Washington Square News August 27, 2018

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5 CULTURE

11 OPINION

NYU Revamps 2018 Welcome Week

Democracy at NYU Is Dying

9 ARTS

12 SPORTS

Sex, Drugs and the Story Behind NYU’s Reality Show

The Hidden Gem: Table Tennis Team Wins Championship

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Student Sues NYU Over Sexual Harassment The lawsuit comes after a Title IX investigation into prominent scholar Avital Ronell.

By ALEX DOMB News Editor porters of the #MeToo movement, NYU T pleted last spring found Professor of G Avital Ronell responsible for a pattern of sexual misconduct toward a former , N Reitman, from 2012 to 2015. Unsat, lawsuit against NYU and Ronell in N Y S S Reitman, currently a visiting felU , mal complaint about Ronell to NYU in the summer of 2017, two years after NYU T investigated the matter during the T , sections of which were obtained by WSN, investigators listed dozens of text messages and emails it deemed inappropriate for a professor-student relationship; among other comments, 66-year-old Ronell called Reitman a “baby love angel,” expressed a desire to kiss and cuddle him and described intimate fantasies involving the two.

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Risk of Forced Labor at Abu Dhabi Remains, Contradicting NYU

By KRISTINA HAYHURST News Editor Three years after promising to provide regular updates on adherence to labor standards on the Abu Dhabi campus, NYU released its compliance report in May amid mounting protests from activists and human rights groups.

NYU made that promise after making national headlines when a 2015 investigation found nearly onethird of migrant construction workers on the NYUAD campus had been excluded from the protections NYU T ,

N , poor housing conditions and late or non-existent pay, among others. The university took full responsibility and promised to change.

NYU report audited more than 500 NYUAD campus workers, from December 2015 to March 2017. The results listed a high level of satisfaction among work, non-compliance with labor values set by NYU prior to the beginning of construction. Throughout the , ,

D , merous other documentations of the laborers’ conditions at NYUAD have surfaced over the , ties faced by workers abroad. One such example was a 2014 report by The New York Times that explicitly outlined the exploitative conditions faced by laborers that violated the guidelines NYU set for itself prior to the construction of the campus (the “statement of labor values” has since been removed from NYUAD’s website).

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Worm’s eye view of the NYU Abu Dhabi campus.

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NEWS

NEWS@NYUNEWS.COM

Union Square: Prepare to Welcome a Tech Hub

By SARAH JACKSON News Editor Residents of Palladium and University Residence Hall will have a new 21-story neighbor in the coming years after the to be built in between the two dorms.

The 240,000-square-foot Union S T T on city-owned land at 124 E. 14th St., which Son. Part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “New York Works” initiative, the development will house workspaces for startups, a digital job training center, an event space and more.

These features are part of what AS um resident Wendy Yang support the tech hub. A pre-med student herself, she believes the facility will serve a vital purpose in helping others interested in STEM receive the training and education they need to succeed in the industry.

N , about giving developers more freedom to to class, but changing the zoning laws is , Y price of giving underserved populations an accessible and comprehensive STEM ,

na Rivera, whose district includes the center’s location, said the tech hub “This project will help give communities who are extremely underrepresented in the tech industry a once-ina-lifetime chance to help close the tech education and hiring divide,” Rivera said in a public statement released after the vote.

The statement listed several steps development, one of which included

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Rendering of the new tech hub that would sit between Palladium Hall and University Hall on 14th Street.

working toward “establishing a protective zoning measure in neighborhoods south of 14th Street that has proven to regulate commercial development.”

But some community members enough. As it stands, without protective measures such as height limits and affordable housing provisions in place, the tech hub could accelerate commercial development in the area, spelling trouble for residents and historic sites nearby.

Andrew Berman, the executive director of the Greenwich Village Society for Historic Preservation, said the approval of the upzoning needed for the tech hub may encourage Silicon Alley to expand into the area.

“By doing this large commercial upzoning for the tech hub and basically saying we’re going to locate this new center of the tech industry on the south side of 14th Street, we’re signaling to the tech industry, ‘Hey, picture this as your new home,’” Berman told WSN. Email Sarah Jackson at sjackson@nyunews.com.

Edited by ALEX DOMB, KRISTINA HAYHURST and SARAH JACKSON

Student Sues NYU Over Sexual Harassment FROM PAGE 1

NYU pending Ronell without pay for the Reitman, however, remains unsat, A , university for allowing Ronell to continue interacting with students as the investigation was being conducted, for failing to publicize the investigation’s ishing Ronell with adequate severity .

“NYU’s response to Mr. Reitman’s complaint of harassment was unacceptable then and remains unacceptable now,” Reitman’s lawyer, D , told the Associated Press in a statement. “My client demands account, , the hands of Professor Ronell while NYU did nothing.”

Facing an impending lawsuit, NYU refuses to back down. Standing by the notion that the year-long suspension is enough, the university says retaliatory legal action would be undeserved and counterproductive.

“We have tried to work with Mr. Reitman to help him put this unfortunate chapter behind him, and we are sympathetic to what he has been through,” NYU spokesman John Beckman told WSN. “However, given the promptness, seriousness and thoroughness with which we responded to his charges, we do not believe that against the university would be warranted or just.”

The allegations against Ronell have received national media attention throughout late spring and this summer, dividing feminists, academics , peer scholars wrote in defense of her character in a letter addressed to NYU administrators. The authors intended , was made public on June 10 by Uni“We deplore the damage that this legal proceeding causes her, and seek to register in clear terms our objection to any judgment against her,” the letter read. “We hold that the allegations against her do not constitute actual

evidence, but rather support the view that malicious intention has animated and sustained this legal nightmare.”

The letter was published after the T tion but before the details of the report were leaked to the press; the letter acknowledged that its signatories had no Among the signatories were several world renowned academics including NYU G S and feminist scholar Judith Butler, who later publicly expressed regret over signing the letter. victims of sexual misconduct are being encouraged to tell their stories, accusawithin the wider #MeToo movement.

While that movement has almost exclusively targeted powerful men abussituation involves an older woman alher junior. To make matters more , Reitman, on his part, claims to be a reluctant spokesperson for the wider #MeToo movement, according to the statement he provided to AP. Regardless, he hopes his willingness to come forward facilitates the aims of the #MeToo movement by encouraging other victims to come forward. part of that extraordinary movement, but if my story can help stop this from happening to other students or if my story helps others feel like they are not , , Reitman wrote in his statement.

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Office 319 at 19 University Place, where Ronell held office hours.

Email Alex Domb at adomb@nyunews.com.

SUMMER RECAP

What You Missed Over Break

By ALEX DOMB and KRISTINA HAYHURST News Editors ings in and around NYU during summer break, don’t worry, WSN has you covered.

Here’s a recap of the news pertinent to your university over the past three months.

May 15: Endowment Hit a Record High, But Cost of Attendance will Keep Rising

NYU released its annual budget pro, , , takes tuition and housing costs into account, will increase by 2.7 percent this year; at most selective private universities in the United States, cost of attendance rises marginally NYU 12-month fundraising cycle between August , raising totals from the previous year. Over the course of that 12-month cycle, endowment eclipsed the $4 billion mark.

June 21: NYU Revokes Bill Cosby’s Honorary Degree

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honorary Doctor of Fine Arts Degree. The actor and comedian was awarded the hon, of the university’s commencement speak, of sexual assault by dozens of women, effectively destroying his public reputation. , counts of aggravated indecent assault.

NYU is one of over 50 universities to date that has rescinded honorary degrees previJuly 26: Board of Trustees Denied Resolutions for Student and Faculty Trustees

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S versity administrators, student leaders and resolutions to add student and faculty representation to the Board of Trustees, whose thrice-annual meetings are opaque. As with all resolutions passed by the University Senate, the resolutions for representation were passed on to the board for approval. Despite by student advocate groups such as the StuA NYU Divest, the Board struck each resolution , with University Senate leaders, sit down to

lunch with students each semester and update the board’s website.

