Washington Square News October 10, 2017

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM

CRIME LOG Sept. 29 to Oct. 4 By SAKSHI VENKATRAMAN Deputy News Editor

PHOTO BY PATRICK PAULEY

On Oct. 1, NYU’s Department of Public Safety released its annual report containing statistics of crimes across all NYU campuses.

Public Safety Releases Annual Report By LORENZO GAZZOLA Staff Writer The NYU Department of Public Safety released its Annual Campus Security and Fire Safety Report on Oct. 1. The report, which contains statistics for the years 2014, 2015 and 2016, records all crimes occurring in the Manhattan campus, Tandon School of Engineering, NYU School of Medicine and NYU global campuses. The report indicates that since 2014 there were zero weapon-related arrests at NYU, as well as zero weapons-related incidents that led to referrals for disciplinary action. The report also shows a significant decrease in arrests for drug and alcohol-related incidents. Alcohol-related arrests dropped from 207 in 2014 to zero in 2016, and arrests for drugs dropped from 79 in 2015 to two in 2016. While the report also indicates a decrease in off-campus crimes, the number of on-campus crimes increased over the past three years. Vice President of Global Campus Safety Marlon Lynch attributed this increase in on-campus crimes to a new rule announced by the Department of Education.

This one mile rule, which is featured in a new edition of the “The Handbook for Campus Safety and Security Reporting,” that was published in June 2016, states that “it is reasonable to consider locations within one mile of your campus border to be reasonably contiguous to your campus.” Accordingly, any property located within one mile of the center of NYU’s campus, Washington Square Park, is considered an on-campus facility for NYU. “Public Safety conducted a review of our New York campus locations and facilities and changed the designations of NYU owned or controlled buildings from non-campus to on-campus to comply with the rule change,” Lynch said. “All NYU residence halls, with the exception of Affinia Hotel, are now designated as on-campus residence halls.” The most common crimes that were reported at NYU, on public property and at NYU facilities, were burglary, with 44 incidents, followed by dating violence and rape, with 22 and 36 incidents respectively. However, Lynch says that the most frequent crime at NYU is larceny — the theft of personal property — a crime that is not

recorded in the Campus Security and Fire Safety Report. Also, despite arrests on campus decreasing over the past three years, the number of drug and alcohol-related incidents on campus requiring referrals to disciplinary action has also notably increased. Events requiring disciplinary action relating to drugs increased from four in 2014 to 218 in 2016. More evident, however, was the rise in incidents needing disciplinary action for alcohol related matters, with an increase from 66 incidents in 2014 to a striking 1458 in 2016. “Drug and alcohol arrest numbers are provided to NYU Public Safety by the New York City Police Department upon request,” Lynch said. “Public Safety, as a non-sworn campus security department, does not have arrest powers and relies on the NYPD for disclosure of arrest statistics.” Lynch also said that disciplinary referral statistics are internal to the university and that Public Safety collects the data from the Office of Community Standards and updates the crime statistics table accordingly. Email Lorenzo Gazzola at news@nyunews.com.

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The NYU Department of Public Safety received six reports of larceny, one report of trespassing, one report of motor vehicle theft, one report of criminal mischief, one report of robbery and one report of disorderly conduct between Sept. 29 and Oct. 4.

Larceny On Sept. 29 at 11:10 a.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU student that her bike was missing from the bike rack on Greene Street and West 4th St. Police notification was declined, and the report is open and under investigation. On Sept. 30 at 7:10 p.m., Public Safety received a report from a student that her laptop was missing from the seventh floor study area of Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. A police report was filed, and the report is open and under investigation. On Sept. 30 at 7:45 p.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU student that his laptop was missing from the lower level study room of Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. A police report was filed, and the report is open and under investigation. On Sept. 30 at 9:39 p.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU affiliate that money was missing from his coat at the Kimmel Center for University Life. Police notification was declined, and the report is open and under investigation. On Sept. 30 at 10:30 p.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU student that her handbag and laptop were missing from a dressing room in Kimmel. A police report was filed, and the report is open and under investigation. On Oct. 3 at 8 p.m., Public

Safety received a report from an NYU student that his bike was missing from the Tisch Hall bike rack. A police report was filed, and the report is open and under investigation.

Trespassing On Sept. 29 at 5:56 p.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU student that three people were on the roof of the Silver Center. Police notification was declined, and the report is open and under investigation.

Motor Vehicle Theft On Oct. 1 at 10:25 a.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU student that his moped was missing from the area outside 6 MetroTech. A police report was filed, and the report is open and under investigation.

Criminal Mischief On Oct. 3 at 6:29 a.m., a member of Public Safety reported that there was graffiti on the Founders Memorial monument located at Schwartz Plaza. Police notification was declined, and the report is open and under investigation.

Robbery On Oct. 4 at 4:48 p.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU student that he was a victim of a robbery outside of 6 Metrotech. A police report was filed, and the report is open and under investigation.

Disorderly Conduct On Oct. 4 at 3 p.m., Public Safety received a report from an NYU staff member that a dental patient was being disorderly at the NYU Dental Center. The New York Police Department was called and the patient was escorted out of the building. The report is open and under investigation. Email the news team at news@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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NYU Club Celebrates Indigenous Peoples’ Day

By SARAH JACKSON Contributing Writer

One NYU club, the Native American Indigenous Student Group, celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day — instead of Columbus Day — and encourages others to follow suit. Berkeley, California was the first city to observe the holiday in 1991, according to Time Magazine. Since then, some cities and states throughout the country have adopted the

holiday and celebrate it along with Columbus Day. Cities such as Denver and Seattle have even gone a step further, officially replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Steinhardt senior Cashman Aiu, the social media chair of NYU’s NAISG, believes this paves the way for the recognition of indigenous people and their rights. “Indigenous Peoples’ Day highlights the languages, cultures and individuals that make up Indige-

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NYU’s Native American and Indigenous Student Group held a dinner to celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

nous communities and shifts the attention away from the colonizer who represents the attempted genocide of Indigenous people,” Aiu said. “We instead choose to celebrate the resilience and strength in Indigenous communities through this settler-colonization conflict.” GLS senior Taylor Norman, co-President of NAISG, also attested to the marginalization of indigenous peoples in society. “So often Indigenous people are seen as people of the past, as people who ceased to exist in the aftermath of Columbus and the others like him, but this is far from the truth,” Norman said. In honor of the holiday, NAISG held a dinner for NYU’s Indigenous students. “When your existence is resistance, spaces like these are invaluable as they allow you to take a break from the everyday struggle of fighting for recognition,” Norman said. City-wide organizations, such as

Decolonize This Place, will also celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day with activism and community education. The group’s second annual Anti-Columbus Day Tour featured a narrated tour of the American Museum of Natural History focused on pushing for the removal of Columbus’ statue and officially replacing his holiday with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. CAS sophomore Simran Bharadwaj agrees that Indigenous Peoples’ Day deserves more widespread recognition, especially relative to the large-scale observation of Columbus Day. “Columbus is the reason the Indigenous people were pushed aside and killed,” Bharadwaj said. “It’s more respectful to honor them than him, especially because we’re living in a country that was taken from them.” Students wishing to show solidarity with Indigenous peoples yearround can attend the tour, add the Indigenous Peoples’ Day frame to their Facebook profile picture, use

NAISG’s Snapchat filter in Washington Square Park and connect with NAISG on Facebook or Instagram. Norman encourages students to keep pushing for wider acknowledgement of Indigenous people on campus. “It is important to keep the pressure on,” she said. “This includes calling for more indigenous courses, for more Indigenous faculty and for Indigenous Peoples’ Day to be officially recognized on the academic Calendar. It is crucial that non-Indigenous students be vocal on these issues while following the lead of Indigenous students.” She has one final suggestion for allies of the Indigenous community. “Center Indigenous voices, especially those of Indigenous women,” Norman said. “So often we are drowned out and ignored, but we have so much to share.” Email Sarah Jackson at news@nyunews.com.

