WSN111314

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 42, No. 93

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014

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EDUCATION

Research program examines universal pre-K

By STEPHANIE GRELLA Staff Writer

In an effort to support New York’s pre-K programs, NYU Steinhardt’s Institute for Human Development and Social Change has partnered with the New York City Department of Education

and the New York City Center for Economic Opportunity.

Funded by the U.S. DOE’s Institute of Education Sciences and the Spencer Foundation, this project will help educators and researchers better understand how universal pre-K programs support children throughout the school year.

Pamela Morris, director of IHDSC and the project’s co-principal investigator, said she believes this project will provide unprecedented research that will help tailor programs for pre-K students.

“What we were wanting to do was really provide a dashboard for the city,” Morris said. “It turns out

that the city has very good information on enrollment but had less information on how kids were doing in terms of their cognitive and socioemotional development over the course of the year.”

The program is part of Mayor Bill

PRE-K continued on PG. 2

MEN’S SOCCER

Violets win in penalty kicks

By BOBBY WAGNER Staff Writer

STAFF PHOTO BY REECA SORIANO

Journalism professor Farai Chideya, co-author of the book “Innovating Women,” leads a discussion with S. Mitra Kalita, Cynthia Hellen and Virgilla Kaur Pruthi, three proponents of women in STEM on Nov. 12 at 20 Cooper Square.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOURDAN ENRIQUEZ

STAFF PHOTO

BY SHAWN PAIK

VIA NYU.EDU

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Momentum campaign expected to meet goal The university said the fundraising campaign has raised more than expected so far.

STORY on PG. 2

Students, professors share expectations of next president Members of the NYU community hope for a well-rounded president.

STORY on PG. 3

All-women taxi service provides safety issurance While the app SheRides appears to discriminate against men, it allows women to feel more comfortable.

STORY on PG. 7

The NYU men’s soccer team pulled out a thriller Wednesday night, besting New Jersey foe William Paterson University in a penalty kick shootout in its first Eastern College Athletic Conference game by a tally of 4-3.

Sophomore goalkeeper Lucas Doucette was in top form, refusing to be beaten all night in what was an onslaught of shots from the Pioneers. Doucette’s night culminated in an exemplary diving save in the shootout, following a whizzing miss over the top crossbar by sophomore forward Reece Barton. Sophomore midfielder and captain Petter Aasa, freshman midfielder Vegas Kastberg, sophomore midfielder Ryan Cerqueria and senior midfielder and captain Mickey Ingerman all converted on their penalties to put the pressure on WPU. Despite a lineup of nearly all

SOCCER continued on PG. 5

REVIEW

‘Foxcatcher’ questions family, power

By ALEXANDRA MUJICA Staff Writer

Perhaps the most haunting element of Bennett Miller’s “Foxcatcher” is the psychology behind the characters.

Unlike many contemporary films that seem to focus a great deal on plot construction, “Foxcatcher” takes its time reaching the finish line through an ongoing character study. This intense focus on exploring characters’ heads, done through close-ups of their seemingly trivial actions, conjure images of films such as Martin Scorsese’s “Taxi Driver,” where character psychology takes center-stage.

Based on a true story, “Foxcatcher” begins by introduc-

ing Mark (Channing Tatum) and David Schultz (Mark Ruffalo) as brothers and wrestlers, the latter being the older sibling and coach of the former. Despite Mark winning an Olympic gold medal, his brother constantly overshadows his talent. Because of this, Mark seems insecure, and is inarticulate and self-destructive. While the dialogue between the brothers attests to their tense relationship, their physical actions reveal far more.

In a way, “Foxcatcher” is about physicality, which plays out through wrestling. For instance, in the opening scenes where David is coaching Mark, the viewer gets a first glimpse at their complicated brotherly relationship — Mark is

clearly taking their practice match more personally.

Claiming the tension between the two brothers is due to sibling rivalry would be too simple. While Mark resents David for always living in his shadow, he is also emotionally attached to David, who serves as a father figure to him. Their relationship becomes more complicated, however, when John du Pont (Steve Carell), a wrestling coach from a prominent and wealthy American family, decides to take Mark under his wing.

Carell’s performance is essential to the foreboding atmosphere of “Foxcatcher.”

This is indeed the same actor

FOXCATCHER continued on PG. 4

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

PRE-K continued from PG. 1

Pre-K program in line with de Blasio vision

de Blasio’s ongoing efforts to establish universal preschool for the children of New York City. Since unveiling the plan, the city has successfully enrolled more than 51,000 children in preschool programs.

“We made pre-K for all the centerpiece of our agenda to fight inequality and give every family opportunity,” de Blasio said in a statement from Nov. 3. “We are working every day to ensure these programs fulfill their potential and meet the highest standards. Two months in, highquality, full-day pre-K is changing children’s lives.”

Cybele Raver, NYU’s vice-provost for Research and Faculty Affairs and principal investigator of the project, said this program is on the cuttingedge of innovation and research that supports young children.

“This is a very exciting opportunity to put science to work,” Raver said.

“Often we know a lot about children, but we don’t necessarily have a lot of opportunity to examine those models in a real world context.”

