NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 39, No. 43
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011
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City upset with food trucks in SoHo
Senate votes to keep Chick-fil-A on campus
To many tourists, New York City food vendors are a must-try experience. But to members of Community Board 2, that customary trend has become less of a boon and more a burden. According to a resolution passed by Community Board 2, which represents Greenwich Village, SoHo and the surrounding neighborhoods, many food stands in SoHo violate parking rules, including being illegally close to crosswalks and subway entrances and impeding both pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The resolution also asserts that prices of prevalent food vendors are unfairly competitive to established businesses in the area. “The proliferation of food carts and food trucks is a very big concern to area residents and the Com-
Largely in response to criticism over the on-campus presence of Chick-fil-A, the Student Senators Council passed its first resolution for university partnerships earlier this month. Albert Cotugno, the chair of the SSC, said the resolution is a set of principles that will help determine what to ban and what not to ban from the school. The resolution states that the SSC will “expressly denounce and propose a cessation of partnership with any third-party with a proven link to illegal activities, including labor rights violations.” A university partnership is defined as a group not affiliated with NYU that sells its products throughout the school. The resolution was passed with
By Tony Chau
By Elizabeth Maguire
DAVID LIN/WSN
Violets win third straight
Men’s basketball improved to 3-0 on the season, as junior Carl Yaffe led a balanced scoring attack. R FOOD continued on PG. 3
Childhood friends help fellow students land jobs By Aliza Katz With a persistently unpredictable job market, it is no shock that many students see a bleak future for their professional careers. But while some have chosen to protest, others are looking to create other means by which they can succeed. Childhood friends and NYU students Jason Bieber and Daniel Pessar are doing just that. In the summer of 2010, Bieber, now a Stern senior, and Pessar, who is working toward his master’s in real estate finance in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies, decided to create a student-run consulting club called Ofek to provide students with hands on consulting jobs. “The purpose of Ofek is really ... to give students experience that they couldn’t learn in a classroom by working with real clients on
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STORY ON PAGE 8
real projects,” Bieber said. The club, which now has over 50 members, currently works with seven clients. These clients are all start-up companies based in Tel Aviv, Israel, and came from business contacts the duo had already established. Teams work with these companies — many of which are looking to break into the U.S. market — to build their marketing materials and their overall brand. “We help them compile all the necessary marketing materials and then go out and find new markets for them and build new business for them,” Pessar said. The success of a club like Ofek lies in the mutually beneficial nature of their efforts. For many start-up companies, Ofek might be their only consulting option. “We offer our consulting for
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NYC pushes for cleaner water By Brian Tam
The New York City Department of Environmental Protection recently created a $4 million grant for those who participate in individual environmental projects to reduce water pollution. Private property owner, businesses and not-for-profits around the five boroughs are eligible. This initiative is part of the 2010 NYC Green Infrastructure Plan to reduce sewage overflows by 40 percent over the next 20 years. It calls for an investment of $187 million in green infrastructure projects by 2015 and a total of $2.4 billion in public and private investments by 2030. Manhattan operates on a sewer system that collects storm and wastewater through a single pipe. The water is then brought to treatment plants where contaminants are filtered. But according to the DEP, water overflows into major rivers during heavy storms when sewage accumulates and exceeds
the system’s capacity. Traditionally, this problem is solved by constructing facilities that hold the water until storms pass. However, the construction for these projects can be costly. As an alternative, the Green Infrastructure Plan employs smaller-scale initiatives like bioswales, sloped low tracts of land filled with compost, and green rooftops that are covered with vegetation to absorb and retain the excess storm water. “The Green Infrastructure Plan proposes a more sustainable and adaptive approach to improve the water quality in New York Harbor,” New York City Environmental Protection Commissioner Carter Strickland said. Participants will make structural accommodations and add vegetated features of their choosing like porous pavement, rain gardens, tree pits, constructed wetlands and rain barrels to their private properties. Data will be collected to monitor the projects’ effectiveness. In June 2011, $3.8 million was
