NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
washington square news Vol. 39, No. 44
Village looks to add street seating to local cafes By Hanqing Chen
On Eighth Street, just a short walk west of campus, a block of storefronts sees just a thin trickle of customers each day. In an effort to bolster business in the once-buzzing commercial hub between Fifth and Sixth avenues, the Greenwich Village Business Alliance proposed adding a string of sidewalk seating to preexisting businesses in the area. If the proposal is accepted by the community board, retailers could set up a single row of tables with two chairs each. William Kelley, director of the alliance, said the area was hit hard by both the economic recession and competing local businesses. “The economy has been slow for area retailers since the economic recession first hit in 2008,” he said. “Our retailers, in particular, face stiff competition from the SoHo, Meatpacking and
CAFE continued on PG. 3
TueSDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2011
Students and faculty square off in OWS debate By Kristine Itliong The controversy over the Occupy Wall Street movement came to the Silver Center’s Jurow Hall last night in the form of a debate hosted by the College of Arts and Science Student Council. The debate included Gallatin professor George Shulman, CAS politics professor Anna Harvey, CAS social and cultural analysis professor Cristina Beltrán and College Republicans president and Stern senior Andrea Catsimatidis. CAS senator and junior John Boyd moderated the event along with CAS senior and Student Council member Susan Kuruvilla. The panelists discussed several aspects of the OWS movement, including its merit and progress in politics, media and history. “There’s policy only if there’s pressure,” Shulman said, opening the debate. “There’s pressure only if there’s power. There’s power only if there’s association. There’s association only if there’s action.” The debate initially focused on the criticisms OWS has received over its ability to translate its
BAD Burger brings comfort food to the East Village By Erin Kim Whether your pick is mashed potatoes, pancakes or macaroni and cheese, the newly opened BAD Burger can satisfy your comfort food cravings 24 hours a day. Beginning in Williamsburg about a year ago, BAD (Breakfast All Day) Burger recently opened its new location in the East Village at 171 Ave. A (between 10th and 11th streets). With smooth and shiny table tops, black-and-white checkered floors, red accents and dimmed lights, BAD Burger has a modern ambience that tells you this place is more upscale than your typical diner. But that’s not all that sets this restaurant apart. “We specialize in catering to vegans and vegetarians,” opera-
nyunews.com
tions manager Alan Wilk said. BAD Burger aims to make typical American dishes — like sloppy joes, macaroni and cheese and nachos — vegetarian- and vegan-friendly. BAD allows vegetarians, vegans and their meateating counterparts to sit at the same table and order from the exact same menu happily and harmoniously. From salads and hot dogs to burgers and shakes of all flavors (apricot ginger, blueberry white chocolate chunk and mango basil to name a few), BAD offers myriad eating options to satisfy any kind of eater. Whether you decide on the Godfather or Police Escort Burger, trusty mac and cheese or a chimichanga, each dish will surely bring a smile to
R BAD continued on PG. 4
James Kelleher/WSN
NYU professors and students discussed the evolution of OWS in the Silver Center last night. demands into policy and the limits of conventional politics and representative democracy make this process difficult. Harvey agreed with the criti-
cisms and said OWS protesters needed to focus their attention on making substantial change. However, Shulman and Beltrán said the media does not
portray all of the movement’s goals and accomplishments. “The 1 percent and the 99 per-
R DEBATE continued on PG. 3
Trey Songz here to stay with new album By Charles Mahoney
In early 2009, pop singer Chris Brown was arrested for domestic abuse after an altercation with his then-girlfriend Rihanna. The event was horrific but also left a significant gap in the heart of pop music. If Chris Brown wasn’t going to make pop R&B hits like “Forever” and “Kiss Kiss,” who would? But within a month of Brown’s arrest, another highpitched, boyish singer named Jeremih went to No. 4 with “Birthday Sex.” A few months later, Jason Derülo and Taio Cruz took the top of the charts with “Whatcha Say” and “Break Your Heart,” respectively. Trey Songz’s “Bottoms Up” went to No. 6. Brown’s absence had created a vacuum, and every R&B singer with a falsetto voice was
running to fill it. But now Brown is back, and he’s playing hardball. Jeremih’s last album “All About You” bricked, pushing out only 18,000 copies in its first week. Derülo’s “Future History” sold 13,000. Taio Cruz’s last two singles have gone nowhere, the latest only charting at No. 48 in Belgium. These are careerkilling numbers, and the future looks even bleaker. All of this makes Trey Songz’s newest EP, “Inevitable,” a pretty big deal. It could secure his place as the one survivor of the post-Brown bubble — or it could scare away any record company with a taste for money. This shouldn’t happen, though. While “Inevitable” is little more then a statement of purpose, it exudes promise. More serious, more focused
VIA AMAZON.COm
and more experimental than his competitors, Songz may just make it out of here alive. He can thank his friendship with Drake. It’s easy to forget in the babbled nonsense of “Bottoms Up,” but some of the tracks for Drake’s “So Far Gone” mixtape were actually written for Songz. Appropriately, the
R SONGZ continued on PG. 5
2
Washington Square news | TueSDAY, November 29, 2011 | nyunews.com
on the side
Compiled by the
WSN staff
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY
Nov./DEC.
PHOTOS VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
28
Washington Square News Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE
Nov. 29, 1947 The United Nations divides Palestine and creates an independent Jewish state.
Managing Editor
KELSEY DESIDERIO Deputy Managing Editor
RUSSELL STEINBERG
29
Assistant Managing Editor
KIRSTEN CHANG Creative Director
TERKA CICELOVA
Nov. 28, 1520 Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan becomes the first European to sail to the Pacific Ocean from the Atlantic.
senior staff
30 Nov. 30, 2004 “Jeopardy!” contestant Ken Jennings ends his recordbreaking, 74-game winning streak. Jennings won more than $2.5 million on the show.
