NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 90
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013
nyunews.com
Report shows subways decline in cleanliness By PATRICK ANKER
NYU-Poly to research storm response
Dirtiness is commonplace in New York City’s subway platforms, but a new study has found increasing levels of filth. The New York Public Interest Research Group’s Straphangers Campaign conducted a census of New York City’s subway platforms and rated certain elements of cleanliness. The third annual “State of the Platforms” report, detailing results of the 2013 summer census, was released on Oct. 30. Straphangers Campaign spokesperson Cate Contino said this year’s census included all 862 open platforms, an increase from 2012’s census of only 120 stations, thanks to a team of 21 staffers and interns. Even though all measured factors have worsened since the summer 2012 census, the study found that four of the factors — exposed wiring, missing tiles, graffiti and floor cracks — have become “sub-
Last week, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the beginning of the New York State Resilience Institute for Storms and Emergencies, a research institute housed at the Polytechnic Institute of NYU and Stony Brook University in response to Superstorm Sandy. A meeting that will address funding and the final plan will take place today Nov. 7. The funding group consists of the two co-directors, Minghua Zhang of Stony Brook and NYUPoly professor Fletcher Griffis in addition to four other researchers — two from NYU and two from Stony Brook. NYS RISE comprises 15 work units, and researchers will also include faculty from Columbia University, Cornell University, Brookhaven National Lab and the City University of New York.
SUBWAY continued on PG. 3
By KLEIN ALEARDI
JONATHAN TAN/WSN
NYU School of Law hosts lecture about race in America At the 18th annual Derrick Bell Lecture on Race in American Society, University of Pittsburg School of Law dean and professor William Carter Jr. presented a lecture titled The Thirteenth Amendment, the Legacies of Slavery and the Promises of Freedom.
STORM continued on PG. 3
STORY ON PAGE 3 INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Tisch sophomore to write for 24-Hour Plays Devin Mojica discusses his upcoming opportunity to write for a Broadway show. CORALINE WANG/WSN
STORY on PG. 4
COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
Truth about Armstrong
Clear language gets point across
A documentarian pushes himself stylistically in his film about Lance Armstrong’s drug use.
Breaking language barriers and reaching a broad audience only requires simple diction.
STORY on PG. 5
STORY on PG. 7
Thor sequel thunders into theaters with triumphant action By MARCUS JONES
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
In one the biggest movie events of the fall, America’s favorite Asgardian, Thor, returns for another epic adventure. In the aftermath of “The Avengers,” Marvel Studios has held strong with “Iron Man 3,” the highest grossing film of the year, and “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” a frontrunner for one of the fall’s breakout television series. But Marvel’s parent company
Disney is still coming off of two major flops with “The Lone Ranger” and Dreamworks’ “The Fifth Estate.” Disney is putting a lot on Thor’s shoulders this last quarter — so it’s good that he is a god. The first “Thor,” was a solid film despite many considering it one of the weakest in “The Avengers” canon. Heavy on exposition, it introduced audiences to Thor, the God of Thunder and Son of Odin, King of Asgard. “Thor: The Dark
World” kicks off by introducing the new villain, Malekith, and his fleet of Dark Elves, who tried to take over the Seven Realms and shroud them in darkness using their weapon, the Aether. Fortunately, Odin’s father Bor kills the Dark Elves, but Malekith escapes. Bor then hides the Aether, hoping no one will find it. Fast forward 5,000 years where Jane (Natalie Portman) finds a portal in London and falls into the hiding place
of the Aether. This action awakens the Dark Elves, who in turn wreak havoc on Earth and Asgard while they search for Jane. Their goal is to extract the Aether and destroy Asgard, ultimately bringing darkness to the Seven Realms. Thor, of course, is the only hope for the Seven Realms. With the help of Jane and Thor’s devious brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston),
THOR continued on PG. 5
2
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
EXPOSURE
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ Web Managing Editor
HANQING CHEN Creative Director
LYANNE NATIVIDAD Blog Editor
AMY ZHANG Special Issues Director
KALEEL MUNROE
SENIOR STAFF
news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,
MICHAEL DOMANICO arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
DEPUTY STAFF
news KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR,
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER copy THOMAS DEVLIN social media SYMONE WILLIAMS
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
RAQUEL WOODRUFF deputy opinion editors
EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, PETER KEFFER
ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER
ELLEN MCQUEEN
CIRCULATION MANAGER
CHLOE COFFMAN SALES MANAGER
ALISON LIZZIO
PROMOTIONS MANAGER
KALEEL MUNROE UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATOR
CLAIRE MAHANY
SALES REPRESENTATIVES
ARIANA DIVALENTINO, ETHAN JACOBS
In college Halloween isn’t what it used to be. My Facebook timeline is filled with drunk, pictures of promiscuous people celebrating “Halloween.” When I went to the Children’s Halloween Parade it reminded me of what Halloween was really about. When you were little, you would wait months to dress up like somebody you admired — maybe an astronaut or princess. And you’d wear that costume to school and show it off to your neighbors and get free candy. It was possibly one of the greatest days of the year, up there with Christmas and your birthday. Halloween was about making you feel great, like you were as special as a person you truly admired. It was also a day you could practice being the doctor or the policeman you would someday become. The kids that I photographed this year captured the true essence of Halloween. For example, there were two little girls showing off their super powers and the muscles — if they were my age they would be showing off something else. I hope they never lose their innocence or their super powers. Sometimes growing up is overrated — the best people remain young forever in part of their hearts.