awarded to 13 recipients. Manhattan College, one of the participants, retrofitted two parking lots with porous concrete, which allowed running water to seep into underlying layers of gravel instead of running into the sewer system. GrowNYC, a local non-profit environmental organization, is one of many advocacy groups who have expressed support for the plan. Lenny Librizzi, assistant director of the Open Space Greening program, said the green initiative will help prevent future sewer overflows. “I have been promoting the use of rainwater harvesting and water conservation, so this is exactly what we have been looking for from the city,” she said. “Whatever we can do to clean our water bodies is a positive benefit.” “This is an excellent example of innovation in environmental policy, which moves beyond traditional, overly costly engineering
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Washington Square news | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 | nyunews.com
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“A man caused over $2,000 in damage to a hotel in Charlotte, N.C., after realizing he had run out of toilet paper in his room, according to local police. Between late Sunday, Nov. 13, and early Monday, Nov. 14, at the Charlottetown Manor, Dereck MacDonald, 43, allegedly walked into a vacant room at the hotel and clogged the toilet, causing water damage to the room. He then went back into his room and damaged property by physical force.” — United Press International
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EDITOR-AT-LARGE
KATIE THOMPSON 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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Study: Law schools likely to use Internet for admissions By Kristine Itliong
Those interested in applying to law school may want to be more careful with what they post on Facebook. A survey released last month by Kaplan Test Prep shows that out of all graduate schools, law school admissions offices are the most likely to take an applicant’s online presence into account during the admissions process. Conducted in July and August of 2011, the survey interviewed 128 of the 200 American Bar Associationaccredited law schools in the United States. The survey found that 41 percent of law school admissions officers admit to researching an applicant on search engines, while 37 percent checked an applicant’s profile on Facebook or other social networking sites. “Given how rigid the admissions process is for law schools, it is surprising technology has affected the process,” said Jeff Thomas, director of pre-law programs at Kaplan. “But it is not surprising in that law schools do not interview every applicant. It makes sense that law schools want to do more investigation to make sure the candidates they’re going to be accessing will be able to practice law and a high ethical standard.” According to Melanie Giger, assistant director of admissions at the NYU School of Law, NYU does not use the Internet to investigate applicants. Mathiew Le, director of admissions at the University of Washington School of Law, thinks the
validity and reliability of information found on the Internet is questionable. “The Internet is vast, and the information displayed in the results from a simple search engine depends on many variables,” he said. While NYU School of Law and the University of Washington do not research an applicant’s Internet presence, other law schools across the country do so, but with precaution. Sarah Zearfoss, senior assistant dean for admissions at the University of Michigan Law School, thinks checking facts on a student’s application on a search engine is reasonable, but she does not advocate checking social networking sites like Facebook. “There’s an important difference between holding a candidate accountable for information they have put on the web about themselves and penalizing them for something, quite possibly totally inaccurate, that a third party might post,” Zearfoss said. Sam Goldberg, a second-year law student at NYU, said he was not surprised to hear about the survey. “[My Facebook] has definitely changed,” he said. “I deleted a bunch of undergrad and partying, drinking pics and put restricted security settings. Employers use it too, so it was only a matter of time before I had to do it anyway.”
Additional reporting by Julie DeVito. Kristine Itliong is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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NYC pushes for cleaner water standards in favor of a ‘win-win’ approach,” said Richard Stewart, director of NYU’s Center on Environmental and Land Use Law. “[It] protects the watershed, saves major amounts of monies, and
provide[s] additional environmental and community benefits.” Brian Tam is a deputy city/state editor. Email him at btam@nyunews.com.
