NYU’s Independent Student Newspaper | est. 1973
nyunews.com
Monday, April 23, 2018
Volume L, Issue 13
ARTS
FEATURES
OPINION
SPORTS
Tisch Alumnus MOZIAH Talks Debut Single and What’s Next
Not All Students Are Fangirling Over Trudeau
Your Hometown Needs Your Vote
Big Things to Come From the Bobcat
ON PAGE 9
ON PAGE 11
ON PAGE 5
ON PAGE 7
FEATURES
Stern Professor Lays Out Progressive Vision for Congress By SUNANDA GASKINS Staff Writer
Entering Suraj Patel’s East Village apartment, I am greeted by three millennial-aged staffers hanging around a kitchen counter. Before one of them can tell me Patel will be back in a minute, he strides in from the rainy New York streets in a navy blue Canada Goose jacket. He jokes with his staffers about what a busy schedule he’s had today and invites me to sit with him across the living room. Suraj Patel, Stern School of Business adjunct Professor, NYU School of Law alumni and candidate for New York’s 12th Congressional District for the United States House of Representatives, is embracing a certain idealism that comes with having a strong progressive vision for America. He has raised over $1.1 million and is beginning to pose a threat to incumbent Democrat Carolyn Maloney, who has held office since 1993, since announcing his candidacy in December 2017. “Yes, of course I’m idealistic,” Patel said. “This should be the most idealistic district in the country,” he said of New York’s 12th Congressional District which spans across the Upper East Side, the Lower East Side, the East Village and parts of Brooklyn and Queens. Patel’s campaign champions many progressive issues — legalizing marijuana, ending mass incarceration and delivering medicare for all — through social media, employing Buzzfeed-esque YouTube videos to relate to a younger generation of voters. Patel is running on many issues which he lays out succinctly on the campaign trail: “Climate: Changing,” “Immigrants: Welcome,” “Guns: Control Them,” “Gender: A Spectrum,” “Empathy: Essential,” to name a few. The Patel campaign intends to reach an untapped voter-base that is younger, more diverse and more educated than those who typically vote in New York’s congressional races. Any NYU passersby can spot his campaign headquarters just steps away from NYU’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute in Cooper Square. Gallatin Junior Joseph Taecker-Wyss shares a similar stance with Patel on the topic of incarceration. reform. Taecker-Wyss is active in the Incarceration to Education Coalition at NYU. CONTINUED ON PAGE 6|
STAFF PHOTO BY ECHO CHEN
A Muslim student standing in the lobby of the Henry Kaufman Management Center. Stern gained attention from the larger NYU community for incidents of Islamophobia and discrimination.
Racial Discrimination and Islamophobia Pervasive in Stern By JEMIMA MCEVOY and SAKSHI VENKATRAMAN Editor-in-Chief and News Editor
Stern senior Essma Bengabsia was sitting at a booth with other members of her club, Islamic Finance Group, during a club fair on Jan. 24 when a Stern student approached them and asked if they were recruiting for ISIS. For the predominantly Muslim club focused on Islamic finance and business in the Muslim world, incidents like this aren’t uncommon. Fellow students often ask members of the group’s executive board who don’t wear hijabs whether they are real Muslims, and the president of another club, the Stern Political Economy Exchange, asked IFG if they wanted to co-sponsor an event titled “ISIS Militants in Europe.” Despite numerous attempts to report discrimination to the administration of the Stern School of Business, IFG club members said
they have seen no disciplinary response from the university. Through interviews with nine students, four administrators and one member of Stern’s faculty, WSN found a culture of subtle, and often overt, discrimination and ostracization by classmates and faculty within Stern that impacts more than just Muslim students. In recent weeks, Bengabsia and other members of IFG have brought these ongoing issues of diversity and inclusion to Stern’s Student Council, the college’s administration and, just last Thursday, to President Andrew Hamilton at a public town hall. Bengabsia started a spreadsheet this semester where she has been tracking the details of Islamophobic incidents that she reports to the university. The Stern administration has recently reacted — coordinating a 15-minute meeting between Stern administrators and Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity Initiatives Monroe France. There will also be a
community meeting on Monday, April 23 at 5 p.m. during which students will have a forum to bring up concerns, according to Assistant Dean of Students, Engagement & Innovation Ashish Bhatia. For the four percent of black students that comprise the population of Stern, similar issues of bias and discrimination make the climate uncomfortable. From stares in the classroom to the use of the n-word in the hallways, Stern junior Sarah Mengual spoke to WSN about the microaggressions — actions or statements that indirectly or subtly discriminate against members of a marginalized group — and overt racism she has experienced in Stern as a black student. “Every time I entered Stern, I felt like someone was staring at me,” she said. “At some points, I had the urge to tape my ID to my forehead so people know I go here.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2|
Page 2
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
NEWS
nyunews.com Edited by Sakshi Venkatraman and Mack DeGeurin news@nyunews.com
Racial Discrimination and Islamophobia Pervasive in Stern
|CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Mengual, who was interested in accounting when she started at NYU, went to her first and last Stern club fair the fall of her first year. As she walked around, she said she felt eyes on her constantly; students asked her if she was in the right place. She left the club fair shortly after entering and for months, she felt like she didn’t fit in anywhere in Stern. The lack of community almost drove her to transfer. But at the end of her first year, she found Supporting Excellence and Advocating Diversity, a student organization dedicated to making Stern more diverse and inclusive. Now vice president of the group, she mentors first-year students that belong to underrepresented groups through the Academic Achievement Program. “There was a club for students of color and I didn’t know that, no one advertised it to me,” Mengual said. “It was brown and black students. It was such a safe space for me.” Over the three years she has been at Stern, Mengual said the lack of integration of students of color has persisted. She sees the scarce progress reflected in the fact that current first-years still encounter similar issues of discrimination. Despite the implementation of mandatory diversity trainings for first-years in Stern as of two years ago, first-year student Raneen Khalil experienced explicit Islamophobia within one semester at Stern. On one occasion Khalil was told that “all Muslims are terrorists” by an international student in one of her classes. None of Khalil’s classmates said anything. “I didn’t know what to say,” Khalil said. “So I said ‘No, not all Muslims are terrorists.’ And she said, ‘No, no. I know you’re not.’And then she went on with her day.” As one of a handful of hijab-wearing Muslim women in Stern, Khalil has grown accustomed to acts of discrimination. Oftentimes manifesting quietly — through stares in the hallway, strange looks from classmates when she answers a question correctly or students avoiding the seat next to her in lectures. Stern has become an uncomfortable place for her. “Every time I walk in, there is this burden that something might happen,” Khalil said. “I’m always on high alert. It’s like, who’s looking at me? Why are they looking at me? I’m supposed to study and not care and make friends, but I walk in and all I have to focus on is keeping myself safe. I just don’t want to go into the building.” Even when students like Khalil and Mengual managed to find a club that welcomes them, discrimination continued to be a prominent issue. Although she has been a part of SEAD for two years, Mengual said she still feels ostracized by the Stern community. Last semester, the Business Analytics Club reached out to SEAD to co-sponsor a talk about diversity and inclusion. While SEAD’s members were present at the talk, only the president of BAC attended. “We have our room, we’re sitting there, 15 people come in and take a look around and walk right back out,” Mengual said. “People just kept coming in and then leaving. The rest of the meeting was just SEAD members.” SEAD members have also experienced explicit racism when trying to recruit for the organization.
“We’ve invited people to join [SEAD] and had them say ‘I’m not comfortable because there are a lot of black students,’” Mengual said. Although Khalil never reported the incident from her class because she didn’t know how to, she has worked with Bengabsia to bring these issues to the attention of the Office of Student Engagement. Mengual has also had conversations with OSE about her experiences. Classmates and fellow Stern clubs aren’t the only source of discriminatory comments and actions. A number of students reported insensitive and such comments from faculty in the classroom setting. Three students mentioned Economics Professor Joseph Foudy, telling WSN that he often makes fun of racial politics and inappropriately addresses students of color during class. One student told WSN that in a lecture, Foudy confused the names of two Asian students and when he was corrected said, “you look the same.” Foudy did not deny this allegation. “I certainly make a lot of mistakes in names because of the number of students I have,” Foudy said to WSN. “I don’t recall that, but if I did, I’m quite apologetic.” Another student expressed discomfort with the fact that Foudy often makes fun of microaggressions during classes. “I certainly make jokes about the term ‘microaggression,’” Foudy said. “I have students who come to my office everyday with really tough issues — deaths in the family, mental illness, things like that … I have students who have really tough life or death issues. I have students who are working two jobs to afford college.” Foudy said he has attended lunch meetings with faculty discussing diversity and inclusion. “It’s hard because he’s a very distinguished faculty member at Stern,” Stern senior and SEAD President Nana Apraku said. “He’s won faculty awards, he runs a lot of departments, he’s very high up in the [Economics] department. How can we ask him to respond to these issues that the university doesn’t even respond to? Foudy is someone we need to have conversations about, he’s been problematic.” Upon joining Stern, faculty are required to partake in diversity training, and in 2016, diversity training events were offered for faculty, but they were not made mandatory, according to Vice Dean of Faculty Elizabeth Morrison. Morrison acknowledged the lack of faculty diversity within Stern — data from the 2017 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce report details how 68 percent of Stern’s tenure or tenure-track faculty are white, 77 percent are male and there were too few black faculty to make up a percentage in the dataset. She said Stern implemented a hiring plan two years ago which includes targets for staff diversity. Reports to the Bias Response Line — a platform for NYU community members to report instances of discrimination, bias or disparate treatment — or the Stern administration concerning faculty come back to Morrison, but she said reports similar to the ones detailed by these students have not reached her. “There haven’t been a lot and that does raise some questions in my mind about if students are not reporting these things or if they’re not getting to me,” Morrison said.