1
Dec. 1, 1955 Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat on a public bus, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
university JAEWON KANG city/state AMY ZHANG arts CHARLES MAHONEY features AMANDA RANDONE sports JAMES LANNING multimedia LAUREN STRAUSSER enterprise ARIELLE MILKMAN special issues FRANCIS POON brownstone JAKE FLANAGIN copy jack brooks senior editors elizabeth gyori,
amanda shih
deputy staff
university gentry brown, julie
devito, susannaH griffee city/state hanqing chen, brian
tam, emily yang
2
Dec. 2, 1804 Napoleon Bonaparte is crowned emperor of France by Pope Pius VII.
music parker bruce film/books stefan Melnyk entertainment jonathon
dornbush theater ERIC SHETHAR features EMILY MCDERMOTT dining SARAH KAMENETZ fashion CARRIE COUROGEN sports SANCHAY JAIN, DANIEL
HINTON
TODAY
1
2
12:15 to 1:15 p.m. | Kimmel Center, Second Floor Staircase
6:30 to 8 p.m. | NYU Bookstore
8 to 9 p.m. | 35 W. Fourth St., 13th Floor
Ann Hood, Author of ‘The Red Thread’
Ask the Sexpert If you have questions about sexuality, sexual health, safe sex, intimacy or anything else sexrelated, come and ask NYU’s resident Sexpert, Alyssa LaFosse.
3 African Percussion Performance
Stop by the NYU Bookstore and join Ann Hood, the author of several short stories, a memoir and nine novels — most recently “The Red Thread.” Hood also teaches in NYU’s Creative Writing Program.
Watch a thrilling, free performance by NYU’s African Percussion Ensemble, featuring director Valerie Naranjo.
production MERYLL PREPOSI multimedia DAVID LIN copy MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN,
JESSICA LITTMAN
opinion page
opinion editor JOHN SURICO deputy opinion editors ATTICUS
BRIGHAM, MARIA MICHALOS
advertising business manager
REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager
Stefanie Yotka
SNAPSHOT
ON THE WIRE
circulation manager
MEagan Driver
university sales coordinator
Puckering pontiff
The latest ad from Italy’s fashion firm Benetton shows a picture of Pope Benedict smooching an imam. The Vatican has said that it will take legal action against the use of the photo in the media, claiming that the ad damages the dignity of the Pope, the Catholic Church and the beliefs of the Catholic followers. The campaign, which has a variety of popular figures kissing each other, is called Unhate and even has an ad of Barack Obama kissing Hugo Chavez. — Reuters
Emilia Mironovici sales representatives
Kaitlyn O’Brien, MICHAEL RYAN, Melissa Ynegas
advising DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
MICHAEL SUMMERS editorial adviser
keith leighty EDITOR-AT-LARGE
CORRECTIONS
Dozens of Christmas trees surround a lone table on Spring Street.
PHOTO BY James Kelleher
GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM
In the Nov. 28 print edition, WSN inaccurately reported that Stern junior Gian Manilili studied in Beijing. In fact, he studied in Shanghai. WSN also inaccurately reported that CAS senior Hilary Goodfriend said the government wastes $70 million annually in unaccountable spending. In fact, she said the government wastes $70 billion annually. WSN regrets the errors.
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.
nyunews.com
nyunews.com | TueSDAY, November 29, 2011 | Washington Square news
Searching for stardom at UVL By Rita Solomon
It is just past 8 p.m. when Sabrina “Sizzy Rocket” Bernstein rushes into her dorm room in Lafayette Hall. Dressed in a stylish little black dress, enormous heels and bold eye makeup, she apologetically says that she was caught up at a live music performance — her own. For the Tisch sophomore and recent Ultra Violet Live winner for Greenwich Hotel, this was not something out of the ordinary. It was a habitual part of her everyday routine. “I adore live performances,” Bernstein said. “You only get one shot when it’s live, and then it’s over.” It was this drive and competitive spirit that Bernstein brought to the preliminary round of UVL, where she sang her original song, “Meteor.” “I’ve always wanted to win UVL,” Bernstein said. “I competed last year, and I lost.” But this lively Las Vegas native hadn’t always performed for large crowds. “I used to just sit in my room and write songs,” she said. Despite not growing up in a musical family, Bernstein first unearthed her passion for music at the tender age of seven. She joined a group called “Puttin’ on the Kids” and teamed up with them to put on live performances. “Becoming a performer was never really a decision,” she said. “I’ve always known, somehow, that this was what
I wanted to do with my life.” For lyrical content, the aspiring artist turns to a livingin-the-moment motif. “In all my songs, I try to imply that life is too short to care about the irrelevant,” she said. She went on to detail the impact that coming to NYU has had on her art. “I’ve met so many interesting, eccentric people here,” she said. “Start a conversation with anyone and you’ll learn something new.” Despite some minor setbacks, Bernstein’s confidence has carried her through the rough patches she faced when first arriving in New York. “The most difficult thing for me, initially, was trying to prove to people that I am a good artist, that I’m a star,”
Bernstein said. “But I know deep down that I have nothing to prove.” DJ Gnyus, a long-time studio partner and fellow producing major at Clive Davis, agreed. “I met Sizzy at the beginning of freshman year, and I knew immediately that she had a powerful voice,” he said. “She also has this unique drive. When you see her, you just know that one day she’s going to be a star.” Bernstein’s eyes lit up at the thought of winning the UVL finals held by the InterResidence Hall Council in late February. “Count on it,” she said with a smile.
CAFE continued from PG. 1
Village business alliance looks to add sidewalk service to bolster sales
Rita Solomon is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
Rachel Kaplan/WSN
Tisch sophomore Bernstein lives to perform on stage.
