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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 91 WOMEN’S SOCCER
Violets head to NCAA tourney
By CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO Sports Editor The NYU women’s soccer team will be returning to the NCAA tournament after a 12year hiatus. The Violets will be pitted against the Amherst College Jeffs in the first round of the tournament, which will take place on Nov. 15 in Rochester, New York. The tournament consists of 64 teams. NYU finished with an overall record of 11-5-2 and a 3-2-2 record in the UAA. The team ended its season with a grueling 0-0 double overtime stalemate against conference rival Brandeis University on Nov. 8. The tournament berth represents the attainment of one of the teams’ main goals going into the season. As with NCAA tournaments in other sports, this competition represents an opportunity for a fresh start for all teams involved. While the competition is fierce, the team hopes the thrill of reaching this point will be enough to propel it to an unlikely postseason run. Senior forward and co-captain Cami Crawford expressed the the team’s anticipation regarding the selection.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2014 FINANCES
University endowment hits $3.5 billion
By VALENTINA DUQUE BOJANINI News Editor
NYU’s endowment fund has seen a return of 13.7 percent in this fiscal year according to the university’s recently released Endowment Fund Summary. Following this increase, the endowment has reached $3.5 billion.
The university’s endowment serves as a permanent source of capital. The summary states that 4 percent of the endowment fund is used as a part of the operating budget. NYU spokesman Philip Lentz said the rest is used to provide funding for university programs, financial aid and improvements
Lentz added that the university’s low-risk approach to investments is meant to preserve the endowment fund for years to come. “We are certainly pleased when the endowment has a good year, but we don’t manage
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STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK
Gallatin professor Cyd Cipolla, New York Magazine editor Vanessa Grigoriadis and Columbia University graduate Marybeth Seitz-Brown (left to right) talk about rape culture on college campuses in the United States. They spoke at the Jerry H. Labowitz Theater in the Gallatin School on Monday, Nov. 11.
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Eat at famous TV, film spots
If you have ever walked into a restaurant for the first time and found it strangely familiar, there is likely a good reason — it could have been one of the hundreds of New York City restaurants made famous by movies and television. Here are a few places where you can eat like a star of the big or small screen. Since the HBO show “Girls” claims to portray what it is really like to live in New York in your 20s, it is no surprise that at least one of the main characters works at a coffee shop. But Café Grumpy, where Hannah (Lena Dunham) works as a barista while waiting for her
to academic facilities. “When the endowment does well, it enables the University to enhance the academic and scholarship experience it provides its students and that means greater financial aid, improved academic facilities and the hiring of world class scholars,” Lentz said.
SEXUAL ASSAULT ACTIVISM TAKES CENTER STAGE
DINING
By KENDALL LEVISON Staff Writer
nyunews.com
writing career to take off, has more going for it than just hipster cred. Grumpy is a well-respected coffee company in the city, and it roasts its own beans right next door to the cafe’s original location in Greenpoint (193 Meserole Ave.). You do not even have to watch a full episode of the FX show “Louie” to see a scene filmed at Ben’s Pizzeria (123 MacDougal St.). The pizza joint, first opened in 1956, appears as part of “Louie’s” opening sequence. Louis C.K. might be enjoying a slice as fuel before performing at a late night comedy club, but Ben’s is also a great place to grab a quick bite between classes. Next time you want your life to be just a little bit more like a Woody Allen movie, have din-
ner at the East Village institution, Lanza’s (168 First Ave.). The famous scene in “Manhattan Murder Mystery” where Allen’s character, Larry, and his cohorts solve a murder over dinner was filmed at this establishment. The scene shows Allen and company doing more drinking than eating, but you can assume that a dinner of Italian-American classics like spaghetti and meatballs and linguini with clams was essential to cracking the case. “Gossip Girl” might not be on the air anymore, but you can relive Serena and Blair’s glory days with a trip to one of their favorite Upper West Side haunts, The Russian Tea
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REVIEW
Electronic music scene thriving in Brooklyn By E.R. PULGAR Staff Writer
Despite recently celebrating its seventh year and establishing itself as an important showcase of Brooklyn’s unique nightlife, the Brooklyn Electronic Music Festival appropriately retained the gritty DIY attitude that the borough has become synonymous with. This year’s iteration, which took place on Nov. 7 and 8, was proof that electronic music culture in Brooklyn is as alive as ever. Co-created by Katie Longmyer and Jen Lyon as a celebration of Brooklyn’s role in
the global dance scene, the festival attracts both startup bands just getting their breaks, such as Golf Clap and Manik, and veterans of the underground, such as Booka Shade and Damian Lazarus. The festival was held in bars and clubs all over Williamsburg, including Verboten and Output, two of the area’s most renowned venues for underground music. The artists at Verboten on Saturday proved to be the best of the festival, and Francesca Lombardo with her makeshift string orchestra was a particular standout. It
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TODAY ON CAMPUS Chat with President Sexton
At the second Town Hall meeting of the fall semester with NYU President John Sexton, students will have the opportunity to directly interact with Sexton and ask any questions about NYU. The event will be held in room 404/405 in the Kimmel Center for University Life from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
In Flanders Fields the Bombs Still Blow: The Environmental Legacies of the First World War Tait Keller of Rhodes College will give a talk exploring the environmental impacts of World War I. He will reveal the ecological effects that are still present today at the lecture on the fifth floor of Bobst Library from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Great New Books in the Humanities: Critical Terms for the Study of Gender
Fall is in full bloom at Washington Square Park.