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City upset with SoHo food trucks
munity Board,” said Bob Gormley, district manager of Manhattan’s Community Board 2. Additionally, the resolution cited petroleum and propane fumes that food trucks emit, as well as the failure of the trucks to provide required refuse containers for their customers, resulting in adverse effects for the surrounding neighborhood. But some pedestrians in SoHo support the food vendors. Bryan Grimes, who eats at food trucks about four times a week, said food carts provide a beneficial service to the neighborhood. “Of course the people who live here would like nobody to be here. They would like the sidewalks to be empty and be clean. But, you know, it’s SoHo. It’s part of the neighborhood,” he said. Even tourists from across the
country are in favor of the food stands. “It adds to the flavor of the neighborhood,” said Texan tourist Marcel Luijtn. “I think the complaints are somewhat valid, but there should be a way to keep the food trucks and still have a clean neighborhood,” said Valerie Tomici, a CAS junior who lives in the Broome Residential College. Some food truck workers, while acknowledging some of the issues raised by the residents, feel they have no other choice. “I know it’s causing a lot of traffic, but we have to live too,” said YoGo yogurt truck worker Mike Hana. “That’s all I’m doing, [making a] living.” Tony Chau is a staff writer. Email him at cstate@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 | Washington Square news
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Tischie channels musical roots in UVL By Brian Tam For Tisch freshman Geneviève Beaudoin, winning a spot at Ultra Violet Live was all the recognition she needed for her burgeoning music career. “It was a glowing and bright moment,” she said. “I felt very lucky, very fortunate.” Last month, Beaudoin won the Goddard Residence Hall preliminaries for the annual talent show by performing a song titled “Selfish Mind,” one of the many original works she has written. Beaudoin credits her father for first introducing her to music, playing songs from the Dave Matthews Band and U2 when she was a child. At age seven, Beaudoin started developing an interest in folk and jazz music, which she said was also the time when she decided to learn how to play guitar. Five years later, she began writing her own songs. “When I sing, I just feel like I’m home,” Beaudoin said. “I love the stage. I love the rawness to a performance.” Beaudoin draws inspiration from the likes of Serge Gainsbourg and Madeleine Peyroux, as well as contemporary artists like Kings of Leon and Rufus Wainwright. Her artistic talents are not limited to music, though. The 18-yearold has had her future mapped out in the arts ever since she participated in her first theater production at the age of seven., in her hometown in Maine. Her acting résumé consists of about 20 different plays and musicals including “Twelfth Night,” “Macbeth,” “Once Upon a Mattress” and “Annie.” She said so far, NYU has offered
KRISTINA BOGOS/WSN
Beaudoin performed her own music at the UVL preliminary. her not only the proper education but also the opportunities to launch her career in the right direction. Beaudoin, who wants to double major in drama and either philosophy or linguistics, hopes to continue working in the theater and music business. “For me, I think performance in general is the hardest thing I do,” Beaudoin said. “I love the challenge of writing or sharing a new song, and it’s the most addicting accomplishment once it’s over with.” She said one of the greatest benefits as an artist has been collaborating with other NYU performers, including Third North UVL winner Rahm Silverglade.
“I’ve just had so many possibilities to come together with people and create,” Beaudoin said. “They’ve all really inspired me to write more.” Silverglade and Beaudoin met at a free Andrea Bocelli concert in Central Park earlier this semester. One night, they ended up playing and singing jazz tunes at Goddard. “Even without a lengthy, formal background in music, Geneviève plays with a natural musical and emotional sensitivity most musicians spend years trying to capture,” Silverglade said. Brian Tam is a deputy city/state editor. Email him at btam@nyunews.com.
PARTNERSHIP continued from PG. 1
Senate votes to keep Chick-fil-A on campus a vote of 13-1 with 4 abstentions. “This document assures that we are fair in our treatment of all university partnerships,” Cotugno said.
FILE PHOTO BY DAVID LIN
The Chick-fil-A at NYU is the company’s only NYC location.
The SSC will not comment on any “third-party university partners who support one side of [political and social] issues,” or recommend that the university bans any partners that have not violated the law or university policy. Currently, the group recommends NYU to ban a group from campus if the group affiliated with the university is found guilty of illegal activity or violating labor or human rights through the courts or a reputable press source. By applying this resolution, the SSC also voted to not pursue a ban of Chick-fil-A with a vote of 15-4 with 1 abstention. Several years ago, the SSC recommended the university to ban Coca-Cola because of the company’s links to labor violations in South America. After investigations, however, NYU lifted the ban. NYU spokesman John Beckman did not think it would be appropriate for him to comment while the matter is still being deliberated. But Whitney Coulson, SSC rep-
resentative for the Silver School of Social Work, thinks that continuing to support Chick-fil-A on campus is in violation of university standards and ethical norms. “By not acting on this matter, we are essentially supporting heterosexism,” Coulson said. “We live in a predominately heterosexist society, and this attitude is used to justify the mistreatment, discrimination and harassment of gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgender, queer and questioning individuals.” But Miriam Ehrari, LSP representative of SSC, is against the ban of Chick-fil-A, even though she recognized that some may still hold the traditional definition of marriage. “I saw [the ban] to be unfair and limiting towards students who may have that traditional point of view,” Ehrari said. Elizabeth Maguire is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square news | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 | nyunews.com
