NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Vol. 41, No. 103
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013
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University to welcome Princeton professor in January By CASSANDRA CASSILLAS
Multimedia exhibit pops up in SoHo Youth leaders from across New York City are using the exhibit “More Than a Quota: Our Experience, Our Story” to share their perspectives about the police department’s stop-and-frisk policy.
STORY ON PAGE 3
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Philosopher Kwame Anthony Appiah will leave Princeton University at the end of the current semester to join NYU’s Department of Philosophy and the NYU School of Law in January 2014. “Leaving Princeton is bittersweet, since it has been a wonderful place to teach and to think,” Appiah said. “But the new job will involve exciting challenges in another great philosophy department.” Professor Stephen Schiffer, the acting chair of the Department of Philosophy at NYU, said Appiah’s presence at the university will enhance the department’s prestige. “What [Appiah coming to NYU] means for the department is a substantial increase in its excellence, an increase that will make it even more of a leader in moral, political and legal philosophy than it already is,” Schiffer said. “That will enhance its
PHILOSOPHER cont’d on PG. 3
Define eyes despite thick, thin glasses By DANA RESZUTEK
As the fall semester nears its end, excitement for winter break is put on hold and sleepless nights at Bobst Library become routine. Makeup, hair and style in general tend to be put on the back burner for more comfortable study-friendly options, including forgoing pesky, drying contact lenses for glasses. For finals week, those who sport frames on a regular basis can accentuate their eyewear and flatter their features by following a few simple beauty tips. Most advice is dependent on the type of frames you own — ranging from thick plastic to wire. But a universal problem glasses present are the shadows around the lower lid region that
accentuate the appearance of dark circles under the eye. This is why concealer is essential when wearing glasses, since they can cause you to look even more tired than you feel. The best product to minimize these shadows is a cream concealer that is also a brightening agent, which means the concealer has more of a yellow tint to it than your natural skin tone. Try Benefit’s Erase Paste, ($26) or Almay’s Wake Up undereye concealer ($8), both of which conceal dark spots and brighten the skin. The amount of eye makeup you wear is based on the type of frame you wear. The thicker the frames, the more they overwhelm your eyes, so you can
GLASSES continued on PG. 8
Coens, Isaac portray impressive ‘Llewyn’ By JOSHUA HANDLER
Winner of the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and, as of this week, recipient of the Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Feature, Joel and Ethan Coen’s latest, “Inside Llewyn Davis,” is a haunting film of immense power that will hook audiences from its opening moments. The film begins with a shot of actor Oscar Isaac singing a melancholy song in one nearly uninterrupted take. Through Isaac’s singing and face, the audience can see the sorrow, failure and passion that form his character, Llewyn Davis. This scene sets the tone for an emotional journey into the heart of the 1960s folk music culture in New York City’s Greenwich Village. Llewyn, a bitter, unlikable folk musician, tries to turn his
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Oscar Isaac, Justin Timberlake and Adam Driver star in “Llewyn.” career around. But despite his best efforts, his own arrogance and the cruel world stop him at every turn. The performances from the entire cast are top-notch, including John Goodman’s wacki-
est role in years, but this is a showcase for Isaac, who finally earns his first major leading role after supporting turns in “Drive” and “Sucker Punch.”
LLEWYN continued on PG. 4
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
in memoriam
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Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ Web Managing Editor
HANQING CHEN Creative Director
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COURTESY OF KEITH LEIGHTY
KALEEL MUNROE
SENIOR STAFF
news EMILY BELL, NICOLE BROWN,
Keith Leighty
Keith Leighty served as the Washington Square News’ editorial adviser over the last several years, working with generations of editors to improve and maintain WSN’s quality. An editor at The New York Times since joining as a copy editor in 1999, he most recently served as the BizDay night editor, before his passing on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the age of 61. Leighty worked tirelessly to help the editorial staff of WSN year after year, providing insightful critiques of articles, as well as helping to teach the editorial team essential writing and editing skills. Leighty is survived by his wife Susan and his two sons, Keith Jr. and Joseph. His years of dedicationdedication to WSN will continue to have an impact on the staff and WSN as a whole. A number of WSN alumni, in honor of Keith Leighty, have offered their thoughts on his contributions to their lives and the work of WSN.