STAFF PHOTO BY HANNAH LUU
Editors Catharine Stimpson and Gilbert Herdt will discuss their book, “Critical Terms for the Study of Gender,” which examines the role of gender across cultures and environments, on the fifth floor of 20 Cooper Square from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. They will expand upon the notion of rapidly changing gender systems. TODAY’S EVENTS ARE FREE FOR NYU STUDENTS.
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Clean Start program gives students leg up in tech industry By LONG LI Contributing Writer
NYU recently announced its new Clean Start accelerator program, which will provide 15 people with training and networking opportunities to help them launch a career in the energy industry. The accelerator, which was unveiled on Oct. 29, is a certificate program sponsored jointly by the Center for Global Affairs at the School of Professional Studies and New York City Accelerator for a Clean and Resilient Economy, a project under the Polytechnic School of Engineering. CGA director Michelle D’Amico, who is also in charge of selecting the candidates for Clean Start, said the program will provide students with the real-world expertise that is needed to succeed in the energy industry. “One of the unique qualities of this program is we have people who started their own clean tech companies and they will be teaching courses,” D’Amico said. “We have people who are working within their Urban Future Lab and are handling these issues in a real way on a day-to-day basis.”
The Urban Future Lab at Poly hosts the Clean Start program. The semester-long program will begin in late January, providing 120 hours of courses that will take place on evenings and weekends, when candidates who are already working will be able to go to classes. D’Amico said admission to the program will mainly focus on people with some level of
Assault victim encourages activism By MARITA VLACHOU Deputy News Editor
Sexual assault in the context of recent student activism movements was discussed in an event hosted by the Urban Democracy Lab as part of the Roman Tragedies Festival on Nov. 10. The discussion was moderated by Gallatin faculty member Cyd Cipolla, and featured New York Magazine contributing editor Vanessa Grigoriadis and Columbia alumna and activist Marybeth Seitz-Brown. Seitz-Brown, who has been a victim of sexual violence, discussed the importance of educating faculty and students in colleges to fight sexual assault. “[Sexual assault] is about individual cases, but it’s also about rethinking what it means to be educated, and what it means to be a part of a campus community, but also a part of all communities,” Seitz-Brown said. Grigoriadis said victims openly discussing their personal stories has had an impact on the way the public perceives sexual violence. “I think the fact that people have been willing to put their full real names and faces to their stories has completely changed the image of rape and rape victim that we had 10 or 15 years ago,” Grigoriadis said.
experience or knowledge in the energy industry. She added that most students will probably not be full-time. “This is a non-degree program, and anybody who is currently pursuing a degree is not likely to take this program,” D’Amico said. Emily Wheeler, the director
PHOTO BY LONG LI
of NYC ACRE and Urban Future Lab, said this program would be primarily for professionals who have already worked in the energy industry or related industries for five to 10 years. She added that several cleantech startups who have partnered with the program would have a chance to look for tal-
ents who can fit into the culture and the environment. “They are always looking to bring smart people on, and it takes a lot of time and a lot of effort to find those right people,” Wheeler said. Wheeler also said veterans will receive special consideration during the selection of candidates for the program. “We will try to accept as many veterans as we can,” she said. “We’re also in the process of working to have the G.I. Bill cover their tuition completely.” The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, commonly known as the G.I. Bill, provides military veterans with a range of benefits, including payment for education. Carolyn Kissane, academic director of the NYU School of Professional Studies Center for Global Affairs, said the school is working to inform more veterans about the new program. “There is the veteran representative from the School of Professional Studies that is specifically targeting, in terms of marketing this program, to veterans,” Kissane said. Email Long Li at news@nyunews.com.