Aug. 3: NYU Defeated Employees in a Legal Battle Over Retirement Plans

A D judge ruled that NYU did not mismanage A , six NYU professors suing on behalf of all , , leging the university had violated a federal tax law known as the Employee RetireS A S prominent universities and none thus T NYU to trial, which was held over the course of eight days in April.

Aug. 13: A Female NYU Professor Was Suspended for Sexually Harassing a Male Student

NYU T tion and found Professor of German and A responsible for a pattern of sexual misconduct toward a male graduate student, Nimrod Reitman, spanning from 2012 to

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A boy jumps while holding his two guardians’ hands in Washington Square Park on a late summer morning.

2015. The university found Ronell guilty of sending inappropriate emails and text messages and for making unwanted physical advances. Many prominent colleagues, including world-renowned scholars, have came to Ronell’s defense; Ronell has denied allegations of misconduct and accused Reitman of “inviting” and “encouraging” the communication between the two. NYU has suspended Ronell without mandated that any future meetings between she and students must be presided over by a third party.

Aug. 16: NYU School of Medicine Offers Full-Tuition Scholarships to All Students

NYU’s School of Medicine gave a surprise announcement to a room full of dents in its M.D. degree program, regardD , tive. NYU emphasized that the move was a rational step in the pursuit of education that doesn’t bury students in debt. With 21 percent of doctors graduating from a , debt, NYU hopes to make a career in medEmail Alex Domb and Kristina Hayhurst at news@nyunews.com.

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Risk of Forced Labor at Abu Dhabi Campus Remains, Contradicting NYU FROM PAGE 1

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CRIME LOG

Tuna Stolen From Faculty Member

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By CRIME BOT Robot Reporter

T standards set by NYU, including involuntary overtime, high recruitment costs and fees, holding of workers passports by their employers, lack of full wages and threatening workers who striked with deportation.

D A phasized in a statement released, following

From Aug. 1 to Aug. 16, the NYU Department of Public Safety received , port of aggravated assault, one report of arson, one report of burglary, two reports of controlled substance violations, one report of criminal mischief, two reports of harassment and 14 reports of larceny.

investigation was inaccurate, but did not bor’s assessment is neither right nor fair, , “More broadly, we disagree with the re, mary evidence.”

S G , NYU , said that the compliance report released by NYUAD T released a statement shortly after the NYUAD , , by standards that still created critical risk of forced labor and did not accurately represent the workers in its sampling method.

“NYU Abu Dhabi has released a report critical to mitigating the risk of forced labor at NYU Abu Dhabi,” the statement reads.

“That NYU Abu Dhabi would argue such

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The NYU Abu Dhabi campus

a report rebuts concern about its compliance program demonstrates its judgment on this issue and its present unaccountability to the university’s commitment to compliance with laws and ethical treatment.”

Gill went on to reiterate that NYU was making clear improvements but lacked a fundamental understanding of how to deal with problems of infrastructure in another country.

“As we show in the report, NYU clearly made mistakes that just never should have , readily avoidable if NYU had committed to compliance and to ensuring they took reasonable steps to prevent forced labor,” Gill said in a statement to WSN. “So far as we understand, again from what is availably known, NYU doesn’t have independent means to enforce its own independent governance requirements.”

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,A drew Ross, who was barred from entering the United Arab Emirates in 2015, echoed this sentiment.

T NYU understand the risks that were involved with going into a location where labor rights and human rights abuses were widespread,” he said. “Such as the loss of academic freedom, forced labor and an inability to manage a Ultimately, Ross said the issue was a moral one.

“Students shouldn’t be asked to study in classrooms that have been built on the back of abused workers and faculty should not be asked to teach in them,” Ross said.

Email Kristina Hayhurst at khayhurst@nyunews.com.

Brennan Center Sues U.S. Department of Justice

By VICTOR PORCELLI Deputy News Editor NYU S ter for Justice is taking on the United States D earlier this month. The center alleges that the DOJ failed to produce many of the documents concerning voter registration that it had requested over a year ago under A This act gives the public the right to request access to records from any federal agency, although there is no set time frame within which an agency must T was made in response to a letter sent by the DOJ to 44 states asking for information on how they are complying with federal laws pertaining to voter registration list maintenance.

Austin Evers, executive director of non-partisan government watchdog American Oversight, which is serving as co-counsel in the lawsuit, said the letter T alleged voter fraud.

“Especially in the wake of the disillusion of the president’s bogus voter fraud commission, the actions by the DOJ stand as the administration’s primary tool for exploring and potentially clamping down on what they view as voter fraud,” Evers told WSN. T A , plained Jonathan Brater, counsel in the D , because of the center’s concerns over voter purging, or the process of removing voters from voter registration lists.

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Courtyard of the Brennan Center at NYU Law.

“The concern is that this is a prelude to some sort of enforcement activity from the Department of Justice [such as] some sort of investigation, series of lawsuits or other legal action that would pressure states into engaging in voter purges that would then cause voter suppression if you remove people who are eligible to vote,” Brater said.

Brater said that voter purging is not a problem in and of itself but becomes one when done illegally. On the rise, voter purging can result in eligible voters being , purge is eventually found illegal.

“What we’ve seen in many instances is that public knowledge of a voter purge, and then the lawsuit that results in it, only happens [sic] after the fact, and oftentimes only after the election occurs,” Brater said.

The center sought to receive two types of documents concerning the DOJ’s letter: documents received by the DOJ in response to the letter and documents which include communications about the letter.

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On Aug. 14 at 9:50 a.m., a fire was reported in the locker area of the Dental Center. No injuries were reported, but several lockers were damaged. The report is open and under investigation.

Aggravated Assault On Aug. 1 at 11:19 a.m., a Public Safety sergeant reported an aggravated assault outside 6 Metrotech Center. The New York Police Department was present at the scene. The report is open and under investigation.

Arson On Aug. 12 at 2:12 a.m., an unidentified person reported that an arson took place outside the School of Nursing in the Basic Science Building. No damages or injuries were reported. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

Burglary

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A, to deny requests if supplying the requested information could interfere with law enforcement proceedings. The Justice Department did, however, respond to , producing 407 pages of communication about the letter, although certain information was redacted or withheld from those , A exemptions.

Of the 407 pages, all but three had A T inadequate” in May appeal.

“An agency will use a very blunt instrument like an exemption 7[A] redaction to block access,” Evers said. “But, if , that there are categories of information that should be available to the public and that can be released without interfering with law enforcement activities.” ,

A exemptions would be released, giving the public insight into the DOJ’s motivation and plans concerning voter regulation.

“Accountability does not happen by , , tions and enforce their rights. That’s the way the public learns this important information.”

Email Victor Porcelli at vporcelli@nyunews.com.

Accidental Fire

On Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m., an NYU faculty member reported missing tuna from an office in the Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined, and the report is open and under investigation.

Controlled Substance Violation On Aug. 9 at 10:30 p.m., a Resident Assistant reported that she recovered alcohol from a room in Rubin Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the case has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

On Aug. 16 at 9:50 p.m., an NYU Public Safety officer reported to a room and recovered a small amount of marijuana and alcohol in Lafayette Residence Hall. Police notification was declined, and the report has been referred to the Office of Community Standards.

Criminal Mischief On Aug. 7 at 12:50 p.m., an NYU staff member reported damage done to a video projector screen in Silver Center. Police notification was declined, and the report is open and under investigation.

Harassment On Aug. 2 at 9:23 p.m., an NYU summer resident reported that she was harassed by an unidentified person in Lafayette Hall.

Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 5 at 1:24 a.m., An NYU

Public Safety Officer reported that he was harassed in the lobby in Lafayette Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

Larceny On Aug. 5 at 10:45 p.m., an NYU student reported his bike missing from a bike rack in Schwartz Plaza. A police report was filed and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 6 at 12:00 a.m., an NYU staff member reported his coat missing from a locker room at 7 Washington Place. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 6 at 8:20 a.m., a contractor reported that his tool bag was missing from the ninth floor in Othmer Residence Hall. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 6 at 11:35 a.m., an NYU staff member reported that food items were missing from a cabinet in the Basic Science Building. The report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 8 at 8:30 a.m., an NYU staff member reported that items were missing from several classrooms in Tisch Hall. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 9 at 11:40 a.m., an NYU staff member reported her USB cable missing from her office in the Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 9 at 3:18 p.m., an NYU staff member reported that Lysol wipes were missing from a lab in the Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 9 at 4:30 p.m., an NYU student reported that his bike was missing from a bike rack in Schwartz Plaza. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 9 at 10:30 a.m., an NYU faculty member reported a missing Pepsi can, a peach and a banana from an office in the Basic Science Building. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 10 at 5:00 a.m., an NYU contractor reported that his car, parked outside Kimball Hall, was broken into and his laptop was missing from Kimball Hall. A police report was filed and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 12 at 5:10 p.m., an NYU affiliate reported that her bike was missing from the scaffolding outside Bobst Library. Police notification was declined and the report is open and under investigation.

On Aug. 14 at 3:15 p.m., an NYU staff member reported a missing laptop from a desk in Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. A police report was filed and the report is open and under investigation.

Email Crime Bot at news@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

5

CULTURE

CULTURE@NYUNEWS.COM

Edited by NATALIE CHINN

NYU Revamps 2018 Welcome Week

By NATALIE CHINN The seven-day extravaganza featuring flagship events like the Reality S , is NYU’s way of easing in its newest class of students. Often panning out to be one of the most memorable weeks of the year, word from the Welcome Week planning committee says of fun to be bigger, better and twice as long.

A , comic book-themed Welcome Programs will commence with Welcome Week, a week-long extravaganza of over 500 students. These events range from walking tours of Brooklyn to formal mixers.

Welcome Week will conclude with a giU comics in mind, the dance was named , called Welcome Back Week, will follow Welcome Week with fun events and programs for all students, new and returnS previous years.

Extending Fall Welcome was a decision made by the Welcome Week Planpast, Fall Welcome workshops surround, living, internship preparation and study abroad options, were conducted in the beginning of September. However, members of the planning committee decided that these workshops could be place later in the semester.

, hard to lead events and workshops that are around topics that students may not even know they need help with yet,” S A DS SN T two weeks, students are just busy with getting into the swing of things.”

According to Singh, who oversees the student planning committee, all of the changes in this year’s programming stem from student feedback. For popular events last year, the team is

app, which provides students a detailed schedule of Welcome Week and Fall Welcome events. Now, students will be able to conveniently view their orientation schedule and Welcome Week events in the same place.

“This is a really big step in the right direction,” Facchini said.

Facchini and her 15 fellow captains and chairs have been working tirelessly since January to plan this Welcome Week. Some of their responsibilities include overseeing large-scale event planning, working on vendor relations, generating hype on social media and

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S students to see all of their hard work pay off.

One of my main focuses has been figuring really how to do very intentional and mindful collaborations throughout NYU.

on come to fruition,” Santore said.

Out of all the events the committee planned, Facchini and Santore are most excited for a big event in Brooklyn at the Tandon School of Engineering campus, which will feature games and music.

“Tandon is a really great facility, and so many incoming students go there, but we don’t necessarily always have events that cater to them; they always have to come on the train to Washington Square Park to go to all the events,” , , it kind of went on hiatus, so we jumped on the opportunity this year to have a larger scale event.”

Bringing students over to Brooklyn is one of the ways Welcome Week is approaching NYU’s million dollar question: how do we unite a university that has no campus? sibility of creating a cohesive feeling for

EENA SINGH Center for Student Life Assistant Director

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adding additional sessions. “Bob Ross is a clear example,” Singh said in reference to last year’s painting event which centered around the television-famous landscape painter. “We had one event of that last year, and we’re doing two events this year, based on the fact that we hit capacity.” , senior in Gallatin, is proud of the changes the team made to the NYU Mobile

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The Kimmel Center for University Life sits mostly empty during the summer months.

students, so they don’t feel like they’re in their individual schools, they feel like they’re in one university,” Singh said. like an all-university event, Singh said she made sure to design events that are schools at NYU. “One of my main focuses has been tional and mindful collaborations throughout NYU,” Singh said. “Our counterparts are amazing, and all of the -

ing and being a huge support system for each other.”

After months of organizing, Welcome A have been waiting for this moment.

nally get here,” Singh said. “We want to welcome you to this amazing university and we just want you to feel like this is your home.”

Email Natalie Chinn at nchinn@nyunews.com.

6 Sandwiches to Slay Your Hangover

By SCOTT HOGAN Dining Editor Your eyes snap open with fear as you Bushwick to your bed last night. You look in horror as you open your phone you posted the night before, frantically deleting it despite the fact that 150 people have already seen you for the mess you are. You’re somewhere between dizzy and nauseous, but your stomach manages to cry out for help, begging for anything to heal the pain you’ve put yourself through. Finally, you somehow manage to drag that broken shell of a person you used to be out of your

apartment to heal your soul with sustenance. powerful enough to overcome this hangover? And you’ll need a place with A your wallet in a bar last night. From one , best sandwiches to battle your morning after.

Chicken Sandwich @ Cheeky Sandwiches 35 Orchard St. The entrance to Cheeky Sandwiches is so nondescript, so much so that I couldn’t find it the first time I visited, but its

menu is nothing to be kept hidden.

The fried chicken sandwich might be the best hidden gem the city has to offer. The chicken is perfectly seasoned and always comes out hot from the fryer; the coleslaw gives the sandwich a rich purple color and adds a refreshing crunch, but the rich and creamy southern style gravy that oozes out the sides ties everything together. And all of this comes on a crumbly, buttery biscuit toasted to perfection. Every bite takes you one step closer to bliss, making you forget about the 13 texts you sent to the Tinder boy who ghosted you three months ago.

so it will set you up for a legitimately productive day instead of many hours on the couch with the lights off.

calling out for.

Weezer @ Tompkins Square Bagels 184 Second Ave.

Hard Times likes to keep things simple. You won’t find any superfluously fancy burgers or breakfast sandwiches, but sometimes the simple things are all you need. The Breakfast Burger is basically a bacon, egg and cheese on a poppy seed kaiser roll but with a large chuck patty right in the middle. It had everything your broken soul needs: salt, fat, carbs and perfectly melted American cheese.

The Reformer @ Egg Shop 151 Elizabeth St.

Breakfast Bahn Mi @ Hanoi House 119 St. Marks Pl.

The Egg Shop knows why your eyes are puffy and your hair is uncombed, which is why they have a menu of almost exclusively egg sandwiches. If you have willpower and maybe hit up a pilates class to “treat” your body before getting food, try the Reformer. It’s made with egg whites, feta and veggies S

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Tompkins Square Bagels is like church for hungover people, everyone shows up on Sunday mornings so they can go to heaven, or as they call it, biting into a Weezer sandwich. It comes with bacon, egg, cheese, chorizo and bacon.

It’s like the survival kit for weekend hangovers. But be wary, it’s cash only.

You may recognize Hanoi House for serving up some of the best Pho in the East Village, but you might not know about their Brunch Banh Mi. It’s basically a normal banh mi, full of crunchy and sour pickled veggies, sweet honey roasted pork and the bite of jalapeño and spicy aioli. However, the addition of a fried egg makes all the difference.

