NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 97
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013
Hunger Banquet raises awareness
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
COURTESY OF 558 GALLERY
Willardt debuts new exhibit
NFL must improve culture
Kenneth Willardt fights against body image tropes with “Size Does Matter.”
With Jonathan Martin’s exit, the NFL must monitor players’ emotional health.
STORY on PG. 4
STORY on PG. 7
By MARIYA KARCELOVA
As students filtered into the Eisner and Lubin Auditorium at the Kimmel Center for University Life on Tuesday, Nov. 19, each received a single strip of paper that would dictate their fate for the night — the paper assigned each guest an occupation, a country, a name and a socioeconomic class. Oxfam organizers directed them to a table and issued a ration of food based on the person’s status indicated on the paper. The social experiment was a part of NYU’s Oxfam America chapter effort to promote awareness of social inequality and the struggles of poverty called The Hunger Banquet. LS sophomore and Oxfam secretary Lila Carpenter began the banquet by reading off names of people whose life experiences — losing or gaining a job — resulted in a change of their social class. The wealthy table was dismissed to help themselves to food first, followed by the rest of the social classes in descending wealth. The wealthy class also received the largest amount of food, while those in poverty received the least. Carpenter said the event was important in raising awareness on campus. “An NYU student is supposed to be a ‘global citizen’ and in order to be so, you must really be aware of global issues and the state of your fellow global citizens
OXFAM continued on PG. 3
Town Hall addresses financial aid, GNU, NYU-Poly By AFEEFA TARIQ
WARD PETTIBONE/WSN
5Pointz receives final sprays of paint, leaves legacy behind Early on Tuesday, Nov. 19, the graffiti mecca in Queens, N.Y., 5Pointz, is painted over in white paint to cover the graffiti. Artists leave notes on the empty walls that were once a canvas for spray-painted images.
The second Town Hall of the semester with NYU President John Sexton took place in the Kimmel Center for University Life on Nov. 19. Students had the opportunity to ask the university’s president questions and voice concerns. The format of the Town Hall differed from previous meetings. Student were allowed to speak up if they had questions, unlike the previous structure when questions were chosen from a fishbowl. Student Senators’ Council chair and CAS senior Mariam Ehrari said the fishbowl system had to be altered. “I’ve just realized that sometimes you don’t get the hot, pressing issues of the day because there is a fishbowl system,” Ehrari said. “So I thought, ‘Why not just open up the forum like any Town Hall and allow people to come up and speak their mind.’” In response to a question about financial aid at NYU, Sexton emphasized the importance of statistics. “Twelve years ago, we met 30 percent of our students’ demonstrated need,” Sexton said. “Today, we’re meeting 57 percent.” Second-year Steinhardt graduate student Loris Jones-Randolph asked Sexton when university-wide scholarships would
TOWN HALL continued on PG. 3
Chris Lilley discusses revival of fan-favorite character By JEREMY GROSSMAN
DANIEL COLE/WSN
Students eat on stage during a simulation of class inequality.
“I like weird shows,” Chris Lilley said. “I like things to be a bit unusual.” There’s no one else in the entertainment world quite like Lilley — certainly not on American television. Perhaps that’s why the Australian comedian has garnered millions of fans across geographic borders ever since his show “Sum-
mer Heights High” aired on HBO in 2008. Lilley’s talent lies in his ability to play a variety of characters ranging in gender, age, race and nationality, and he plays them all with a sincere level of humor and profundity. Only Lilley could play an old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s and not be incredibly offensive — but rather, give one of the most genuine,
touching performances portrayed on television. In an exclusive interview with WSN, Lilley discussed his series “Ja’mie: Private School Girl,” which premieres on HBO Sunday, Nov. 24. In “Ja’mie,” Lilley revives rich, racist, spoiled, bratty Ja’mie King — one of his most popular characters — and follows her through her last year of private school.
“Maybe I just watch too many reality TV shows. I honestly don’t know where I get the inspiration for her,” Lilley said. “I’m always conscious of youth culture stuff … I have a lot of teen girl fans, so I’m probably always aware of their language and the way they communicate.” It’s hard to love or identify
LILLEY continued on PG. 6
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JORDAN MELENDREZ KATHLEEN HANNA BY JAKE FOLSOM This weekend saw the first New York screening of “The Punk Singer,” a documentary about the life of punk musician Kathleen Hanna. The excitement might make you eager to revisit the Le Tigre and Bikini Kill catalogs, and to spin Hanna’s seminal work, the LP “Julie Ruin.” Despite a struggle with Lyme disease — documented in “The Punk Singer” — and subsequent hiatus from music, her new band, The Julie Ruin, was formed in 2010. Now Hanna is a “Hot Topic” once again. Long live riot girl.
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‘MAGRITTE: THE MYSTERY OF THE ORDINARY, 1926-1938’ AT THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART BY ALEX GREENBERGER To most people, the name René Magritte means less than the name Salvador Dalí — the MoMA’s latest exhibition of the Belgian surrealist’s work is a testament to how sad that statement can be. Magritte’s paintings, which are replete with visual puns and wacky Freudian symbols, have always been loved by art historians. But now, with the MoMA’s exhibition, visitors who are not as enthused by art may finally understand why that pipe really isn’t a pipe.