DEBATE continued from PG. 1
College politicos face off in Occupy Wall Street debate cent is a grievance and a goal,” Schuman said. “American society has become more unequal, and that is not okay.” Later, the debate shifted focus to the influence of social media and how OWS has allowed the youth demographic to become politically involved. The panelists also spoke about how the media has negatively highlighted the violence associated with OWS. “I feel like the way the city acted was justified,” Catsimatidis said
of the way the NYPD has handled unruly protesters. “If you have people breaking the law, you need to try and create some order.” But Beltrán thinks the spread of the movement will eventually make a difference. “It’s a very day-to-day experience,” Beltrán said. “It doesn’t feel historical. It feels like your life. Only later do you realize that it was important.” Kristine Itliong is a staff writer. Email her at university@nyunews.com.
Check us out on issuu.com/nyu.news
3
Union Square districts.” The downturn has taken a significantly larger toll on small businesses than chain cafes and restaurants, like Au Bon Pain and Maoz, which hold real estate close to campus. Many smaller shops that can only afford real estate away from the epicenter of Broadway’s business — stores like Apple Café Bakery — expressed concern. “We moved here thinking that there was going to be a lot of foot traffic, but there was a little less than we expected,” Buba Carr, an employee at the bakery, said. Carr said the shop has only been in the Village for three months and that business has been slow. He said adding sidewalk cafes could be key to keeping the bakery’s business alive. “The sidewalk is very wide, and we can put tables and chairs there,” he said. “We’re fighting for the sidewalk cafes.” Long-time Village resident John Ridion said he was also eager to see the area revitalized. “There’s a lot [of ] turnover,” he said. “The restaurants here don’t last long enough.” Looking around, Ridion said the area has transformed over the years. “This used to be a place where all the shoe stores were,” he said. “It should now cater a lot to the youth market. The Curry Café place is nice. It’s cheap and pleasant. More of these little shops should be opening.” Curry Café, which has been
James Kelleher/WSN
Street cafes can help bring more business to Eight Street. a mainstay in the area since it opened in June 2010, has found a loyal customer base. But the store is still working hard to cater to NYU students. “Business has been pretty steady over here,” Jarryd Barretter, the manager at the cafe, said. “We have campus cash, [but] we’re still disappointed with the numbers.” Bob Gormley, director of Manhattan Community Board No. 2, said the board would not take a position on the sidewalk cafe proposition until a formal application was filed. Hanqing Chen is a deputy city/state editor. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
Cuomo announces electric car incentive program By Kristine Itliong To bring clean energy alternatives to New York State, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the beginning of a five year electric truck buying incentive program. The plan will give vouchers of up to $20,000 per vehicle to buyers who purchase environmentally qualified electric vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds from any existing manufacturer. The program, administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, will be funded in the first year by $10 million of federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding allocated by the New York State Department of Transportation. Every average diesel truck replaced by an electric vehicle will eliminate 26 tons of greenhouse gases and save 2,228 gallons of fuel each year. The $10 million will provide for at least 450 vehicles, eliminating about 11,700 tons of greenhouse gases and saving over one million gallons of diesel fuel. “Here in New York State, one
of the biggest concerns is air pollution,” said Jeremy Friedman, manager of sustainability initiatives at NYU. “[The plan] is something we would definitely look at if NYU needed a large vehicle.” Governor Cuomo’s announcement closely followed a statement by Smith Electric Vehicles, a manufacturer of zero-emission, electric commercial vehicles, about their construction of a new facility in the South Bronx that will be completed by 2012. “We applaud the governor’s leadership and that of the numerous state and local officials who have come together to support a program that encourages fleets to accelerate their conversion from diesel to electric,” said Bryan Hansel, CEO of Smith Electric Vehicles. The new site will produce a solar electrical vehicle called the Newton, which operates at up to half the cost of an average diesel vehicle. Newton vehicles already operate in other cities like Los Angeles, London and Hong Kong. PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, Coca Cola and Duane Reade currently use the Newton in New York City.
But this program is not perfect. NYU professor Roxana Julia, a specialist in environmental economics, said that because consumer demand for electric vehicles increases the demand for electricity, there is a resulting increase in emissions by coalpowered electric power plants. “Unless the source of electrical power is clean and renewable, then the policy seems ineffective in terms of curbing emissions,” Julia said. “We need investments in more radical long-term policies aimed at transitioning to renewable sources of energy and sustainable lifestyles and less support for expensive, questionable policies such as this one.” NYU environmental studies professor Julianne Warren agreed. “One question that comes to my mind is what goes into making an electric car and how does that all balance out,” Warren said. “I’d like to see incentives, energy and resources going a little deeper than just replacing one kind of car with another kind of car.” Kristine Itliong is a staff writer. Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.
4
Washington Square news | TueSDAY, November 29, 2011 | nyunews.com
dining
edited by sarah kamenetz dining@nyunews.com
Indulge your sweet side with the city’s finest macarons
By Kitty Thornton There’s a new dessert craze taking the city by storm: the French macaron. These bright, rainbow-colored confectioneries consist of a cream filling sandwiched between two meringue-like cookies. These melt-in-your-mouth treats can be found all around the city. But not all macarons are created equal — they must be enjoyed at the right places.
1
2
3
4
5
Maison Ladurée
Mille Feuille 552 Laguardia Pl.
François Payard Bakery
Financier Patisserie
864 Madison Ave.
Macaron Parlour (at Lily O’Brien’s)
The original Maison Ladurée in Paris has more than a century and a half worth of macaron-making experience under its belt. And now, with its new Upper East Side location, the legendary patisserie is bringing its expertise across the Atlantic. With 13 different macaron flavors, including coconut, rose petal, orange blossom, raisin and cinnamon, Ladurée gives you plenty of reasons to stop by.
Just around the corner from Bobst Library, Mille Feuille sells 10 unique types of macarons, which all undergo a three- to four-day cooking process to ensure the best possible flavor and texture. This cute little shop just opened earlier this year, but it fits in perfectly with Greenwich Village’s quaint vibe. Break up a day of classes and studying with one of their chocolate macarons, which are as decadent and luscious as brownies.