FEATURES
edited by AMANDA RANDONE features@nyunews.com
Startup gives insider tips on citywide deals By Kitty Thornton
Whether you’re a West Coasttransplant or a born-and-bred New Yorker, it’s hard to keep up with what’s new and what’s good in this restless and ever-changing city. That’s where Paper and String comes in. Last year, NYU graduate school alumnus and public relations guru Joe Dolce co-founded the web start-up to connect savvy New Yorkers with the best independent retailers and restaurants in the city. Original content is posted daily with updates about new stores, gallery openings, sample sales and other trendy events across the city. Their weekly email newsletters share new findings collected by the Paper and String staff. The name Paper and String comes from the idea of bringing customers back into small shops where purchases would often be wrapped up in a parcel. This old-school vision is tied in to the website, which features an antique design. Paper and String gives its audience everything it needs to “have
the experience of stepping into the store, meeting the owners and managers and having the traditional retail experience,” managing editor Evan Mulvihill said. Paper and String features hidden New York treasures that can’t be ordered on Amazon or picked up at Bed Bath & Beyond. Paper and String may publicize designer boutiques and upscale restaurants, but it has a variety of content that also caters to college students who “like to be on the pulse of the city and support local retailers that they don’t have back in their hometown,” Mulvihill said. The website features sales and deals on clothes, food and tickets for upcoming events, and it is also a great way to get to know the city. The team at Paper and String taps into the innate desire for discovery. Who doesn’t love being the first in a circle of friends to find the best cup of coffee on this side of the Brooklyn Bridge or the best deals on vintage designer sunglasses? Paper and String collects the best in wellness, boutiques, restaurants, décor, acces-
sories and even items for children and pets by cultivating relationships with local merchants dedicated to customer service. Kitty Thornton is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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Paper and String lets you see the latest from small businesses.
Read us online nyunews.com
nyunews.com | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 | Washington Square news
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Features
edited by AMANDA RANDONE features@nyunews.com
Dos and don’ts for a successful winter romance
By Cody Delistraty
One year ago, I had perfectly planned my first date with a French girl in Paris. The waiter would smile, charmed by hearing my slight accent. The conversation would be magical. After dinner, we would walk along the Seine. Perhaps we’d have a scoop of gelato. My French would be impeccable. But romance does not always come that easily, no matter where you are. Our conversations ran short. The waiter informed us that the fish had been boiled alive. The lamb was hardly cooked. Our gelato was too cold to eat. We sat down on the stone quays in silence, the intrinsic romance of the city now mocking me. Then she vomited. The lamb really should’ve been cooked longer. But you can learn from my mistakes. With newfound wisdom, I’ve come up with a few dos and don’ts to having the perfect New York winter romance. Follow these tips, and you’ll be sure to avoid those cold nights and awkward dinners that nip a winter romance in the bud. Do sip hot chocolate at Jacques Torres: After taking part in chilly outside activities, you’ll need to regulate your frostbitten temperature by means of a hot drink. This hot chocolate is made with chocolate shavings rather than cocoa powder. For a unique chocolate-tasting experience, try a champagne truffle. With milk chocolate,
cream and Taittinger Brut La Francaise, you’ll be swooning in chocolate (and champagne) heaven. Do visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Cloisters: Head uptown to the Cloisters, home of the Met’s Medieval European art exhibit. Situated on a hill overlooking the Hudson River in the middle of Fort Tyron Park, the museum has a magnificent view. Spend some time in the silent gardens and admire the impressive collection of Medieval art, which includes Robert Campin’s 15th-century “Merode Triptych.” Don’t take a horse-and-carriage ride through Central Park: On average these horses work nine hours a day, seven days a week. They have died from exhaustion and have been hit by cars. You’ll pay $95 plus tip for a 45-minute ride with an overly talkative driver, so spend that money elsewhere and save these horses (and your ears). Don’t go ice skating at Rockefeller Center: Once the Christmas tree goes up the lines will grow, so don’t wait with tourists to get on the teeny rink. Instead, buy a pair of skates, go to Bryant Park and skate for free. Do go to Winter Restaurant Week: With discounted prix fixe menus at Megu, Spice Market, Dos Caminos, Nobu, Tao and over 300 other restaurants, you’d be crazy not to experiment with your sweetheart. Reservations for Winter Restaurant Week 2012 have
not yet opened, so head to nycgo.com/restaurantweek to sign up for early notification. Do visit the penguins at Central Park: At the Polar Seabirds exhibit just north of the Central Garden, you can say hello to Chinstrap, King and Gentoo penguins that call the Antarctic Peninsula home. When these cute creatures waddle around, even the iciest of hearts are sure to melt. Cody Delistraty is a staff writer. Email him him at features@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
FILE PHOTO BY JULIE DEVITO
Be it with a cup of Jacque Torres hot chocolate or a trip to the Cloisters, treat your significant other well this holiday season.