“I haven’t received information on any incidents that seem similar to what these students have reported. Nothing having to do with discriminatory or inappropriate comments toward students of color or Muslim students.” Bengabsia has been bringing these issues to the Office of Student Engagement and members of Stern’s administration since her sophomore year. She said that the advisor who oversees club activity within Stern has not facilitated disciplinary action, and has instead repeatedly told members of IFG to be patient. “The first thing they kept telling us was ‘educate people,’” Bengabsia said. “The second was ‘don’t take it emotionally’ and then the last thing is, ‘we don’t know how to measure whether this is discriminatory or not. What can you say is discriminatory, what can you say is not? So we can’t really put disciplinary action because there is no way to measure it.’” Bhatia said that it is often difficult to take disciplinary action because the names of students involved usually aren’t reported. Bengabsia said that on one occasion, she did report a name, and still nothing. Stern’s Code of Conduct, which is slightly longer than one page, includes a single clause touching upon the school’s attitude to discriminatory behavior. There is no information specific to how Stern treats instances of discrimination, and no mention of disciplinary action in response to violation of the clause. “Unfortunately, every single Code of Conduct throughout NYU is very vague when it comes to understanding and prosecuting instances of discrimination because there is no direct guideline that says this counts as discrimination, this doesn’t count as discrimination,” said Stern senior Pedro Tenreiro, who is Stern’s school senator and the chair of the Stern Student Council Ad-
vocacy Committee. When the Stern Code of Conduct is violated, the Stern Judiciary Committee — a group of faculty, administrators and students — is tasked with taking action and educating students on the document. Although Tenreiro is a student on the committee, he said he doesn’t know how students can report incidents to this body. As someone who works closely with both Stern students and the school’s administration, Tenreiro thinks there is an overarching sense that the administration wants to help but doesn’t have the systems in place to prosecute cases. He doesn’t think that it is currently clear where Stern students should report incidents of bias or discrimination. Dean Bhatia said that students should report to the BRL — a resource under the Office of Equal Opportunity that he said is heavily advertised to all first-years from the moment they step foot on campus. However, Khalil said she wasn’t aware of the BRL as a resource. Additionally, the BRL has received criticism about releasing its inaugural report two semesters late and for a lack of follow-up and transparency for students who file complaints. All of these incidents and the perceived lack of action from Stern’s administration led members of IFG to coordinate with the Stern Student Government to pass a letter through the Student Senators Council. This letter, detailing examples of bias and discrimination toward students of color within Stern and a course of action for the administration, was delivered April 20. It was addressed to a number of members of the school’s leadership team, including Dean of the Undergraduate College Geeta Menon and Bhatia, as well as Chief Diversity Officer Lisa Coleman and Monroe France. WSN asked Coleman for comment. She forwarded the questions to Senior
Vice President of Student Affairs Marc Wais, who forwarded the questions onto Spokesman John Beckman. Beckman did not respond to WSN’s questions in time for publication. The letter includes the experience of one Muslim student who was told at a resume review not to disclose her Muslim identity because it would deter recruiters, among other examples of discrimination toward Muslims in Stern. It also explains how black students feel marginalized due to a lack of representation in the student body and the low number of black professors. “Tangible change is yet to be seen or felt; students are still experiencing discrimination,” the letter reads. “NYU Stern hosts a number of diversity related discussions during orientation week for first-year students (and other isolated initiatives), but these are limited action steps that have failed to successfully establish a safe space for minority students in Stern.” Ending with a section about changes Stern could make, the letter proposed eight improvements, such as adding enforceable policy on discrimination to the Stern Code of Conduct, establishing a full-time diversity officer position within Stern and expanding the Stern Diversity Task Force, which Bhatia told WSN has dissolved in 2017 once Coleman was named chief diversity officer. Bhatia said that students have many feedback channels they can go through if they feel they have been victims of discrimination. He mentioned the role of advisors, orientation leaders, college leaders and staff members overseeing clubs as avenues that students can take to report issues. Despite what officials see as an efficient system, marginalized students feel that the burden of change is too often placed on their backs. Apraku wants to see administration taking direct action to support students of color and condemn discriminatory behavior. Although the effort for change has spanned several years now, the rising tensions in recent weeks have forced Stern administration to take a closer look at their policies and procedures — action that Tenreiro and many other students believe should have come sooner. “Stern is a little bit more reactive than proactive when it comes to dealing with issues like this,” Tenreiro said. “However, when they do react, I think they react way above average compared to the rest of the other schools.” Until they see the change outlined in the letter and their various efforts to appeal to Stern’s administration, affected students say they will keep pushing to save what they see as a tainted educational experience. “It makes black people feel like there’s no space for them in Stern,” Apraku said. “I can’t own these hallways because my voice isn’t heard. I can’t own my experience here because nobody around this institution understands me or welcomes me for who I really am. I always have to have on a mask or a tamed personality of myself. I can’t be too black.” Additional reporting by Sayer Devlin. Read the full story online at nyunews.com. Email Sakshi Venkatraman and Jemima McEvoy at news@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
nyunews.com
Page 3
NEWS
Edited by Sakshi Venkatraman and Mack DeGeurin news@nyunews.com
Professors Work to Develop 5G Wireless Testbed
COURTESY OF KATHLEEN HAMILTON
A student taking measurements of the way that millimeter waves travel and react at NYU Tandon in Downtown Brooklyn.
By SARAH JACKSON Deputy News Editor
Three Tandon School of Engineering professors will take part in research on the fifth generation of wireless network communications. Sundeep Rangan, associate professor in the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at the Tandon School of Engineering, heads the team. He is joined by Shivendra Panwar and Thanasis Korakis, a professor and research assistant professor, respectively, from the
same department. Cloud Enhanced Open Software-Defined Mobile Wireless Testbed for CityScale Deployment, or COSMOS, is funded by a $100 million grant from the National Science Foundation’s Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research initiative, which designated Salt Lake City and New York City as the first two of four locations for its testbeds of the newest wireless networking technology. The New York City testbed will cover one square mile in West Harlem, funded by a $22.5 million cut of the grant.
CRIME LOG
Student Receives Harassing Phone Call at 4:20 p.m. By ALEX DOMB Deputy News Editor
From April 13 to April 20, the NYU Department of Public Safety received three reports of controlled substance violations, one report of criminal mischief, one report of harassment, three reports of larceny and one report of stalking.
CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE VIOLATION
On April 13 at 11:10 p.m., a resident assistant reported that during rounds, she recovered alcohol from a dormitory in Weinstein Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On April 14 at 1:13 a.m., an RA reported that during rounds, she recovered alcohol from a dormitory in Broome Street Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. On April 20 at 1:51 a.m., an RA reported that during rounds, she recovered alcohol from one of the dormitories in Alumni Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards.
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF
On April 19 at 11:45 a.m., an NYU staff member reported that a bike was
tampered with in Palladium Residence Hall. The case is open and under investigation.
HARASSMENT
On April 13 at 4:20 p.m., an NYU staff member reported that he received harassing phone calls at the Education Building. The phone calls were not threatening. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation.
LARCENY
On April 13 at 8:55 p.m., an NYU student reported that cash was missing from a locker in Palladium Gym. Police notification was declined, and the case is open and under investigation. On April 18 at 9:30 a.m., an NYU staff member reported that she was the victim of a larceny in the Basic Science Building. A police report was filed. On April 20 at 12 a.m., an NYU student reported that his laptop was missing from an auditorium in the Kimmel Center for University Life. The case is open and under investigation.
STALKING
On April 18, an NYU student reported that she was a victim of stalking in Palladium Residence Hall. The case is closed and has been referred to Title IX. Email Alex Domb at adomb@nyunews.com.
The technologies tested could reduce the delay between movement and vision in virtual reality, improve safety in vehicles and even allow doctors to operate on patients remotely. They will also have a major impact on day-to-day activities. “There’s kind of four components of it: the mobile, the day station, the private connection, then the cloud,” Rangan said. “The testbed physically is a number of day stations, so those are the antennas essentially and the processing that the mobile phones would connect to.” The main goal of the COSMOS testbed is to achieve ultra-high bandwidth and low latency on a large scale. Raising the bandwidth limits would increase the amount of data that can be sent in a fixed time, allowing users to download and stream content and use Internet-based applications at higher speeds. Lower latency would reduce delays in processing data, producing a similar effect. Some cell service providers have begun to offer 5G wireless network technology in select cities, but it is still unavailable to most of the country. Technologies tested in COSMOS would make significant headway in increasing availability on a larger scale. Professors from the engineering schools of Columbia University and Rutgers University will also work on the testbed, which has partnered with the city,
IBM, the City College of New York, University of Arizona and Silicon Harlem, a community broadband provider. The technologies at the heart of the testbed are millimeter-wave radio bands, software-defined radios, edge cloud computing and advanced optical networking. Millimeter-wave radio bands can offer between 10 and 100 times the data rate currently available on most 4G cell phones but are not widely used in cellular networks. Meanwhile, software-defined radios provide an advantage other than speed: access to the testbed regardless of location. “Software-defined radios are very good for experimenters in the space,” Rangan said. “We’re trying to build a network where people can experiment with new ideas.” The team is also hoping to look into edge cloud computing, which would serve as a physically closer and thus faster alternative to traditional cloud computing. Finally, advanced optical networking would capitalize upon fiber optic technology to power faster connections between cell sites, such as cell towers, and cloud computing. The first platform of the technologies is slated for release in late 2019 or early 2020. According to Panwar, it will include three sets of nodes — points that receive,
store or distribute data in a network. Four day stations would serve as large nodes, nine smaller day stations would serve as medium nodes that could be placed on light poles or other fixtures and 20 small nodes could even move with students on their backpacks. Clayton Banks, co-founder and CEO of Silicon Harlem, said the location of the testbed highlights the importance of serving areas with limited internet access. “Deploying an advanced wireless network in Harlem will position the community to shape the future of connectivity,” Banks said in an email to WSN. “We envision the COSMOS project to deliver on our goal to provide affordable, fast and sustainable broadband to every resident in the country.” The research comes at a time of increasing dependence on the internet, with a projected 24 billion internet-connected devices expected to be installed worldwide by 2020, according to Business Insider. “Really, almost every electronic device we have today could benefit from wireless connectivity,” Rangan said. Read the full story online at nyunews.com. Email Sarah Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
Page 4
nyunews.com
ARTS
Edited by Ryan Mikel arts@nyunews.com
Min Jin Lee Talks Representation at ‘West 10th’ Launch By ALEX CULLINA Staff Writer
Min Jin Lee, acclaimed author of the bestselling book “Pachinko,” spoke at the official launch of this year’s issue of “West 10th,” the official journal of NYU’s undergraduate Creative Writing program. Held at NYU’s Lillian Vernon Creative Writers House, the event was billed as part of the annual PEN World Voices Festival, a weeklong series of readings,
VIA TWITTER.COM
Author Min Jin Lee spoke at the launch for undergraduate literary magazine “West 10th” this past weekend.
panels and workshops by writers from around the world. Put on by the free speech advocacy group PEN America, the festival aims to broaden channels of dialogue between the United States and the world through literature. The event started with readings from NYU undergraduates of their original, creative writing from the recent issue. In her remarks, Lee praised the student writers for their poise. “You just knocked me out, really,” Lee said to the crowd. Lee then read an excerpt from her novel “Pachinko,” which was a finalist for the National Book Award and selected by The New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2017. Her bubbly warmth gave way for the emotional power of her prose as she read a passage about a young Korean woman peddling kimchi –– a traditional Korean side dish –– to make a living in Japan on the brink of World War II. “I don’t read this very much, because it upsets me,” she said. Lee continued to talk about her roundabout path to full-time writing. Born in Korea, she immigrated to Queens with her family as a young child, and despite the difficulties of moving to a new country and learning an unfamiliar language, she was happy because she had a whole
world of books to keep her company. After developing her childhood love for reading, Lee studied History and Law at Yale University. “I wanted to figure out if people of color could be writers,” she said, specifically referencing the work of Korean American authors Theresa Hak Kyung Cha and Kim Ronyoung. After Yale and a chronic illness made her reevaluate her priorities, she worked as a corporate lawyer for two years before quitting to focus on her writing full-time. Unable to pay or relocate for a master’s of fine arts, she honed her writing skills through classes at places like the Asian American Writers Workshop and the Gotham Writers Workshop. “In New York City, it is possible to study with the best –– like Jhumpa Lahiri and Shirley Hazzard –– for almost nothing before they become huge,” she said. “Pachinko” chronicles the lives of Koreans living in Japan during and after colonial rule. She told the crowd she had no intention of writing historical fiction, but after becoming fascinated with the stories of Koreans in Japan, she didn’t want to write about anything else. Email Alex Cullina at books@nyunews.com.
