NYU’s Independent Student Newspaper | est. 1973
nyunews.com
Monday, March 19, 2018
Volume L, Issue 8
ARTS
FEATURES
OPINION
SPORTS
Week of Film at SXSW
Algorithm For Change
ON PAGE 4-5
ON PAGE 6
Sanctuary Cities and their Citizens Are Here to Stay
Catching Up With MLB Draftee CJ Picerni ON PAGE 10
ON PAGE 9
SXSW COVERAGE
What You Missed at SXSW
Politics surrounding race, class and gender were at the center of this year’s South by Southwest Conference & Festivals in Austin, Texas. Creatives from NYU, like Spike Lee (“Pass Over”) and Madeleine Olnek (“Wild Nights with Emily”), and across the globe, like Malaysian-born filmmaker Yen Tan (“1985”) and emerging Canadian filmmaker Emma Seligman (“Shiva Baby”), gathered at the week-long festival to showcase stories with women as the focal point, queer romance as a primary plotline and people of color actors in POC roles –– hurdles that Hollywood blockbusters today just can’t seem to jump over. Rising and established voices at SXSW wrote, directed and produced films to reflect the progress we have made and the progress we are still fighting for. Lee’s “Passover” examined systematic poverty and violence in the black community while Olnek’s “Wild Nights with Emily” uncovered the erased lesbian romance between Emily Dickinson and Susan Gilbert. Suzi Yoonessi’s “Unloveable” was led by an Asian-American actress in a primary Asian-American role while Tan’s “1985” featured queer actors in queer roles –– a challenge in today’s renaissance of queer cinema. Less on the nose, films like Olivia Newman’s “First Match” and Laura Steinel’s “Family” redefined what a family can be in the 21st century, while Bo Burnham’s “Eighth Grade” and Emma Seligman’s “Shiva Baby” explored a girl’s coming-of-age and sexuality without passing judgment or writing a man at the center. During times of political and civil unrest, artists have historically –– in the words of Meryl Streep –– taken their broken hearts and turned them into art. If the voices of this year’s SXSW were any indication of 2018 in film, we are in good shape. Audiences and critics can prepare for a year of answers to problems of representation and opportunity that have plagued the industry since its beginnings. READ MORE ON PAGES 4-5|
COURTESY OF SXSW
Jon Michael Hill and Blake DeLong in “Pass Over.”
Moses Center’s Support for Students With Disabilities Falls Short
T
he Moses Center for Students with Disabilities is an office that is not often brought up in general conversation on NYU’s campus beyond syllabus week, but it is integral in providing students with disabilities the resources they need to succeed in college. Robyn Weiss, the senior director of the Moses Center, explained that the center serves psychological, learning, sensory, physical and various temporary disabilities. According to Weiss, the Moses Center currently provides academic and housing accommodation for 2,700 NYU students across all schools and campuses, and these numbers have only been growing. The Moses Center has seen a 167 percent increase in registered students since 2013. Depending on the disability, these accommodations can include tape-recording lectures, using
visual assistance technology, having extra time to take exams or using an in-class note taker. The center also helps ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to NYU housing and that their needs are met. While the Moses Center helps many, some have felt left behind. Gallatin sophomore Nico Baldwin has dealt with the Moses Center since the beginning of his time at NYU. Baldwin has a learning disability as a result of his premature birth. His disability is not visible, but Baldwin has difficulty writing by hand. Because he was diagnosed in the third grade, Baldwin has ample experience navigating the systems providing services to those with disabilities. READ MORE ON PAGE 3|
STAFF PHOTO BY ALESSIA GARCIA
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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NEWS
nyunews.com Edited by Sakshi Venkatraman and Mack DeGeurin news@nyunews.com
CRIME LOG
Tandon Students Verbally Abuse Public Safety Officers on Two Consecutive Nights By ALEX DOMB Deputy News Editor
VIA NYU.EDU
Students cheering at Yankee Stadium during Commencement.
Students and Alumni Debate Three-Year Degrees By SARAH JACKSON Deputy News Editor
The first annual CAS Student-Alumni Debate was held earlier this month in Jurow Lecture Hall. The Oxford-style debate pitched two-person teams — one student and one alumnus each — against each other to debate whether a three-year undergraduate education is superior to the current four-year model. In the end, the audience voted 18-12 in favor of the argument for the three-year model. CAS senior Akash Lodh and 2017 graduate Devon Weis argued for the motion, pivoting off of their central argument that three-year undergraduate degree programs would help alleviate the growing burden of student debt by eliminating the cost of a fourth year. “We’ve switched the 2008 housing bubble for a student debt bubble,” Weis said. “What happens if the student debt bubble pops?” CAS sophomore Bryte Bu and 2017 graduate Will Lockwood debated against the motion, maintaining that cutting the fourth year leaves less room for core classes and the skills they help develop. “A four-year education allows for American universities to establish a core curriculum that develops a necessary base set of skills,” Bu said. “These core classes are key to building communities in our schools.” Many European universities offer three-year undergraduate programs, often because they do not require students to take many general education courses, if any at all. In the United States, NYU has joined a relatively short list of higher education institutions that have implemented accelerated degree programs. Almost 20 percent of undergraduate students at NYU graduate early, according to the NYU Accelerate website. In an email dated last September, President Andrew Hamilton briefly mentioned attempts to create three-year degree programs at the university. “Humanities faculty in the Faculty of Arts and Science have developed an optional three-year pathway for students pursuing a humanities major; faculty in other schools are also examining undergraduate and graduate degrees that can shorten the time to graduation,” Hamilton wrote. Among the programs that landed NYU a spot on the list are several ac-
celerated bachelor-master programs as well as one of the nation’s first threeyear medical programs. No further updates have been provided about the progress made by faculty in other schools to shorten the length of degree programs. Bu and Lockwood also branched off into the argument that students need flexibility in college to decide for certain what they will study. “Losing that extra year means people will stick to majors with preconceived notions as being safe and get locked into these majors,” Bu said. Lockwood claimed that, if a threeyear degree system were put in place, the decisions traditionally learned in college would still have to be made sometime, most likely being pushed up earlier in life. In most cases, that would be high school, where he argued that teachers are unequipped to help students figure out which majors to pursue. “If we have the work of guidance counselors pushed into the classroom, we’re going to make high school teachers worse at what they do and what they’re best at, and it’s not going to serve the students well,” Lockwood said. “We need to keep college what it is, a new experience, a chance for personal, technical growth, not only in your skills, but in developing as a person.” On the other side of the table, Lodh argued that students do not need high school teachers to set themselves up to graduate early — they’re already doing it themselves. “Learn the new reality that people are coming to college more prepared than ever,” Lodh said. In fact, more and more high school students are taking Advanced Placement classes. For many students, transferring these credits to their college transcripts is the easiest way to graduate early. CAS sophomore Daria Berman is among the 20 percent of students graduating early from NYU, completing her degree in three years because she entered with many AP credits. “Since I had the AP credits to fulfill most of my cores, and I knew which majors I wanted to pursue, planning to graduate early was fairly simple,” Berman said. “Graduating early helps you plan ahead of time and teaches you to really focus on the fields you find fascinating.” Email Sarah Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.
From March 5 to 15, the NYU Department of Public Safety received seven reports of controlled substance violations, one report of criminal mischief, one report of dating violence, five reports of disorderly conduct, two reports of forgery, one report of harassment, seven reports of larceny, one report of simple assault and two reports of trespassing.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE VIOLATION
On March 7 at 4:49 p.m., an RA reported that she recovered alcohol and found a small amount of marijuana in one of the dormitories in Founders Residence Hall. Public safety later recovered the marijuana from the residence. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 8 at 11:48 p.m., an RA reported that during rounds, she recovered alcohol from a room in Lipton Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 8 at 11:57 p.m., an RA reported that during rounds, she recovered alcohol from a room in Coral Towers Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 9 at 7:30 p.m., a member of Public Safety reported that he recovered alcohol from students entering Rubin Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 9 at 10:20 p.m., a resident assistant reported that during rounds she recovered alcohol from a dormitory in University Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 13 at 10:00 p.m., Public Safety responded to a report of an alleged controlled substance violation in Alumni Residence Hall and recovered a small amount of marijuana from the residence. The case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 15 at 10:00 p.m., a member of Public Safety reported that he recovered alcohol from students entering Rubin Residence Hall. Police notification was declined.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
On March 5 at 12:17 p.m., an NYU student reported that there was graffiti on a poster in an elevator in Goddard Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation.
DISORDERLY CONDUCT
On March 5 at 2:20 p.m., an NYU staff member reported that a non-NYU affiliated person entered Vanderbilt Hall, yelling and demanding to speak to someone, and refused to leave. Police were notified and the person was escorted out of the building. On March 9 at 1:45 a.m., an NYU student and her guest yelled at and verbally abused several public safety officers in the Othmer Residence Hall lobby. Police were called and the guest left without further incident. The case is open and under investigation. On March 10 at 12:47 a.m., an NYU student verbally abused several public safety officers and an RA in the Othmer Residence Hall lobby. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On March 11 at 12:47 a.m., an RA reported that a student became verbally and physically aggressive in the West 13th Street Residence Hall hallways. The police were called, and the student was taken to the hospital. The case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 13 at 12:55 p.m., an NYU alumnus refused to leave the premises and acted in a disorderly manner in the lobby of Vanderbilt Hall. Police were called and an arrest was made.
DATING VIOLENCE
On March 11 at 1:38 a.m., an RA reported that she witnessed an NYU student punch and throw a bottle at his significant other. No injuries were reported, and police notification was declined. The RA also recovered alcohol from the dormitory. The case is open and under investigation.
FORGERY
On March 6 at 12:25 p.m., a Lost and Found staff member reported receipt of a forged instrument at 7 Washington Place. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On March 9 at 12:27 p.m., a Lost and Found staff member reported receipt of a forged instrument. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
HARASSMENT
On March 6, an NYU student reported that another student verbally harassed her. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Title IX office.