The soft yolk drips down between every layer of the sandwich adding that extra protein your body is

Breakfast Burger @ Hard Times Sundaes 230 Park Ave.

Classic BEC @ Local Bodega Who are you kidding, there’s no way you’re leaving your house for more than five minutes at a time today. Just head to the deli on the corner wearing sweatpants and shame to get a bacon, egg and cheese and a large blue Gatorade.

You may regret going hard last night, or you may not remember anything at all, but either way, all you need is a greasy sandwich and to watch “The OfEmail Scott Hogan at shogan@nyunews.com.

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

A Quick Bite: Fay Da Bakery

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Tote bags are practical and fashionable.

First Semester Style in the Bag

By AMANDA BURKETT S

By SCOTT HOGAN Dining Editor The front of Fay Da Bakery sits unassuming, partially obscured by the West S S A intentionally looking for it, but nothing inside should be kept a secret. The bakery ing recipes he learned as a baker in Taiwan to Manhattan. However, the bakery is not strictly Taiwanese.

A ican military personnel during World War , bakery,” Fay Da’s website reads. Alongside pork buns and steamed lotus wraps sit cheesecakes, black forest cakes and even hotdogs. , T seating, and it’s mostly self-service aside from drinks and some cakes, making it the perfect place to grab a quick bite in between classes or if you need an extended break while marathon studying in the library. Even better, Fay Da has kept its prices extremely low, making it easy to put a meal together for just a few dollars, which is important when you’re a full-time student trying to make ends meet.

The bakery itself is split into two secT goods and steamed food, which you select by grabbing a tray and a set of tongs and picking out anything your heart desires.

The baked goods are genuinely incredible.

T , biting into gives an explosion of rich, sweet

Top: Chocolate walnut buns piled on eachother in a case at Fay Da Bakery.

Bottom: The exterior of Fay Da Bakery on 6th Avenue, next to an entrance to the West 4th Street/Washington Square Station.

a selection of sandwiches as well. However, they tend to be underwhelming.

The shining stars of the selection, on the other hand, sit inside the foggy steamer cabinets. Perfectly round softball-sized steamed buns sit delicately on shelves inside. The Pork and Vegetable bun tears open easily, the insides spilling out in a , T , with a yolky sweetness.

Don’t miss out on the cakes, however.

The cheesecakes are incredibly rich and creamy, each bite almost melting in your mouth. The bakery brings their own take on the New York classic with their manrefreshing sweetness to the decadent cake.

Throughout the entire menu of good-

Fay Da Bakery 321 6th Ave., New York, NY 10014 CALL (212) 255-9888 HOURS Mon. - Tue., 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.

VISIT fayda.com

, clear; and yet its still been able to maintain a level of authenticity to the food. Fay Da good tasting food, perfect for a student on the go.

Email Scott Hogan at shogan@nyunews.com.

One way to automatically sidestep look, possibly neon, backpack from high school ticality in place of style, the NYU campus is in many ways a catwalk and your Patagonia tactical hiking bag just isn’t going to cut it , even if it can hold 200 pounds and support your back at the same time.

N Y , tote bags than there are people. These bags ing at any New Yorker subscribers out there T your shoulders’ old companion and consider the following variety of totes on the market.

Editorial

Newspaper and magazine sponsored totes are some of the most frequently spotted in the city, thus declaring them the perfect “I am not a newbie” armor. The big catch, however, is that most only come with a subscription, which can be costly. For that reason, these bags follow the same rule as band T-shirts — make sure to only wear one from a publication you actually like and read, so you don’t freeze up when somebody asks you about it.

Thrifty

Though everyone in New York carries a tote, it’s still possible to maintain originality. Thrift stores in your hometown and around campus typically stock a bunch of bags that are worth checking out. If you have no luck

in-store, online retailers often serve as an eccentric tote bag goldmine. Try eBay, Depop or Etsy for one of a kind bags that align with your interests.

Boat

If you’re from the Northeast, it is more than likely that one of these bags is gathering dust in your attic. The once cripplingly preppy L.L. Bean-style bag has somehow crept into fashion’s favor. For a durable tote at a decent price point, look at the L.L. Bean classic or the Noah remodel that brought it back to life. Both brands also make nylon alternatives if you’re afraid of carrying canvas in harsher weather.

Artsy

Following the success of the Museum of Modern Art hoodie, museum apparel has become a class and intelligence-defining staple — not excluding museum tote bags. Basically all major museums sell a multitude of bags on their sites and in their gift shops. These bags can help you cultivate your artistic side and may even impress your professors.

Flex

If you have money to burn, there are plenty of totes fresh off the runway.

Although these bags cost significantly more, they are an alternative way to embrace the trend. To keep it simple, try the Celine canvas tote, and for an edgier look, try the PVC-coated bag

by Comme Des Garcons.

Email Amanda Burkett at aburkett@nyunews.com.

YOGA IS BETTER WITH A FRIEND So bring one for free!* boweryyoga.com 302 Bowery, New York, NY 10012

*Only applicable for classes, not workshops

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

‘Insatiable’ or Insensitive?

By TIANNE JOHNSON D U past few weeks, you’ve probably seen a fraction of the buzz and uproar surN , , D D A N dropped the trailer last month, viewers T test the show’s seemingly fat-phobic and harmful nature. A petition was even started days before the show’s de, , to date.

The trailer shows the main charac, to school after shedding 70 pounds and thus clearing her of the bullying she previously endured. Her dramatic weightloss is a result her mouth being wired shut after a swift punch to the face, something that goes unmentioned in the trailer. Understandably, those with a history of eating disorders or body dysmorphia could be easily triggered and disillusioned by hearing

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NYU students are divided on whethG , AS omore Priscilla Preval found herself relating to Patty although, to her, the writing was at times handled poorly.

“After going through the motions of , narrative as being overweight … [and] , rather just one of the many facets that made me me,” Preval said. “But that wasn’t the reality that the trailer poroverweight people only being able to recognize their worth if and when they lost weight.”

She believes that Gussis Should’ve taken into account how the storyline played into steretoypes of overweight perienced it herself.

For many, the show’s debut proved just as disappointing and detrimental as the trailer.

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I had finally started to realize that I was the only person who could define my narrative as being overweight.

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someone’s so-called secret to weight loss is their mouth being wired shut.

The following outlash targeted aspects of the show such as the decision to dress Patty in a fat suit during the pilot episode; and the implication that Patty’s emotional, physical and social transformation is due to losing a massive amount of weight in an unrealistic way.

According to a Teen Vogue interview with the show’s head writer and ExecuG , ble” aimed to shed light on, rather than perpetuate, issues pertaining to weight loss and eating disorders. The show’s writing and plot stem from Gussis’ perinner voice that told her she was lesser ment, blueprinted out by Gussis, is an empathetic ode to her younger self. to look at [bullying] head on and talk about it,” Gussis said in the interlay out all of my pain for humor, that feel less alone … Hopefully a lot of people through the laughter will be , G , ,

disheartened after watching the show as she was after initially seeing advertisements on social media. Beginning with a hesitant light dosage of viewing found the show to be an overall dam“The overall narrative of the show seems to be [that] being skinny just dated idea,” Potter said. “Overall it’s just not sending any positive messages to anybody.”

Steinhardt junior Gabrielle Henoch also gave the show a chance because she found the concept funny, but quickly uncovered pervasive problems. live a happy life if you are fat,” Henoch , very entertaining.”

A sode could either leave you distressed or laughing. Either way, try to form your G

Email Tianne Johnson at tjohnson@nyunews.com.

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A still from the Insatiable trailer.

Edited by NATALIE CHINN

Washington Square News

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

ARTS

ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Edited by RYAN MIKEL and DANIELLA NICHINSON

Best of Summer Film

“BlacKkKlansman”

By GURU RAMANATHAN Film Editor

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Evan Rosado and Raul Castillo in “We the Animals.”