Stern brother shows us what’s in his bag
By Mary Kay De Guzman
While studying in Tisch Hall, finance major and Stern junior Gian Manalili took a break to reveal the contents of his backpack. But as the treasurer for both his fraternity, Delta Lambda Phi, and the International Filipino Association, Manalili hasn’t had much time to clear out his bag.
China medical papers Manalili found his physical forms from China, a reminder of his semester abroad in Beijing during the spring of 2011. “It’s still in my bag because I’m one-third lazy and two-thirds hoarder. And it’s also a nice reminder that I’m not pregnant — they conducted a sonogram on me,” Manalili joked.
The AEROSHOT Pure Energy breathable caffeine and Rehab-flavored Monster are just two of his favorite caffeine sources.
“I love budgets, organization and spreadsheets, so it’s actually a fun time for me,” he said.
Mary Kay De Guzman is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
OFEK continued from PG. 1
Ofek gives students shot at consulting
free, and there are tons of start-ups who really need this,” Bieber said. Already, Ofek has had remarkable success with its clients, most notably with eDealya, a social media advertising company who worked with a team of Ofek members over the course of the school year and hired eight students to work on commission for one company this summer. “We have smart students doing quality consulting for start-up companies that might not even be able to afford top level consulting at all,” Pessar said. According to Stern sophomore Michael Reidler, who worked for eDealya over the summer, working for a startup company was certainly a valuable experience. “I really learned what it means to create a business plan, and a sales model, and to create a marketing plan,” he said. In light of the clubs growing success, Bieber and Pessar hope it sets an example of how to create opportunities amid a difficult economic period. “I’m speaking to a lot of students who are brilliant and are six months out of school, a year out of school, and they don’t have jobs,” Pessar said. “We think that this is so timely especially because of Occupy Wall Street and all the frustration. Here is a group of students trying to build something for themselves.”
AppleCare Protection Plan After purchasing the plan along with his Macbook in September, Manalili never found the time to install it. He tends to lose and break things easily, so he said that he “definitely needs to get this done soon.”
Delta Lambda Phi check The duties of a treasurer are more than reporting at executive board meetings and handling the budget. Despite the difficulties of holding an important position, Manalili enjoys taking on the job.
Wonka Candy While Manalili enjoys various chocolate treats, some candies don’t satisfy his palette. So when a friend gave him a Thanksgiving goodie bag with chocolates and these Wonka candies, the sugary confections ended up being stowed away, uneaten, in the pockets of his bag.
Energy drink and inhalant Always in need of a bit of energy, Manalili confesses being able to fall asleep in any place and at any time.
VIA FLICKR.COM
MARY KAY DE GUZMAN/WSN
Medical forms, Wonka candy and AppleCare are among the things in this Stern junior’s bag.
Aliza Katz is a contributing writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
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OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO opinion@nyunews.com
CAMPAIGN IN THE MEMBRANE
Familiarity makes Gingrich GOP favorite By Matthew Hughes
Newt Gingrich wasn’t supposed to be here. Long considered a longshot contender for the presidential nomination, the former Speaker of the House was never expected to break out of his campaign rut. Most pundits predicted his imminent political demise, and more than a few suggested that he was only staying in it to sell more books. The mass exodus of several key staffers in May and June was widely thought to be the death knell of his campaign. Yet here he is — as the frontrunner, no less. Stepping into the void left by former pack-leader Herman Cain, Gingrich is primed to be the final not-Romney champion heading into the Iowa caucus on Jan. 3. His remarkable resurgence has only been bolstered by this weekend’s endorsement by the New Hampshire Union Leader, one of the state’s preeminent conservative newspapers — a clear knock to Mitt Romney, who has essentially lived in New Hampshire for the past five years vying for votes. So how has Gingrich done it? One could certainly argue tenacity had a lot to do with it. Had he not remained in the race even in the
direst of times, people could never have given him a second look. That’s a no-brainer. One could point to his sheer quality as a candidate, at least relatively speaking. An elite debater with a wide scope of knowledge and experience, he beats most of this year’s Republican field handily in terms of substance. Even that, though, doesn’t seem to get to the root of his rise. For all his positives, Gingrich is a seriously flawed candidate for conservative voters. His widely publicized multiple marriages and infidelities run counter to the familyoriented platform that Republicans often promote. As we’ve rediscovered from the debates this year, he can also have a bit of a temper. And some of his views may not be quite conservative enough for some, as we saw when his ideas about immigration were ridiculed as amnesty and plastered on headlines all over the web. So what’s fueling Gingrich’s unforeseen return? In a word: familiarity. For all of his flaws, Gingrich is a known, if not predictable, entity. He’s been in the spotlight for decades, and voters have a basic idea of who he is and what he stands for. He’s certainly not per-