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‘ALL ABOUT EVE’ BY JEREMY GROSSMAN Lady Gaga’s new album, “ARTPOP,” is an ode to celebrity and the fame-obsessed world in which Gaga lives — where critics are foaming at the mouths to call her a has-been. It seems likely that Gaga may have found inspiration in the classic 1950 film and Academy Award winner for Best Picture, “All About Eve.” Bette Davis stars as Margo Channing, a theater star who finds her fame slipping away when a younger, flashier girl begins stealing Channing’s thunder. What’s most fascinating about “All About Eve” is how little has changed from the film’s era to today.
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER copy THOMAS DEVLIN social media SYMONE WILLIAMS
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NANCI HEALY COURTESY OF CBS
Two men wear Guy Fawkes masks on the back of their heads at a public gathering.
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‘2 BROKE GIRLS’ BY JUNIOR GONZALES Poking fun at our culture’s obsession with nonsensical trends, such as couponing and the cronut craze, “2 Broke Girls” makes us realize how ridiculous the world can be. Step into the shoes of Max (Kat Dennings) and Caroline (Beth Behrs), whose self-referential jokes and critiques of society bring comedic relief to their broke lifestyle — while simultaneously providing ideas about saving money. Join these strong female leads every Monday night at 8:30 p.m. on CBS, but make sure you enter with an open mind.
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JAEWON KANG, DAVID LIN, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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Law school hones in on national security By ANDREW SPOHN
The NYU School of Law’s Center on Law and Security hosted a conference titled Law and Strategy in an Era of Evolving Threats on Nov. 19. The conference featured two keynote addresses and three panels, which addressed issues of NSA surveillance and constitutional law. John Inglis, deputy director of the NSA, and Lisa Monaco, assistant to the president for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism, gave keynote speeches. During his keynote, Inglis spoke about the development of NSA technology and how this relates to the law. “My challenge on a daily basis is to affect my national security mission completely in respect to the law,” Inglis said. “The challenge of trying to reconcile and synchronize the Constitution, the law and policies that derive from them to the technology and operational practice is very difficult.” Inglis explained that these difficulties arise because technology is changing more rapidly than the law, and whenever the two are in balance, a different tool is created and leaves the law behind. He stated that the NSA’s tens of thousands of employees act within legal bound nearly 100 percent of the time. “The average analyst at the NSA makes a mistake about once every 10 years,” he said. “And I would say that’s shocking and far too much.” In Monaco’s address, she defended counterterrorism efforts. “Intelligence programs save lives,” Monaco said. “They help destroy terrorist cells abroad before they can strike at our closest allies, and they allowed the FBI’s joint terrorism task force and the NYPD right here in New York to capture the New York
City subway bomber before he could execute his plan.” Monaco spoke about America’s ongoing national security interests. “The unfortunate truth is that there will always be another threat,” she said. “Killing Osama bin Laden and degrading al-Qaeda does not put an end to terrorism or our focus against it.” The three panels focused on global discussion of national security, and press analysts, executive branch experts and supreme court justices from Canada, the United Kingdom and Israel weighed in on the discussion. Cooperation between international actors and agencies was stressed. “For me, I think it was the message of cooperation and that there are global issues that need global solutions,” said Despoina Glarou, 31. “There was a discussion in different levels, which I appreciated a lot. It was a judicial, it was from the matters of press, it was from the executive.” Zachary Goldman, the executive director of the center, explained the reasoning for focusing on these issues. “The conference sits at the confluence of a number of different trends that we think are rising in importance,” Goldman said. He said the panel represented a great opportunity for students. “It is very important to us to enhance the opportunities that NYU students have to make contacts with the leading figures in the national security world and to hear from the people that are really the thought leaders in this space,” Goldman said. Additional reporting by Ann Schmidt and Afeefa Tariq. Andrew Spohn is a staff writer. Email him at news@nyunews.com.
OXFAM continued from PG. 1
Oxfam feeds students information about global poverty, inequality
around the world,” Carpenter said. The auditorium was split into several sections according to socioeconomic status. The wealthy table was placed on the stage, the upper-middle class sat at tables below the stage, the middle class sat in rows of chairs farther away from the stage, the lower class were scattered on the floor throughout the auditorium and those placed in extreme poverty sat in a circle on the floor by the stage. Gallatin sophomore Kathryn Randolph, who was also in the upper-middle class section, said it vital for people to pay attention to global inequality and poverty. “We’re in a position to amplify this issue but we tend to not care about it as much,” Randolph said. “And we should care.” CAS sophomore Kelly Davis, the president of the Oxfam’s chapter at NYU, said the event aimed to illuminate the realities of social inequality for NYU students. “We are all incredibly fortunate to go to NYU,” Davis said. “That does not mean that every student has enough money to ride through life easily by any means … regardless, many students need an awakening to understand what life is like for a significant number of people in the world,” she said. Oxfam International is a global humanitarian organization that seeks to bring an end to poverty and injustice. The Oxfam America chapter at NYU promotes awareness of these global issues as well environmental issues. “It’s interesting when you’re at a school like NYU, you find yourself in a bubble and tend to forget that issues like this exist,” CAS freshman Andreyka Natalegawa said, who was seated with the uppermiddle class grouping. Mariya Karcelova is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
DANIEL COLE/WSN
Oxfam America at NYU hosts the Hunger Banquet with student participation.