Working with Research Alliance

for New York City Schools, Raver said the project will offer concrete data that will demonstrate students’ academic and social progress in the classroom.

“We will be collaborating on analyzing the data with the explicit goal of providing very clear data visualizations of our findings, so they understand the progress the children are making,” Raver said.

Steinhardt professor Richard Arum said he is glad the city is making an effort to improve preschools and to collect and analyze data to increase the effectiveness of its programs.

“Educational expansions of this scale and scope are typically fraught with multiple challenges to implementation,” Arum said. “By opening up the initiative to ongoing data analysis by independent researchers, the city is moving forward in a progressive manner designed to achieve the greatest impact on the lives of children.”

Executive director of Research Alliance and Steinhardt professor James

Fundraising on track to reach $1 billion

By SUEBIN KIM Staff Writer

A year after its creation, the fundraising for the NYU Momentum campaign, an initiative that raises funds for scholarships, is ahead of schedule, exceeding last year’s campaign goal by $5 million.

The Momentum campaign, created by NYU President John Sexton and Debra LaMorte, senior vice president of university development and alumni relations, aims to raise $1 billion by 2017. During the last fiscal year, it raised $142.7 million, which LaMorte said is promising.

“The Momentum campaign is going well,” LaMorte said. “Currently $381 million has been raised against the overall goal of $1 billion.”

The Finish Line Grant, started in spring of 2014, and the Global Pathways Scholarship, started in fall of 2014, are the first scholarships given as part of the campaign, which reaches out to parents and alumni for pledges. The university has not announced any new scholarships this semester.

LaMorte said the campaign expects to meet its goal by the end of NYU’s 2017 fiscal year.

LaMorte added, however, that more needs to be done on the donor side of the campaign before the university could successfully reach its fundraising goal.

“In order to meet this goal, NYU needs to have several donors step up with transformational gifts at the $50 million or $100 million levels,” LaMorte said. “I can assure you that President Sexton, the Trustees, Deans and our Develop-

ment staff has these gifts as their top priority.”

CAS junior Sharon Choi said while she was not aware of the Momentum campaign, students need fundraising initiatives to keep tuition manageable.

“I’ve never heard of the Momentum campaign specifically, but I think it’s great that NYU has fundraising campaigns set in motion especially given the cost of tuition here,” Choi said. “I think it’s definitely vital to have campaigns like Momentum put into place because so many students depend on financial scholarships to afford going to college.”

Choi said financial scholarship opportunities might help students focus on academics rather than their financial situation.

“The cost of going to NYU seems to increase every year,” Choi said.

“It’s pretty difficult to worry about your grades when you’re not sure if you’re going to be able to afford tuition the next semester.”

Former NYU student Lucy Parks, who left the school for financial reasons, said though she thinks the campaign can help students to pay for college, more has to be done to combat student debt.

“Student debt is a national issue with origins and solutions far more broad-reaching than NYU financial aid,” Parks said. “No one is going to complain about more financial aid, but Momentum isn’t nearly the end of it, and it remains to be seen exactly how much it will help.”

Email Suebin Kim at news@nyunews.com.

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief

NICOLE BROWN Managing Editors

EMILY BELL DANA RESZUTEK Assistant Managing Editor

BRYNA SHUMAN Web Managing Editors

STAFF PHOTO BY LEO LIEN

CICEK EREL KAVISH HARJAI

The project will help the city understand the benefit of universal pre-K.

Creative Director, Special Editions

Kemple is another one of the project’s co-principal investigators, striving to help the New York City DOE build systems that will strengthen the universal pre-K program.

“We hope that we will also help to provide information about what makes strong programs in the classroom,” Kemple said. “These measures really predict students’ readiness in school, from kindergarten into first and second grade.”

Kemple added that Research Alliance’s established relationship with the city’s DOE will allow researchers access to student data from pre-K all the way through high school.

Creative Directors

“We can actually have information of students as they move through college,” Kemple said.

Conducting research in early childhood studies with Raver for more than 15 years, Morris said this project allows them to support New York’s historic expansion of pre-K. “They’ve taken a very bold step in offering universal preschool services to children across the city,” Morris said. “This is really an opportunity for us to develop a partnership with the city and help support their efforts in rolling this out.”

Email Stephanie Grella at news@nyunews.com.

Panelists discuss democracy in Turkey

By CHRISTINE PARK Staff Writer

In light of recent protests in Turkey and the election of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, experts discussed democracy in the Islamic country at a panel titled Turkey Under Erdoğan: Is it Still a Model of “Islamic Democracy?”

Mustapha Tlili, director of the NYU Center for Dialogues, moderated the event, which was held Nov. 12 in NYU’s Casa Italiana.

The discussion featured President of the Alliance for Shared Values Y. Alp Aslandogan, SUNY Maritime College professor Mark Meirowitz and Georgetown professor Fathali Moghaddam.

The speakers shared their views and knowledge on the ambiguity of Turkey’s current political stance on its regards to Islamic democracy.

Tlili said he would like this panel to be a space to share valuable and uncensored opinions.

