NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011
nyunews.com
U-Senate discusses Yankee Stadium graduation
Students debate censorship, financial regulations
By Jessica Schultz
By Eric Benson Financial regulations and broadcast censorship highlighted the first semiannual debate between NYU College Republicans and College Democrats last night. The debate, which was not scored, began with a discussion about the 2010 Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The second half covered the Supreme Court decision of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission of 2008. Victor Li and Sophie Tunney debated for the College Democrats and Alexa Singh and Andrew Borst did the same for the College Republicans. College Republican Vice President Eric Ding was the moderator. The 2010 Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Act is a federal statute designed to increase financial regulations and has created several new
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The College Democrats and College Republicans squared off in the semi-annual debate.
The University Senate met yesterday to discuss commencement, financial aid and campus greening efforts. Both the Faculty Senate and the Student Senate unanimously voted to hold the Class of 2012’s commencement ceremony at Yankee Stadium next May. If the venue is available, this will be the fifth consecutive year the university will hold all-school commencement at Yankee Stadium instead of Washington Square Park. When the Public Affairs Committee brought the proposal to the table, it noted that the venue can accommodate a large number of students and family members. NYU’s expansion plans were also discussed at yesterday’s meeting. Alison Leary, senior vice president for facilities and construc-
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Vegan pizza added to Former Bell lab gets landmark status East Village favorite By Kristine Itliong
By Madison Todd
East Village vegans now have a new pizza joint to satisfy their cravings. Putting a innovative spin on traditional pizza, Two Boots pizzeria launched its new vegan pizza on Nov. 1, in response to customer demand for a more environmentallyconscious pizza. Dennis Eschenberg, vice president of the Two Boots pizzeria on Avenue A and East Third Street, said a vegan pizza was long overdue. “We were inspired by many people to carry a vegan pizza,” he said. “It’s been on the list for a while, and it’s finally coming into fruition. We’ve been working on the vegan pizza for about six weeks, but the idea has been brewing in our owner’s head for about a year.” Despite the lack of traditional cheese, this hearty pizza goes far and beyond one’s expectations and is topped with a
variety of vegetables to add flavor. Shiitake mushrooms, artichokes and red onions mix perfectly with both basil and red pepper pesto, adding a distinct flavor that will leave you with an insatiable desire for another slice. Whether you keep vegan or usually stick with traditional pizza, this unique slice will satisfy any craving. “Two Boots is one of my alltime favorites, and now that they have vegan pizza, it’s a done deal,” said Erin Red, who has been vegan for seven years. A newcomer to the vegan lifestyle, customer Chris Meisner had no doubts about his new diet after trying his first slice at Two Boots. “Non-vegan pizza can be a little careless,” he said. “This vegan pizza is equally good, if not better.” Though the ingredients for a vegan-friendly pie are more expensive than they would be for
The Landmarks Preservation Commission was granted historical landmark status to Westbeth Artists’ Housing in the West Village, which was a base for Bell Telephone Laboratories from 1868 to 1966. Supported by the J.M. Kaplan Fund, the complex secured a spot on the State and National Register of Historic Places in 2009, but now has official standing. The complex was among a handful of sites in New York to gain landmark status on Oct. 25. The LPC’s approval marks the end of a seven-year-long effort by Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation to push for these century-old sites to be recognized. “The landmark status will help ensure that the building is preserved in perpetuity,” said Andrew Berman, executive director of the GVSHP. “It’s been a vibrant and vivid artist environment ... which made the transition from an industrial zone to a largely residential community.” As the first existing form of subsidized housing for artists in the United
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The century-old complex is now a center for the arts.