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Funding sees 13.7 percent return
STAFF PHOTO BY CALVIN FALK
Editor Vanessa Grigoriadis (center) discusses the importance of dialogue. Seitz-Brown discussed the importance of implementing education about consent at a young age. “For a really long time we’ve left the idea of consent out of the conversation, and if we want to create moral citizens who are contributing to positive healthy environment communities, we have to constantly and really meaningfully address consent,” Seitz-Brown said. CAS senior Emma Pliskin, who works at Bellevue Hospital as a rape crisis advocate, said the panel offered interesting insights into current student activism movements. “I think it’s powerful to have [Seitz-Brown] here standing as a survivor and as an activist currently working within the movement, since she was able to lend a different perspective,” Pliskin said. Grigoriadis attended the recent “Carry That Weight” demonstrations organized by Columbia student and sexual assault victim Emma Sulkowicz, where she highlighted the importance of addressing the issue of sexual assault. “[This protest] is one of the most powerful social justice images that I can recall, at least in the past decade,” Grigoriadis said. Seitz-Brown said the conversation
on sexual violence should not only focus on individuals, but also tackle the issue as a whole. “There are downsides to having one individual that is so open and so picked at by the media, but hopefully the conversation is focused on more than that,” Seitz-Brown said. “Our movement has to be more than Emma and I think it is.” Gallatin sophomore Dylan Meehan said listening to people of different backgrounds, including Grigoriadis, discuss the issue of sexual assault emphasized the importance of striving for reforms. “To see an outside reporter who’s heard all these stories be like ‘Yes, this is a serious issue that we have to be on top of,’ it brings the issue into perspective,” Meehan said. Pliskin said it is comforting to see group solidarity on the issue of sexual assault. “There is a responsibility for all students to stand up and say that there can be collective university response that can really add power to this movement, even if we haven’t had one specific incidence here that’s been powerful,” Pliskin said. Email Marita Vlachou at mvlachou@nyunews.com.
the endowment to maximize year-to-year results,” Lentz said. “Rather, we manage the endowment so that it can serve the University both today and for generations to come.” The Endowment Fund Summary report pointed out that this conservative approach protects the endowment fund. “Implementation of NYU’s investment policy strategy has resulted in less severe losses during down markets, allowing for more stable compounding, which the University has preferred given continuous spending distributions and a conservative risk tolerance,” the summary reads. “NYU’s strategy and policy choices and emphasis on risk management means that the Fund is not expected to outperform the market or long-term benchmark in short-term periods.” Aside from investments, the summary said donor contributions are an important source of growth for the fund. CAS junior and Student Labor Action Movement spokesperson Anne Falcon said the university should be using this money to address the needs of students and faculty. “The NYU administration has historically prioritized their own profit-seeking agenda over the needs of their students and faculty,” Falcon said. “A reality which is continually being
exemplified by such actions as the explicit rejection by NYU spokespeople for public appeals to increase financial aid or the continuing struggle to
“We manage the endowment so that it can serve the University both today and for generations to come.” — Philip Lentz reach a contract between our graduate student TAs and the administration, whose basic demands include comprehensive health and dental care plans and measures of job security.” The university has previously stated that they are committed to improving financial aid and reaching an agreement with the graduate student union. “We mutually remain committed to achieving a good and fair contract that properly recognizes the contributions of our unionized employees,” NYU spokesman John Beckman told WSN for a Sept. 29 article. Email Valentina Duque Bojanini at vbojanini@nyunew.com.
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DINING
EDITED BY REBECCA RIDDLE DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
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Local eateries from favorite shows, movies
Room (150 W. 57th St.). While it might provide the perfect atmosphere for plotting to take down backstabbing socialites, the restaurant has been used in countless other movies and TV shows. A climactic scene from Dustin Hoffman’s 1982 movie “Tootsie” takes place in one of the Tea Room’s famous red booths. Anne Hathaway’s character Andy in “The Devil Wears Prada” might work at a fashion magazine, but she still finds time to
eat. Andy and her friends try to meet for drinks at Bubby’s (120 Hudson St.), but they only have time to make fun of her Marc Jacobs purse before she is pulled away by her obligation to her new life as an assistant. Though no one in the movie stuck around long enough to actually order a slice of Bubby’s famous pie, you can and should — just ignore any phone calls from Meryl Streep. Email Kendall Levison at dining@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY MATT D. GOLDMAN
Ben’s Pizzeria is featured in “Louie” and is also a popular stop for NYU students.
Fill up with these NYU food clubs
Delicious eats for Polish Independence Day By ZOE THOMPSON Contributing Writer
By DHRITI TANDON Staff Writer
Various clubs at NYU provide students with opportunities to have unique dining experiences. Students can also take cooking classes for various cuisines, make food for the homeless and more with fellow club members. If you want to meet other people with similar interests in food, consider checking out some of these clubs.
Krishna Bhakti Club Inspired by the Hindu spiritual ideals of vegetarianism, the Krishna Bhakti club provides its members with an educational experience on vegetarian food. Open to all NYU students, the club’s main events are vegetarian cooking classes, where club members are taught quick-and-easy techniques to make delicious vegetarian dishes. Members also enjoy the vegetarian meals they learned how to make after the demos. CAS junior Sage Morrison is appreciative of the club’s eccentric atmosphere and people. “It’s nice to have a veggie place,” Morrison said. “It creates a safe space for what can be a strange collection of people to sit and talk.”