fect and he’s probably not even the most electable candidate, but he’s someone that conservatives feel comfortable with. Such a quality cannot be taken with a grain of salt in politics. There’s a reason why the Republican nomination process is famed for its next-in-line tradition and why incumbents have a significant statistical advantage over their competitors, all else being equal. Familiarity is something that attracts us and that we cling to. The unknown is generally something that we’d like to avoid at all costs. There are, of course, political newbies who sway us otherwise, as President Obama did in 2008. But more often than not, the promise of stability can be more convincing than the alluring risk of change or improvement. To take a chance on someone new or different can be a matter of pure faith. And in politics, we don’t often believe without seeing. Matthew Hughes is a columnist. His column, “Campaign in the Membrane,” is about the sociology of politics and appears every Monday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
A COLLEGE STUDENT’S HANDBOOK
Overeating stifles academic success
By Richard Zhang
It’s easy to love NYU Dining. The eight dining halls, with plenty of food choices, make them irresistible and big meals unavoidable. But food binges can create problems. In one of my classes that starts at 12:30 p.m., a guy sitting in the back row often falls asleep. I can tell he really tries hard to stay awake and pay attention, but his head just helplessly droops down as the professor speaks. I asked him if it’s because he doesn’t get a lot of sleep. “Not at all,” he said. “I usually sleep for nine hours. But every time before I come to this class, I eat a lot of food. Then I just feel so comfy and sluggish and sleepy during class.” He’s suffering from postprandial somnolence, more commonly known as a food coma. A food coma is a normal state of tiredness that occurs after a large meal. In short, when you eat a lot of food, your body needs extra effort to digest, leaving you feeling lethargic. Food comas can be explained by
looking at the nervous system. “The process begins as food hits the stomach and small intestine,” cognitive scientist Paul Li said in the Scientific American. “Eating stimulates activity in the parasympathetic nervous system, which tells your body to slow down and digest. The more food you consume, the more the parasympathetic nervous system revs up, causing your body to focus the bulk of its energy on digestion.” Although a food coma does not cause any serious health issues, it can make people lose focus and significantly decrease their productivity. A study of 1,000 British workers showed that 75 percent of them experienced drowsiness in the afternoon. More than half of the workers admit that they make various mistakes, which cost factories millions of dollars each year. Researchers have confirmed that their drowsiness is caused by daytime eating. One of the most effective ways to avoid a culinary coma is to reduce the amount of food that you eat in a single sitting. More specifically, you
SUBMITTING TO
should reduce the amount of sugar you eat. When sugar enters your body, you experience a surge in blood sugar, and insulin is released to combat this surge. The insulin release also stimulates the production of certain chemicals that make you feel drowsy. It is not recommendable that you go back to work immediately after you eat. Give your stomach some time to digest. If you have class or a test, try to eat an hour earlier. The last thing you want to do is to lie down right after you eat; lying down does not aid digestion. Try taking a 15-minute walk or listening to some music after you eat. Just because you went on a spree in Downstein doesn’t mean your whole day has to be cancelled; follow the right steps and you’ll survive the food coma struggle. Richard Zhang is a columnist. His column, “A College Student’s Handbook,” is about contemporary college issues and appears every Monday. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Staff editorial
Student Senators wrong in not banning Chick-fil-A
Earlier this month, the Student Senators Council responded to the ongoing controversy over the Chick-fil-A in Upstein. The council presented a resolution stating partnership guidelines for NYU to follow in the future. The recommendations, which have just gone into effect, state that companies in the partnership cannot violate any labor or human rights. Therefore, the SSC voted to allow the chicken sandwich hub to stay with a 15-4 vote, arguing that its support of anti-homosexual groups did not run against these guidelines. The WSN Editorial Board is disappointed with the SSC’s inactive decision. Although Chick-fil-A is not technically breaking any laws, the support it gives to Christian groups that say homosexuals cannot get married is an indirect violation of human rights. When Coca-Cola was accused of harming its workers in South America, the SSC took action and banned the product for a temporary period. But when Chick-fil-A, an actual establishment on campus, praises an unethical viewpoint, the SSC abstains. The Chick-fil-A in Upstein is the only one of its kind in New York City, yet somehow it landed at NYU — the most LGBT-friendly school in the country, according to the Princeton Review. It is an obligation of every school to provide its students with an ethical environment, and the irony of having this business here opposes that notion. The WSN Editorial Board respects the freedom of businesses, but the image and reputation of NYU as a diverse and accepting institution is a higher priority. Additionally, we can all agree that the food served at Chick-fil-A is not exactly the healthiest of choices. Chicken sandwiches and waffle fries are not exactly fat-free. By banning the company, NYU can hit two birds with one stone: end the controversy and provide a nutritional alternative in the form of a healthier food company. On the anniversary of Harvey Milk’s death and in light of the recent suicides of bullied homosexuals, now, more than ever, is the time to be fighting symbols of prejudice at the university. NYU must recognize that indirect support and maintaining a neutral ground can sometimes lead to the gravest consequences.