LARCENY
On March 5 at 12:36 a.m., an NYU student reported that his bike seat had been removed from his bike in front
of Gramercy Green Residence Hall. On March 7 at 10:15 a.m., an NYU student reported that her laptop was missing from a counter on the third floor of the Basic Science Building. A police report was not filed, and the case is open and under investigation. On March 8 at 12:50 p.m., an NYU student reported that cash was missing from her backpack in a locker on the fifth floor of the Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On March 8 at 2:15 p.m., an NYU student reported that a laptop was missing from her backpack in a locker on the fifth floor of Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On March 8 at 7:40 p.m., an NYU student in Founders Hall reported that her roommate borrowed headphones on Feb. 8 and never returned them. The case has been referred to the Office of Residential Life and Housing Services. On March 10 at 11:40 a.m., an NYU Bookstore employee reported that a non-NYU affiliated person attempted to steal nine items from the bookstore. Police were notified and the man was arrested. The case is open and under investigation. On March 10 at 10:57 p.m., an NYU student in Elmer Holmes Bobst Library reported that an unidentified person did not return money he had used to buy her an item from a vending machine, as agreed upon. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation.
SIMPLE ASSAULT
On March 8 at 12:08 a.m., two NYU students report that an unidentified man jumped one of them from behind outside the Barney Building. A passersby assisted and the assailant ran away. Medical attention was declined. The police were called but a report was not filed. The case is open and under investigation.
TRESPASSING
On March 5 at 6:14 p.m., a nonNYU affiliated person entered Palladium Residence Hall and put up flyers in the halls. The person was escorted out of the building by Public Safety and the flyers were taken down. Police notification was declined, and the case is closed. On March 15 at 1:56 a.m., a member of Public Safety reported that a non-authorized person entered Lafayette Residence Hall accompanied by a student. Both acknowledged knowing that the guest was not allowed in the residence hall. The guest was escorted out with no further incident. Email the News Team at news@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
nyunews.com
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NEWS
Edited by Sakshi Venkatraman and Mack DeGeurin news@nyunews.com
Tandon Makes Strides in Robotics, Creates Realistic Zebrafish By PAUL KIM Staff Writer
It looks like a fish. It moves like a fish. But it’s actually Tandon’s newest creation — the robotic zebrafish. Researchers at the Tandon School of Engineering are leading the way in true-to-life robotics with the creation of a model zebrafish that can
mirror the behaviors of a living one. The similar social complexities of zebrafish and humans is the subject of professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Maurizio Porfiri’s lab at Tandon, where he and a small team of post-doctoral biologists, engineers and psychologists are studying zebrafish, using a robot capable of tracking a live zebrafish and
STAFF ILLUSTRATION BY ECHO CHEN
mimicking its movements. Beyond studying the behavioral patterns of zebrafish, the experiments that Porfiri’s lab has done fall under what is known as ethorobotics, which he describes as the intersection of animal behavior and robotics. While replicating the movements of a fish may seem like a simple task, Porfiri described the process as intense. The robot consists of several parts, such as a real-time 3-D tracking system that can follow a zebrafish and a platform that can move to replicate the fish’s motions, both of which were a challenge to build, according to Porfiri. “We undertook these efforts separately and then merged through several iterations,” Porfiri said. Because the replica can react directly to a real zebrafish, the simulation creates a closed-loop system in which the real fish sends information to the replica and the replica reacts in a continuous
back and forth, like two people talking, Porfiri said. According to lab manager Tommaso Ruberto, a biologist and co-author of the study, this technological advancement is able to be replicated while still allowing room for customization. “You can change the color of the replica, you can change the size of it, you can change the way the replica behaves,” Ruberto said. “What will change is only the behavior of the experimental subject that you are testing.” The similarity of the zebrafish nervous system to the human nervous system becomes apparent as the zebrafish develop into adulthood. “The cool thing is that their development, their nervous system development is basically identical to ours,” Ruberto said. “So when they are larvae, their brain develops just like ours. Other things that make us quite similar to fish are for ex-
ample, the addiction to drugs or for example, if you give them alcohol, they will behave similarly to us.” That’s right, zebrafish can get drunk. “If you, of course, get them intoxicated with alcohol, they will behave just like an intoxicated person,” Ruberto said. “They will stumble and they will swim very wobbly, so this is our example of how zebrafish are similar to us. The robot zebrafish can replicate this behavior, as well. However, biomimicry isn’t limited to zebrafish. The application of this real-time reaction technology has started taking place in other capacities such as squirrels, rats and birds according to Ruberto. In the future, robots might even simulate human presence. “Yeah, of course why not?” he said. “The possibilities are basically infinite.” Email Paul Kim at news@nyunews.com.
Moses Center Supports Students With Disabilities, but Room for Improvement | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Throughout his first year, Baldwin said he was in a constant battle with the Moses Center over accommodations. He went through rigorous testing in middle school that cost several thousand dollars and was not covered by insurance to document his disability, yet NYU wanted him to be retested in order to access the center’s services. “NYU did not believe that I had a disability because I had very good academic grades and I had very good test scores, and visually, it’s hard for people to notice that I have anything going on,” Baldwin said. “This guy [on staff at Moses] who saw me for four or five minutes spent the next six months trying to get rid of my accommodations.” Baldwin is not alone in his issues with the Moses Center. Stephanie Tjoa, a sophomore in Stern, tore her anterior cruciate ligament in her knee during taekwondo practice at NYU. It wasn’t until one of the head trainers at Palladium Athletic Facility mentioned it to her that she thought she would qualify as disabled and could use the Moses Center’s services. “I had to take a cab to and from class every day for a few months,” Tjoa said. “[The Moses Center] could give me a one-time reimbursement of $75, so that covers a week of transport, and I was on crutches for at least two months and then again after surgery.” Tjoa estimates she spent a total of $500 traveling to and from class every day, but the Moses Center could not reimburse her for even a quarter of that. Tjoa said that it was not until she was off crutches and doing better that the Moses Center informed she could have taken a bus that passed her dorm.
Tjoa submitted the required form for reimbursement mid-November of last year, but four months have passed, and she still has not received compensation. As for Baldwin, a new Moses Center employee has been assigned to oversee his accommodations. But not all his problems with the Moses Center have been solved. “You walk in [to the Moses Center] and they make you take your shoes off, your bag, all your clothing [jackets or coats], lock it away, they limit what can go in the room with you,” Baldwin said. “They have a camera in every room that you’re going to be taking your test in. There’s almost this expectation within the Moses Center that you’re somehow going to abuse your accommodation instead of purely just using what should be allotted to you.” The strict surveillance of students affects those with academic accommodations, like extended time on exams. Baldwin said he thought these stringent standards are harmful to many students, particularly those with test anxiety. “I’ve [seen] kids who clearly have anxiety problems have near breakdowns in rooms or fits because they weren’t accommodated well and no one helped them,” Baldwin said. “There’s this nervous atmosphere ... I feel deeply uncomfortable.” When asked to comment on these concerns, Weiss wrote in an email that it is important to remember that these accommodations are made on a case-by-case basis. “Accommodations are determined on a case-by-case basis taking many things into consideration and students do not always receive exactly or everything they are requesting,” Weiss wrote. “And Moses does not simply revoke accommoda-
tions. Some accommodations are temporary, but our Disability Specialists work with students to advise and remind about information needed to recertify.” Weiss also articulated her support for how the testing accommodations are currently run. “Regarding testing at Moses, we feel it is important that it be structured,” Weiss said. “It is imperative that each exam administered with accommodations at Moses also be with consistent with the in-class exam administration and requirements. The more structured and organized we are, the more effective the service and a student’s ability to take an exam in a fair, safe environment.” Baldwin’s concerns were not with specific individuals at the Moses Center, but rather a system which he described as held back by its own bureaucracy. “I don’t necessarily fault the individual people in the Moses Center,” he said. “I more openly fault the system as a whole and that it isn’t implemented well.” Given how much experience Baldwin has with the Moses Center, he has many ideas about what could make the system function better. He said a larger staff and increased testing space would help the Moses Center run more smoothly. Additionally, he pointed to making the center more welcoming and transparent in how the system runs. Baldwin finds it hard to relay this feedback to those within the center. He emphasized self-advocacy as being important for individuals trying to get what they need. “I’m a big self-advocator,” Baldwin said. “I think being upfront about your disability and saying what you need is very helpful because a lot of
PHOTO BY DARCEY PITTMAN
A sign in the Moses Center, located on the second floor of 726 Broadway.