Homeless complain about sprinklers used at Strand Book Store By ANN SCHMIDT
Some homeless New Yorkers said the Strand Bookstore on Broadway is allegedly using the sprinkler system under its awning to prevent the city’s homeless from sleeping in front of the store. Jason Williams, a 35-yearold homeless man, said he was under the awning when the sprinklers turned on. “They just do it to us to get rid of us,” Williams said. “And it’s not like they sat out there and told people ‘we’re doing this, we don’t want you sleeping here.’ They just went and, unbeknownst to everybody, decided … to clean us off, so to speak.” Williams said Strand put up signs warning people of the sprinklers at some point, but they were removed. “When they put [the signs] up, we stayed away,” Williams said. Strand, which has operated out of its space at 828 Broadway since 1957, declined to comment on the purpose of the sprinklers. Marcus Moore, a member of the homeless advocacy organization Picture the Homeless, said the sprinklers are an inhumane way to deal with homeless individuals and that Strand owes them an apology. “A lot of those people who camp out there, they have the right to continue to be there,” Moore said. “They keep those buildings and establishments very clean, and when they go to sleep, that’s where they sleep and feel safe. They’re not animals. They are homeless New Yorkers.” LS sophomore Nicolas Gutierrez, who shops at Strand, said he overheard people
talking about the situation while he was on the subway. “It seemed like a rather brutish way of clearing people out in the morning,” he said. Williams said he also thinks the sprinkler treatment is inhumane. “I’m still a person regardless of my station in life,” Williams said. “So to be abused by them just because they see me as less, I think it’s horrendous.” Moore said he is concerned with health issues that arise from the sprinkler system. “They’re endangering the people’s health,” he said. “They already have to sleep out in the cold.” Donny Woods, a 57-yearold man who often sits near Strand, commented on the possible problem the sprinklers could have on people’s health. “We care about homeless people, and we wouldn’t want them to be soaked up,” Woods said. “They could easily die from pneumonia or catch a very bad cold.” Woods said Strand should be handling the situation differently. “Refer them to a place where they can have decent shelter instead of in front of their place,” Woods said. Moore said he’s concerned that the sprinkler use will continue, especially if consequences do not arise. “Caring New Yorkers do not do this to one another,” Moore said. “Caring New Yorkers help each other in a time like this here because housing is scarce.” Ann Schmidt is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
TOWN HALL continued from PG. 1
Town Hall alters format to answer more questions, might decrease next semester
be implemented for graduate students. “We can only do the best we can do, and we [have got to] prioritize,” Sexton said. “We’re not [going to] have adequate financial aid for master’s students during my time. Do I hope during my successor’s time? Yes. But not during my time. So that means not during your time.” Jones-Randolph said the content of Sexton’s response was disappointing, but she said she admired his honesty. “As master’s students, we’re at a position where we’re not getting as much funding as undergraduates, and we’re not getting as much funding as the Ph.D.
students,” Jones-Randolph said. “Although it’s disappointing, I’m happy that he was honest and didn’t try to sugarcoat anything.” Before the meeting started, four members of the Student Labor Action Movement handed a letter to Sexton that stated the group’s desire to have NYU apparel produced in factories which meet safety standards outlined in the Fire and Building Safety Accord in Bangladesh. Sexton said that, as the chair of the Senate, he tries not to express views before the Senate meets. “If you examine the record both of the university and of New York for the last 25 years, you probably would be hope-
ful,” Sexton said. “I would encourage you to continue your efforts [with this cause].” Students from the Native American and Indigenous Students group at NYU asked Sexton about the current diversity recruitment steps to attract Native American and indigenous students to campus. “I’m not satisfied with the representation of Native American students in our student body,” Sexton said. “I think we have to do more.” When asked about the connection between the Polytechnic Institute of NYU’s campus and the Manhattan campus, Sexton said students should visit NYU-Poly.
“You’re going to be on an NYU campus and you’re going to be in Brooklyn,” Sexton said. “Don’t just think will Poly students come here or vice versa. We have got to get that flow going.” Sexton said there was going to be a bus between the NYUPoly campus and the Manhattan campus, but he stressed using the subway. “Out to Brooklyn from here, the best way to go is subway, because it’s 20 minutes door-todoor,” Sexton said. Sexton also addressed concerns about the Global Network University and the Momentum Campaign for financial aid.