MICHAEL DOMANICO arts JEREMY GROSSMAN features JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia JONATHAN TAN copy CASEY DALRYMPLE social media GENTRY BROWN senior editors VERONICA CARCHEDI, TONY CHAU, DAN HINTON, MICHELLE LIM, STEFAN MELNYK, SAM RULLO, WICY WANG
DEPUTY STAFF
news KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR,
“Week after week, Keigh Leighty walked into WSN’s newsroom wearing an old-school fedora, cut through the pack of frenzied students and by calm example taught us how to channel our passion for journalism into steady-handed competency. I’ll never forget calling him around midnight to discuss a tricky story. He had just gotten home from The Times and was feeding his fish. He talked me through the story and told me it would be fine, and because he said it, of course it was. We are all better for knowing Keith Leighty. We will all miss him.” — Adam Playford “Before that semester started, Keith and I talked about my philosophy in running the paper. I told him I was a big picture guy — that I wanted to change the culture at the paper. And he said, ‘Well, we might have a problem. I’m a details guy.’ We never had any problems. Turns out the details that concerned him were diligent reporting, straightforward writing and where to get a drink after work. In our last correspondence, I asked him for a recommendation, and he obliged — then added, ‘I get off work between 10:30 and 11:30 p.m. depending on news flow. And I frequently head for Peter McManus pub, Seventh Avenue and 19th Street, after work. Let me know if that works for you some night. Short notice is no problem.’ I took a raincheck, because I’m a big picture guy, and I figured there’d always be another time to grab a drink with a mentor.” — Alvin Chang “Keith was a remarkable mentor and friend. Keith always brought an excitement into the newsroom and prodded our team of reporters, editors, photographers and designers to be better, to work more cohesively and ask better questions. I remember one of his first critiques when I started as Editor-in-Chief was of a piece I wrote. He said it was exactly the place to start.” — Eric Platt “Working with and learning from Keith Leighty is one of the greatest privileges I had during my time at WSN. Keith’s presence was felt across the entire staff, whether it was during a late-night phone call to advise us through a tough story, during his infamous and incredibly helpful lessons on grammar and style, or simply through his critiques and encouragement while he reviewed our issues. Keith was as passionate about making our newspaper the best it could be as we were. His passion, encouragement and dedication was deeply felt across the entire staff and will be deeply missed, and I am so grateful for the time Keith spent with us.” — Kelsey Desiderio
“Keith Leighty was not a selfish learner. He shared what he knew — whether it was in a WSN critique, out on the softball field or over brunch with a colleague, Keith was happiest giving what he could to others. Our 2012 managing team benefitted from this generous nature when Keith stepped up to the plate, fighting his own battle silently while helping us overcome our own as an anxious and excited but inexperienced new group. Keith taught us more than just how to fix a headline and perfect a lede. He showed us what it means to be humble. We were lucky to have him as part of our WSN team.” — Amanda Randone “What struck me most about Keith was his dedication to his work. In his assignments at The New York Times, issue critiques for WSN and his role as umpire for Little League baseball, Keith approached all of his work with a sense of love and enthusiasm that I have rarely seen elsewhere. His work with WSN has helped mold a group of talented and driven young journalists. Keith’s energy, kindness and expertise were gifts to all of us at WSN that allowed us to grow in our roles as journalists.” — Jonathon Dornbush
“Keith helped us, challenged us and made us all better at what we do. But what I’ll remember most is the energy he would bring to the newsroom whenever he came by. We looked forward to his visits, and he overwhelmed us with his humor, kindness and brilliant advice.” — Russell Steinberg
“Every day I looked forward to getting an email from Keith — knowing which adjective could have been better used or if the lede of a story could have been clearer. Keith was a great journalist who loved passing down to WSN what he had learned. He will be missed.” — Richa Naik Although I only knew Keith as WSN’s adviser, as a man who would beam in from the real world to critique our paper with insight and amazing precision, I was always struck by his kindness and generosity. Here was a true veteran taking time out of an impossibly busy schedule to give our work the kind of attention it needed, and probably would’ve never gotten otherwise. To hear him praise a layout or an individual article was always a real satisfaction. It meant success by the standards of a world to which we could only aspire. He really looked out for us, made us feel like we had at least one friend in high places. He will be missed. — Matt Margini
“Keith was a stabilizing presence for many of the people who worked there. He was always willing to help, and he genuinely wanted us to succeed. Perhaps the most telling way he showed this was that he managed to find time to comb through each one of our issues and give us detailed notes. I found one comment — in response to a somewhat benign sentence in a restaurant review about spicy foods and water — that I thought not only captured the level of attention he paid to our work but his sense of humor. ‘…one note on the spicy food kicker: Spices are oil based. Water doesn’t cut the heat because water doesn’t mix with oil. A beer, on the other hand, has alcohol, which does cut it. But far be it from me to encourage college students to drink more alcohol.’ Thank you, Keith.” — Jaywon Choe
“I revered Keith. When I was just a writer at the paper, seeing him in the newsroom or attending one of his writing workshops was like being in the presence of the celebrity. We were a bunch of wannabe-journalist kids, and that an editor from The Times would deign to even talk to us felt incredibly special. One particularly gnarly late night at WSN when Keith stopped by to help us with our close ... I was having a midnight snack of edamame, and Keith came to my desk and sat down and shared them with me. I was a nerdy kid, geeking out about how my hero was sharing my dinner — being with Keith never did stop feeling like I was a middle schooler who’d just met my favorite band. But also Keith made me feel like a ‘real’ journalist, one who was capable of having a thoughtful conversation about the industry and about the decisions of a daily newspaper. How sad that future WSN staffers will never know what it feels like to work with Keith. He played such an important role in giving me the confidence to know that I was talented and smart and worthy of all my journalism dreams, and for that I am endlessly grateful. Thanks, Keith.” — Mary Jane Weedman GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
BILLY RICHLING books/theater DYLAN JARRETT film ALEX GREENBERGER entertainment ISABEL JONES music JAKE FOLSOM the highlighter blog VALERIE NELSON features MARINA ZHENG beauty & style ARIANA DIVALENTINO dining DANIEL YEOM sports CHRIS MARCOTRIGIANO multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN, JOON LEE video ALEX LINZMEIER copy THOMAS DEVLIN social media SYMONE WILLIAMS
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
RAQUEL WOODRUFF deputy opinion editors
EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, PETER KEFFER
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ELLEN MCQUEEN
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KALEEL MUNROE UNIVERSITY AND ALUMNI COORDINATOR
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JAEWON KANG, DAVID LIN, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jordan Melendrez at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