people are overwhelmed, and they can’t guess what’s on your mind or what you need.” Ned Crowley is a doctoral candidate and teaching assistant in the Sociology department. He works to make sure many students get their testing accommodations met. Crowley made it clear that he in no way sees the Moses Center as inhibiting to the educational process and believes it to be a good resource for students. “On every syllabus I make from what I teach, I put a resources section that includes everything from like the library, the writing center, but it always has a section for Moses for students who need an accommodation,” Crowley said. Faye Ginsburg, a professor of Anthropology and co-director of the Center for Disability Studies at NYU, agreed that the Moses Center is an important resource for students on campus. Ginsburg actively advocates for disability rights on NYU’s campus through her work with the Center for Disability Studies and as a member of the Disabilities, Inclusion and
Accessibility Working Group. Ginsburg said that NYU is working on an initiative to ensure all online platforms are accessible to everyone. This means initiatives like making all NYU websites and documents accessible to the visually impaired. Ginsburg is also working to address problems with the accessibility of automatic doors and handicapped bathrooms. When asked what NYU students can do to help advocate on behalf of members of the community with disabilities, Ginsburg said that it starts with being aware of how different aspects of daily life impact those with disabilities. “Pay attention to the legislation,” she said. “[Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos] is pulling apart a lot of the supports that have made people with disabilities able to go to school. Charter schools are notoriously bad at providing education for people that need those kinds of supports so be smart voters.” Email Darcey Pittman at news@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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ARTS
nyunews.com Edited by Ryan Mikel arts@nyunews.com
SXSW
PHOTO BY SHARON ATTIA, COURTESY OF EMMA SELIGMAN
COURTESY OF SXSW
such a splash. Critics are calling the film “personable” and “gut-busting,” specifically highlighting its on-screen “baby” Sennott. A 2017 alumna of Tisch School of the Arts, Sennott hails from the Stonestreet Screen Acting Studio. According to Seligman, Sennott appeared in many senior theses this past year, but she had to have her in her film. “I thought she was perfect for the role,” Seligman said. “She’s a comedian so her first talent is comedy. That part was pretty easy, but she was also an acting student, so she was excellent at the dramatic parts as well.” Sennott combines these two realms for an internal yet hilarious performance that captures both the irreverence and naivete of the millennial generation. There is no screwball dialogue for Sennott to chew on. Every expression and frustration is on her face and thanks to Seligman’s personable camerawork, we are treated to eight glorious minutes of it. The short “short” is the synthesis of an entirely NYU-led production. Across the production’s various departments, Seligman led a crew of fellow Film & TV students from her first-year “Sight & Sound” class to the acclaimed Texas film festival. “I learned a lot from Tisch and met the best people, and that’s the most important thing,” Seligman said. “Everyone involved [with the film] I trust the most, from my editor Hanna Park to my cinematographer Leyna Rowan.” Seligman hopes to lead the same team again very soon in adapting “Shiva Baby” into a feature-length film, and we couldn’t be more excited. The sign of a great film is the audience’s audible frustration when the end credits roll. “That’s it?” many audience members asked at the film’s world premiere on March 10 at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Luckily for the auditorium of cinephiles and film critics, there is much more to come from emerging filmmaker Seligman and her charming “Shiva Baby.”
same fight that jailed Collin but was not arrested. Miles’ son, born to him and his black mother, is taught to raise his hands and cry “don’t shoot!” at the spry age of four. The complexity of a poor white man constantly being mistaken for a culture vulture among the new residents who slug green juice while they work at Pandora, being friends with a black convicted felon, boils to a fever pitch. Laughter quickly turns to shock. Diggs wrote the film with fellow writer, producer, actor and friend Rafael Casal years before “Hamilton” had its first rehearsal. And although “Blindspotting” makes excellent use of rap verses that are seamlessly woven into the dialogue and plot of the film, it is by no means a musical. As it happens, rap is a central tenent of the culture of Oakland, California where the movie is set and where Diggs and Casal grew up. Rap is also a genre that has long been used as a device to merge lyricism, history and social conflict into a tradition and a culture of its own. The history and social conflict that “Blindspotting” digs into is moreover not a “Get Out” copycat, commendable as it would be to try to follow up such a carefully crafted masterpiece. No, “Blindspotting” is a stand-alone work of art, wielding empathy, humor and the complexity of black experience to pick apart the mess of racism and systemic hatred. It deserves to be in the same class of film as “Get Out” due to its excellence, not merely its content. Everything, from the gorgeous coloring of the set and lights that let Oakland shine vibrantly to the casual spitting of verses that should win Grammys to the acting by Diggs and Casal that could outshine nearly every other film on the market, makes “Blindspotting” a must-see. Its true star –– the writing from Diggs and Casal –– makes the dialogue so cutting and the feelings so overwhelming. The film makes you think, makes you cry, makes you empathize. If you want to explore discussions of race in film, let “Blindspotting” start your conversation.
Tisch Alum Talks Sugar Babies, Shivas and SXSW By RYAN MIKEL Arts Editor
The words “shiva” and “sugar baby” could not be farther apart in meaning. The former is a period of seven days of formal mourning for the dead in Judaism while the latter is, well, I think you know. As the third fastest growing sugar baby campus of 2018, according to the New York Daily News, NYU is all too familiar with the art of “sugaring,” and Tisch alumna Emma Seligman wants to talk about it. In her short film and senior thesis “Shiva Baby,” Seligman combines the two worlds she knows best –– “jews” and “sugar babies.” “What do I know well?” Seligman asked WSN. “Well, I grew up going to a lot of shivas, and I met a lot of sugar babies at NYU. So, I thought it would be fun to combine those two worlds because I actually know them quite well.” These two spheres meet in a film that follows protagonist Danielle (Rachel Sennott) as she runs into her sugar daddy Max (Jason Kellerman) at a shiva with her parents and large Jewish family. To Danielle’s surprise, her parents know Max very well. As his personal life unfolds before her lox bagel, Danielle is faced with the reality of her actions. “Shiva Baby” was one of 22 short films selected from over 3,000 submissions to compete at this year’s South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. From its witty one liners about “shiksa princesses” to its fast-paced structure, it’s pretty easy to understand why “Shiva Baby” has made
Email Ryan Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.
Dark Commentary in Enlightening ‘Blindspotting’ By HAILEY NUTHALS Editor-at-Large
One could easily pigeonhole “Blindspotting” as a “Hamilton” successor, integrating rap and humor in the way that Lin-Manuel Miranda perfected in the musical. Daveed Diggs, who played both Marquis de Lafayette and Thomas Jefferson in the original “Hamilton” cast, carried this forward to his own project, “Blindspotting.” With its dark commentary on systematic racial privilege and police brutality brought to life by inredibly modern camerawork, “Blindspotting” has made audience members draw parallels to Jordan Peele’s hit, “Get Out.” Despite many of the qualities that made “Get Out” so incisive and divisive, limiting “Blindspotting” to outside comparisons detracts from its excellence. The new film from Diggs screened this past week at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin. “Blindspotting” grapples with friendship and the intersection of race and class, set against the rapidly gentrifying Bay Area. Diggs plays Collin, a man who is three days away from completing a year-long probationary sentence after being jailed for aggravated assault. The story of the assault is revealed piecemeal, at one point narrated with painful detail and gut-busting humor by Utkarsh Ambudkar (“Pitch Perfect,” “White Famous”). Facing imminent freedom and trying to figure out what it means to live life as a convicted felon, Collin’s story is punctuated with rap from both himself and his lifelong best friend Miles. Their friendship is the stuff of legends. But Miles, a white man born and raised in Oakland, has a few cards in his deck that just aren’t available to Collin. Miles was involved in the
Email Hailey Nuthals at hnuthals@nyunews.com.
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Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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Edited by Ryan Mikel arts@nyunews.com
PHOTO BY LINDSAY ELLIOTT, COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
‘Boundaries’ Director Crosses Thresholds By NATALIE WHALEN Film Editor
“Boundaries,” a road trip comedy starring Vera Farmiga and Christopher Plummer as a damaged daughter-father duo, premiered at the South By Southwest Film Festival last Monday night. The film, the majority of which takes place in a weed-filled Rolls Royce travelling from Seattle to Los Angeles, has as much heart as it does laughs. The film, both written and directed by Shana Feste, the filmmaker behind “Country Strong,” “Endless Love” and “The Greatest,” has its quirky comedic elements: from Laura’s (Farmiga) penchant for picking up stray animals, to her son, Henry’s (Lewis MacDougall) talent for drawing naked pictures of authority figures. But behind all the humor is a realistic psychodrama, which is unsurprising given Feste’s proximity to her subject matter: Plummer plays a version of Feste’s own marijuana-dealing father. Yahya Abdul-Mateen, known for his villainous roles in “The Get Down” and the upcoming “Aquaman,” plays a charming love interest for Farmiga. WSN recently sat down with Shana at SXSW, as well as actors McDougall and Abdul-Mateen to discuss breaking out of old patterns, balancing fiction and reality and working from a place of love and truth. Washington Square News: ‘Boundaries’ is really different from your previous films. How do you approach doing something so different? Was this the type of film you always wanted to make? Shana Feste: I definitely wanted to change it up. I didn’t want to make another melodrama or romance again. I wanted to make a comedy. And I think as artists, we always want to flex new muscles and do different genres, but the industry likes to tell you, ‘OK, no you’re actually the YA [Young Adult] person; you’re actually really good with romance; no, this is your lane.’ Thank god I’m a writer because I can write my own material. This
was definitely a risk for me, but what I tried to do was make it as personal as possible. And by doing that, I think it made it more fun and easier for me to get out. Although it was terrifying also. WSN: Lewis and Yahya, I feel like you can speak to this, too. Your roles in the film are quite different from your more recent work. Lewis McDougall: I’ve been saying this: Henry’s a very unique guy; he’s a very unique character. And I’ve been fortunate enough to play a lot of different types of characters. That’s what makes it great — trying different things. Not only his personality or who he is, but I’ve also loved to do different accents, as well. It keep things fresh and keeps things new again — to try different things. Yahya Abdul-Mateen: I think I joked last night that one of the challenges was trying not to foil the plot. You know what I’m saying? As the guy who’s always villains, I’m playing the guy who wants things to go right. I actually leaned over to my agent last night and said, ‘It’s gonna be really nice when I finally get to play a love interest in a story,’ because I think I’ve done six maybe seven films now — wow — and a couple television shows, and this is the closest I’ve been on any of that. But Serge was also a character with a really big heart. I could feel closer to myself on set and on screen. That was a lot of fun. WSN: And Shana, you said the film is really personal for you. How you balance the fictional elements and the real life elements when you’re writing? SF: I think everything I write, it comes from some sort of place of truth. Whether Henry is like my 12-year-old self that felt awkward and was misunderstood … every character I write from the same lens. So it’s tricky; it all sort of morphs together when you’re making the film. But I don’t think that’s a bad thing. I don’t think it gets in the way of anything. I think at its heart, I just wanted all of my actors to connect to something really truthful and not play the comedy and whatnot. We’re trying to connect with something real — real emotion ‘Boundaries,’ which will be distributed by Sony Pictures Classics, opens in theaters on June 22.