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.
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, fifth floor, New York, NY 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 150 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title. WSN
does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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Washington Square news | MONDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2011 | nyunews.com
SPORTS
edited by JAMES LANNING SPORTS@nyunews.com
Balanced scoring attack lifts NYU to third straight win By John Axelrod
After winning its season opening tournament on Nov. 20, the NYU men’s basketball team improved to 3-0 on Sunday with a convincing 91-67 victory over SUNY Old Westbury. The Violets were solid on both sides of the floor, shooting 56.9 percent from the field and holding the Panthers to just 25 points in the first half. “We came out strong in the first half with great team defense,” head coach Joe Nesci said. “We contested shots, got stops and pulled in rebounds.” Nesci’s 406th career victory came against a Panthers team averaging over 80 points per game, coming into Sunday’s matchup. After trailing 11-10 early in the game, the Violets’ defense took over as NYU went on a 15-2 run. The Violets held the Panthers to a meager 29.7 percent from the field in the first half. They were also able to control the boards throughout the game, out-rebounding SUNY Old Westbury, 49-35. NYU maintained its pressure at the start of the second half, outscoring the Panthers 27-9 and building what would prove to be an insurmountable 34-point lead. The Violets did not let the lead shrink to less than 23 points for the rest of the game. “We gained a lot of confidence in our overall defense today, but we still have a lot of things to continue to work on going into league play in January,” Nesci said. The Violets spread the ball well around on offense with assists on 27 of the team’s 33 baskets. Four players scored in double figures. Junior Carl Yaffe led the team with 21 points, junior captain Kyle Stockmal contributed 13 points, senior captain Andy Stein scored 11 points and sophomore Zeve Sanderson had a careerhigh 10 points. The Violets made use of their effective shooters, sinking a total of
12 three-pointers in the game. NYU’s bench also played a big role in the victory. “Today exemplified how deep our bench is,” sophomore guard Ryan Tana said. “It’s nice to have players like Zeve who can come off the bench and take care of business.” Tana led the team with five assists. Junior Cory Stockmal and senior Ben Dorman each added eight points apiece off the bench. The Violets return to the court next Monday, Dec. 5, when they face Brooklyn College in a 7 p.m. game at Coles Sports Center. John Axelrod is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
DAVID LIN/WSN
Senior forward Ben Dorman
NFL must address mediocre Thanksgiving matchups By Ryan Gilmore
While there are few traditions better than the annual NFL/turkey combination on Thanksgiving, the NFL is missing out on an opportunity to make these games the most exciting of the year (aside from the Super Bowl). Is anybody else tired of seeing the Detroit Lions get blown out and watching the Dallas Cowboys play some who-cares team every year? The Lions have won a grand total of one — yes, one — playoff game since 1958. Their last winning season was in 2000. Certainly my generation does not remember a time when they were relevant. So why is it that we have to watch the Lions get destroyed by some vastly superior team year after year on Thanksgiving? Did the NFL honestly think that the Lions would be able to stop Aaron Rodgers and the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers? How about last year, when the Lions played the New England Patriots and got rolled 4524? Detroit has not won a game on Thanksgiving since 2003. They have a 33-37 alltime record. A Detroit loss on Thanksgiving has become about as routine as turkey and mashed potatoes. And what about the Cowboys? They’ve played on Thanksgiving every single year since 1966. Sure, it’s nice for Cowboys fans, but what about fans of the other 31 NFL teams? Seeing the same organization every year gets old if you’re not a fan of the selfproclaimed “America’s Team.” Just ask Jessica Simpson — Tony Romo gets tiring after a while. At least this year the Miami Dolphins put up a fight against the Cowboys, saving fans from another snore fest. When creating the schedule, why not give America games with playoff intensity? Give us classic rivalries: Steelers-Ravens, Jets-Patriots, Packers-Bears, Giants-Eagles. Give us the two teams who played in the Super Bowl last season. Give us anything other than the Lions and the Cowboys.
