WSN120412

NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 40, No. 46

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012

nyunews.com

Cooper Union protesters demand continuation of free tuition On Day of Action, student protesters gathered outside the Foundation Building of Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The protest developed further when 11 students from the Cooper Union and one New School Free press reporter barricaded themselves on the roof in protest of the school potentially charging tuition next year.

STORY ON PAGE 8

JONATHAN TAN/WSN

Ke$ha expands unique style on ‘Warrior’

By ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE

International dance-pop artist Ke$ha is like a burnout little sister who borrows money from your parents for textbooks and spends it on cigarettes and beer.

She does, however, occasionally get her act together, wash her hair, show up for dinner on time and make you forget about all of the times she passed out on the front lawn or had to be picked up from the police station. “Warrior,” the star’s latest album, is the musical manifestation of just that.

The deluxe version of the record contains no fewer than 16 songs, most of which promote the reckless lifestyle of Ke$ha’s grunge-

esque image. The artist has always had a penchant for crafting choruses, and “Warrior” continues this tradition with strong efforts like “Die Young” and “Dirty Love,” on the latter of which she outshines Iggy Pop with her bluesy rock ‘n’ roll wails. An interesting new addition to her repertoire is the inclusion of instrumental breakdowns reminiscent of Daft Punk and Justice. It is a technique that works on some songs, like the album’s eponymous track, but that falters on others, such as “Supernatural.”

Some things remain the same, like her trademark talky rapping style and heavy deployment of autotune. However, several songs

KE$HA continued on PG. 5

Artichoke family opens hero haven

By ALYSSA NOUD

Heroes, hoagies, subs and sandwiches. These Italian favorites can be found at newly opened Chubby Mary’s — the name doesn’t matter, but the product does. Artichoke Basille’s Pizza fans can rejoice because cousins and Artichoke co-owners Sal Basille and Francis Garcia are bringing their cultural flair to New York City once again with this new spot. Basille and Garcia’s new joint is only steps from their 14th Street Artichoke location.

After closing their Italian sweets spot, Led Zeppole, this past September, the Italian duo realized they could reopen the space with a new and innovative idea in Italian fast food.

VIA YELP.COM

Chubby Mary’s veal cutlet and broccoli rabe sandwich is a menu highlight.

“Being born in Brooklyn and growing up in Staten Island, there were great hero shops everywhere,” Garcia said. “I couldn’t really find spots in the East Village or let alone in Manhattan that served these great

traditional Italian-style heroes.”

Along with Basille, Garcia developed the idea for a “fastfood Italian sandwich concept,” and Chubby Mary’s was born.

CHUBBY continued on PG. 4

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM

ON THE SIDE

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WSN STAFF

“The Juliet Letters” is a literate and passionate string quartet-backed song cycle from an unlikely artist — punk rocker Elvis Costello. Tracks range from the showy “This Offer Is Unrepeatable” to the bitterly sardonic “I Almost Had A Weakness” to the epic “Jacksons, Monk, and Rowe.” It can take a little getting used to, but the string arrangements (performed by the Brodsky Quartet) are absolutely gorgeous, and the album richly rewards multiple listens.

— STEFAN MELNYK

WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

One of the best performances of 2012, which has been recognized by the Independent Spirit Awards, is by Brit Marling in “Sound of My Voice.” Marling plays Maggie, a mysterious young woman who lures a group of followers based on the claim that she is a time traveler from the future. The film’s success depends on Marling’s performance, and whether she is enchanting enough to convince a group of able-minded people that she is truly the Christ-like figure she claims to be. With her hypnotic temperament, even the most rational of viewers can realistically envision themselves falling for Maggie’s charm.

— JEREMY GROSSMAN

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

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Editor-in-Chief AMANDA RANDONE Managing Editor

JAEWON KANG Web Managing Editor

AMY ZHANG Deputy Managing Editor

EMILY YANG Assistant Managing Editors

HANQING CHEN DANIEL HINTON Creative Director

MERYLL PREPOSI SENIOR STAFF

STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS

With the season that Andy Williams dubbed ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ now under way, one of the major staples of the winter season is ice skating. However, doing so in the city can leave a significant dent in your pocket. Because of this, the Citi Pond ice skating rink is one of the best places to go ice skating. Admission is free with $14 skate rental. Have your own skates? Then you can skate for no cost at all. — TONY CHAU

VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG

The recently released “Hitchcock” is not a perfect film, but here’s one that is — ”Rebecca.”

This 1940 Hitchcock masterpiece, based on the novel by Daphne Du Maurier, launched Joan Fontaine to stardom with her performance as a young woman who marries the haunted Maxim de Winter (Laurence Olivier) and moves to his country estate. There she encounters the ominous housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, who seems determined to maintain the shadowy presence of Maxim’s deceased wife, the beautiful and mysterious Rebecca. This film won Best Picture in 1940, and is a great place to start for anyone interested in catching up with Classic Hollywood.

— SUZANNE EGAN VIA FLICKR.COM GRAPHIC BY EMORY LOPICCOLO AND RACHEL PHAM FOR WSN

university GENTRY BROWN city/state TONY CHAU arts STEFAN MELNYK features NICOLA PRING multimedia JAMES KELLEHER copy JORDAN MELENDREZ senior editors HANNAH BORENSTEIN,

CARRIE COUROGEN, JULIE DEVITO, BRIDGETTE DORAN, JONATHON DORNBUSH, CHARLES MAHONEY, COLE RILEY

DEPUTY STAFF

university TATIANA BAEZ,

VERONICA CARCHEDI city/state KAYANA JEAN-PHILIPPE, NICOLE BROWN books/theater CLIO MCCONNELL film JEREMY GROSSMAN entertainment SAMANTHA RULLO music JOSHUA JOHNSON features KATYA BARANNIK beauty & style HILARY PRESLEY dining LAVYA YALAMANCHI special issues ESHA RAY sports MARY JANE DUMANKAYA, SARA LEVY, SEBASTIEN VAN HEYNINGEN multimedia GLORIA LEE, JONATHAN TAN foreign correspondent

RICHARD ZHANG

TODAY

social media agent

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1 4:30 p.m.