Icing on the Cake Club Perfect for the dessert fans of NYU, the Icing on the Cake Club creates an environment where students can learn and appreciate the art of baking and decorating. The club em-
STAFF PHOTO BY CHRISTIAN FORTE
The Cheese Club has various types of cheese at its events. phasizes the “eat with your eyes” philosophy and offers bi-monthly workshops and events where club members can learn new ways to creatively decorate their desserts. Piping, sculpting and icing are some of the techniques that are taught at the events, which each come with a $3 price tag. For CAS freshman Mei Zhu, the club was a great way for her to learn from fellow bakers on campus. “The club activities have given me new insights into decorating my baked desserts,” Zhu said. “My favorite club moment is when we take pictures with our decorated desserts after the workshops.”
The Cheese Club The Cheese Club is perfect for dairy lovers, as it provides its members with an opportunity to explore their passion for cheese. The club is a social club that allows cheese fans to come together and indulge in cheese-inspired conversations. Students can find a wide variety of cheeses at the club events, which are also an opportunity for one to expand one’s knowledge on different types of cheeses. Kimberly Wang, Gallatin
sophomore and cheese enthusiast, said she appreciates the club’s unconventional means of connecting people who share common interests. “I think that’s a great and fun way for people to get together and try new things,” Wang said. “It’s not the usual club, but it’s a great way to get people together.”
Club EAT Club EAT, which stands for Eating, Affecting, Talking, is the Steinhardt undergraduate nutrition club, but is open to anyone. The club aims to raise awareness about nutrition and food studies through various events such as market scavenger hunts, professional networking events and cooking meals for the homeless. Controversial food-related topics such as genetically modified organisms and sustainable farming are also discussed during club meetings. Steinhardt senior Lauren Coull goes to the club’s events to meet people who share her interests. “I love it, it’s a great social gathering to connect with people in a similar field as yourself,” Coull said. Email Dhriti Tandon at dining@nyunews.com.
Today marks Polish Independence Day, a holiday in which the public honors the sovereignty of the Polish state. As New York City is home to one of the largest Polish communities in America, sampling some authentic Polish cuisine is the perfect way to celebrate. Traditionally, Polish cuisine has integrated elements from its neighbors. As a result, Eastern European Jewish communities largely influence Poland’s food. Though strongly rooted in tradition, the cuisine continues to develop and is influenced by other regions and tastes. Steinhardt freshman Claudia Gutowski will be celebrating her national holiday by tucking into hearty pierogi, which are potato dumplings typically filled with meat, cheese, potato and sauerkraut. On of her favorite places to go is the East Village’s Little Poland (200 Second Ave.). “I went in the beginning of October,” Gutowski said. “It was so cozy and it really felt like I was in Poland.” With friendly service, generous portions and low prices by Manhattan standards, Little Poland can provide an authentic yet affordable Polish dining experience. On the menu are a range of Polish dishes, such as kielbasa ($5.95), which is Polish white sausage that is eaten with pickled cucumbers. Little Poland also serves Beef Goulash ($11.25), which is a slow cooked stew and borscht ($4.25), a beetroot and tomato soup. Bigos ($12.50), a seasoned stew made from sauerkraut and an array of meats, is also on the menu. If you are feeling hungry, you can indulge in a Combination Platter ($16.50), which includes four pierogies, one stuffed cabbage, kielbasa and bigos. If you are not satisfied with Little Poland, try sampling the Polish cuisine at Lomzynianka (646 Manhattan Ave.). Tucked away in Brooklyn’s
Greenpoint is a resolutely Polish neighborhood in which Lomzynianka resides. The bustling and welcoming restaurant provides a great atmosphere to experience Polish culture. Named after Lomza, a town in northeastern Poland, the restaurant offers an array of delicious food for moderate prices.
PHOTO BY MANPREET KAUR
Little Poland is one of the many East Village eateries that offer authentic cuisine. For appetizers, you can find many types of dishes such as borscht, breaded dumplings and kielbasa ($6), which comes in a hearty potato and sausage broth. For main courses, the restaurant offers rustic dishes such as boiled beef with horseradish sauce ($7.50), Veal Balls in Dill Sauce ($7.50) and Breaded Chicken Cutlet Stuffed with Mushrooms ($9). If you are still not full, Lomzynianka’s dessert menu includes gooey, cheese blintzes ($5.50), which are covered in warm blueberries, strawberries or cherries. Whether you are Polish, American or neither, you should stop counting calories, loosen your belts and sample the delicious, authentic Polish fare New York City has to offer. Email Zoe Thompson at dining@nyunews.com.
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ARTS
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Festival showcases Brooklyn dance scene
is not every day that one sees ravers pounding their fists to the beat of an upright bass or a string section onstage during a deep house set. While there were more commercial EDM and house artists present at the festival, the dominating scene was undoubtedly underground. This was not Electric Daisy Carnival — there were no flower crowns or people too busy Instagramming to actually enjoy the music. Instead, crowds were more like those of a typical night club. These were partygoers who actually listened to deep house, and who appreciated the music as much as they loved going wild. Brooklyn clubgoers reveled in the magic
of deep house and how one can lose track of time having fun on the dance floor. The organized chaos and overall mesh may have been disconcerting for some, but this festival highlighted the intelligence of Brooklyn’s underground scene. These DJs entered the scene on their own, and their fans were no different. In the center of these clubs, everything flowed so organically that one would not have thought it was the smallscale festival that it really was. It is a testament to the energy of the location that it felt so big, even in smaller venues like Kinfolk. BEMF came about after Brook-
PHOTO BY LOLA IZOLA
Both well-known and underground artists performed in bars and clubs across Williamsburg from Nov. 7 to 8. lyn carved out its path as the grittier, more intelligent alternative to the clubs in Manhattan. Self-made, unique and
Irish singer talks NYC concert
its night life. Email E.R. Pulgar at music@nyunews.com.