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PHILOSOPHER continued from PG. 1
Philosophy department, School of Law to add global ethics professor
prominence in areas that can significantly affect social issues that are of concern outside academia.” According to an article in The New York Times, NYU President John Sexton has been trying to persuade Appiah to come to the university for 15 years. Part of Appiah’s decision to come to NYU is personal — his husband, Henry Finder, works as the editorial director at The New Yorker. Mitchell Johnston, a junior at Princeton, said he took a seminar with Appiah, who challenged his beliefs as a freshman entering college. “The class was one of my favorites at Princeton because of the range of topics covered and the opportunity to talk to Professor Appiah about his ideas,” Johnston said. During the spring semester, Appiah will be designing his cross-campus global ethics course. He plans to teach at all 14 of NYU’s global locations, including the site in Ghana, where Appiah grew up. “My first commitment outside Washington Square is to Abu Dhabi,” he said. “But I would definitely like to work with students and colleagues in Accra as well. I began my
teaching career at the University of Ghana in the 1970s, so being back in Accra to work will certainly allow me to catch up with old friends.” Appiah said he would like to spend time at the sites, but would also utilize technology to create a virtual classroom. “I’ll need the help of colleagues to do this, both fellow teachers and technical staff to create the shared virtual classroom,” he said. “But the big payoff will be that we will be able to learn from each other. This is using the web for the opposite of a MOOC, not a massive open online course, but a small closed on-andoffline course.” Some students, such as Steinhardt freshman Maia Murdock, who plans to double major in music business and philosophy, are excited that Appiah is coming to teach at NYU. “He’ll need to adjust, because NYU is very different from anywhere else,” Murdock said. “But afterwards I think he’ll be a huge asset and mentor to our [philosophy] department.” Cassandra Cassillas is a contributing writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
VIA WIKIPEDIA.ORG
Kwame Anthony Appiah will join the university’s faculty in the spring.
Community uses multimedia to share stop-and-frisk stories By ANN SCHMIDT
High school students and college students from three organizations, Make the Road New York, Urban Arts Partnership and LatinoJustice, held a multimedia pop up exhibit called “More Than a Quota: Our Experience, Our Story” at the SoHo Arthouse. The interactive exhibit, which explored the effects of the stopand-frisk policy on students in New York City, kicked off on Tuesday night and will be open until Thursday. The HIVE NYC Learning Network funded the exhibit. Adi Pimentel, lead police accountability organizer at Make the Road New York, said the event was a way for the students to interactively express their feelings on stopand-frisk and allow the community to hear their voices. “I think it’s a good way to bring the community together to talk about these kinds of issues because everyone’s involved,” Pimentel said. Pimentel said although the organizations are not focused on stop-and-frisk, they deal with students who are frequently affected. “A big base of our young people are stopped, harassed [or] searched by police officers in their neighborhoods,” Pimentel said. “The story has to be told because there’s just too many to be a coincidence.” “More Than a Quota” included documentaries, videos, photos, poems and cartoons created by students. The organizers provided information on how to respond if the police stop someone, and students compiled research to inform the
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An interactive exhibit relates ideas about stop-and-frisk. audience of statistics related to stop-and-frisk. Samielly Leon, a junior at Brooklyn College and one of the students who contributed to the exhibit, said the purpose was to give the audience an idea of the students’ personal experiences. “We tried to portray what really happens when the wrong person gets stopped and frisked,” Leon said. Another student involved in the exhibit, Medgar Evers College sophomore Keeshan Harley, said his experiences of being stopped and frisked by police made him challenge the practices of the NYPD. “The three things you’re supposed to get from a police officer at any point in time are courtesy, professionalism and respect,” Harley said. “When you’re denied one of those three things, the police officer is not doing their job.” Qendresa Kajtazaj, 23, lives in the Bronx and said she enjoyed the exhibit’s interactive qualities and how young
people organized it. “They should do this more often, but they should get more organizations involved,” Kajtazaj said. “They need to take it out there to the media to get more attention.” Leon said he feels the way stop-and-frisk is being implemented is the problem, not the policy itself. “It’s not pointless,” he said. “You can use it for safety, but just make it fair for everybody. I just think it’s not fair that they’re only targeting one certain group.” But Pimentel said stop-andfrisk is a problem that needs to be solved. “I think that stop-and-frisk itself is an unlawful practice,” she said. “A lot of young people come to me on a daily basis telling me [they have] been searched and questioned unlawfully. I think the only way to fix this is to have community involvement.” Ann Schmidt is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
Roosevelt Institute members submit policy proposals By KLEIN ALEARDI
Members of the Roosevelt Institute’s NYU chapter discussed their public policy proposals at the group’s weekly meeting in the Kimmel Center for University Life. The proposals were submitted Monday as candidates for the “10 Ideas” booklet, an annual publication distributed by the Roosevelt Institute, a nonprofit organization that helps foment progressive policy ideas that contains. The booklet contains 60 student-written policy ideas on a range of issues including health care, justice and education. Morgan Sendor, a GLS senior and the policy director for NYU’s chapter, submitted a proposal that would transform vacant lots into community gardens. “The underlying philosophy of this club, both at NYU and nationwide, is to get people involved in policy in a way that they might not
be able to that early otherwise,” Sendor said. “So ‘10 Ideas’ really makes that a concrete philosophy because it provides that platform that people would not be able to get right now.” Students spent the semester developing proposals and engaging in workshops with other members of the NYU chapter, including Sendor. The club offers policy writing workshops, research workshops and websites with guides for writing policies. “It’s hard to know everything about everything. I tend to help more where it seems like things are lacking,” Sendor said. “I try to help with research a little bit and try to find resources, but unless it is something I am more closely related to, [the students] know more about it than I do.” Seven proposals, including ideas about treatment of prison inmates and hydraulic fracturing policy, were presented Tuesday night. CAS senior Winnie Chen, one of
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the co-presidents of the club, said she has seen a unique variety of proposals throughout her four years as a member of the club. “[The policy proposals] are really diverse,” Chen said. “It’s surprising that there is no pattern. People have different things that they feel passionate about, and
we’re a nonpartisan club, so you get all different perspectives.” Eugenia Kim, a sophomore in Liberal Studies, proposed expanding the federally funded afterschool program Upward Bound, which helps students prepare for college by giving them additional instruction. Kim’s motivation for
FELIPE DE LA HOZ/WSN
Students applaud their peers’ policy presentations in Kimmel.