19 W. 4th St. | Room 517

ECONOMICS WORKSHOP: THE MORTALITY COST OF POLITICAL CONNECTIONS

Hosted by Ray Fisman of the Columbia Business School, this event will explore Fisman and Yongxiang Wang’s paper of the same name. Contact hunt.allcott@nyu.edu for information.

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6:00 p.m.

Institute for the Study of the Ancient World | 15 E. 84th St., Lecture Hall

SUPPLYING WINE FOR THE ARMY IN EARLY ROMAN EGYPT

Presented by Dorota Dzierzbicka. Admission to the ISAW Lecture Hall closes 10 minutes after the scheduled start time. Seating is first-come, first-serve basis.

6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The Humanities Initiative at NYU | 20 Cooper Square, 5th Floor

TORAL J. GAJARAWALA ON UNTOUCHABLE FICTIONS: LITERARY REALISM AND THE CRISIS OF CASTE Toral J. Gajarawala, professor of English and Comparative Literature at NYU, speaks on her new book.

The event is free and open to the public.

NICOLE GARTSIDE

OPINION PAGE opinion editor

CHRIS DINARDO deputy opinion editor

JESSICA LITTMAN

ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER

REBECCA RIBEIRO CIRCULATION MANAGER

CHELSEA GOLD

UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOR

KAITLYN O’BRIEN

SNAPSHOT

ON THE WIRE

Masturbation contest held in China celebrates World Aids Day

On Dec. 1, China held its first ever “Wankathon” in honor of World Aids Day. Ten male participants wore masks over their faces and concealed their genitals with buckets. The contents of the buckets were then examined once all the contestants had finished. Scantily clad models walked around the men with sex toys and blow-up dolls to entertain them. The event was held to celebrate HIV riskfree sexual freedom and was sponsored by sex toy manufacturer, Aihuirun.com.

The event is similar to the Masturbate-a-thon held annually in San Francisco.

— THE HUFFINGTON POST

SALES REPRESENTATIVES

ELLEN MCQUEEN, MELISSA YNEGAS SALES ASSOCIATES

ARIANA DIVALENTINO, CHRIS ELWOOD, KIM HIGGINS, GLORIA LEE, ALISON LIZZIO, SAM WANDER CIRCULATION ASSISTANT

OMID GOLMOHAMMADI GRAPHIC DESIGNER

KALEEL MUNROE

ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER

YALE UNIVERSITY

Student drinking tops national average — YALE DAILY NEWS

The sun shines on the Cooper Union Academic Building in Cooper Square.

PHOTO BY BEN CALVERT

COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY

Sociology professor’s ethics under scrutiny — COLUMBIA SPECTATOR

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KEITH LEIGHTY EDITOR-AT-LARGE

FRANCIS POON 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 Jaewon Kang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

City develops new housing prototype for future

By EMILY BELL Although the majority of New Yorkers are no longer experiencing the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, thousands of families remain homeless after the natural disaster destroyed their homes.

One of these families of Gallatin freshman Alyssa Yurasits, who is from Massapequa, N.Y. Her parents and younger brother have yet to return to their home in Long Island and are renting a two-bedroom apartment in Bethpage, a few miles north, while they wait for their house to be rebuilt.

“We were lucky to even find a place,” Yurasits said. “FEMA provided the funds for a month’s stay in a hotel. My family is still on a wait-list for many hotels, even motels.”

But families left untouched by the hurricane are doing more than considering themselves lucky. They are also opening their doors to less fortunate neighbors.

“One of my friends has opened his house to any high school students who lost their home and need somewhere to stay,” she said. “There are anywhere from eight to 11 teenagers living in his house still because their parents are having trouble finding rentals or hotel rooms.”

The Bloomberg administration has been working with the Office of Emergency Management and the Department of Design and Construction to develop a plan for emergency housing for five years now.

The plan began with an Open Competition in 2008 called What

If New York City. The result led to the plan to use repurposed shipping containers to create modular temporary housing, and OEM had just began the process of getting a prototype of the temporary housing built before Sandy hit.

Despite the delay, OEM expects to have a prototype built by the second half of next year. One container, about 40 feet long, 12 feet wide and 10 feet tall, will include a bedroom, a bathroom with clean towels, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, a kitchen equipped with cookware and a small living area.

The shipping container units will be stackable and brought to all the boroughs in the event of an emergency or disaster and would act as temporary homes for those in need of repairs.

Gallatin junior Eric Fuchs-Stengel, who is studying environmental sustainability and social change, said the containers’ design are not only fast but green.

“They’re super sustainable because they’re modular,” he said. “They can be moved to a new location.”

NYU professor of Urban Design and Architecture Studies Jon Ritter said the plan showed potential in the city’s sustainability efforts.

“The city has been proactive in anticipating these problems going far back,” he said. “I think it looks promising. Being import-heavy, we have a lot of shipping containers. It’s a smart way to reuse existing materials.”

Emily Bell is a staff writer.

Email her at cstate@nyunews.com.

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Report applauds city’s park spaces

By ANDREW KARPAN Over one million acres of city space in the United States are dedicated to public parks.

The San Francisco-based Trust for Public Land recently released their annual report on the state and availability of these public parks in the country’s 40 largest cities.

“Some cities have plenty of parkland that’s well distributed around town; others have enough land but an inequitable distribution; others are short of even a basic amount of park space for their citizens,” the report outlined.

One of the new factors being measured by the Trust for Public Land’s 2012 report was the percentage of city residents in walkable distance to a public park. The report ranked New York City third in the nation, behind San Francisco and Boston, with 96 percent of residents living within a half-mile of a some kind of public park. Louisville, Ky.; Jacksonville, Fla. and Charlotte, N.C. are at the bottom of the list with 32 percent or less of their population within walking distance of a park.

The report also said New York’s Central Park was the most visited park in the county, receiving 37.5 million visitors annually.