REVIEW
‘Disgraced’ swiftly looks at stereotypes By SUZANNE EGAN Staff Writer
By JEAN-LUC MARSH Contributing Writer
Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow first made waves with his debut “Early in the Morning” in 2011. His sophomore album, “Post Tropical,” dropped this year, and saw him putting an electronic spin on the folk arrangements that propelled him to critical success, making it easy to peg McMorrow as a cross between James Blake and Bon Iver. WSN spoke with McMorrow over the phone about his artistic development, getting out of his own head and his show at The Town Hall on Nov. 10. McMorrow said his voice is a motivator in his endeavors into electronic music. “I’ve never really sung particularly eloquently on top of an acoustic guitar,” McMorrow said. “It was always just something that was there and I could carry on my back as I traveled around. I wanted to push myself as a producer a bit more, and make something that wasn’t just me with a guitar, me with a piano or me with a synthesizer, something that was deeper into the idea of production value and sonic depth.” When it comes to his music, everything McMorrow does is deliberate. He listed the instruments he has picked up throughout his career, including the drums, guitar, ukulele and mandolin, but insists that
irrevocably itself, the festival cements this legacy as it promulgates and celebrates the diverse and unapologetic vibe of
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James Vincent McMorrow’s latest album has electronic influences. singing is what he does best. “The only thing I really feel I do well is sing,” McMorrow said. “Everything else I learned in order to facilitate my desire to sing.” There is a refreshing independence to his take on making music, but it is not haphazard or dilettante. McMorrow tends to exercise complete control over his oeuvre. “That’s why I play all these instruments that I play,” McMorrow explained. “It’s because I wanted to learn them and I couldn’t find people that could do what I wanted to do, so I did it myself.” McMorrow recognized that this complete control has its drawbacks, however. “I was always very wary,” McMorrow said. “I always wanted to keep things in my own head until they were as finished as possible, because the idea of playing something that wasn’t finished always terrified me.” His drive for musical excellence also prompted McMorrow to make a major life change for his tour — he stopped drinking altogether.
“I felt like I wasn’t giving my best onstage, and also I wasn’t even aware if I was giving my best or not because I was just always a little bit buzzed,” McMorrow said. “This is a job, and there’s people paying money to these shows. The shows got way better.” Giving the impression that this latest tour is a sort of curated vision of what McMorrow has been planning all along, he explained his choice to perform at The Town Hall. “It’s not a well-trodden path,” McMorrow said. “I wanted to do it in a place that we could do the full production the way I kind of pictured it.” Every part of his shows is practiced and calculated, but McMorrow has one part of each performance that he looks forward to — singing “Cavalier.” “I think [the song] sounds exactly how I’ve always wanted it to sound,” McMorrow said. “It does something within the room that really just brings the whole show together.” Email Jean-Luc Marsh at music@nyunews.com.
It is difficult to describe “Disgraced,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Ayad Akhtar that opened on Oct. 23 at the Lyceum Theatre. Its advertisements focus more on its TV star cast, which includes Josh Radnor (“How I Met Your Mother”) and Gretchen Mol (“Boardwalk Empire”), than the actual plot, and its website offers vague descriptions like “a provocative tale of big city aspiration and cultural assimilation.” This explanation provides little information about what happens on stage, but it gives audiences a good idea of what the play will have them think about. Rest assured, “Disgraced” will make viewers think. This drama about a disastrous Upper East Side dinner party presents compelling ideas concerning perception and prejudice. The party is hosted by Amir and Emily Kapoor, played by Hari Dhillon and Mol. The Kapoors are well-off — he is a lawyer at a prestigious firm and she’s an up-andcoming artist whose latest show is inspired by Islamic art. Amir is hyper-aware of how society views his Muslim heritage, so he goes to great lengths to distance himself from it. He abandoned the religion, changed his name and vehemently avoids Muslim activists, whom Emily pressures him to meet. Despite her good intentions, Emily is a breathing characterization of white saviorism. She defends Islamic culture and history, but in her attempts to empower Amir she misses, or perhaps ignores, the fact that Amir controls his own identity, thereby undermining the cause she’s attempting to fight for.