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“My life is about trying to raise financial aid for the university,” Sexton said. “With Abu Dhabi and with Shanghai, we’ve brought in a huge amount of financial aid that goes to kids from anywhere in the world, including New York City.” Ehrari said there may only be one Town Hall next semester instead of the typical two. “It really depends on turnout,” Ehrari said. “I don’t want to take [Sexton’s] time and not have many students come and question. It’s still something we’re considering.” Afeefa Tariq is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
BEAUTY AND STYLE
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Kenneth Willardt debuts exhibit ‘Size Does Matter’ By DAVID BOLOGNA
Known for his outstanding editorial work for publications like Vogue and GQ, Kenneth Willardt has focused his camera lens on subjects ranging from Lady Gaga to Sarah Jessica Parker. Never before, though, has he photographed tarantulas crawling up the curves of his models. A headlining photographer for L’Oréal, Maybelline and Dior, Willardt has built a legacy in the fashion and beauty worlds that many find unmatchable. With his new exhibit “Size Does Matter,” however, he has successfully separated his new work from his previous, showing his strengths as an artistic photographer. In turn, Willardt has made an interesting commentary on the issue of size in fashion. The Chelsea gallery is the first of its kind in the area to utilize augmented reality capability, allowing viewers to experience photography like never before. After downloading a free app and scanning a QR code alongside each photograph, one’s camera phone is then aligned with the real photo on the wall. Suddenly, the
picture on the phone screen becomes an animated .gif. Rabbits begin to frolic, and owls flap their wings. “It really gives you a new dimension of photography — a door open to the infinite,” 558 Gallery Studio Manager, Amandine Goux-Jordan, said. The use of the augmented reality brings the pieces to a playful, “Harry Potter”-esque level of viewer interaction. But does it overshadow the rather controversial subject matter of sizeism? Many have negatively commented on the Australian “plussize” model, Robyn Lawley, featured in the exhibit, saying a majority of women still cannot identify with this size-14 celebrity. While it is definitely true Lawley is not a conventionally deemed “plus-size” model, she is much more relatable than the models who walk the runways at a size 00. “That is the world of fashion. [Lawley] is a curvy girl, and [Willardt] likes curvy girls, but he said in a previous interview that he did not want the exhibit to only be about size,” Goux-Jordan said. The images are sexual, but with the use of the animated animals, the images take on a
more innocent nature. While this approach could have easily come off as a shallow, misogynistic objectification of the female body, Willardt’s photos instead succeed in making a strong statement. “Everyone wants to put it as beauty and fashion photography, but it is contemporary art,” Goux-Jordan said. Once the fashion world fantasy is divided from viewers’ reality, Lawley’s size, whatever one perceives it to be, is overshadowed by her natural beauty through Willardt’s artistic vision. This separation comments on the inherent influence the fashion and beauty worlds have on our own perception of people, as well as art. Furthermore, it illuminates the true meaning of all sizes being of equal worth and value. Willardt’s ability to convey this speaks to artistic capabilities that truly transcend his previous work. “Size Does Matter” runs Tuesday through Sat (11 a.m. to 6 p.m.) at the 558 Gallery in Chelsea until Dec. 19. Contrary to former notice, appointments are not necessary for viewing. David Bologna is a staff writer. Email him at bstyle@nyunews.com.
VIOLET VISION This week on the Washington Square News’ fashion blog, check out our tips on how to break in new shows or learn what it takes to make a valentino look work on a college budget. And stay tuned to wsnvioletvision.wordpress.com for weekly updates.
Sleep mask trend offers skin treatment options By BRENDA LIU
Yet another new fad in skincare is hitting the market in a big way. Sleep masks, also known as skin packs, are an overnight treatment intended to retain moisture and reduce the appearance of wrinkles on the skin, taking advantage of skin cell turnover, which can be up to eight times faster at night. Originating in Asian markets, sleep masks are still relatively new to U.S. consumers and have yet to be sold in drugstores. Currently, only higher-end brands are offering the trendy cosmetic product, pricing most of them around $50. One popular brand, Dr. Jart+, offers its own Water Fuse Water-Max Sleeping Mask, which sells for $48 at Sephora. This mask contains hydrating hyaluronic acid, also claimed to prevent signs of aging, as well as olive leaf and cranberry extracts to help boost skin elasticity. Another option is the Korres Wild Rose + Vitamin C Advanced Brightening Sleeping Facial ($48). This contains the Korres Phos Compound, which claims to lighten dark spots over time and even out the overall skin tone. Those looking to try out a sleeping mask but are not able or willing to drop $50 on luxury skincare may consider Laneige, a cosmetic brand from South Korea, which offers its own Water Sleeping Pack. This pack makes the same claims to hydration, brightening and skin renewal as the pricey Western brands, but is frequently available on Amazon for a smaller amount at $20. Despite their recent popularity, sleep masks are certainly more of a luxury than a necessity, and different, cheaper products can deliver
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Sleep masks are an expensive but viable skincare option. the same effects. The moisturizing benefit, for example, can easily be obtained through night creams — one effective drugstore variety is the CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion PM. For tone-evening effects, applying aloe vera extract or vitamin E oil on dark spots is known to help them fade over time. The anti-aging properties of sleep masks are among their principal claims to effectiveness, but those on college budgets would be advised to postpone spending large sums of money on anti-wrinkle and collagenboosting products. Instead, focus on aging prevention, which is offered much more cheaply by UV protection. Still, the adventurous may be curious enough to test out the less expensive varieties, and given the drying nature of winter weather, it likely would not harm them to do so. As temperatures drop, an extra moisturizing treatment may be a well-deserved luxury for the skin. Brenda Liu is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Style chunky sweaters in time for winter weather By SAMUEL DEL ROWE