“Central Park’s [nearly] 40 million annual visitors speaks to the significance of Central Park as the ultimate shared backyard of every New Yorker,

WILLIAM MARTIN/WSN

Visitors enjoy Central Park, one of the city’s many open spaces. its vast contributions to New York City’s economy and its greater role as one of the world’s most extraordinary cultural institutions,” said Doug Blonsky, president and CEO of the Central Park Conservancy.

NYU professor of Urban Planning Tim Tompkins, who is also the founder and director of the Partnerships for Parks in New York City, spoke about the importance of city parks.

“Part of what’s happened in recent years has been the recognititon that parks aren’t just pleasant, but are crucial components to a city’s quality of life and economic competitiveness,” he said. “Investment in quality public spaces can really revitalize cities.”

Adrian Benepe, the senior vice president of the Trust for Public Land and former New York City Parks Commissioner, said the Trust focuses on advocating the creation of public parks throughout the country, noting

that New York City is fortunate compared to other cities.

“New York is very lucky to benefit from over a century of dedication to the building of public parks — from Battery Park to Washington Square,” he said. “Almost 20 percent of New York City is parkland, and that’s more than any other similarly dense city in the country. Many newer cities haven’t had the resources to build this level of large public space back when it was so easily available.”

LSP freshman Priya Chidambaram said living next to one of the country’s oldest parks has impacted her college life.

“As an NYU student, Washington Square Park is where I get so much of the New York experience. It really creates the feeling of a green campus in an otherwise bustling concrete city.”

Andrew Karpan is a staff writer.

Email him at cstate@nyunews.com

Recent findings show study-aid abuse among college students

By KEVIN BURNS

Wagner alumna Heidi T., who did not wish to give her last name, used to sit for days on end in Bobst Library, crafting schedules and to-do lists four years ago.

She said she started taking aids to help her with her packed academic schedule and social life. Three months later, she found herself in a rehabilitation center.

Heidi is one of many college students across the nation who illicitly use prescription attention deficit hyperactivity disorder medication to help manage her heavy work load.

According to a new study published in the Journal of American College Health, 34 percent of 1,811 students polled at a large southeastern public university said they have illegally used ADHD medication, primarily during times of high academic stress. On average, students said they found the drugs to reduce fatigue and increase reading comprehension, interest, cognition and memory. The study further reported that the majority of students knew little about the drugs and found them both stigma-free and easy to procure.

CAS junior Jeff Levin, who has witnessed student-to-student selling at NYU, said study aids are not hard to find.

“It is easy to find, both through students and physicians,” Levin said.

A Georgetown sophomore, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said he often uses study aids to help him focus on larger assignments. He added that his use is need-based, and he will only take study aids when he has a significant amount of work to do. Still, he admitted that his use has become more habitual.

“Definitely, there is a high from unlocking this potential from within yourself,” he said.

The drugs are amphetamines and are addictive. Classified by the Drug Enforcement Administration as Schedule II substances, these drugs have legitimate medical use but have a high potential for abuse.

Heidi said she started taking study aids to help her do it all. As a working Wagner student with a social life, her schedule, she said, was impossibly packed. When she tried some of her roommate’s expired Ritalin prescription, however, her day took on a new ease.

“I took one 25mg pill at 6 a.m. on my way to work,” Heidi said. “And it fueled me all day.”

It was this feeling that drove her to continue using and to eventually upping her daily dose from 25mg to 300mg, at the height of her addiction.

However, Brunhild Kringm, associate director of the Counseling and Wellness Services of the NYU Health Center, said the idea that stimulant medications are

useful aids for studying is an urban myth.

She said the risk for the development of a dependence on stimulants increases when the person takes more than daily prescribed amount or takes this medication without suffering from ADHD. “Students who have been diagnosed and

successfully treated for ADHD as children or adolescents are required to provide copies of updated diagnostic assessments done previously,” Kringm added.

Kevin Burns is a staff writer.

Email him at university@nyunews.com.

FILE PHOTO BY JONATHAN TAN

Some students resort to ADHD medication to get through their heavy workloads.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COM

DINING

EDITED BY LAVYA YALAMANCHI DINING@NYUNEWS.COM

Holiday gifting guide: funky finds for foodies

By BRYNA SHUMAN

Whether you need a fun holiday gift for the food lovers in your life or something to keep you smiling through the stress of papers and exams, nothing beats novelty grub items. Not only will they make you laugh, some even serve a more practical function. Here is a list of food novelties to brighten your day.

FRENCH FRY LIP BALM Protect your lips against the dry winter air and get your fast-food fix with this lip balm. Not only does it actually taste like French fries, but at only $2.95 per tube, it’s a cheap, fun alternative to the normal cherry chapstick.

I-LOVE-YOU EGG SHAPER Add some love to breakfast by cracking your eggs into this shaper, which will cook your eggs sunny-side up in the shape of a heart. The shaper ($5.95) also works with scrambled eggs and pancake batter.

CUPCAKE DENTAL FLOSS This delicious dental floss ($3.99) actually tastes like homemade vanilla frosting and ensures that you will want to floss daily.

FOOD FACE DINNER PLATE Eating dinner in your dorm room is not always fun, but these plates ($12.99 each) can make residence hall hunger a little better. Each plate comes with a blank face, and that instant mac-and-cheese suddenly becomes the hair or beard.

Who said playing with your food is only for kids?

GIANT GUMMY BEAR Weighing 10 pounds and containing approximately 6,000 calories, this giant gummy bear ($29.99-$35.99) is available in 10 different flavors, including green apple, grape and a three-tone mix of raspberry, orange and cherry.

PORTABLE DRINK CUP Why risk spilling your drink all over your homework by keeping it on your desk? Instead, use this portable cup holder ($19.99) that clips onto any tabletop surface and is available in four different colors.

BACON-FLAVORED POPCORN Everybody loves bacon, and everybody loves popcorn.

Logically, then, who wouldn’t love this bacon-flavored popcorn? A delicious treat for late-night study parties or movie marathons, the popcorn ($4.99) is also certified vegetarian and kosher.