European Dance Highlighted at Skirball By LILY DOLIN Staff Writer
The “V.4 Dance Festival” featured bold contemporary dancers from all across Central Europe at NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts on April 19 and 20. The Debris Company from Slovakia was highlighted, along with Timothy and the Things, a dance group from Hungary. The dances represented vastly different styles and aesthetics, from tongue-and-cheek contemporary to horrifying modern, which commanded and engaged the audience. Performed by Debris Company, the first dance of the night was “WOW!” The piece was billed as a duet that explores “the history of humankind and its impact on the environment,” according to the program notes. Yet, this allegory was often difficult to interpret in the dance. “WOW!” began with soloist Stanislava Vlčeková garbed in an Elizabethan style hoop skirt and painted all white. Vlčeková shuttered and contorted her body as the screen behind her projected constellation-like images. The music that accompanied her was an instrumental track, which echoed a creepy, almost erotic voice over a terrified audience. As the title suggests, the music for “WOW!” left the audience with dropped jaws. It was very unsettling and distracted from the captivating choreography. The echoed voice in the music was loud but not always decipherable, and attempting to discern the lyrics only took away from the performance. Vlčeková and Peter
COURTESY OF SKIRBALL CENTER
A moment from the “V.4 Dance Festival,” performed at Skirball this past weekend.
Cseri, the principal male soloist, spent a large portion of the show holding various poses, as opposed to occupying the rest of the stage. The parts where they actually moved were the most enjoyable moments of the evening, but these moments were few and far between. The second dance of the night, “Your Mother at My Door,” was a duet that played with the idea of boredom and elapsed time spent on odd and humdrum activities. The setup for this piece, which involved layering the stage with mats, took over 20 minutes. It was hard to determine whether this arduously long process was part of the exploration of boredom or simply poor stage managing. Performed by Emese Cuhorka and Lázló Fülöp of Timothy and the Things, “Your Mother at My Door” was more enjoyable than the first dance and successfully intersected the ideas of boredom and the mundane. The simple
act of playing a few notes on a keyboard, or pushing the space bar on a computer, became long and complex tasks, enacted in complete silence. The space and time between these actions became more pronounced, and in a way more exciting than the dance itself, as the dancers played with the audience’s anticipation. Watching Cuhorka was a pleasure, as she moved and danced around the stage with fragile grace and tenacious agility. The choreography was also fun and intricate, and even featured moments of funny dialogue and verbal jousts. Both of the pieces that comprised the “V.4 Dance Festival” were captivating in their own way, whether through terrifying vocal music, or through carefully choreographed boredom. Although “WOW!” was audibly very unsettling, the night was altogether definitely unforgettable. Email Lily Dolin at entertainment@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL MUTH
Beyoncé performing at Coachella.
I Tried … Coachella By MICHAEL MUTH Staff Writer
Sun rays radiated through the atmosphere and landed upon the shoulders, backs and nipples of the near-naked human beings frolicking in the middle of the California desert. Littered with rainbow buildings and crash-landed airplanes, the world’s best musicians made a soundtrack for this madness at the 2018 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. This year’s lineup was almost too good to be true. With artists like SZA, The Weeknd, Miguel, Haim, noname, Børns, Chromeo, Cardi B and Beyoncé herself, half of Coachella was spent singing and dancing with your favorite musicians while the other half was spent sprinting across the grounds to catch the next set you wanted to see. And the performers knew that if there was one place to bring out all the stops, Coachella was the place to do it. What better surprise than bringing out even more musicians? Artists this year could not keep themselves from bringing out their favorite collaborators. SZA brought out Isaiah Rashad for “Pretty Little Birds” and Kendrick Lamar for “Doves in the Wind.” Cardi B invited a majority of all of the featured artists from her new album “Invasion of Privacy,” including Kehlani, G-Eazy, YG and Chance the Rapper. Queen B made her Coachella set even more memorable with a much-needed Destiny’s Child reunion, dumbfounding sister choreography with Solange Knowles and some flirty stage-sharing with husband Jay-Z. Needless to say, Coachella became the best spot for celebrities to link up and celebrate the hottest tracks of the year. Aside from the music, Coach-
ella is the best costume party you can imagine. Over the three days of music, extravagant ensembles of glitter and glamour were worn by everyone from A-list celebrity attendees to traveling college kids like me. Notable standouts were Rihanna, of course, who wore strictly couture across the festival’s three days, and Kylie Jenner, who made one of her first public appearances as a “cool mom” since giving birth to her daughter, Stormi Webster, in February. In addition to the clothes, another added bonus is the food. All in all, Coachella brought its festival goers an unprecedented number of options, with goodies ranging from
“
Aside f rom the music, Coachella is the best costume party you can imagine.
”
flaming pad thai to juicy cheeseburgers to vegan tacos to lavender lemonade popsicles. Whether you’re watching your lucky classmate’s Instagram story or official coverage from Rolling Stone, you’ll see that Coachella 2018 was an undeniable success and well-worth the hefty price tag. It was the most bittersweet, sporadic, three-day-long near death experience I have ever gone through, and I can’t wait to do it all over again in years to come. Email Michael Muth at music@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
nyunews.com
Page 5
ARTS
Edited by Ryan Mikel arts@nyunews.com
Tisch Alumnus MOZIAH Talks Debut Single and What’s Next By KAMAU LITTLE-TREE HOLSTON Contributing Writer
In his newfound, post-graduate freetime, Tisch alumnus Marcus Guerrier (’17), otherwise known as MOZIAH, is finally focusing on new musical aspirations and projects. His debut single “Can’t Stay In One Place,” released last month, is a testament to this new focus and his ability to transcend genres. Already at almost 3,000 listens on Soundcloud, Guerrier’s pop-trap anthem is just the beginning. Currently working as a teaching assistant in the Tisch Drama department, Guerrier hustles in the classroom to support his musical aspirations. Whether it be the drama studio or a recording studio in Brooklyn, Guerrier can’t stay in one place, like his debut single suggests. WSN sat down with Guerrier to discuss the single and what’s next in his career. According to the graduate, “Can’t Stay In One Place” is less about the typical romantic interest heard in pop songs and more about a career interest and the essence of being a go-for-broke college student at NYU. “This song is very much about college,” Guerrier said. “I noticed a lot more people around me hustle. Everyone’s constantly on the move … When I was writing the song, I was
in that place.” But it seems Guerrier has always been exposed to people who work hard and thus has not hesitated to work hard himself. Music always surrounded him throughout his upbringing in Hillsborough, New Jer-
“
I just want to keep telling fun honest stories and reach as many people as possible. MARCUS GUERRIER
”
sey. Whether it be piano or guitar lessons, middle school or church choir, Guerrier always had his mind on music. In high school he started a punk band called the Waist Bandits, which taught him just as much about music theory as it did about moshing. Though he took on the challenging role of singer and guitarist during his high school days, his greatest challenge came during his first year at NYU when he be-
gan using digital audio workstations like Logic. “Can’t Stay In One Place” is certainly a far cry from Guerrier’s punk days. At its inception, the song began as nothing more than a beat and a sample of a trumpet playing. As the track itself evolved on Logic, Guerrier and his producer SpacedTheo, a Brooklyn-based musician, added an array of other instruments and effects to infuse it with the liveliness we hear in the finished version. Though Guerrier has experience with digital audio workstations and producing, he admits that he can only come up with so many ideas, and so, he appreciates SpacedTheo, who worked on mixing and mastering the track. When asked how he’d categorize the song in terms of genre, Guerrier simply replied, “pop.” Taking cues from Drake and the late Michael Jackson, Guerrier worked on “Can’t Stay In One Place” until he found himself dancing, and now hopes to see people of all backgrounds dancing as well. “I just want to keep telling fun, honest stories and reach as many people as possible,” he said. Stream MOZIAH’s “Can’t Stay In One Place” on Apple Music, Spotify and SoundCloud. Email Kamau Little-Tree Holston at music@nyunews.com.
PHOTO BY EMMA ROGUE
Marcus Guerrier, also known as MOZIAH, posing for photos to promote his new single “Can’t Stay In One Place.”
‘Won’t You Be My Neighbor’ Remembers Mr. Rogers
COURTESY OF FOCUS FEATURES
Fred Rogers, known as the host of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” life is being profiled in the new documentary “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.”
By CARTER GLACE Staff Writer
During a time in which the film and TV industry is plagued by issues of abuse of power, especialy in sexual assualt cases, the mere
concept of Mr. Rogers, the host of the long running children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” seems almost alien. It feels unbelievable that at one point, there was someone so genuinely compassionate,
who sincerely and earnestly just wanted to use television to help kids grow and learn. While providing a few exciting glimpses into the personal life and beliefs of the enigmatic Fred Rogers, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor,” directed by Morgan Neville, affirms this vision of the Mr. Rogers we know and love. Yes, he really was that kind, despite the many rumors that surrounded Rogers during his program’s 30 plus years of syndication. “I don’t think we realize how much we needed this film,” Tisch Graduate Film Chair Barbara Schock said at a Q&A session following a screening of the film last Thursday at Cantor Film Center with one of the film’s producers, Nicolas Ma, a current graduate student in Tisch School of the Arts. For those unfamiliar with “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” — the PBS program Fred Rogers starred in from 1968 through 2001 — the film does a strong job getting viewers up to speed with the general history of the minister turned TV icon and why he was important. A brisk 90 minutes, the film manages to balance the history of the show, interviews and going-ons behind the scenes.
