NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 39, No. 41
Thursday, November 17, 2011
nyunews.com
Art and science converge in exhibit
NYUAD now open for study abroad
Though there is often a divide between science and the arts, an NYU science professor and a former art professor have bridged the gap with their drawing exhibition, “Two Points of View,” held at the Spring Studio in SoHo. Leon Axel, professor of radiology at NYU’s Langone Medical Center, first began taking drawing classes at the studio six years ago. Barbara Kerstetter, a professional artist and former NYU adjunct professor, has been drawing at the studio for roughly ten years and has occasionally taught classes there. Though Axel’s profession revolves around radiology, he said that he has always taken a keen interest in art. “I guess radiologists tend to be visually oriented people,” he said. “They’re not all art-
While hundreds of NYU students will be spending their spring semesters at study abroad staples like Paris and Florence, seven students will study abroad in Abu Dhabi for the first time. According to Chris Nicolussi, senior director of Student Services and Support in the Office of Global Programs, study abroad students will be fully immersed in NYUAD culture. The program will host through special programs like a sevenEmirate tour. Students will be permited to take most NYUAD classes. Exceptions include those that require an NYUAD specific prerequisite. Students will live in Sama Tower, where most NYUAD students, faculty and staff are currently housed. And all ex-
By Jessica Littman
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By Gentry Brown
Aarushi Chopra/WSN
Giving a hoot
Gallatin got a bit greener yesterday at the Wild NYC panel where experts discussed how urbanization affects the city’s wildlife.
STORY ON PAGE 4
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Friends and faculty react to death of Diaspora co-founder By Hanqing Chen
When he received a call from San Francisco to tell him that his close friend and fellow Diaspora co-founder Ilya Zhitomirskiy had passed away, CAS junior Raphael Sofaer said he couldn’t believe it. “He was a programmer and the best mathematician out of all of us,” he said of Zhitomirskiy. “He was the most tied to the idea of freedom of software.” The NYU alumnus and cofounder of social-networking site Diaspora, passed away last Saturday. Police found him in his San Francisco home shortly after 8 p.m. Though the cause of his death has yet to be determined, reports have suggested suicide. Zhitomirskiy was 22 years old. Zhitomirskiy is best known for creating the social network Diaspora with fellow Courant students Sofaer, Maxwell Salzberg and Daniel Grippe. The group was inspired to pioneer a decentralized, open-source social network to give users control over their own data. Evan Korth, an NYU computer science professor, said Zhitomir-
skiy had been interested in the internet’s social effects since he enrolled at NYU in 2009. “He was an extremely knowledgeable student,” Korth said. “He could speak on almost any topic. He liked to talk about the social implications of the internet.” Korth is the faculty advisor to the NYU chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery, where Zhitomirskiy and his fellow co-founders first met. One of the group’s first projects
together at the ACM was a 3-D printer called the maker-bot. Korth remembered being impressed by Zhitomirskiy’s hardware knowledge. And Zhitomirskiy’s practical know-how made him an invaluable co-worker, Sofaer said. “He was amazingly passionate and really, really adventurous,” Sofaer said. “He was persistently optimistic. He was a person who
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via flickr.com
The NYU alum and social network guru died on Sunday.
Men’s basketball preps for another winning season By John Axelrod Saturday marks the beginning of the NYU men’s basketball team’s 2011-12 season, and the Violets, who finished last season with a 16-11 overall record, are hoping to have its 28th winning season in the past 29 years. The top priority for the Violets this season will be getting to the NCAA Tournament. Last season, the Violets fell short, losing in the semifinals of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Metro Tournament. To do that, the Violets will have to improve their play in the University Athletic Association. NYU went a meager 4-10 against UAA opponents last season. Head coach Joe Nesci plans to compete with the top teams in the conference. “Our guys have been working hard and are improving,” Nesci said. “We need to do a better job on the defensive end of the floor. We need to keep sharing the ball, and we need our younger players to step up.” If the Violets can protect their
own net, they should be able to compete with any team in the UAA. On offense, the team expects to be very strong. “We have a lot of talent on offense,” sophomore guard Ryan Tana said. “We can rely on Andy [Stein] to score in the post and we have a bunch of shooters.” Stein is NYU’s 6-foot-8 center, who earned first team all UAA honors last season. He also led the team in scoring with 17.3 points per game and averaged just over five rebounds per game. Around Stein, three other starters will return from last year’s roster. Junior forward Carl Yaffe should be a key contributor. Last season, Yaffe led the team in assists, was second in rebounding and third in points per game. Junior guard Kyle Stockmal shot 45.9 percent from beyond the arc and will again be the Violets’ primary 3-point threat this season. Junior forward Max Wein will be relied on for defensive stops
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Washington Square news | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
Weekend agenda THURSDAY
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All Things Apple
Washington Square News
Muslim Self Portrait Project: Artist Talkback
12 to 2 p.m. | NYU Bookstore The event will introduce the new collaboration between NYU and Apple. Stop by to learn about new and popular applications and Apple products or to ask technical questions.
Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE
6 to 8 p.m. | Kimmel Center, Room 406 Stop by to hear painter and photographer Todd Drake discuss the Muslim Self Portrait Project, an exhibit of Muslim American selfportraits and personal narratives conveying personal stories through artistic expression.
Managing Editor
KELSEY DESIDERIO
FRIDAY
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Deputy Managing Editor
RUSSELL STEINBERG Assistant Managing Editor
New Salon: Fiction Writers in Conversation 5 p.m. | Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House
Fiction writers Elissa Schappell and Helen Schulman will talk to Darin Strauss at NYU’s Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House.
SATURDAY
1 ‘under fire’ screening & Conversation
7 to 8 p.m. | Kimmel, 10th Floor
A Panel discussion and Q & A on the Education Under Fire campaign. The campaign’s goal is to encourage action against the Iranian’s government’s denial of the right to education for ideological and religous reason.
KIRSTEN CHANG Creative Director
TERKA CICELOVA senior staff
university JAEWON KANG city/state AMY ZHANG arts CHARLES MAHONEY features AMANDA RANDONE sports JAMES LANNING multimedia LAUREN STRAUSSER enterprise ARIELLE MILKMAN special issues FRANCIS POON brownstone JAKE FLANAGIN copy jack brooks senior editors elizabeth gyori,
amanda shih
deputy staff
university gentry brown, julie
devito, susannaH griffee city/state hanqing chen, brian
tam, emily yang music parker bruce film/books stefan Melnyk entertainment jonathon
dornbush
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SUNDAY
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Backyard Brawl
2011 Masters Dance Concert
12 a.m.| Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
2 p.m. | Frederick Loewe Theatre
Come show your support for the NYU comedy sketch group Hammerkatz. They will be defending their position as funniest group against an onslaught of new challengers.