RUBBER DUCK TEA INFUSER Wait for your loose-leaf tea to steep by watching this adorable rubber duck bob back and forth in your mug while the attached infuser ($12.95) underneath does all the work.

FRENCH TOAST BREAD STAMP Just because you are not studying abroad in Paris this semester does not mean you can’t have a nice French breakfast. Push this stamp ($3.49) into your bread before toasting, and voilà — your toast pops out with an image of the Eiffel Tower stamped into it.

TOP HAT ESPRESSO CUP AND SAUCER Try out this fun mug at $12 for the sophisticated coffee drinker in your life or for those days when you need to feel better about the amount of caffeine you are drinking to get through finals week.

Bryna Shuman is a staff writer.

Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

CHUBBY continued from PG. 1

Chubby Mary’s tops affordable subs with meats, grease, cheese The name comes from a Brooklyn restaurant of the same name owned by their grandparents during the ’60s.

Garcia describes the restaurant as being “designed for speed” and “made-to-order.”

The simple chalkboard menu hanging on the wall offers a choice of either small rolls or heroes. Customers can add meatballs, chicken cutlets, veal cutlets, sausage or eggplant. Stick to the classic gravy (marinara sauce) and melted provolone, or be bold and choose the sautéed peppers and onions or broccoli rabe for a unique and savory hero experience.

“Not many people think to add broccoli rabe as a topping to a sandwich,” Garcia said. “But it is delicious, and shouldn’t be forgotten. Also, you don’t see many places that offer meatballs and peppers on the same menu that often in New York City, either.”

Behind the bar, the entire kitchen is visible so the customer can observe the staff prepare his or her hero exactly as it was ordered. Everything is fried to order as well, so watch as your protein heads right into the oil and then onto the bread.

Next, the hero makes its way to the steam table, which is set up with all the savory toppings.

Then comes the cheese. Unlike most joints in New York, which use mozzarella and melt the cheese in the oven first, Chubby Mary’s uses shredded provolone and lets the heat from the steaming hero alone melt the cheese.

First-time customer David Barnum was certainly pleased after trying his veal cutlet, broccoli rabe and provolone creation.

“The veal is actually delicious, not overly breaded at all, and the tasty bitterness of the broccoli rabe doesn’t interfere with the other flavors in the sandwich,” Barnum said. “I will definitely be back to try more.”

The not-so-small small rolls start at $3.35, and the two-meals portioned foot-long heroes start at $6.50.

Basille and Garcia have achieved Italian fastfood greatness once again and continue to offer low costs without sacrificing flavor and quality.

Chubby Mary’s is located at 328 E. 14th St. Alyssa Noud is a staff writer.

Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

Gramercy restaurant sticks to Mediterranean edibles

By ANGEL CHANG

Last Thursday, the Gramercy Park neighborhood welcomed the newest addition to its fine dining scene, STIX Mediterranean Grill. It is insufficient to say that STIX opens its doors to the neighborhood — it opens its home to all of New York City. Emphasizing a farm-to-table concept and affordable yet highquality dining, this restaurant is the very definition of culinary innovation.

“STIX is all about [offering] the Mediterranean experience, from the lifestyle and the way that the ingredients are treated to the way coffee is served in the morning,” said owner and creator Stathis Antonakopoulos.

Together with renowned executive chef Nickolaos Stavrakakis and world-champion barista Stefanos Domatiotis, who brings the quintessential European espresso bar experience to the restaurant, Antonakopoulos has created a particularly unique sensation. STIX offers up the concept of putting food on sticks, as well as one of the most diverse coffee menus in the city.

“The idea of STIX came to me when I was eating a burger at Shake Shack,” Antonakopoulous said. “I saw that one of the oldest ideas, a burger, could be made with superior quality.” With this in mind, he pioneered not only the transformation of the Greek souvlaki, but also the incorporation of a Mediterranean sensibility.

At STIX, breakfast is offered at self-service stations, with everything from home-made marmalade and home-baked goods to fresh yogurt. Coffee is brewed with hand-selected beans that are roasted locally in Brooklyn. The main menu focuses on the “Stix,” which are surrounded by starters, salads, spreads and sides.

The genius of this menu is in mixing and matching.

“You can choose one component from each category and create your own plate by marrying them in your own way,” Antonakopoulos explained.

Particularly succulent are the Chef’s Special STIX ($3.95), the chef’s grandmother’s traditional recipe of ground lamb, ground beef, cumin, red wine and garlic served with fresh tomato sauce; and the Chicken STIX ($3.50), a skewer of free-range chicken marinated over honey-mustard sauce. Starters include the creative Sack of Potatoes ($7.95), slowly roasted baby

VIA YELP.COM

Kataifi, an almond-hazelnut pastry with cream, is a popular desert at STIX. potatoes with feta sauce and the to-die-for meatballs with onions, parsley, oregano, and lemon ($8.50).

Barista Domatiotis recommends the fresh caprese salad ($9.50), a mélange of home-made bocconcini, ripe tomatoes, wild arugula and basil-based olive oil verde sauce. Desserts include the divine Kataifi ($7.25), angel hair mille-feuille with almond-hazelnut Chantilly cream sprinkled with rosewater and honey.

“To us, being genuine is a lifestyle,” Antonakopoulos said. “The DNA of STIX lies in the authentic hospitality that you receive when you visit Mediterranean countries.”

“STIX has the right atmosphere in which to work,” said STIX waiter Dean Connors. “Everyone goes through extensive training, and now we know so much more about food. This really is a completely brand new concept [for a restaurant].”

Also commenting on the restaurant’s originality, CAS sophomore Priyanka Ramesh said, “I have never had anything on a stick before, and I definitely look forward to coming here for breakfast.”

STIX Mediterranean Grill is located at 112 E. 23rd St., between Lexington and Park Avenues.

Angel Chang is a staff writer.