36 W. 40th St.
116 W. Houston St.
The macarons offered at Macaron Parlour take on an urban twist. The New York-based confectionary is one of the few places to play with savory macaron fillings, including candied bacon with maple cream cheese and Thai chili. The shop also offers more traditional flavors, such as Rocky Road and tiramisu. Their macarons can also be found at the Hester Street Fair and at the Union Square Holiday Market.
François Payard, a third-generation pastry chef with experience at Le Bernadin and Daniel, has opened his bakery not too far from Coles Sports Center. This shop sells every kind of pastry and serves up a full menu of soups, salads and sandwiches for each meal of the day. Payard’s macarons, which perfectly blend crunchy and soft, are available in ginger, chestnut and salted caramel flavors — just in time for the holidays.
With 11 locations around the city, including one near NYU, Financier Patisserie sells a wide variety of pastries besides their macarons. But the colorful cookies have always been among their better-selling items. Snag one or two to have with coffee, or buy a box to bring home or give to someone as a gift. The miniature versions are even more adorable.
2 Astor Pl.
Kitty Thornton is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com. PHOTO CREDITS: Maison: via yelp.com; Mille: FIle photo by Aarushi Chopra; Macaron: via macaronparlour.blogspot.com; François: via yelp.com; Financier: via yelp.com
Lesser-known flavor mashups to beat you PB&J
By Sarah Kamenetz
Some foods just belong together — peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, fish and chips. But there are a few lesser-known food mash-ups that, while equally as delicious as their more popular alternatives, don’t get the same kind of attention. While chips and dip may make you think of Tostitos with salsa, tortilla chips are just as good with peanut butter. The pairing creates a salty flavor and a crunchy, gooey texture that is simply irresistible. But try not to eat too much, since this munchable snack is packed with tons of fat and salt. To enhance this palate-pleaser, add whip cream, chopped nuts or chocolate syrup. Another salty (and potentially fatty) snack pairing is shrimp with popcorn — an Ecuadorean specialty that transforms the traditional movie treat into an upscale delicacy. Sauté or fry shrimp and add them to the popped popcorn. Prepare the shrimp with olive oil, salt, pepper and whatever spices are in your kitchen cabinet. Eat the popcorn shrimp with your hands, and share it with your roommates while bonding and
VIA HUNGRY-GiRl.com
Peppermint and mocha make a perfect winter mix. watching Gossip Girl. For a sugar high, adorn your must-have mocha with crushed candy cane pieces. Of course candy canes are delicious, but when crushed, their sticky-crunchy texture melts perfectly into the hot, chocolatey sweetness of the mocha. Plus, marrying these two together will solve your holiday cravings for mint and hot chocolate while also providing you with an added caffeine kick. If healthy eating is your thing, try combining figs with yogurt or adding spinach to your smoothie. The idea of figs (fresh or dried) may turn a lot of people off, but these bite-sized treats taste just like candy — sweet and chewy with a
soft crunch from the minuscule, edible seeds. Adding the creamy richness of yogurt makes this mash-up akin to food for the gods. Organic, non-fat, plain yogurt is a great and healthy option, but you can use any yogurt type you like. Figs dipped in yogurt is a fun, healthy treat that works well as an alternative to more fatty desserts or as a tapas to share with friends. Spinach may make some people cringe with disgust, but eradicate your childhood fears of these ironfilled leafy greens by embracing them without tasting them. If you add spinach (or flax seeds) to your favorite smoothies, you won’t taste it, but you will get the nutrition of a fat-free, sugar-free salad. Drink these fruit-vegetable snacks for breakfast or whenever, but make sure to have some extra protein to avoid hunger pangs. Although you may not believe that some of these items belong together, they may become your new favorite snack once you try them — especially as you are trying to clean out your refrigerator before the semester ends. Sarah Kamenetz is dining editor. Email her at skamenetz@nyunews.com.
BAD continued from PG. 1
BAD Burger brings vegetarian-friendly comfort food to the East Village your face. Wilk’s personal favorite dish us the Brooklyn Bolognese — mac and cheese topped with sloppy joe. For first-time visitors, Wilk suggests any of BAD’s burgers. You can play it safe and grab the signature BAD Burger for $8 (a vegan option is also available). The Signature BAD is defined by its chimichuri sauce, jack cheese and a mild but zesty seasoning, which definitely delights the taste buds. The chefs sear their own meat, hand-cut their own fries and prepare tons of toppings to satisfy your condiment cravings. Apple walnut cinnamon pancakes epitomize BAD’s style of comfort on a plate with their soft, buttery texture combined with the crunchy texture of walnut chunks. BAD Burger seems to define its taste tone by joining subtle sweetness with signature texture; even their Blueberry White Chocolate Chunk Shake is silky
smooth — a small size won’t be enough to satisfy your sweet tooth. With its diverse meal options, BAD Burger is in the perfect location. “The East Village is a big mix of everybody and we want to draw everyone we can — vegans, vegetarians, people who go to bars, people who live in the neighborhood,” Wilk said. “We certainly cater to students. I’m an NYU alumnus myself.” If stress has gotten the best of you or you just want something to munch on during the day or night, meat or not, BAD Burger will welcome you with free WiFi and open arms. “We serve our entire menu for 24 hours,” Wilk said. “By having that entire menu open in a 24-hour neighborhood, 24 hours, we can cater [to] everybody who walks in the door.” Erin Kim is a staff writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
nyunews.com | TueSDAY, November 29, 2011 | Washington Square news
arts
edited by charles mahoney arts@nyunews.com SONGZ continued from PG. 1
Trey Songz makes case that he’s here to stay with new album beats of “Inevitable” are almost entirely laid-back soul numbers, with musty drums, carefully plucked guitars, and plenty of empty space. This sets the tone nicely for Songz’s lyrics on women and seduction. While Drake may be obsessed with fame, Songz is obsessed with women. Whether it’s dealing with rejection (“I Do”), finding love (“Sex is Better Than Love”) or just straight up sex (“Outside [Part 1]”), Songz takes every angle he can on his girl problems. The EP can weave into the misogynist and desperate, but Songz’s scaled back production and achingly genuine voice keep the album from being off-putting. Unlike pop stars who revel in their misogyny, Songz sounds like he is being swept by his emotions against his will. There’s very little in the EP that sounds calculated, and the relaxed, depressive wandering can be thrilling. There is one problem with
the album: the generic, superfluous “What I Be On.” Cheap synths, ridiculous, operatic moaning and a cockiness that’s more awkward then awing make this song the spiritual sequel to “Bottoms Up,” which no one wanted. “What I Be On” is also the EP’s first single, which may be a sign that Songz still doesn’t get it. That would be a shame. More importantly for Songz, it’s suicide. Like it or not, the dynasty of cheap synth party anthems that shoot to the top of the charts and stay there has been given back to its original owner — Brown is back and more popular then ever. If Songz sticks to his strengths, he can be the mature, sophisticated artist that Brown never was. If he tries for a run at Brown’s crown, however, he’s going to get slaughtered. Charles Mahoney is arts editor. Email him at cmahoney@nyunews.com.