‘We the Animals:’ A Portrait of Childhood

By ALEX CULLINA Film Editor

“We the Animals” DIRECTOR

The language of film and the language of literature are two distinct lenses for looking at the individual’s perspective, the subjective nature of a person’s perspective, words on a page beaming themselves directly into the reader’s mind. Film, as a rule, is less well-equipped to transplant the viewer into another person’s have the undeniable connotation of objectivity; a camera can’t help but capture the truth, right?

A , the 2017 novel of the same name by Justin Torres, shatters this already frayed dichotomy –– subjective and objective, individual and collective –– in ways both visually stunning Without a traditional plot or narrative structure, “We the Animals” is an exercise in impressionism, emphasizing perception over objectivity, emotions over facts.

The titular ‘animals’ are brothers Jonah, Joel and Manny (Evan , G Kristian), boys with close-cropped hair, wide, liquid eyes and lithe, skinny pre-teen bodies. They yell and cry and run and beat their chests with reckless abandon in that absolutely unselfconscious way that only kids can.

Sharing a bed –– there’s a recurring shot of the boys asleep, arms slung over one another –– and speaking in the first-person-plural in voiceover, the brothers seem almost to be a single organism, each an inextricable extension of the others.

Ma and Paps (Sheila Vand and kids, hugging and dancing together, Paps peppering his speech with Spanish pet names. But they have a passionate, volatile relationship, swinging from giggling and making out like teenagers to cowering from sounds of Paps hitting Ma. At first, the boys and their parents live a relatively stable work-

for the film world. A number of independent films flew under the radar while blockbusters like “Solo: A Star Wars Story” and “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” hogged the limelight and failed to seep into the zeitgeist. That said, there were still many films in both realms that connected with critics and audiences alike and are sure to be remembered for the rest of the year.

As another summer comes to an end, audiences gear up for what will be an exciting fall and winter featuring potential hits like “Venom” and like “First Man” and “Beautiful Boy.” Though disappointing overall, this summer produced a few films that broke genre barriers and set new precedents for the industry on a filmmaking and cultural level.

Email Guru Ramanathan at gramanathan@nyunews.com.

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Spike Lee’s latest joint, “BlacKkKlansman,” should be required viewing for all of America. Based on a true story, the film is as hilarious as it is thought-provoking, touching on several racial and political topics with nuance and passion, all in two short hours.

While “BlacKkKlansman” serves as a snapshot of the issues that plagued America in the 1970s, the film’s final minutes will serve as wake-up call to viewers of how past horrors have persisted till today. The Cannes Film Festival Grand Prix winner also looks like a frontrunner for next year’s awards season

“Set It Up” Outside of the brick-and-mortar AMCs of this world, streaming giant Netflix is bringing back the rom-com this year with a plentitude of releases like “Ibiza” and “When We First Met.” But the most enjoyable offering to date is also one of the summer’s streaming sensations: “Set It Up.” Katie Silberman’s screenplay unabashedly builds off the classic rom-com formula, embracing cheesiness but offering fresh dialogue along the way.

The film is elevated by Claire Scanlon’s smart direction and the infectious chemistry between Zoey Deutch and Glen Powell, ultimately proving that following a formula is not all that bad when well-executed.

Jeremiah Zagar

CAST Sheila Vand, Raúl Castillo,

Evan Rosado Village East Cinema on Friday, Aug. 17

OPENED

ing-class life, their mother working on an assembly line, their father as a night-shift security guard. But the precarity of the family’s life peeks through: Paps loses his job; Paps walks out, and when Ma can’t get herself out from under the covers, the boys resort to stealing food.

As the boys witness the fallibility of their parents and start to grow up, they also begin to grow apart , brothers –– a little quieter, a little more withdrawn, and as the boys age and his nascent sexuality begins , tween them.

Jonah keeps a secret diary of sorts to chart these shifting borders of , writing and scribbled crayon drawings. He writes and draws in the early hours of the morning, curled up beneath the bed he shares with his brothers, tucking the book away between the bedframe and mattress where it won’t be found.

The movie’s visuals are wonderful, , through trees just before dusk.

But the most beautiful and moving images and what truly sets the , are transported into Jonah’s drawings as they come to life. These moments, a window into his deepest and most private feelings, com, score, convey both the simple wonders and the complex heartbreaks of childhood and the transition into adolescence. These are what make “We the Animals” undeniably stunning.

Email Alex Cullina at acullina@nyunews.com.

“Mission: Impossible - Fallout”

“The Incredibles 2”

The next entry on our list is a bit of a surprise: “Mission: Impossible - Fallout.” Leave it to Tom Cruise to save the summer. There is no other genre film in 2018 that offers the same level of pulse-pounding action (all done practically) like what writer and director Christopher McQuarrie’s film accomplishes. “Fallout” is the action movie to beat for the next couple of years. The plot can feel a bit too familiar at times, and it is also a tad too long at 147 minutes (the longest in the franchise). But what sets the most recent “Mission: Impossible” installments apart is that they ride the balance of taking themselves seriously enough that the audience cares about the characters — and the actors also give great performances — but are still tongue-and-cheek enough to recognize the ridiculousness of their bombastic action.

Last but not least, superhero genre writer/director Brad Bird returns to deliver a mostly good adventure with everyone’s favorite super-family — “The Incredibles 2.” Although the trailers presented a generic gender switch, the first half subverts expectations and smoothly goes back and forth between Elastigirl’s (Holly Hunter) missions and Mr. Incredible (Craig T. Nelson) taking care of the kids. But the second half loses some of the movie’s magic due to a poorly crafted villain and an underwhelming third act. Make no mistake, “The Incredibles 2” is still worth the price of admission and supersedes all other Pixar sequels, despite not totally recapturing the original’s layered dialogue and exploration of heavy themes.

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“Sorry to Bother You” Staying on the theme of social commentary on America, “Sorry to Bother You” is absolutely bonkers, which is what makes it so awesome. The directorial debut of Boots Riley is a sci-fi-like satire that rides a wave of strong performances and fearless ambition to absurdist glory. “Sorry to

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Bother You” exceeds all expectations, balancing original dark comedy with scathing criticism of workplace conditions and capitalistic greed, all while surprising the audience at every turn with wonderfully weird new additions to its world. There is no way to prepare yourself for “Sorry to Bother You,” so it is best to just go in and enjoy.

Washington Square News | Arts

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

9

Sex, Drugs and the Story Behind NYU’s Reality Show

By RYAN MIKEL Arts Editor “Wear a condom. Don’t use drugs.

Be yourself and know that that is good enough.”

Sex, drugs and identity are all topics we haphazardly discuss in a high school health class or during an awkward lecture from mom and dad. They aren’t always easy or , year, there is a lesson to be learned from such discussions. And at NYU, a crop of upperclassmen want to help to lighten the load.

Every year, the university welcomes the T a half-hour variety show of songs and sketches on topics adderall, city life, mental health and online dating. Ask any upperclassmen, and they’ll remember this event –– “The Reality Show” –– like it was yesterday.

The annual performance got its start over a decade ago after a string of student suicides left the student body and administration in a frenzy. To facilitate to students’ safety, the Exchange Hotline, a 24-hour hotline to put students in touch with a professional to discuss day-to-day challenges and health concerns, which was replaced with a more creative alternative in the form of “The Reality Show.”

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Students performing in the annual Reality Show at Barclays Center.

“There was no other way to get this information out besides the one time that all of they graduate: the Presidential Welcome,” T , G Show cast member told WSN. Working with student health services, former Experimental Theater Wing ProS

actors, Swados eventually cast around a dozen students across all schools from a pool of over 100 applicants to bring the show to life.