Email her at dining@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

ARTS

EDITED BY STEFAN MELNYK ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Skateboard sensation electrifies in new documentary

By IFE OLUJOBI

People who don’t follow skateboarding or extreme sports in general may never have heard of Danny Way, but Jacob Rosenberg’s documentary “Waiting for Lightning” does a great job of introducing the rest of the population to this professional skateboarder. Way is, at turns, lovable, reckless, selfish and ultimately an inspiration, not just to skateboarders but to anyone trying to accomplish a goal.

Rosenberg’s film follows both Way’s personal history, as well as the tribulations leading up to his monumental jump off a ramp and over the Great Wall of China. The story of Way’s difficult childhood is riveting and unexpected, brought to life by slow-motion, sepia-tinted re-enactments of the turbulent moments of his family life with his drug-addicted mother and her abusive boyfriends. But the truly golden moments come from the extraordinary real footage of a young Way, his brother Damon and their friends hanging out at skate parks, practicing, winning competitions and enjoying reckless freedom as teenagers.

Interviews with Way, his family and other skateboarding professionals such as Rob Dyrdek and Bob Burnquist testify to Way’s greatness as an athlete and an innovator in the sport. In particular, a nod to Way from the most famous skateboarder ever, Tony Hawk, truly emphasizes Way’s importance in the skateboarding world.

Falling down and rising again is a recurring theme throughout the documentary.

Such enlightening moments include a scene where Way suffers a nasty fall at the X Games XIV in Los Angeles and seriously injures his shins and ankle, yet he gets up minutes later and lands the trick that he had previously missed. Following that scene is Way’s practice run on the huge ramp in China, where he comes up short on the almost 70-foot jump, landing badly and tearing ligaments in his ankle less than 24 hours before his scheduled televised jump.

Certain moments in the movie — notably that of Way’s mother giving him a small container of his stepfather’s ashes to put in his pocket while making the jump over the Great Wall — seem a little too emotionally crafted, but most scenes feel authentic.

At points, Way seems selfish, spending massive amounts of money and risking his life just to conquer a new trick. One would think that because his father, stepfather and childhood mentor died when he was young, Way would want to do everything possible to preserve his life for the sake of his own sons. But Way’s drive for success has been with him his entire life, and he even admits without much regret that he will likely die doing what he loves.

“Waiting for Lighting” is an honest story of a man on a never-ending quest for greatness, no matter what the cost.

Ife Olujobi is a staff writer.

Email her at film@nyunews.com.

‘Wedding’ fails to pull plot together

By LAURA WOLFORD

Weddings are supposed to be happy occasions full of celebration, love, family and friends, but in “Cheerful Weather for the Wedding,” the ceremony is not as bright as one would expect. Dolly Thatcham (Felicity Jones), a young woman with conflicted feelings toward her former lover Joseph (Luke Treadaway) and her fiancé Owen (James Norton), holes herself up in her room the morning before the ceremony.

First-time feature director Donald Rice handles the camera with ease. The film is full of intriguing long shots of landscape and of meaningful closeups that place the viewer in the characters’ shoes.

The writing, however, is not as solid. Although the main story is told concisely, Joseph and Dolly’s back story is muddled and confusing. Not until the end of the film is their relationship fully explained. While several flashbacks show them in the romantic and blissful moments of their last summer together, the viewer is never able to under-

stand what these scenes mean or how they should be understood.

Jones and Treadaway do not impress in their leading roles as bride and former lover. Although Jones’ character is supposed to be struggling with an attachment to a past love, such an expression is never shown on her face.

There is hardly any emotional deepening in the characters, making Dolly and Joseph come off as distant and unreadable.

The most lovable and amusing characters in the cast are by far David and Nancy Dakin (Mackenzie Crook and Fenella Woolgar). Not only do they get the wittiest lines, but they also deliver them with such style that one cannot help but sympathize with them. Their performances rival those of the lead actors, making them the true stars of the show.

The cloudiness of England is one of the few lovely aspects of “Wedding.” The placement of the quaint little house in the English countryside mak es the film more inviting, encouraging the viewers to pay attention to the glorious and rare

Channel your holiday spirit with TV favorites

By JAMIE KILIANY

In these post-Thanksgiving weeks, everything seems holidaythemed — advertisements, coffees, cookies — but most importantly, television. At any given moment, you can turn on the TV and see 15 different screen interpretations of Santa Claus as well as several broadcasts of “Elf” and “The Polar Express.” So many festive programs may seem overwhelming, but this guide to holiday TV should help.

Fans of primetime TV will be pleased with the abundance of seasonal spirit on their favorite shows. On Dec. 4 NBC’s “The New Normal” and “Go On” will both have holiday-themed episodes. ABC’s popular comedies “The Middle,” “The Neighbors” and “Suburgatory” will have their holiday specials on Dec. 5, and “Modern Family” will have a rebroadcast of last year’s holiday episode, “Express Christmas,” for old time’s sake.

On Dec. 6 “The Office” will feature Dwight giving the office a traditional German Christmas in “Dwight Christmas.” “Parks and Recreation” will also be in the spirit of the season later that night, when Jerry hosts a holiday

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party and doesn’t invite everyone.

On Dec. 11 on FOX, “New Girl,” “Raising Hope” and “The Mindy Project” will celebrate the holidays as well. “Parenthood” will be decking the halls on Dec. 11, so you can cozy up in the Bravermans’ living room. “Glee, Actually” will air on Dec. 13 on FOX along with a sort of snowy episode of “Up All Night” on NBC. The holiday season is also a great time for variety shows. On Dec. 3 at 10 p.m. on NBC, “Blake Shelton’s Not-So-Family Christmas” will be re-broadcast. It’s a star-studded event that includes the sense of humor found on Shelton’s Twitter page and features musical guests such as Kelly Clarkson and a duet with his mom that is sure to be adorable.

You can see Blake Shelton again on Michael Bublé’s “Home for the Holidays,” along with Carly Rae Jepsen and Elmo, on Dec. 10 at 10 p.m. on NBC. Former castmate Martin Short will host “Saturday Night Live” on Dec. 15, with musical guest Paul McCartney.