HANNAH LUU GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORS-AT-LARGE
JAEWON KANG, DAVID LIN, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
STORM continued from PG. 1
SUBWAY continued from PG. 1
NYU-Poly, other New York colleges begin NYS RISE to analyze storm relief “We’ll allocate the resources accordingly and that’s the function of the program planning group. It’s ongoing function is to continue to plan the program,” Griffis said. Lawrence Swanson, associate dean of the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook, said NYS RISE was established when the two universities combined the individual proposals they had been working on to create one proposal for post-Sandy research after being cut off from funding from Congress’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Swanson said Poly combined proposals with Stony Brook at the suggestion of state officials. NYU’s proposal began when Katepalli Raju Sreenivasan, NYU-Poly president, wrote a letter about the university’s responsibility to respond to the storm. “The main focus here is not the cost and inconvenience, but the vulnerability,” Sreenivasan wrote. “We have a responsibility to assess this vulnerability and make a set of recommendations
to mitigate them. The responsibility is compounded because we formed [the Center for Urban Science and Progress] with the promise, in broad terms, of making New York the crown jewel among the livable cities of the world.” Griffis said the goal of NYS RISE is to analyze the effects of Sandy and the response to the storm and work toward improving that response. “What we’d like to do is synthesize what’s been done, summarize it and look for gaps, areas that need further research and have been overlooked,” Griffis said. Griffs said NYS RISE will work with response planning, the assessment of dynamics, interdependency of bodies of water and infrastructure, vulnerability and resilience in a storm and environment risk under climate change. These research areas are phase one of the research, and the projects must be finished by March of 2014. Planning for phase two will begin in December. Klein Aleardi is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
Both sides discuss future of 5Pointz at hearing By LARSON BINZER
A hearing at the Federal District Court in Brooklyn on Nov. 6 addressed the plan to demolish 5Pointz, a Long Island City graffiti haven, and build a luxury apartment building in its place. Judge Frederic Block, who presided over the case, said the hearing was an informal environment without a jury, designed to give everyone a chance to speak. Jonathan Cohen, the plaintiff and 5Pointz curator, seeks to have 24 specific works of art preserved. If the murals were proved to be recognized stature, the Visual Artists Rights Act would prevent them from being demolished. “You can build above these walls or incorporate the walls,” Cohen’s attorney Jeannine Chanes said. “It’s done in Europe all the time.” Outside of the courtroom, Chanes also mentioned that the defendant, Gerald Wolkoff, allegedly violated the temporary restraining order that is in effect until Nov. 11. In part of Cohen’s testimony, he said one of the pieces of art had been damaged by construction that violated the temporary restraining order. The defense attorney David Ebert quoted a previous statement of Cohen’s where he compared
3
5Pointz to a museum, pointing out the statement’s inconsistencies. “How is the work like a museum if it gets destroyed?” Ebert asked. Block said one of his jobs in the case is to determine if these works of art warrant the Visual Artists Rights Act’s protection. To prove the wall is recognized stature, Chanes said she would demonstrate that the artists of the pieces displayed are renowned both nationally and internationally. “[Wolkoff ] has to preserve the works of visual art that are of recognized stature,” Chanes said. Cohen said the demolition of 5Pointz would hurt the community. “[By destroying 5Pointz] you’re killing a large part
of [aerosol art] culture and giving no alternative,” Cohen said outside the courtroom. Gallatin sophomore Catherine Schmitz said the two parties should negotiate, given the building’s purpose to the community. “I think that Wolkoff needs to find a long-term compromise,” Schmitz said. “Clearly it isn’t right for the artists to take the building from him, but it also isn’t morally justified to rob the community and the world of this art.” The trial will continue over the next two days until the court comes to a decision on Nov. 8. Larson Binzer is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
FILE PHOTO BY JUSTIN LANIER/WSN
5Pointz is known as a mecca for graffiti artists.