The Hidden Irreverence of Emily Dickinson By RYAN MIKEL Arts Editor
During her time at NYU, Madeleine Olnek (Tisch ’87) didn’t want to touch Emily Dickinson’s work. Her public persona was creepy –– “gross,” in fact to Olnek. It wasn’t until she read an article in The New York Times that the magical, irreverent life of the morbid poet finally sparked her interest Have we all misjudged the spinster recluse all along? In her new film “Wild Nights with Emily,” Olnek excavates the erased history of Dickinson and her work’s surprising muse. Thanks to advancements in infrared technologies, “Wild Nights” uncovers the vivacious and queer life of the world-famous poet and her relationship with sister-in-law Susan Gibert. Led by the equally irreverent Molly Shannon (Tisch ’87) and Susan Ziegler (Tisch ’87) as Emily and Susan, respectively, Olnek calls the film an NYU effort. “Molly, Susan and I were all in Tisch at the same time,” Olnek told WSN at the film’s premiere at South by Southwest last week. “Molly has such a distinctive presence just like Emily Dickinson … I knew that if she played her, people would finally know who Emily truly was.” Shannon captures the enigmatic poet’s essence with a gut wrenching performance in –– of course –– true Shannon fashion, with perfect comedic timing and a face that tells a thousand mysteries. Known for her work on “Saturday Night Live,” Shannon proves to be an enigma herself, stepping up to the plate in one of her more dramatic roles since 2016’s “Other People” to deliver truth and dignity to a misunderstood woman’s life. This commitment to the truth is at the core of “Wild Nights.” From Dickinson’s “wish” to be published posthumously to her public persona as a wallflower
too delicate for this world, history could not have written Dickinson’s life more incorrectly. “Wild Nights” explores the truth: Dickinson’s unwavering attempts to get her work published and her not one, but two relationships with women in 19th century Massachusetts. “She just wanted to be published,” Olnek said. “Her poems didn’t include a note that said: ‘Please only publish this when I’m dead …’ They weren’t going to accept a fire brand rebel who flouted social convention. They were going to accept a frightened woman who was heartbroken and pining away.” In the film, we witness this rejection first hand as the powerful men who defined publishing told Dickinson ‘no’ again and again. One in particular, The Atlantic editor Thomas Wentworth Higginson (Brett Gelman) felt that, then more than ever, intelligent women needed to be published, but claimed “he just hadn’t met any yet.” Perhaps the most challenging facet of Dickinson’s life for Olnek to document was her romance with Susan Gilbert. Known for her work on lesbian films like “Codependent Lesbian Space Alien Seeks Same” and “The Foxy Merkins,” Olnek has been creating queer cinema since the early ’90s –– largely comedy. With “Wild Nights,” the filmmaker had to find a balance between comedy and drama because, like Dickinson’s work, the subject dictated it. “I’ve gone on record saying, ‘It’s immoral to make a drama if you can make a comedy,’” Olnek said. “Emily, herself, lived a combination of comedy and drama. She struck that balance in her work … It is sad when the movie ends but because we know Emily’s work has lived on, that gives us some consolation.” Out of her 1,800 poems, Dickinson only saw 11 published while she was alive, according to the film. Due to politics of the time, it can be assumed that none of these published poems were about her lover, Susan. What “Wild Nights With Emily” hopes to do is uncover these 1,789 remaining poems and restore the erased history and inexplicable irreverence of the queer American poet. “Wild Nights with Emily” premiered at SXSW on March 11. Email Ryan Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.
Email Natalie Whalen at nwhalen@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY ANNA STYPKO
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FEATURES
nyunews.com Edited by Yasmin Gulec features@nyunews.com
Algorithm for Change By CAROL OLIVEIRA Contributing Writer
STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE PEURRUNG
The IT Cosmetics display of the Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ at the Union Square Sephora.
Top Five Spring Makeup Bag Essentials By CELINA KHORMA Contributing Writer
Now that spring break has officially come and gone, it’s safe to say that we’re all wishing for another week off. Whether you and your friends decided to splurge on a trip somewhere tropical or stayed right here in New York City, these top five beauty and skincare products are essentials we found ourselves reaching for most this past vacation.
ELVIVE SMOOTH INTENSE FRIZZ TAMING SERUM L’ORÉAL - $6.99
Spring break means finally getting the opportunity to escape winter and jet off to somewhere much warmer. The downside? Humidity leads to unwanted frizz. Luckily, L’Oréal has got you covered. Apply a few pumps of the serum on damp hair, let it sit and enjoy perfectly smooth hair that even moist, tropical climates can’t compromise.
MOISTURE SURGE FACE SPRAY THIRSTY SKIN RELIEF CLINIQUE - $25.50
Laying on the beach with the sun shining on your face all day feels great — until you realize that your face is in desperate need of hydration. Infused with active aloe and antioxidant ingredients and designed to restore the moisture of your skin, this spray provides instant refreshment. Simply hold it a few inches from your face, spray and bask in a speedy cooldown. Hydrating after sun exposure is extremely important, so you certainly won’t regret dedicating some room in your beach bag to this staple item.
YOUR SKIN BUT BETTER CC+ CREAM WITH SPF 50+ IT COSMETICS - $38
Beach and pool days always result in the same dilemma: protecting skin from pesky UV rays and go natural, or risk a day’s worth of exposure for some makeup? This SPF-loaded CC cream, which triples as a foundation, moisturizer and sunscreen, lets you claim the best of both worlds. Enriched with
vitamins and anti-aging, antioxidant ingredients, this product ensures full coverage for your skin and protection from the sun, which can cause serious short and long term consequences. Simply apply a few drops on your face and spread evenly. Then resume your fun in the sun, guilt and sunburn free.
ULTRA-HEALING ALLOVER HYDRATION 100% RAW SHEA BUTTER SHEA MOISTURE - $14.99
Spring may mean warm weather and tropical, beach-filled getaways, but if we learned anything our last week before break, the groundhog didn’t lie — winter persists even during this transitional season. Conquer your dry and cracking skin with this versatile cream. The vitamins within ensure proper full-body moisture from the irritability that accompanies freezing temperatures; apply anywhere, from your hands to your scalp, for instantly smooth skin.
HYDRATING FACIAL SHEET MASK SKIN LAUNDRY $48 FOR A PACK OF FIVE
Here in frigid New York City, sometimes facial moisturizers just don’t do the trick. If you’re looking to pamper your skin with a quality face mask, look no further than the Skin Laundry Hydrating Facial Sheet Mask. Infused with plant and fruit extracts, this mask provides quick hydration, smoothness and pore treatment perfect for fighting off the damage of cold weather. Sip on some cocoa, binge watch Netflix and apply this sheet mask for a relaxing night-in. While spring break always marks a respite from school, it’s important to remember that beauty and skincare products never take a day off. Hopefully we’ve all had time to rejuvenate both our minds and bodies, and these products are perfect to help us continue as we chug through the remainder of the spring semester. Email Celina Khorma at bstyle@nyunews.com.
What can technology do for education? More specifically, how can it help minorities and low-income students overcome barriers and achieve their goals? These are questions posed by Algorithm for Change, a new national competition organized by the NYU Social Entrepreneurship Program that will start accepting applications this spring.
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There are many ways that the power of technology can be used to aid today’s students. TRAVIS REINDL
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With support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the project has the funding to distribute a total of 1.5 million dollars to people with ideas on how to generate more success among low income, underrepresented minorities and first generation students, otherwise known as LIMFG students, through the technology of Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Augmented Reality, abbreviated as ML, AI and xR. Algorithm for Change’s main goal is to encourage inven-
tors and entrepreneurs to use these new, complex technologies to help LIMFG students get into and through college. The competition is an incentive for people, including current students, to start making a change in society. Only 37 percent of Latinos and 35 percent of African-Americans enrolled at post-secondary institutions in 2015, which contrasts the 42 percent of whites and 63 percent of Asian-Americans, according to data from the United States Department of Education. Algorithm for Change seeks to fix this disparity. For Gabriel Brodbar, executive director of the NYU Social Entrepreneurship Program, the winning ideas may come in many different forms. “Whatever the effort is, the end beneficiary has to be low income minority students, whether it engages students at a high school level to help them get into college or is something that uses data to figure out why LIMFG students drop out,” Brodbar said. In an email to WSN, Travis Reindl, senior communications officer for the Gates Foundation, emphasized the endless possibilities of technology in the social sphere. “There are many ways that the power of technology can be used to aid today’s students,” Reindl said. “Everything from developing courseware to improve teaching and learning to advising systems that help students plot a course to their goals.” While AI and ML show great promise, neither are being used to their full potential in the education sector, according to the Algorithm for Change website. Brodbar believes that there are two reasons why tthis is happening: first, access to data is difficult, making it hard
to develop a product that can be taken to scale. And second, there is simply a lack of communication. “You tend to have, on the one side, great engineers with great technical skills, and on the other side, community members, living with challenges that engineers might have trouble understanding,” Brodbar said. “These two groups do not often connect, and we hope to help change that.” The competition will reward three or more individuals and groups who aim to bridge this gap between engineers and struggling communities. Both NYU and non-NYU groups and companies are encouraged to apply. There are three tiers in which teams can apply: ideation, for those who have an idea and are getting started; validation, for those with a prototype ready and working, and commercialization for established companies who are already out there. The winner of each tier will be prized with $100,000, $300,000 and $700,000 accordingly. NYU will lead the AI and ML side of the competition, while the xR challenge will be organized in a separate event by the startup accelerator Techstars. Applications for the competition are due April 10, and the winners will be announced on July 12. The winners will use their rewards to continue leading change in LIMFG student lives through the use of technology. “It is extremely important to remember that technology is simply a tool,” Reindl said. “It is people that make the difference when it comes to educational opportunity.” Email Carol Oliveira at features@nyunews.com.