NYU Abu Dhabi Professor Claims Religious Discrimination By MACK DEGEURIN Deputy News Editor

In a letter addressed to President Andrew Hamilton and members of the NYU Abu Dhabi administration, 10 NYU professors called for greater academic protection of students and faculty traveling to the NYU Abu Dhabi campus. The letter names Middle Eastern Studies Associate Professor Arang Keshavarzian as a victim of religious discrimination by the United Arab Emirates government. Keshavarzian has since confirmed the letter’s claim and has spoken out publicly about his denial of entry into the UAE. The claim comes one week after NYU Associate Journalism professor Mohammad Bazzi penned his own New York Times op-ed describing his experience with religious discrimination at the hands of the Emirati government. In early 2017, Keshavarzian made plans to teach a course in Abu Dhabi for the Spring 2018 semester. Keshavarzian told NYU that he had applied for security clearance in April and was told by NYU that the process should take six weeks. In August, Keshavarzian was told that he had been denied his security clearance and that NYU had appealed the decision on his behalf. The rejection and subsequent appeal occurred without without Keshavarzian’s knowledge. Keshavarzian told WSN that no one from the NYU administration warned him or suggested that his security clearance could be denied. “In fact, in the past year I was regularly told by the NYUAD administration and faculty that there are few limits on mobility at NYUAD,” Keshavarzian said. While the UAE government does not release the reasons for security clearance denials, Kes-

havarzian said he believed it was either because of his Iranian heritage, religious affiliation or research and teaching content. NYUAD Executive Director of Public Affairs Kate Chandler responded to claims of religious and academic restrictions at NYUAD by highlighting the community’s diverse demographics. “Like the UAE, the NYU Abu Dhabi community is extraordinarily diverse: it includes faculty, students and staff from well over 100 countries, representing a broad collection of faiths — including those identifying as Sh’ia, many of whom joined as recently as this semester,” Chandler said. In their letter, 10 members of the NYU chapter of the American Association of University Professors addressed the NYU administration in New York and Abu Dhabi and condemned what they called “a gross violation of the AAUP’s basic principles of academic freedom.” Khaldoon Al-Mubarak, one of the letter’s recipients, currently sits on NYU’s Board of Trustees and is a member of the Executive Council for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. Al-Mubarak was also instrumental in beginning the initial partnership between NYU and the Abu Dhabi government, which included a reported $50 million donation from the Abu Dhabi government. When asked to comment on the letter, Chandler said NYUAD Public Affairs had received the letter and intend to respond to it. Keshavarzian’s and Bazzi’s denial of entry into the UAE sparked other groups to voice their displeasure with the UAE government. On Oct. 6, the Middle East Studies Association wrote a letter to Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Minister of Interior Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Keshavarzian said he was concerned with NYU’s lack of a public response to both his and Bazzi’s case. Most immediately, the professor said he would like to see a public statement that confirms that the university stands behind faculty and students who have been denied entry. More generally, Keshavarzian said there should be a greater consideration of what NYUAD’s role is as a liberal institution in an authoritarian state. “We need to have a frank discussion about what this partnership [between NYU and the Abu Dhabi government] is and who does and does not benefit from the intellectual and career opportunities,” Keshavarzian said. “Far greater transparency is needed when it comes to these global network university projects as well as other challenges facing the university.” Keshavarzian thinks there is something to be desired from NYU’s response. “I have not seen much critical

reflection from the university when it comes to NYUAD,” Keshavarzian said. “We typically hear generalities, defensives and hiding behind the UAE government’s sovereignty.” President Hamilton’s office, NYUAD Vice Chancellor Alfred Bloom’s office and NYU Public Affairs did not respond to requests for comments. Chandler reiterated NYU’s stance on sovereign nations when discussing Keshavarzian’s case. She used some of NYU Spokesperson John Beckman’s words verbatim. “NYU believes that the free movement of ideas and people — specifically our faculty and ­ students — is at the heart of our vision for our global network,” Chandler said. “While we continue to press for the free flow of scholars across our global network, we also recognize that, as in the U.S., it is the government that controls visa and immigration policy.” Though Keshavarzian learned of his denied security clearance in

August, he said he chose to wait over two months to go public with his experience with the expectation that NYU would make its own statement. After Bazzi shared his story and subsequent lack of a public statement from the university, Keshavarzian said he felt the need to speak about his experiences. Keshavarzian said he believes there may be other students and faculty who have experienced situations similar to his but may feel uncomfortable speaking out. “This is a very personal decision, and I am not about to tell people if they should or should not discuss their cases in public,” Keshavarzian said. “There are clear risks to people’s research and career plans. The NYU administration has a responsibility to support people when they are in these cases rather than shift responsibility on to them or create an intimidating climate.” Email Mack DeGeurin at mdegeurin@nyunews.com.

COURTESY OF NYUAD

Ten professors from NYU Abu Dhabi wrote a detailed letter to the NYU administration calling for greater academic protection when traveling to Abu Dhabi.

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM

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The Beautiful Tragedy of ‘Call Me By Your Name’

By DANIELLA NICHINSON Film Editor

To experience a profoundly sincere connection with another person is something that occurs only once or twice in a lifetime. Luca Guadagnino’s “Call Me By Your Name,” adapted from the novel of the same name by former NYU professor Andre Aciman, paints a gut-wrenching and stunning tale of discovering one’s identity and other half. In a grand villa somewhere in Italy, 17-year-old Elio’s (Timothee Chalamet) days are marked by a monotonous routine: transcribing music, swimming in the lakes and reading book after book. His knowledge is immeasurable, but as he recognizes, he knows very little about the things that matter. Every summer, his academic father (Michael Stuhlbarg) houses a Ph.D. student to assist with his archeological research; this particular summer, the family is joined by Oliver (Armie Hammer), a handsome and charismatic 24-yearold. As their friendship develops

By CONNOR GATESMAN Music Editor Von Sell exists, so therefore he makes music. Sell is an upand-coming musician originally from Germany. Now situated in

and transcends into intimacy, Elio learns about the hardships of adulthood and abandons his innocence. Guadagnino, who previously directed “A Bigger Splash,” handles the heady story of “Call Me By Your Name” with a graceful hand. Though the setting often offers large, open spaces — the impressive halls of the villa and the far-reaching grasses of the countryside — Guadagnino finds a closeness between each character, regardless of the distance between them. Even as the camera observes the scene from afar, the audience can sense the electricity of Elio and Oliver’s time together. “Call Me By Your Name” is refreshingly nostalgic, reminiscent of foreign cinema from the mid20th century. Set in the summer of 1983, the film captures the simple beauty of the countryside — from the spectacular views to cobblestone paths of the town rich with history — where there is not much to do but bask in the warm, resplendent sun. With the alluring Italian countryside as its

backdrop, the romance of “Call Me By Your Name” is elevated to sweltering heights. The relationship between Elio and Oliver is tender beyond words. Its progression is gentle and slow, letting the audience simmer in its intense romance, as the emotions swell within the viewer. But there is tragedy creeping on the horizon: the six weeks will inevitably come to an end and so will their relationship. Oliver will leave for home, and the two will be separated by international borders, by the expanse of the Atlantic Ocean. There is no other conceivable pairing of actors to have played Elio and Oliver other than Chalamet and Hammer. They tackle the daunting demands of their respective roles with fearless liberation. It is as if they find a home in the embrace of each other’s arms. Chalamet and Hammer depict the journey of finding one’s self with a sensitivity that is rarely achieved on screen. Life is about lessons. It is about the growth in character

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“Call Me By Your Name,” originally a novel by the former NYU professor Andre Aciman, has been adapted by the Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino. and responsibility that one experiences, often through sadness and heartbreaks. Elio, in his summer-long relationship with Oliver, is able to acquire an understanding of life that even those 50 years older than him never comprehend. Above

Do Not Sell Von Sell Short

Bushwick, the artist was recently signed to NYU’s Village Records. His clear vocal prowess and slick instrumentation have proven a brilliant backbone to his released work; songs like “Ivan” and “I Insist” are particular standouts.

PHOTO BY SAM CHENG

Von Sell is an upcoming German singer situated in Bushwick who recently signed a deal with NYU’s Village Records. His new EP will launch soon on all major streaming services.

The singer, songwriter and instrumentalist recently played two shows, one at Rockwood Music Hall and the other at Pianos on Oct. 5. WSN sat down with him to talk about his creative process, among other things. “I work with music all the time, and I try everything all the time until something works,” Sell said. “I don’t always come from the emotional angle, as in, ‘This is what I experienced and now I want to write about it.’ For the most part it’s just, ‘I exist, so I’m gonna make music now.’” Sell has been making music for several years now. He cites Jeff Buckley’s song “Grace” as a point of initial inspiration for him. “That was the first time I thought to myself, ‘This is what I want to do,’” Sell said. “I heard that and thought, ‘oh my god, this guy stole my ideas that I didn’t have yet.’ It was as if he was already able to express something that I knew I wanted to express but didn’t know how. It was like, ‘Yeah that, right there, that’s what I want to do.’” Earlier this year, Sell released a music video for his song “I Insist.” The video perfectly captures the song’s haunting vocals, proving a fitting backdrop for the song’s mysterious lyrics. As Sell explained, the video portrays a reclusive old man in a relationship with a doll. “I feel like that sometimes,” he said. “[The director] saw how I worked, how I did music, how I lived and said, ‘This guy

is you.’ I mean the character is obviously a caricature. The idea, however, is that the person you’re with is always, at least in this story to some degree, a figment of your imagination.” Sell’s show at Pianos last

all, “Call Me By Your Name” is a portrayal of the magnificent rarity of finding someone with whom you share a deep, personal fondness. Email Daniella Nichinson at dnichinson@nyunews.com.

song, “Think Again,” was fortunately just that. It was a welcome change of pace, a slow jam that had Sell lamenting over contemplative instrumentation. The following track, “Ivan,” was easily his best of