Their relationship provides an intriguing thematic conflict, but unfortunately their chemistry falls completely flat. Additionally, Amir’s exchanges with his young cousin Abe (Danny Ashok) feel haphazard. The one relationship that feels genuine comes from Isaac and Jory — the couple that joins the Kapoors for dinner. Played by Radnor and an exceptional Karen Pittman, this couple feels uncomfortably real in the way they tease and passive-aggressively jab one another. Their amusing banter provides a distraction from the tension brewing between Amir and Emily — but that does not last long. The dinner starts with amiable chit-chat, but when religion comes up, as it inevitably does when Emily is in the room, the characters became very tense very quickly. The scene is challenging to watch, first because of the extreme prejudices the characters admit to and later because of the disturbing violence it builds to. There is screaming, hair-pulling, spitting, crying and punching, and that is all before the climax. Some of these histrionics feel gratuitous — the dialogue is strong on its own, and the theatrics take away more than they add. Akhtar’s ideas cut through the chaos at the climax, however. At its best, the play’s final moment reinforces the question of perception, asking the audience how they really see each other and themselves. At the very least, it warns against discussing politics and religion at parties. “Disgraced” is playing at the Lyceum Theatre, 149 W. 45th St., through Feb. 15. Email Suzanne Egan at theater@nyunews.com.
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Crossword ACROSS 1 Fix, as an election 4 Mountaineer’s undertaking 9 Oktoberfest exclamation 14 Swiss river 15 Fisher with a pot 16 Show one’s sorry (for) 17 Lt.’s inferior 18 Hoist 19 Out-and-out 20 Oktoberfest exclamation 23 Opening of a play 24 Amped 28 Oktoberfest exclamation 31 Metro stop: Abbr. 32 Vegetarian’s protein source 33 ___ Vegas 34 Joe of “Casino” 36 Access the Internet, say
37 Oktoberfest exclamation 39 Mother hen’s charges 42 Zones 43 Size of an idiot’s brain, jokingly 46 Flight-related prefix 47 TV channel often on in airports 48 Oktoberfest exclamation 50 Loses one’s grip? 52 Lose one’s grip 53 Oktoberfest exclamation 58 Martian, e.g. 61 The “U” of E.U. 62 Time in history 63 Sci-fi or romance 64 Hedren of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” 65 ___ Aviv 66 9-, 20-, 28-, 37-, 48- or 53-Across 67 Knight’s ride
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68 Used a tuffet, e.g.
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DOWN 1 Klugman’s co-star on “The Odd Couple” 2 Lee who led Chrysler, 197892 3 Warts and such 4 ___ denied (Supreme Court phrase) 5 One of Jacob’s wives 6 “Would ___ to you?” 7 See-through stocking material 8 Recess 9 Impertinent 10 With nowhere to go but down 11 Auction grouping 12 Arles article 13 German magazine ___ Spiegel 21 Actress Vardalos 22 ___ cozy 25 Follow relentlessly 26 Martian’s craft, say 27 Many a “?” clue in a crossword 29 Apple music player 30 Encountered 31 Derision 35 All-stars 36 Sot 37 Enthusiastic supporters
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38 Cul-de-___ 39 Prada product 40 Old car that’s an anagram of 41-Down 41 Refinery input 43 Some rabbit food 44 Land on the Red Sea 45 Paver’s supply
47 Low isle 49 That: Sp. 51 Claude who painted “Water Lilies” 54 The “U” of C.P.U. 55 Offensivesmelling
56 Bill Clinton’s Arkansas birthplace 57 Sooner city 58 Insurance worker: Abbr. 59 Fierce sort, astrologically 60 ___ pickle
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY CHRISTINA COLEBURN OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
TECH INDUSTRY
Apple’s fight over payment apps hurts industry By MATTHEW TESSLER Staff Columnist
Apple Pay is great. Having a random, encrypted security code stored within the hardware of a phone that keeps digits hidden can greatly reduce the risk of credit card fraud. If a phone is lost, the owner can remotely erase his or her information. If a retailer is hacked, credit card numbers will not be stored. Apple Pay is also simple, bringing users one step closer to the technologically enhanced future that awaits them. This future has in large part been engendered by Apple. The industry giant has gained a reputation for being the wealthiest and most powerful company in the world. The corporation gives customers yet another reason to shell out $600 every two years. While the innovative payment platform is not novel, Apple has introduced an enticing new product to an otherwise stagnant system. Despite profiteering, Apple has created something that could slow the epidemic of credit card fraud in this country, saving billions of dollars. The biggest threat to Apple Pay’s
success is that brick-and-mortar stores have alternative plans. Squeezed by the push toward online shopping, these stores rely on narrow profit margins that are further slimmed by the 2 percent fees paid to credit card companies. A coalition of retailers called Merchant Customer Exchange was created to use the mobile payment platform to bypass these credit card companies and go straight to the bank. Their app, CurrentC, is clunky at best and hopelessly inferior to Apple’s system. When retailers refused to accept Apple Pay in order to give CurrentC the opportunity to compete, the reaction was negative. People were quick to support Apple and criticize the retailers’ transparent attempt at exacting more profits and capturing customers’ data. When CurrentC was hacked, it further showed
that MCX was apathetic to customers. Retailers are not the only corporations involved — credit card companies and Apple have also been ruthless. In the past, Apple has negatively impacted both consumers and manufacturers by inflating prices and using brutal factories for production. In the public arena, Apple has an elevated reputation, painting itself as philanthropic with fantastic new devices that change lives. While it is true that Apple products have had a stunning global impact, the company is not entirely innocent. Before individuals blindly support Apple, they should think critically. Retailers breaking up the control of credit card companies is beneficial for consumers and the small businesses that are forced to pay these fees. These retailers may not have Apple’s marketing teams, but individuals need to be cognizant of Apple, which will seize profits as easily as the next corporation. The public should not endorse Apple going unchallenged in this sector — competitors should not be denied a chance. Email Matthew Tessler at opinion@nyunews.com.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Low-effort activism still has its place By TOMMY COLLISON Staff Columnist