her policy stemmed from her experiences with the program. “I think it was the personal aspect for me because I wouldn’t have gotten the education that I did, and I don’t think I would have come to NYU [without the program],” Kim said. “I think that everyone should have equal opportunity to receive first-rate education.” In the spring, Chen said the club will try to turn some of these policies into projects that can impact communities. “Instead of just writing about it, we try to do something,” Chen said. Sendor also addressed the time and effort required to construct a policy. “It’d be pretty exciting because, for most policies, it takes a lot of work,” Sendor said. “And to get that work recognized is amazing.” Klein Aleardi is a staff writer. Email her at news@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
EDITED BY JEREMY GROSSMAN ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM LLEWYN continued from PG. 1
Oscar Isaac, other actors shine in ‘Inside Llewyn Davis’
With his angelic voice and wide emotional range, Isaac gives one of the best performances of the year. Although Llewyn is an irresponsible, self-important person who makes only a few good decisions throughout the film, Isaac makes him sympathetic. He demonstrates that Llewyn cares about his life and those around him, but he is simply incapable of showing it. Isaac is especially brilliant in the scenes where he sings, which were recorded with live vocals. While the pain is evident in the dramatic sequences, the full force of his work is unleashed in the musical moments. Isaac shows an emotional vulnerability rarely displayed in film, driving much of the story. “Llewyn” elegantly marries music, cinematography, acting and dialogue to form a thematically universal, but aesthetically New York film. With cinematographer Bruno Delbonnel, who worked on “Across the Universe,” the Coen brothers recreate a romantic and hazy Greenwich Village with a harsh world surrounding it. This is a film, like all Coen brothers works, that shows the unforgiving nature of the world. However, the inherent sadness of “Llewyn” doesn’t make for a disheartening experience. Because “Llewyn” is laced with humor, even in some of the most melancholic scenes, the film is enjoyable, not depressing. Watching “Llewyn” is an oddly cathartic experience. “Inside Llewyn Davis” is a rich, funny and haunting film that will resonate with those who lived when the film was set, Coen brothers fans and music lovers. This is one of the few films of the year that you will immediately be eager to rewatch.
‘Mother’ spinoff shows lack of fresh ideas By BOB TEOH
The Hollywood Reporter recently confirmed that CBS greenlit a “How I Met Your Mother” spin-off that will be called “How I Met Your Dad.” The show will be produced by the same creators, Craig Thomas and Carter Bays, but “Up All Night” creator Emily Spivey will also contribute. Aside from the alarmingly unoriginal title, this show could certainly have delighted fans three years ago. But, with the rather tedious and disappointing final season chipping away at the show’s fan base, it’s quite clear “How I Met Your Mother” has been on the air too long, and a spin-off is far from the best idea. While it is understandable that network executives wish to hold on to their most successful shows and capitalize on their influence by developing spin-offs, the diminishing popularity of once-great shows like “How I Met Your Mother” might make them think twice. Characterized by its goofy humor and talented cast, “How I Met Your Mother” has enjoyed a large and dedicated fanbase. However, the general consensus about the ninth season, which covers the events of a single weekend, is that it is unnecessarily long, repetitive and dull. While the actors’ performan-
ces are still delightful to watch, after nine seasons the quirkiness has worn off, and the newest episodes can barely elicit a chuckle. Now that production for an exact replica of the show told from a female perspective is on the way, it is hard not to be concerned that this show would battle NBC’s “Joey” as the worst spin-off idea in television history. Although network executives know to stay with what works best, the increasingly sophisticated demographics also mean that lack of originality is far from appreciated. Other critically acclaimed shows that attempted to reap in extra dollars by staying on air have also turned praise into criticism. “Homeland” was revered in its first season, but the show has faced a number of detractors after its initial plot was extended into a much less favored seasons two and three. The spin-off feels like little less than a cash grab on CBS’s part to hold onto “Mother’s” young audience, which the network’s other shows rarely command. With the possibility of McLaren’s Pub remaining as part of “Dad” and a cast of similarly-aged characters, little will separate this spin-off from its parent show. “Mother” became a beloved comedy in its early
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McLaren’s Pub may be featured in “How I Met Your Dad.” years for the novelty of its storytelling, but, even before this largely derided final season, the show faced criticism for drawing out its central mystery for far too long. The show’s trajectory over the last several years does not bode well for an almost identical followup. On the other hand, some shows know when to call it quits and end on a high note — “Breaking Bad,” for example, ended its run despite increased viewership and praise for the sake of its story and characters. Critics are much more optimistic about the “Breaking Bad” spin-off, “Better Call Saul.” Not
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only does showrunner Vince Gilligan know when to end a story, he wisely chose the character that has the most room for development. And while “How I Met Your Dad” may offer a brand new cast of characters, its lack of any fresh structure or likely comedic style showcases exactly how not to produce a spin-off. When considering both of these shows, one cannot help but wonder how disastrous the spinoff of the dwindling “How I Met Your Mother” could be. Bob Teoh is a staff writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