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For the most part it’s just, ‘I exist, so I’m gonna make music now.’ VON SELL

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Thursday night embodied his recorded work well. His smooth vocals glided across the slick instrumentation in an effortless fashion that was as natural as it was well-rehearsed. As the set continued on, songs like “Stay” and “Names” had Sell mixing glossy synths with crooning vocals. “Stay” was particularly memorable, with a kind of indescribable reverb drenched melancholy that permeated the entirety of the track. With tracks like these, it was clear that he had isolated a very effective style. However, this combo of synths and vocals quickly became a repetitive experience that was begging for some kind of mix up. His never-before-played next

the night. With lyrics like “I’m a terrorist of love,” Sell was clearly in his element, riding an groove that undoubtedly stuck with audience members. The performance at Pianos was by no means perfect. There were slip-ups, mistakes and a shorter-than-ideal setlist. However, the music Sell performed that night was a clear exhibition of creativity and composition that is very rare in musicians as early into their career as Sell is. Sell is planning on releasing a new EP soon, and you can listen to his debut EP now on all major streaming services, as well as SoundCloud. Email Connor Gatesman at cgatesman@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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The Origin Wonder Woman Deserves By CARTER GLACE Staff Writer

If there is one history book that is a must read for comic book fans, it should be “The Secret History of Wonder Woman” by Jill Lepore. Lepore’s 2014 book is an incredible and in-depth look at the philosophical origins of Diana Prince, her radical, scandalous creators and the groundbreaking female politics that helped shape her. When it was announced that a film on the lives of Professor Marston, Professor Holloway and Olive Byrne would be coming out the same year as her first feature film — and the same year as Wonder Woman’s first feature film — the prospect of seeing the real story of how the character came to be was more exciting than seeing her fictional origin. Despite my unreasonable hype and protectiveness over of the source material, I was simply floored by one of the funniest, most thoughtful and boldest films I have seen all year. “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” follows the life of William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans), Harvard professor, co-inventor of the lie detector test and writer who, along with his equally brilliant professor and wife Elizabeth Holloway (Rebecca Hall), puts forward the idea that women are potentially superior than men but are held back by the expectations of housework (the rest of their ideology includes bondage, studying sororities and women ultimately taking over politics). When they begin a polyamorous relationship with student Olive Byrne, the two women’s lives and personalities help create a single vision of the Wonder Woman. The film is going to be a signature moment in the careers of all three leads, as they all embody these larger-than-life, showy and crass roles. This is Evans’ shining moment, capturing the sharpness, charm, fierce determination and often insufferable pretension that makes him such a compelling fig-

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“Professor Marston and the Wonder Woman” follows the life of William Moulton Marston (Luke Evans) and his wife Elizabeth Holloway (Rebecca Hall).

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ure. The film really isn’t about Marston, but rather the two incredible, brilliant women who made Wonder Woman a reality. This is their story and their connection, and the film creates stunning, rich portraits of both. Hall’s Elizabeth Holloway is the greatest character of 2017. Brilliant, coarse, impassioned and utterly enthralling, she simply engulfs every frame she is in. If Gal Gadot has created a role model for young girls, Hall has created a role model for women, and it would be a travesty if she were left out of the Oscar conversation. While relative newcomer Bella Heathcote isn’t given as showy a role as her peers, she absolutely sparkles as Olive Byrne. She brings a soul, warmth and idealism that allows her to hold her own against two giants and is given some of the most human and stirring moments. If Holloway is the power behind Wonder Woman, Byrne is the soul. It cannot be overstated how delightfully crass “Professor Marston” is and how it commits to the unorthodox, scandalous tastes and beliefs of the Marstons. Within 20 minutes, the viewer is left beaming at how unafraid of being a romp the film is. One particular moment from the book was surprisingly adapted to the screen, causing the audience’s jaws to hit the floor and creating one of the weirdest, funniest and most sexually charged scenes. And yes, the film radiates sexual energy, making one of the most passionate and sexy films since “The Handmaiden.” What is most surprising about “Professor Marston” is how confidently and casually it works the fascinating philosophy of the Marstons into the narrative. Much of the film is framed around the various relationship theories Marston taught, and her ideas and theories are worked into dialogue gracefully, never once slowing down the film. This is perfect because “Professor Marston” isn’t about the creation of Wonder Woman, but her origins. It is about the radical feminist philosophy that influenced her creation and ultimately had her censored. It is about the extraordinary women who could inspire such a wonderful hero and who should be remembered today as role models. This film is undoubtedly a required supplement for older viewers who loved “Wonder Woman,” as it helps firmly cement why her existence is so critical, unexpected and magnificent. Wonder Woman effectively had two matriarchs shaping her existence, so it is only fitting that after 75 years, she gets two great films. “Professor Marston and the Wonder Women” opens nationwide on Friday, Oct. 13. Email Carter Glace at film@nyunews.com.

Behind the Scenes With Free Beer By RYAN MIKEL Entertainment Editor

Many of us grew up watching sketch comedy shows like “Saturday Night Live” and the late “Mad TV.” The next day at school, we would try to recreate our favorite sketches, like Kristen Wiig as Paula Deen or the infamous Bon Qui Qui. But where did the Tina Feys and Amy Poehlers of the comedy world get their start? For many, it was their college improv or sketch comedy group. For NYU, this group is Free Beer. “[We’re a] really weird sketch group,” co-president of Free Beer and Tisch senior Carly Oscar said. “A place where all of [your] shower thoughts come to life.” Free Beer is an NYU-affiliated sketch comedy group that seeks out eclectic and diverse comedic voices on campus. The group got its start back in the late-2000s as Antonio’s Army. “I don’t know for sure if someone named Antonio was ever in the group,” Tisch senior Jon Barr, the group’s co-president, said. “But after a certain point, the group decided to change the name to something more sketch group sounding.” In fact, the group’s name is actually a marketing ploy to fill seats or “to dupe alcoholic college students into comedic stitches once every few Fridays,” according to its mission statement. The only thing you can ever know for sure about the group is that there won’t be any free beer at the shows. WSN sat down with the group last week at their impromptu rehearsal space in the Academic Resource Center. When I entered, the group was in the middle of a weekly table reading

STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON

Free Beer is an NYU-affiliated improv and sketch comedy group that originated in the late 2000s. Its next comedic event will be Halloween-themed and held at Kimmel on Oct. 27. of sketches, where members would critique and offer their own ideas for the sketch. This weekly reading of pitches is fundamental in how the show’s final product materializes. “All of us are expected to write and we vote democratically on what gets into each month’s show — we typically go from 25 [sketches] to 10,” Oscar said. “Lots of [improvisation] and ad libs occur along the way so the sketches really grow and change from just pitches.” The WSN interview, similar to the group’s aforementioned artistic process, was strictly collaborative. Members spoke about a slew of things, ranging from hilarious stage moments to when the audience doesn’t laugh to their good-natured feud with fellow campus sketch comedy group, Hammerkatz. “When the audience isn’t responding, I try to get whoever I’m on stage with to break,” Connor Donahue, a Tisch senior and member of Free Beer, said. “One time, I snuck a bag of Skittles on stage and I started feeding them to my partner, completely

out of context. And that worked.” “‘Go rogue,’ ‘balls to the wall’ and ‘commit’ were all other strategies to dodge awkward moments onstage.” Marissa Sandler, a Tisch sophomore and Free beer member, said. “As long as you’re having fun with it and don’t regret your performance, that’s all we can ask of ourselves.” In regards to Hammerkatz, NYU’s supposedly premier sketch comedy group, its feud with Free Beer is more playful than malicious. “We’re all doing the same thing, so we try to support each other,” Zac Branciforte, a Tisch sophomore and Free Beer member said. “Instead of looking at it as a feud, we use [Hammerkatz] as inspiration. Something to push us.” Free Beer’s next show, the Halloween-themed “Free Candy, Free Beer” is Friday, Oct. 27, at the Kimmel Center for University Life. Check out its Facebook page for more events and semesterly audition postings. Email Ryan Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.