See the final 2011 program in dance education, which is $5 for students. Tickets can purchased through NYU Ticket Central.
theater ERIC SHETHAR features EMILY MCDERMOTT dining SARAH KAMENETZ fashion CARRIE COUROGEN sports SANCHAY JAIN, DANIEL
HINTON production MERYLL PREPOSI multimedia DAVID LIN copy MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN,
JESSICA LITTMAN
opinion page
opinion editor JOHN SURICO deputy opinion editors ATTICUS
BRIGHAM, MARIA MICHALOS
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager
Stefanie Yotka circulation manager
SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
MEagan Driver
Ho, ho, hold up
Emilia Mironovici
Taking his cue from Santa, an Atlanta teen attempted to enter a family’s home through the chimney on Tuesday in an apparent robbery. While the teen thought he would enter the unoccupied home unnoticed, he subsequently became stuck in the chimney for 10 hours. The next afternoon, a neighbor heard somebody calling for help and called authorities. Firefighters rescued the uninjured teen by lowering ropes into the chimney and pulling him out. He was covered in soot. Police then charged him with one count of burglary and one count of providing a false name to police. — Reuters
university sales coordinator
sales representatives
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
MICHAEL SUMMERS editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITOR-AT-LARGE
KATIE THOMPSON Columbia University
Columbia behind peers in faculty salary — Columbia Daily Spectator
A crisp, colored leaf flutters in the autumn wind at Central Park.
PHOTO BY Brittany Elias
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University of Southern California
Suspect named in hit-and-run of USC student — The Daily Trojan
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Kelsey Desiderio at managing@nyunews. com or at 212.998.4302.
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nyunews.com | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | Washington Square news
DIASPORA continued from PG. 1
Friends and faculty react to death of Diaspora co-founder believed that one person’s work and the work of people together could change the world. When the opportunity came, he could really walk the walk.” CAS senior May Wang also remembered Zhitomirskiy’s extraordinary qualities. “He always stood out — whether it was those colorful shirts and pants he wore, his goofy grin or the almost crazed look he had in his eyes that suggested the mind behind them was going a million miles a minute, dreaming up
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MTA proposes law to collect DNA
some wavky invention or other,” Wang said. Diaspora intends to carry on with Zhitomirskiy’s vision of user freedom as it moves their project forward. “Diaspora is an open-source project, with hundreds of people working on it,” Sofaer said. “We will try out best to improve and move on.” Hanqing Chen is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at hchen@nyunews.com. Isaac Green/WSN
Subway and bus drivers are spit on 14 times a month, the MTA said. By Eric Benson The Brooklyn district attorney’s office has proposed a new law that could prosecute passengers who spit on public transportation workers. In an effort to track repeat salivary offenders, the new proposal would create a public DNA database that would allow city officials to match the DNA of the saliva that lands on Metropolitan Transportation Authority employees with that of offenders. Each driver would receive a kit to collect samples. Although the idea of spitting on a MTA worker may seem outlandish, Jim Gannon, direc-
tor of communications for the Transport Workers Union, said MTA employees are currently not shielded by any legislation. “Although there is a law that covers physical assault against the drivers, it does not cover spitting,” Gannon said. According to the MTA, each subway and bus worker was spat on 14 times a month, on average, or 145 times during the nine-month data-collecting period sponsored by the MTA last year. Stephen Schlickman, executive director of the Urban Transportation Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said that this behavior has serious sanitary implications.
“Certainly bus and subway drivers take the brunt of a lot of passenger abuse and pretty much have to put up with it,” said Schlickman. Spitting is also a problem in Chicago, Shlickman said. To combat the issue, the city has implemented plastic protector shields that allow for easy communication but separate the driver from passengers. In Boston, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority employees recently adopted a saliva swabbing system where collected samples are matched with previously created DNA records. For Brooklyn, however, the program is merely on the drawing board. Details for funding and this program’s exact locations are yet to be determined. Jerry Schmetterer, spokesman for Brooklyn District attorney Charles Hynes, said that the proposal must be introduced and passed into law by the legislature for the law to go into effect. For some, there are more important issues than tracking saliva. “I think the issue of littering with objects such as trash is more of a pressing issue,” LSP sophomore Jorri Roberts said. “If anything, they should collect fingerprints or DNA from the trash instead.” Eric Benson is a staff writer. Email him at cstate@nyunews.com.
NYUAD continued from PG. 1
NYUAD now open for study abroad tracurricular, club and student life opportunities will be fully accessible to all study abroad students. “This is a key component of the study away experience for NYUNY students,” NYUAD’s vice chancellor Josh Taylor said. CAS junior Marcus Chiu is one of the students accepted for the exchange. Chiu said he thinks that spending a semester in NYUAD will help him as he applies to honors programs for his political science major. “I have always had an interest in the Middle East region and political science, both personal and academic, and Abu Dhabi offers not only the courses and professors that would greatly advance my education, but the environment in which I [want to] immerse myself in,” Chiu said. Chiu said he plans on taking Arabic in Abu Dhabi, where he hopes to increase his skills by submerging himself in the local culture and locale. Gallatin junior Sal Lavallo, who is currently studying abroad at NYU Tel Aviv, will also be spending his spring semester in Abu Dhabi. Though he is a little concerned about the transition he will undergo from Israeli to United Emirati culture, he said
he is still looking forward to applying the skills he has learned from his education so far. “I’m really excited to apply the research I have conducted, mainly in East Africa, to the Gulf Region,” Lavallo said. “I am also looking forward to meeting the students who
have been at the school for three semesters and learning from their perspective on the city and the issues there.” Gentry Brown is a deputy university editor. Email her at gbrown@nyunews.com.
Courtesy of NYUAD
Seven students were accepted to study abroad at NYUAD.
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Washington Square news | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | nyunews.com
Beatboxer embraces spontaneity to nab UVL preliminary title
tened to tutorials every day and practiced whenever I was walking to class,” he said. As for the UVL contest, Lee said his reasons for joining were purely practical. “I saw that the first-place winner got $175, and I thought, ‘This is good money. Why not try out for it?’” Lee said. “I didn’t know UVL was a big contest. I thought it was just a talent James Kelleher/WSN show, and I just happened to win first place.” Lee competed and won the The artist admitted that he UVL preliminary unexpectedly. didn’t even prepare for the competition until two hours before he stepped onto the stage. By Sarah Kamenetz “I actually screwed up in the CAS sophomore Gyu-Tak Lee middle and paused. Everyone was almost never reads the emails he like ‘What’s going on?’ but I think gets from the Palladium Residence the audience liked it and they were Hall staff, but he just so happened really enjoying it,” Lee said. “I was to do so on the day Palladium was glad I was the only one beatboxing hosting tryouts for Ultra Violet — that was probably why I won — because everyone was singing and Live. He’s glad he did. The South Korean-born and playing music, but I was the only Cleveland-raised international stu- one doing beatbox.” Despite his modest attitude, Lee dent will represent the residence hall in the February talent show carries a stage presence that demands the audience’s attention. with his beatboxing ability. Lee, who goes by “Q,” said he When in the spotlight, he transfirst felt the urge to perform after forms into a machine, contorting he saw a street performer beat- his throat to spit out beats that are boxing in his sophomore year of simultaneously harmonious and high school. Ever since then, he rough — all synchronized perfecthasn’t stopped trying to master ly with the beat of his foot and the tap of his fingers. the trade. “I love to have fun, and I am not “I watched, searched and lis-
reserved, but it is hard for other people to see that part of me,” Lee said. “I think performing shows that different part of me.” The young performer added that he doesn’t have any idea when he will start practicing for the final UVL competition. “UVL doesn’t feel like a huge deal to me now,” he said. “I can’t feel it, and it is in February.” He even reflects this carefree, easygoing attitude in his approach to his two-year draft into the Korean army, which will begin at the end of the academic year. Instead of graduating with his class in 2014, he will graduate in 2016. He plans to pursue a career in finance after graduation. But for now, Lee is savoring his time in the city and enjoying the ride of life. In his free time, he beatboxes, pops (but doesn’t lock) and spends his evenings dining out in K-Town or the East Village with his girlfriend Hyosun Kim who goes to the School of Visual Arts. “He is full of self-confidence,” she said of Lee. “He likes to be on the stage [where] he has no fear, which is another thing I like about him.” Sarah Kamenetz is dining editor. Email her at skamenetz@nyunews.com.