Fashion’s Dark Underbelly Sees the Light By FAITH MARNECHECK Staff Writer
The fashion industry is following suit of other industries with a moral reckoning caused by an unlikely source: the Instagram meme account @shitmodelmgmt. The account’s anonymous administrator posted a list of people, including photographers and designers, for models to avoid based on claims of sexual assault or harassment. The list took shape after the administrator asked for stories of sexual harassment in the fashion industry, facilitating a platform for these names to come to light. The goal of naming detestable people — all of which were men — in the fashion industry joins the growing wave of accountability that has swept beyond Hollywood and the media industry. The list itself is reminiscent of the aptly named “Shitty Media Men” list that documented reports of sexual assult or hrassment by men in the media industry. This predecesor list was a crowd-sourced spreadsheet created by journalist Moira Donegan to warn other young females in the magazine and publishing industry and create a place for women to share stories and help one another without the fear of retribution that the stories would not be believed. Donegan explained her reasons for creating the spreadsheet in an article for The Cut. “Anonymous, it would protect its users
from retaliation: No one could be fired, harassed or publicly smeared for telling her story when that story was not attached to her name,” Donegan wrote in the article. “The spreadsheet made a presumption that is still seen as radical: That it is men, not women, who are responsible for men’s sexual misconduct.” In both cases, the lists disappeared from the internet once they reached extreme exposure due to negative public reactions. The administrator of @shitmodelmgmt wrote in a story on Instagram that the list was removed due to a series of violent threats. While these lists seem to be a positive step for society morally, valid criticisms exist surrounding the risks of lists that do not name the accuser because anyone could potentially falsely accuse without repercussion. Others feel differently. Steinhardt first-year Olivia O’Leary believes that the possible consequences of this system do not invalidate the lists. “Everyone’s word or accusation should be taken seriously,” O’Leary said. “It should be taken seriously and not scoffed at but also with a grain of salt to evaluate the truth of it. I think [the list] is a good move forward because it is a way to oust people.” For Stern first-year Ashley Adelberg, who is signed with Ford Models, the blacklist posting struck a personal note. “I’ve worked with some of the people
on this list, and it saddens me to know the girls who have only recently reported their actions,” Adelberg said. “I’m also upset when I look back and realize that could’ve been me.” The responsibility then seems to fall on the public to be careful and cognizant of the accusations in these types of lists but also to presume the truth in the accusations, as many rightful accusations of powerful people have recently been made by those who previously hid the truth out of fear. “It scares me how much evil is lurking in the underbelly of many industries,”Gallatin senior Daryl Ocampo said. “The movement that started in the film industry has started to spread, which I think is important. Scary as it seems, I think society is better off exposing these abusers and getting woken up by a splash of cold water to the face so they can get their sh-t together and create the proper reforms to keep people safe and comfortable.” Email Faith Marnecheck at bstyle@nyunews.com.
VIA INSTAGRAM.COM
The Instagram page for Shit Model Management (@shitmodelmgmt).
nyunews.com
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FEATURES
Edited by Yasmin Gulec features@nyunews.com
New York’s Newest Non-Dairy Trend: Oat Milk
STAFF PHOTO BY KATIE PEURRUNG
A barista pours Oatly oat milk at City of Saints on Astor Place.
By CLAIRE TIGHE Contributing Writer
When Amber Ward heard about oat milk for the first time, she was skeptical. But after trying the drink at Champs, a vegan diner in Brooklyn, the Steinhardt senior instantly fell in love. “I thought it was really weird,” Ward said. “I’m not a big oat person. But I poured it in my coffee, and it tasted better than any other milk products that I
had tried before.” Oat milk, a trendy dairy alternative, is popping up in coffee shops all over New York City. Coffee fans swear by it, raving that it isn’t too sweet, thin or watery. And they say it goes surprisingly well with their morning joe. “Oat milk markets itself well in coffee shops because of its frothability,” CAS senior Rae Frey said. For coffee drinkers who noticed a lack of froth in almond or soy milk lattes, oat milk is a welcomed alternative. Coffee shops near campus, like City of Saints, Think Coffee and Bluestone Lane, are using a special barista-edition oat milk, sold by a Swedish brand called Oatly. This special barista blend has added oil to give oat milk more body when steamed. Frey, a self-declared “sort-of vegetarian” said that oat milk doesn’t compromise on taste or texture when she’s drink-
ing her espresso. “I love a good mouth-feel when I have a latte,” Frey said. Oat milk’s rise in popularity sources back to Oatly’s recent launch in the United States. With offices now in New York, the Swedish brand is advertising in coffee shops, sandwich boards, subway ads near campus and YouTube. A recent video featured the company’s CEO singing “Wow, no cow” in a field of oats. For coffee drinkers and non-coffee drinkers alike, oat milk has some surprising health benefits. It is dairy and gluten-free. It doesn’t contain popular allergens like nuts or soy. Unlike some alternative dairy milks, Oatly does not have added sugar or vanilla flavoring. Marion Nestle, Paulette Goddard professor and professor emerita in the Steinhardt Food Studies program, said that one benefit of drinking oat milk is getting the
nutrients from oats, a healthy grain. “It has the nutritional benefits of oats — vitamins, minerals, protein and fiber,” she wrote in an email to WSN. Oatly also said its product is not a Genetically Modified Organism, a selling point for the sustainability-minded. For students concerned about the carbon emissions of cows milk, the GMO ingredients in soy milk and the water-intensive nature of almond milk production, Oatly is an environmentally-friendly alternative. “It is not just a trend,” said Kristen Arnold, a CAS senior in environmental studies who works in NYU’s Office of Sustainability. “Oatly is pushing on the fact that they want to compliment taste with reducing environmental impact. Hopefully it is not reflective of a shortterm trend but a long-term transition away from dairy milk.” While oat milk is an exciting addi-
tion to the non-dairy milk menu, it can be a costly alternative. As it makes its ways into U.S. markets, shoppers can find the quart-sized container in stores for roughly $5 or a half gallon on Fresh Direct for $5.29. Some coffee shops charge an extra quarter or two for choosing the non-dairy milk in their drinks. But for Ward, who prefers to get her oat milk at shops like La Colombe and Third Rail, the surcharge is worth it. “I only go to coffee shops that have oat milk at this point,” Ward said. Frey agreed, saying that despite the cost, oat milk is an important addition for sustainable foods. “Is it a luxury?” Frey said. “Sure. But I think it’s cool.”
Email Claire Thighe at dining@nyunews.com.
CAS Dean Gene Jarrett: A Semester In By NATASHA ROY Managing Editor-at-Large
When College of Arts and Science Seryl Kushner Dean Gene Jarrett started his job at NYU last September, he wasn’t simply moving to New York City for a job — he was returning home. Jarrett graduated from Stuyvesant High School and left New York to attend Princeton University and then graduate school at Brown University. He later worked at the University of Maryland, College Park and Boston University. Now, Jarrett works in an office on the ninth floor of the Silver Center for Arts and Science overlooking what’s considered to be NYU’s quad: Washington Square Park. But Jarrett doesn’t just watch NYU from above — with an open-door policy, Jarrett makes sure to approach his role from many angles, encouraging communication with staff, faculty and students. “Any student that reaches out to my office and wants to meet with me, I set up a time to talk with them,” Jarrett said in an interview with WSN. “I think I’ve been having a great time talking with them individually about NYU, where they’re coming from and their long-term goals.” During his first semester at NYU, Jarrett noted its diverse, savvy student body. He said he’s observed how students have been able to creatively pinpoint and take advantage of the opportunities available to them in New York City. Jarrett said he’s also discovered that NYU is a complex university, so it is very important that his decisions are made deliberately and in the best interest of CAS. He is also constantly thinking about CAS’s relationship with the rest of the university holistically. “That’s a broader, kind of structural set of concerns that I have, but I think it’s also true that in this kind of environment, there’s just a lot of activity, and so you’re constantly in conversations with students and faculty, and I think it’s important to have clear lines of communication all
around,” Jarrett said. The working relationship between faculty and students is a feature of academic life at NYU that Jarrett aims to emphasize. Mentorship is of value to him, and he wants to encourage faculty to be there for students both in the context of the course they teach, but also in helping them build their longterm trajectories for their later years at NYU and into their professional lives. One of his goals for the university is to elevate the faculty’s awareness of how important the students here are and how many of them want a personalized, intellectual relationship with their professors. “I’ve pointed to a number of bits of information about how students, upon their entry, say that they would like to be either in a serious mentorship relationship or they’d like to participate in certain projects with faculty,” Jarrett said. “I’ve worked my way in talking with faculty in a variety of contexts about how that’s the kind of appeals or advocacies that students are saying or expressing, and that what can we do strategically to make sure that the concerns of the students are being fulfilled.” It’s an ambitious goal, but not one he takes lightly. He has plans to prioritize mentorship with the creation of a task force. “I plan by the end of this semester to establish a kind of a task force on mentorship where there’ll be a variety of
faculty, I’d like to invite students, potentially some alumni, to think about how we can bridge the gap between the advising experience that students have and the potential mentorship experience that they could enjoy here,” Jarrett said. “I think that would have a long term benefit for students in the sense that as they’re making their way through, let’s say, general education here at the college and into a department with a certain kind of specialization, that all the while they’ll have their concerns about their career goals being addressed.” Outside of NYU, Jarrett is reconnecting with his past. While he’s looking to the future with his plans for CAS, returning to New York City also means he was coming back to the people he grew up with — family, friends and former classmates. “It’s been great returning to this environment where so many people ranging from junior high school to high school have reached out to me, and I’m thinking ‘Wow, I haven’t seen you in a long time,’” Jarrett said. “Plus I’m sure I look different over these years. But I’ve been connecting with them and the muscle memory of being back in the city, of being back in the subway, enjoying Broadway, interacting with a variety of people across the square has been outstanding.”
Email Natasha Roy at nroy@nyunews.com.
STAFF PHOTO BY ECHO CHEN
CAS Dean Gene Jarrett working at his desk.