NYU’s Tigris Records Takes Queens

PHOTO BY KAT VLASOVA

Tigris Records, an NYU Clive Davis student-run label, sold out its concert venue at the Knockdown Center in Queens on Sept. 30. By HONOR SASKIA MILTON Contributing Writer Student-led record company Tigris Records sold out Knockdown Center in Queens on Saturday, Sept. 30, filling it with energy and music from 10:30 p.m. onward. Evan Candelmo, founder of Tigris Records and Clive

Davis student, thanked the audience for coming and acted as the host, going on to introduce each of the label’s performers. First to take the stage was JONAH, who warmed the crowd up with his hip-hop influenced pop tunes. Following his 30-minute set, Ryan Peete took to the stage with her folkrock sound with electronic accents. The energy in the room increased throughout, reaching a peak during the performance of her most recent single, “Tie It Up.” On deck during Ryan’s set was Katie Cunningham, whose pop rhythm and blues jams brought down the house. The colored lights and smoke machine added to the vibe as Madeline Jane grooved to her funk-influenced R&B. Many members of the crowd in the packed house knew the words during every performance — a good sign for any artist. When Cecilia Gault took to the stage just past midnight with her new wave pop sound, the crowd was not even close to tiring, even after a solid two hours of nonstop music. DOMENICO and Moollz closed out the show, and the energy continued to climb over the next hour as they

playing electro R&B and intergalactic pop, respectively, to the jam-packed venue. The final set ended at 2 a.m., but the crowd took a while to dissipate with people hanging around to talk, many reluctant to leave behind the bountiful good vibes and ambience in Queens on the last night of September. Man of the hour, Evan Candelmo, reflected on the performances, saying, “The show went really well despite a couple of hiccups. I’m so proud of the Tigris ladies, Domenico, JONAH and Cecilia for putting on a fantastic sold out show. It couldn’t have gone any better and I’m looking forward to the next one in December.” With a date in December already in mind for Tigris’ next show, Tigris Frostbytes, Candelmo is working to build his record label and the signed artists’ careers. Selling out two shows in a row, these young tigers aren’t going anywhere soon. You can keep up to date with future events by liking Tigris Records on Facebook and following them on Twitter and Instagram @tigrisrecords. Email Honor Saskia Milton at music@nyunews.com.

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MLK Scholars: Service and Leadership Collide

By NATALIE CHINN Contributing Writer

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. left behind a long-lasting legacy of service and leadership, and at NYU, one program is dedicated to furthering that legacy. The Martin Luther King Jr. Scholars program, called one of the most prestigious honors programs at NYU on its website, offers scholarships to students who demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and a commitment to bringing social justice and equality to their communities through service. The goal of the program is to further the legacy of King by engaging in travel, research, community service, seminars and cultural and educational events in order to learn about and promote social change. Steinhardt’s Associate Dean for Student Affairs and NYU Associate Vice Provost for Diversity Programs Patricia Carey helped found the program in 1987. Carey noted the busy year scholars have ahead of them, including programming spanning from teach-ins at local middle schools to

an educational travel colloquium in Washington, D.C. Alongside these activities, first-year scholars enroll in a year-long seminar focused on a theme drawn from King’s writings. “Discussions, readings, research, outside speakers, field trips, even a play scholars may construct or activity that they may organize will help them make meaning of the year’s theme for the present day,” Carey said. “This year’s theme is ‘Only in the darkness can you see the stars.’” There is no application to become an MLK Scholar: all 142 students currently enrolled were handpicked. The Scholars Selection Committee chooses students based on their Common Application personal statement, extracurricular activities and supplemental essays. However, students will only be considered for the program if they complete the College Scholarship Service Profile and Free Application for Financial Student Aid. According to Carey, prospective students are informed about the MLK Scholars Program and other scholars programs when they apply

to NYU. However, most prospective students are still unaware of the multitude of scholarship programs available to them. For both Stern alum Devon McLeod, who graduated in 2017, and Steinhardt senior Christopher Hearn, being selected for the MLK Scholars Program was an absolute surprise. “I had no idea about the [program] prior to being accepted into it,” Hearn said. “I’m sure you can imagine how intense it was for me to find out about an opportunity at the exact time that it changed my life.” Life-changing is exactly how McLeod would describe MLK Scholars as well. “I would not have been able to afford NYU without my MLK Scholarship,” McLeod said. “[The program] finds people who aren’t necessarily the valedictorian, but who are passionate, driven and open and helps mold us into thought leaders.” The scholars programming and support provides students with the skills needed to make social change in the future.

Testing the Exposed Thong Trend By NAOMI LICHTER Contributing Writer

More than just a daunting prospect for our lower stomachs, the trend of wearing low-rise pants with an exposed thong seems to hit perfectly on the bony line between appreciation and exploitation of the body. The trend, which was popular in the late 1990s to early 2000s, is back on the runways and streets, according to a Vogue article. For all of its aughts glory, the look calls into question the role of the fashion industry and the practicality of using the runway as our standard for fashion. Like runway shows themselves, the influences for this trend are whitewashed. It was, in essence, branded by celebrities such as Christina Aguilera and Paris Hilton. At the same time that Aguilera and Hilton were building their empires, artists of color were equally if not more influential — but world-famous models like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell were excluded from the trendsetting. In America, especially now as we try to address issues of racial inclusion, contributions from people of color are very often afterthoughts. A black artist will be the sidekick, the helper, the token, but never the owner. It may seem like a stretch, but a visible thong shows the cracks in America’s quest for equality. The concept of sagging — which is quintessentially what makes this look — existed in black American communities before the 2000s. With the origins of the trend in mind, a friend, Gallatin freshman Annette Yoo, and I decided to try hip-baring outfits for ourselves, accompanied by Gallatin freshman

Sam Cheng, who was our photographer. Yoo’s initial impression was that wearing underwear in this way brought her unwanted attention. “It was interesting to be strutting around [New York City] and feel eyes immediately going down to look at my very obviously exposed underwear,” Yoo said. “I was honestly uncomfortable with this attention at first.” Yoo chose not to wear the look, slipping the thong out of sight until reaching the photoshoot at least in part, out of concern for personal safety. According to both Yoo and Cheng, they recieved an excessive amount of catcalling in response to their outfits. This brings up the sinister paradox that is common to all women. Do we own our sexiness in public spaces? Can we be empowered by being scantily clad, promiscuous and hip-bearing? Yoo summed up the trend as a style intended to be overtly sexy. “It appreciates the female body by bringing attention to the feminine hips and the visible lingerie, but it is definitely an appreciation through sexualization,” Yoo said. As the second participant in this fashion-turned-social science experiment, I wanted to explore the variability of the trend. I wore army green khakis that were at least two sizes too large, making my first worry whether my pants would slide right off. To accentuate my hips in accordance with the trend, I wore royal blue Ford boxer shorts and adjusted my posture to find my hipbones. I knew a thinner style of underwear would have cut into the sides of my hips, but I knew my limits. I knew what would make me uncomfortable. Even though I chose to pair the look with a low-cut, cropped

PHOTO BY SAM CHENG

Low-rise pants paired with an exposed thong are now trending once again, and seem to walk the line between appreciating and exploiting the body. blouse, my outfit was far more masculine than Yoo’s. In short, I enjoyed this look. I loved the casual style the exposed boxers brought. I felt sexy because of how my body was moving in the outfit. Once I got over the fear of inadvertently pants-ing myself in the middle of the city, I began to appreciate that this look didn’t rely on bareness. The variability of this look means that it can be worn by a variety of people. Everyone, man, woman and beyond, has the right to feel sexy and to take ownership of their promiscuity. With this look, you need only stay true to your personal style, your mood and your destination. Email Naomi Lichter at bstyle@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY ECHO CHEN

Patricia Carey, Steinhardt’s associate dean for Student Affairs and NYU associate vice provost for Diversity Programs, who helped found the MLK Scholars program in 1987. “They challenge us, test us and create an environment for us to try and fail without major consequence,” McLeod said. For Hearn, a Music Business major, the program provided unique opportunities that have helped shaped his self-development while in college. “I will never forget working on rebuilding a house destroyed by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, or winding down the river on a dinner

boat in Paris,” Hearn said. In addition to these opportunities, MLK Scholars provides students a supportive community. Even after graduating, McLeod is still close with her MLK family. “I still have an incredible network of human beings who I know support me,” McLeod said. Email Natalie Chinn at features@nyunews.com.

Slice Out Hunger

By CAROLINE ZEMSKY Staff Writer

One thousand people lining up over four blocks waited outside St. Anthony of Padua Church on Sullivan Street for its 6 p.m. “Slice Out Hunger” event on Wednesday. Pizza priced at $1 a slice was available to anyone who stopped by, and profits were split between the Sylvia Center and City Harvest. The Sylvia Center is a center that teaches cooking in underprivileged communities to conserve money and eat healthy. City Harvest’s mission statement is to improve access to healthy, affordable foods. The nonprofit also currently has relief efforts for Puerto Rico, donating both food and water to help in the recovery. Sixty-six pizza vendors from all over New York City were inside. Popular places, like Joe’s Pizza, Patsy’s and Rubirosa’s, were all present — the best pizza places all over New York coming together to help do-

nate to this cause. At just $1 per ticket, with a 10 ticket limit, attendees could get any pizza of their choice from any of the vendors. However, there was a one slice per pizzeria rule, so that everyone could have a tasting from each. Red tickets were for pizza slices, and blue tickets were for drinks, desserts and prizes — all at $1 each. There were also raffles and prizest. Blue Apron, Eataly, Billy’s Bakery and a handful of other places offered up gifts and gift cards to lucky winners. The crowd turnout was incredible, with easily over 1,000 people coming in and out of the church and going from pizzeria to pizzeria. With dollar pizza so accessible in New York City, it was quite impressive to see so many people at an event supporting this cause, especially in the wake of several hurricane. Who knew dollar pizza could get that much better? Email Caroline Zemsky at dining@nyunews.com.