Behind-the-scenes clips, like the candid moments when Rogers’ closest friends talk about what he was really like, are where the film shines. These moments not only affirm that Rogers was a kindhearted friend and a surrogate father, but also give a new outlook on masculinity for those who knew him as well as his audience. The film also sheds light on Rogers’ humanity. He had a wry, often subversive sense of humor and boundless ambition. Behind the scenes, Rogers laughed along with the cheeky, raunchy humor of his young, rebellious crew. The film also emphasizes that many of his more subtle on-camera moments were deliberate statements. Rogers’ choice to have Officer François Clemmons, a friendly, African-American policeman, enjoy his pool was a deliberate statement on the segregation of public pools. Even in his first episode, there were political statements about the fears of change. The film also tackles some of the more difficult aspects of Rogers, like his difficulty with castmate Clemmons’ homosexuality, which the film attributes to the possibility of PBS canceling the show. It
also dealt with Rogers’ reaction to 9/11, his struggles with some of the parodies of his work, the various accusations that he was softening a generation and the bouts of depression from which he suffered. While the film could have grappled with these topics more, weaker documentaries would have just completely ignored these. The post-film Q&A revealed some interesting information about Ma’s history with Rogers, as Ma actually appeared on “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” He also discussed the beginnings of Rogers’ empathy for children. Rogers’ family adopted a child when he was 11, which allowed him to get first hand experience of childhood during his teenage years and shaped his vision for what children needed. An earnest, breezy and optimistic film, it feels like an antidote to much of the misery and dourness of the world and media today. It’s a pleasure to watch and a delightful look into an almost unbelievable era in television. “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” will hit theaters on June 8. Email Carter Glace at film@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
Page 6
nyunews.com
FEATURES
Edited by Yasmin Gulec features@nyunews.com
Stern Professor Lays Out Progressive Vision for Congress | CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
“A lot of people feel very apathetic to both political parties,” Taecker-Wyss said. “Without knowing exactly what Patel stands for, I think his assessment is accurate. If progressives who do not vote are engaged in the political process, who is elected can change drastically.” His optimism and go-getter attitude is balanced by a laid-back image of himself reclining inside his East Village apartment. While his staffers chat away in the kitchen, Patel settles into a comfy chair with a blanket to keep himself warm. When he gets to talking about the progressive issues he champions, however, the blanket comes off. “It is very unlikely in a democracy to get the most progressive district to be the one to make the laws,” Patel said. “But it is our obligation to make sure that we’re pulling our weight so that we can pull the center back.” He said he is not afraid to fight for the vision. “If someone said, ‘If you cast this vote,
your career is over,’ I would say ‘Sure, it’s fine. It’s worth it,”Patel said. Stern Professor of Business Law Rachel Kowal, who worked with Patel during his time teaching Professional Responsibility at Stern, had nothing but praise to offer Patel. “He was energetic and devoted to carrying out the requirements of the job,” Kowal said. “I knew he had political ambitions.” Patel has written intermittent articles for the Huffington Post with inspirational messages that call to action U.S. progressives, worked for Barack Obama during his presidency, advised for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and even supported Reshma Saujani who ran against Maloney in 2010 though he said Saujani ran as a conservative challenger to Maloney. “I supported Reshma … because I thought the incumbent [Maloney] was not an effective Congressperson for a district like this,” Patel said. One of the Patel campaign’s main gripes with Maloney’s congressional record is her consistent push for the largely debunked
anti-vaccine agenda, although the New York Post reported in mid-March that Maloney has since denounced these beliefs. In response to President Donald Trump’s recent authorization of airstrikes on Syria without Congressional approval, Patel presented himself as the image of #ResistTrump.
VIA STERN.NYU.EDU
Suraj Patel, assistant adjunct professor of Business Ethics at Stern, is a candidate for New York’s 12th Congressional District.
Vanessa’s Dumplings Shutdown Signals Further Industry Issues
PHOTO BY LIV CHAI
Vanessa’s Dumpling on East 14th Street reopened on April 20, with a pending health grade.
By GEORGE CAMPBELL Contributing Writer
Vanessa’s Dumpling House on East 14th Street — a go-to spot for cheap dumplings — has recently been serving up more than just discounts. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found mice, filth and flies on the premises during a routine health inspection April 11, and immediately ordered the establishment to shut down. As of April 20, Vanessa’s has reopened with a pending health grade. A “Grade Pending” health rating means that Vanessa’s has been allowed to reopen provisionally before the health department makes a secondary inspection. It does not mean that they have fixed any of the violations they were cited for. You should be wary of any restaurant with a “Grade Pending” rating; it is the mark of a restaurant with a history of violating health codes. Specifically, according to its website, the health department found, “evidence of mice or live mice present in [the] facility’s food and/or non-food areas” as well
as, “filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated [FRSA] flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.” Officials also observed that a “food worker [did] not use proper utensil[s] to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment.” These are only a few of the violations identified by the health department. Multiple other infractions — from poor plumbing to facilities that do not allow for proper kitchen upkeep — also contributed to Vanessa’s closing. The sudden shutting has startled some students, who say the 14th Street dumpling joint is one of the last holdouts offering affordable food near NYU. CAS sophomore Jae Thomas was greatly disappointed by the news. “Me and my friends literally had a group chat about Vanessa’s closing,” Thomas said. “We used to order Vanessa’s to eat during class … It was cheap, it was good. I’m really sad to hear about all the health violations.” The city grades restaurants using a point-based system with three levels of violations: general violations that
carry a minimum of two points, critical violations that carry a minimum of five and public health hazards, the most serious of violations that carry a minimum of seven points. To earn an ‘A,’ a restaurant must receive fewer than 13 points; for a ‘B,’ between 14 and 27; and for a ‘C,’ above 28. Vanessa’s was awarded a whopping 44 points during its most recent inspection, far above the threshold for acceptable restaurant hygiene. As worrying as Vanessa’s violations may seem, there are many more eateries that stay open while violating similar health codes, if not in the same quantity. Following an inspection conducted on Jan. 30, 2018, Palladium Dining Hall received an ‘A’ despite the Department of Health finding evidence of mice in the facility, a critical violation. Weinstein Dining Hall also received an ‘A’ following an inspection on Dec. 6, 2018 even though employees are not provided access to proper hand-washing facilities another critical violation. These violations are all a matter of public record, which can be easily accessed through the New York City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. A multi-state E. coli outbreak originating from romaine lettuce grown in Arizona has recently drawn national attention to food safety, but the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s solution — throwing out store bought romaine lettuce — will not protect anyone from poor safety practices on behalf of restaurants. If there is a lesson to be learned from the closing of Vanessa’s Dumpling House, it’s this: just because a restaurant has an ‘A’ today, does not mean it will be open tomorrow nor should it be. Email George Campbell at dining@nyunews.com.
“Oh boy, I would not give Donald Trump approval,” Patel said. “I don’t believe Donald Trump should be given the discretion to do much of anything.” If Democrats should gain a majority in the House, many progressives are discussing whether or not Nancy Pelosi, Democratic stalwart and symbol of the center-left, should become Speaker of the House. Patel has mixed feelings on the matter. “She’s a very effective leader,” Patel said of Pelosi. “That being said, there’s no doubt that Congress is out of touch with where the Democratic party is going.” When asked if he would consider a more progressive voice for Speaker of the House, Patel replied: “I’d certainly be willing to listen to anybody.” Despite the optimistic vision he holds for America, Patel cannot escape allegations against his character. Earlier this month, the New York Post shared Facebook posts written by Patel after meeting Olympic gymnast McKayla Maroney who was 16-years-old at the time. “I told her she should come to New
York because we have a top shop [Topshop] there on Broadway,” Patel wrote in the Facebook comment in 2012. “Haha, that may have crossed the creepy line by a little.” Liz Smith, Patel’s campaign spokeswoman dismissed the allegations. “He’s an outspoken supporter of the national dialogue we are having about sexual abuse and harassment,” Smith told the Post. “These efforts to tie years-old comments to it do a great disservice to women.” While his vision is vast, Patel remains humble about his individual power. “A lot of what I’m promising to do is to change the conversation. It may not be that we get my carbon dividend plan. It may not be that we get my Medicare for all plan,” Patel said. “But if I’m beginning to introduce those ideas into the mainstream … then at least the center gets pulled back to a direction that seems to resemble what was the center.” Email Sunanda Gaskins at features@nyunews.com.
Movies for Foodies By CELINA KHORMA Staff Writer
While actually eating food is the preferred experience, there is something unusually comforting in watching movies about food, too. Cartoon or live-action, action or comedy — here are WSN’s top picks for the best food movies.
“RATATOUILLE”
It truly doesn’t get more unrealistic than “Ratatouille,” but maybe that’s what makes this animated movie so fun and amusing to watch. It’s a whirlwind of adventures that starts off with Remy (Patton Oswalt) the rat — a foodie and culinary genius — being found in the kitchen of of a once famed, but now slowly dying, Parisian restaurant. A recently hired janitor, Linguini (Lou Romano), is asked to get rid of him, but he soon discovers that Remy is secretly a gifted chef that can somehow control Linguini’s movements by pulling the hairs on his head. With Remy hiding under Linguini’s chef hat, the two form a team that take over the restaurant and the Parisian food scene.
“BURNT”
“Burnt” is a successful dramedy that’s largely based on food and combines the best of both worlds seamlessly. The film tells a story about how Adam Jones (Bradley Cooper), a once successful chef in Paris, nearly lost his culinary dreams after facing personal hardships. He finally gets the chance to redeem himself in a fastpaced, upscale restaurant as the head chef. SPS sophomore Maya Lopatynsky said that when it comes to movies about food, “Burnt” takes the cake. “It’s Bradley Cooper. It’s Sienna Miller. It’s about food,” Lopatnysky said. “Honestly, what more do you want in a movie?”
“JULIE & JULIA”
Pair Meryl Streep’s acting with food, and it’s a match made in heaven. “Julie &
Julia” is based on a true story, and it follows the lives of two women in different eras. Julia Child (Meryl Streep) is an influential chef, famous for her daring, bold personality and feminist attitude, while Julie Powell (Amy Adams) is a New York woman on a mission to cook every recipe in Child’s renowned cookbook, “Mastering the Art of French Cooking,” and creates a blog documenting it. It’s a feel-good movie for food and film fanatics that will make you smile, laugh and maybe even tear up a little.
“CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY”
If you say you don’t love chocolate, we highly recommend watching this movie, based off a Roald Dahl classic. The grand and tempting display of the sweet treat will transform you into a professed chocoholic like the rest of us. “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” tells the story of Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp), an odd man who is also a famous chocolatier and five lucky winners who get the chance to tour his eccentric chocolate factory. With this short and tasteful list, grab your favorite movie snack to enjoy while watching any of these films about just that: food. Email Celina Khorma at dining@nyunews.com.
VIA FLICKR/VIA TWITTER.COM
Scenes from the movies Ratatouille (left) and Burnt (right).