With the weather this week hovering around 50 degrees, winter is fast approaching. As tempting as it may be to curl up in your old high school hoodie, consider sporting a kitschy sweater that looks as though it descended from the Swiss Alps or the Fair Isle. A wintry style is never more classic — or notorious — than this. But if styled well, these chunky pieces can look charming and not the least bit grandfatherly. The key to styling these sweaters is to contrast their bulkiness with another, more fitted article of clothing. For men, slim fit jeans are a good match because they offset the chunky sweater on the upper body with a slimmer fit on the lower body. When the weather dips to below 30 degrees, a well-fitted coat layered over the sweater will make the
sweater appear slimmer. When purchasing a thick sweater, do not size up. Because it is wool, the sweater will be inherently bulky and sizing up only accentuates this appearance. An oversized sweater can look sloppy and make the wearer appear as if he is drowning in fabric. For men with more daring tastes, an oversized sweater can be a statement piece if paired with something edgy like black jeans and Doc Martens. Casual venturers into the world of Alpine sweaters may want to stick to a slimmer fit. The same rule about oversized sweaters does not apply to women. A chunky and oversized sweater is fairly commonplace and not difficult to incorporate into women’s outfits. As with men, it is important to offset the chunky sweater with slimmer articles of clothing. For women, this means leggings or skinny
jeans in a solid color. Stick to a neutral, or, for a bolder look, a solid hue already in the sweater’s color palette. Pairing either of these with a chunky, oversized sweater will transform the look from dated to trendy. Finish
off the look with classic vintage sneakers or oxfords. A statement necklace breaks up the pattern and texture of an oversized sweater and adds a flashy touch. Although stores such as American Apparel and ASOS
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There are many sweater styling options for men and women.
sell these kinds of sweaters, the best places to shop for unique ones are vintage and thrift stores. It is easy to find high-quality, 100-percent wool sweaters at relatively low prices in thrift stores. In Manhattan, No Relation Vintage (204 First Ave.) and Star Struck Vintage Clothing (47 Greenwich Ave.) have considerable selections of chunky wool sweaters. Check the tag to ensure you are buying a 100-percent wool garment. Depending on your tastes, you may opt for a minimalistic pattern and color palette, or one that features deer, snowflakes and an army of hues. Even socalled “ugly” sweaters can be pulled off by anyone willing to take a risk, so if a sweater grabs your attention, don’t be afraid to stand out. Samuel Del Rowe is a staff writer. Email him at bstyle@nyunews.com.
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‘Narco’ fails to fully explore Mexican Drug War impact By MARISSA ELLIOT LITTLE
While eating dinner in his hometown of Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, Richi Soto’s family members urge him to leave his job. Worlds away in Los Angeles, Eugene Quintero hands his wife a wad of cash and simply says, “Savings.” Shaul Schwarz juxtaposes the lives of Soto and Quintero in his latest documentary, “Narco Cultura,” to represent the opposing impacts of the Mexican Drug War. Staying true to his roots as a photojournalist, Schwarz retains his minimalism by using a ciné-
ma vérité style for the majority of the film. In doing so, he fearlessly digs deep into the subject in a way unseen before, while also challenging the viewer. Soto’s job as a crime scene investigator places him at the forefront of the war. He and his colleagues fear that they will end up as one of the bodies they frequently find in pieces in fields or blackened in a car. To reduce the risk of retaliation by cartels, they wear ski masks to crime scenes. Back in the office, their unmasked faces show their frustration. As Soto explains, ram-
pant corruption will prevent any of the murderers from being brought to justice. Across the border in California, safe from the threats of cartels, Quintero and his band, Buknas de Culiacan, continue to create narcocorridos, a growing music genre glorifying the cartels that are destroying Ciudad Juárez. While Soto is shown weaving through grieving families to reach a crime scene, Quintero is shown writing a song for a cartel leader, asking him how he would like to be referred to in the song and what
kind of gun he carries. Soto contemplates leaving his beloved Juárez for El Paso, Texas. Quintero expresses his desire to go to Mexico. Quintero has been seduced by the glamour — he is unaware of its true grittiness and the destruction Soto sees. Quintero educates himself on the culture with the Internet, mentioning his favorite website that includes pictures of the mutilated bodies that Soto is exposed to in his job. Schwarz supplements his original footage with a video that went viral online. After learning of her son’s cartel-related death, a woman delivers an emotionally driven outburst. She cries,
“Shout, Juárez, shout. Shout about the pain they are causing. Why doesn’t anybody shout?” “Narco Cultura” also fails to shout, unfortunately. Despite the explosive subject matter, the film is quiet. Shaul Schwarz has made a film that should be seen, yet the somber tone doesn’t leave the impact it should. Perhaps the bleak mood is symbolic of the bleak outlook of Juárez and the Mexican Drug War — but perhaps like those involved with the cartels, the film is also not critical enough of the situation it depicts. Marissa Elliot Little is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
Changes behind camera promise fresh direction By LAURA WOLFORD
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Director Shaul Schwarz uses his minimalist style to offer insight into the work of drug cartels.