Social networking has grown in popularity in the last decade, and so has the number of people using the likes of Facebook and Twitter to raise awareness of the latest social cause. Many people became familiar with Kony 2012, #BringBackOurGirls and the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge when they exploded on their news feeds. Ebola awareness also found a place in social media when Facebook recently displayed a message at the top of users’ feeds asking them to donate to organizations working in West Africa. But when campaigns like these gain traction, critics often discount them as “armchair activism” or “slacktivism” — mocking the fact that this brand of activism relies on social media trends to thrive. Admittedly, some people only engage in these trends to garner Facebook likes, but this is still a small price to pay for the awareness the campaigns raise. Despite disapproval, armchair activism can be a useful organizing technique. Criticism of low-effort activism centers on the idea that sharing
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an image or using a hashtag to draw attention to a social cause is unlikely to make a real-world impact. It is also argued that the practice instills a false sense of having made a difference. There is some validity to these critiques. No one would say that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis — the disease that prompted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge — is less of a problem because many individuals learned about it through Facebook. It is unlikely that those who tweeted using #BringBackOurGirls expected social media alone to rescue the over 200 Nigerian girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram last April. Although these campaigns may not completely eradicate the issue, they do achieve two crucial aims: they generate charity and attention from people who may
not have heard about the issues otherwise, and they normalize the practice of using social networks to draw attention to causes. Perhaps the only shortcoming of online activism is that it is subject to the whims of current popularity. While Facebook’s featured post about Ebola may correspond with trending news, there are other health concerns that are denied attention because they do not receive comparable coverage. Around 600,000 Americans die from heart disease every year, yet Ebola is at the forefront of armchair activism. Although armchair activism is an imperfect way of raising money, it is still a valuable one. The alternative to slacktivism is not traditional activism for most people — more often than not, the alternative is doing nothing. While slacktivism alone will not entirely solve issues like disease or terrorism, the public awareness it brings to these problems is nonetheless beneficial. Armchair activism still has its place and is an increasingly crucial part of social movements. Email Tommy Collison at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Marijuana reform marks positive shift
NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton announced on Nov. 10 that New York City police will now write tickets instead of handcuffing people who are caught with less than 25 grams of marijuana. Rather than being taken to station houses for fingerprinting, these individuals will be issued court summonses. Although the cost of the fine has not yet been revealed, this reform still marks a positive change. The New York City Police Department makes tens of thousands of arrests annually for low-level marijuana offenses. In 2013 alone, over 28,000 people overall were arrested for marijuana possession, and they were overwhelmingly black or Hispanic. This policy shift represents a notable effort that indicates Mayor Bill de Blasio’s commitment to address the ineffective crackdown on marijuana and the stop-and-frisks that have ensued. Since 1977, the maximum penalty for carrying up to 25 grams of marijuana has been a $100 fine. Critics say police officers have exploited a loophole in the law that enables them to stop individuals and ask them to empty their pockets, creating an opportunity for a public possession arrest. Current reforms come amid strained relations between the NYPD and the public. A May 2014 study by the Marijuana Arrest Research Project highlighted the racial disparity in current possession policing. During the first three months of this year, 86 percent of people arrested for marijuana possession in the city were black or Hispanic. De Blasio, whose campaign platform included an emphatic stance against stop-and-frisk, has strived to soothe tensions — a difficult task when considering how deeply entrenched the practice is in New York City’s consciousness. The removal of arrest warrants going forward is most critical. Black men are disproportionately arrested for drug-related crimes throughout the United States, roughly twice as often as their white counterparts. If current trends continue, one-third of all black men will, at some point, go to prison. While in prison, these men become burdens to the government and are absent in communities that desperately need them present. The removal of arrest penalties represents an important step for improving welfare in majority black and majority Hispanic communities — the more young men present, the more families supported, the more jobs held and the more solid the social framework. The decision to ticket rather than arrest can be seen as an affirmative advancement in rolling back the war on drugs, which has been ineffective in several respects. The crackdown on marijuana has resulted in excessive arrests, failed containment, racial profiling and wasted resources. By ticketing people with small amounts of marijuana, the NYPD is taking a reasonable stance against a relatively harmless crime. This policy is long overdue. Hopefully, it will be rehabilitative for New York City and serve as a productive step in righting the wrongs that can be attributed to the questionable enforcement of the stop-and-frisk program.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Christina Coleburn (Chair), Omar Etman (Co-chair), Adam Fazlibegu (Co-chair), Tess Woosley (Co-chair) ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ
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.