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
nyunews.com
FEATURES
Edited by Yasmin Gulec features@nyunews.com
Not All Students Are Fawning Over Trudeau By NATALIE CHINN and JIAYUN YANG Deputy Features Editor and Contributing Writer
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was announced as this year’s commencement speaker, students expressed mixed feelings about the decision. While some fawn over the politician, others have expressed discomfort with his presence at NYU and have started to plan a demonstration in response. Known for his charming good looks, Trudeau has gathered an impressive fan base since taking office in 2015. While many students can hardly wait to hear the smooth-talking prime minister deliver this year’s commencement speech, others refuse to be beguiled by his nice hair and sparkling eyes. This will be Trudeau’s second time coming to NYU. In April 2016, he led a discussion on topics regarding youth activism and climate change. Trudeau follows a slew of prominent figures to deliver commencement speeches at NYU: including Hillary Clinton, Alec Baldwin, Bill Clinton and Sonia Sotomayor. One of the main concerns from students is that Trudeau was only picked as commencement speaker because of his popularity in the media. “NYU is likening him to the many celebrity speakers of the past rather than treating him as the leader of one of the largest countries in the world,” SPS firstyear Duncan Lemieux from Ottawa said. “I think that’s especially true in light of some of our most recent commencement speakers — Pharrell Williams, Alec Baldwin, Robert De Niro. I just feel like they’re treating him as a commodity and it kind of devalues his stature.” Lemieux isn’t the only Canadian who’s upset about Trudeau’s coming — CAS junior Gabe Hoffman had a similar opinion. “I think NYU should set better role models for their students than someone that was a gym teacher and trust fund baby who won a populist vote on legalizing weed and good looks,” Hoffman said. “I don’t think it’s appropriate for any prime minister while in office to be coming because of relevancy issues.” Hoffman also thinks Trudeau should have more important things to do than speaking to college students. “He should be spending time running the government instead of speaking at NYU for the second time,” Hoffman said. “I feel like if Obama went to speak at McGill’s graduation while he was in office, there would be an uproar.” These oppositions to Trudeau are not exclusive to Canadians at NYU. Many students criticize the prime minister for being shallow and a fake feminist. Since taking office, Trudeau has been attacked for sidelining the rights of women, especially First Nations women. Steinhardt senior Hailey Nuthals, a former editor for WSN, refuses to condone the injustices Trudeau has committed. She plans to hold a demonstration during graduation to show her dissatisfaction. “To invite Trudeau the same year NYU concedes to demands to build a Native American Studies program is a slap in the face,” Nuthals said. “He’s shown a lack of ability to listen to the Canadian First
Page 7
VIA COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was revealed as NYU’s 2018 Commencement speaker.
Nations people about their needs, and has also perpetuated policies and signed off on legislation to sell arms to Saudi Arabia for use in their attacks against Yemen.” Although Nuthals is not comfortable with Trudeau being the commencement speaker, she refuses to skip graduation, a celebration of student achievements she has looked forward to for years. “I don’t think it’s fair to ask us to give up that moment of celebration and to ask our families to do so,” Nuthals said. “I would rather do something that Justin Trudeau has to look at and watch the entire time he’s speaking, and something that will be easily seen and photographed from around the stadium without disrupting the event.” While she is currently in the process of planning this demonstration and gathering support, Nuthals’ efforts might be met by confusion from students who are excited to hear from a prominent leader. “From what I’ve heard, he’s a very socially and environmentally conscious guy,” Steinhardt sophomore Caroline Welch said. “He’s a world leader. I think a significant politician giving your school commencement address is always something cool.” Even though opinions are mixed, Trudeau will absolutely still have starstruck fans in the crowd — both at the ceremony and in the dorms, watching the livestream. “Is he even real?” CAS sophomore Kalkidan Tadese said. “He’s so attractive. His hair is luxurious.” Despite the differing opinions surrounding Trudeau’s visit, there’s one thing that every student has been asking: doesn’t Trudeau have better things to do? “I’m surprised that he has time for this,” GLS sophomore Riya Patil said. “Isn’t he busy?” Regardless of how Trudeau spends his time, his journey in politics will shape an interesting speech for graduating students, even if it’s not relevant to many of them. “NYU should invite someone more relevant in terms of after-graduation development, someone more grounded in a particular field other than politics and getting reelected,” CAS sophomore Ouwen Jiang said. “But a prime minister can offer some good advice too, and for those who are interested in politics and public policy and you know world geopolitics, it’s a good opportunity to hear him talking.” Disclaimer: Hailey Nuthals is a former Editor-in-Chief of Washington Square News. Email Jiayun Yang and Natalie Chinn at features@nyunews.com.
FBA’s Spring Fashion Fumble By AMANDA BURKETT Violet Vision Editor
At first glance, the Fashion Business Association’s Spring Fashion Show was picture perfect. On the way in, attendees were greeted by enthusiastic FBA members, seats decorated with sponsored goodie bags and tables sprinkled with cans of LaCroix. The runway was defined by clean white floors and curtains. According to the handout, there were seven designers and 17 models, all from different New York City colleges. The designers and models were all female, making for a fashion show with exclusively womenswear. The show had no obvious organization: some models appeared far more than others, other models circled the runway twice in the same outfit. There was also a lack of clarity about which designs belonged to which designer.
WENDY CHEN,
PARSONS SCHOOL OF DESIGN Each piece was spotted with faces, which were based around Narcissus from Greek mythology. Chen claimed that her collection reflects self-love, confidence and selfie culture. Her designs featured a complicated structure of ruffles and mixed materials.
VIVIAN JIANG GALLATIN
Without any closing of Chen’s collection, a model appeared wearing something completely dissimilar. After minutes of confusion and abrupt song changes, it was eventually clear that Chen’s show was over and that Gallatin junior Jiang’s show had begun. Jiang’s
collection was minimal in concept, color and structure. Her line was made from used and unwanted clothing, possibly explaining the simplicity. According to the collection’s description, her designs were based on a dandelion’s life cycle, though that was visually unclear in the collection. NATASHA PRESSLEY, PRATT INSTITUTE Pressley’s collection was visually appealing, both in structure and color. The collection was consistent with reworked denim except for a neon pink dress that served as a pop of color. Many pieces featured embroidered political statements — many unreadable by audience members and blatant in text — making them fall flat of the intended force.
ALICE SEULGI KIM PARSONS
Kim’s collection embodied her stuggles with sleep paralysis and how her body sits in a conscious state but is physically unable to move. Kim’s pieces juxtaposed the softness of sleepwear with the restrictive nature of bondage which translates as her mental and physical entrapment as she sleeps — both of which are trending in fashion at the moment. KAYLEIGH CONNOR PARSONS Connor’s collection served to address labels that plague women, such as damaged goods and piece of meat, and the question of “What were you wearing?” in the context of sexual harassment and assault. Some designs were printed with images of raw meat or marked by passport stamps. In the final look, the model
wore white underwear stitched with “I wouldn’t think about it too much.”
SARAH HOWLAND, PRATT INSTITUTE
Howland’s collection, which was inspired by her own lens of nostalgia, filled the runway as The Psychedelic Furs’ “Pretty in Pink” played in the background. All of the outfits centered on romanticism conveyed through the excessive use of pink, red and delicate lace.
SHERAH NDJONGO, NYU GALLATIN X LAURA SHAFER, PRATT
What seemed to be presented as one collection was originally conveyed as two separate collections. The mix of garments from Gallatin sophomore Ndjongo and Shafer seemed to be wellmade but were overshadowed by the confusion of a mixed runway. All the looks were quite basic, and nothing to write home about. CAS senior and Co-President of FBA Sam Chow shared positive sentiment for the show. “We were so happy about the turnout,” she said. “I thought it went really good.” Although it is obvious a lot of energy went into the show — from the designers, to the models, to the FBA team — the elephant in the room was an uncomfortable lack of organization. It was sad to see the hard work of designers overshadowed by the technical issues that arose, from the many sound problems to the accidental advertisement projected during the show. Email Amanda Burkett at aburkett@nyunews.com.
Out With the Old, In With the Clear By THOMAS CHOU Beauty & Style Editor
Grocery store plastic bags can be a nuisance. They rip easily, pile up in your home and if you’re throwing them away in the garbage — they’re devastatingly bad for the environment. While these cheap bags are often considered more of an eyesore than eye-catching, the fashion industry is swooping in to change that notion, one designer plastic bag at a time. Say goodbye to opacity because this spring, luxury plastics are bagging the big bucks. Brands like Celine, Maison Margiela and Chanel have been churning out bags in accordance with the growing trend — a tongue-in-cheek interpretation of to-go delivery bags or bodega bags you might be
STAFF PHOTO BY SAM CHENG
An NYU student carries a clear handbag from Urban Outfitters.
stuffing away in a kitchen drawer. Luxury clear bags exist at the intersection between ridiculousness and high fashion, much like past bag trends such as the “Frakta”-inspired bag by Balenciaga, a whopping $2,145 take on Ikea’s iconic $0.99 carry-all. These expensive, designer versions of everyday bags fuse together elements of high and low brow culture — they’re considered stylish due to the overt branding and outrageous price-tag, yet are simultaneously effortless because they’re inspired by grocery bags, after all. For Gallatin senior Daryl Ocampo, the trend of clear bags is too exaggerated. “I think they’re garish,” said Ocampo. “When I see one on the street, it looks to me like the person is trying really hard to look like they’re not trying at all. That could be the intention behind the bag’s design — the rich and fashionable finding novelty in re-creating something so ordinary, something that we all use on a daily basis, but then slapping on such a crazy price tag.” A Celine plastic bag that was spotted on the Spring/Summer 2018 runway is now being sold for $590 — approximately $589.95 more than what a regular plastic bag costs to produce, according to Time. At its current retail value, the markup is nearly 4000 percent. However, once the bag is sold out and begins to move around the resale market, only time will tell just
how much profit can be made from the sale of a humble plastic bag. “It’s moments like this that I find the fashion industry so funny,” LS sophomore Ericka Barroso said. “It’s so ridiculous that companies think they can charge so much for a plastic bag — but what’s even more ridiculous is that no matter how much they decide to charge for it, there is undoubtedly someone out there who is willing to pay for it.” On the other hand, while CAS junior Juli Torres might not be willing to pay for a luxury plastic bag herself, she finds that she can still appreciate the design value and aesthetic worth behind the trend. “While the price of the bags might be out of control, there is something really interesting about high-fashion’s interest in normalcy that’s demonstrated through these bags,” Torres said. “There’s something weird and unusual about seeing such an expensive brand name printed over a regular plastic bag, but I like the juxtaposition. It’s awkward, but I think that’s the intent.” With the designer clear bag trend popping up only very recently, only time can tell if this trend is here to stay or will simply drift away with the wind. Email Thomas Chou at tchou@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
Page 8
OPINION
nyunews.com Edited by Tyler Crews opinion@nyunews.com
POLITICS
Your Hometown Needs Your Vote By ALI ZIMMERMAN Deputy Opinion Editor
I turned 18 years old on Nov. 11, 2016, meaning that I was just three days too young to vote in the 2016 Presidential election. Though I was relatively confident that New Jersey’s electoral votes would all go to the candidate of my choice, I hated being unable to have a voice in an election I had watched so closely and cared more passionately about than any political race before. The midterm elections for the House of Representatives happen this fall and provide an opportunity to get to the polls and elect representatives who will best serve our needs. If you’re like me and couldn’t vote in 2016, this election will be your first opportunity to make your voice heard in national politics.