Birds of prey take over Gallatin for Wild NYC
Aarushi Chopra/WSN
Panelists discussed the role of urbanization on the city’s wildlife. By Eric Benson Students were reminded of the greener side of Manhattan at Gallatin’s Wild NYC panel yesterday afternoon. The discussion, which focused on wildlife, environmental diversity and nature in New York City, strove to cast urbanization and the relationship between humans and the wild in a new light. Speakers at the event included Eric Sanderson, the senior conservation ecologist at the Wildlife Conservation Society; Betsy McCully, an associate professor of English at Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York; and Rob Betts, a photographer, blogger, citizen scientist and the creator of “The City Birder” blog. Moderating the panel was Myisha Priest, an assistant professor at Gallatin. The conversation opened up with the topic of the natural history of Manhattan. Though the geographical region of New York City has been inhabited for over eight thousand years, the bulk of the city’s urbanization has taken place over the past 400 years, ever since the arrival of English explorer Henry Hudson. “Manhattan was 25 percent wetlands before the time of Henry Hudson,” Sanderson said. “If you were to walk around Manhattan at the time, you would have seen costal plain ponds, coastal-appalachian oak-pine forests and headwater streams. After 400 years of large building, it’s hard to see NYC as a
biome and ecosystem.” Before Hudson’s arrival, New York City was inhabited by as few as several hundred people. Today, Manhattan is home to approximately 1.6 million residents. “We must look to maintain our needs while sustaining the environment we are in,” Sanderson said. The panelists also spoke of the importance of aquatic life as well as the birds around and within New York City. “It is hard to believe that species that have evolved for thousands of years are now endangered,” McCully said. “Yet pollution and over-harvesting [have] caused their demise.” Robins, owls, bluebirds and sparrows are just a few types of birds that can be seen in the city. In fact, about one third of birds seen across the United States and Canada can actually be spotted here. Betts said he had not lost hope that there was still an abundance of diversity among wildlife in New York. “In one day alone, I spotted 25 species of birds in NYC,” he said. “There is so much wildlife along the cost of Brooklyn.” Gallatin senior Lauren Harari said she was particularly intrigued by the topic of the urbanization of New York. “The evolution of Manahattan itself is fascinating,” she said. “This discussion in particular is very refreshing, as the concept of nature is almost foreign in terms of New York City.” Eric Benson is a staff writer. Email him at university@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | Washington Square news
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SPORTS
edited by JAMES LANNING SPORTS@nyunews.com
To see playoffs, Jets need to step up against weaker teams By Ryan Gilmore
Being a New York Jets fan is like being in an abusive relationship. They give you just enough hope to keep you interested, but in the end they break your heart. That is how I and 80,000 other people at MetLife stadium felt Sunday night, as the Jets had one of the most shameful home showings in recent memory. Everything pointed to a Jets win over the New England Patriots: a home-field advantage, momentum, a play against the worst defense in football. But once again, Gang Green found a way to beat themselves, losing the turnover battle by minus three, repetitively burned by Rob Gronkowski and making the Patriots’ 32ndranked defense look like that of the 2001 Baltimore Ravens. The Jets must win tonight against the Denver Broncos in the Mile High City if they hope to make the playoffs, and it won’t be easy. The short rest, coupled
with the hangover from the Patriots game, will make playing in Denver’s thin air even more of a factor. And simply put, the Broncos are hot, winning their last two games and putting themselves back in the playoff hunt. The Jets, on the other hand, are ice cold and demoralized. Their defense looks old and tired against the run, and their offensive showing against sub-par defenses has left many Jets fans wondering why offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer still has a job. The Broncos run an offense with Tim Tebow unlike anything the Jets have ever seen before, and New York’s slow linebackers are going to have a tough time chasing after the shifty Tebow, who beat Kansas City almost entirely with his legs last week. The strength of the Jets’ defense and their secondary won’t play as big of a role in this game, with the Broncos being an almost entirely run-based team. This means
PREVIEW continued from PG. 1
Men’s basketball looks forward to strong season
head coach Rex Ryan is going to have to find some way to contain Tebow. The Jets find themselves at a crossroads in their season. Having blown the chance to control the division, they are still in position to grab a Wild Card spot. Their remaining seven games pit them against only two teams with winning records — the Buffalo Bills and the New York Giants. That being said, they have to win the games they should win, which seems like anything but a given at this point. Their push for the playoffs starts tonight: The running game has to get back on track, Mark Sanchez can’t make mistakes and the defense has to return to dominance. If the Jets cannot regain their identity of Ground ‘n’ Pound football, they are going to lose. Suffering a loss to another conference opponent and going 5-5 would be catastrophic, given the number of teams in contention for the Wild Card right now.
By Daniel Hinton
1. St. John’s Red Storm at No. 16 Arizona Wildcats (Thursday, 9:30 p.m. EST on ESPN2 and ESPN3)
The Violets will turn to senior Andy Stein with hopes of reaching the NCAAs. and rebounds. The Violets are an unselfish group that excels at spreading the ball around. Last season, they led Division III in assists per game, with 19.4. This year should be no different. “In a few scrimmages, we have done well,” Tana said. “We came together in tough
situations.” The Violets will play The College of New Jersey at the Coles Sports Center in their first game of the season Saturday at 1 p.m. John Axelrod is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
However, 6-4 with an extra three days to prepare against rival Buffalo (5-4) at home would once again put the Jets back in control
of their own destiny. Ryan Gilmore is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Matchups not to miss this weekend The upcoming weekend will feature exciting competitions in a wide range of sports. Here are this weekend’s must-watch events.
File photo by David Lin
Lauren Strausser/WSN
The reeling Jets must defeat a red-hot Denver Broncos team.
New York City’s own St. John’s Red Storm will play against the Arizona Wildcats in their first game of the 2K Sports Classic at Madison Square Garden. St. John’s had one of its most successful seasons in recent memory last year, going 6-5 against ranked opponents and 21-12 overall. Off to a 3-0 start and led by Nigerian-born junior forward God’s Gift Achiuwa, the Red Storm can make a big statement early in the season with a victory on Thursday night. However, that may be easier said than done, as Arizona is coming off of a season in which they made the Elite Eight. Although they are without power forward Derrick Williams, who was picked second in the 2011 NBA Entry Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Wildcats have started the new season with three consecutive wins. The game will be the first competitive match-up for both undefeated squads and the first opportunity for fans to watch college hoops played at Madison Square Garden.
2. NASCAR Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami (Sunday, 2 p.m. on ESPN) The Chase for the Sprint Cup comes down to a race for first place between current points-leader Carl Edwards and two-time cup winner Tony Stewart. After ending a 70-race losing streak last year with a victory at the Kobalt Tools 500 in Phoenix, Edwards finished the 2010 season with another win at the Ford 400, which has been the site of the last race in the Sprint Race to the Cup since 1999. Although Stewart has had three more first-place finishes this year, Edwards is in first by three points (which can be erased on Sunday). Edwards leads all drivers in top-five finishes with 18, the highest total since he earned 19 in 2008. Whether Stewart or Edwards wins, this year’s Sprint Cup winner is guaranteed to not be Jimmie Johnson for the first time since 2005, when Stewart won his second cup.