“Sometimes newspapers and general media present things in black and white without really asking deeper questions,” Tlili said. “This is an opportunity for scholars to debate issues from a very liberal perspective and see where the debate leads in hope that each time we tackle this issue, we learn something new.”

Though Turkey is a democratic republic, it is criticized for its authoritarian tendencies. Yet Moghaddam countered these claims.

“All societies begin as dictatorships,” Moghadam said. “This includes western societies, this includes Islamic societies. Some

societies may have moved towards democracy. My claim would be that we don’t have full democracy. For the moment the United States certainly is not a full democracy.”

Aslandogan discussed the public’s opinion on whether Islamic law should be the basis of policy decisions in the Turkish government.

“The default understanding when we talk about politics in Istanbul is an understanding, is a vision, where government adheres to respect or implements some form of so-called Islamic law,” Aslandogan said. “Of course there are scholars that contradict Islamic law but that is the default understanding.”

He said the majority of the Turkish public does not approve of Islamic law as the basis of governance.

“There is very little support for it in Turkey, and in majority of the Islamic countries,” Aslandogan said. “Only 9 percent of Turkish respondents said it should be the only source.”

Panelists also discussed the tension between the Turkish government and the Kurds and the crisis in Iraq and Syria.

SPS graduate student Safiye Embel said events like this panel should take place more often because they allow students and others interested in similar issues to exchange valuable information.

“I think it’s really important that we bring these kinds of speakers on campus, and it was a very diverse,” Embel said.

Email Christine Park at news@nyunews.com.

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FEATURES

EDITED BY HANNAH TREASURE FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

Campus voices on next president Quotes compiled by AMANDA MORRIS Staff Writer

tion, and the Class Activities Board, as they each serve a significant part of the campus.” — Carolynn Choi, Steinhardt junior

What is your ideal next president?

STAFF FILE PHOTO BY SHAWN PAIK

The Urban Farm grows, harvests and cans produce at the Silver Towers.

NYU Farm Lab teaches agricultural awareness

By TEJAS SAWANT Contributing Writer

It is common for NYU students to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art or the Museum of Natural History for class, but visiting a small farm in the middle of downtown Manhattan is more unusual. Professor Laurel Greyson’s “Intro to Urban Agriculture” Steinhardt class regularly visits and works with the 0.125 acre NYU Urban Farm Lab, located at Houston and Wooster streets at 110 Silver Towers.

Greyson’s two-credit course is administered by the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health and is open to all students. The class gives students the hands-on experience of working with nature at the farm lab. Beginning in 2013 with just one section, the class has grown to three sections, indicating an increased interest in and awareness of sustainable farming.

Greyson considers the farm lab a unique teaching aid.

“This is an exciting way to get connected to our food,” Greyson said.

“By means of this farm, people can learn what soil is all about, what a kale plant looks like and so on.”

Since non-NYU students can also stop by and ask questions, the farm lab serves as a means of spreading awareness about where food comes from.

This season, the farm is growing produce such as tomatoes, melons and peppers in a completely eco-friendly way. Crop rotation and compost are used instead of chemicals to ward off pests, control weeds and maintain the fertility of the soil.

During harvest season, students can take a substantial part of the

harvest home with them and learn about preservation techniques by canning the produce they harvest.

Steinhardt food studies graduate student Maricruz Iniguez noted the benefits of the hands-on experience.

“The fact that you can actually be the one sowing the seeds, taking care of the farm and then harvesting, is great for me because I find it easier to learn while practicing the concepts that are being taught,” Iniguez said.

Although the farm is funded by an NYU Green Grant, the upkeep of a farm in such a large, urban city with limited space has still been challenging, Greyson explained.

“Sound engineering options are required to make the best possible and innovative use of the available space,” Greyson said. “This requires substantial funding.”

At the same time, Greyson emphasized the need to have fair financial compensation for the cultivators who work on such urban farms.

“The value of the crops is to be respected,” Greyson said. “Thus, the people who work in such urban farms should get proper financial compensation.”

The city has already started moving toward sustainability. Farmers markets like the one held at Union Square are fairly popular. Buying locally rewards farmers for their efforts and gives impetus to healthy and sustainable farm produce as opposed to processed foods.

“The most important thing about sustainable agriculture that I’ve learned is that it can be done,” Iniguez said. “While agriculture is a very physical job, it is also a rewarding one.”

Email Tejas Sawant at features@nyunews.com.

“I hope our next president has a proven track record in dealing with some of the crucial problems facing higher education today, including student debt and the growing cost of a university education, the limited access to higher education on the part of poor people and minorities, the growing use of contract faculty as opposed to tenure-track faculty, et cetera. I hope the faculty on the search committee feel the same.

I would not want to see the trustees choose someone from outside higher education simply because he or she is a good fund raiser.

That’s important, but it shouldn’t be the main thing with which university presidents are concerned.”

— Jeff Goodwin, CAS professor “I would love to see the next president of NYU continue to improve technology on campus and support students/organizations/offices that are actively working on initiatives or projects that would improve current systems that need to be changed. I would also like to see the next president make an effort to get to know key student organizations such as Commuter Student Council, Transfer Student Associa-

By ANNA FERKINGSTAD Staff Writer Here is a collection of indoor and outdoor events that will appeal to American art fans, cat lovers, crafters and everyone else ready to enjoy a crisp, November weekend.