Joshua Handler is a contributing writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
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INFORMING YOU FIRST
NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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ARTS MUSICAL MOVEMENTS By FRANCESCO ZENATI
Paparazzi, celebrity culture blurs line between artists, art By SEAN HICKEY
The way people listen to music has undergone constant change in the past two decades, from vinyl records to cassette tapes to compact discs to MP3 files. However, the newest way to listen to music is simple — to stream it. More artists and organizations are turning to this delivery method as a way of fostering an aura of urgency in music listeners, and with this comes exclusivity. Watching a live music stream can be considered a third category for concertgoers. There are those who attend concerts, those who don’t and those who watch and listen to concert streams online. Arcade Fire and Blaise Bellville have already pioneered this medium, creating never-before-seen excitement for music. Arcade Fire’s release of their fourth studio album was an impressive affair — in anticipation of the album, they streamed their performance at the YouTube Music Awards. They also released their album in its entirety on YouTube, replete with visuals from the 1959 movie “Black Orpheus,” and they removed it just a few hours after the release. Blaise Bellville is the CEO of the electronic music streaming company known as Boiler Room. Boiler Room organizes exclusive events where electronic music artists perform and stream the events live on their website, boilerroom.tv. The company started in London, but has expanded to Berlin, New York, Paris, Los Angeles and Mexico City, and Bellville plans to continue establishing it in more places. As many as 1.1 million people have tuned in to watch their streams at one time. Boiler Room continues to stream its parties from all over the world, and
VIA FLICKR.COM
Streaming has become a popular method of listening to music. with a constantly expanding music archive, the company promises to attract all sorts of music fans. Pop artists such as Lady Gaga and Britney Spears have also experimened with live streams of their albums prior to release. Their efforts exposed an enormous amount of people to this concept. The next step is a consistent calendar of music streaming events that provide alternatives to music lovers, who either do not want to deal with the chaos of live events or do not want to miss events held in foreign countries. It is only a matter of time before music streaming becomes a social event, at which point the corporatism and antiquity of the music industry will make way for a much-needed redesign of music culture based on community interaction rather than corporate marketing. Francesco Zenati is a contributing writer. Email him at music@nyunews.com.
Sometimes in the entertainment world, it can be hard to draw the line between what the art is and who the artist is. For instance, Alec Baldwin’s recent troublesome behavior led MSNBC to announce the cancellation of his show “Up Late With Alec Baldwin” last week. Over the years, Baldwin has made headlines for yelling and even physically assaulting photographers. His altercation with a paparazzo in October, however, in which Baldwin used anti-gay slurs, has devastated the actor’s career the most. Should hosts’ and actors’ personal lives define their careers? Baldwin is at the top of his game as an interviewer, as demonstrated in the few episodes of the show that aired, but his tal-
ent could not save the show. An extreme example of this could be observed in Charlie Sheen’s beyond controversial explosion, which led “Two and a Half Men” to sever ties with the actor. However, this was an understandable situation — from a professional point of view, working with Sheen was impossible. The recent accusations of racism against Paula Deen are more similar to Baldwin’s situation. Both Deen and Baldwin are known to be entertaining and inviting on screen — what they are like in real life has nothing to do with their work on television. In Deen’s case, she became a punching bag for the media, which wanted an excuse to rail against any hint of racism in America. Similarly, latenight comedians, who wanted a cheap laugh, exploited Baldwin’s misstep.
VIA FACEBOOK.COM
Baldwin’s MSNBC talk show was recently canceled.
This illustrates how a controversy is only as big as the media portrays it to be. In Baldwin’s case, ironically, the media caused the outburst in the first place. Unfortunately, because of previous paparazzi confrontations, Baldwin has become a photographer-magnet, each trying to snap a shot of his next tirade. “Photographers have tripped and fallen on babies in strollers on my block,” Baldwin wrote in an article for the Huffington Post. “They have nearly struck my wife in the face with microphones. They provoke me, daily, by getting dangerously close to me with their cameras as weapons, hoping I will react. When I do, the weapon doubles as a device to record my reaction. And then, apparently, I lose every time.” Baldwin, and all celebrities, should not be subjected to this constant invasion of privacy. Viewers can still watch “Paula’s Best Dishes” and enjoy her banter and cooking without thinking about how she said the n-word at some point in her life. The same can be said for Baldwin’s work. He has been a great actor for decades, and his career is what he allows the public to view. This should be what the public judges, not a celebrity’s private life. Sean Hickey is a contributing writer. Email him at entertainment@nyunews.com.