At NYU, students who are United States citizens have the ability to register to vote in either their home state or in New York. However, given New York’s large and politically homogeneous environment, students should register to vote in their home state before the midterm election. Millennials, anyone between the ages of 18 and 35, make up one of the largest percentages of the U.S. electorate, but turn out in the lowest numbers at the ballots. Millenials and Baby Boomers now make up an equal share of the electorate, but as Baby Boomers continue to age, millennials will only increase to make up the largest share of the voting age population. Millennials did turn out in significantly higher numbers for the 2016 election than the 2012 one. However, only 49 percent of the eligible
population cast their votes, compared to 69 percent of Baby Boomers. November’s midterm elections have the potential to drastically shake-up the House of Representatives and give Democrats the majority. Thirty nine GOP incumbents will not seek reelection, leaving a total of 58 vacancies in the House. In New York, a majority of the current representatives are Democrats — nearly all representatives of city districts are. New York City is un-
likely to deliver any major surprises in the 2018 midterm election, however, in many other states, the races for seats in the House will be close. In Pennsylvania, the congressional map was recent redrawn to undo gerrymandering that favored Republicans, meaning Democrats could potentially win 20 seats. In Minnesota, four of the eight voting districts are projected to have tight races, making the state an important determinant for the fate of the House. Regardless of your political affiliation, voting in this midterm election will be crucial in setting the tone for national politics going into the 2020 presidential election. Republicans currently control the House, and whether it flips or the GOP majority remains will set the course important legislative issues in the coming years.
So I implore you, if you are not already registered, to make it a priority this summer to register to vote. Register in your own state, especially if you’re from a smaller, more politically diverse area where your vote will carry more weight, and when the midterm elections roll around this fall, mail in your ballot to make your vote count. Registering to vote is easy — most states have online voter registration which can be completed in minutes. Young people, in sheer numbers, have incredible power to shape national politics, but that power has historically gone unused. In this coming midterm election, and subsequent elections in years to come, the stakes are too high to allow the trend to continue. Email Ali Zimmerman at azimmerman@nyunews.com.
POLITICS
Don’t Let ‘Sex in the City’ Take Over Our City By PAOLA NAGOVITCH Deputy Opinion Editor
In March, Cynthia Nixon announced her bid for governor of New York. Since declaring her candidacy, the former “Sex in the City” actress has cultivated an image of the average New Yorker who loves her state and truly knows what her constituents need. While another celebrity with no experience in office, President Donald Trump, is already problematic, I am more concerned with her opportunistic approach. She is a self-proclaimed bold progressive who is just pandering to what she thinks her constituents want to hear and promising sweeping reform. Nixon’s stunt gubernatorial
run deserves an eye-roll. It is clear that Americans are demanding change; there is an overwhelming consensus that the current system is not working. Americans across the nation are protesting the failures of the U.S. political system on issues such as gun control, systemic racism and education funding. Political leaders have emerged out of this desperate need for change. After all, Trump ran his presidential campaign as a populist, appealing to the “silent majority” of Americans who felt neglected by their country’s political system. On the other side of the spectrum, Bernie Sanders also ran his presidential campaign appealing to the frustrations of the U.S. constituency, rallying
supporters around progressive ideals that, in theory, were supposed to change the status quo. Trump and Sanders, though ideologically opposed, used issues like healthcare and immigration to energize voters into believing that a revolution was coming. Nixon follows this trend as well. She uses phrases such as “end mass incarceration” and “slash taxes” to mobilize people who are searching for a new
alternative, regardless of how feasible her platform might be. Not only is she taking advantage of the dissatisfaction Americans are experiencing, she also shamelessly panders to voters. On the issue of marijuana, Nixon has prioritized its legalization fully knowing that 62 percent of registered New York voters support this action. However, her stance on marijuana was not just for economic development, she also touched on the issue of race by claiming that marijuana regulation disapprotianely targets people of color. Moreover, Nixon recently even took up hispandering to a significant demographic in New York: Puerto Ricans. In 2014, Puerto Ricans made up more than 5.5 percent of the total New York
population, and it is safe to assume that the percentage has increased since the Puerto Rican exodus to the mainland after hurricane Maria. With such a large Puerto Rican community in New York, it is obvious that Nixon is aware of the power of the Puerto Rican vote as she calls for a “fair and equitable recovery for our fellow Americans” in Puerto Rico. While Nixon’s chances of winning the gubernatorial run continue to improve, I hope New Yorkers are cautious in the polls this fall. Remember that had “Sex in the City “been rebooted this year, Nixon would not be listed on our ballots. Email Paola Nagovitch at pnagovitch@nyunews.com.
CULTURE
Kendrick Lamar Is a Black Artist, Not a Wack Artist By JANICE LEE Staff Writer
Kendrick Lamar’s unprecedented Pulitzer Prize win for his fourth studio album “DAMN.” marks another rung on the ladder of hip-hop’s ascent. With artists like Drake, Cardi B and SZA redefining what is mainstream, hip-hop dominated 2017. They overtook the quintessential American favorite — rock — for the very first time. Despite hip-hop’s exceptional rise, Lamar’s victory has since been discounted and met with wariness, primarily because of the album’s genre and commercial success. The resistance to accept “DAMN.” as an album worthy of a Pulitzer Prize exemplifies the continuous dismissal of artists of color, especially black rappers. Historically, the Pulitzer Prize for Music has exclusively recognized classical
music and jazz, making “DAMN.” the first rap album to ever receive this award. The backlash that Lamar has been facing demonstrates how hip-hop particularly struggles to be seen as valid, distinguished art even the zenith of its popularity. Questlove, a member of The Roots, referred to hip-hop as “an entire cultural movement, packed into one hyphenated adjective.” He emphasized the danger of having hip-hop be the sole representative of black music — it would only take the dismissal of hip-hop, one aspect of black culture, to then silence all of black culture. Regrettably, it is as Questlove said. The social concerns surrounding hip-hop overshadow the artistry and innovation of the genre. As hip-hop becomes mainstream, there is a recurring concern about its effects on the youth due to the genre’s themes of misogyny, violence and drugs. Though hip-hop is not the only genre
of music that references these themes, it seems to be the one that is defined by them. It’s a gross oversimplification to consider the entirety of hip-hop as intentionally championing these problematic concepts — a significant reason rap largely embodies visceral expression and vulgarity to that extent is that ever since its inception, it has served as a response to the black experience that teems with injustice. African-Americans continue to be victims of harmful racism through things like police brutality, and rap, as an outlet,
reflects that oppression in its content. Rap has undeniably suffered in its commodification and branding over the years, but we have also witnessed the revolutionary ways it draws from strife and continuously pushes lyric, production and relevance. “DAMN.” is a commendable album with its incredible thematic density. Each track retains its singularity by focusing on a specific concept like DNA or pride, while the album as a whole exhibits cohesion in how every instance relates to Lamar’s own experience as a black male. “DAMN.” is driven by both immersive storytelling and straightforward confession to navigate duality, such as wickedness and weakness or the political and personal, within identity. With candor, Lamar grapples with the cruelty of being black in America. To him, misunderstanding is ubiquitous and fear is an inescapable aspect of the black condition.
There’s masterful complexity and painful authenticity in Lamar’s approach, which was highlighted in the prize citation. To invalidate Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize is to willfully ignore “DAMN.’s” influence. “DAMN.” doesn’t need a Pulitzer Prize nor any other distinction to be a remarkable collection of music, but in a country that falls short of adequate representation of minorities in the media, Lamar’s win reinforces the validity of art by people of color and of hip-hop as a praiseworthy genre of music. As the rising generation, we can feel empowered that artists like Lamar are challenging the status quo. Now, we can testify that institutional precedent crumbles at the cusp of necessary growth, and it’s our effort that ultimately catalyzes the evolution. Email Janice Lee at opinion@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
nyunews.com
Page 9
OPINION
Edited by Tyler Crews opinion@nyunews.com
UNIVERSITY LIFE
STAFF EDITORIAL
Town Hall Shows That Town Halls Don’t Work By TYLER CREWS Opinion Editor
Last Thursday, President Andrew Hamilton and other administrators hosted a public town hall to discuss global studies at NYU. The first half of the town hall was formatted like a panel, which allowed the administrators and NYU Student Government President Juan Manuel Calero to discuss various initiatives within NYU’s global programs to promote diversity and inclusivity; the second half opened the conversation up to students in a Q&A format. However, the question and answer session quickly diverted from conversation into accusation and avoidance, proving once again that Hamilton is right — town halls are not productive settings for dialogue. When Stern senior Essma Bengabsia requested comment on the Islamophobia and racism in the Stern School of Business, the administration recognized the need for safety and assured Bengabsia that the right team would be put on it. While this reception cannot yet be deemed as productive because it has not turned into action, the administration appeared genuinely concerned and ready to address the problem. Although this interaction can be viewed in a positive light, the truth is that town halls simply do not work when the members of the meeting are walking in with the intent to
elicit specific replies. Q&A’s don’t allow for collaboration or problem solving — only problem identification. As President Hamilton said, “Town halls are a different kind of format. They are not the most effective exchange of ideas.” One student, for example, asked President Hamilton about his environmentalist stance. “I wonder how you … can talk about these things with a straight face when NYU still has incredible amounts of money — undisclosed amounts of money — invested in the fossil fuel industry?” the student asked. While the issue of fossil fuel divestment was important to discuss on Thursday night, the manner in which it was raised was accusatory and insulting, which are not tools for open discourse. Yet, these words were still communicated better than the hissing Hamilton was met with when he announced his disagreement with the Boycott, Sanction and Divest movement. While I understand that hissing is the opposite form of snapping in this arena — similar to liking and disliking something
online — I would be far less receptive to the grievances of a room full of people who were hissing at me. Of course, on the other side, Hamilton and the rest of the administration danced around responses, reiterating past answers and rewording old statements. Hamilton repeated messages of togetherness and inclusivity and called a variety of situations “unacceptable.” While Hamilton’s first two town halls in March 2016 were received well by students, his town hall last year had similar instances of discontent and lack of respect — some students chanted “shame” at Hamilton, while others walked out. Overall, neither party felt satisfied after leaving recent town halls, so why should we think a town hall with the Board of Trustees — people who are far less willing to listen to students — will result in a beneficial outcome? Instead, we should focus our efforts behind facilitating dialogue through the student government, which leads to concern over elected student government members and not allowing candidates to run uncontested. There are many other avenues for conversation — so we shouldn’t pursue the ones that have already proven ineffective. Email Tyler Crews at tcrews@nyunews.com.