3. WWE Survivor Series 2011 (Sunday, 8 p.m. on PayPer-View) For its 25th year, WWE’s Survivor Series will return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since 2002. The biggest return of the night, however, will be The Rock. Despite their feud, which will continue in
Wrestlemania XXVIII next April, the Rock and John Cena will join forces against The Miz and R-Truth in a tag-team match. The other three biggest matches are Alberto Del Rio vs. cult favorite CM Punk for the WWE Championship, Mark Henry vs. Big Show for the World Heavyweight Championship, and Team Barrett vs. Team Orton in a traditional Survivor Series elimination tag team match.
4. Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (Sunday, 8:20 p.m. on NBC) The Giants will continue with the toughest second-half schedule in the NFL against the Eagles, whose playoff hopes are dwindling after losing at home to the lowly Arizona Cardinals. Despite boasting the fifth most productive offense and the best running game in the NFL, Philly simply cannot finish games. They have blown five fourth-quarter leads in nine games. With both of their remaining games against the Dallas Cowboys, the Giants have to finish strongly now that Dallas, which has an easier schedule down the stretch, trail by merely one game. Expect Eli Manning to repeat his brilliant performance from Week 3 when New York defeated Philly 29-16. Daniel Hinton is a deputy sports editor. Email him at dhinton@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | nyunews.com
FEATURES
edited by AMANDA RANDONE features@nyunews.com
Make the most of New York City this Thanksgiving
By Nicole Gartside Thanksgiving is almost upon us and everyone is packing up, excited to travel home and be with family — but you’re stuck at school. Worried that Thanksgiving will fall flat without mom’s turkey or dad’s favorite football game? Here are some easy tips to make Thanksgiving in the dorm feel a little more like home. 1. Mix in Some Tradition Even at school, it won’t feel like Thanksgiving without the traditional staples, so splurge on a turkey. If you’re lucky enough to have an oven, be adventurous and cook your own. Keep in mind that, unless you’re inviting a lot of guests, you won’t need a turkey larger than four pounds. Don’t overwhelm yourself with cooking. Pick one or two things to make by hand, and then buy some boxed or pre-made items. FreshDirect, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods all offer pre-cooked, take-home meals that can be stored in the freezer and warmed up on Thanksgiving Day.
2. Hold Onto Your Youth Remember the days of making turkeys from handprints? Channel your inner child and create silly crafts with your friends for a centerpiece. For even more fun, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade now streams live online at NBC. com and is great to watch in the morning while preparing food. 3. Appearance is Everything It won’t feel like Thanksgiving unless it looks like Thanksgiving. Decorate your space with a festive tablecloth, or set out some red and yellow candles. Arrange a plate of gourmet cheese and crackers and invite your friends, suitemates or floormates to come by.
4. Add New York Flair The beauty of being in New York is the incredible diversity. Some friends staying in the city for the holiday may not celebrate Thanksgiving at all. Invite them over to learn about Thanksgiving and ask them to bring a native dish. This will spice up your Thanksgiving and give them a chance to experience an American tradition.
via flickr.com
The Thanksgiving spirit can be brought to your dorm with a few small embellishments.
5. Share the Burden Cooking an entire Thanksgiving meal by yourself can be tiresome, so ask whoever is coming
Steinhardt jazz pianist shows us what’s in his bag
Hannah Borenstein/WSN
Feifke keeps an array of sheet music in his bag, and some are his own compositions. By Hannah Orenstein Rummaging through Steinhardt junior and jazz pianist Steven Feifke’s belongings is a greater challenge than you might expect. Feifke has toured professionally in Europe and has competed in front of iconic judges such as awardwinning musician Herbie Hancock, so he’s gathered quite a collection. But the deeper you go into his bag, the more you understand his life. Music Sheets: The ones in the manila folder are for the music Feifke plays with Lenny Pickett, an NYU jazz faculty member and musical director for the Saturday Night Live Band. These, however, should not be confused with
those in the purple folder, which are Feifke’s originals. His laptop is always easily accessible for editing music between classes. Statistics Textbook: Feifke has recently taken on a second major in economics to ensure active participation in the business side of the music world. Retro blue sunglasses: Feike’s father, an optometrist, keeps Feifke well-equipped with UV-protected glasses, which he carries everywhere. Hannah Orenstein is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
over for dinner to bring a side dish. If you’re going to another dorm or apartment for dinner, it is always a good idea to bring something, even if you weren’t
asked. Dessert is always a safe bet. Nicole Gartside is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
DRAWING continued from PG. 1
Art and science converge in ‘Two Points of View’ drawing exhibition ists, but it’s a sort of natural connection. Specifically, visual representation of the body is an intrinsic part of being a radiologist.” Axel not only spends time drawing at the Spring Studio, but he also sketches people on the subway and bus during his commute. “I draw all sorts of things,” he said. “If I’m sitting in a restaurant, I’ll draw the salt shakers. If I’m riding a bus, I’ll sketch my fellow passengers.” “Two Points of View” marks Axel’s first professional art show. Hanging on the studio walls are selections from the professor’s sketchbooks that show these various drawings, accompanied by acrylic works made during figure sessions spent at the studio. Kerstetter is a professional artist, but she, too, relates her art to science. She has taught figure-drawing to medical students at Georgetown University, Columbia University and NYU’s Langone Medical Center. After teaching medical students how to draw cadavers, Kerstetter worked with them to draw moving, breathing models, which she said was a welcome change for her students. “I thought it was a wonderful balancing opportunity with them because they were working with cadavers and sick peo-
ple,” she said. Kerstetter has also taught drawing classes to medical students at NYU for several years. “I taught in order to learn,” she said. “I think that’s the most wonderful thing about teaching ... learning from your students. And you learn together.” Although the two artists’ pieces intermingle throughout the exhibit, Kerstetter’s work is distinctly different from Axel’s. While Axel used colored acrylics, Kerstetter stuck to sanguine colored pencil on cream paper. Minerva Durham, the owner and director of Spring Studio, allows all artists who frequent the studio to display their works, and said she showcases new work every month. The studio offers figure drawing sessions and classes three times a day. “Each one [Kerstetter and Axel] wanted to have a show, and I said, ‘Well, let’s just do it at the same time,’” she said. The show runs through Nov. 27. It is free and open to the public from 5 to 6 p.m. daily or by appointment. For more information, visit SpringStudioSoHo.com. Jessica Littman is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | Washington Square news
Features
edited by AMANDA RANDONE features@nyunews.com
‘Sisters’ puts melodic spin on polygamy By Nicole Gartside With the recent attention Mormonism has received in the art world comes “Dark Sisters,” a new opera composed by Nico Muhly with libretto by Stephen Karam. But unlike comedic features like “The Book of Mormon,” “Dark Sisters” touches upon the more sensitive subject of polygamy from the oftenoverlooked perspective of women. “Sisters” follows one woman’s dangerous attempt to escape a Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints compound, a sect that broke from the Mormon faith in the early 20th century after Mormonism disavowed plural marriage. The heavy subject matter of the show is echoed in the cast’s rich melodic vocals — a layering of six female voices and one male voice. The grave material keeps the audience emotionally drawn to the show, and moments of comedy allow temporary relief from the draining struggles that face each of the wives. “Dark Sisters” also skillfully employs technology — an unusual element for an operatic feature. Such elements include video footage, a simulated television broadcast and a moving cloud backdrop — all working together to create a pathetic fallacy of overcast shadows
and looming darkness. But while there is no denying that the score is excellently written, the performance was relatively monotonous, even in the more dramatic moments of life and death. The intriguing combination of melodies leaves audiences craving a vocal climax that, unfortunately, never comes. Still, the show proved to be surprisingly entertaining. “I really enjoyed myself,” said audience member Cynthia Glidden. “I had some reservations coming into this show, but I’m glad that I saw it.” The world premiere of “Dark Sisters” ran earlier this month at the Gerald W. Lynch Theatre of John Jay College in midtown. Already, Muhly has been dubbed a rising
star among the international music scene based on his opera debut. “Nico Muhly and Stephen Karam are two of their generation’s brightest talents,” Gotham Chamber Opera executive director David Bennett said. “The subject matter is very timely.” The combination of modern technology, ancient marriage rituals and traditional operatic style came together beautifully to create an entertaining and powerful show. “Dark Sisters” runs through Nov. 19 at the Gerald W. Lynch Theatre, located at John Jay College, 899 10th Ave. Visit GothamChamberOpera. org for more information. Nicole Gartside is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Courtesy of Richard Termine
Muhly’s grave new opera peers into the world of Mormonism.
