should try to get as much of the burden off your shoulders as possible by distracting yourself from the pain. It may sound cliché, but distractions help reduce pain. The State University of New York at Stony Brook researched college students’ breakups by scanning their brain activities while showing them pictures of their exes. At the same time, the researchers asked the students to count backward from 8,211 by sevens, an effort to reduce the students’ pain. However, finding a distraction doesn’t mean you should suppress your feelings. Distractions help keep you busy so the memory of the breakup does not surface. When it does cross your mind, though, you should deal with it. “When that feeling comes, you ask yourself: What does that feel
like?” said Yael Shy, the director of the Spirituality Project at NYU. “Then let yourself be immersed in that feeling. Give yourself some time to just feel it. Welcome it. Take it as part of everything else that comes and goes in your life. Don’t force yourself to avoid it. The feeling is part of yourself; the more you try to cover it up, the more it is [going] to come up.” After all, a breakup is not a breakdown. It is not the end of the world and you will recover one day. According to a Northwestern University study, it generally takes 10 weeks to recover from the emotional loss. At the moment of the breakup, the whole world seems to collapse; after a period of time, the world will be normal again, as it always is. Richard Zhang is a columnist. His column, “A College Student’s Handbook,” is about contemporary college issues and appears every Monday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Campaign in the Membrane
‘Flip-flopping’ in politics not always a sin By Matthew Hughes He was for it before he was against it. The snide line has been thrown around more than a couple of times this campaign season, mainly at the expense of Republican frontrunner Mitt Romney. The basic implication: He’s an opportunistic weasel with no concrete convictions. Willing to skew any view for an extra vote or two, he places all precedence on becoming president. So famous is his reputation that a website like the Democratic National Committee’s WhichMitt.com can devote itself entirely to contradictory statements he’s made. Perhaps there’s some merit to critics’ claims about Romney. Maybe his vaulting ambition does mean more to him than any particular political stance. When it comes to his ideas about abortion, climate change, immigration and, of course, health care, he does indeed have a spotty record. But do we really want to live in a world in which changing your mind is a political sin? Beyond the negative connotations of flip-flopping, is it so bad to favor something before you’re against it? Based on happenings both old and recent, one would think not.
No one was more persistent or stubborn than former president George W. Bush. What he said was what he stood by, with no admissions or apologies offered. And sometimes, that wasn’t always in the best interest of the country. In the chaos and fear surrounding the aftermath of 9/11, Bush led the nation into a dicey and difficult war in Iraq and was at first met with relatively minor dissent. As combat raged on for years after the infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner was unfurled, though, it became increasingly apparent that the war might have been a severe lapse in judgment. In Democratic circles, in particular, being against the war became a requisite purity test, and some Republicans began to question the wisdom of getting into the war, if not necessarily of pulling out. All the while, Bush maintained his views. So too did then-presidentialcandidate Barack Obama who had adamantly opposed the war from the start, and thus set himself apart from many of his fellow contenders. Among those flip-floppers was long-time favorite Hillary Clinton, who never heard the end of it. It didn’t matter to critics that she had amended her position based on subsequently acquired informa-
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tion. She was punished both for making a mistake and for changing her mind. Obama would obviously go on to secure the nomination, thanks in no small part to his disagreement with the war and oft-avowed promise to end it immediately. But only now, nearly three years into his presidency, is he making good on that promise. Call it flip-flopping, but he probably realized soon after taking office that ending a war isn’t quite as simple as it seems, nor is it always the right decision at any given time. Changing your mind doesn’t have to mean being wishy-washy or opportunistic, although that certainly can be the case. It’s more often a result of new knowledge or a different perspective. It can be the mark of personal evolution and growth, the admission of a wrong and the effort to rectify it. At a time of blind partisanship and uncompromising rigidness, the willingness to buck the trend, even if it’s your own, is a breath of fresh air. When times change, people can and should follow suit. Matthew Hughes is a columnist. His column, “Campaign in the Membrane,” is about the sociology of politics and appears every Monday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Staff editorial
Cuts to NYU club funding disconcerting
Due to a computer glitch, the All-Square Student Budget Allocation Committee cut club budgets by 8.5 percent this academic year. The committee oversees the funding of 296 active student groups but did not process 20 percent of the groups that applied for funds last spring because of a technical malfunction. The WSN Editorial Board believes the university should be more accountable when dealing with student club budgets, and it should further investigate what caused the glitch. According to the committee, it also received a smaller budget for club funding than it expected. The university should have noticed these discrepancies. To not take into account the budgets of 20 percent of the All-Square Clubs demonstrates that either the committee should decrease its dependency on its computer system, or they should pay more attention when dealing with club budgets. To avoid these missteps, communication between the student groups and ASSBAC must be improved in the future. Glitches that drastically affect NYU clubs’ abilities to create engaging programming is especially unacceptable in an unstable economy. This mistake does not just affect club leadership but could potentially also affect the NYU community. By unexpectedly cutting student club budgets, the WSN Editorial Board feels that ASSBAC is inhibiting these clubs from effectively fostering valuable community-building and engaging activities that make life at NYU special and unique. As long as ASSBAC influences the ability of AllSquare Clubs to interact with students, their actions must become more transparent.
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.
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