PHOTO BY LAURA RUBIO
Laura Rubio’s family recipe for Cuban guiso: kielbasa sausage, sweet corn, potatoes and pumpkin over white rice. FAMILY MATTERS
A Hearty Dish From Home By LAURA RUBIO Staff Writer
Every year, my birthday is a true treat because I get to celebrate among loved ones with a heaping bowl of Cuban guiso. My mother’s gift to me is always her home-cooked meal: smoky kielbasa sausage, sweet corn, potatoes and pumpkin, all smothered over white rice. Guiso means stew in Spanish. It is a dish most countries have their own versions of. My mother’s guiso is a twist on the original Cuban guiso, which is made primarily of corn. For the longest time, I thought it was a family tradition from my mom. Turns out, it was from my dad. “When I was a boy, my mom would make it and serve it for dinner or lunch,” my father Mario Rubio said. “I really liked the taste of corn.” Back in Cuba where my parents grew up, it was not always easy to find certain foods — including corn. This turned the preparation of this dish into a special occasion. Stews like guiso are a source of comfort because of their hearty vegetables and how they evoke childhood memories. It’s no surprise that chicken noodle soup and gumbo fall in this category too. Wherever you’re from, there’s likely some recipe that’s been tweaked by your family. Whatever the case, tracing the origins of your favorite child-
hood dish is a great way to reconnect with your heritage. In the meantime, you can experience the warmth of home with my family’s guiso. • • • • • • • • • • •
GUISO
1 yellow onion 2 cloves of garlic 1 red bell pepper 1 13-oz. package of smoked Kielbasa sausage 5-6 potatoes (in cubes) ½ large pumpkin (in cubes) 2 cups of corn (whole kernel)/ cobs to your liking 1 can of sofrito (sauce made of bell peppers) 1 cup of tomato sauce Cooking wine to your liking 1 tablespoon Kosher salt and complete seasoning
In a large pot, sautee onions, garlic and bell peppers in olive oil. Add kielbasa sausage and raw chunks of potato, pumpkin and corn. Add the can of Spanish sofrito, tomato sauce and a splash of cooking wine. Season with salt and complete seasoning. Finally, add water until it barely covers the stew. Let the mixture simmer until the potatoes, pumpkin and corn are soft and cooked. Serve over white rice. Email Laura Rubio at dining@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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nyunews.com
OPINION
Edited by Tyler Crews opinion@nyunews.com
CULTURE
Social Media: The Enemy of Body Positivity By ALISON ZIMMERMAN Deputy Opinions Editor
Social media is a platform that fosters envy like none other. While previous generations had television, movies or simple people-watching as a basis for comparison and self scrutiny, social media exposes young people to a flood of images to judge themselves against — models with non-existent waistlines or celebrities sipping fad diet smoothies. But images on social media are hardly reflective of reality — any picture can be edited to exaggerate a thigh gap or deep, defined collar bones. So, for young people struggling with body insecurity, social media creates a toxic culture of unrealistic expectations and compari-
son that users and social media sites must work together to change. Social media creates a constant window into a warped version of others’ realities and the pressure to keep up can take a toll on mental health. Eating disorders are on the rise all around the globe, and many experts attribute the surge, at least partially, to social media. Depression and anxiety have also increased with digital and social culture bent on perfectionism and idealism. Even the number of men seeking treatment for eating disorders saw a 70 percent spike between 2010 and 2016. Plastic surgeons have also recently reported the emergence of “Snapchat Dysmorphia” — people altering their appearance to look like themselves
with a Snapchat filter. The need to address the rise in eating disorders in recent years is especially pressing, given that eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. On top of that, adolescents are most vulnerable to developing eating disorders or other body dysmorphic disorders — experts say the pressure to be accepted by peers is at is highest during teenage years
— so social media can be a unique danger for this age demographic. While social media companies may have limited ability to steer the content users, particularly adolescents, restricting access to accounts dedicated to dieting tactics and weight loss may help alleviate some pressure for body perfection. Additionally, Instagram and Snapchat could include disclaimers to remind users to some pictures may be edited a false representation of reality. For many users, social media can do more harm than good. It allows people to measure their self worth in likes, allows too much comparison to others and gives us too much time trapped in a world of unachievable, if not unhealthy,
body expectations. But social media culture is entirely a product of the users. As people who have grown up with a foot in the digital social landscape, we have the power and the Instagram accounts to help dictate the values of our online culture. It is time to use that power — to use social media as a platform to encourage celebration of all body types, rather than perpetuate a culture that places value on thinness. Social media is not going away any time soon, but the mental health consequences are too grave for the culture to continue unchanged. It is time for body positivity to take over our feeds. Email Alison Zimmerman at azimmerman@nyunews.com.
CULTURE
Bumble’s Hive Mind Predicament By JANICE LEE Contributing Writer
Bumble banned users from having guns in their profile pictures for the interest of user safety, but this decision may unintentionally result in more societal fragmentation. Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, many companies have cut ties with the National Rifle Association. Their decision signals solidarity with those affected by gun violence and places pressure on national leaders to pass comprehensive gun legislation. Amid this growing sensitivity, Bumble, a dating app popularized by its effort to subvert gender norms by letting women make the first move, responded by banning users from having guns in their profile pictures. Bumble’s desire to foster a safe en-
vironment is encouraging –– its outright intolerance suggests that we are approaching rampant gun violence’s expiration date. Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe, however, emphasized that Bumble’s decision to ban guns was not politically driven. Herd’s message was clear: put aside bipartisan beliefs surrounding gun control with the sole intent of ensuring everyone’s safety. Yet, her attempt to semantically tear apart the politics from Bumble’s stance oversimplifies its action. The gun debate in its origin is inherently political. Bumble needs to take ownership of its impact, recognizing that labeling itself as political bystanders ultimately gives it little, real leverage. Despite the framing, Bumble’s decision is still revolutionary. Exerting control to instigate change is proactive in challenging the United States to grow. However, it is imperative to also consider how Bum-
ble’s censorship has the potential to establish more division by facilitating a more homogenous user base. This trend could spur the rapid creation of niche pro-gun dating communities, which already exist with sites like Concealed Carry Match. On the internet, we are prone to this kind of self-segregation. Algorithms implemented by social media and search engines determine and predict our interactions, making the pursuit of communities in line with our views even easier. Though the ability to find people we readily con-
nect with is convenient, homogeneity can lend itself to overwhelming groupthink. By constantly surrounding ourselves with people who fundamentally agree with us, we lose touch with our ability to openly and productively communicate dissent. The 2016 presidential election is a notorious example of this funneling and its consequences. Simultaneously, communication within modern dating culture is idiosyncratically impaired. With the rise of online dating, people have an unparalleled capacity to micromanage their self-presentation. Strategy is especially salient when users, in text-based conversations, have the option to be vague about their intentions and expectations to reach an endgame. Users also often “ghost,” or forego a response to avoid unwanted conversations. These cultural tendencies demonstrate how we retain such immense power from behind
a screen, that clear, effective communication is not thought of as vital. Imagining the intersection of homogeneous online communities and dating culture wrought by the internet is wildly intimidating. The larger picture comes into focus to illustrate how politics and dating are inseparable, entwined by their inextricable relationship to American consciousness. With the contribution of social media, the polarizing Second Amendment seems fated to create irreconcilable factions. The responsibility then falls on us to be individually aware of our internet inclinations and the shifting cultural terrain. We have the task of promoting transparency and empathy to combat the fragmentation of what is meant to be one nation. Email Janice Lee at opinion@nyunews.com.