Super Sabado Every third Saturday of the month, join El Museo del Barrio for a series of free events that include art workshops and gallery tours. This month’s theme is based on an exhibition by the artist Marisol, a prominent figure in American art from 1955 to 1998 and is focused on sculptures and paper artwork. Listen to stories, wander the museum or make your own art from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 15 in 1230 Fifth Ave.

Canstruction There are 26 entries created by artists, architects, students, engineers and designers that will be on display

“My ideal president is someone who effectively balances the needs of all sectors of NYU. Someone who understands the importance of undergraduates alongside graduates, and that research across the board is essential for the university’s movement forward. The ideal president has a desire to make this school more technologically-savvy, and one who fosters the creative integrity of each individual student.”

— Kate Avino, Steinhardt freshman “The next president should be drawn from the ranks of NYU’s faculty and should not be paid millions. She should take immediate steps to reverse the trend of the universities increasing reliance on adjuncts for teaching, reverse the trend of per capita increases in tuition significantly outpacing per capita increases in financial aid every year, and she should negotiate a contract with Graduate Student Organizing Committee in good faith.”

— Ryan McNamara, CAS senior What is your opinion on the last presidential selection? What is your opinion on the strengths and shortfalls of our current president?

“There basically was no search

for the public from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Brookfield Place, located at 200 Vesey St., Nov. 6 through Nov. 20. Once the competition is complete, the large eye catching sculptures will be broken down and donated to City Harvest. Entrance is free, but a canned food donation is appreciated.

Whiskers in Wonderland If thinking about finals already has you stressed, head over to the Petco at Union Square to play with about 200 kittens, cats and rabbits. This third annual event hopes to find these hundreds of pets a new home, but even if you are unable to take on the responsibility of a furry friend, you can still play with them from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15. The event is free, but it is suggested to bring either a clean blanket, sheet or pet toy as a donation.

Tea and Letters Hosted by Book Culture at

when Sexton was appointed.

The trustees more or less anointed him. That was a bad beginning to Sexton’s term. And his presidency has been marked by a series of unilateral decisions with little or no faculty consultation, not to mention the financial scandals. And that led to a series of ‘no confidence’ votes in Sexton on the part of several faculties — CAS, Steinhardt, Tisch, et cetera. And the money Sexton makes and will make upon his retirement truly disgusts me.

But I guess this is how America works these days. Truth be told, I don’t have great confidence that the next president will be radically different.” ­— Jeff Goodwin, CAS professor “We go to such a big institution that it’s nearly impossible to please everyone. What I loved about John Sexton is that he had a vision and he stuck with it, and made real and visible efforts to see it through. I’d like someone who has the same drive and determination — someone who presents a goal or a vision that will benefit the students, faculty, staff and community, and and uses their term to see that goal flourish.” — Kemi Akinbileje, Tisch sophomore Email Amanda Morris at features@nyunews.com.

536 W. 112th St., this free event encourages you to revive the often forgotten form of handwritten letters.

Whether it is to be a friend or a family member, use the provided envelopes and postage to send correspondence home while drinking hot cups of tea. The writing activity will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 16.

Renegade Craft Fair Head to the Metropolitan Pavilion (125 W. 18th St.) Saturday, Nov. 15, or Sunday, Nov. 16, for a day of food, art and music at the Renegade Craft Fair. Open this weekend from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the Renegade Craft Fair travels around the world in the months of November and December. Use this eclectic fair to get your holiday shopping done early, or take the opportunity to wander and enjoy the sites of the local and international booths.

Email Anna Ferkingstad at features@nyunews.com.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | NYUNEWS.COM

ARTS

EDITED BY ALEX GREENBERGER ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Actress saves ‘Beyond the Lights’

By MARCUS JONES Staff Writer

The beginning of “Beyond the Lights” is uncomfortable to watch, and not because of the suicide attempt that sets the plot in motion. Nor is it the juxtaposition of a naive British girl with a dream of being a pop star and the walking centerfold she becomes. Instead, the beginning is unsettling because the protagonist, Noni Jean (Gugu Mbatha-Raw), is so innocent compared to what she will later become.

Noni is discovered as she is about to commit suicide by her overbearing manager and mother Macy (Minnie Driver) and saved by Kaz (Nate Parker), the cop guarding her room. He seems like the only one who can hear her cry for help, but is hesitant to step into the spotlight as Noni’s hero-turned-lover. Kaz and his father, Captain Nicol (Danny Glover), seem more focused on Kaz’s political ambitions, and a scandalous, possibly suicidal artist would not make a great First Lady. While Noni is smitten with Kaz, she has her career to worry about, which includes keeping up appearances with her rapper boyfriend Kid Culprit (Machine Gun Kelly) and trying to convince people she is not suicidal — something the

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Gugu Mbatha-Raw plays Noni, a suicidal pop-star in “Lights.” public will be reminded of any time she steps out with Kaz. With this much resonance in what amounts to a music video and an acceptance speech, the prologue allows the audience to pick up on the pain young Noni feels being a puppet of the music industry. It is no wonder the director Gina PrinceBythewood (“Love and Basketball”) fought hard to cast Mbatha-Raw in the film, even backing out of a deal with Sony over it. Mbatha-Raw’s portrayal of Noni is heart-shattering.