Sternie lands key spots on small screen By Erin Kim While most NYU students might spend their weekends catching up on their favorite TV shows, Stern sophomore Annie Qian, also known as Annie Q., can be found on the screen instead of in front of it. When she’s not in class or leafing through Laurence Olivier’s “On Acting,” Qian leads a second life filled with auditions, filming, dancing, singing and piano practice. Qian’s acting career is taking off with appearances on CBS’s “Blue Bloods” and “Law and Order,” a recurring role on the TBS show “Are We There Yet?” and in Drake Doremus’ yet-to-benamed upcoming film. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Staten Island, Qian has been performing since she was four. Singing and piano recitals were her specialities until, at age 13, she stepped in front of a camera for a television audition. From then on, she knew where she wanted to be — on stage and on camera. Qian said that attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts gave her just the right environment to fulfill that goal. Through musical theater and acting in student
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films, Qian realized an important truth. “It does not matter what other people think or [what] other people’s expectations [are],” she said. “You really have to come back to why you love doing [what you do].” Qian’s dream now is to become a producer and to carry on her grandfather’s legacy. A Chinese screenplay writer, Qian’s grandfather created films ready to be directed and shown on screen. His untimely death inspired Qian to finish what he started. “I hope the business and networking skills I gain at Stern will help me realize his vision,” she said. Following Johnny Depp’s quote, “Being a serious actor is an oxymoron,” Qian approaches her career with professionalism but also with a light heart. Whenever she encounters a challenge, she repeats one simple mantra to herself: “There has got to be something better ahead, and most of the time there is. So keep positive.” As an Asian-American actress, Qian said she embraces her timeless heritage. “One of my dreams all along has been to expand my career back to my cultural roots,” she said. “China — and Asia in
general — is so rich in culture. There are so many stories. We can only hope to tell some of them as actors.” Because the pursuit of acting has made Qian all about getting into character, she has loved the revitalizing power of makeup. On her popular YouTube account, Qian has makeup tutorials and viewers can make how-to requests. “I feel like makeup and acting are actually very similar: It’s all creating a character or someone different,” she said. No matter what she is doing, Qian succeeds as an actress, an intellectual and a member of the NYU community; she does not sacrifice one for the other. She offered some simple advice to aspiring performers. “Remember why you love what you do,” she said. “Do not try to have everyone like you, but just love the work you do.” Qian can be seen in both the new “Are We There Yet?” episodes airing in January and as Chloe, Keith’s (Guy Pearce) piano student, in Doremus’ untitled upcoming film. You can also visit her website at AnnieQ. com and her YouTube channel under the name NotSoScripted. Erin Kim is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Skipping Santa for Gaga at Barneys this season By Kristina Bogos If stepping into the mouth of a giant Lady Gaga-inspired monster is at the top of your holiday to-do list, look no further than Barneys this winter for an unprecedented holiday extravaganza. Not only is Gaga filling the holiday window displays at Barneys this winter, but she is also taking over the entire fifth floor at their flagship store on Madison Avenue with her unique and bizarre sense of style. An exclusive “Gaga’s Workshop” collection will be unveiled at the grand opening slated for Nov. 21 at precisely 11:59 p.m. This Gaga-filled universe is the entertainment icon’s creative interpretation of Santa’s Workshop. Elaborate art installations with bright colors and abstract patterns will line the interior. Customers can expect a transformed retail space divided into eight sections, including a toy shop, a candy shop and even a jewelry shop “created out of an oversized Lady Gaga-turned-spider and a boudoir in the shape of a giant wig,” according to a Barneys press release. In anticipation of the event, Barneys created an official countdown known as “The 12 Days of Gaga.” For each of the 12 days leading up to the launch, the store is releasing a special-edition Lady Gaga product only available for a limited time. Items include a Gaga face cookie ($15), a 21inch black stiletto stocking ($65), a light up yo-yo ($25) and even a 34-piece magnetic dress-up doll set of Gaga’s signature looks with inter-
changeable heads, outfits and shoes ($65). “The event sounds like a perfect way to get ready for the Thanksgiving break,” Gaga fan and Tisch freshman Vincent Cooper said. “It seems like a lot of fun and a great way to unwind from the stresses of the fall semester. I’m also very excited to see the collection.” If all of this isn’t enough, shoppers can embark on a scavenger hunt throughout Barneys and New York City to look for hidden monster-faced Lady Gaga posters with exclusive codes, redeemable online for special prizes and discounts. Customers can even become “Gaga work shoppers” by creating an avatar online and uploading a photo to share their adventures with friends and family. Gaga and Barneys will also be giving back this holiday season. Twenty-five percent of all sales will be donated to the artist’s Born This Way charity foundation that focuses on youth empowerment and equality by addressing the issues of self-confidence, antibullying and career development. “The variety of attractions, especially the floor decorations, seem very appealing,” liberal studies freshman Fiona Zheng said. “The fact that a percentage of the sales will be donated would make me feel like I’d be doing something good to benefit others.” Gaga’s Workshop will run until Jan. 21. For special store hours over the holidays, visit GagasWorkshop.com. Kristina Bogos is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
VIA gagasworkshop.com
Gaga’s Workshop will be unveiled at Barneys next week.