PHOTO BY JULIA SALIBA

On Wednesday Oct. 4, St. Anthony’s Church hosted the Slice Out Hunger event. At $1 per ticket, people could get up to 10 tickets and get one slice of pizza from any of the 66 participating vendors.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

FEATURES

EDITED BY KAITLYN WANG FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM

Mythbusters: Frosh 15 By TYLER CREWS Contributing Writer

Everyone hears rumors about the legendary freshman 15 prior to attending college. The myth of this curse which supposedly causes college freshmen to gain 15 pounds spans across the country, but is it real? The superstition of this freshman year weight gain is so common that there is a Wikipedia page for it. This weight gain is known to be a result of adjusting to the new environment of college. There are so many choices that students never had to make for themselves in high school regarding food, exercise and sleep, and with so much freedom, many freshmen make choices that are not healthy for their body and well being. Students at NYU, however, may be more immune to this trend than students at other schools. Through an array of resources, NYU promotes a healthy lifestyle for students. NYU not only has a variety of dining halls but also offers health conscious options at each dining hall. The allyou-can-eat dining halls, Lipton and Downstein, offer different fruit and vegetable options for each meal and have bottomless salad bars. The other dining halls that run on a meal exchange system limit the amount of food you can consume with one swipe but also allow for 100 calorie snacks or desserts or a piece of whole

VIA PIXABAY.COM

The well-known curse of freshman 15 is the amount of weight gained in the first year of college.

fruit with a single meal exchange. Additionally, the size and span of NYU’s campus is so large that exercise is a mandatory part of every student’s day if they want to get to their classes.

“

I literally gained 14 pounds in my first month in America. LOREAN CASSIDY

”

“I feel like the freshman 15 isn’t as big at NYU as other schools,” LS freshman Alex Dennis said. “Even though there is a lot of good food to try, we walk everywhere so it partially makes up for it.” While many students have found the dining options and lengthy walks beneficial to their health, a handful have found the rumor to be true. One of those students is Gallatin sophomore Lorean Cassidy, who, having come from Australia, credits her weight gain to the portion sizes and abundance of unhealthy food in the United States in general. With a large population of international students, this freshman experience is not rare. “I literally gained 14 pounds in my first month in America,” Cassidy said. The freshman 15 can be a reality for students at NYU; however, it is avoidable due to the options that NYU offers, for leading a healthy student lifestyle. Although many of our international students are adjusting to the food in the U.S., NYU does its best to ease this transition. While each student’s experience is unique, as a whole, NYU students may find it easier to escape this fate of weight gain in their first year. Email Tyler Crews at features@nyunews.com.

Modernizing Fashion at MoMA By AMANDA BURKETT Contributing Writer

Fashion is forever personal, but it is also a shared experience. It is traceable and evolutionary, constantly growing, mutating and evolving into something new. So many things cause us to dress the way that we do, leaving fashion as a guidebook to the history of human life and of the human condition. The “Items: Is Fashion Modern?” exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art pushes each viewer to examine their own style of dress and think about its evolution. The collection of items included some pieces that were purchased from brands and others that were borrowed from private collections. The ownership of each of the pieces highlights the overarching theme of fashion having a dual purpose of being personal and communal. In this arrangement, garments made for the masses coexist with the garments made for an elite few. Along with chic and stunning garments, there are some completely ordinary pieces. They are a white t-shirt, blue jeans and sneakers on display. Even though these accessible items are not as detailed and sophisticated as the historic designer items, they are still imperative to the way that we dress. All of these pieces are equally relevant because they share influence on the world of fashion. MoMA acknowledges that its 111 item list is not even close to reaching all cultures of fashion. The curators did their best to turn over every stone of fashion through the display of pieces along with small video screens that show more examples of each item and illustrate that item’s place in varying

VIA INSTAGRAM.COM

MoMA’s new exhibition, “Items: Is Fashion Modern?,” features 111 key pieces of clothing that had an impact culturally and historically on the 20th and 21st centuries. time periods. Against a black wall all by itself with one small spotlight was a red Champion hooded sweatshirt. While the first association one may find is to the athleisure trend, the description plaque related the hooded sweatshirt to the murder of Trayvon Martin in 2012, and to the origin of streetwear which may be a trend now, but was not celebrated at its time. The hooded sweatshirt, although something most of us tend to think very little of, has the ability to provoke discussion about dress as a way to say something about who you are and to allow people to make judgements about you. MoMA asks viewers if fashion is modern — a question bigger than you may have thought. Is fashion truly modern if trends are seemingly cyclical? If one is attracted to clogs on display from 47 years ago, does that mean that the 1970s are modern and current style is repetition? And if that is true, is

there anything modern about fashion in recent years? Seeing pieces from the 1940s and realizing that they are still in style is jarring. It is a special and distinct feeling to know that some things are seemingly infinite. A Yves St. Laurent Le Smoking Suit inspired pure awe when I entered the exhibit. The silhouette and the creases of the blouse, although first designed nearly 80 years ago, are still true to their intended sophisticated brilliance. This exhibit is undoubtedly worth visiting. The best part about this display is that there is something for everyone. The showcase is completely universal discussing the origin and reasoning behind everything we wear. It is hard to articulate how brilliant the collection is, but when you go, don’t just look — think about what pieces affect you and be sure to ask yourself why. Email Amanda Burkett at bstyle@nyunews.com.

Gnoccheria Brings Menu of Options to East Village PHOTO BY ALYSSA LYNN KELLY

Gnoccheria by Luzzo’s is an Italian restaurant in the East Village dedicated to serving gnocchi, a potato-based pasta. By ALYSSA KELLY Staff Writer There can never too many Italian restaurants in New York, and Gnoccheria by Luzzo’s is no exception to the rule. As the city’s only eatery dedicated solely to gnocchi — a potato-based pasta — Gnoccheria offers

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food trend followers a fresh meal with options for everyone. The East Village restaurant combines the atmosphere of a rustic Italian countryside wine cellar with a host of Italian cuisine options. With seating both in and outside, the restaurant at 234 E. 4th St. is optimal for either an intimate date for two or a friendly gathering for four. The small dining room adds to the intimate aesthetic, but if you’re looking for a quieter dining experience, try sitting in either the back room or outside. Executive Chef and owner Michele Iuliano of Gnoccheria and Luzzo’s Pizza utilized his culinary skill set to find his perfect plate of gnocchi. “Everyone loves gnocchi,” Luliano said, and he isn’t wrong. The lack of available tables illustrates the popularity of the busi-

ness — reservations on most weeknights are unavailable until 10 p.m., so plan ahead. That being said, service during off-peak hours has patrons seated within minutes of arrival. The gnocchi is served shortly after ordering. If you are in a rush, this is the perfect place to enjoy your meal and go, or linger for adequate recovery time before dessert. Their menu offers typical Italian dishes — appetizers, salads and pastas — including the namesake of the establishment: the homemade gnocchi (there are eggs in the dough, making it non-vegan). They offer three homemade gnocchi bases: potato, spinach or gluten-free, as well as a choice of stuffing your pasta with asparagus, cheese or mushrooms. Potato and spinach gnocchi costs $15, while stuffed and glu-

ten-free options are $19. In comparison, local restaurants like The Smith and Jane charge around the same amount, without the same selection. After picking your base, select one of the restaurant’s 16 sauces to cement your dining experience. For a classic tomato and cheese option, one might gravitate towards the Al Pomodoro: tomato sauce, ricotta cheese and basil; or the Sorrentina: tomato base, mozzarella, topped with basil. Seafood lovers should go with the the Carciofi, a mix of shrimp, artichoke and cherry tomatoes: or the Salmone, a cream-based sauce with salmon, zucchini and shrimp. Vegetarians might enjoy the Quattro Formaggi — four cheeses — or the Norma, a tomato sauce with eggplant and ricotta add-ins, topped with basil. With this many options, the possibilities are endless.

The gnocchi balances between doughy and soft: you can chew through the flavor before it melts in your mouth straight away. The Pesto Genovese option fuses sweet basil pesto with the hearty taste of the potato gnocchi. The gnocchi to sauce ratio sets up a proportionate distribution of both components, covering each bite of gnocchi in a significant bed of sauce without smothering the pasta. It gently covers the meal with flavor without overpowering the dish itself. Each serving offers a sizeable meal, leaving you full long after you leave. Skip the 99 cent slice of pizza and treat yourself to a night of home-cooked Italian gnocchi, just how you like it. Email Alyssa Kelly at dining@nyunews.com.