NYU Denied Entry From Sustainable World
Earth Day Thoughts
Saturday was Earth Day, and to celebrate, the WSN Editorial Board took time to assess recent efforts by the NYU administration to make our school greener. In recent months, the university has made some positive changes, like establishing the Center for Environmental and Animal Protection, but there is still room for improvement. Here is what we think NYU is doing well, doing wrong and what it should do in the future to optimize sustainability. In the past month, NYU has implemented various programs to improve sustainability. The Center for Environmental and Animal Protection was launched recently to research environmental and animal topics that could be used to inform policy concerning climate change. A new online portal was also released, allowing students to contribute their ideas on how to further sustainability efforts. In an email to WSN, Assistant Vice President for Sustainability at NYU Cecil Scheib wrote, “About 1,500 students, faculty, staff and administrators have already participated.” NYU has also begun to use biodegradable take-out containers in dining halls in an effort toward using more eco-friendly materials. Larger projects include an upgraded cogeneration plant and renovations designed to increase sustainability. According to Scheib, renovations follow Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards, which ensures buildings are eco-friendly. Despite making positive efforts, NYU has more to do. Student protests on April 14 during the Weekend on the Square events are evidence of this, as NYU trustees’ ties with fossil fuel companies has caused outrage. Cutting both direct and indirect ties to fossil fuels is one way NYU could commit to a more sustainable future, in conjunction to smaller steps. Some small steps NYU can make include taking simple measures to reduce waste in dining halls. For starters, NYU can take after cities like Seattle, Miami Beach and Malibu where plastic straws have been banned in restaurants to cut down on unnecessary plastic waste. Dining halls can also reduce waste by further encouraging students to use reusable containers for meals instead of disposable to-go boxes; they should also stop selling disposable plastic water bottles altogether. While recycling can help eliminate waste to some degree, NYU should gear efforts in waste reduction through reusing, which will cut down on far more waste in the long run. As helpful and important as the steps listed above are, there are some larger actions that can be taken by the university to increase sustainability efforts. Along with fossil fuel divestment, another major stride NYU can take is instituting a compost system within our residence halls. Composting is an essential method to dispose of waste, allowing waste products to contribute to the the environment rather than harm it — NYU should be utilizing composting more if it is serious about sustainability. Lastly, we should aim to have set standards for sustainable product purchasing. Currently, there are sustainable product options — such as Tree Zero Paper — that department heads can choose to purchase over competing products. However, to ensure these options are being used, NYU should be setting certain quotas for sustainable purchasing. While NYU has made strides in sustainability thus far, we implore both the administration and the student body to redouble their efforts to make NYU more sustainable. As students, we are each individually responsible for taking advantage of the sustainability resources available at NYU and making efforts toward a greener future. Email the WSN Editorial Board at opinion@nyunews.com EDITORIAL BOARD: Tyler Crews (Chair), Paola Nagovitch (Co-chair), Alison Zimmerman (Co-chair)
STAFF ILLUSTRATION BY VICTOR WU
SUBMITTING TO
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, April 23, 2018
Page 10
nyunews.com
SPORTS Keeping up with the
BOBCATS
Edited by Maddie Howard sports@nyunews.com
Fencing April 23
Softball April 24
Men’s Tennis April 26
vs. US Division I Nationals
at Hunter College
vs UAA Championship Site: Sanlando Park
The Case for More Female Referees By BELA KIRPALANI Deputy Sports Editor
As the case is made for more representation for women in the sports world, many are debating the scarcity of female referees. This season the National Basketball Association had one female referee out of 64 referees total. As of 2017, the National Football League has one female referee out of 124 referees. Major League Baseball currently has 91 referees, none of whom are women. The National Hockey League hasn’t had a female referee since Heather McDaniel in 1995. However, having women as referees in a non-professional setting is not as uncommon SPS junior and men’s basketball team member Jule Brown has had female referees officiating his basketball games since he was a child. “My first experience with a female referee was in fourth grade in a youth league in my area,” Brown said. “Coming from a predominantly female household, it was common seeing and accepting women who were in positions of authority, and even though I had never played in a game where a woman was a referee, it didn’t make a difference.” NYU is part of the Eastern College Athletic Conference, which works in conjunction with all schools in the region to assign referees to college games. John Barbuto is one of the soccer coordinators for New York state and he works with the ECAC to hire and assign referees to NYU athletics’ games. Barbuto is also involved with the United States Soccer Federation, which has a program “committed to producing a variety of referee education resources aimed at supporting the program’s ap-
proximate 140,000 members across the country that service amateur games at the youth and adult levels.” “We start ‘em young,” Barbuto said. “They start in the USSF program, and if they do a good job, and we see a future with them, they keep moving up. If they’re good they get games, if they’re not they don’t.” Dee Kantner and Violet Palmer broke barriers when they became the NBA’s first ever female referees in 1997. Kantner was fired in 2002. Meanwhile, Palmer officiated 919 NBA games, becoming the first woman to helm an NBA playoff game in 2006 before retiring at the age of 52 in 2016. She crossed over into the overtly masculine world of NBA basketball not only as an African-American female, but also as as the first openly gay referee. Palmer and Kantner paved the way for more women to become referees, and now Lauren Holtkamp is carrying on the torch, and is in her third season in the NBA. Historically, some players seem to hold a lack of respect for female referees, now it seems many athletes and coaches, like Stern sophomore and NYU baseball player Ford Ladd, are in favor of more female representation in professional officiating. “I think most players already have this stance,” Ladd said. “Among my own teammates, and from the professional athletes that I’ve heard from, the consensus is that athletes really don’t care who is officiating as long as they are doing a good job.” Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James gave a similar response when recently asked about female coaches in basketball such as Becky Hammon, the NBA’s first female assistant coach currently with the San Antonio Spurs.
“I mean, if she knows what she’s doing, we’ll love it,” James said in an interview with ESPN. “I mean, listen, at the end of the day, basketball ... it’s not about male or female. You know the game, you know the game.” Others believe that due to the aggressive nature of sports, and the riled up emotions of fans, players and coaches alike, it can be difficult to convince anyone to become a referee. In an email to WSN, NYU basketball assistant coach Taylor Roth said that she doesn’t understand why anyone would want to be an official due to the way referees are treated by fans, coaches and players. “You will get more female officials and more male officials if we make the job less taxing compared to the level of pay received,” Roth said. “To do that, people need to change the way they behave towards them as players, coaches and spectators.” Email Bela Kirpalani at bkirpalani@nyunews.com.
VIA COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG
Lauren Holtkamp is the third woman to become a full-time referee for the NBA.
A Tale of Two Halves: NYU vs. Columbia By WARNER RADLIFF Deputy Sports Editor
NYU fans hopped off the A train at the northern tip of Manhattan to watch their beloved Violets take on archrival Columbia Business School in a rugby match for the Stern Rugby Club on Saturday. The battle of the business schools started off fast for Columbia with the Lions scoring a try and successful conversion only a minute after the opening kickoff. The first minute of play set the tone for the first half as the Lions maintained their momentum and capitalized on their ensuing possessions with two more tries and one successful conversion to end the half 19-0 in their favor. What hurt the Violets in the first half was their lacking transition game and open field defense. Due to a handful of offensive turnovers and missed tackles by the Violets around the midline and on the Lions’ half of the field, the Lions were able to take advantage of fast break opportunities that allowed them to significantly advance the ball downfield and set up in close scoring range. Regardless of the performance that led to the less than ideal field positioning, a positive takeaway for the Violets was their strong defense when backed up to their defending goal line. With numerous goal line stops, the Violets were able to wane the Lions’ offensive attack and limit their offensive efficiency. The stops galvanized the team and foreshadowed a turnaround in the 40 minute to come. In the second half, the Violets took to the pitch energized by the animated NYU fans in attendance. Matching the intensity of the Lions’ opening possession, the Violets came off the whistle strong and dominated possession for the majority of the half. After a long offensive possession, the Violets were able to puncture the Lions’ goal line defense off of a line out for a try and successful conversion. Having finally gotten onto the scoreboard, the Violets demonstrated a more disciplined style of play than their first half performance. With corrections made in the transition game, the Violets fought the Lions on both sides of the ball for a back and forth battle for possession at the midline. The Lions
eventually broke the stalemate with a fast break that covered nearly the length of the pitch. However, the Violets were able to stay on course and tackle the ball carrier short of the goal line in a highlight reel play that commanded mass praise from the stands. Although the Violets ushered a turnaround in the second half, their efforts fell short as the Lions went on a run in the final minutes of play, scoring three tries and one successful conversion to win the match 36-7. After the match, Steinhardt junior and Stern Rugby Club Executive Vice President William Herrin highlighted the team’s adjustments in the second half. “We were an entirely different team the second half after we came out pretty slow missed some tackles, made some mistakes, but we put that in the past for the second half and came out strong,” Herrin said. Stern first-year MBA candidate and Stern Rugby Club President William Pitt echoed Herrin’s statement and spoke to the impact of fielding a young team. “We were missing quite a few key players today, so it was a fairly new team who hadn’t played many games together and I think it showed throughout the game, particularly in the first half,” Pitt said. “The team that went on the second half I think did a fantastic job. We dominated possession at least the first 20 minutes of that second half and that’s the performance we’ll remember and take forward into the next game.” Pitt added that he believes the loss speaks to what the team needs to improve upon in order to further build the program. “We started what we think is going to be a four or five year journey this semester in terms of taking this team from what is a really amateur team to something that can compete across the Northeast,” Pitt said. “Today was probably a step backwards compared to our last game, but it showed what we’re committed to do the rest of the semester and next couple of years.” The Violets will look to rebound off the loss next week when the team competes against Gotham Rugby. Email Warner Radliff at wradliff@nyunews.com.
VIA NYUSTERN.CAMPUSGROUPS.COM
NYU Stern’s Spring 2018 Rugby team.
Washington Square News | Monday, April 23, 2018
nyunews.com
Page 11
SPORTS
Edited by Maddie Howard sports@nyunews.com
WEEKLY SPORTS UPDATE
April. 15 to April. 22
By BELA KIRPALANI and WARNER RADLIFF Deputy Sports Edtiors
MEN’S TENNIS
STAFF PHOTO BY TYLER CREWS
NYU’s mascot, the Bobcat, getting in costume.