Third annual subway report shows platforms have become dirtier since last year
FELIPE DE LA HOZ/WSN
The prevalence of graffiti in subway stations has increased since 2012. stantially worse” over the past year. “Many subway platforms are grim and dreary,” Straphangers Campaign field organizer Jason Chin-Fatt said in a press release. “Making observations at every platform allows us to paint a more in-depth picture of the conditions that riders experience [while] traveling through the system.” The study measured staircase and handrail disrepair, rats, broken lights, peeling paint, water damage, exposed wiring, missing tiles, graffiti and floor cracks. Notably, 32 percent of all platforms have substantial amounts of graffiti. However, Metropolitan Transportation Authority spokesman Kevin Ortiz said the MTA’s data does not show an increase in graffiti. “Over the last 3 years we have consistently met our goals of removing 98 percent of reported graffiti hits on time, within 72 hours of being reported on painted surfaces within station confines,” Ortiz said. “Graffiti on tiled surfaces is removed daily, upon discovery by a cleaner. Also, the number of reported graffiti hits has steadily declined over the last few years. Again, graffiti on track walls require track access and would impact service.” The Straphangers Campaign’s report also stated that almost 84 percent of under-
ground platforms experienced substantial water damage, but Ortiz said water damage is difficult to repair. “At this time, the only available treatment is chemical grouting and drip pans, other than excavation from above and applying new waterproofing, which is cost prohibitive,” Ortiz said. Ortiz said the issues addressed in the census are a low priority for the MTA because maintaining a perfect condition would be costly. “Our operating and maintenance forces have identified and repaired more station defects each of the last few years than ever before, and we are on target to surpass last year’s results,” Ortiz said. “In 2012, over 39,000 defects were repaired, and we are projected to complete more than 53,000 in 2013, a 36 percent increase.” LS freshman and New York City resident Abbey Rowe said the conditions of the subway platforms bother and disgust her. “I don’t particularly enjoy having to wade through a cesspool to get somewhere,” Rowe said. “I shouldn’t have to gingerly circumnavigate a puddle of vomit, a heap of garbage nor a nest of rats.” Patrick Anker is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
Law school hosts lecture on race, slavery, freedom By KLEIN ALEARDI
William M. Carter Jr., dean and professor of law at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, discussed the alternative applications and interpretations of the amendment that abolished slavery at the 18th Annual Bell Lecture on Race in American Society on Nov. 6. Carter’s lecture, titled The 13th Amendment, the Legacies of Slavery and the Promises of Freedom was this year’s iteration of an annual lecture held in honor of Professor Derrick Bell, a late visiting professor, to provide an inclusive forum for conversations about race. NYU President John Sexton introduced Janet Bell, who started the lecture series to celebrate her husband’s 65th birthday, and spoke about Bell, who was his professor. “Nearly 40 years ago,
when [my wife] and I first met him, we began to undergo the wonderful spell,” Sexton said while introducing Carter. “That was both his ability ... to make you think in a way that you had not thought before.” Carter began his lecture by examining the wide range of possible interpretations of the 13th Amendment. He said this amendment should be interpreted along two axes. “One axis would be the connection that the individual complaining of the injury has to the institution of chattel slavery,” Carter said. “Are they a descendant of slaves? Are they seen as being a descendent of slaves?” “The other axis looks not solely to the identity of the victim, but to the nature of the injury,” he said. Carter, who was chosen by a panel of faculty, academics and Mrs. Bell, also
attested to the benefits of a new interpretation of the 13th Amendment. “There is some real benefit to understanding that not only do our social values and moments shape the law we have, but that the law has an expressive force that can shake social values and moments,” Carter said in his speech. Kadeem Cooper, Law School class of 2014, has attended these lectures for the past three years and said this year’s lecture was more impactful than last year’s. “[Carter’s lecture] touched an area of law that’s not often spoken about,” Cooper said. “I just think that Derrick Bell was an amazing professor and I think it’s great that we have a lecture in his honor.” Klein Aleardi is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
4
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
EDITED BY JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Tisch sophomore wins chance to write for 24 Hour Plays By NATHAN HO
Writing for a Broadway show is a feat that takes many aspiring writers years and hundreds of hours of work to achieve. But an NYU undergraduate has reached that point in his career after winning a screenwriting competition. Tisch sophomore Devin Mojica, only 19 years old, beat five other alumni in an Urban Arts writing program, earning him a guest writer spot on the Broadway production of The 24 Hour Plays, featuring many celebrities such as Jason Biggs and Zachary Levi. The annual production involves six writers, six directors and 24 actors creating and producing six plays over a span of 24 hours. Mojica said he was excited
CORALINE WANG/WSN
Mojica participated in the Urban Arts program.