Letter From the Editors We are both immigrants. We both came to the United States with similar goals: education, professional opportunities and a higher quality of life. We are both still technically guests in this country. On the surface our stories are similar, but our means of getting here are notably different. As is the nature of immigration in general. With a continuing refugee crisis causing displacement and attention drawn to the intricacies of immigration by executive orders and presidential actions, the public’s attention is often on immigrants. However, it is easy to forget that they are human too and not just pawns in the daily news cycle. We want to highlight the humanity of the issue — the everyday stories from professors, teaching assistants, students, the people around us. Lots of love,

Jemima McEvoy & Yasmin Gulec

Italian Studies TA

Giulia Sbaffi I was born and raised in Rome. I’m 27 now, so my whole life is there, and it’s the emotional cost of migration that nobody pays attention to.”

PHOTO BY SINAED ANAE

Patricio Navia LS Professor Being an immigrant means that you are not sort of fully a part of the country you come into but you are not a part of the country you left. So in that sense you are sort of in transition your entire life. On the other hand you are also a part of the U.S. and a part of your original country. Some people might see that as a negative. I see it as positive. I can be an American and a Chilean. And then I understand both countries, but yes, there is a label. There are always labels to everything. Although some people try to live without labels, it is just impossible.” PHOTO BY KAITLYN WANG

LS sophmore

Charles Chen

“This might sound really cliche, but the best part about coming to the U.S. is that I could live ‘the American Dream.’ I could eat burgers and bacon whenever I want, which I got sick of after the first week living at Third North. I am also just living in the Big Apple — I can brag about it every time when people ask where do I live. I also just feel really free as I am now living all the way across the world after living under my parents’ roof for 18 years on the mountains.

Paul Hwang CAS junior LS sophomore

Sagar Shah

I personally have to go back because it’s [a] really hard process to become an American citizen, and I’m not gonna go through all that and I’m not gonna stay here illegally. I really like it here, but, after all, Korea’s my country.”

“I learned a lot about Nepal and a lot of struggles it’s going through. So I feel like whatever I do, whatever education or degree or experience [I get], whatever I learn from this place, I think I want to go back and pour it all out there.

PHOTO BY ALANA BEYER

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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | NYUNEWS.COM

OPINION

EDITED BY ANDREW HEYING OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

INTERNATIONAL

London’s Uber Ban is Blow to Fair Competition By WAYNE CHEN Contributing Writer Arguably the most name-dropped, most revered and most targeted modern tech startup company, Uber has been banned in many places including Austin, Vancouver, Denmark and Taiwan. Yet none of these places was as symbolic of a market to Uber as London, which decided not to renew Uber’s operating license after its expiration on Sept. 30. With the black cabs among the priciest taxis in the world starting at 3.50 pounds for a ride, the ban nearly reinstates a monopoly status for London’s black cabs: the status quo can remain, as there is no clear alternative for Londoners. Moderate restrictions aside,

moves intended to wipe out the existence of companies like Uber are not only detrimental to free competition but also undermine the importance of startup culture within big cities. Many of the initial concerns raised against Uber’s operation were reasonable. In the past, Uber infamously used its complex technological algorithm to deceive authorities from some of its supposedly illegal practices, including circumventing their vehicles from authorities trying to hunt them down. However, rather than illegal, many so-called violations were nothing beyond lacking an operational permit, which could have ultimately been due to its conflict of interest with the existing drivers workforce — the taxi drivers.

With a powerful union protecting their interest and numerous guidelines preventing London’s 22,000 black cab drivers against any price slip, thereby ensuring that other than riding the Tube or the often unreliable buses, the only way to go about the city can easily cost more than 10 pounds, a hefty amount of money for Londoners. Uber’s existence bypassed many

bureaucratic challenges that made black cabs absurdly expensive and provided a new business model that is both affordable and popular. It should have been perceived as a healthy competition for taxis, challenging all sides to sustain lower prices for the passengers. Instead, it was perceived as a taxi-killer and a safety hazard, and somehow legislated out of its right to operate. Yet the excuse barely holds, as more serious offenses take place on a daily basis within London’s mass transit system. London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s obsession with the relatively small number of offenses compared to other transit services is not a demonstration of prioritizing safety, but rather protecting the in-

terest of a politically powerful group of cab drivers. By no means is Uber an entirely ethical and good-natured company. However, as a city that aspires to attract small businesses and establish its reputation as a city for all, ban on Uber is an unnecessary and incredibly bureaucratic move. As London’s arguably biggest competitor on the world stage, New York City should not replicate the same mistake and outright ban Uber, reasonably regulate it and subject it to similar rules as other competitors in the field. Email Wayne Chen at opinion@nyunews.com.

POLITICS

Israel Anti-Boycott Act Inhibits Free Speech By BENJAMIN ZINEVICH-RODRÍGUEZ Contributing Writer The defensive use of free speech on campus has carried just as much nuance as it does when invoked by your racist uncle on Thanksgiving. As of late, Libertarians, Republicans, fascists and all those who intermingle the three have brandished the term whenever eugenicists, white nationalists and reactionary provocateurs come to campus — sometimes invited by the aforementioned students — in the name of academic and intellectual diversity. Of course, none of this has much to do with the rights outlined in the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment, seeing as NYU is a private university with no legal obligation

to house these voices of hate. Nonetheless, the manifestation of free speech politics at NYU highlights the glaring silence and nonaction concerning an actual conflict of state censorship of constitutionally protected speech. The most pressing matter regarding freedom of speech concerns the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement of Israel. Simply put, the BDS movement is a set of tactics that include a cultural, economic and academic boycott of Israel. In 2005, 170 organizations that constitute Palestinian civil society called upon the international community to participate in the BDS movement to pressure the Israeli government to comply with international law. The boycott is an act of protest, which is protected by

our First Amendment rights, and those who decide to partake in it, such as graduate student unions and universities, are fully within their rights as American institutions to do so. Where the threat of an infringement comes upon these rights is legislative and executive action taken at the state and federal levels. In June 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed an executive order demanding all state bodies or

entities to withhold public funds from organizations that endorse BDS. On the federal level, the Israel Anti-Boycott Act (S. 720) had been introduced to Congress in March of this year, possibly concerning the rights of those who are critical of the state of Israel. The language of the federal bill itself is harsh, calling for individuals who violate the ban to pay a minimum civil penalty of $250,000 and a maximum criminal penalty of $1 million and to face 20 years prison time. In a report by Glenn Greenwald and Ryan Grim, they cite that the bill was drafted with the assistance of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. After public outcry and an American Civil Liberties Union letter condemning the bill, the piece of legislation

lost momentum and support, yet still poses a hovering threat to all American activists fighting for an end to the human rights crisis taking place in Palestine. Worryingly, when confronted with the issues raised by the ACLU’s letter, co-sponsoring legislators had shown signs of confusion and had no idea what was within the bill, simply trusting AIPAC. Therefore, if one is to seek out and fight for free speech justice on campus, look no further than NYU’s chapters of Students for Justice in Palestine and Jewish Voice for Peace. Their fights and not Milo Yiannopoulos are actually under a material threat of censorship. Email Benjamin Zinevich-Rodríguez at opinion@nyunews.com.

INTERNATIONAL

The Right to Self-Determination and America’s Selective Morality By THEO WAYT Contributing Writer The United States, we tell the world, is acting on behalf of the repressed people, the people governed without consent who seek democratic self-determination. We often miscalculate the values of the people we liberate, yes — despite former Vice President and Halliburton stockholder Dick Cheney’s reassurances, we were not in fact greeted as liberators during the 2003 Iraq Invasion — but, as America’s favorite documentarian Ken Burns said of our calamitous war in Vietnam that killed roughly 30 times as many Vietnamese civilians as American troops, “It was begun in good faith, by decent people, out of

fateful misunderstandings.” In the past month, two acts of passionate, egalitarian democracy have made second or third-page headlines worldwide but largely failed to garner international attention. Two regions — Catalonia, a region of Spain including Barcelona, and Kurdistan, a province in Iraq along the border with Turkey — have sought independence through peaceful, democratic voting. In Spain, Spanish security forces — not Catalan police, who largely refused to resort to violence — attacked polling stations and injured around 900 voters. The central government declared the vote unconstitutional, and Spain’s main police union described the protests as “more like Nazi Germany than what you see in any

other country where democracy reigns and rights are guaranteed” — even though Catalans were among the most persecuted under fascist Francisco Franco’s Nazi-backed regime. Further east, the Kurds have been the victims of genocide perpetrated by both the Iraqis and the Turkish. In an act similar to state-sanctioned Holocaust denial, the Turkish continue to deny the genocide’s existence, spending millions on

propaganda to discredit historians. Iraqi Kurds, who were brutally poison-gassed by the Iraqi government less than 30 years ago, are currently seeking independence. Their referendum, held in spite of condemnation from both the U.S. and its regional archrival Iran, was met with economic sanctions and military threats from Turkey and the central Iraqi government. For both of these independence groups, the lack of Western support — particularly from the U.S., a geopolitical taskmaster — will surely cause them to fail. For Spain and Iraq, listening to separatists does not make political sense; both nations benefit economically from the subservience of these regions. The independence referendums, stripped

of political weight, have become largely symbolic — but their pleas for self-determination seem to be falling on deaf ears. Both the Kurds, against Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, and the Catalans, against Franco, have struggled heroically against fascism, only to be oppressed by new governments. Even though their referendums may not be geopolitically expedient — “utterly befuddling from an international relations perspective” in the words of one analyst — the people’s grievances must at least be heard. The American policy of apathy-or-worse will only benefit those already in power. Email Theo Wayt at opinion@nyunews.com.

NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

OPINION

EDITED BY ANDREW HEYING OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

UNIVERSITY LIFE

STAFF EDITORIAL

IYSSE Deserves Club Status

By ISAAC OSEAS Guest Editorial

For the past two semesters the International Youth and Students for Social Equality at NYU has applied and been rejected from gaining all-university club status. Our experience has exposed the anti-democratic character of the Kafkaesque club approval process. Instead of facilitating the political and cultural life of NYU students, it works to limit discussion and diversity on campus. The procedure, which rejects roughly 90 percent of applicants, was used to block the IYSSE — the only group fighting for a socialist anti-war movement on campus, independent from the Democratic Party — from holding events at NYU during the 2016 election and the start of Donald Trump’s presidency. After a yearlong struggle, the IYSSE was just accepted into the New Club in Development program for the fall of 2017, and the next stage in the club approval process. While welcome, this does not change the basic democratic issues at stake. By any objective assessment, IYSSE

exceeded all requirements in last year’s applications. Our fall 2016 application included 222 signatures, more than the 200 required. Our spring 2017 submission exceeded the requirements again, with over 400 signatures, as well as a separate petition with an additional 200 signatures from students, faculty and administrators. We were told by the Student Activities Board that we lacked sustainability in our mission statement and our membership and outreach. As proof to the contrary, I was elected Graduate School of Arts and Science student senator in the spring election on the platform of the IYSSE. Another claim by the SAB was that there is a lack of resources available for student organizations. As a result, the

SAB’s Development Committee is told how many new clubs it can form — this year it is five regular clubs and one publication club. Yet, as the IYSSE uncovered last year, NYU has seemingly endless resources in its $3 billion annual budget for its collaboration with the military and corporate-dominated expansion plans. As a member of this year’s SAB Development Committee, I have found it clearer than ever that the university acts as a de facto censor, giving a pittance for new clubs and leaving it up to the committee to block the majority of potential clubs. The reform of the club application process is crucial for encouraging political debate and the exchange of ideas at a time when opposing viewpoints are being suppressed. At stake are basic democratic rights. At NYU, the IYSSE demands a change to the club approval process, so as to guarantee to students their right to affiliate with the political clubs on campus of their choosing. Email Issac Oseas at opinion@nyunews.com.

POLITICS

Puerto Rico Needs a Voice By ALLISON DE LA BASTIDA Contributing Writer The lack of United States involvement in Puerto Rico following the aftermath of Hurricane Maria is the perfect example of how the U.S. does not consider Puerto Ricans citizens, which is ironic considering how we are supposedly part of the U.S. According to a poll by the Morning Consult, reported by the New York Times, only 54 percent of Americans are aware that Puerto Rico is part of the U.S. That means 46 percent of polled Americans wonder why the government is spending resources to help someone else’s country, when, in reality, Puerto Rico is a part of our country. President Donald Trump does not seem too aware of it either. As soon as he landed in Puerto Rico, Trump rushed to comment on the fatality. However, instead of offering his condolences, Trump prompted to compare Hurricane Maria’s death count to Hurricane Katrina’s. Trump said to Puerto Rico’s government officials, “[16] people versus in the thousands. You can be very proud of all of your people, all of our people working together.” But, it is not yours and our people, it is not a division and it is not OK to compare tragedies and

SUBMITTING TO

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glorify the death another one had. In each situation, precious lives were taken from us. For those who do not believe this signifies a subliminal separation, Trump’s words at another recovering catastrophe would indicate differently. After the horrendous mass shooting at Las Vegas which killed 58 people and injured hundreds of others, Trump said, “We will endure the pain together, and we will overcome this together as Americans.” Las Vegas showed a president rushing to action, acting maturely and stepping up to the plate. There was no mention of pride when referring to Vegas. There was no comparing to other mass shootings. There was nothing to be proud of there. It was the cooperative and involved response we all expect from our leader, and is exactly the type of response a president should have when dealing with such a sensitive matter like this. But, again,

where was it in Puerto Rico? It appears as though the U.S. has strategic planning on its limited communication with the island even before the hurricane hit. Just take a look at the island’s role in Washington, D.C. — the island has no voting members in Congress. If we cannot secure a real place in the Senate where the residential commissioner can act instead of urge, Puerto Rico will most likely continue to be seen as a halfcousin to the U.S. If independence will not be given, Puerto Ricans deserve to reap all the benefits that all other American citizens have for being just that: American. During his acceptance speech last November, Trump said Americans should “come together as one united people.” Puerto Rico is part of the U.S., and the president must extend his promises to the territory. After all, there will be no good but further alienation if Trump does not approach the tragedies in Puerto Rico with the same sense of urgency and responsibility as the ones that happen within the mainland U.S. . We are all Americans, and we must be treated as such by the president.

Positive Cambridge Gender Policy Change

Last week, Cambridge University announced that its all-female college would start admitting transgender women. This announcement comes after other leading female-only universities — such as Barnard College and Smith College — started accepting transgender women. While this may seem like a small victory, this announcement highlights how much being queer affects the most essential aspects of modern life, such as college. Cambridge University certainly did not pioneer the idea of accepting transgender students into all-women colleges: renowned all-women colleges in the U.S., like Spelman, Mount Holyoke and Wellesley started accepting transgender female students in the past three years. But before this, transgender women were not admitted at all. Imagine being extremely qualified for a toptier university but being denied admission simply because of your gender identity. If someone who identifies as a woman has the qualifications to get into a female-only university, she should be admitted, regardless of gender identity. This basic fact is something that far too many people have taken for granted over the years. However, this news is proof that there is still work needed to be done. News such as this should not be viewed as a new phenomenon that is just happening now, since a change like this is long overdue. Despite this accomplishment, far too many issues still plague LGBTQ students on college campuses. For example, a quarter of all transgender students have experienced some form of sexual assault while in college, according to a survey by the Association of American Universities. While usually this editorial board focuses on calling out continuing problems on college campuses, we felt it was very important to bring attention to this announcement. Colleges are often assumed to be progressive havens, but the fact that transgender women were once banned from enrolling shows that colleges are still in the process of allowing transgender students equal access to education. Individuals should not be limited because of their sexual orientation, gender or sex when choosing a university. Education is often referred to as a liberating experience, and its pursuit should not be restricted.

Email the WSN Editorial Board at opinion@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Andrew Heying (Chair), Adryan Barlia (Co-chair), Carine Zambrano (Co-chair)

Email Allison De La Bastida at opinion@nyunews.com.

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SPORTS

EDITED BY MADDIE HOWARD SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Commentary: Female NFL Announcer Faces Scrutiny

VIA TWITTER.COM

NFL Announcer Beth Mowins (right) faced sexist criticism after becoming the first female play-by-play announcer in 30 years to call an NFL regular season game. By BRIANNA DAVIS Contributing Writer On Monday, Sept. 11 Beth Mowins became the first female playby-play announcer in 30 years to call an National Football League

regular season game. Mowins broadcasted the Denver Broncos hosting the San Diego Chargers alongside Rex Ryan in his debut as a game analyst. Announcing for ESPN’s Monday Night Football would be a huge honor to

anyone, and some would argue Mowins executed it flawlessly. However, it wouldn’t be the NFL if a female announcer were to receive no sexist backlash. Mike Missaneli of 6abc’s Sports Sunday said to his colleagues, “I don’t know why the sporting world needs a female play-byplay person on an NFL game,” after explaining that men are more in tune to football than women are, regardless of whether either has played a day in his or her life. Missaneli further said “It just to me sounds unnatural for her to be calling the NFL.” He was subsequently fired from his position with 6abc and said, “Now I have nobody to blame but myself,” but he still believes the punishment was too harsh. Women both working for the NFL and simply reporting the game itself have been receiving this type of critique since day

one. Similarly, Cam Newton, a name that can’t seem to stay out of the news, responded to a question from Jourdan Rodrigue, a female reporter for the Charlotte Observer and, chuckling, said, “It’s funny to hear females talk about routes.” Rodrigue later responded on Twitter, “I don’t think it’s ‘funny’ to be a female and talk about routes. I think it’s my job.” These are clearly not isolated events. The misogynistic standards set in place by the NFL, the players, the coaches and the fans continue to be a problem for women entering the field. As women progress in the fight for equality, the NFL continues to turn a blind eye to these incidents and perpetuates the outdated view of women in sports. Mowins knew she was going to get demeaning comments on being a female in a male domi-

nated field, but she also knew she loved to broadcast football games and she was not going to let closed-minded men stop her from doing that. Mowins said in an interview with Bleacher Report, “I have really tried my best to ignore any double standard. I can’t control the expectations of other people. I can control my attitude and my energy, and that’s always been very positive.” Degree antiperspirant and the NFL have paired to air a series of videos every Monday throughout the season featuring prominent women of the NFL. In typical NFL fashion, this does not address the problem that Mowins and Rodrigue faced, but it does take a step in the direction of inclusion. Email Brianna Davis at sports@nyunews.com.