Big Things to Come From the Bobcat By TYLER CREWS Opinion Editor
When it comes to being the NYU Bobcat, there is only one rule: enjoy yourself. Well, that and don’t do anything that makes the school look bad. You have seen the Bobcat at Weekend on the Square and Strawberry Fest. Perhaps you have seen it at a Law School or School of Professional Studies Event. And, while you most likely haven’t attended an NYU basketball game, I can assure you, it was there. The Bobcat is well-known around campus. Yet, no one seems to know much about the person, or should I say people, behind the suit. There are approximately 10 members at any given time, which is considered a club team at NYU. I sat down with Stern junior and NYU Mascot Captain Avery DeWindt and three members of the team, CAS first-year Ben Schroeder, CAS firstyear Olivia Zhong and SPS senior Irene Kulbida, to talk about what it takes to be the Bobcat. To try out to become a Bobcat, an interested student only needs to perform a short dance in front of the team leaders. Like any other team, they have been training since the beginning of the year, teaching new members like Zhong and Schroeder how to master the Bobcat walk, how to react to scared children or drunk people and how to act toward rival teams. However, no amount of training has helped them master how to stay cool in the suit during warm weather. “I was in the suit for Weekend on the Square on Saturday,” Schroeder said. “It was outside Stern and just constant heat and sun. It was hell. And then the assistant is standing there under a fan, just chilling and watching. I was sweating like crazy inside of the suit.” Kulbida and Zhong face other difficulties while being the Bobcat due to their gender. “The funniest thing — just being a girl in the suit — is that everyone always assumes it’s a guy,” Kulbida said. “So, I’ve had so many guys just jump into my arms expecting me to catch them, and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, why?’” Zhong has had experiences sim-
ilar to Kulbida. “Yeah, they assume that I’m a guy, so I’ve had lots of girls coming up to me and asking, ‘Are you cute?’” Zhong said. While the mascots are taught how to react in specific situations, they do not train members on how to bring the Bobcat to life. “The cool thing about being on this team is that everyone has their own style while being the Bobcat,” DeWindt said. “You have to be creative, so we try not to limit that creativity.” Their creativity in the costume will be sure to shine next year when they compete in the National Mascot Competition. While some of the performances are over the top, Kulbida is confident that the Bobcat will win. This is only one of the initiatives that the team plans to take next year in order to create more of a presence for the Bobcat. “There’ll be a lot bigger presence on campus for current students, not just admitted students,” Schroeder said. “And then we’ll have our own events in a way, events we create, to really try and increase the spirit at NYU.” DeWindt pointed out that the Bobcat doesn’t necessarily need to be tied to athletics, since NYU is not a big sports school. “I feel like NYU is very fragmented and there are a lot of different groups and cultures,” DeWindt said. “We need to find a way to bring them all together. Rather than just attending a basketball game, we could attend a show at Tisch or a musical performance at Steinhardt.” As of right now, the mascots are gearing up for commencement, where they will actually have two Bobcats at the event, spread out between entrances at Yankee stadium. “At the graduation ceremonies, people are nostalgic and happy,” DeWindt said. “Everyone just wants a picture with the Bobcat before they leave.” If you want more than just a picture and aren’t graduating this year, you could be a Bobcat too, seeing that the team is always looking to gain as many members as possible. Email Tyler Crews at tcrews@nyunews.com
On April 21, the NYU men’s tennis team was defeated by University Athletic Association opponent Case Western Reserve University 7-2. Providing NYU’s two wins, CAS senior Umberto Setter defeated his opponent in two sets in first seed singles (6-4, 7-5), and Stern sophomore Vishal Walia came back after a firstset loss to win his third seed singles match (3-6, 6-2, 10-5). Later in the day, NYU narrowly defeated Ohio Wesleyan University 5-4. The Violets gained an important victory from CAS junior Shrikar Kundur and Stern sophomore Michael Li, as they won their second seed doubles match 8-4. Setter and Walia each had their second singles wins of the day after prevailing 6-4, 6-3, and 6-1, 6-2, respectively. Sealing the win for the Violets were fifth seed CAS junior Yanik Parsch, who won a close first set 6-4 and dominant second 6-1, and sixth seed CAS sophomore Zeb Zheng, who swiftly defeated his opponent in two sets (6-1, 6-2). Next, the Violets will head down to Altamonte Springs, Florida, for day one of the UAA Championships on April 26.
BASEBALL
Snapping a three-game losing streak, the NYU baseball team defeated John Jay College 13-4 on April 18, at MCU Park in Brooklyn, New York. Six different pitchers threw for the Violets on Wednesday, including CAS sophomore Zach Cohen, who tossed three shutout innings, while striking out five Bloodhounds. On April 20, the Violets defeated Brandeis University 12-7, with SPS junior Colman Hendershot recording seven runs, and hitting three home runs in the win. NYU split a doubleheader against Brandeis University on April 21, winning the first game 18-2 before losing 7-5 in the second game. Hendershot hit two home runs, while Stern sophomore and pitcher Ford Ladd allowed only two runs over six innings in the win.
Email tips@nyunews.com to report stories
With their twenty-fourth win of the season, NYU baseball set a program record for most wins in a season since NYU brought back baseball as a Division III program in 2014 following a 42-year hiatus from Division I status. On April 21, the Violets won their third game out of four against Brandeis University 9-8 and marked their first-ever UAA series victory.
SOFTBALL
On April 17, the NYU softball team swept the College of Saint Mount Vincent in a doubleheader, winning 9-1 and 10-0, respectively. Stern junior Dakota Damiani walked twice, scored two runs, had a hit and a RBI in game one, while Gallatin sophomore Samantha Sicignano went 2-for-3 and scored two runs in the second win. On April 20, the Violets split a doubleheader against Brandeis University, losing the first game 5-0 before winning the second game 4-3. In the win, Steinhardt junior Diana King finished 2-for-2 in the contest with two stolen bases. Gallatin junior and pitcher Cassi Parulis pitched 6.1 innings, allowing one earned run and striking out four. In its final home games of the season, NYU softball swept Brandeis University on April 21, winning 6-3 and 7-5, respectively. The Violets honored their lone Tandon senior, Sage Scheiwiller, in a pre-game ceremony. College of Nursing sophomore and pitcher Scarlett Murphy allowed only two runs and struck out four in the first game. NYU softball will return to the diamond on April 24 for a doubleheader against Hunter College.
WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
The women’s track and field team took fourth place at the Vassar College Invitational in Poughkeepsie, New York on April 21. CAS senior Alexa Goldman secured a first place finish for the Violets in the 400 meter hurdles with a time of 1:10:35. Three Violets finished in the top five of the triple jump events with CAS sophomore Evelyn Nkanga, Stern senior Brianna Yee and LS first-year Kobi Kane finishing in
second, third and fourth respectively. CAS first-year Anna Walewski finished in the top five in two events with a fourth place finish in the 400-meter dash and fifth place finish in the 200-meter dash. Steinhardt junior Olivia Kobayashi finished just ahead of Walewski in the 400-meter dash with a third place finish. A trio of Violets had top ten performances in the 1,500-meter event with Steinhardt sophomore Elizabeth Ward placing sixth, CAS first-year Mary Neville placing seventh and Stern junior Karen Yao placing eighth. The women’s track and field team will compete next at the UAA Conference Championships at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania over the April 28 to 29 weekend.
MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
The Violets travelled to Poughkeepsie, New York where they earned a second place finish at the Vassar College Invitational on April 21. Two Violets headed the high jump with a first place finish by CAS junior William Lee and second place finish by CAS first-year Joseph Forrler. The 4x400 meter team of SPS first-year Shawn Andrade, SPS sophomore Julian Montilus, Stern junior Soham Kamat and Stern senior Vince Booth took first place with a time of 3:29:79. Steinhardt senior Jordan Reyes completed the 3,000-meter steeplechase nearly 15 seconds ahead of the runner-up, capturing another first place finish for the Violets. The Violets will travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on April 28 to compete at the UAA Conference Championships at Carnegie Mellon University.
WOMEN’S GOLF
The women’s golf team placed second at the Jack Leaman Invitational at the Amherst Golf Club in Amherst, Massachusetts over the April 21 to 22 weekend. The Violets will compete next at the Liberty League Championships at St. Lawrence Golf Course in Canton, New York on April 28 and 29. Email the Sports Team at sports@nyunews.com.
Washington Square News Staff Editor-in-Chief Jemima McEvoy Managing Editor Sayer Devlin deputy Pamela Jew assistant Veronica Liow
Creative Director
Rachel Buigas-Lopez abroad Laura Shkouratoff deputy Arvind Sindhwani, Jessie Zhou
Copy Chiefs
Alejandro Villa VĂĄsquez, Cissy Yun deputy Eugenia Cardinale, Tarra Chen, Viral Shanker
Multimedia
Echo Chen deputy Sam Cheng photo Corey Rome video Julia Saliba senior Polina Buchak, Anna Letson, Euan Prentis
ADVERTISING Business Manager Rhea Nayak Sales Manager Brian Christensen Zapiecki Circulations Manager Allison Lambdin Creative Director, W Media Group Grace Rogers Content Specialist, W Media Group Alex Hanson University Sales Manager Makena Mueller Sales Associate Lucas Lovejoy, Apoorva Nori
Social Media and Marketing
Molly Dolan, Sherah Ndjongo
Audio Engineer Tom Miritello
SENIOR STAFF
news Mack DeGeurin
Sakshi Venkatraman investigative news Caroline Haskins features Yasmin Gulec arts Ryan Mikel sports Maddie Howard
DEPUTY STAFF
news Alex Domb, Sarah Jackson,
Kristina Hayhurst
film Natalie Whalen books and theater Emily Fagel music Connor Gatesman entertainment Matthew Holman features Natalie Chinn dining Liv Chai beauty and style Thomas Chou abroad Carine Zambrano sports Bela Kirpalani, Warner Radliff photo Katie Peurrung video Alana Beyer humor Louis Rodriguez
OPINION PAGE
editor Tyler Crews deputy Paola Nagovitch,
Victor Porcelli, Alison Zimmerman
BLOGS
the highlighter Anubhuti Kumar under the arch George Hajjar,
Danielle Matta
violet vision Amanda Burkett
ADVISING Director of Operations Nanci Healy Editorial Adviser Rachel Holliday Smith Editors-at-Large managing Natasha Roy Andrew Heying, Miranda Levingston, Hailey Nuthals, Jordan Reynolds, Taylor Nicole Rogers, Kaitlyn Wang, Abigail Weinberg
About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published in print on Mondays and throughout the week online during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact the managing editors at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302