PICK UP THE ARTS ISSUE: EXTRAVAGANCE TOMORROW, DEC. 5
‘S#x Acts’ approaches taboo topic with ambiguity By J.R. HAMMERER
The pound symbol in the title of Johnathan Gurfinkel’s debut film makes it ambiguous. “S#x Acts” could stand for “Six Acts” or “Sex Acts,” but like most of the movie, the actual meaning is never made clear. It’s actually a moot point — there are sexual acts in the movie, and sure enough, there are six of them. The film touches on a real, seemingly endless issue — the sexualization of teenagers — but is far too detached, mechanical and vapid to have much effect. If a filmmaker explores so delicate a topic, he or she needs both a proper context and a thoroughness of vision. Gurfinkel, however, confuses being ambiguous with being needlessly vague. Gurfinkel’s boldness should
be applauded, however. It’s daring to confront this material head-on, but a filmmaker must follow through and make a film that explores all the ramifications with honesty. “S#x Acts” continuously avoids such commitment. Gurfinkel’s protagonist, teenager Gili, is a rough draft of a well-drawn character. The film, in its hurry to throw her into as many couplings as possible, ignores opportunities to define who she is. An early scene shows promise — Gili’s friends drop her outside of a standard upper-middle class home, only for the girl to cross over to her lower-class apartment building after they leave. Why is she hiding her background? What, if anything, is pushing her to act like this? The film shows a
sleeping father on a couch and small talk with a mother, and treats that as the final word. Sivan Levy, the young actress portraying Gili, is another miscalculation. She does not lack talent — she draws the audience’s attention, as lust, fear and shame spread across her face. But there’s a sharpness about her, an awareness and eagerness to jump into the fray. Gili is supposed to seem naive, convinced she’s the one using the boys when it’s clear who holds the real power. Levy looks like someone who would get the hint instead of taking a long time to wise up. What is ultimately the most offputting trait of “S#x Acts” is its blatant contrast between stated purpose and behavior. For a film about exploring the consequences
of casual, meaningless sex, it rarely dwells on its effects. The sex scenes themselves, while fairly tame and free of nudity, are extended and salivated over for a discomforting length of time, with Levy struggling in the grasp of increasingly boorish, threatening suitors. The film, despite its devotion to deconstructing the idea of debasing women sexually, is a little too excited to see its female lead be exploited. “S#x Acts” thinks if it lies about its intentions often enough, the audience will be seduced into thinking it has more than a dirty mind. Unfortunately, the audience easily sees through the film’s falsity. J.R. Hammerer is a staff writer. Email him at film@nyunews.com.
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY RAQUEL WOODRUFF OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
SURVEILLANCE
NSA program echoes same oversight questions By NINA GOLSHAN
Last week, yet another questionable National Security Administration surveillance program came to light through the extensive topsecret NSA files leaked by Edward Snowden earlier this year. This time, the government agency is targeting individuals’ online sexual activity and collecting information that can potentially discredit them. This program is concerning not only because it fails to narrowly tailor the surveillance to justified targets, but it also surveys personal activity that is evidently unrelated to terrorism and, in many cases, protected under the Constitution. While government officials and NSA supporters have repeatedly asserted that the surveillance programs only target foreigners with known involvement in terrorist activities, the documents show that one of the six “radicalizers” listed as “exemplars in this assessment” was a person in the United States. The others can hardly be described as terrorists — one is identified as a “well-known media celebrity” who
came under scrutiny for claiming the United States was behind the 9/11 attacks. If incendiary speech is enough for anyone to come under intense surveillance, then the NSA really has thrown the Constitution out the window. The chart describing the actions of those being observed cites “online promiscuity” and “glamorous lifestyle” as vulnerabilities that could be used against a target for “exploitation.” This is a dangerous path to tread, as the utilization of personal information in an effort to discredit a public figure has gotten intelligence agencies in hot water before. In the 1960s, the FBI wiretapped Martin Luther King Jr. to gather information to uncover rumored communist relations and consequently diminish his influence
as a civil rights leader. Surveillance continued until his assassination. In hindsight, this oversight has largely been considered a gross violation of civil rights. It is not farfetched to fear a resurgence of the NSA activities revealed in a recent report, which outlines the now infamous Project Minaret and its surveillance of prominent American senators, journalists, civil rights leaders and celebrities during the Vietnam Era. Results gleaned by monitoring the telephone communications of the “radicalizers” were also not representative of an effective program. Only one percent of their contacts were “known or suspected of being associated with terrorism.” These scarce developments should spur the NSA to gravitate toward other methods of investigation with a higher probability of thwarting the next 9/11. This surveillance is a violation of rights, a needless and ineffective use of government funds and a costly waste of time. Nina Golshan is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
HEALTH
Sperm donation industry needs regulation By LENA RAWLEY