“Beyond the Lights” brings nothing new to cinema, but one

way it succeeds is by making love look a lot sexier than lust.

Noni, in the beginning, has the body of Rihanna, the face of Beyoncé and the hair of Katy Perry, which adds up to a human Barbie doll made to be toyed with.

It is when she dresses down and Noni and Kaz open up to each other that the romance of the movie is genuinely felt. Noni is treated as a three-dimensional person rather than the typical melodrama heroine.

Noni and Kaz make an ideal movie couple — it is difficult to say that of Noni and Kid Culprit. Mbatha-Raw, being the wonderful actress she is, outshines Machine Gun Kelly when they share screen time.

He does not seem confident enough as an actor to really sell that he has power over Noni. He does, however, make a good villain when Noni finally drops him.

Ultimately the plot of “Beyond the Lights” is cliché, but as a commentary on how we objectify celebrities and lose control of ourselves in pleasing others, it is genuine and original. It will be hard to leave the theater nonplussed with Mbatha-Raw. In the end, the story is forgettable, but Mbatha-Raw certainly is not.

Email Marcus Jones at film@nyunews.com.

FOXCATCHER continued from PG. 1

Carell essential to theme of film

who has played goofy characters in comedy hits such as “Anchorman” and NBC show “The Office.” There is nothing funny, however, about Carell’s performance in this story when he seamlessly steps into the shoes of the dark and troubled John. Carell’s transformation goes beyond just his chilling delivery. He exhibits physical changes, including a big prosthetic nose, making it difficult to even recognize him.

From John’s very first scene in the film, it is hard to figure out what his motives are, but his intense interest in Mark warrants caution. John immediately throws money and praise Mark’s way, even telling him that he is better than his brother David.

Mark, being his naïve and sincere self, shows nothing but gratitude and devotion in return. While John and Mark seem

PHOTO BY SCOTT GARFIELD, COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Steve Carell’s John coaches Channing Tatum’s Mark in “Foxcatcher.” to be developing a brotherly connection, a series of events begins to reveal the superficiality of their relationship.

As John’s true character slowly unravels, both Mark’s wrestling career and his relationship with John and David are up in the air.

With the looming question of

whether Mark is capable of succeeding without either of these men, “Foxcatcher” explores the dynamic of relationships, ones of family and power, and quests for greatness.

Email Alexandra Mujica at film@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF VIMEO

Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld created “High Maintenance.”

Vimeo showrunners talk series creation

By IFE OLUJOBI Entertainment Editor

Recreational marijuana use is legal in only four states and Washington D.C. New York is not one of them, but that does not stop The Guy (played by Ben Sinclair) from pedaling his herbal wares all over New York City in the Vimeo web series “High Maintenance.” The fifth season of the series is available to stream as of Nov. 10.

Each episode of the series — created, written, edited and sometimes directed by Sinclair and his wife, Katja Blichfeld — follows The Guy as he delivers pot to a diverse array of clients.

What begins as a show about a charming pot dealer quickly becomes a microcosm of the human condition, at least as it exists within the funny, crazy and sometimes heartbreaking lives of New York City stokers.

In an interview with WSN, Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld discussed how the series was a labor of love and an act of practicality.

“We had always wanted to work together, and we wanted to come up with something that we could tell in real time,” Sinclair said. “We also wanted to work within our constraints, which were that we didn’t have any money. But our constraints weren’t that bad because we had a wonderful pool of actors that Katja had to pull from being a casting director on ‘30 Rock.’”

However, it was not an easy decision for Sinclair and Blichfeld to commit to their new endeavor. Although their personal artistic goals were being fulfilled, the couple had no idea that the series would reach so many people.

“We thought maybe a few people would watch it and maybe we would get some more work in our respective professions,” Blichfeld said. “But what happened

was really surprising to us.

We just weren’t anticipating that there would be an audience watching.”

They attribute part of the success of the series to viewers engaging with situations and characters that feel authentic.

“We really like things to feel real. We like to go into spaces that are lived in by actual humans and not necessarily constructed by a crew,” Blichfeld said. “That’s due to a variety of reasons, mostly [ones related to] budget, but we like things to be real.”

Now that “High Maintenance” has become successful, Blichfeld and Sinclair have found themselves suddenly immersed in New York City pot culture and the conversation about marijuana legalization.

“We’re obviously pro-marijuana,” Blichfeld said. “Although we’re not pro-smoking. That’s actually something we’ve been talking a lot about lately, just the detriments of smoking and inhaling.”

Sinclair echoed that idea, adding that they are not against the consumption.

“We’re just trying to say that we’re not going to say that it’s good for you to be smoking pot, because smoking anything is not good,” Sinclair added. “Taking pot is not bad for you, though.”