Classic holiday and family movies will be playing almost 24/7 on ABC Family’s annual “25 Days of Christmas,” with several screenings of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Santa Clause”

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“Saturday Night Live” and other TV hits will air holiday specials. and “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” Some unique specials are “Disney’s A Christmas Carol,” airing on Dec. 6 at 8 p.m.; a new ABC Family original musical called “The Mistle-Tones” at 8 p.m. on Dec. 9; and, possibly the most exciting of all, the “Boy Meets World” Christmas episodes, airing on Christmas Eve at 7 a.m. Refer to the ABC Family website for a full listing.

The best way to end the holiday TV season is with the annual 24hour “A Christmas Story” marathon on TBS, starting at 8 p.m. on Christmas Eve. So whether you need a break from finals or just a pick-me-up, tune in and get your holiday fix.

Jamie Kiliany is a contributing writer. Email her at entertainment@nyunews.com.

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English sun — when it appears — as well as the cozy living spaces of the house.

Ultimately, the film arrives at a rather shocking conclusion, leaving the viewer perplexed and angry. “Cheerful Weather for the Wedding” does not manage to deliver the story of a young woman struggling to make the right decision in love, but it does provide a strong setting and a couple of clever supporting characters — which at least makes it more entertaining than most real weddings.

Laura Wolford is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.

KE$HA continued from PG. 1

Ke$ha adds vulnerability to signature sound

feature a more stripped-down, vulnerable Ke$ha, one who has removed her eye makeup and nose ring for the sake of melancholic ballads such as “Wonderland” and “Past Lives.”

She steps away from her characteristic growling on “Love Into the Light,” which showcases a pleasantly introspective version of the grungy girl we love to hate. Lyrics like “I’m not a model, I’m not a saint/ I’m sorry but I am just not sorry ’cause I swear and ’cause I drink” make it a bit more rebellious and interesting than Ke$ha’s many other party songs.

The aesthetic differences between the album’s better songs, “Love Into The Light” and “Dirty Love,” indicate Ke$ha’s versatility as a singer and songwriter, as well as her ability to include numerous genres within her grunge-pop style. While “Warrior” lacks the distinctive punch of previous albums “Animal” and “Cannibal,” the record packs enough heat to keep fans satisfied until the next round.

Alexandria Ethridge is a staff writer.

Email her at music@nyunews.com.

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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY CHRIS DINARDO OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

HEALTH

STAFF EDITORIAL

Sick students learn to cope at college

By NINA GOLSHAN Usually, 8 a.m. classes are already particularly rough on Monday mornings, but today is different. Not only do you wake up to a shrieking alarm clock, but you’ve also got a sore throat to go along with it. You sit up, whimper at the throbbing in your head, and then realize that your left nostril has lost capability. You crawl back under the covers, burying your face in a pillow, hoping your mom will magically appear with some hot tea and a note excusing you from classes for the day. But sadly, you’re in college now. No one is going to bring you any tea.

When we were younger, having a cold was a sort of vacation.

If you whined enough from the moment you woke up or, even better, had the sniffles the night before, your parents would usually let you take a day off. You would wrap up in your Snuggie on the couch and catch up on “Maury,” or take the lazy route and indulge in some NyQuil at 1 p.m. and snooze until the homemade chicken soup was ready.

In college, life with even a simple cold is a nightmare.

First of all, missing more than three days of classes is pretty much out of the question unless you have some rare form of swine flu. Second, you may think you’re blessed with loving roommates, but unless there are some motherly nursing majors hanging around, chances are they will do anything they can to quarantine you until you are past the contagious stages of whatever you have contracted.

If you are lucky, they like you enough to slide some soup from the dining hall into the room before fleeing to a safe zone.

After a phone call with your mom — which was probably a mistake because now she’s worried that you’re dying — you take her advice and decide to make the long trek to the NYU Student Health Center. And now comes the truly scary part of the whole debacle — you have to call to make your own appointment. Oh no, you think, I’m an adult. Do I have student health insurance or not? What time am I free? Shouldn’t I know the answers to these questions? Who

let me come to college?

Covering up as much of your pale, sickly face as possible, praying you don’t run into that cute guy from the third floor in the elevator, you head out. It’s cold, it’s noisy and you almost get run over by a cab while blowing your nose. Finally, you get to the health center and the doctor tells you what you already know — orange juice, rest and excessive hand washing.

The main reason why new college students feel so overwhelmed upon falling ill is simple — we haven’t yet learned to take care of ourselves. If most of us can’t even find our pants in the morning, how can we be expected to apply hand sanitizer liberally after every subway ride? As time goes on, hopefully we’ll learn that, yes, we do need more than four hours of sleep a night, and no, six fun-sized Snickers bars do not count as meals. Just how much time it will take to come to this realization, however, is debatable.

Nina Golshan is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

SPORTS

NHL lockout hurts fans, not just players

By EMMA DOLHAI Dear NHL, Nobody cares about your drama. This may sound harsh, but believe it or not, the average person has little to no interest in how your millions are divided among the overpaid members of your franchise. Believe it or not, this lockout is not enthralling news. This lockout is a headache.

Actually, scratch that. This lockout is a headache for the general population. For those personally invested in the hockey industry, it is a migraine. The petty carelessness of this lockout, the second in seven years has had a massive spillover effect far beyond your negotiating tables. Pause to consider the storeowners selling NHL gear, the bars that rely on customers coming out for the big game, the vendors at all the arenas. Of course, these everyday people who depend on your in-

SUBMITTING TO

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dustry are swimming in money and can completely afford this lockout, right?

Now, the general public does, of course, appreciate how hard this situation is for those negotiating. Owners — it’s difficult to rake in huge salaries and drive around in fancy cars; in fact, it practically verges on a humanitarian crisis. And to the players — living the dream of millions of young children worldwide who drag their bleary-eyed selves out of bed to get to that 6 a.m. hockey practice must be challenging, without a doubt.

Being blessed enough to do what you love at the highest level is certainly a chore.

So maybe it is okay if these negotiations continue all year.