about being able to write for such a renowned cast. “It’s a challenge,” Mojica said. “It is important for me to not stress out as much and have a little more fun.” Mojica’s competition-winning work, “Naughty List,” is about a truck driver taking an anger management course. “It’s called ‘Naughty List’ because the class counselor has written a book called ‘How to Get off Santa’s Naughty List,’” Mojica said. Mojica’s said his script was inspired by American film actress Bette Davis and the individual’s ability to endure so many complex anger issues. For the competition, each candidate had six hours to write a three minute play for three people, which was then performed the same night for a panel of judges and industry professionals. The program’s sponsor, Urban Arts, is a partnership that serves to increase the presence of the arts in a New York educational system which CEO Philip Courtney described as broken. “We are the largest arts organization in all of New York City,” Courtney said. “[Urban Arts] advances the intellectual, social and artistic development of underserved public school students.” Mojica said he has found his current success because of hard work and because he is almost always busy. Throughout his freshman year he juggled school, work and
writing at the same time. His advice to NYU undergraduates was to use stress to your advantage. “It’s the stress that brings out an artist’s greatest work,” said Mojica. “I don’t want people to think that my schedule fits so [perfectly.]” “My favorite time to write is between the hours of 12 a.m. and 6 a.m. In my freshmen year, I never started homework before 2 a.m. It’s where everyone else is sleeping so you can have space to breathe.” Mojica had been a part of The Academy at Urban Arts, where students from ninth to 12th grade join to perfect their artistic craft with teaching artists and professional staffs. “We’re really about using all different kinds of art forms, be it theater, poetry, film making, graphic design, and using that and integrating that into the curriculums of schools across the city,” Courtney said. “So think more [about] how you can teach a social studies class by integrating filmmaking.” Mojica has always enjoyed the curriculum at Urban Arts, which has ultimately helped him achieve this latest accomplishment. “It was senior year when I was working at Cold Stone [Creamery] and coming here on Saturdays,” Mojica said. “I treated this as a mandatory thing, although it wasn’t really.” Nathan Ho is a contributing writer. Email him at features@nyunews.com.
SCPS think tank to observe how sports impact society By BAILEY EVANS
In America, where every season is a sports season, a week without athletic events is a rarity. Indeed, sports impact society with win streaks, rivalries and dedicated fans. But is there more to sports than just touchdowns and almost-missed goals? Arthur Miller, a professor at the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, is attempting to prove so. Upon noticing a lack of sports-related dialogue beyond game outcomes and statistics, Miller launched a think tank called the NYU Sports and Society Program. “No one thinks about the ethics of sports. Everyone thinks about runs, hits and errors,” Miller said. “We all love sports, but our program is to get thoughtful people together to worry about the possible negative consequences.” The program aims to look at many of the ethical dilemmas that present themselves in the athletic community on the field, off the field and from a business perspective. NYU Sports and Society will also look at the impact
that sports have on all levels of society with the goal of increasing public awareness in regard to how much sports affect our lives. “Sports is often dismissed as fun and games, but it’s a major central activity. It’s a major business and it’s a major teacher in ethics,” said Arthur Caplan, director of the Division of Medical Ethics at NYU Langone Medical Center and member of NYU Sports and Society’s board of directors. “I hope we can form a program that takes sports seriously as a major social force.” Sports broadcaster Bob Costas, former New York Giants linebacker Harry Carson and the first female Pro Football Hall of Fame member Lesley Visser are just a few inclusions in the wide range of the society’s board members. “[The board members] come at the subject with different perspectives and different interests,” Miller said. “We’re hoping by putting them together we’ll get a variety of viewpoints.” “I’m glad someone is deciding to talk about this side of sports. Where
I’m from, sports have always been and will always be a giant force,” Steinhardt freshman Jonathan Boyd said. “I don’t think most people realize how much sports impact other areas of our lives.” Students interested in taking part in NYU Sports and Society can contact the board of directors. The program’s first panel discussion, “Integrity of the Game: Ethics and Today’s Athlete,” will take place Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. in the Kimmel Center for University Life. The topic will focus on ethical dilemmas athletes face today and how those choices are presented to the public. “I’m particularly interested the ethical dilemmas that arise from sports. I’m interested in the ethical challenges across the board on the business side,” Caplan said. “Sports are more revealing of us than other areas of life. Sometimes people cover up in law, architecture, medicine and sports just lays it all out there.” Bailey Evans is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