On Sunday, The New York Times published an article discussing the unregulated nature of the sperm donation industry in the United States. The piece showed there are no records of a quantity of sperm donors, how often these donors donate or how many times a donor’s sperm is used. The article was published on the heels of Vince Vaughn’s latest film, “Delivery Man,” in which Vaughn’s character, a sperm donor, unintentionally fathers 533 children. While the film puts a humorous face on the issue, the unregulated nature of the industry is no laughing matter. In the past few years, the lack of control over sperm donation has yielded issues like the spreading of genetic disease and accidental incest. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine recommends all sperm donors undergo genetic screening. However, because of its optional nature, many men forgo this screening, and their sperm is accepted regardless, meaning sperm banks are potentially using sperm that contains genetic disorders. In addition, sperm banks have no idea how many times a certain
SUBMITTING TO
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donor’s sperm is used, so hundreds of offspring can be born from this sperm and possess the same genetic disorder. In September 2011, The New York Times reported that a donor with Aspergers syndrome fathered 22 children. A large percentage of the children ultimately showed symptoms of the disorder or became carriers. More recently, the Journal of the American Medical Association published a study in which a donor transmitted a genetic heart defect to 22 offspring, which eventually claimed the life of one toddler. A lack of regulation also results in an alarming number of accidental incest cases. The same New York Times report revealed a man that unintentionally fathered 150 children. Because sperm donors were not tracked — only 20 to 40 percent of sperm donor mothers report their child’s births to
sperm banks — the children did not know who their half siblings were. This raised the potential situation of two people procreating, unaware they were half siblings, which would ultimately result in incest. Children born from this relationship would have a higher probability of congenital birth defects and weak immune systems. While guidelines for sperm donation regulation exist, they remain unenforced. Genetic testing for donors is recommended. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine urges that there only be 25 sperm donor births per population of 800,000. Mothers of donor children are asked to report their child’s birth. Government agencies, like the Food and Drug Administration, must make an effort to turn these recommendations into action by forcing donors to be screened, limiting the amount of times a donor’s sperm can be used and making mothers register their children with sperm banks. Without proper regulation, the sperm donation industry is more harmful than helpful. Lena Rawley is a staff columnist. Email her at opinion@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
Amazon delivery drones present marketing ploy
On Dec. 1, the day before Cyber Monday, Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos announced the electronic commerce company was testing delivery by drones. The corporate mogul revealed that the goal of the venture is to transport packages into customers’ hands in 30 minutes or less. His statement has drawn diverse reactions given the controversy surrounding drones. The aerial devices are notoriously used by the United States military to target enemy combatants in foreign nations, including Pakistan and Afghanistan. While these unmanned flying machines offer a viable option for fast and convenient delivery and have the potential to change the national commercial industry, the technology has yet to catch up to demand. Bezos asserted that the drone program could be ready in as little as two years, but technology analysts estimate it would take much longer for the Amazon team to work out the real kinks in the autonomous aircraft they debuted just before the rush of Cyber Monday customers the next day. However, Bezos admits the realization of a drone delivery service is not “around the corner.” Considering Amazon’s history of concealing information about its devices, the lengthy timeline for Amazon’s drone delivery system raises questions about the company’s strategy behind the premature announcement. With the necessary regulations and safety technology for drone delivery several years away, Amazon’s statement functions more as a Cyber Monday advertisement for the world’s largest online retailer. Aside from imperative technology developments in safety and reliability, Amazon also needs to obtain approval from the Federal Aviation Administration, which has not yet legalized the commercial use of unmanned aerial vehicles. There is a roadmap that Amazon and other companies will need to follow in order to gain approval. Even after they have permission to fly, the drones will likely take decades to be completely phased in and produce the major changes in the industry Bezos suggests. This is not to say Amazon is not a genuine innovator — the company already deploys robots in its warehouses to help workers fill boxes. The creative minds behind Amazon certainly have the capacity to implement a drone delivery system in the future. Today, however, the company’s announcement is not indicative of an immediate release, but of a marketing ploy to attract consumers on the busiest online shopping day of the year. Unsurprisingly, the idea worked.
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Raquel Woodruff (Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co-chair), Peter Keffer (Co-chair), Harry Brown, Marcelo Cicconet, Christina Coleburn, Omar Etman, Nina Golshan, Nickhil Sethi
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.