Although they may have a strict set of values about smoking, the attitudes on set are far more laid back.

“It becomes this really cool give and take where it feels like everybody is working towards the same goal,” Sinclair said. “I hope to just enjoy this time being alive, and this show is how we’re doing it right now, and it’s unbelievable. I can’t believe we almost didn’t do it.”

Email Ife Olujobi at iolujobi@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

SPORTS

EDITED BY CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM COLUMN

SOCCER continued from PG. 1

Doucette stymies William Paterson

freshmen and sophomores, with Ingerman as the exception, the Violets looked calm, cool and collected, repeatedly taking smart penalty kicks that tricked opposing goalkeeper Mike Diacheysn. Approaching the shootout, Diacheysn looked less confident than Doucette, who had saved 13 shots to Diachesyn’s two in the match.

Regular time was more or less owned by the Pioneers, who turned a few NYU mistakes into viable goal-scoring opportunities.

They outshot the Violets by an astounding 25-11 overall, including a 13-5 edge in shots on goal.

But it was Doucette turning WPU away on all 13 of its shots on goal that ultimately led to the Violets’ success. Down the stretch of the overtime period, the ball remained almost exclusively in the attacking third for WPU, as the opponent threatened time and time again. Resilient defense by NYU’s backline kept the Pioneers from scoring a devastating late goal. The Violets defense could only do so much, however, as WPU came within inches of scoring on two occasions.

The first chance was a breakthrough to the left side of the box by WPU forward Juan Londono, who took a long touch to get the ball to his left foot, where he promptly struck a shot that Doucette could only get a hand on and deflect away.

5

New system leads to Knicks struggles

By MIKE THOMPSON Contributing Columnist

VIA GONYUATHLETICS.COM

Lucas Doucette registered 13 saves against William Paterson University before the game went into overtime.

Doucette’s deflection sent the ball ricocheting off the top post, where it went straight down, bounced off the goal line and miraculously stayed out of the net. The defense went into crisis management mode, clearing the ball only to have another WPU screamer carom off the post just a few minutes later. When the game reached the shootout stage, there was a feeling of relief on the NYU sideline.

Ingerman was thrilled with the resilience and progress the team made Wednesday night.

“We really learned from our experiences in the past couple of UAA games,” Ingerman said.

“In those games we defended well and unfortunately gave up late goals. Lucas came up huge on several saves. Once we got to penalties, everyone was confident that we would win.”

Ingerman also expressed the elation of the team after such an emotional win.

“The energy after the game was phenomenal,” he said. “As a team, we felt that we hadn’t lived up to our potential by not

making the NCAA tournament, but today we showed that the team does have significant potential and will be a threat in the coming years.”

Aasa touted Doucette’s performance and the efforts of the defensive players.

“We were under a lot of pressure defensively, and Lucas and our two senior defenders were playing out of their skins tonight,” Aasa said. “They kept us from conceding a goal.”

Doucette expressed his excitement at the end of such a grating match.

“It was an incredible feeling to win that game,” he said. “The defense played outstanding, and I was just in the right place at the right time. This team has some fight.”

The team advances to play Rutgers University-Camden on Nov. 15 in Camden, New Jersey, hoping to keep the season alive and build on the momentum they built Wednesday night.

Email Bobby Wagner at sports@nyunews.com.

The New York Knicks were not expected to be successful this season, despite Phil Jackson returning to the team as President of Basketball Operations and bringing with him Derek Fisher as first-year head coach. Superstar Carmelo Anthony re-signed with the team as well. There was good reason for skepticism, however, as change takes several seasons to take hold. This seemed to be obvious when Anthony and the Knicks were steamrolled by the Bulls in their opening game of the season with a score of 104-80.

Now, the Knicks have lost their first five games, producing a record of 2-7, only ahead of the Philadelphia 76ers (0-7) in the Atlantic Division. Even though there has been excitement around the new triangle offense, it has been more of the same for the Knicks. The Carmelo Anthony era has been plagued by a lack of ball movement and a reliance on Anthony to create offense by himself. So far this season, Anthony is averaging about 10 more attempted shots per game than anyone else on the team, but is only averaging 39.1 percent from the field. The team is second to last in total points per game (91.1) and has been outscored by 7.3 points on average, which is fourth-worst in the league.

As bad as the offense has looked, defense is currently the top problem for the Knicks. Problems with defensive rotation and covering perimeter shooting have stifled the team. Opponents are averaging 41.8 percent from beyond the arc against

the Knicks, which is the highest percentage in the league. New York is also giving up 108.7 points per 100 possessions — fourth worst in the league. If the Knicks do not clamp down on the defensive end, this season may quickly become a lost one.

Big man Andrea Bargnani is set to return later this month, as well as guard Jose Calderon. Bargnani will give Fisher more depth down low, while Calderon’s shooting ability should spread the court, allowing Anthony more open opportunities.

With the team at full strength, New York’s role-players will find their niche. Quincy Acy and Jason Smith will play as power forwards for a majority of their time, providing solid scoring and rebounding.