Curren$y indie rap stylings grow mainstream By Justin Block Today, rap is defined by its respective crews. You either join a team or get lost. With Young Money, Roc Nation, G.O.O.D., Maybach Music Group, Odd Future, Shady 2.0 and even Taylor Gang all feverishly releasing material for hip-hop supremacy, we can see an indie favorite is trying to emerge. Since parting ways with Lil’ Wayne’s crew, former Young Money artist and New Orleans native Curren$y has been hot on the mixed-tape circuit, churning out 11 projects over the past three years. Earlier this year, Curren$y’s hard work was rewarded with a Warner Bros. recording contract for his imprint, Jet Life Recordings. Jet Life Recordings is comprised of Curren$y, Trademark Da Skydiver, Young Roddy, Sir Michael Rocks and Smoke DZA; the group’s debut album is “Jet World Order.” Street Wiz, Corner Boy P. and Friend also contributed to the album. Every hip-hop supergroup has its own distinctive sound. While Young Money has clear mainstream aspirations, Maybach
‘Relatively Speaking’ lacks luster By Michael Ryan
Broadway’s version of a tasting menu is being served up nightly at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre in the form of “Relatively Speaking.” This uneven collection of comedic fare assembles three different one-act plays, written by Ethan Coen, Elaine May and Woody Allen and directed by John Turturro. While a set of one-act plays from these legendary writers seems appealing, audience members may leave feeling unsatisfied. After all, who wants a sampling platter at a Porterhouse price? The evening’s first offering is the least compelling. “Talking Cure” by Ethan Coen (of “Fargo” and “No Country for Old Men” fame) is a comparatively thin dark comedy about a mental patient (Danny Hoch) reminiscing with a doctor (Jason Kravits) about his troubled childhood. The exchange between patient and doctor is chopped up by abrupt scene changes and concludes with a flashback of the patient’s family life. Even more abrupt than the scene changes is the ending. This dark comedy illuminates little in the vein of character depth and plot development, but Coen’s snarky witticisms shine through every so often, keeping “Talking Cure” from completely stunting the show’s momentum. Elaine May, a two-time Oscar nominee and the screenwriter of “The Birdcage,” buoys the evening with her foray into the hilarity of death entitled “George is Dead.” Doreen (Marlo Thomas), a rich, pampered and WASPish blonde, wakes up Carla (Lisa Emery), her long-since-
5
fired nanny’s daughter, in the middle of the night for company in the wake of her last husband’s death. Why? Carla is the closest thing Doreen has to family. With a disappointed husband and an ailing mother, Carla is caught in a tangled web of familial commitments. The conflicts are many, and because of the strong cast, the laughs are even more so. “George is Dead,” with its outrageous gags, is a welcome nod to the Neil Simon comedy and serves as a satisfying second act. Rightfully placed as the finale, “Honeymoon Motel” is Woody Allen’s contribution to “Relatively Speaking.” Steve Guttenberg plays Jerry Spector, a groom’s stepfather gone mad. “Honeymoon Motel’s” cast is the largest and most polished of the three, with Guttenberg acting as a surprisingly impeccable Woody Allen stand-in. Over Guttenberg’s rambling rationalizations, however, it is easy to hear Caroline Aaron’s hilariously outraged one-liners as the incensed Judy Spector. The quick dialogue shoots back and forth across Santo Loquasto’s spot-on set design of a tacky honeymoon suite. “Honeymoon Motel” finally fires up “Relatively Speaking” into the comedic romp it should have been the whole time. “Relatively Speaking” is playing an open-ended run at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre at 256 W. 47th St. between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Regular tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster. For more information, visit relativelyspeakingbroadway.com. Michael Ryan is a contributing writer. Email him at theater@nyunews.com.