HEALTHCARE
Opioid Epidemic Starts With Corrupt Doctors By TYLER CREWS Opinion Editor
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump addressed the opioid crisis with great fervor in the 2018 State of the Union address, stating his intention to start a war on drugs and cut the supply smuggled from outside of the country by securing borders. However, the drug epidemic is not founded in smuggling and illegal immigration but rather in a source much closer to home: our doctors. This past Friday, five New York doctors were charged with taking kickbacks for prescribing Subsys, a spray form of fentanyl –– the highly addictive drug involved in over half of the estimated 64,000 opioid deaths in 2016. According to The New York Times, the company,
Insys Therapeutics, paid doctors over $100,000 annually to prescribe millions of dollars worth of the product. This is not a rare occurrence within the medical field. CNN and researchers at Harvard University recently released an analysis showing that in 2014 and 2015, among the top 25 percent of opioid prescribers, 72 percent of doctors received payments from drug companies. In most cases, these doctors are supposedly paid in exchange for speaking on the drug and for consultation. However, the correlation between the doctors who are paid for these services and the doctors who prescribe the drug is too strong to ignore. Even without payment, doctors prescribe unnecessary medications or prescribe higher quantities than needed. On Wednesday, NYU highlighted Rory
Meyers College of Nursing professor Holly Hagan and her efforts in combating the opioid crisis and its collateral effects in rural areas, providing her with the platform to clarify the myths of the opioid epidemic. She discussed the detrimental effects of unnecessarily lengthy prescriptions in cases of acute pain management. Hagan cited an instance in which parents did not know that their son was still using painkillers from a sports injury until
they found him dead from an overdose. While people with pain develop dependence to medication because they have a high supply without regulation, others have easy access to drugs that are being carelessly dished out. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance for providers, recommending shorter durations for opioid prescriptions of three to seven days. As a result, in April 2017, senators John McCain and Kirsten Gillibrand introduced the Opioid Addiction Prevention Act of 2017, which would require medical professionals to only prescribe opioids as treatments for acute pain in quantities less than or equal to seven day, non renewable supplies –– except when treating chronic pain, cancer pain and other end-of-life symptoms. While
this provides a potential solution to overprescription, it does not address the corrupt collaboration between doctors and drug manufacturers. It is important that doctors be able to advocate for medications that they believe work for their patients. However, there is a line between advocacy for the common good and self interested sales pitches. We need legislation which mandates strict regulation of interactions between prescribers and pharmaceutical companies, and provides clear guidelines for legal interaction and compensation. Trump can try his best to keep drug suppliers out of the U.S., but that won’t fix the corruption that exists within our borders. Email Tyler Crews at tcrews@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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OPINION
Edited by Tyler Crews opinion@nyunews.com
CULTURE STAFF EDITORIAL
Don’t Censor Lil Yachty By VICTOR PORCELLI Staff Writer
While working out in the NYU Palladium Gym, I usually supply my own music and headphones but sometimes forget these essentials, and on those occasions yearn for sounds other than my workout-induced huffing and puffing. The gym music varies depending on who is working that day, but is often composed of rap, the quintessential “pump up” music. On one occasion, I heard something odd in the music that made me stop mid-rep: an added bleep in place of the word “Columbine” in the song “Broccoli” by D.R.A.M. featuring Lil Yachty. I found this surprising, as although I am used to the commonly censored curse words, I had never heard a word like “Columbine,” which in most contexts would not be considered offensive, be censored. From an emotional standpoint, I can understand why someone would want to censor it. The word is used in an offensive way, with the exact line being “N---- touch my gang we gon’ turn this sh-t to Columbine.” With the line potentially disrespecting the victims of the Columbine massacre and minimizing the issue of school shootings — a topic that is extremely sensitive in the current political and social climate — it is understandable that some may
wish the word to be cut out. However, I believe this to be problematic in practice. Censoring a word due to its subjective offensiveness unnecessarily modifies the message of the art it is found in, as well as the art as a whole. Many people felt similarly, as fans reacted to censorship by streaming services upon the release of “Broccoli” with outrage that resulted in a reversal of the censorship. However, some versions of the song which censor “Columbine” still remain, so it is important to questionwhether this is good or bad and the reasoning for both arguments. Those who advocate for the censorship of “Broccoli” may cite its insensitivity. In the song, Lil Yachty uses the idea of a school shooting as a threat. This response and subsequent push to censor the word is innately emotional. But is preventing that emotion worth the potential cost of censorship? This debate is not only about the censor-
ship of the word “Columbine.” It brings up a larger question of whether or not censorship of any offensive words is acceptable. If we were to allow censorship in this case, it could justify the censorship of other words or phrases that offend, disrespect or make people feel uncomfortable. Censorship of this nature could result in countless works being altered and a society with mechanisms reminiscent of the “thought-police” depicted in George Orwell’s “1984.” Censored works are inherently different from their un-censored counterparts. Besides the obvious difference in language, the potential meaning or message of a piece changes when the words used to deliver it are changed. Censorship also limits conversation and thought concerning the censored topics. Yet no subject matters should be ignored simply due to their offensive nature. If anything, topics that cause offense or discomfort should be talked about more, as these emotions are often an indicator of some greater problem or conflict. As a community, NYU should not partake in the censorship of ideas, as this leads to a disfiguration of the art and its message, and also limits conversation concerning topics which are often necessary to discuss. Email the Victor Porcelli at opinion@nyunews.com.
INTERNATIONAL
Be a Conscious Traveler By PAOLA NAGOVITCH Deputy Opinion Editor
As you settle back into reality after spring break and patiently await summer vacation, consider how you can be a conscious traveler during your next adventure. Ethical traveling entails being aware of how and where you are spending your money. While cruise ships and all-inclusive resorts are attractive, easy and cheap options, both rely on underlying exploitative mechanisms that can hinder local economies, mistreat workers or pollute the environment. When you start planning your next vacation, make sure you thoroughly research where your money is going, whether it is actually helping local economies that rely on tourism or if it is contributing to the exploitation of workers on cruise ships. Avoid cruise ships as your first step in becoming a more conscious traveler. As a guest, one experiences luxury and relaxation; however, under the deck, cruise ship workers are forced to function under poor working and living conditions. A study conducted by Celia Mather, a writer whose work focuses on global labor is-
SUBMITTING TO
sues, found that cruise ship employees work excessive hours with low wages. Mather described the conditions as reminiscent of slavery with workers living in cramped and warm quarters, sharing low-quality food and laboring under strict management for six to eight months that ensures employees become invisible to guests. Moreover, cruise ships emit as much particulate matter as one million cars every day. These ships generate 15 gallons of hazardous chemical waste per day, produce 210,000 gallons of sewage from guests and crew per week and spill 100 million gallons of petroleum in the oceans every year. Next time you see a deal for a cruise adventure, remember that cruise ships violate labor and environment standards. Another way to travel consciously is to
make sure you support local businesses and economies. All-inclusive packages hurt workers who depend on tourism for survival. All-inclusive resorts overwork and underpay employees because the hotels don’t bring in enough revenue to pay their staff due to the lower prices of these all-inclusive deals. Moreover, all-inclusive vacations negatively affect local economies. Research shows that travelers with all-inclusive deals spend less on local food and drinks. As tourist spending moves to privately-owned resorts, local businesses suffer from the lack of sales. It is crucial to keep the money with the locals who work tirelessly to survive and support the economy. Consider local lodging options instead of all-inclusive hotels. You can be a conscious traveler and still have fun. Research the 10 most ethical destinations of 2018 for your next vacation. Be aware of environmental protection, human rights and social welfare in the country you are visiting and consider how your vacation will contribute to these factors. Email Paola Nagovitch at pnagovitch@nyunews.com.
Sanctuary Cities and Their Citizens Are Here to Stay
Since taking office, President Donald Trump’s administration has fought against sanctuary cities — cities that restrict cooperation with federal immigration policies — and has threatened to withhold federal grants from cities and states that do not cooperate with immigration officials. Furthermore, on March 13, a federal appeals court ruled that Texas can legally bar its cities from offering refuge to undocumented immigrants. Before the the March 13 ruling, in May 2017, Senate Bill 4 was passed in response to the growth of sanctuary cities across Texas, requiring city authorities to cooperate with federal immigration officials and giving the police the power to question the immigration status of anyone who is arrested. However, the decision to be a sanctuary city should be the city’s jurisdiction, not the state or federal government’s. The emergence of sanctuary cities can be traced back to the 1980s, when the Reagan administration refused to grant asylum to Central American refugees, who were fleeing their politically unstable home countries. The first major city to take on a resolution was San Francisco, which issued the “City and Country of Refuge” resolution and ordinance in 1989. In 2014, New York became one of the first states to limit cooperation with federal agents in the detention of undocumented immigrants. With over half a million undocumented immigrants living in New York City, officials have redoubled their efforts to protect them despite threats from the Trump administration. Mayor Bill de Blasio has not backed down, even setting aside $26 million of New York City’s budget to provide legal assistance to immigrants. Furthermore, the City Council passed Introduction 1568-2017 on Oct. 31, 2017, stating that no New York City funds would be used to enforce federal immigration laws. Though the federal government has grown increasingly hostile toward undocumented immigrants and insists on hardline policies rather than a comprehensive solution, sanctuary cities allow undocumented immigrants safety and the chance to work toward citizenship. Furthermore, sanctuary cities are proven to have lower rates of unemployment and poverty, and higher median incomes than other cities, proving that amiability toward immigrants is mutually beneficial. Crime is also lower in sanctuary cities than in non-sanctuary cities. If a city benefits from the contributions of its immigrants, it should be its decision to protect them in order to promote the betterment of the city as a whole. The Sanctuary Campus Movement has also taken root across the country, with more and more universities pushing to offer enrollment to undocumented immigrants. NYU has not followed suit despite pushes from the student body. Ultimately, the decision of whether to allow or outlaw undocumented immigrants should be a local one. Local governments should be allowed the opportunity to open their arms to residents regardless of citizenship rather than be forced to perpetuate the attacks of the federal government. Trump’s assault on sanctuary cities is concerning, not only because sanctuary cities are beneficial to their respective communities, but also because city sovereignty is an important component of democracy. Email the WSN Editorial Board at opinion@nyunews.com EDITORIAL BOARD: Tyler Crews (Chair), Paola Nagovitch (Co-chair), Alison Zimmerman (Co-chair) STAFF PHOTO BY ANNA LETSON
Send mail to: 75 Third Ave. #SB07, 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.
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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SPORTS Keeping up with the
Edited by Maddie Howard sports@nyunews.com
BOBCATS
Swimming and Diving March 21
Baseball March 21
Fencing March 22
NCAA Championships
vs. College of Mount Saint Vincent
NCAA Championships
Catching Up With MLB Draftee CJ Picerni By BELA KIRPALANI Staff Writer
On Sunday, May 8, 2016, the NYU Baseball team lost to Skidmore College 14-12 in their last game of the year. While the team didn’t finish out the season as team captain and now NYU alumus CJ Picerni had hoped, it wasn’t the final strike for Picerni, who would soon be drafted to play for the Washington Nationals. Growing up in Calabasas, California, Picerni started playing baseball at five years old. He attended California Lutheran University for two years before transferring to NYU in 2014, during the first year of NYU’s rebooted baseball program after a 41-year hiatus. Picerni spent the beginning of
the Washington Nationals. “It took me a couple minutes to realize what had happened, and by the time I wrapped my head around it I was getting phone calls left and right, texts saying congratulations,” Picerni said. Soon after, life started moving quickly for Picerni. “I quit my job with the Diamondbacks and signed my contract with the Nationals on June 20,” Picerni said. Picerni played in the Gulf Coast League his first year, and then on June 12, 2017 he was sent to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs, a minor league affiliate of the Nationals, where he was the bullpen catcher. On Nov. 6, the Nationals released Picerni from his contract, and just a month later Picerni was hired by
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PHOTO BY BETH SATTUR
CAS senior Jonathan Iaione up to bat at the NYU baseball game on Mar. 6, 2018.