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Washington Square news | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011 | nyunews.com
Author meditates on Buddhism By Rita Solomon
Psychotherapist and bestselling author Mark Epstein discussed Buddhism and western psychology in his talk at the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life on Wednesday. His speech revolved largely around the works of other renowned experts in the field and his own novels, followed by a brief meditation. “[‘Going to Pieces Without Falling Apart’] was where I first started to dwell on meditation,” Epstein said of his second book. “One has to get into a similar frame of mind for both a psychiatrist’s chair and a meditator’s cushion.” Epstein said he was influenced by his experience as an undergraduate at Harvard University, as well as at a Colorado Buddhist summer camp. He said his family’s medical background effected the way he molded his Buddhist beliefs into his medical profession. “I started writing somewhere around the end of medical school,” he said. “My main aim was trying to reconcile eastern and western thoughts on various topics like one’s ego and the concept of emptiness.” Throughout the evening, Epstein read from works by D.W. Winnicott and mentors Joseph
SAMANTHA BLINKAS
Epstein shared his philosophy and led a meditation session. Goldstein and Jack Kornfield, who helped him become the person he is today. “As an Indian psychiatrist, [Epstein’s] ideologies initially clicked with me,” psychologist Aparna Sampat said. “I came here to expand on what I know.” After his readings and a peaceful meditation session, Epstein opened up the floor to the audience for questions. When an audience member asked how he avoided immersing himself into the idea of meditation and forsaking his practice,
Epstein replied, “The challenge is to be real, to interact with others in western ways and still be Buddhist.” “I was satisfied with this talk, and I especially loved the meditation,” said Shana Deane, a teacher at the Center for Collaborative Communication. “I teach a class called ‘Non-violent Communication,’ and I just got new ideas to talk about.” Rita Solomon is a contributing writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
OWS to hold ‘end to end’ protest By Kristine Itliong
New York state senator Adriano Espaillat and New York city councilman Ydanis Rodríguez spoke to the Washington Heights Latino community yesterday morning about plans for this upcoming Monday’s “End to End for 99 percent” march. The 11-mile Occupy Wall Street march will begin at the same abandoned apartment building Espaillat spoke at yesterday, since the edifice is a local symbol of the crippling effects the country’s economic situation has had on the community. Continuing from Northern Manhattan to Zuccotti Park, the community’s march aims to spread OWS’s message across all of New York City. Espaillat and Rodríguez invited all New Yorkers, in English and Spanish, to walk in solidarity with the movement. “We say enough is enough,” Rodríguez said. “It is not fair to leave communities behind. This movement is about closing the gap between the working class, the middle class, the unemployed and the wealthy sector. We want to give color to the movement.” Noting the disparity in financial and educational opportunity between the wealthy and the Washington Heights community, Espaillat and Rodríguez said
KRISTINE ITLIONG FOR WSN
City officials spoke to gain support for Monday’s march. their goal is to promote action toward more accessible education, more jobs, universal health care and a millionaire’s tax. “In addition to education and housing, we [need] to have a robust working class,” Espaillat said. “We need change from end to end of Manhattan. That is what gives the name to our march.” After the announcement, Espaillat and Rodríguez were also joined by city officials, including New York City Council Member Inez Dickens and pro-OWS activists from organizations like United New York, Workers United, Centro Altagracia de Fe y Justicia, the Transit Workers Union and the New York Civic Participation Project. “This is not a message that
is unique,” said Lucia Gomez, executive director of the NYCPP. “We want justice. We want equality. We want to make sure it is everybody’s message. This is not different from you. This is about you.” Washington Heights resident Jeff Smith said the people are realizing their voices can be heard. “We have power as a megaphone,” he said. “People are starting to hear the message. It’s universal what we’re talking about.” The march will start on Monday, Nov. 7 at 10:30 a.m. on 181st Street and St. Nicholas Avenue. Kristine Itliong is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
USenate discusses commencement
tion management, discussed ongoing projects at NYU’s Washington Square and abroad campuses. One such project includes a plan to reduce congestion in elevators by converting upper floors in the Silver Center into laboratories. “Our hope is to bring the classrooms down to the lower levels so that the amount of elevator traffic in the building is significantly decreased,” NYU president John Sexton said. Both NYU’s campus in Washington, D.C. and the Center for Academic and Spiritual Life on West Fourth Street are set to open in the summer of 2012. The Senate also announced NYU’s promise to increase the number of bikes in New York City. Recently, the university renovated the bike rack behind Tisch Hall, and plans are being finalized to add a bike repair station