Music Group pairs aggressive smack-talking with bombastic beats. Jet Life’s sound comes from Curren$y’s unique taste in instrumentals. Like many recent Curren$y albums, “Jet World Order” features plenty of clean, live instruments — it’s almost like a small band is backing them up. Full of stripped-down, smooth stoner jazz, the album takes its cues from the funk of the Big Easy. On top of Jet Life’s mellow beats are Trademark and Young Roddy. In fact, the album is more of a Trademark and Young Roddy collaboration than anything else, which is disappointing. Despite the fact that the album is billed as a total Jet Life production, the two artists have verses in every song, while Curren$y only appears on three tracks total. As a rapper, Curren$y never shares anything overly compelling, but his “Naw-Leans” drawl and outstanding flows never fail to mesmerize. He falls short on “Jet World Order,” though, for once sounding a little too blitzed for his own good. And despite commanding the bulk of the album’s verses, Trademark and
Young Roddy are boring, producing raps that any highed-up teenager with Garageband and a mic could lay down. For lyrical content, Jet Life relies on “Pothead Pimpin’,” which reveals the group’s primary concerns — money, cars, weed and other rappers’ women. The hook to the opening track, “Excellent,” sums up their motivations well: “Her brain excellent/ My brain scrambling/ Betcha she can’t handle it when I’m gone off of this cannabis.” Curren$y provides the most vivid images of the album on this track, on which he simply raps about his day-to-day life while wielding his own brand of marijuana-induced misogyny: “Been on crutches for a couple months/ That’s fine/ My bottom bitch running errands for me all the time.” Curren$y declares that his “Empire [is] on the rise/ All by my design,” but given the shortcomings of Trademark, Young Roddy and Smoke DZA, it doesn’t look like his empire will be rising up anytime soon. Justin Block is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
‘How to Make it in America’ creator muses on new season By Bethany McHugh
The heart of HBO’s “How to Make it in America” is found right in the show’s title. The series details the lives of four 20-somethings — Ben, Cam, Rachel and Domingo — as they tackle improbable odds to try to make their dreams come true in New York. As the series gears up for its second season, series creator Ian Edelman discussed what the show means to him and what is still to come for the successful HBO dramedy. Q: With the 20-somethings of “HTMIIA” working toward their various life goals in downtown New York City, why isn’t the show called “How To Make It In New York?” A: The American dream starts in New York City — it started with immigration. And cliché as it is, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. Q: But when you look at today’s economic climate, can you say the American Dream still exists? A: I think, fundamentally, it still exists and changes for everyone. You think of immigrants looking for a better life — the ’50s with the white house and picket fence. The situation is so crazy with Occupy Wall Street and Greece and Italy, but the dream is still there. Q: “HTMIIA” is produced by the same team that brought “Entourage” to the small screen. How do you respond to people who say “HTMIIA” is just a remake of “Entourage?” A: Of course, I’ve heard this is the New
York “Entourage.” But I don’t think so. As far as the comparisons they’re to be expected. They were a detriment to season one, because it’s sexy in it’s own way. People put up expectations we couldn’t match because it’s a different show. Q: In a mostly male-driven show, one of the most intriguing characters is Rachel. What’s next for her? A: Rachel was definitely a challenge. At first, she was more just Ben’s ex-girlfriend. Rachel-Season-Two is better — fun, funny and real. But she’s still going through the same kind of existential “Who am I? What does this all mean?” motif. Q: So what’s still to come? All of the characters have such an intense work ethic that it’s hard to believe they’ll end up emptyhanded. But “HTMIIA” is nothing if not realistic, and life doesn’t always work out. A: What we’ve tried to deliver is the journey, not the destination. I definitely think that it is a better show when the stakes are higher. Ben and Cam and Rene and Rachel have real rewards that they can possibly achieve. Bethany McHugh is a staff writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.
6
Washington Square news | TueSDAY, November 29, 2011 | nyunews.com
Follow us on Twitter @nyunews
The New York Times Syndication Sales Corporation 500 Seventh Avenue, New York,times N.Y. 10018 The new york crossword & daily sudoku For Information Call: 1-800-972-3550 For Release Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Edited by Will Shortz Across 1 Nurses at the bar 5 “Pipe down!” 9 Derive logically 14 Bad child’s stocking filler 15 Indiana/Kentuck y border river 16 Sound from a stable 17 Kendrick of “Up in the Air” 18 ___ contendere 19 North Dakota city 20 Time in the title of a 1965 Wilson Pickett hit 23 Skedaddles 24 Trial fig. 25 Doo-woppers ___ Na Na 28 TV oilmanturned-private eye 33 Doll’s cry
37 Aussie bounder 38 Friars Club event 39 Multiple-dwelling buildings 43 Chop finely 44 Light bulb inventor’s inits. 45 Light carriage 46 Droopy-eared dog 50 Small bill 51 ___-wolf 52 Perform better than 57 Question that follows “O Brother” in film … and a hint to this puzzle’s theme 61 Grotto isle of Italy 64 Grotto color at 61-Across 65 Java servers 66 Say “#%@!” 67 Calls upon
ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE I S L E D I E T I N T H T I E P A T R A X L P E I A S E A I O V E R T E A B O C T A O T I S L O N E E R G S
E R O D E A T A D
B A L M I L I A D U M P M O O L U O W N T P E E B I T N G R H E H I L L O H S U P T H M E T O A S P E
Y D S D T I H E E D
T R I A L R U N
A B L L F A C N A E C R O L N A
B A R R I O
S T A N Z A
Y O G I B E A R
P L E A S E D O
68 20-0 baseball score, say 69 Ill-suited 70 “___ we forget …” 71 Keeps after taxes
Down 1 Con jobs 2 Greek column style 3 Bamboomunching critter 4 Way of looking at things 5 ___ Kong 6 “We’re in trouble!” 7 Delta deposit 8 Commotion 9 Yet to happen, at law 10 In the vicinity 11 Douglas ___ 12 Cadbury confection 13 Letter before sigma 21 Suffix in poli sci 22 Ear-related prefix 25 Squirrel away 26 Minor prophet of P the Old A Testament S 27 Prone to S fidgeting E 29 Prepare for D combat 30 Tip of a boot D 31 Scout’s rider of E early TV L 32 ___-chef L (kitchen’s number two) K 33 Cuban musical Y form D 34 Bee-related
1
2
3
4
5
14
6
7
9
10
24
34
35
36
29
30
31
47
Read us online nyunews.com
45
48
49
51
52
57 63
27
42
44
62
26
38 41
43
50
25 32
37 40
46
13
22
23
39
12
19
21
28
11
16
18
20
61
8
15
17
33
No. 1025
58
59
53
54
55
56
60
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
Puzzle by C.W. Stewart
35 Parson’s home 36 Circle segments 40 Vacation souvenir wear 41 Letter after sigma 42 Old biddy 47 Everyday article 48 Like some teas
49 Part of a pointillist painting 53 Driver’s oneeighty 54 Severe pang 55 Glazed or powdered item 56 Gives the boot 57 Cylindrical sandwich
58 Threat-ending word 59 Razor-billed birds 60 Take five 61 CBS drama with DNA testing 62 Bristle on barley 63 Split ___
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.