WEEKLY SPORTS UPDATE
March 10 to March 18
By MADDIE HOWARD Sports Editor
BASEBALL
The Violets maintained their undefeated record over the course of five games at their spring break trip in Fort Myers, Florida. The team’s record now stands at 12-0. Throughout the week Stern junior Ryan McLaughlin had several standout performances, earning himself the University Athletic Association’s “Baseball Hitter of the Week.” Only three Division III baseball teams remain undefeated in the NCAA. One of those teams has played just a single game.
SOFTBALL
NYU Softball ended its spring break trip with less success, winning just three of eight games. CAS sophomore Mary Tindall had a standout performance in the team’s game against Ramapo College after hitting a grand slam that won the game.
MEN’S VOLLEYBALL
Men’s Volleyball hosted the United Volleyball Conference Crossover, winning its games against Elmira
College and Bard College. The Violets also had a split weekend March 17-18, losing a game against New Paltz but winning in four sets against The Sage Colleges. Stern first-year Alex Li had a standout performance against New Paltz, recording 20 kills and two aces.
TRACK & FIELD
CAS senior Neil Saddler earned All-America honors at the Indoor Track and Field Championships on March 10 in Birmingham, Alabama. He placed third in the 3,000m event, earning himself a bronze medal. CAS sophomore Evelyn Nkanga also earned All-America honors for her fourth place finish in the triple jump. She finished with an 11.86m jump, beating her last year’s finish by .5m.
I went about my business and I worked my ass off every single day and to be where I am, and I’m grateful for the Nationals and I’m grateful for the Giants. CJ PICERNI
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the 2016 Major League Baseball draft as a sports management intern with the Arizona Diamondbacks. His boss gave him a couple of days off, so Picerni started Saturday, June 11 like any other day until he got the news that every kid who has ever picked up a bat dreams of. “Around one or two o’clock, I was checking Twitter to see if any of my friends got drafted, and all of a sudden, I refresh the page and I see my name pop up with the Nationals,” Picerni said. Picerni was drafted in the 31st round, as the 934th overall pick by
the San Francisco Giants, where he is currently bullpen catcher for their Class-A affiliate, San Jose. In his two-year whirlwind, Picerni learned a lot about the ever-changing world of professional baseball. “I just learned to appreciate every single day,” Picerni said. “To remember to count your blessings and realize where you are and how many people would kill to be in the position you’re in. I can gladly say I never took one day for granted. I went about my business and I worked my ass off every single
day and to be where I am, and I’m grateful for the Nationals and I’m grateful for the Giants.” As the first NYU baseball player selected in the MLB draft in 40 years, Picerni’s story serves as an inspiration to many. NYU Baseball head coach Doug Kimbler said that Picerni’s journey acts as a motivator for the current team members. “When guys see and read his story, they believe it is possible,” Coach Kimbler said. “If we keep moving in the right direction and recruit better and better baseball players, I hope a few more of our guys get the opportunity to play professional baseball.” NYU baseball senior Matthew Wells played with Picerni for two years of Wells’ career and said that Picerni always looked to further the group. “CJ was a great baseball player that wanted to improve everyone around him,” Wells said. “He was prepared like no one else and practiced hard. He wasn’t a big guy by any means, and wasn’t a rah-rah leader, but he knew how to get the most out of his own talent, and how to motivate others to do the same.” Wells said that those still left from Picerni’s time at NYU still keep in mind the example he set. “Even though most of the guys who played with him are gone, the ones that are left learned so much from him,” Wells said. “He taught us how to practice hard, even the little stuff, and how to prepare for the game, how to make adjustments and move on from each game.” Picerni advised other young athletes to approach every single day with a purpose. “Don’t just go through the motions and assume you’re fine,” Picerni said. “It ends like that. Just keep working hard because you never know what can happen. Email Bela Kirpalani at sports@nyunews.com.
GOLF
The Violets traveled to Palm Coast, Florida to compete in the UAA Championships. The women’s team earned first placed in the conference while the men’s team placed third. This is the third consecutive year that the women’s team has ended with a first place finish. Email Maddie Howard at mhoward@nyunews.com.
VIA NYU.EDU
CJ Picerni, the first NYU baseball player selected for the MLB draft in 40 years.
Washington Square News | Monday, March 19, 2018
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SPORTS
Edited by Maddie Howard sports@nyunews.com
Student Athlete’s Charity to Fundraise at Division III Week
COURTESY OF MARTIN BREKKE
Martin Brekke at a Kids Action for Kids event.
By WARNER RADLIFF Staff Writer
CAS senior swimmer Martin Brekke wants to make a splash outside of the pool. For many in athletics, excelling in their respective sport is the central goal of their senior season, aiming for one last chance to shine. For Brekke, his final semester at NYU represents not only personal athletic achievement, but also an opportunity to pursue charitable endeavours as a means to empower children around the world and impact a community that is greater than himself. Since its founding in 2009 by Brekke and his family, the Norwegian non-profit organization Kids Action for Kids has carried out a two-fold mission: finance corrective surgeries for children born with the facial deformities of cleft lip and cleft palate, and empower kids to positively transform the lives of other less fortunate kids. Brekke, who was born in Norway but lived in Thailand for over a decade prior to attending NYU, wanted to give back to the Thai community and found cleft lip and cleft palate to be issues he could address directly. According to KAFK’s medical partner Operation Smile, approximately one in 700 babies in Thailand is born with either a cleft lip or cleft palate. If not corrected at birth, the babies face an onset of breathing, drinking and eating difficulties which often lead to malnutrition and subsequent death. Beyond their life threatening state, what further hit Brekke emotionally was the social marginalization suffered by children with cleft lip and cleft palate. Brekke recalled a story of a nine-year-old boy whose life was transformed from social outcast to gregarious schoolmate after undergoing a KAFK financed surgery. “After the surgery, he said ev-
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erything changed — he got his life back,” Brekke said. “He loved going to school, he had loads of friends and was now on the soccer team. He loved life. He came back to thank us and it was really emotional just to see that a relatively small amount of money could make that kind of a change.” The relatively small amount of money that made such an impact was $800, which is the approximate amount needed to finance one surgery. These funds were raised by the core of Kids Action for Kid, and the reason behind the name: the kids. “A lot of kids want to help out, but since they don’t have their own money, they don’t feel like they can do anything,” Brekke said. “We wanted to change that so we started Kids Action for Kids to come up with ways to motivate children to make a change.” The motivation to enable change stems from the altruistic character of the kids who decide to use their limited means to help the disadvantaged kids serviced by KAFK. Knowing that kids are not in a position to make a direct financial donation, Brekke encourages kids to find what they are passionate about and creatively fundraise for it. “What the children get out of it is this empowering feeling of ‘I actually can do something,’” Brekke said. “Which I think is kind of rare in kids that they really feel that they’ve done something, not just my parents gave me money so I can pass it along. I created something here. So we wanted to make that a big part of it.” Members of the NYU community can also assist Brekke and KAFK in furthering their vision by making a donation during the upcoming DIII Week. Between April 2 and 6, the Student Athlete Advisory Committee will partner with KAFK to fundraise a goal of $6,000 for an approximate 15 corrective surgeries with all funds being matched by
the organization’s financial partner, Benchachinda Group. Coordinator of Athletic Training Nikki Webb said this effort is a celebration of the impact the NYU student-athletes make within their communities when removed from their sport. “We have wanted to celebrate and to bring to the spotlight some of the great things our student-athletes do as active members of their academic and civic communities,” Webb said. “Martin’s organization is just one example of our student-athletes’ achievements.” SAAC President Rayne Ellis added that the partnership between the SAAC and KAFK not only speaks to the impact made by and within the NYU athletic community but also the university’s mission to be a globally influential institution of higher learning. “The thing that’s so important about Martin’s involvement with SAAC is that he’s bringing an international organization to our little community,” Ellis said. “I am going to be able to help fix a baby’s smile thousands of miles away because of someone on the swimming team. This is what NYU means when they say we have a global community.”
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After the surgery, he said everything changed. He got his life back. MARTIN BREKKE
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Those interested in contributing to the cause should visit the campaign called Miles for Smiles GoFundMe page to make a financial contribution of any size. All funds raised will go directly toward KAFK’s 2018 missions in Myanmar and Thailand where 200240 more lives will be brightened through smiles, in addition to the over 1,100 lives that have already been positively impacted through the work of KAFK. In celebration of his coming graduation, Brekke’s career at NYU will be commemorated for his sublime character as a scholar, athlete and humanitarian. In addition to continuing his work at KAFK, Brekke will use his joint degree in Computer Science and Economics at Google’s European headquarters in Dublin, Ireland. Email Warner Radliff at sports@nyunews.com.
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MONDAY, MARCH 19
Visionary Aponte: Art & Black Freedom FREE King Juan Carlos Center 53 Washington Square South Visionary Aponte: Art and Black Freedom brings together over a dozen contemporary artists working across a range of media to interpret an extraordinary — and now lost —historical artifact: a so-called “Book of Paintings” created by José Antonio Aponte. The exhibit runs until May 4.
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
Being in Two Places at Once FREE 9:30 a.m. - 7 p.m. Tisch School of the Arts Dean’s Conference Room, 12th Floor 721 Broadway Surrounding art and the geopolitics of remote sensing, this exhibit asks the questions: how can artists operate within these scales of perception for new imaginative and political potential? What kinds of interventions, trespasses, transformative subjectivities are occurring through the deliberate decolonization and appropriation of networks of remote sensing by those on the peripheries of power?
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
TorchTalks: disEMPOWERED
FREE
12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
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Wasserman Center 33 E. 13th St., Second Floor Attend this Ted Talk style event where female professionals working in male-dominated fields will discuss how they turned disempowerment into success and opportunities to bring out change for themselves and/or fellow female colleagues.
thursday, March 22
“Our Troubled Youth” FREE 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The Fales Library 70 Washington Square South, 3rd Floor An exhibition from artist and curator, Leah DeVun. The Tracey/ Barry Gallery of The Fales Library. The exhibit runs until May 31.
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