on campus. The university also plans to install 175 more bike racks around campus. Once again becoming a heated debate on campus, the U-Senate raised the issue of banning ChickFil-A from campus. The fast food chain has become notorious for its philanthropic ties with anti-gay organizations. The Student Senate will meet later this week to reach a final consensus on the topic. Lastly, the group expressed concerns over the availability of financial aid and increasing tuition. While Sexton said he wants to make more financial aid available to students, he said it will not happen immediately. “We will not and cannot have adequate financial aid in the foreseeable future,” Sexton said. Jessie Schultz is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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Students debate regulation
agencies, including the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. The College Democrats support the legislation, which they argued serves as a start to increasing financial stability and transparency. However, they did not believe it has been effective in financial regulation. “We think the act is inadequate,” Tunney said. “There needs to be more regulation. We need it to protect the investments of the American people.” The College Republicans, on the other hand, argued that the act is not in the best interest of the American people. “The Dodd-Frank Act does not allow financial improvement to happen quickly and effectively,” Borst said. “It takes too long to implement — we stand for freedom and that’s what we are going to prove.” The second part of the debate was argued by Jake Stevens and Zach Taylor of the College Democrats and Princess Okieme and Morrris Zeitouni of the College Republicans. Junior Prachi Vidwans
served as the moderator. The Supreme Court decision of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission of 2008 created an amendment that prohibits government from censoring political broadcasts in elections. The College Republicans, in support of the amendment, believed it upholds the right to free speech. “Who has the authority to tell us our voice cannot be heard?” Okieme asked. “This case helps to restore the power of the First Amendment.” But the College Democrats believed that the amendment increases the influence of private interests in politics and undermines the influence of average Americans who make small contributions to their preferred candidates. “Corporations are not people,” Stevens said. “Our speech is not being muted directly through this amendment.” Eric Benson is a staff writer. Email him at university@nyunews.com.
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Former Bell lab landmarked
States, the Westbeth complex is a historical establishment of technological invention as well as artistic innovation. Now, it serves as a center for the arts, home to a variety of New York artists and the Merce Cunningham Dance Company. “As a student and understudy at the dance company here, this place is historical to me,” said Cori Krespe, a student at the Merce dance company. “I think there have been many creative artists and thinkers that have lived here or come through this space and done important work here.” George Cominski, president of the Westbeth Artists’ Residence Council, said the landmark status protects the artists who live there because the building will be desirable for a real estate developer to take over the building.”
“It also allows us to apply for grants for updating the facade now that we have landmark status from the city, the state and the federal government,” he said. According to Berman, the GVSHP is currently working to establish historical landmark status on areas of Greenwich Village that are cornerstones of American immigration, music, literature and the arts. “Studio and living space for artists is crucial if New York is to regain its leadership as a center of creativity,” CAS history professor Thomas Bender said. “Other cities here and abroad ... where rents are lower and performance spaces more accessible, are becoming magnets for artists as New York once was.” Kristine Itliong is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011 | Washington Square news
DINING
edited by SARAH KAMENETZ DINING@nyunews.com
New York City’s five best themed restaurants
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By Cristina Corvino Whether it’s the convenient diner just down the street or that new restaurant that delivers to your apartment, we all need a break from cooking sometimes. The next time you’re looking for an escape from the often daunting task of preparing a meal, treat yourself to any of these one-of-a-kind spots around the city where the experience is just as important as the meal.
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Alice’s Tea Cup
Ninja New York
156 E. 64th St. (between Lexington and Third avenues)
25 Hudson St. (between Duane and Reade streets)
If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling into your very own wonderland for a day, or even for an hour or two, here’s your chance. Whether you go for brunch (“Alice’s Curious French Toast” mystifies in name and delights in taste), lunch or simply for a classy cup of tea, the restaurant’s whimsical fairy-tale surroundings will make you feel like a character straight out of the Disney classic.
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to wander into a ninja castle? You can come pretty close to finding out if you dine at Ninja New York. Not only will the environment be like nothing you’ve ever experienced, with its village and rock-garden-themed dining rooms, but the gorgeously-crafted plates of food seem almost too perfect to eat. And you never know — a real, live ninja may pop up at any moment during your visit to the castle.