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Washington Square news | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | nyunews.com
ARTS
edited by CHARLES MAHONEY ARTS@nyunews.com
Despite intense sadness, ‘Tyrannosaur’ worth watching
Courtesy of Optimum Releasing
Director Paddy Considine brings the harsh realism in “Tyrannosaur.” By Alex Greenberger By the end of “Tyrannosaur,” the viewer will probably wish there were actual dinosaurs in the film, if only to alleviate the emotional pain. The film is so oppressively sad that it becomes hard to watch. But the characters are so compelling that it’s hard for the viewer to turn away. It’s the purest example of misery porn — there is not a single moment in the film that is uplifting in any way. It opens with a man killing a dog with a baseball bat and unfolds into rape, murder, death, hate and alcoholism. However, “Tyrannosaur” is more than an ordinary British kitchensink drama. British cinema has always excelled at harsh realism, and “Tyrannosaur” is a fine example of this. The film follows Joseph (Peter Mullan), a raging alcoholic dealing with the loss of his wife. His life is crumbling before him and, possessed with violence and malaise, he has become absolutely miserable. He accidentally meets Hannah (Olivia Colman), the shopkeeper of a charity store, who helps to heal some of Joseph’s emotional wounds. But it does not take him very long to realize that Hannah has quite a few problems of her own. Director Paddy Considine’s first full-length feature is a test of endurance, but in its own strange, sadistic way, it is also a brilliant character study. As the viewer watches two characters fall inexorably into the dregs of existence, it becomes impossible to look away. In this way, Considine has crafted a torturous but tasteful tale of depression and violence. In terms of characters, “Tyrannosaur” sounds like typical indie fare. There’s the broken alcoholic and the abused wife. But
“Tyrannosaur” elevates Joseph and Hannah’s character types to a new level, mostly by plunging them into extreme melancholia. It takes a pair of great performances to pull off these roles, and Mullan and Colman deliver. Colman plays Hannah with a feminine helplessness rarely as fully realized as it is here. Mullan, on the other hand, plays Joseph with intense anger, inspiring fear and scorn in equal measure. Then there’s Considine himself. Though Considine has acted in small roles in many big-budget Hollywood movies, he has only stepped behind the camera once before, in the critically praised short film “A Dog Altogether.” Considine used this short film as the basis for “Tyrannosaur,” and the result of the adaptation is marvelous. Many indie filmmakers have attempted this, most notably Mike Cahill in “Another Earth.” But while the end product is usually derivative, “Tyrannosaur” is about as far from imitative as films go. In fact, “Tyrannosaur” is admirable simply for the fact that it goes where no American films ever dare. British films often have a certain boldness that Hollywood will not accept. Like Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” from last year, Considine’s “Tyrannosaur” is an uncompromising look at lower-class individuals struggling in a society that hates them. It’s harsh, real and deeply disturbing. “Tyrannosaur” conclusively demonstrates that, when provoking distress, human realism can be more effective than 12-person human centipedes. For that, we have Considine to thank. Alex Greenberger is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com
‘Dolphin Boy’ a heartwarming tale of triumph By Stefan Melnyk In “Dolphin Boy,” a teenage boy undergoes a traumatic event and is so psychologically altered that he becomes mute and prone to violent anxiety attacks; only with the help of an unusual clinic and a school of dolphins does he find his way back to normal life and to those who love him. Years of Lifetime original movies have rendered most viewers immune to premises like this. This dolphin story, however, bears a distinct advantage over its predecessors: It is a documentary. “Dolphin Boy” is a magnificent film concerning a 17-year-old Arab-Israeli named Morad, who was a bright boy with a promising future until an innocent misunderstanding led a gang of thugs to beat him to the brink of death. His physical recovery was relatively swift, but his mind never fully healed. His doctor tried every type of therapy available and was almost prepared to give up when he decided, as a last resort, to try “dolphin therapy,” hoping that nonverbal communication with the dolphins would serve to restore Morad’s capacity for verbal communication. That this should work is actually not so far-fetched — animal therapy, especially with dogs, is used frequently and has had great success in the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression worldwide. However, while the dolphins are
via dolphinboyfilm.com
“Dolphin Boy” champions the resiliency of the human spirit. clearly present, they are little more than a catalyst. What impresses most about the film are the subjects and their stories — Morad’s condition improves, but he is constantly tormented by memories of the beating; his mother wants nothing more than to have her son back; and most of all, his father, a man heartbreakingly devoted to his son, sells most of his worldly possessions and travels to the dolphin sanctuary in order to be near Morad. It would be pointless to try to boil down the film to one thing that it is about. It is about human relationships, nature, the resiliency of the human spirit, justice, love, hope and myriad other things, but it is not about just one of these things. It is simply, at its core, an excellent story. Directors Dani Menkin and Yonatan Nir deftly communicate it without comment or agenda, real-
izing that the strength of the story lies in its emotional power. Consider the scene in which Morad’s father describes what happened to his son, anguish dripping from every word. Or consider the scene in which a partially recovered Morad is asked whether the dolphin therapy has healed him and he replies with a quietly poignant casualness that, if he had been healed, he would be able to sleep at night. “Dolphin Boy” teems with moments like this, and Menkin and Nir display an uncanny knack for finding them. Particularly in a film culture overflowing with crackpot issue documentaries, it is refreshing and almost inspiring to find a film as intimate and emotionally honest as this one. Stefan Melnyk is film/books editor. Email him at smelnyk@nyunews.com.
‘Rid of Me’ devoid of entertainment value By Clio McConnell
“Rid of Me” rings in what might be the most disturbing 90 minutes on the silver screen right now. If you were to carefully select the most unsettling moments of “Black Swan” and replay them for an hour and a half, you might come close to obtaining the effect writer, director and cinematographer James Westby (“Film Geek,” “The Auteur”) achieves in his new film. Billed as a black comedy, “Rid of Me” chronicles housewife Meris Canfield’s (Katie O’Grady) adjustment to her new home in Laurelwood, Ore., the homogenous hometown of her husband, Mitch (John Keyser). As Mitch’s old buddies intimidate the painfully awkward Meris, they eventually tear the Canfields’ marriage to shreds. Abandoned in a small, unfamiliar town, Meris starts working at a candy shop and along the way, she falls in with an entirely new crowd — wannabe punk rockers. For a while, this clique only derails her life further, but she eventually settles down in a fulfilling, healthy niche in her new town. Though O’Grady is admittedly very capable in this role — expertly manipulating her facial expressions and body language — the quality of her performance only makes the
film all the more disturbing. Meris has a habit of talking to herself, her behavior is a tad obsessive, and she possesses cripplingly limited social skills — a set of qualities that make her an extraordinarily creepy, almost sociopathic, protagonist. Not to mention that Meris is far too old for most of the activities she participates in. The only truly redeeming element of this movie are the girls at the candy store: Trudy (Orianna Herman), Dawn (Ritah Parrish) and Mrs. Hurbold (Betty Moyer), all of whom are brilliantly cast and exhibit excellent comedic timing. Unfortunately, Parrish and Moyer don’t get much screen time, but Herman shines as the archetypal sarcastic goth girl. Somehow, she even manages to turn eating pasta
salad into a sharply pointed expression of anger. Sadly, though, this scene serves as one of the film’s only highlights. As we watch the downward spiral of Meris Canfield’s life, we get the sense that all of her problems could have been avoided, and we ultimately fail to sympathize with her. She never should have married Mitch, she never should have moved to Laurelwood, and she certainly never should have stayed in the same small town as her ex-husband, whom she parted from on not-so-amicable terms. So, unless you, like Meris, are a glutton for punishment, avoid this hour-plus of discomfort. Clio McConnell is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
via ridofmemovie.com
O’Grady’s portrayal of Meris is rife with angst and compulsion.