J.R. Smith, although not a first-team defender, has the potential to provide prolific scoring at the shooting guard or small forward position.

Then there is Anthony. If New York has any hope at a playoff berth, their star will need to look for better shots, as his current average of about 20 points per game will not be enough to do the job. A healthy team supporting him will hopefully make shooting a bit easier for him.

The Knicks are a work in progress.

Even “The Zen Master” Phil Jackson himself cannot turn everything around in just one season. The year is still young and players are still recovering. Although the Knicks up to this point are a painful reminder of last year’s team, they may be able to improve with time. It may not be this year, but soon enough the Knicks will be relevant again in the Eastern Conference.

Email Mike Thompson at sports@nyunews.com.

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Crossword CLUES 1 Corn or cotton 2 Rhyme scheme for “Stopping

by Woods on a Snowy Evening” 3 Have the lead 4 Blood: Prefix 5 Western wear 6 Letters that don’t go to the post office 7 Canada or Jordan preceder 8 Bygone brand in the shaving aisle 9 Where the Pilgrims first landed in the New World 10 Came to 11 Animated 12 Record over, say 13 Put on a scale 14 Many a fête d’anniversaire attendee 15 Homer Simpson’s workplace

16 Subject of National Federation of Independent Business v.

Sebelius 17 Quaint wear 18 Parkinson’s disease drug 19 Engage in an extreme winter sport 20 La starter 21 First name in children’s literature 22 Mil. mess personnel 23 Sixer rival 24 Sing like a bird 25 Feature of Polyphemus from “The Odyssey” 26 Word origin 27 Dessert often made with cream cheese frosting 28 Not up 29 Tear apart

ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE R U B I K

A S A D A

A J A R

S O N Y

T U S T P A H

M A N I F E S T D E S T I N Y

O K R A

A T R I A

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C E T A Z E R I N N C E O E M S M S H A E I N S T D U M P E P N I T T S

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S T A T O H T H T R U E I N D L E E A L S N A C T I E I N O N S M U T A T O N A F H I M I L A C A N

30 Correct, as a manuscript 31 Comic Cenac formerly of “The Daily Show” 32 Half of a vote

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58

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18 20

28

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34 “Sure, go ahead” 35 White’s counterpart

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33 Red as ___

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21

22

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36 Great work 37 At nine and a half months, say

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38 Architect Louis 39 English county closest to Continental Europe 40 Places where wheat is stored?

41 Org. with an antipiracy stance

45 48

49

41 44

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53 61

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42 Swirl 43 Meaningful sets, for short?

44 New U.N. member of 2011 45 Resolution unit

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Edited by Will Shortz

46 Some preppy shirts 47 Lab item 48 Alternative to a fade-out in a movie ending 49 Didn’t stay put 50 Deep black 51 Israel’s Barak 52 “An old silent pond / A frog jumps into the pond / Splash!

Silence again,” e.g.

PUZZLE BY JOEL FAGLIANO

53 Hold up 54 Seven-time Rose Bowl winner, for short

58 Leader of a race?

65 Recovers from injury

59 It’s a snap

66 Diving position

60 Store sign

67 Be a fall guy?

55 Offerer of 61 Skirt package deals, in brief 62 T.S.A. requirements 56 Buffalo hunters, once 63 Be unsuited?

57 Firebug

64 Currency of Laos

68 Ben & Jerry’s alternative 69 2014 N.B.A. champ 70 What a prophet may look for

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NYUNEWS.COM | THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2014 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY CHRISTINA COLEBURN OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

NATIONAL POLITICS

Midterm results complicate 2016 for Rand Paul

By JOHN PAUL BARATTA Staff Columnist

Soon after midterm results started to come in, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was quick to brand the defeated Democratic candidates who Hillary Clinton campaigned for as “Hillary’s Losers.” It was only hours after the polls closed, but the 2016 presidential election campaign had already begun, and Paul targeted the Democrats’ most likely standard-bearer. Analysts have been quick to point out the political drawbacks for Clinton amidst this Republican Party wave, but the former Secretary of State certainly is not the only potential 2016 candidate with more to worry about.

Given the Republican domination in the midterm election, Paul now faces a slew of potential GOP candidates that are energized and still basking in their 2014 victories. The once politically damaged Gov. Chris Christie has emerged as a clear front-runner for the GOP presidential nomination after successfully defending a difficult map as the head of the Republican Governors Association. Christie and Paul have long been intense political rivals: the New Jersey governor attacked Paul’s

libertarian ideology, calling it “dangerous” earlier last year. Paul quickly responded by saying Christie was unwilling to make necessary spending cuts.

The rivalry appeared to fizzle out during the 2014 election cycle, but with the next election season looming the two are now kicking off a new war of words in the race toward the Republican primary.

Perhaps the most troubling results for Paul were re-elections of Republicans in key swing states, including Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez. With the wind at their backs, several top Republicans now have reason to be more confident about their presidential aspirations. Another complicating factor is Paul’s recent move to the center on a variety of issues. Although the ideologies of other potential candidates are

scattered across the conservative spectrum, a majority of the top contenders are considered mainstream. With the flurry of viable GOP presidential candidates winning their races this cycle, Rand Paul’s role of standing out in a packed field becomes more difficult. The fracturing of the mainstream GOP vote could also lead to a fringe candidate, such as Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, securing the nomination with the support of the right.