Vince Vaughn, director Ken Scott cannot deliver laughs in remake By BEN MARQUES
Ken Scott’s “Starbuck” used an intriguing, if not exactly believable, circumstance and transformed it into a decently entertaining and heartwarming fable. But “Delivery Man,” Scott’s own remake of “Starbuck,” is more of a mistake than anything else. The outlandish premise is fails to sustain greater interest than the directing and talent lend to the project. Although the project is well-intentioned, there is not much to care about within the context of the story. “Delivery” centers on a man (Vince Vaughn) who frequently donated to a sperm bank under the pseudonym Starbuck. Through an absurd mishap, he discovers he has fathered 533 children. Scott’s second rendition of “Starbuck” is significantly worse than the original. Perhaps Scott believed he could appeal to a larger audience by simplifying an interesting story — however he lost some qualities that made “Starbuck” special in the process. Some of the film’s mediocrity lies in the uninspired choice to
typecast Vaughn. Once again, Vaughn plays a middle-aged loser who clings to sarcasm and immaturity as a way of coping with his own failures. Viewers may be uninterested in Vaughn at this point in his career, and they would not be the only ones. Vaughn himself appears bored with the role, which is understandable considering his redundant casting. Also, as per usual, Vaughn is cast alongside a female lead (Cobie Smulders) with whom he shares little chemistry.
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Vaughn stars as the father of over 500 children.
Still, Smulders and the eclectic supporting cast, which includes Bobby Moynihan and Britt Robertson, prove slightly amusing. Chris Pratt is the best of these actors, and he inserts a shred of comedic value to the film. Pratt even gained 60 pounds for the film. It isn’t necessarily inspired casting, but it allows the ball to keep rolling, as the audience is forced to slog through Vaughn’s discovery of his children and his inevitable call to responsibility in various aspects of his life. “Delivery” feels designed for audiences who want to stop thinking the second they sit down in a movie theater. Of course, not all movies with this goal are awful, but “Delivery” is the worst of its kind. It feels entirely predictable, and it even wastes the massive amount of talent behind the film. Stick with “Starbuck” instead, because even though it has flaws, you’ll be more likely to forgive them than you would for “Delivery Man.” Ben Marques is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
When “The Hunger Games” was released last year to critical acclaim and box office success, it was clear Katniss Everdeen and the world of Panem connected with audiences. But with sequel “Catching Fire” being released this week, audiences should be prepared to see a film different from its predecessor. This transformation occurred because of a change in directors, with Francis Lawrence succeeding Gary Ross as the franchise’s new leader. Ross beautifully brought audiences into the dystopian world, and hopefully, audiences will find Lawrence carrying on with Ross’ traditions while still making “Catching Fire” his own. As with any movie franchise based on a book series, the first film’s director has the important job of establishing the tone of the series as a whole and creating a new universe. Chris Columbus, the director of the first two “Harry Potter” films, brought audiences to the magic of a bright and happy Hogwarts. Although the tone drastically shifted throughout the series because directors changed, Columbus set the story up in a pleasantly innocent way that invited audiences to indulge themselves in the wizarding world. But altering directors rarely seemed wrong or out of place for “Harry Potter” fans. Each directorial choice felt appro-
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priate. As the stories evolved into darker, more troubled territory, the franchise required a transition from Columbus’ naive world to Alfonso Cuarón and Mike Newell’s entertaining yet foreboding universe, and ultimately to David Yates’ unrelentingly dark vision. Using a different director for “Catching Fire” will most likely produce a fitting change as well. Replacing directors for a sequel can enable the characters and plotlines to seamlessly evolve. Because of that, switching directors can often have positive implications. “The Hunger Games” was about learning who Katniss was on a personal and introspective level. Francis Lawrence will still include this aspect in “Catching Fire,” but he will also be able to expand the series’ focus to include the less glamorous aspects of the Capitol as well. Even though the audience can only access Katniss’ world through her thoughts and story, the second and third novels address wider conflicts in the dystopian world she is trying to change. Switching directors will allow the film to be visually distinct from the first. Lawrence will bring fresh eyes to the series, as the actors adapt their characters to accurately portray the ever-changing universe within the story. May the odds be ever in your favor, Lawrence. Laura Wolford is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ARTS