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NYUNEWS.COM | WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
BEAUTY AND STYLE
EDITED BY ARIANA DIVALENTINO BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
Retro 1950s fashion comes back in style
By GIANNA COLLIER-PITTS
As times change, many have reverted to clothing trends of decades past. The ’50s fashion has made a big comeback in many notable fashion houses, such as Rochas and Lanvin, which have implemented conservative hemlines and decadent florals into their winter collections. However, if executed incorrectly, a ’50s-inspired ensemble can quickly go from cute to kitschy. This classic, retro look is known for items such as pencil and full skirts, fitted blouses, narrow pants and capris, and accessories, including small hats and gloves. The particular fads ranged during the decade, but the general notion was the same — bold yet fairly modest, especially compared to current trends in fashion. Stores such as Bettie Page (303 Bowery)
market their brand specifically as retro fashion. Much of that store’s product line is quintessentially 1950s, influenced by Page, a famed pinup girl. Various celebrities have been seen sporting pieces from the collection, including Dita Von Teese. To bring this look into the 21st century, focus on keeping the classic shapes and pairing them with the palettes and patterns currently in season. Opt for neutral tops and jackets paired with more colorful bottoms. Topshop carries a wide selection of skirts in numerous shades and textures. For a runwayinspired look, play around with materials such as velvet and wool, and consider layering the top pieces for comfort as well as versatility. Shoe and accessory possibilities are endless, although most shoes associated with the era are no
higher than a kitten heel (1 to 3 inches) making them the perfect choice for bringing ’50s style from the catwalk to the classroom or office. The classic style still has a significant influence on modern trends, causing select stores and online retailers to cater to customers seeking a contemporary spin on the vintage look. ModCloth is one of the most notable brands, offering both new and vintage pieces on its online store. They excel in their ability to make ’50s-style clothing inherently modern with their use of shorter hemlines and incorporation of current fashion trends and prints. For example, their Brand New Lace Dress ($74.99) features a creamcolored floral lace bodice with a black collar and matching black skirt with soft pleats, which closely
resembles a Valentino dress from the Fall/Winter 2013 collection. The mix of modesty and modern styles is a staple in the retailer’s clothing, and it makes the return to retro styles seamless and intrinsically fresh and consistent with current trends. The key to evoking the ’50s era and bringing it into the modern day depends on the confidence you exude when wearing form-fitting, bold attire. At the same time, you must add personal touches to make the look original as opposed to costume. Although times have changed, clothing does not necessarily have to follow suit, and with a little planning and personality, the ’50s can — and will — be here to stay. Gianna Collier-Pitts is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
EDELAWIT J HUSSIEN/WSN
The pencil skirts and fitted blouses of fifties fashion require careful styling to replicate the bold modesty of the era. GLASSES continued from PG. 1
Glasses create opportunities to experiment with eye makeup
wear thicker eyeliner. If you wear thick glasses, a thick line or even cat-eye style would define your eyes better than a thin shape. If you have thinner frames, however, stick to a classic lined look that stays fairly close to the lash line. With other eye makeup products, like eyeshadow, minimalistic styles work best — too smoky or too colorful of a shadow creates the appearance of dark circles and fatigue. Instead, opt for a light, neutral shade that complements your skin tone. Be sure to apply it only on the eyelid. While wearing glasses, sometimes wearing more products is actually better to accentuate your eyes. Frames can sometimes overpower one’s face and leave an unbalanced look. Bold lips add balance and give a pop of color, especially if your frames are a neutral tone. The same tip applies to defined brows, rosy blush or layers of mascara. The lenses of the glasses themselves
also play an important role in makeup application. Certain lenses can cause the eye to appear either smaller or larger, so take the time to distinguish how your eye shape changes when you are and are not wearing your glasses. If your eyes appear larger, only apply eyeliner to the top lid, and you can keep a
thin streak of eyeliner close to the lash line. If your eyes appear smaller, line the entire eye with eyeliner, making your eyes stand out even though the lenses naturally do the opposite. Dana Reszutek is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
DANIELLE DRUMGOOLE FOR WSN
Thick frames require heavy makeup to help define and accentuate your eyes.
Experimental .Y. toothbrush I . D techniques
By HANNAH TREASURE
After indulging in sugary pies over Thanksgiving, candy over Halloween and coffee since midterms began, students may be searching for ways to revert their teeth back into the pearly-whites they had a few months ago. Instead of automatically reaching for expensive whitening strips, try one of these suggestions that you can experiment with at home.
Hydrogen peroxide Make sure to buy hydrogen peroxide of a 3.5 percent solution, as approved by the American Dental Association as safe to use orally. Use about 2 tablespoons of the solution as you would with mouthwash, swishing it around for about a minute before brushing your teeth normally. You will know the hydrogen peroxide is working when it begins to bubble in your mouth and on your teeth. Banana peel We already know bananas are heart-healthy when consuming them, but many DIY advocates suggest using the peel of the banana to whiten your teeth. Supposedly, the potassium, manganese and magnesium nutrients found in the banana can help keep your teeth white. To try, simply rub your teeth with the white inner part of the peel for about two minutes to give for your teeth to aborb the nutrients. Then, brush normally. Activated charcoal The porous surface of activated charcoal functions similarly to a magnet, taking the stains off your teeth and into
its pores. Charcoal is as an ingredient in some toothpastes, but you can find activated charcoal in capsule form at any local vitamin shop. To use the activated charcoal on your teeth, either sprinkle some of the charcoal powder onto your toothpaste before you brush, or use it as a mouthwash. Create the mouthwash by adding about half of a teaspoon activated charcoal powder with one or two tablespoons of water. Swish the mixture in your mouth for about 30 seconds, and then rinse with water.
Baking soda and lemon juice Mix a little bit of baking soda with the juice of a fresh lemon. After first brushing your teeth normally, stir the baking soda and lemon until it bubbles slightly, then apply the mixture onto your teeth using a cotton swab. Be sure not to leave the lemon and baking soda combination on for more than a minute because the acidic properties could erode enamel if left sitting for too long. Just as lemon juice is known to lighten hair, its bleaching properties also apply to teeth. Other tricks Aside from these home remedies, using a straw directs the staining liquids away from directly touching the visible portions of your teeth. Hard fruits and vegetables like apples and carrots are also effective in cleaning teeth as you eat. In addition, try out a bright lipstick, like a classic red, if you are looking for a quick fix. Hannah Treasure is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR.COM
Pearly whites are achievable without strips.