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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS COLUMN
EDITED BY CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
NFL in no rush to resinstate Adrian Peterson
By CHARLES SURETTE Contributing Writer
This week, news emerged that the NFL Players Association would petition the NFL to reinstate Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson after he plead guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge. Peterson was arrested on Sept. 13 and was charged with child abuse after disciplining his son with a switch, causing welts and severe bruising. At the time of the incident, Peterson was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list with the stipulation that he be removed from the list following the conclusion of his legal case. With Peterson’s case resolved, the NFLPA will likely file a grievance with the league if Peterson is not quickly reinstated. Despite the NFLPA’s overtures, the NFL will likely be in no rush to make a decision on Peterson’s fate, especially after the league’s botched handling of assault charges surrounding former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice. Rice, who was charged with assault after he was videotaped
beating his then-fiancée unconscious in an elevator in February, was only given a two-game suspension by the NFL, which prompted public outcry. To make matters worse, reports emerged that the NFL was urged by the Ravens to be lenient with Rice, and after news broke that the league had access to extended footage of the incident, the NFL was forced to suspend Rice indefinitely amid calls for Commissioner Roger Goodell’s resignation. CAS junior Austin Coury drew comparisons between Peterson’s and Rice’s cases. “The Adrian Peterson situation is a little bit murkier than that of Ray Rice,” Coury said. “A good percentage of Americans believe in some form of corporal punishment, and it’s not clear if what Adrian Peterson did was overboard or not.” Corporal punishment of this nature occurs more frequently than one may think. According to a 2007 study of adolescents by the University of Virginia, 51 percent of them responded that they had been hit by their mother with a belt. In addition to differences
between Rice’s and Peterson’s circumstances, the NFL will likely have to tread carefully with respect to the legal process. Much has been made of the fact that the NFL commissioner has assumed a quasijudicial position, with nearly unilateral power to levy fines and penalties on players, irrespective of outside legal proceedings. With long-simmering controversy over Goodell’s tenure as commissioner intensifying in recent months, this could be an opportunity for the NFL to signal to fans and media alike that it will allow the legal system to have the final say on its players without exerting its own influence. The dilemma the NFL now faces is the public perception that it cares about profit over principle. The league was rightly criticized for its handling of a spate of domestic abuse cases in recent months. Despite the conclusion of Peterson’s legal situation, the NFL could still prevent his immediate reinstatement on the grounds of the league’s personal conduct policy. The league will likely face pressure from
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Adrian Peterson may return to the Minnesota Vikings after legal issues.
the public to not make similar mistakes in its disciplinary procedures. Immediately reinstating Peterson without further punishment may make the NFL appear soft on abuse in the eyes of many, only further damaging
its already tarnished image. The NFL will now be left to juggle the demands of due process and public relations. Email Charles Surette at sports@nyunews.com.
NCAA continued from PG. 1
Soccer heads to NCAA tournament
“We are so excited,” Crawford said. “We’ve been working very hard and we’re excited to see where our hard work takes us.” Freshman midfielder Stephanie Ho reiterated Crawford’s sentiments and said she is proud of the team and the program. “It’s definitely a great accomplishment for the program,” Ho said. “We are doing big things and getting the respect and recognition we have worked hard for. I, like the rest of the team, am excited to play and show everyone what we’ve worked so hard for.” Recognizing the possibility of losing focus in the postseason, head coach Michelle Canning stressed the importance of maintaining the team’s drive, while at the same time lauding the accomplishments of her players. “We are really excited about our selection to the tournament,” Canning said. “It is a big step for the program. We will be very focused this week in practice to make sure we are prepared for the game on Saturday.” After the thrill of their selection, the players and coaches will now turn their attention to their next opponent, Amherst College. In a single elimination tournament, there is not a lot of room for mistakes in game planning or execution. It is also important not to look too far into the future and to
STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SAM BEARZI
The Violets head to the tournament for the first time in 12 years. keep concentrating on the task at hand. Amherst had a similar record to that of NYU at 11-5-0. What differs is the Jeffs’ level of experience. While the Violets have not reached the tournament in 12 years, Amherst has been selected four years in a row. The Jeffs have also reached the quarterfinals as recently as 2011. Am-
herst is very stout defensively, as it has only surrendered eight goals during the year. If the Violets are able to defeat Amherst, they will face either Nazareth College or Worcester State University in the round of 32 on Sunday, Nov. 16. Email Chris Marcotrigiano at cmarcotrigiano@nyunews.com.