Now in its 14th year, “The Reality Show” , for rising sophomores Andrés Goldszmidt , iniative themselves.

so boldly and openly talking about topics , precedent at NYU that this is how we talk about these things. We are open to them and we are going to share them.”

After callbacks and selections are made, cast members are given a list of topics. Over the summer, they will draft sketches and musical numbers that relay this information in creative, relatable ways for the fresh faced student body. Roundtable discussions about the show’s material are periodically D , ly rehearsals with Director Preston Martin, Assistant Director Rachel Pegram, Music Director Matthew Dean Marsh and Movement Director Flannery Gregg. , featured and themes are the products of S , AS Morghan Brown wrote a segment in the show titled “Resilience,” which draws A

by Rachel Pegram, tackling with race and T G wrote a handful of sketches that deal with G T lin, hearing and writing these sketches proved cathartic.

“The Reality Show” Sept. 4 Skirball Center for the Performing Arts ON AT

“We cover sexuality in a way that has been tionship with my own sexuality and identi, T it fun and casual, but also communicate the facts of it.”

A lot of sketches and ideas from the , but for the students involved, the creative process is important for them to understand one another and their own experiences.

Even if the show satirizes or makes light of certain topics, the moments on stage are still deeply rooted in real conversations that every student will partake in and hopefully carry through their four years at NYU. a group of people of this size about anything political,” Goldszmidt said. “But the least we can do is empower people to feel that, at this school, they have the ability to use their own voices like ours and do something.”

Email Ryan Mikel at rmikel@nyunews.com.

Three Student Acts on the Rise

By NICOLE ROSENTHAL Music Editor

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Skirball Center hosts a variety of programming for students and residents of Greenwich Village

Skirball Unveils Exciting Fall Season

By DANIELLA NICHINSON Arts Editor When it comes to the arts, there is no better city than New York for immersing oneself in everything from the whacky to the well-known. Uprooting the intricacies of the city’s art and theater, howev, , NYU S Performing Arts comes in.

T S A T Night,” from U.K. theater company Forced Entertainment. This peculiar piece T A bian Nights;” with tales told from midnight to sunrise, resulting in a marathon of drama, humor and provocative dialogue.

This idiosyncratic performance will satisfy any desire for an out-of-the-box thrill. , Skirball will host quirky Slovenian philosopher and NYU Global Distinguished G ,S T night will be dedicated to a discussion of a tion of spaces shared by the public rather it applies to the current digital age. The discourse will continue with an analysis of late Marx theorist and Soviet politician T

Revolution and its links to Marxism. This rare opportunity to probe the mind of a , that beckons to be seized.

On Nov. 17, “Fantasque,” an unconventional dance piece, will have its New York premiere at Skirball. From choreographer John Heginbotham and puppeteer Amy Trompetter, “Fantasque” brings together dancers and puppets onto the stage for an uncanny and striking performance. With roles from giant babies to , on surrealism and remarkable visuals. , be unforgettable.

Skirball’s fall season comes to a close on D T G N T T A G slow descent into madness. Exploring themes of power, deception and insanity, this production promises to deliver a Shakespearean spectacle that is both gripping and sensational. “The MadG season of diverse and distinctive performances that will leave everyone yearning for more.

Email Daniella Nichinson at dnichinson@nyunews.com.

As summer approaches its inevitable end and another semester begins, student musicians and music-lovers alike find themselves immersed in the creative capital of the world, New Y , students may be preparing their Quizlets for the upcoming academic year, artists are busy tuning their guitar strings, updating software and testing their mics, as it is already looking like a solid semester for local music with the following up-and-coming artists.

T D S Sabrina Song’s repertoire is intimate and emotional is an immense understatement. With a soulful bellow, she laments heartbreak and the melancholy of young adulthood over chilling piano arrangements on each of her released tracks. Her most vibrant and buoyant single to date remains “Heartbroken” –– a true highlight in this singer-songwriter’s budding career.

Yet, while “Heartbroken” stands out as a bedroom pop track, its frank lyricism and earnest demeanor still play to Song’s rhythm and blues approach. , D and frontwoman and singer of Pom Pom Squad, takes an unapologetic approach to songwriting with her signature rugged blend of pop and indie rock. Empowered in lyricism and performance, Pom Pom Squad delivers a certain punk flavor that works delightfully alongside her more soft spoken tracks. Berrin shows off wild side on “You/Him (Maybe),” a fervent track on their 2017 extended , Another

highlight

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With emotional vigor through and through, Berrin displays the sincerity and vulnerability that has seen Pom Pom Squad’s success thus far.

D , Teardrop, has been making waves in the music community ever since the lier this year.

Drawing memories to other cur, World and Field Trip, Teardrop

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Mia Berrin of Pom Pom Squad.

manages to stand out among the top scendent, delicate guitar riffs over iridescent dream pop synths, Tearwith grade A lo-fi.

Another hit of his remains “Mer, T time, Teardrop trades dreamy instrumentation for a more upbeat tone, a

stylistic choice which will inevitably with a memorable guitar riff and witty lyrics, “Mercedes-Benz” solidifies the fact that Teardrop holds much promise for the future.

Email Nicole Rosenthal at nrosenthal@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

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OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

OPINION

Edited by JANICE LEE

CULTURE

Time’s Up on Victim Blaming in Ronell Case

By JANICE LEE Opinion Editor A T investigation, NYU Professor Avital Ronell was deemed responsible for inappropriate behavior toward her former doctoral advisee, Nimrod Re-

itman. Detailed as sexual texting and inappropriate physical contact, the behavior has resulted in Ronell’s suspension without pay for the upcoming academic year.

Ronell is a respected feminist scholar and, following Reitman’s accusation, had over 50 fellow academics jump to defend her character. Among them are members of NYU’s faculty and professors of other prestigious universities around the world. This group wrote a beaming letter addressed to President Andrew Hamilton and Provost Katherine Fleming, referring to the allegations as “a malicious campaign” and highlighting Ronell’s accomplishments and contributions to the humanities.

The group’s attempt to uphold Ronell’s reputation is sadly predictable.

To defend someone, especially a person who has earned professional respect, is , undeniably relatable. And it’s one we’ve seen before. Take the case of MassachuT D ter being accused of sexual misconduct other women, fellow writers and professors were swift to take sides. Díaz was ultimately cleared of misconduct T that was heavily criticized for condoning harassment and misogyny.

Ronell’s case is eerily similar to

Díaz’s, except that she is a woman and a renowned feminist. There’s much that can be said of the potential double standards in the handling of the two cases and what institutional action is truly appropriate in such situations. These concerns are valid and urgent. Yet as unfortunate as the lack of consistency may be, people’s experiences don’t change depending on who is the accuser and what disciplinary action is taken and pursued.

Accountability and justice must begin somewhere, meaning that victim blaming is never acceptable. We must move beyond that instinct.

To see NYU faculty readily invalidate the distress of a member of the NYU community is extremely con-

cerning. Between a professor’s integrity and a student’s dignity, it seems that the former takes precedence at NYU and same other academic instistill largely at a point in society where we discount a victim based on the accuser’s previously observed character and success. NYU, as a thoughtful academic community, can do better.

Even when expectations turn out to be false, it’s our individual responsibility to adjust accordingly to the new, A NYU , should expect nothing less than informed thought from the leaders of our university and the world.

Email Janice Lee at jlee@nyunews.com.

UNIVERSITY LIFE

Take the Long Walk Home wave to people you see walking on Fifth Avenue as if it were the sidewalk of a gated campus. But NYU is not

By HANNA KHOSRAVI Deputy Opinion Editor come to NYU. As we get caught up in the hullaballoo of what it means to , evitably desire to begin seeing NYU as a traditional campus. We might hope that over time Washington Square Park will feel like a quad and you will

makes it different, there are little treasures to cherish.