DAY IN THE LIFE
JUSTIN LANIER/WSN
Sharova practices with members of the NYU ballet club. By NICOLE DEL MAURO For Sasha Sharova, an LS sophomore transferring to the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, peace means a day dedicated to writing plays and teaching ballet. 8 a.m. | After waking up, Sharova immediately decides whether she will make coffee in her dorm or grab a cup after she leaves Gramercy Green residence hall. 9 a.m. | Sharova meets Tisch freshman Julia Sanchez in a Lafayette Street residence hall practice room to rehearse a monologue for Sanchez’s role as Old Rebecca in Sharova’s original play “Reflections.” The play was selected to be in Gallatin’s Brandspankin’ New Works Festival, a two-day event that showcases performances of plays written by NYU students. Sharova’s work focuses on Rebecca, who reflects on the choices she has made throughout her life. The cast includes three versions of Rebecca, each a different age. “It’s really cool that Gallatin gives you the opportunity to do this,” Sharova said. “It’s a labor of love because I love doing this.” 1 p.m. | Sharova makes her way to the seventh floor club lounge in the Kimmel Center for University Life to meet with Steinhardt sophomore Kim Buesser and LS sophomores Julie Jarema and Nicole Schreiber-Shearer for an officer meeting for Twinkle Toes, NYU’s ballet club. The club, which started in spring 2013, offers free ballet lessons for both beginners and experienced dancers. The club’s founders teach the classes every Sunday in room 606 of Kimmel. At the meeting, Sharova, the
president, and the other three founding members discuss objectives for the following Sunday’s class, write a weekly newsletter to send to club members and plan upcoming events. The group is currently planning a trip to see the New York City Ballet’s “The Nutcracker.” “I like to do something fun with choreography,” Sharova said. “I like to incorporate contemporary elements … just to get people moving and actually dancing.” 3 p.m. | During this rare pocket of free time, Sharova tries to complete as much homework as possible. When she is not practicing Russian for her Russian Grammar and Composition 1 class, she’s writing and editing “Coming Home with Julie,” a play for her Playwriting Practicum seminar about a psychiatric patient with an imaginary friend. 5 p.m. | Sharova heads to her work-study job at the Cantor Film Center for her shift as a production assistant. Her night consists of a wide range of responsibilities, such as answering phones, handling room reservations for both movies and classes and working with clients who rent space in the building. 10:30 p.m. | While walking home from her shift, Sharova stops for pad Thai at her favorite Thai restaurant, Spice. She then returns to Gramercy and watches one of her favorite TV series — “American Horror Story,” “Doctor Who” or “How I Met Your Mother.” Nicole Del Mauro is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM THOR continued from PG. 1
Powerful action, engaging plot combine to make ‘Thor’ another marvelous hit
Thor devises a plan that could save the world — but if it fails, the Dark Elves win. It’s safe to say that audiences are more excited to see “The Dark World” than the first film because “The Avengers” was a box office success, and that excitement will not go unrewarded. There is more action in “The Dark World,” and it is packed with pleasant surprises, such as unexpected cameos, clever twists and spaceship chases that evoke some of the best of past sci-fi films. The only struggle for “The Dark World” is how it fits decades of Marvel lore into its exposition. Those unfamiliar with the history of Thor can
still disregard any background knowledge and enjoy the movie for what it is — a very entertaining action-adventure film that plays more like science fiction than a standard superhero movie. “Thor: The Dark World” might not be an important piece in the grand scheme of Marvel’s second phase of films, but it is sure to dazzle audiences with its action and humor. And be sure to stick around past the credits as well — two bonus scenes are included.
Compared with some of his more attention-hungry contemporaries, documentarian Alex Gibney has always remained resolutely behind the camera, doggedly attempting to prevent his personality from coloring his work. With that in mind, one can only imagine what it must have been like for Gibney to be unwillingly drafted into a story — not just as an observer but as a participant. Gibney’s latest documentary, “The Armstrong Lie,” began production as a film about Lance Armstrong’s 2009 comeback ride at the Tour de France. When fresh evidence emerged supporting the drug accusations that had dogged Armstrong for years, the film was put on indefinite hiatus. Only after Armstrong publicly confessed to having used drugs in an interview with Oprah did Gibney retrieve the already shot footage and began to comb through it retrospectively for clues. It is this search that is the meat of the finished film.