nyunews.com | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | Washington Square news
ARTS
edited by CHARLES MAHONEY ARTS@nyunews.com
R.E.M.’s final album offers fans a bittersweet farewell By Alexandria Ethridge
We music lovers prefer that our favorite bands and musicians retire from the business with their dignity intact, rather than extend their presence to the point where we shake our heads in shame at their sad attempts to stay in the spotlight (Steven Tyler on “American Idol”? Why?). That’s why, when R.E.M. announced on its website its decision to “[call] it a day as a band,” fans from all over bowed their heads in silent respect of one of the bands that built the very foundation of modern rock music. Now, by selecting just 20 songs from among its vast repertoire, the band delivers its more poignant songs and shows others what they’ve been missing with its final golden egg, “Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage: 1982-2011.” The album doubles as a timeline that tells the tale of R.E.M.’s success, with each song representing an individual milestone throughout the band’s lifetime. It begins with “Gardening at Night,” a tribute to its first EP, “Chronic Town,” followed by “Radio Free Europe,” the debut single that earned the band its very first recording contract in 1983. “Green” contributes the most songs to the album, with successful singles “Stand” and “Orange Crush.” These songs are quintessential R.E.M., and the band capitalizes
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on the relaxed sound and muffled vocals that first made it famous. An interesting order on the track list ends the album with “Losing My Religion” followed by “Shiny Happy People” — perhaps as a parting message to the band’s fans that, while they are losing something so meaningful, they should be happy instead of mournful. There is no album more directly for fans or more grateful for their devotion than this one. This compilation is a reminder to all modern artists of what inspired them to make music in the first place. Even the most bubble gum of pop stars have to recognize their roots, and R.E.M. is one of those bands responsible for establishing the foundation for so many of today’s successful artists. The album is an extremely fitting end for a band that has influenced generations of music ever since it released its first single over two decades ago. The fact that I’ve grown up knowing its melodies, lyrics and overall essence before I even knew of the band itself speaks magnitudes to its impact not just only on the music industry, but also on all music lovers from years ago and for years to come. Alexandria Ethridge is a staff writer. Email her at music@nyunews.com.
‘Skyrim’ video game delivers new, expertly crafted RPG experience By Matt Chen
Five years ago, Bethesda touted “The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion” as a groundbreaking RPG title. In hindsight, however, the gameplay simply does not live up to our nostalgic memories of the game. But because of the goodwill “Oblivion” established for this generation, “The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim” was released with lofty expectations. Bethesda has managed to live up to that hype, building another gem with “Skyrim.” Although the game is not the massive jump from its predecessor that many fans expected, “Skyrim” is still a huge leap forward from the problems many saw in “Oblivion.” “Skyrim” excels in a number of areas as an unbelievably deep and engaging game, but it falters in certain aspects. The most robust and intriguing feature of “Skyrim” is the Radiant system, which procedurally generates side quests depending on the degree of exploration your character has done, his actions and his level. The system will create a quest that suits your character’s skill set and will attempt to direct you to a cave or other locale that you have not yet explored, weaving a fuller story from your interactions with particular characters. These mechanics craft side quests that surpass Bethesda’s main quests, mainly because the system tailors everything to suit players’ unique character developments. Players become more invested in both the mission and the world, as both are based on their individual experiences. The Radiant system also provides each character you meet with a daily routine — blacksmiths will work on various metals in their forges, farm-
ers will work in the fields and traders will actually travel around the landscape, truly bringing the world to life. While the Radiant system is an amazing addition and smartly complements the game’s other established tropes, aspects of “Skyrim” do not quite measure up. The most glaring problems that appear result from the user interface and the many bugs that riddle the game. While the UI can be worked with and looks as beautiful as the rest of the game’s stunning world, it is by no means an elegant system to use. The game has no central hub that can take you to everything you need, forcing you to learn how to navigate pages of data (or the keyboard for the PC version) to find anything. For example, the game’s journal, which keeps track of quests, is inaccessible from the main menu on the PC. The journal is opened by the J key, not by the main menu’s tab key, making for an awkward setup that ultimately becomes a nuisance. While the game is not perfectly constructed, Bethesda has a strong track record of releasing game patches post-launch and will likely soon fix the few existing errors present. Aside from these few bugs and the minor but less-than-sensible game design choices, “Skyrim” has an amazing engine driving the uniquely crafted experience. If you are able and willing to overlook these minor annoyances — which you should — and really delve deep into the rich world of “Skyrim,” you are in for a captivating experience. Matt Chen is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Le Poisson Rouge plays host to indie powerhouses By Patrick Caddick Titus Andronicus and Fucked Up share a delicate liminality, balanced ever so carefully between the highmindedness associated with independent music and the aggressive credibility of punk at its finest. But seeing either band live, you would never guess that to be the case. At Le Poisson Rouge, the carefully crafted songs of both bands were met with the screaming choruses that seemed to be the antithesis of indie pretension. Titus Andronicus opened the show with an abbreviated version of “Four Score and Seven,” a standout from last year’s record, “The Monitor.” The crowd was already screaming by the time lead singer Patrick Stickles belted out his first lyrics. In fact, each track from “The Monitor” was met with uproarious applause and incited wild pandemonium. It was when someone was pulled from the audience to deliver the monologue that preceded “A More Perfect Union” that the excitement peaked. Old favorites were interrupted by new the songs “Detritus” and “In a Big City.” Both had a decidedly more country feel than did the rest of the set, and “Food Fight” (a track Stickles said was about his eating disorder) sounded like Billy Bragg covering Weezer’s “Blue Album.” Closing the night with a medley of their mini epic, “The Battle of Hampton
Roads”/“Titus Andronicus Forever,” they showed they could command an audience in a way that few others would. How all of their performances don’t end with a riot is a mystery to me. Not to be outdone, Fucked Up played “David Comes to Life” from beginning to end (complete with orchestral accompaniment) and, following the instrumental introduction, kicked off the show with “Queen of Hearts.” From his first notes, Damian Abraham had pits all about the circular stage and was already making his way around the crowd. The truly astounding thing is that Le Poisson Rouge was able to contain this set. The sole drawback of seeing the album in its entirety is that similarities between songs become more and more apparent. At times, “David Comes to Life” grows repetitive, but the fact that each song is delivered so clearly and passionately makes up for this flaw. After completing the album, the band returned for an encore where Abraham jokingly said they would play “Year of the Ox” (a 13-minute song) but quickly followed with, “Just kidding, we’re not that pretentious.” But if it keep delivering performances like this, it can afford to be as pretentious as it want. Patrick Caddick is a staff writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | nyunews.com
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 500 Seventh Avenue, New York,times N.Y. 10018 The new york crossword & daily sudoku For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Thursday, November 17, 2011
Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Darted 6 Grasp 12 Natl. economic stat 15 Full tilt 16 Proceeding without thinking 17 Place for clover 18 Film about how to win a MacArthur Fellowship? 21 Aoki of the P.G.A. 22 One of the 30 Dow Jones industrials 23 Ancient Anatolian land 24 Like some drugs, briefly 25 Film about a biblical serpent? 29 Winging it? 32 Conspicuously consume 33 Barqʼs rival
34 Trouble makers 36 Soup vegetable 38 Film about Ali/Foremanʼs Rumble in the Jungle? 43 Slave 44 Goes off script 47 Word in the names of four state capitals 51 Viking king, 9951000 54 Skin: Suffix 55 Film in which Moe, Shemp and Curly show their flexibility? 58 Lobster trap 59 Title town in a 1945 Pulitzer winner 60 “The Cat in the Hat Knows a Lot About That!” subj. 61 Mid sixth-century year
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE M O S H I N G
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53 " 56 Sports no-nos, informally 57 Quit running 61 “Darn it!” 63 Like ___ 64 Itʼs very cool 65 Heat org.? 66 One piece of a two-piece
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nyunews.com | Thursday, November 17, 2011 | Washington Square news