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM LILLEY continued from PG. 1
Lilley recounts career, inspiration for ‘Ja’mie’
with a character as awful as Ja’mie — the type of girl who would abandon her best friend for gaining weight or loudly and openly discuss her hatred of other races. But Lilley makes these characters work. “I think people are drawn to her because she’s so powerful,” he said. “She’s so open about everything.” “Girls in Australia, they come up to me, and they’re like, ‘I’m Ja’mie. You based it on me. I must be her,’” he said. “So there must be something that makes girls want to be her.” Like all of Lilley’s shows, “Ja’mie” has a level of sadness and tragedy buried beneath the outrageous humor. Most noticeably, Ja’mie has an emotionally abusive relationship with her mother, and it reflects the type of relationships some girls and their mothers might actually have. “[My shows] are supposed to be documen-
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taries, and I go to a lot of trouble to make sure everything seems very real,” Lilley said. “There’s a lot of detail, even in just like the art direction, and the casting, and the dialogue. Everything. The way that it all happens is meant to feel real, and then my characters are sort of plumped into this real environment.” “It’s not just all about laughs,” he said. “It’s about real lives. That’s what sad about it, for people to see things that really happen, and they’re not always great … but it’s not like it’s bad to watch sad stuff.” Lilley also made it clear that “Ja’mie” was not intended to end the story of Ja’mie King, and that she’ll probably return someday. But not before the return of some of Lilley’s other characters — exactly which ones, however, he wasn’t allowed to say. “I’ve got like 12 char-
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acters now, and I really like them and want them to come back,” Lilley said. “I’d love to work on things where I’m getting to explore
ACROSS 1 Creator of Fearless Fosdick 7 “This is bad” 11 Word part: Abbr. 14 Kind of pork on a Chinese menu 15 What’s to eat 16 Cedar Rapids college 17 Blow away singer Johnny? 19 National Dog Day mo. 20 Navigational aid 21 Name on some euros 22 Mountain goat’s perch 23 Boars? 27 “In the end the pressure got to me” 30 Bluffer’s words 31 What may precede one 32 “You wish!” 33 Sounds of relief
35 Call it quits … with a hint to 17-, 23-, 48and 56-Across 40 Western treaty grp. 41 First Chinese dynasty 42 Inspiration for a “Jackass” stunt, maybe 43 “No acting up!” 45 Ticked off 48 Sala? 50 Salt Lake City athletes 51 Zwei cubed 52 Bub 55 “Jeez Louise!” 56 Toddler raised on chocolate? 60 Slip-___ (some shoes) 61 Removal from harm’s way, for short 62 Hotelier Helmsley and others 63 Hwy. 64 Warrior princess of TV
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65 J.F.K.’s W.W. II craft DOWN 1 Like most car radios 2 Showgirl in the song “Copacabana” 3 Many a city dwelling 4 Volcano on Kyushu 5 Telephone system hacker 6 Rock that may float 7 End of a lame pickup line 8 “You wish!” 9 Med. scan 10 Cry that may accompany fist-pumping 11 Frightens off 12 Words on a 20-Across at a mall 13 Hosiery brand that sponsored women-only 10K races 18 Biogenesis scandal nickname 22 Hellenic X 23 U2’s frontman 24 Shore dinner entree 25 Indy racer Luyendyk 26 Ex-president who swore in President Hoover 27 Digging, so to speak 28 One sharing living space 29 Practical smarts 32 One-time link
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34 Anchorage-toNome racer 36 “Hang on a sec!” 37 Currently airs 38 Spiders’ nests 39 Lamar who married a Kardashian 44 Navigational aid, for short
45 Angel or enemy preceder 46 Totally useless 47 “Give me a sec” 48 Bookstore section 49 First to stab Caesar 52 Ranchero’s hand 53 Simple quatrain form
54 Dermatologist’s concern 56 Put the whammy on 57 Time to revel 58 Sought office 59 Go for apples
For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
Jeremy Grossman is arts editor. Email him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF BEN TIMONY
Chris Lilley has created many unique characters.
THE NEW YORK TIMES CROSSWORD & DAILY SUDOKU Crossword
the characters I’ve already set up.”