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The NFL can do better than Detroit and Dallas for Thanksgiving games. Two exciting and meaningful games to watch while eating your turkey, stuffing and mashed potatoes would make Thanksgiving even better. Families would sit down and watch with intrigue instead of having the game on in the background, not to mention that the NFL would probably draw more viewers. While they had the right idea with the Harbaugh brothers clashing for the night game, which drew the most views the NFL Network has ever had with over 10 million, if you do not have the NFL Network you were out of luck. There were many reasons to be upset with the NFL last Thursday, with two rather uninteresting games and a thriller that many Americans could not even watch. And while Thanksgiving will always remain a personal favorite because of its marriage to football, it could be so much better if the NFL got rid of the Lions’ annual stomping and the Cowboys’ redundancy. Some traditions are worth keeping. These two, not so much. Ryan Gilmore is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com. Follow him on Twitter @RGilmoreWSN.
Beckham experiment failed to bring needed attention to MLS By Cole Riley
Last Sunday the Los Angeles Galaxy, led by their high-priced superstar import from England, David Beckham, beat out the Houston Dynamo, 1-0, to capture their third Major League Soccer Championship in team history. With his contract now expired, Beckham could finally breathe a sigh of relief. After all the ups and downs of his MLS career, he finally brought a soccer championship to the city of Los Angeles. Still, the five-year pact that he signed back in 2007 became a deal of unfulfilled expectations and was plagued by injuries, marketing ploys and a non-committal stance by the legendary Brit. Beckham’s time in Los Angeles was ultimately a failure. In late 2006, the Galaxy began negotiating with Beckham’s camp to bring the six-time English Premier League champion to
the United States. The proposal became a league-wide agenda setter as MLS executives knew Beckham’s arrival would generate immense public exposure, boost sales and hopefully catapult MLS into the international conversation. The finalized contract was for five years and $32.5 million — a figure that was evenly split up among the 14 MLS teams. The immediate fallout was explosive. ESPN geared all its attention to Beckham’s arrival, introduction and eventual on-field debut (which was postponed due to a lingering ankle injury). Yet the immense following would all be for naught if he couldn’t deliver on his contract’s intended purpose: to stimulate the appeal of the MLS in the long-term. Five years, two loans to AC Milan, an ongoing beef with teammate Landon Donovan and three catastrophic injuries later and the MLS is still an after thought. The
league did receive newly revised television deals and an increased following, but it’s locked in as the nation’s sixth most popular professional league after the NFL, MLB, NBA, NASCAR and NHL. Beckham never grasped the significance of this experiment. He stood as the singular pivot point in the MLS and its future, bringing the entire league to the precipice of national adoration. Fans and players across the world knew that Americans would never fully respect the sport as they do baseball and American football. But soccer could still be massively popular here — a possibility that former Galaxy general manager Alexi Lalas envisioned when he brought Beckham over from Europe. The midfielder’s resistance to accept his role as a renaissance figure for professional soccer in America led to public backlash. And when the Brit left on loan
twice to play for AC Milan — where he succeeded — MLS fans and followers suffered here in the States. Oddly enough, over Beckham’s tenure with the MLS, the American national teams gained an immense following. Thanks to the successes in their respective World Cups, the men’s team (led by Donovan, Clint Dempsey and Tim Howard) and the women’s team (led by Hope Solo, Abby Wambach and Alex Morgan) gave rise to a whole new generation of soccer fans. This seemingly overshadowed Beckham’s disappointments with the MLS. With Beckham now on the verge of signing a lucrative deal with a French club, MLS fans can only look back on the past five years and think of what could have been. And with the NFL, NBA and MLB all reaching new collective bargaining agreements and television deals, the MLS will
remain an ESPN2 outcast.
Cole Riley is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
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Beckham’s time in L.A. was filled with disappointment.