VIA YELP.COM
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Jekyll & Hyde Restaurant and Bar
Mickey Mantle’s Restaurant & Sports Club
91 Seventh Ave. South (between W. Fourth and Barrow streets)
42 Central Park South (between Fifth and Sixth avenues)
Although Halloween is over, why not keep yourself on your toes by visiting “New York’s Only Haunted Restaurant and Bar,” named after the legendary story of “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”? As you bite into your “Create-YourOwn-Monster-Burger” or munch on your pizza with unusually named toppings, you’re bound to jump out of your seat once or twice throughout your visit.
If the combination of sports and food seems irresistible, venture to this memorabilia-filled restaurant and sports club, said to have once been frequented by the legendary Mickey Mantle himself. Whether you’re itching to catch the final innings of a nail-biting World Series game or just want to sit back, relax and enjoy some Sunday night football while munching on your favorite game-time snacks, the door will always be open as a laidback hangout.
VIA YELP.COM
Vynl 102 Eighth Ave. (at 15th Street) Now that music collections have grown increasingly intangible, people are often nostalgic for classic vinyl records. Paying homage to timeless LPs, Vynl is the perfect place to bring back the good old days. With a Hall of Fame that holds little statues of top-tier musical talents — from Michael Jackson, Jimmy Hendrix and Elvis, to *NSync, the Spice Girls and Beyoncé — and vinyl record decorations all around the restaurant, you’ll forever be surrounded by old-fashioned musical bliss.
Cristina Corvino is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
RECIPE
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Greet the fall with a warm apple pie By Heather Mundinger As soon as the leaves start to brown, there is nothing better than warm apple pie. If there is one thing I miss from home, it’s the freshly baked apple pie my mom would always serve. That’s probably why I’ve had her send the recipe to me repeatedly since move-in day. Now, you can try making this fall favorite for yourself.
Ingredients
MADISON TODD FOR WSN
10 Granny Smith apples 2 boxes of dry pie crust mix 1 stick of butter 3/4 cup of sugar 1 cup brown sugar 4 tbsp. cinnamon 1/4 cup flour
1. Divide one box of dry pie crust mix in half.
6. Pour the mixture into the bottom crust.
2. Follow directions on the box to prepare half of the crust, and place the prepared crust in the bottom of your pie pan.
7. Prepare the other box of pie crust along with the remaining half of the first box. Mix all together in a bowl.
3. After placing it in the pan, use a fork to poke several holes in the bottom crust. You can also use your hands to create a scalloped edge.
8. Mix in 1 stick of softened butter, 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and 1/2 a cup of brown sugar.
4. Peel apples, cut them into wedges and place them in a large bowl.
5. Mix in sugar, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 3 heaping tablespoons of cinnamon and a sprinkle flour onto apples to coat well.
Two Boots pizza comes with a slew of hearty vegan toppings.
10. Finally, sprinkle a little more cinnamon over the top of the pie.
12. Cover the top with aluminum foil after first 20 minutes of baking to prevent excessive browning. Cool on a cooling rack for 2 hours before serving.
“The vegan pizza costs us two and a half times as much as our traditional mozzarella pizza, but we want to make it obtainable for the public,” Eschenberg said. Madison Todd is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
9. Roll dough into small balls and use your hand to press them flat. Place the individual pieces all over the top of the pie until apples are covered.
11. Bake in the oven for 45 minutes at 375°F.
Vegan pizza added to East Village favorite a traditional slice, Eschenberg said it was important to keep the cost down. The vegan pizza is only one dollar more than the other pies — a small is $10.95, a medium is $19.50 and a large is $23.95. A single slice goes for 20 cents more than the average nonvegan slice at $3.95.
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HEATHER MUNDINGER FOR WSN
This homemade apple pie can be made in 12 easy steps.