nyunews.com | TueSDAY, November 29, 2011 | Washington Square news
OPINION
edited by JOHN SURICO opinion@nyunews.com
Economy
Taxing wealthy a necessary step to economic recovery By Joe Friedman The fruitless debt super committee struggling to produce deficitcutting solutions brings to mind memories of last spring’s debt ceiling debate. But as House Republicans grow more receptive to tax changes, hopefully we can all begin to think about taxation in a new light. A step in the right direction would be to shift the burden of corporate taxes onto wealthy individuals to stimulate growth while simultaneously addressing the vast disparity in income inequality. If we eliminate or reduce the corporate tax, we can incentivize small businesses, a key driver of job creation, in effect stimulating the economy. The Byzantine corporate tax code in America unfairly makes smaller businesses pay hefty tax rates of up to 35 percent, while allowing larger corporations tax-free profits via complex writeoffs. For instance, General Electric enjoyed $14.2 billion, untaxed, last year. By shrinking corporate tax rates, we would effectively be targeting the small businesses that don’t have the luxury of outrageous deductions, which we could do without as well. Currently, corporate taxes contribute to 12 percent of the federal revenue, while individual income taxes make up an astounding 45 percent of federal revenue. Even though businesses don’t pay that
much in taxes, relatively speaking, eliminating that 12 percent of revenue would nonetheless create a budgetary gap during a time of fiscal belt-tightening. Yet the lost revenue should be reconciled by increasing taxes on a wealthy few. Since 1979, incomes for the bottom 20 percent of households have grown by 18 percent, while paychecks for the top 20 percent, excluding the top 1 percent have increased by 65 percent. And for the top one percent, incomes are up 275 percent. Tax reform will not defeat the underlying causes of income inequality, such as reduced mobility and subpar education. Yet, historically low top marginal rates indicate that the rich have largely avoided the tax burden accompanied by unprecedented economic growth. Wealthy individuals who largely reaped the benefits of recent prosperity should contribute more. If they do not, they may face an increasingly unstable political and social environment that may not be as conducive to future wealth accumulation. We can start by creating additional tax brackets and by increasing marginal rates. The highest marginal rate is currently 35 percent of income over $373,650 and 15 percent if it is in the form of capital gains. According to research from Emmanuel Saez, a professor of economics at the University of California, Berkeley, in
2008 the income group at the top 0.01 percent contains 15,246 families earning more than $27 million per year, including capital gains. We can better balance our budget by harmonizing capital gains taxes with personal income taxes. Lower capital gains taxes are the reason why Warren Buffett pays taxes at a lower rate than his secretary or teachers or police officers. The elimination of the corporate tax incentivizes investment much more directly anyway. The over 15,000 households earning about $10 million annually in capital gains (not including unrealized gains and over $17 million in annual income) is a ridiculous source of lost government revenue. Do we really need incentives to invest in America? With Europe in perma-crisis and China’s governmental situation far from a beacon of stability, where else are people going to put your money? Replacing corporate taxes with higher income taxes will not be a panacea for our severe structural problems. It took 30 years of excessive leverage to fuel a consumption-based economy and vast international savings inequalities to create our woes. It’s going to take a while to fix them. No tax for small businesses is nonetheless a step in the right direction. Joe Friedman is a contributing columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
Borough Beliefs
City’s public libraries corrupted by porn viewers By Atticus Brigham
While most people go to the New York Public Library system to read and study, about .5 to 1 percent of visitors have dirtier plans in mind. This figure does not include those who rent VHS tapes and DVDs from the libraries’ large softcore selection. Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, accurately assessed the library allowing access to pornographic materials, saying, “What they’re doing is publicly funding an appetite for the most debased fare available.” Library policies allow children as young as 13 to remove browsing filters and parental controls on library computers. This creates the phenomenon of “three or four kids, 13 or 14 years old ... all gathered around a computer giggling,” as one library patron told the New York Post. Yet, the main problem does not seem to be groups of juveniles accessing pornographic websites on the city’s dime. It is largely homeless men who come into the library for some lascivious literature and more. In fact, two men got in a fist fight
7
over library porn last spring. Such appalling behavior has no place in this city, let alone in its house of letters. Though there is no porn epidemic in city public libraries, policy should be altered to better balance First Amendment rights to view “adult content” and basic civil decency in doing so. Patrons should be intellectually, not genitally, stimulated by the materials our libraries provide. The Brooklyn Public Library has made efforts to curtail children’s exposure to inappropriate material. “Safe Surfing” guides are provided to parents and filters (though not fail-safe) are set on all computers children have access to. Though adults may request that the filtering technology be disabled without providing reason for the request, all users are prohibited from viewing “that [which is] legally defined as obscene [or] as child pornography.” It is important for an informed democracy to allow the public to access information without charge. Libraries should be welcoming places for children, but it must be recognized that the standard of appropriate viewing
material changes with age. Private viewing booths contribute to a street-dweller atmosphere in the library, discouraging an informed democracy. Libraries must articulate a clear, unified policy, even if that involves addressing a subject they are reluctant to publicize. Currently, the myriad codes leave much room for fear from both parents groups against obscenity and civil libertarians declaring that there is a war on the First Amendment. Were libraries to define a code of conduct that did not infringe users’ rights to access legal material while maintaining a studious decorum, the focus would turn to the great many resources our libraries offer. It can be difficult to maintain refined studious decorum thinly separated from our bustling boulevards, but New Yorkers should nonetheless take advantage of the resources our libraries provide without fear of lecherous men mingling in their midst. Atticus Brigham is a deputy opinion editor. His column, “Borough Beliefs,” is about law, ethics, and the city and appears every Tuesday. Email him at abrigham@nyunews.com.