TV adaptations succeed by offering audiences fresh takes
Marcus Jones is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
‘Armstrong Lie’ delivers unique account of famous scandal By STEFAN MELNYK
5
Gibney is upfront about all of this, introducing himself at the beginning and narrating the documentary throughout. Though he may be uncomfortable with this more visible role in his film, it demonstrates his willingness to extend the philosophy of thorough research and transparency even to himself. What emerges is a film about narratives and particularly how the beauty of one narrative can give it precedence over a truer but uglier one. Gibney admits to wanting to believe Armstrong was the real deal and that he could win the 2009 comeback race without the help of drugs. However, as if more eager than ever to prove his scrupulousness, Gibney presents a fascinating layman’s primer on how bicycle race doping can be done, how it can be hidden from the authorities and even how certain powerful individuals in the cycling community might have been complicit in the cover up of Armstrong’s abuses. Other elements of the story are perfectly suited to Gibney’s tal-
ents as a filmmaker. The sordid underbelly of the cycling world and the secret doping arms race Armstrong joined are precisely the types of subjects Gibney excels in investigating and he goes at it with his characteristic aplomb and attention to detail. Gibney does not have the same kind of unrivaled access to Armstrong as he did to Eliot Spitzer in the deliciously seedy “Client 9.” He still manages to find enough friends, colleagues and enemies of the former pro cyclist to put together a mosaic portrait of an immensely guarded man who may not even fully understand why he did what he did. Gibney’s “The Armstrong Lie” may not be the definitive work that some of Gibney’s other films — like “Enron: The Smartest Guys in The Room” or “Taxi to the Dark Side” — were for their respective subjects, but it is nevertheless an excellent account of the Armstrong scandal and a fascinating departure for Gibney. Stefan Melnyk is a senior editor. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
The “Ironside” remake fails to improve upon its source material. By LAURA WOLFORD As the fall TV season continues, the success or failures of shows adapted from a source — whether from a book, film or another television show — become more readily apparent. Much of this has to do with the dedicated fanbases that are willing to give their show the support it needs, or the lack of a viewership networks expect a show to draw. One of NBC’s first cancellations this season was “Ironside,” a reboot of a late ’60s show of the same name. A cop series always has the potential to attract dedicated viewers, thanks to thematic elements that have remained popular with the public. Still, “Ironside’s” downfall proved that the idea audiences are still willing to watch something they’ve seen hundreds of times is a misconception. A premise that may have worked in the ’60s is no longer welcome in a modern TV landscape replete with prefers high-concept dramas and indepth fantasies. But even though audiences seem to love fantasies, that didn’t help ABC’s “Once Upon a Time in Wonderland” from being a ratings disaster. It hasn’t enjoyed nearly the same success as its parent series “Once Upon A Time.” Though the show has avoided cancellation thus far, its perilously low ratings do not bode well for its future. “Wonderland’s” lack of success is due to its inability to stake a unique claim separate from its predecessor. If both shows are too similar, one of them is bound to lose audience interest and between the two, the loser is “Wonderland.” However, one of the fall season’s biggest, and most surprising, successes came in the form of FOX’s “Sleepy Hollow.” The show has already been re-
newed for a second season and has quickly built a dedicated viewership. “Sleepy Hollow” engages supernatural-adoring audiences and fans of the famous 1820 short story, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” while also drawing in younger audiences through the central romance, mystery and modern spin. A show like “Sleepy Hollow” that can engage an audience in its world — not only through the setting but also through the lives of the characters — is a show that will stick around in the minds of viewers for years, constantly leaving them wanting more. AMC’s “The Walking Dead” is a clear example of this method put to practice. Not only does the apocalyptic world of zombies and constant terror draw in audiences in droves, but they also form a relationship with the characters, worrying for their futures in a harsh world. Even when critical reception wavers, “The Walking Dead” still manages to consistently rake in, and even gain, viewers. The lives of the characters and their struggles hook that audience, and the built-in fanbase from the original graphic novel series only helped lay the foundation for the show’s ratings success. This current TV season is a fascinating example of how adapting from a previous entity can contribute to a show’s success — but doesn’t guarantee it. In the cases of “Ironside” and “Wonderland,” the new iterations didn’t build or innovate upon their predecessors. It helps to introduce an audience to a universe while developing fresh, characterdriven stories. That way, old ideas can transform into something new and impressive. Laura Wolford is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
6
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10018 For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, November 7, 2013
THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword ACROSS 1 ___ skirt 5 “The Tao of Pooh” author Benjamin 9 One with ergophobia 14 “Look what I found!” cries 15 Kind of tradition 16 “___ talk?” 17 “Good thing I don’t have the same problem!” 19 Following 20 River of film 21 1986 top 10 hit for Billy Idol 23 That’s the point 24 Meal at which to drink four cups of wine 25 Part of a pickup line? 28 “___, boy!” 29 Earth goddess created by Chaos 33 Expanse 36 “Apparently”
38 What fell in the Fall 39 That is the question 41 Robert of “Quincy, M.E.” 42 One who may need a shower? 44 Holder of a pair of queens 46 Shiner 47 Milk sources 49 N.B.A. Hall-ofFamer Walker 50 Belgian battleground during W.W. I 52 Letters in car ads 54 “Truthfully …” 57 Brought up to speed 61 Yokel, in slang 62 Classic rock song in “Easy Rider” 64 G.W. competitor 65 P.D.Q. Bach’s “I’m the Village Idiot,” e.g. 66 Rep. Darrell of California
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE S A P S
H I R E
A D I N
F A N T A L O S S E L I U C L A M A I P R E S W A T T I J U M P A T E E R U N S
T N T S P G I I N G Y L A E N I K C A T V G
B O O I N G
L O F T
I N T H E P A L I O U R N G T S O I I P O L T H E O I R E O S
P A H I N M U T I N T S H F M D O I C H S T
P L E A S E
R A V I
E L E V
T A S E
N O T W A I I N L G I A N T O E N
T B I R D
S E X Y
G T O S
I S L E
67 Like the myth of Ragnarok 68 Luxury hotel name 69 Locale for a Village People hit, informally DOWN 1 “Scrubs” locale: Abbr. 2 “Don’t even think about it” 3 Bats 4 Showed politeness at the front door 5 Certain ring bearer 6 Relative of a gemsbok 7 ___ Schwarz 8 Fictional substance in a Disney film 9 Zodiac symbol 10 U.S.S. Enterprise chief engineer Geordi ___ 11 Where reruns run 12 Overly precious 13 Mister, overseas 18 ___ Balls 22 Christmas hymn beginning 24 Events at which people are dead serious? 25 Some pyramids 26 In two, say 27 Ohio city WSW of Columbus 28 It’s possessive 30 Some buggy drivers 31 Name on a bottle of Sensuous Nude perfume
Edited by Will Shortz 1
2
3
4
5
14
6
7
9
23 26
35
36
39
30
31
32
59
60
41
44
46
47
55
29 37
40
43
50
13
22
28 34
42
12
24
27
38
11
19 21
33
10
16
18
20
54
8
15
17
25
No. 1003
45
48
49
51
52
56
53
57
61
62
58
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
PUZZLE BY EVAN BIRNHOLZ
32 Half of an old comedy team 34 Caen cleric 35 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, e.g. 37 Drifts away 40 Quaker product 43 Chardonnay feature
45 “Whatever!” 48 Fancy suite amenity 51 In and of itself 52 Ball mate 53 Mr. ___ 54 What’s not for big shots? 55 38-Across’s genus
56 “Ah, my Beloved, fill the Cup that clears” poet 57 “I say” sayer 58 Menu section 59 Threat ender 60 Time of 1944’s Operation Neptune 63 “… goes, ___ go!”
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: Today’s 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.
NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
GOVERNMENT STAFF EDITORIAL
Political diversity stems from state laws By NINA GOLSHAN
On Monday, President Barack Obama submitted an article to The Huffington Post imploring Congress to pass the Employment NonDiscrimination Act, a measure that would protect members of the LGBTQ community from discrimination in the workplace. This past week, Senate Democrats have been rallying for Senate Republicans to support the bill rather than filibuster. The American people are familiar with this congressional tactic of delays and interruptions, and the president has grown tired of Congress’ inability to legislate in a civilized manner. But the gridlock in Washington, D.C. hasn’t left the country entirely helpless — thanks to federalism, the states have been able to take matters into their own hands. State governments have always practiced their sovereignty by passing laws leaning toward the public opinion within their smaller demographic of constituents. Now though, the most divisive issues in the nation are those Congress has not determined — gun control, gay marriage, immigration and abortion. States have been forced to pass their own legislation, and huge disparities in
public opinion from New Jersey to Oklahoma to California have contributed to the political divide between red and blue states. California passed a slew of firearm control bills in October, making it the state with the strictest gun control legislation in the country. Meanwhile, states like Alaska and Arizona, which allow anyone over the age of 21 to own a gun, show a stark contrast. The number of laws and resolutions related to immigration jumped by 83 percent since 2012 in a total of 43 states, and 34 states have passed voter identification laws, each one varying in stringency. Texas recently passed a controversial abortion law that would effectively shut down onethird of the states’ abortion clinics. Congress’ inaction following the NSA scandal has prompted over 10 states to pass online privacy laws, further restricting government us-
age of consumer information. These are the key issues facing the country today and the ones that will dominate midterm and presidential elections to come. Under the 10th Amendment, states are legally permitted to pass laws on all of these far-ranging issues. But are we still indivisible if none of our major policies coincide on a national level? Is it best for the country if, in the same year, one state permits concealed weapons in bars while another proposes banning semi-automatic rifles ? Many Americans blame money in Washington, D.C. and congressional gridlock for the growing political polarization in the United States. Congress continuously passes laws that widen the gap between residents of one state and another, so it comes as no surprise that there is disunity on a federal level. The deeprooted disagreements between states like California and Arizona on fundamental issues are signs of an inherent problem, which the incompetent members of Congress cannot resolve merely by passing legislation on the federal level. Nina Golshan is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