Heather Mundinger is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011 | nyunews.com
OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO OPINION@nyunews.com
International Affairs
technology
Dictatorship not dead with Qaddafi
Emoticons dilute communication
By Rita Solomon
As Libya faces political change following the recent revolutionary upheaval of its government, the larger question regarding the adequacy of the Transitional National Council and any subsequent administration is swept under the rug as the world celebrated the demise of yet another tyrant two weeks ago. More staggering than Muammar al-Qaddafi’s demise was the world’s apparent eagerness to accept it. Following the leak of a graphic, inhumane video account of Qaddafi’s final minutes, many conversations, tweets and Facebook posts heralded the happiness people — most of whom Qaddafi had not directly affected — felt by the violent murder of a fellow human being. Forced into the limelight since February of last year, Qaddafi had garnered negative attention from the West because of his earlier harborings of various terrorists — including the bombers of Pan Am Flight 103 — under the defiant guise of helping anti-imperialists. But mainstream media largely neglected the positive aspects of the eccentric Libyan autocrat. Although he employed violent means, Qaddafi had always aimed for the unification of his people, first dreaming of a united Arab nation and later a united Africa. In an astute move, he raised the cost of petroleum and increased oil revenue, which contributed to the increased economic and living standards in Libya during his reign. Although they were not close to freedom, the literacy and life expectancy rose. The gross domestic production of Libya became the highest overall in Africa. The means Qaddafi used to achieve most of his outcomes cannot and should not ever be justified. But claiming the former
Libyan leader is the ultimate despot is a one-sided interpretation of the situation. Attacking civilians and unarmed forces is an obvious crime against humanity — but one that is currently prevalent in most parts of the world. Quelling resistance and criticism against the government is not the clear-cut path to freedom, but it is one that is still disturbingly practiced by many nations. In fact, although Qaddafi was a clear dictator, when held up to other dictators today, most of his wrongdoings pale in comparison. Take Omar al-Bashir, for example. The Sudanese dictator’s large-scaled massacre of innocent civilians in Darfur has obliterated entire villages — a fact that the International Criminal Court, which has accused him on these charges, has yet to act upon. Charges of torture and inhuman conduct on civilians by Fidel Castro in Cuba have all but been ignored. Kim Jong-Il openly oppresses North Koreans and does not allow freedom of the press. Others still like Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, Than Shwe of Burma and Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz proliferate as oppressors. What is being done about these tyrants? While admittedly a dictatorship, Qaddafi’s government represented a majority of the dynamics in world politics. While hoping his downfall would serve an example to other oppressing governments, glorification of his death should be dispelled and emphasis should be placed on the current regime lest it repeats this same mistake. Rita Solomon is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
NYU’S Most
By Brittany Sherman We have all been known to insert the occasional smiley face in a text message or Facebook chat and abbreviate words in daily conversation. We do so partly because emoticons are often an effective way to communicate tone to someone in a language that is often lacking emotion. Short abbreviations are also simply easier to use. Text messages themselves are hard to interpret, and inserting a smiley face at the end could mean the difference between sarcasm and sincereness. But when can these smiley faces and abbreviated terms be simply inappropriate? Mary Lou DiNardo, president of the public relations firm TK/PR, contended in a recent New York Times article that she was stunned to see a smiley face inserted at the end of an email from an intellectual business client. She could not understand how a man of such prestige and knowledge could use such a teenage-style mannerism in a professional email. She said she had to read the message multiple times to ensure that there was indeed a smiley face at the end of it. This situation sounds insane to me. How could professionals resort to smiley faces and text message lingo to communicate a message? There are certainly times when emoticons and abbreviations are appropriate and can lighten the mood, but in a businessstyle email, they are simply unacceptable — not to mention a far cry from professional. There is a place for such chat, but a working environment certainly does not warrant this type of
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Managing Editor
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Brittany Sherman is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
Influential Students
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Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE
communication. I would venture to say that emoticons and text message chat are stifling our society’s communication skills as a whole. Why should someone need to insert a smiley face to describe their state of mind? Wouldn’t actually telling that person face-to-face have a similar, if not more genuine, effect? I certainly think it would. It is time we, as a society, work toward moving communication forward and not let the rapid pace of technology curtail our ability to speak to people around us. Even though there are shorter or easier ways to say things, this does not necessarily mean they are the best way to do so. The scenario DiNardo described ignites a dangerous example of how our society is allowing technology to seriously demean our methods of communication. Where did common sense go? Certainly one must have the knowledge to determine what is appropriate from what is not. Technological advances should not in any way allow us to lose sight of social graces and necessities; we must steer clear of this inappropriateness. Using emoticons and abbreviations in a business email is a short step away from using them in other professional settings, and this slippery slope has dangerous and frightening implications. If one cannot discern when it is right and when it is wrong to use emoticons and text message lingo, they should abstain from using them at all.
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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.