Relegating yourself to simply circling around Washington Square Park is fine and all, but then what is the N Y all a student wanted was to go from dorm to classroom to library and then back to dorm, they could have gone to school anywhere. There would be no point in having the particular NYU experience that we all have.

NYU, with the lack of cohesion. What had sold the school to me during the tour , , ing. Sure, it was exciting, but if any-

thing, it soon felt more dizzying than enthralling. quite know how to spend, and at a school like NYU where college life is not packaged and handed to you in a basket along with some pom-poms and a bullhorn, students need to pracyou that on the tour and in the brochure, and it’s pretty much as obvious as it gets even without the constant , a shock. People adjust differently to their newfound time. And so, with my , it back to my bed at the end of the

Tompkins Square Park, in Madison

S , , Elizabeth Street Gardens, in Union Square and, of course, in Washington Square Park.

Bumps in the road and snowstorms aside, the walks led to many little exN Y roamed along the West Side Highway , Market, hopped from coffee shop Side through SoHo to Tribeca. When , why not, when adventures are so accessible? We could have weekends in Williamsburg looking for trinkets to , Park, or Saturday evenings at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. My advice is to walk as much as you can and only

rely on the subway as a last resort.

This is not to encourage idle exploration at the cost of school or extracurriculars. But it is to say that after you have seen so much, you start to feel a little more confident in being a part of the fabric of New York, and therefore a part of the fabric of NYU. Your neighborhood, whether it’s the East Village or Gramercy Park, will feel like a warm respite from the erratic undercurrent that permeates New York You might discover something special. A second home maybe, or at least a place on this grand island is not necessarily enclosed within in ivy-strewn gates.

Email Hanna Khosravi at hkhosravi@nyunews.com.

CAMPUS COMMENTARY

Bill Cosby as a Lesson on Accountability for NYU

By MELANIE PINEDA Deputy Opinion Editor , SN NYU’s Board of Trustees unanihonorary degree. The decision comes after years of sexual assault allegations against the disgraced actor, and almost three months after he was convicted on three charges of indecent assault. The lag in NYU’s response

time was caused by the timing of the tion, according to University spokesperson John Beckman. Although this may have some grounds, a recent instance of NYU lagging in holding sexual assaulters accountable should raise alarm to other possible explanations for this delay. This clouded behavior by the university cannot continue, and must not become a pattern, for the sake of our student body and the institution as a whole. have heard countless times before.

Someone is accused of assault, claims from the victims are not enough, and only after these abusers are called out by some greater institution are said claims deemed believable. NYU is not exempt from this toxic archeT , eral Studies Professor J. Ward Regan

abruptly stopped teaching after NYU a relationship between Regan and Whether he resigned or was fired cation were the first that NYU was hearing about these allegations, then the sudden end to Regan’s classes would be something worth praising.

The reality is, however, that the disturbing details surrounding this case were made public in 2017 by the PhilA NYU , NYU made aware of these allegations at the time and, shockingly, took no action against Regan or alerting his current students.

Rather than stand in support of the victim, the administration remained silent. At this point, the wellbeings of students was put in danger, and

for what? So that whatever was left of this man’s tarnished reputation could be preserved? So that NYU wouldn’t be held responsible for employing an alleged assaulter in a year when the #MeToo movement filled headlines with shocking sexual assault allegations against powerful abusers backed by institutions?

NYU a lack of official charges against the accused until this year. But NYU knew, to some degree, and continued allowing his degree to remain. This is evident in how the Tisch School A from a workshop back in 2015, when ual assault allegations began making university was aware of the severity of

the claims, and no meek excuse about Board of Trustees meetings excuses cused. sault victims coming forward with the #MeToo movement, the public must take on the responsibility of upholding the integrity of these claims, and the wellbeing of the people most affected. No real change can come out of these allegations if institutions as powerful as NYU choose to stay on the sidelines until they are forced to speak up. The way in which we treat sexual assault allegations is changing NYU catches up to this new reality before it gets left behind.

Email Melanie Pineda at mpineda@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News | Opinion

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

11

UNIVERSITY LIFE

Finding School Spirit at a College With None

By ANDREA PINEDA-SALGADO

NYU wasn’t much of a culture shock to me.

As a native New Yorker, nothing but the length NYU D , , get lunch, do my homework, occasionally see NYU

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brary or passionately cheer for my school’s football team. But, those daydreams vanished quickly after stepping on the Washington Square campus because of the university’s noticeable lack of school spirit and community in the traditional sense. , , , T cepting NYU’s culture is realizing that it simply N Y NYU one of a kind just like the city it resides in. That might explain why people from all over the world dream of living in New York. NYU is very A students unique opportunities to attend and enjoy uncommonly glamorous events. The annual , , example of one of the NYU-hosted trips that for a moment bring your New York fantasies at venues like Madison Square Garden and the , time at college won’t be normal, but embrace experiences like metro cards.

Another aspect of the university that you’ll far-from-typical campus. Most universities have

, NYU of buildings scattered throughout Greenwich T out the city, and Brooklyn, make it even more T people in your classes that you will never see again. Perhaps that’s why we’ve grown accusN Y , Here, people often pass by the injured without a second thought. New Yorkers are known to only care about getting ahead, doing whatever it takes to get to the top. And when students NYU, , NYU as though NYU students are always looking for a way to stand out at a school where everyone is already a great student. Whether it be through internships, jobs or extracurriculars, it’s easy to measure yourself against others. But remember that you’re here for a reason, and you don’t have to be like anyone else.

NYU, , one physically distant from my peers? However, , NYU because of New York’s culture of isolation that , long-term friendships. Not only do you share common interests with your friends, but you N Y A when you graduate, you’ll leave with a diploma with precious memories.

Although some aspects of New York cul, advantage. We can embody the spirit of a New Yorker while making time for others. There is and working in isolation. Despite what others may think about NYU’s lack of school spirit, our spirit comes from the fact that we N Y to be known for sports or a closed campus to claim it. Our spirit is in our name: New York University.

Email Andrea Pineda-Salgado at opinion@nyunews.com.

STAFF EDITORIAL

Democracy at NYU Is Dying Over the summer, NYU’s Board of Trustees voted to keep the board free of both student and faculty representation.

The board rejected three University Senate approved resolutions initiated by three separate councils, all demanding student and faculty representation as well as better communication between the board and the NYU , including a biannual executive meeting between the board and the University Senate and an annual dinner with students.

Despite the board’s acknowledgement that communication between students and the trustees needs improvement, the refusal to cede institutional power to community NYU democratic process. Students, as the primary stakeholders at NYU, need to have the opportunity to lead the university they attend and having student trustees, even just , The exorbitant price of a college education is an ongoing controversy, particularly at NYU, a school notorious for its high NYU S A ment, an activist group advocating for stu, ing for student representation on the Board of Trustees to promote transparency in uniS A beating heart of student resistance. The modern student’s desire for advancements also serves to make our institutions more responsible and accountable for their actions.

T NYU munity leaders are being called out for ac, (or lack thereof) of an Equity, Diversity T current President Andrew Hamilton. Since the task force’s formation earlier that year, there was little to show for the promises that Hamilton had made. Progress reports that were supposed to be made public were never published. The only information available to the public regarding the task force

, Shortly after these issues were pointed out, student representatives stepped forward to clarify these frustrations, and soon after, beD given a voice resulted in healthy dialogue , that could be seen on the board as well, if students were given the opportunity to do so.

The board, in its response detailing the decision, explains its desire for “each Trustee [to] bring a holistic outlook,” rather than stakeholder groups.” Having student trustees is admittedly far from a perfect model, but the message that the board’s decision sends is one of hardened, anachronistic viability through appointing student trustcause a board with diversity representative of the population isn’t threatening to the wellbeing of our university. This concept is reminiscent of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s bill proposal that would allow workers of corporations to elect 40 percent of their board of directors. This measure would shift power from stakeholders to the broader public, so that company decisions become more thoughtful and inclusive. Much like how a corporation is beholden to employees and customers in addition to stakeholders, a university must serve students, faculty and administrators.