Although Paul should find comfort in the abilities of his party to succeed in key swing states, effectively utilize ground support, and appeal to important demographics, the triumph is a double-edged sword. The massive victory for his party places the GOP in a much stronger position for the upcoming presidential election, but the personal drawbacks make Paul’s path to the Republican presidential nomination far more challenging.

Still a front-runner out of the gate, Paul must come up with a unique strategy if he is to continue to distinguish himself in an impressive crop of GOP hopefuls.

Email John Paul Baratta at opinion@nyunews.com.

WOMEN’S ISSUES

Media must portray reality of female sensuality

By LEAH SIMON Contributing Columnist

It was not until I was 17 that I learned girls could achieve any sort of orgasm. My parents did not shelter me from sex, and I have always considered myself to be a very sexual person. So, what gives?

This phenomenon, where young girls like myself fail to learn or understand the dimensions of their bodies and their sexualities, is partially due to the lack of representation in American media of young women exploring their sensuality. According to the 2013 annual survey that evaluates female employment in the U.S. film industry, the majority of movies are written, produced and directed by men. This lack of female perspective in the film industry limits the portrayal of women’s sexuality.

Growing up in American culture, I felt this androcentric presence in media through the limited ways that women were depicted in movies. As a child, Disney films led me through fantastical narratives with damsels in distress and feminized princesses.

In my teenage years, movies like “Superbad” and “American Pie” depicted

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sexualized women as the object of striving and desire. Throughout high school, I referenced these tongue-incheek comedies as cultural capital amongst friends with plot lines that laud the endless male pursuit for sex.

The women in these films were onedimensional, compartmentalized as sexual objects and existed in relation to only their male counterparts. In modern culture, there have been very few movies that explored early female sensuality or masturbation with the same tongue-in-cheek humor with which male sexuality is portrayed.

As a result, young men from an early age learn how to feel more comfortable exploring their libidinous urges, where women feel the need to withdraw from sexual exploration even if they are sexually active.

A 2009 study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, found

that among 18 and 19 year olds, 66 percent of young girls said they had masturbated, while 86 percent of young men said the same. This discrepancy comes from how girls are educated on their sexuality through media representation and through the dismissive tone that is perpetuated towards female sensuality on a cultural level. We cultivate unhealthy and limited parameters around the sexual development of females. Without a safe space to learn and discuss their sexual urges, many girls feel a hybrid of shame and confusion regarding their sexual selves. They internalize this embarrassment, and gradually become skeptical of sexual exploration.

Men and women alike need to recognize the possibility that a girl can be both bright and sexual and demand more representation of this hybrid. We must facilitate an environment for young women where they can be as confident in their sexuality as boys can be. This starts with the tone of how we accept sexual female exploration on a cultural level.

Email Leah Simon at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

SheRides necessary due to safety concerns

SheRides, an Uber-like app that connects women with female car drivers, began service in New York City, Westchester County and Long Island on Oct. 29 after a month of delays caused by a need for more female drivers. Referred to as SheTaxis outside of the city, the app is a direct response to women feeling uncomfortable in taxis. The company has received criticisms for reinforcing gender stereotypes and intolerance toward men. In practice, SheRides attempts to avoid prejudice based on gender, but its primary business model falls short of this goal. The service is a small example of a lawful inequity, but one that is necessary in a society where women feel unsafe.

Because the service overtly caters to women, legal critics have condemned SheRides for advocating gender discrimination. Only women can specifically request a female driver, but nothing prevents men from using the app or receiving service.

Men are allowed to use the service, but as it is currently advertised, SheRides undeniably seems unfair to them. And while the company’s gender bias raises questions about the fairness of its business policies, representatives of the New York City Commission on Human Rights have found nothing to determine the company’s targeting of women to be illegal.

In an industry dominated by male drivers — 95 percent of for-hire cabbies and 99 percent of yellow taxi drivers are men — the service simply offers rides for women who feel uncomfortable with the near-certainty of having a male driver. While the current livery business may not advertise male-specific services, the high proportion of male drivers implicitly prioritizes men. SheRides will provide the opportunity for women to break into an industry that is dominated by males. By recruiting female drivers, SheRides makes these jobs accessible to women, thus promoting gender equality in the taxi industry.

Women’s safety concerns validate the need for this service. Females may feel uncomfortable being alone in a taxi with a male driver, especially late at night. Religious reasons may also make women disinclined to be driven by a male. Women have recently reported incidents of sexual harassment by male Uber drivers, highlighting the danger women may experience. Having a female driver can make women feel more relaxed and safe in a taxi.

Although denying a person a ride based on their gender would be considered unjust, SheRides’ ability to connect women to primarily female drivers provides a preferred alternative in a predominantly male industry. Perhaps rather than focusing criticism on the overt gender discrimination of SheRides, public officials and potential litigators should consider the existence of this app as a call to improve the conditions that make women feel unsafe in the first place.

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.