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OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO opinion@nyunews.com
Table Talk
With Berlusconi gone, Italy can now rebuild By Raquel Woodruff “The life in Italy is the life of a wealthy country,” former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said at a G20 summit on Nov. 4. “Consumptions haven’t diminished. It’s hard to find seats on planes. Our restaurants are full of people. We really are a strong economy. I can’t see another figure on the Italian scene capable of representing Italy on the international stage. I feel obliged to stay on.” A few days, later he resigned after his parliamentary majority crumbled and the nation’s bond yields flew past the seven percent mark. The embarrassing way Berlusconi was pushed out, with Italy on the verge of an economic meltdown, has set forces in motion to transform the country’s bleak political landscape. The way was paved for former European Commissioner Mario Monti to take over the new coalition government yesterday. But it’s not so much Monti himself who gives Italians optimism as it is the simple fact that Berlusconi is out of office. Under Berlusconi, a nation that produced some of the largest and most lucrative joint-stock companies in Europe, like Fiat S.p.A., became better known for its prime minister’s
Bunga Bunga orgy parties, court cases for fraud and bad diplomatic moves. Berlusconi not only insisted that Italy did not have any financial problems, but that it was in excellent financial health — even as its borrowing expenses soared to threateningly high levels, and Giorgio Napolitano, Italy’s president, cautioned that the country was entering its worst dilemma since World War II. He turned down the International Monetary Fund’s offer to provide Italy a line of credit and failed to carry out long overdue market reforms to jump-start the economy. But Berlusconi appealed to many Italians — the people who helped transform the former lounge singer and big-shot media executive into Italy’s longest-serving prime minister and central political figure for seventeen years. Still, his popular support could not keep Italy’s head above water in the mounting debt crisis engulfing all of Europe, nor could it keep his government from falling apart. Berlusconi’s failure to fulfill promises of spurred competitiveness in Europe’s fourth-biggest economy left Italy with little growth and a debt of 1.9 trillion euros — about 120 percent of the GDP, the euro zone’s second highest after Greece. With Italy replacing Greece as the
focal point of anxiety amid Europe’s crushing debt problems, European leaders undoubtedly found Berlusconi a liability. His stepping down indicates new direction for Italy — not just in the containment and solving of the debt crisis but a new direction in the corrupted cultural politics that have defined Berlusconi and his administration. His career was so plagued by sex scandals and corruption trials that his incompetency while in office became just another thing to shrug off. His energetic smile, regularly changing hairline, everlasting tan and never-ending banter made him seem more like a poor talk-show comedian in Hawaii than a serious officeholder and policymaker. It’s time for the financial crisis in Italy to be handled seriously, not with immobility and shortsightedness. Monti’s appointment ends an era of an Italy clouded by ineptitude and flippant braggadocio. But more importantly, it gives hope to the productive and professional Italy — a country fed up with the irresponsible Berlusconi. Raquel Woodruff is a columnist. Her column, “Table Talk,” is about international issues and domestic affairs and appears every Thursday. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
campus life
Inner-school stereotypes must be forgotten By Katie Travers “But seriously, people in MCC are slackers.” “Good luck getting a job with that philosophy degree.” “Pfffft, LSP? You didn’t really get into NYU, did you?” “Hahaha ... Gallatin.” “Damn Sternies taking all the 99 percent’s money!” “Yeah okay, Tisch. We’ll talk when you’re on food stamps.” It seems as though some NYU students are prone to criticizing the academic concentrations and passions of other students as a way to validate their own courses of study. In the end, the criticism is a realization that we’re all a bunch of confused teens and 20somethings who need to remember that there is a place for everyone at this school and in society. Stop acting like you’re better than that LSP student in your philosophy lecture. According to Shawn Abbott, assistant vice president for admissions, “There is no simple formula” in NYU’s admissions process. Students put in the newly renamed Core Program are students that the committee “believe[s] will most benefit from the curriculum.” Simple enough: Everyone who is here got accepted. Stern: We’d be there if we had the grades Get over the fact that not all Stern
kids are Republicans who want to suck out your soul and take away your money to buy some remote island in the Pacific. One Stern student, a selfproclaimed “tree-hugging liberal from Oregon,” said, “Stern gets a bad reputation because of a few bad apples.” Let go of the stereotypes; get to know the individuals. Steinhardt: Why do people hate? Steinhardt public health major Chytanya Kompala said that people have a “certain pride and identity towards [their program],” but that is no excuse to be hateful towards other fields. Any socially conscious individual knows that studying education, health and art is critical to society. Knock it all you want, but wait until you’re telling the Steinhardt applied psychology graduate who is now your $100-anhour therapist about your mid-life crisis. Karma sucks. Tisch: Don’t be jealous. You wish you were a film major or that your parents were paying nearly $60,000 a year so you could prepare for a competitive career in dance instead of being forced to study economics. Gallatin: It’s awesome and you know it. You probably want to individualize your own study but have heard so many insults that you think it devalues any chance for future success. Gallatin student Gayle Pitone, who is majoring in what would essentially be metropol-
itan studies and politics in CAS, shared some insight into why people like to spew the hate. “Everyone wants to constantly reaffirm that they’ve made the best decision,” Pitone said. “We’re all so afraid and uncertain of the future at this point as it is ... [Students] don’t want to find out there’s a better school ... and realize that the path they were on isn’t the right one.” Are NYU students that worried about their lives post-graduation? It’s probably safe to say that most NYU students have spiraled into worries of a jobless future, debt or table-waiting because their degree left them unemployed and broke. However, there’s hope. Wasserman’s “Life Beyond the Square” survey of the class of 2010 revealed that out of the 2,850 graduates (62 percent of the class) that responded to their survey, about 91 percent were either employed or in graduate school. Not too shabby considering our current unemployment rate is around nine percent. Stand back for a second and look at all of the opportunities that NYU offers to make sure you’re doing what you truly love. If you don’t like what you’re studying, change it. And if you don’t like what someone else is studying, don’t study it and keep the hate to yourself. Katie Travers is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
Staff editorial
New anti-piracy bill restricts freedom The Stop Online Piracy Act presented by the House of Representatives advocates for the protection of copyrighted material that companies have on the Internet. The bill would inhibit piracy, illegal downloading and the availability of arguably controversial and obscene material to those using the Internet, which the WSN Editorial Board would like to point out is a large portion of the nation. Companies who have information that is subject to piracy should implement protections on their intellectual property — be it film, music or information — to combat the potential for piracy. If individual, privately operated companies wish to put an end to piracy of their materials, they should take charge of their own protections. In the public light, the government has no place in these matters. Not only would this bill hinder free access of information, but it would also implement a type of censorship akin to that used by China and Iran, said spokespeople from Tumblr, an increasingly popular blogging site used, once again, by a large number of people. We are confused as to the motivation behind this act. Does the SOPA desire to implement a protectionism for big businesses? For example, there is a clause in the bill that bans the access to prescription medicine available on unauthorized websites. Though we are against this practice, we do feel that regulations blatantly help health care companies rather than consumers. The Editorial Board believes that the huge expansion of federal government is not allowed by the Constitution’s Interstate Commerce Clause. Where does this authority derive from? As seen over history, this clause only applies to material trade between consumers, which does not apply to the intangible cyberspace. This Republican proposal comes off as a bit contradictory when considering the normative Republican platform. It will be costly, limit the liberties of individuals and regulate business — literally the opposite of every GOP talking point. The SOPA, in the end, advocates for a certain censorship that has no place in America. It is called the World Wide Web for a reason.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.
Editorial Board: John Surico (Chair), Atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), Maria Michalos (Co-Chair), Emily Franklin, Nicolette Harris, Stephanie Isola, Katie Travers and Lauren Wilfong.
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