Staff editorial
Gingrich’s stance on child labor shameful
Last week, presidential contender and Republican frontrunner Newt Gingrich said in a speech that students should be paid to clean school facilities. The only thing standing in the way, Gingrich said, are “truly stupid” child labor laws. This misguided proposal calls to mind morbid tales like those of as Tiny Tim, Oliver Twist and Annie. Gingrich’s proposal flies in the face of more than a hundred years of labor laws and should be a serious blow to his run for the Oval Office. It is a preposterous presumption that from birth the impoverished should clean up after their better-off classmates by performing janitorial services. At the very least this proposal would go against our finest tenets of educating the next generation. Though the recession may focus the American populous on the importance of job creation, we have gone too far when prepubescent children are taken away from the pursuit of education and enlisted in a miniature workforce. Young children should be more focused on mathematics than the minimum wage. Education is the best form of job preparation and will prevent them from landing janitorial jobs like the ones proposed. This line of thought represents the Republican efforts to eliminate labor protections in order to stimulate the economy and decrease unemployment figures. The problem lies in the fact that children should not be counted as part of the workforce. The best way to bolster the American workforce in the long term is to increase funding for education. Diminishing its importance by channeling students’ energies toward menial labor runs in contrast to this. In order to break the cycle of poverty and guarantee genuine social mobility, the government must concentrate on areas such as high school graduation rates and the quality of public school curriculums. Instead, it seems that Newt Gingrich wants to merely throw small work-study stipends at the children of the underemployed and unemployed. Punishing children for the poverty they have inherited — through no fault of their own — is reprehensible. Instead, we should seek to elevate these childrens’ economic status by making them read in class — not take out the trash.
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.
SUBMITTING TO Send mail to: 838 Broadway, fifth floor, New York, NY 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opin-
job title. WSN does not print unsigned letters
ion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU
or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject
community, or in response to articles. Letters
any submission and edit accepted submis-
should be less than 150 words. All submis-
sions in any and all ways. With the exception
sions must be typed or emailed and must
of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on
include the author’s name, address and
the editorial pages are not necessarily those
phone number. Members of the NYU com-
of WSN, and our publication of opinions is
munity must include a year and school or
not an endorsement of them.
8
Washington Square news | TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 29, 2011 | nyunews.com
SPORTS
edited by JAMES LANNING SPORTS@nyunews.com
Crosby’s return draws comparisons to MJ By Daniel Hinton After suffering concussion-like symptoms caused by hits to the head in consecutive games in early January, Pittsburgh Penguins center and Olympic champion Sidney Crosby faced the prospect of an early retirement. Fortunately for him, the Penguins and hockey fans around the world, Crosby made his return to the NHL on Nov. 21, following ten months of anticipation and extensive recovery. Crosby netted two goals, the first of which came less than six minutes into the game, and recorded two assists in a 5-0 shutout of the New York Islanders. Crosby’s return will perhaps have the biggest impact of any returning star since Michael Jordan came back during the 1994 NBA season. Crosby is the greatest player of the post-lockout era; Jordan is the greatest basketball player in history. Crosby had to leave the game during his greatest season yet — 66 points in 41 games, including a 25-game point streak; Jordan retired after
winning his third consecutive championship and Finals Most Valuable Player award. Jordan, of course, left his league by choice while Crosby left his due to severe injuries, arguably making his return to the top more difficult. Furthermore, Jordan led the Bulls to a second three-peat, collecting three more Finals MVPs and his fourth and fifth NBA MVP awards before retiring for a second time. Although he has a Stanley Cup, a gold medal and numerous individual accolades to his name, Crosby has yet to reach the same level of domination as people like Gretzky and Jordan. But he has the potential. In his first four games, Crosby has earned eight points and a +7 rating, and he has energized a team that arguably was the best so far this season. The Pens have been at or near the top of the league in total points all season, and they are currently in the top ten in offensive, defensive and special teams averages. However, nobody should
say that the Pens do not need Crosby or that they were fine without him. Yes, the Pens finished with a franchise record of 106 points last season without Crosby — and fellow Penguin center Evgeni Malkin, for that matter. But they blew a 3-1 lead to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round of the playoffs, scoring only four goals in their final three losses. We can legitimately speculate that Crosby’s presence on the ice would have turned one of those losses into a win. In addition to the offensive skill and pure talent that Crosby brings to the team, his leadership and other intangibles are equally as important. And they have been on full display during his first week back. In Crosby’s season debut, the offense moved through him, and the chemistry between him and his teammates has seemed so genuine, so natural. Also, with the pressure of every eye in the hockey world watching him these past four games, Crosby has not missed a beat. Another similarity between Crosby and Jordan is their significance to their respective leagues and fans. Jordan was the face of not only the NBA but all sports. Nobody, not even fellow
VIA FLICKR.COm
Crosby returned to the ice after sitting out for ten months. Bull Scottie Pippen or the great Hakeem Olajuwon, could even begin to replace Jordan. His return revived the NBA to its position as the most popular pro league of the decade. Although his popularity is nowhere near Jordan’s level (nobody’s is), Crosby is a national icon in Canada and is the international face of hockey. Even with all of his talent and personality, Washington Capitals star left-winger Alex Ovechkin was unable to become the sole face of the NHL — especially following his weakest season and
another early playoff exit last year. Crosby’s return obviously enhances his legacy and the Penguins’ chances of remaining as an elite team in an increasingly competitive league. But, most importantly, his return gives us another opportunity to watch something special. Barring any further concussions, let’s not allow that opportunity to go to waste. Daniel Hinton is a deputy sports editor. Email him at dhinton@nyunews.com.