Wheaton College Football Criticized After Violent Hazing By TORI BIANCO Contributing Writer

Wheaton College is not like most colleges. Students are expected to abide by community standards such as not drinking or having sex. No, Wheaton College is not from the movie “Footloose,” but the college prides itself on this ultra-conservative idealism. Despite this Christian mentality, Wheaton College still popped up in the news when five football players were charged with violent hazing. Hazing is categorized by any act of a group that excludes members and makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Commonly found in fraternities, sororities and collegiate athletic teams, authorities and legislation have attempted to crack down on cases of hazing, but they are still appearing. The Wheaton College hazing case is especially concerning, not only because of the background of the school, but also the severity of the hazing itself. Five mem-

bers of the football team were charged with felonies when they bound, beat and abandoned a fellow student half-naked on the baseball field. The attack was so abusive that the victim required surgery for tears of ligaments in his shoulders. The assailants also played Middle Eastern music and spoke in an improvised Middle Eastern accent. It was speculated by the victim’s attorney that this was done in order to frighten the victim further. This brings ethnic discrimination into the attack. Although the victim was not Middle Eastern himself, this puts forth the question of the integrity of how these students are educated. Wheaton College was also in the news for a case pertaining to the potential firing of a professor for wearing a hijab in order to show solidarity with Muslims. The college did not go through with the action, but had it occurred, it would have been completely unjust. However, it proved that the hy-

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per-conservative views of Wheaton College are setting America back. Discrimination based on religion should not be tolerated, especially at a university institution. The presence of these acts at a Christian university that promotes moral behavior is unsettling. Discriminatory views do not stop at religion at Wheaton College, but also include racial discrimination. In 2015, members of the football team wore Ku Klux Klan robes while carrying Confederate flags in their university gym for a team-building activity. Evidently, something must change at Wheaton College, or else violent and hateful acts will continue to occur. The severity of this hazing case should be a wake-up call to the football program and the university. If the school claims it is built on Christian values, it should promote acceptance and kindness, not the opposite. Furthermore, sports teams are supposed to be a safe place

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VIA FLICKR.COM

Five members of Wheaton College’s football team were issued felony charges for intense hazing. The ultra-conservative college in Illinois has a history of religious and racial discrimination. for many students as they journey through college. However, thanks to cases like this, that perspective is blurred. A review of regulations and systematic procedures must be executed in order to address the

obvious problem at Wheaton College. Students should look forward to their college experience, not fear it. Email Tori Bianco at sports@nyunews.com.

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NYUNEWS.COM | TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2017 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS

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SPORTS

EDITED BY MADDIE HOWARD SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

WEEKLY SPORTS UPDATE Sponsors Drop Newton for Sexism Sept. 29 to Oct. 7

By TYLER CREWS Contributing Writer

Women’s Cross Country On Saturday, Oct. 7 women’s cross country participated in the Highlander Invitational, hosted by Houghton College in Houghton, New York. The Violets finished in second place out of the 16 teams competing, coming behind Rochester Institute of Technology. Individually, two of NYU’s runners placed within the top 10. SPS junior Sabrina Herrmann came in first, with a time of 22:13:6, in the five kilometer race while CAS senior Hannah Haley came in fifth, with a time of 23:09:1. The team will compete again on Friday, Oct. 13 at the Metropolitan Cross Country Championship in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

Men’s Cross Country On Saturday, Oct. 7 men’s cross country also participated in the Highlander Invitational. The Violets finished first out of the 16 teams competing with a total of 43 points, which was 22 points ahead of RIT, who had the second place finish. Individually, CAS senior Neil Saddler placed second, with SPS junior Brandon Shirazi coming in fourth and Stern senior Max Mudd pulling in at ninth for three top 10 finishes. The team will be back on Friday, Oct. 13 for the Metropolitan Cross Country Championship in Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

Men’s Golf On Sunday, Oct. 1, NYU men’s golf took home the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship from the Ravenswood Country Club in Victor, New York. The Violets secured the top spot on the leaderboard early on and never relented throughout the weekend. The team earned its second consecutive ECAC championship with a score of 592. Individually, Stern freshman Patrick McNary and Stern sophomore Jensen Li led the group as co-champions, both with a score of 146. Following closely was GLS sophomore Matt Shen, with a fifth place finish and a score of 151. Men’s golf is currently at the Skidmore Invitational in Saratoga Springs, New York at the Saratoga National Golf Course.

Women’s Soccer It was a good week for women’s soccer, with the team securing two wins against Rutgers University-Newark and Case Western

Reserve University. On Monday, Oct. 3, the Violets traveled to Newark, New Jersey to play Rutgers. The team scored two goals in the first half and maintained this lead for the rest of the game. The Violets’ defense was unrelenting in combination with three saves from Tandon sophomore goalkeeper Sophia Danielsen, resulting in their sixth shutout game of the season. The Violets played at home on Saturday, Oct. 7 against Case Western, securing their second win of the week. While Case Western earned the first goal of the match within the first five minutes, the Violets came back with two goals in the second half to gain the win and advance their record to 7-3-1. Women’s soccer plays again on Friday, Oct. 13 when they travel to Atlanta, Georgia to play against Emory University.

By NALANI OGAWA Contributing Writer

Last Wednesday, Carolina Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton, was widely criticized for his sexist remarks made toward female reporter Jourdan Rodrigue of the Charlotte Observer. During a press conference, Rodrigue asked Newton about the passing routes of receiver Devin Funchess, displaying a great deal of technical insight and knowledge about the game. Newton’s response was laughter. Newton claimed that it was funny “to hear a female talk about routes like that.” His degrading comment was highly

criticized all around the world on a multitude of social media platforms. Rodrigue stood up to the former MVP quarterback and took to Twitter, writing, “I don’t think it’s ‘funny’ to be a female and talk about routes. I think it’s my job.” In addition to the incredible backlash from the internet, one of Newton’s sponsors, Dannon, the maker of Oikos yogurt, released a statement explaining it will be no longer working with the quarterback. “We are shocked and disheartened at the behavior and comments of Cam Newton towards Jourdan Rodrigue, which we perceive as sexist and disparaging to all women. It is

Men’s Soccer NYU men’s soccer had two big games this week, first against New Jersey City University and then against Case Western Reserve University. On Tuesday, Oct. 3 the men played New Jersey City at Gaelic Park, winning with a score of 3-2. The game was extremely close and went into double overtime, but the Violets were able to earn the win, breaking their twogame losing streak. The men were less fortunate on Saturday, Oct. 7 when they played Case Western at Gaelic Park. While the Violets were able to secure the first goal, their momentum fell, allowing Case Western to return with five goals. The Violets play again at Gaelic Park on Monday, Oct. 9 against Baruch College.

VIA FLICKR.COM

Carolina Panthers quarterback, Cam Newton, received backlash after making several sexist comments toward a female reporter.

entirely inconsistent with our commitment to fostering equality and inclusion in every workplace.” Michael Neuwirth, Dannon’s senior director of external communications, said. “It’s simply not OK to belittle anyone based on gender.” Newton released an official apology to Rodrigue, but only after being dropped by Dannon. Besides getting interviewed on multiple news stations to acknowledge his mistake and explain that he never meant to make sexist remarks, Newton arrived in Detroit for his game against the Lions this Sunday sporting a Rosie the Riveter pin. This is an obvious attempt to help recover his reputation and avoid being dropped by more sponsorships. Currently, Newton has only been dropped by Dannon. His other sponsorships include Gatorade, Beats by Dre, Forbes, Carolina’s HealthCare Systems and Electronic Arts and a collaboration with Under Armour, which is the company’s current top-selling football cleat. This popular cleat may be the reason that Newton’s relationship with Under Armour is still intact, but it would be to no one’s surprise if he lost more sponsorships in the coming days. Email Nalani Ogawa at sports@nyunews.com.

Women’s Volleyball Women’s volleyball defeated Baruch College in their home opener on Thursday, Oct. 5 at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility in Brooklyn. The Violets won in three straight sets, never being fully challenged with a score of 25-11, 25-14, 25-10. The following day, Friday, Oct. 6, women’s volleyball fell in three sets against Hunter College in the Upper East Side. The Violets stayed close throughout the match, but ultimately lost with a score of 20-21, 17-25, 21-25. Women’s volleyball returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 14 at the second University Athletic Association round robin at the University Of Chicago. Email Tyler Crews at sports@nyunews.com.

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