Money is important, after all, especially when you find yourselves making a lot of it. Your dedicated fans will no doubt return with just as much fervor

for the next season. And even if those surrounded by palm trees in warmer climates forget about their teams, you can always count on those beer-drinking, igloo-inhabiting Canadians to care once the lockout ends.

After all, what else is there to do way up there other than watch hockey?

Unless ... no, wait, this might sound ridiculous, but ... what if everyone really does forget about hockey? What if they move on to other sports like basketball or baseball or football?

What if no one really does care?

Maybe it’s time to figure out what to do with your millions, shake hands like grownups and get back on the ice.

But, hey, if that doesn’t work, you could always take up football.

Emma Dolhai is a contributing columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.

Cooper Union occupiers rightfully protest tuition, deserve say in process

Yesterday afternoon, 12 students at The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art barricaded themselves at the top of a campus building to protest the potential implementation of tuition fees, which have not been charged for any of its students in the past 110 years. The students have successfully kept administrators and security officials out and plan to remain in the room until the university meets their demands, which include a commitment to continuing free education and a more transparent and democratic decision-making process.

Cooper Union’s new president Jamshed Bharucha has been trying to solve financial problems that he did not inherit but the university has nonetheless accrued over recent decades from unsustainable monetary practices. For the cultural and academic identity of Cooper Union, one of the nation’s most prestigious bastions of affordable academia, such a change would be a jolting shift in tradition. It is therefore understandable that students are angered by the potential change, a change that would undermine the school’s esteemed mission to deliver a free education to its 1,000 undergraduate students.

Their goals resonate with us here at NYU, where our tuition is exorbitant and our financial aid far less generous than that of Cooper Union. In fact, the ongoing protest is partly inspired by the 2009 occupation of Kimmel Market Place by a group called Take Back NYU, which demanded lower tuition and more transparency in the administration, among other changes. That protest failed to effect change at NYU, but we hope that the Cooper Union students are more successful.

With schools nationwide struggling with financial aid in the current economic climate, need-blind scholarships seem rather utopian. On top of that, the physical wall separating the students from the administration mirrors the figurative barricade present in their current communication channels.

While their extreme measures have successfully garnered attention to their cause, these students may be impeding their own efforts by resorting to ultimatums rather than open communication.

It may be true that Cooper Union simply cannot afford to continue functioning without charging some amount of tuition. However, as the protesting students argue, they should, first and foremost, be part of the decision-making process.

Because of Monday’s bold statement, the ball is in the administration’s court for the first time because 110 years of progressive educational history now rests on how they respond.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

EDITORIAL BOARD: Chris DiNardo (Chair), Jessica Littman (Co-Chair), Christopher Drake, Sasha Leshner, Peter Murphy, Raquel Woodruff and Richard Zhang.

Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 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.

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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2012 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

COOPER continued from PG. 1

Cooper Union students barricade themselves in response to university’s plan to charge tuition

By JAEWON KANG During a scheduled Day of Action, 11 Cooper Union students and one New School Free Press reporter barricaded themselves at approximately noon on Monday in the Foundation Building of The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art. The protest was organized to object potential plans by the university’s president Jamshed Bharucha and the Board of Trustees to begin charging tuition in the coming fall semester.

In a three-pronged statement, the Students for a Free Cooper Union said they will occupy the space until the administration publicly reaffirms Cooper Union’s commitment to free education, the Board of Trustees implements changes to create a more open and democratic structure and Bharucha steps down.

At the end of April, Bharucha announced that the university would begin charging graduate students but keep the no-tuition policy for undergraduates, pointing to deficit as reason behind the decision.

Cooper Union junior Kristi Cavataro, a member of SFCU and one of the dozen students in the barricade said the students decided to lock themselves in the Peter Cooper suite on the top floor of the building as a result of the university’s failure to solve its poor financial situation.

“We’ve got plenty of food; we’re not planning on leaving until these demands are met,” she said. “Until we’re forcibly removed, we are not leaving.”

Protester and Cooper Union senior Jasmine Stein said an unstable financial status caused the university to ask professors to create revenue-generating plans, which has strained many student-faculty relationships.

“They have sort of been coerced into doing this,” Stein said. “They don’t really have much of a choice, and we’re protesting against these programs. I think a lot of [the professors], or most of them, sympathize with us, but they can’t officially be united with us.”

However, some students, including Cooper Union senior Andrew Crudge, said they disagree with the issues the protesters have raised.

“They think the administration isn’t transparent,” said Crudge, who also serves as the co-president of the the school’s Joint Student Council. “They don’t think the administration has their best interests in mind. I think the administration is working hard to come up with solutions that are appropriate.”

Cooper Union spokeswoman Claire McCarthy agreed. She said the university has been communicating with students to keep the institution financially sustainable while preserving its academic excellence.

Noting that no official decision has been made in regard to tuition, McCarthy said the protesters represent a small group of students, as most of them are from the School of Art. “They do not necessarily represent the entire thousandmember student body or the faculty,” she said.

McCarthy added that the university has been in contact with the group of protesters.

At 6 p.m. Monday night, a summit was held at Cooper Union with speakers from various groups that included Friends of Cooper Union, Strike Debt and Occupy Student Debt.

“The goal of this event is to bring the issue that’s happening at Cooper into the bigger sphere of student debt and the rising cost of tuition,” said Rachel Appel, a Cooper Union senior and partial manager of summit. “It’s not just a problem that’s happening for us — it’s a problem that’s plaguing the country.”

Students skyped in from the eighth floor of the building during the second part of the summit and said the group hopes for an administration that can work with students instead of blindsiding them with plans.

Though they did not discuss their future plans at the summit, Cooper Union sophomore Sebastian Quijada said the protesters planned to stay in the room for the remainder of Monday night, at time of press.

Cooper Union professor Peter Buckley, who spoke at the summit, said it is important that people are coming together to have discussions about issues that concern higher education.

“Lots of people have these feelings but have little way to express opposition,” Buckley said. “[The conversation] is valuable in itself, no matter what happens.”

The protest also drew attention from members outside the Cooper Union community.