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
HEALTH
NFL must monitor psychological trauma By OMAR ETMAN
Football is a sport for tough men. Everyone knows that. So when Miami Dolphins left tackle Jonathan Martin left the team two weeks ago to seek help for emotional issues, was he not being tough? After Martin’s exit, rumors circulated that teammate Richie Incognito had been bullying him. Once the voicemails Incognito left for the second-year player surfaced, the speculation was verified. The messages on Martin’s phone were volatile. In one, Incognito barked racial epithets and death threats into the phone. In light of the incident, Martin has made it clear he is unlikely to return to the Dolphins. In the week following Martin’s departure, players from the league derided him for being soft. Sports Illustrated’s Jim Trotter spoke with a handful of players who agreed he was a coward. Others even said he was “standoffish and shy,” somehow making Incognito’s aggression toward him acceptable. And maybe he is different from his teammates — both his parents, and much of his family, are graduates of Harvard
University — but that absolutely does not validate the harsh treatment he received from Incognito and the more recent attempts at justification being dispensed from others. League response to the MartinIncognito disaster is indicative of a larger problem within the sport. The NFL, with its renewed focus on curbing instances of concussions, should divert some attention to the mental condition of the brain they work so hard and pay so much money to protect. Concussions are severe, but so are the mental difficulties that afflict the same organ. If the NFL doesn’t want to endure the negative publicity from a repeat incident, it must first recognize that protecting its players means protecting their emotional health, too. Martin’s teammates stood idly by as he was bullied, amplifying the
severity of the situation. Admittedly, Martin may not have made his distress apparent, or perhaps he instigated Incognito’s comments — much is still unknown. But it shouldn’t have been necessary for Martin to vocalize his unhappiness for Incognito to realize that his racial slurs and malicious attacks were unacceptable on or off the field. Although Incognito has been suspended indefinitely, his presence continues to loom large in Miami, and raises serious questions for the famously vigilant NFL. Is bullying the norm in NFL locker rooms? Can it be stopped? Bullying has no place in football, even though the warrior culture that inculcates the sport encourages hostility. Incognito’s suspension is a step in the right direction, and it serves as a clear reminder to both the Dolphins and the NFL that bullying is a problem that needs to be addressed. If football is to endure with steady success, the NFL must work to improve the demeanor and culture that surround it. Omar Etman is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
LAW
German third gender law is not real progress By LENA RAWLEY
As of Nov. 1, German babies who are born with both sexual organs will no longer be defined as male or female on their birth certificates. Rather, because of the country’s new third gender law, both boxes will remain unchecked, and the infant will be legally declared intersex by being placed into a third gender category. Because the law provides a legal recognition of intersex individuals, it was initially perceived as progressive. However, as more light has been shed on the legislation, intersex advocates have expressed their disdain. The law is far from a step in the right direction. Instead of furthering the rights of intersex citizens, it raises a litany of issues for the intersex community. For instance, the assignment of the third gender is not a choice. The law does not offer the parents of intersex newborns the choice to designate their child’s gender on the baby’s birth certificate. To be deemed male or female in the eyes of the law, an infant must physiologically belong to one of the two genders, meaning those who do not fit neatly into either group are
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stuck in the third gender category until their bodies physically meet the qualification. Under this law, the child is documented based on their sexuality, which can lead to discrimination, especially in a country where public awareness of intersexuality is not widespread. Additionally, it denies basic rights and services to intersex citizens. For example, the use of public restrooms in banned because German public facilities are only made available to those who are identified as male or female. Third gender individuals also have no access to health care and cannot obtain marriage licenses because Germany only provides these services to males and females. The law does not foster an environment in which intersex infants can grow into their genders, rather, it pushes parents to subject their
child to gender surgery, which will ultimately lead to the normalization of such surgeries. Gender surgeries are not only synonymous with sexual mutilation, but they also restrict the ability of an intersex individual to decide what gender they truly want to be. The surgeries have been deemed so harmful that the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture recently called for member states to ban them. The intersex community has been fighting gender surgeries for years on these grounds, and Germany’s new law will only increase their struggle. If German legislators want to make the law truly helpful to the intersex population, they should model it after Australia’s third gender law, which was enacted a few months ago and discourages gender surgeries and discrimination by allowing intersex individuals to declare themselves as a separate gender, gender X, when they are an adult. Germany’s law is discriminatory and should be revised. Sexuality should never affect equality. Lena Rawley is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Senate Democrats need to enforce nuclear option
For the third time in the last month, Senate Republicans have filibustered a qualified judicial nominee from a seat in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Why? Because President Barack Obama appointed him. Judge Robert Wilkins, like previous nominees Patricia Millett and Nina Pillard, received the highest rating from the nonpartisan American Bar Association but was denied a yes-no vote in the Senate. The filibuster follows a trend of Republican obstructionism throughout Obama’s presidency and should no longer be an option for a party who has traded congressional responsibility for abuse of political power. The filibuster has been used a total of 1,300 times in the Senate since its conception. This time-wasting measure blocking action on everything from federal spending to judicial nominations has become increasingly popular since the 1970s, but its use has hit more recent record-breaking highs, with over 130 filibusters in Obama’s first year in office alone. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is contemplating amendments to the chamber’s nomination rules. Fueled by the support of prominent Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Sen. Patrick Leahy, proposals have been made to require only 51 votes to halt filibusters against judgeships below the level of the Supreme Court, including nominees for the D.C. Circuit. Despite these growing calls to action, some senior Democratic legislators have expressed hesitancy towards the potential change, which is known as the nuclear option. Opponents, including seasoned Sen. Carl Levin, contend that the move could create self-inflicted wounds if Republicans win back the White House or the Senate. The moment has arisen for the Democratic party to take action. Reluctant Democrats should consider the consequences of inaction as they discuss the potential change in the coming days. If they stand idly by while Republicans irresponsibly bend the rules, Obama’s nominees will continue to lose confirmation. More concerning though is how Republicans have stated they would not hesitate to use the nuclear option at the next opportunity, giving Democrats no other incentive but to act now or remain beholden to the mercy of polarizing Republicans. Rather than accepting these obstructionist tactics as a permanent feature, Democrats must muster their strength and invoke the nuclear option. Although it is risky, the fight is worth having if Democrats intend to restore the legitimacy of Congress.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-chair), Harry Brown, Marcelo Cicconet, Christina Coleburn, Omar Etman, Nina Golshan, Nickhil Sethi
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
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