LANGUAGE
Simple diction reaches wider audience By OMAR ETMAN
My articles appear online on Thursday mornings. Every Thursday by dinner time, my mom has called me twice, each time with a different review. She shares praise first — the argument is strong, good opening sentence, the piece is well organized. Then criticism — your counter argument needs work, your introduction is boring and, invariably, your language is too wordy. “Why you are using such big words? Are you trying to confuse me and your dad?” she asks. She hands the phone to my dad, and he repeats my mother’s critique. “Omar, use smaller words, and fewer of them. I don’t understand what you are writing.” “Okay, Baba. I’ll keep that in mind,” I always say with feigned understanding. My mother prefers to speak in her native Arabic, in which she is eloquent and witty. But when she translates her thoughts to English, the meaning falters. Her lively personality is dampened by fear of hu-
SUBMITTING TO
7
miliation. When spoken to in English, her mind still turns to Arabic, taking in English thoughts, translating them into a familiar language for comprehension and reverting them to English for verbalization. All of this happens in the half second it takes to say “hello.” But after last week’s call, I gave their advice some more serious consideration. My mom and dad are physicians with doctorate degrees — proof that they can grasp complex ideas and abstract thoughts. So if they can’t understand the comparatively basic arguments I make, then perhaps their call for more straightforward words is warranted. The linguistic divide shouldn’t separate our shared cognition.
Big words, I slowly realized, do not equate to big thoughts. While it is easy to complicate an already complex issue, it is more difficult to make a complex problem simple. The late CEO of Apple Inc. Steve Jobs said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Fortunately for my parents, they found the truth in Jobs’ statement sooner than I did. Using language that is easy for the reader to understand is more important than using diction that gives the impression the writer has something to prove. The reader assumes intelligence — wordiness isn’t necessary to demonstrate it. Simple language is appealing in its universality. If I can make my articles easier for my parents to understand, then I can make them more accessible to others, reaching more minds and influencing more people. Here’s hoping my epiphany scores more positive reviews on my weekly phone calls. Omar Etman is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Campaigns, voters share blame for low turnout
Voter turnout has been a perpetual challenge in New York City, and Tuesday’s mayoral election was no exception, setting a record low of 24 percent of registered voters submitting a ballot for the general election. Out of the 8 million city residents, 4.6 million of whom are registered to vote, only 1.02 million New Yorkers actually cast a ballot. This follows a growing trend of low voter engagement in New York City. In the 2009 mayoral general election, fewer than one in five New Yorkers of voting age turned up at the polls. In the 2010 New York state federal midterm election, voter turnout in the city was considerably lower than the rest of the state — 28 percent for the city versus 53 percent for the state, respectively. Despite de Blasio’s campaign platform addressing pervasive economic inequality, lower-income residents statistically vote less frequently than their higher-income counterparts. 2009 estimates showed that if those in the lowest financial quintile voted at the same rate as the highest, 8.4 million more citizens would have cast ballots in 2008. Another study found only 31 percent of black Americans vote consistently, a troubling finding given that the stop-andfrisk policy debate affects minorities the most. One factor in particular can help explain the exceedingly low voter turnout of Tuesday’s election. Namely, the election fell on an off-year cycle where there are no major congressional or presidential elections, which can entice voters to visit the polls. But, even scheduling New York’s mayoral election to coincide with a more far-reaching one would not address the more systemic problems. This downward voter trend can be attributed to faults on both the campaign and the voter side of the equation. A London School of Economics study of 340 mayoral elections showed that as campaign spending per voter increases, so does the total turnout. Devoting campaign funds to get-outthe-vote initiatives or more widespread circulation of information about the candidates will mobilize voters who would otherwise choose to skip the trip to the ballot box. A number of simple yet effective measures have been suggested to increase voter turnout, such as reducing the travel time to the voting location by increasing the number of ballot boxes. Another provision would allow eligible voters to register right before voting, which would convenience new city residents. New Yorkers today are arguably the most apathetic voters in the nation. While efforts have been made to provide for a more streamlined voting process that is more accessible to all New Yorkers, the ultimate responsibility resides with the voter. The largest city in the United States should be represented by more than just an eighth of its citizens.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-chair), Harry Brown, Marcelo Cicconet, Christina Coleburn, Omar Etman, Nina Golshan, Nickhil Sethi
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.