CAS junior Molly Fabbri, who saw the protest on her way to class, said she is not sure if protesters will be able to get outside support.

“I am a sympathetic party, but as someone who pays $60,000 a year for my education, the students who expected that their school would remain free even in the current economic environment seem naive,” Fabbri said.

In 2009, members of Take Back NYU occupied the Kimmel Center for University Life, lasting 40 hours and involves more than 70 students. The coalition demanded that the university be more transparent in various issues that included having an open account of the university’s budget and investments and building a finance committee consisting of students.

GSAS alumnus Peter Wirzbicki who participated in the occupation said both protests at NYU and Cooper Union are fundamentally about tuition that is rising faster than student’s ability to pay.

“I notice that the Cooper Union students have demanded a more democratic means of communication and decisionmaking within the university,” Wirzbicki said. “When people speak of the corporatization of higher education, what they mean is that universities are increasingly becoming topdown, profit-driven and anti-democratic places.”

But Steinhardt professor of Educational Sociology and Higher Education Floyd Hammack said the Cooper Union protest is not parallel to the Kimmel occupation from three years ago, as NYU never had free tuition.

“CU has experienced a financial crisis in the last year or so — actually it has been building for a number of years — and can no longer be put off,” Hammack said. “Colleges have real cost that must be paid, and if their income does not exceed their expenses, then cuts have to be made.”

Additional reporting by Emily Bell, Kristina Bogos, Nicole Brown, Kevin Burns, Veronica Carchedi, Tony Chau, Jonathan Dornbush and Amy Zhang. Jaewon Kang is managing editor. Email them at managing@nyunews.com.

SPORTS

With poor shooting, men’s basketball suffers first loss

By FRANCISCO NAVAS

The No. 21 NYU men’s basketball team lost to the New Jersey City University Gothic Knights at Coles Sports Center. With a final score of 60-50, the Violets, who had a perfect 4-0 start to the season, were handed their first loss.

A faulty 3-2 full court press defense by the Gothic Knights let the Violets come out strong at the beginning of the game. Quickly scoring three three-pointers, NYU gave themselves an early lead. NJCU made up the deficit by obliterating the Violets in the paint on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.

While NYU played well near the three-point arc, NJCU did not let them anywhere near the rim.

Failing in the paint caused many missed chances off the boards.

Many crucial offensive and defensive rebounds were given up to the Gothic Knights.

As the second half began, NJCU enjoyed an eight-point lead. NYU finally got inside the paint with a stronger post game. The Violets tied the game with 9:22 left.

Senior center Devin Karch held down the defense with a couple

of blocks and key rebounds. Karch added 15 points on the other end.

The game looked like it would be decided in the finals seconds, but NYU lost its concentration, ultimately allowing NJCU to get away with a lead.

Overall, NYU could not find a rhythm on offense, shooting a lowly 30.4 percent for the game. NYU had only three fewer rebounds than NJCU and only two more turnovers.

Although senior forward Carl Yaffe had a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds in 35 minutes of play, he could not make up for the team’s poor shooting.

Freshman center Evan Kupferberg said the team did not play with a sense of urgency.

“We feel we beat ourselves just as much as they beat us,” Kupferberg said. “They played harder than us and deserved to win. We need to respond the right way after this bad loss in order to be the team we all want to be.”

Men’s basketball will return to their home court at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 5 against SUNY College at Old Westbury.

Francisco Navas is a staff writer.

Email him at sports@nyunews.com.

Rutgers makes greedy move

By KARTHIK RAMAKRISHNAN Rutgers University announced on Nov. 20 its departure from the Big East Conference for the Big Ten Conference, a declaration made on the heels of the University of Maryland’s decision to join the Big Ten. The move, which will take effect in 2014, will expand the Big Ten to 14 teams and leave the Big East and Atlantic Coast Conferences looking for teams to fill the new voids. Rutgers students and athletic fans were ecstatic at the news, and the Empire State Building even lit up red last Thursday to cheer the Scarlet Knights for their home game against the University of Louisville Cardinals.

However, the New Jerseyan university’s decision is a mistake because it is fueled mostly by greed and ignores college sports tradition. It will only spark the departure of other universities from their conferences for unscrupulous reasons.

Rutgers’ move only makes it harder for college athletes and fans, who are already stressed with busy schedules. Nearby trips to Big East schools, such as St. John’s University in Queens and Villanova University and

Temple University in the Philadelphia area, will turn into long journeys to face off against Big Ten schools, such as the University of Iowa and the University of Nebraska. The school’s football program already has charter planes, which make the thousands of miles less daunting, but other squads — the women’s soccer team, for example — have far fewer resources.

Athletes burdened with so much travel time will have less time to study, feasibly resulting in a substantial drop-off in the graduate rates of collegiate athletes. Fans will also have to suffer, as attending away games will cause a major strain on their time and resources.

Furthermore, the Scarlet Knights’ level of competition does not warrant a departure from the Big East. The football team has reached a bowl game six times since 2005, but former head coach Greg Schiano, who completely transformed the team, left for the NFL last year. Other teams, especially the basketball squad, have performed considerably worse. The men’s basketball team has not had a winning season since 2006 and has not reached an NCAA

tournament since 1991.

Rutgers will have to pay an exit fee of about $10 million, but the departure still makes sense financially. The Big Ten rakes in about $18 million more per year from television deals than the Big East.

That amount is predicted to increase each year until the conference’s television contract expires in 2017. For a cash-strapped Rutgers, whose athletic department lost $26.8 million last year, the deal is alluringly lucrative. The school may, however, increase its athletic budget even more than the projected increase in revenue.

As a result, subsidies to Rutgers’ athletic program may increase and taxpayers may have to pay even more to support the school’s athletic program.

SB Nation sportswriter Jared Smith said, “Rutgers is being used as a sacrificial pawn in a very expensive game of TV market chess.”

Rutgers’ transition to the Big Ten will not help its athletic program achieve more success on the field.

It was a calculated move to simply increase revenue.

Karthik Ramakrishnan is a contributing writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.