The proposed formalized agenda for communication is a necessary step, but it dents can have in our university. Now more than ever, there is a dire need for change in the way our university is making decisions.

Without the voices of students, there can be no rightful way to claim equal representation all across the board of our institution.

Students at NYU, and all over the country, should have a say in the institutions they comprise. This university is our home, our life, our future. We more than deserve a say in how it should be run.

Email the Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com.

JANICE LEE HANNA KHOSRAVI MELANIE PINEDA

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Washington Square News

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SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

SPORTS

SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM

Edited by WARNER RADLIFF

The Hidden Gem: Table Tennis Team Wins Championship

By WARNER RADLIFF Sports Editor

will continue. contacting me to know more about the program, and [table tennis] becomes one of their considerations to apply for NYU,” he said, detailing other ideas for pulling athletes to New York. “One

Having survived a three day gauntlet of 50 collegiate teams and Olympic caliber competition, the only barrier standing between the NYU table tennis T T Nerhouse and reigning champion Texas Wesleyan University. tering the competition, NYU fought its way to the top with strong performances by United States Olympian and National Team member Yijun (Tom) Feng, National Team member Adar Al, T D Provincial Team player Wenhao She

school provide incentives such as scholarships to the top players. This will attract and motivate the top players.”

Having spent the summer training and competing in elite tournaments across the globe, the team will reunite in September at the Brooklyn Athletic Facility to start preparing for the coming , G of teamwork in order to build upon last season’s success.

N

, members of the table tennis team exN pionship will bring recognition through exposure from the student body and increased funding from the university.

“Hopefully winning the title shows the administration and the school that we are seriously good at table tennis and that we can build from here,” Alguetti, a Stern sophomore, said in an email to WSN. “From the professional point of , and better funding for equipment, yet NYU better than most schools in this aspect.”

N TTA champion Yan Gao added that the team’s success has piqued the interest of prospective student athletes considering NYU, which he hopes is a trend that

factor,” Gao said. “Every player works together and looks out for each other to ensure the best for the team. This helps me develop and execute a strategy that continue to the next season. As a coach, T S

U T SY

Y NG

great team.”

, Alguetti said the team will look toward returning players to serve as leaders and set the expectations for the season.

“Next year we keep the same squad and add two more high level players, so there might be some small changes but the level will stay the same or even improve which is what we all want,” Alguetti said.

Above: Adar Alguetti (front) and Yijun (Tom) Feng play doubles at the 2018 iSET College Table Tennis National Championships.

Left: The co-ed and women’s team at the banquet.

Right: The team cheers at the National Championship.

Email Warner Radliff at wradliff@nyunews.com

Athlete Introspection Follows Football Controversy

By MAHAMOUD MOHAMED With only one week to go until the start of the college football season, the nation is paying close attention to Ohio State University and the University of Maryland to see son controversies that plagued the universities’ respective football programs.

As allegations of domestic abuse swirl around Ohio State, and the University of Maryland’s pitch remains marked by the untimely death of a young player in his prime, college athletes from NYU’s various teams , the pressure points dwell far from campus.

“The events at [OSU] and Maryland are disgraceful and heartbreaking, respective, AS NYU Women’s Soccer team Alex Benedict said.

“Both cases show that some college coaches are doing whatever it takes to win at all costs, oftentimes at the expense of ethics, and in the case of Maryland player Jordan McNair, at the expense of their own players.”

The controversies at OSU revolve S , S violence. Making matters worse, it was U was aware of the abuse and has been put on paid leave while an investigation is conducted. Adding to the abuse allegations, Smith is also under scrutiny for allegedly taking lewd photos at the White House when the Buckeyes were honored for winN Furthermore, Brett McMurphy reported that Smith allegedly ordered thousands of SU SU As the investigation moves forward at

A

DA

NS

Ohio State University Stadium on game day.

OSU, loss aches through the University of Maryland’s campus as the community mourns the death of student athlete JorN T of heatstroke during an outdoor practice in May that reached over 100 degrees Fahrenheit. According to preliminary results of an independent investigation, takes in providing the proper medical investigation, the university placed Head D D A S giate sports there continue to be stories where the success of the team is put above , AS , NYU T ,

saddened by these “horror stories.”

“These are unpaid student athletes that than they do worrying about school,” he said. “Their coaches expect so much out of them, commitment to their team and the culture that they have built. Well, if that culture is built upon covering sexual assault or beating your players into a , want to be a part of that.”

When asked whether he believes NYU properly promotes the physical well-being of student athletes, Stern senior and swimming captain Nick Dionisopoulos expressed the belief that the university makes student athletes’ health a top priority.

“During my three years as an NYU var-

, our university has the proper resources to handle issues regarding physical fatigue or injury,” Dionisopoulos told WSN. “Prior to each season, student athletes are educated about what to look for in the case of serious physical injury.”

Additionally, NYU Athletics employs a athletic trainers who work under SuperD D athletes across all varsity and club sports.

“The coaches take these issues seriously,” Dionisopoulos said.

Benedict agreed: “These events have made me realize how lucky my team and well-being both as athletes and as people,” ful and ready to work hard for the people

who work tirelessly to make my experience the best it can be.”

Across the board, the NYU student athletes seem to agree that they could never envision anything like what happened at OSU or the University of Maryland making its way to their turf.

NYU , , D A NYU, if any coach acted in the way that Urban Meyer did, or that the Maryland coaching , , student athletes at NYU know that being associated with team tragedies like these is not worth it.”

Email Mahamoud Mohamed at sports@nyunews.com.

Washington Square News

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018

EXPOSURE | EDITED BY KATIE PEURRUNG

Family First

By SAGE LALLY, Photo Editor “I woke up with the most indescribable ache in the center of my chest. I’m lying in a strange bed, in a strange city, and I feel like it’s hard to breathe (good God, are these tears on my cheeks?) Everything you’ve been telling me, my dear friends, is true: my daughter leaving home really does suck.

Oh, you didn’t exactly say that, but your knowing smiles and reassuring squeezes on my arm told me that something was up. Your offers to talk if I needed or to call ‘if I needed anything at all’ should have warned me, but as usual with my own feelings I’m somehow the last to know. When Sage was born (wait, wasn’t that just last week?) the nurse handed her to me, the downy fluff still drying on her heard, and I held her close to my chest and wondered, ‘How did I get to be this guy, the one with everything?’

Yet, here I was, the evidence was in my arms. Somehow despite my shitty childhood and reckless behavior I had found my way home. In that breathless amazement of new life and fatherhood, I walked the hospital floor and whispered in her ear, ‘I can’t promise you a life without problems, but when problems come I’ll be standing right beside you.’ And I’m still standing right beside her, and I know I’ll always be, because I’ve given her the best parts of who I am. But later today, after the brave words and confident embraces, I know I’ll drive away, glancing in my rear view mirror and wonder, ‘Where is home now?’”

••• This was the post my dad left on Facebook the morning I left for college.

You see, my parents and I are best friends, and as the oldest sibling, I left the nest first. Over the past three years of school, my relationship with my family has grown and changed as much as I have. As I enter my final year at NYU, our hugs are tight but rarely tearful, almost as if goodbyes have become a part of our relationship with one another. When you don’t live with your family anymore, the moments you spend together are more poignant. Now I photograph my family whenever I get to see them even if the moment seems uneventful. Capturing these moments gives me something to hold onto in between visits. Goodbyes are hard, sure, but becoming an adult, well, that’s a journey worth taking. Hold onto those you call family and the place you call home because they are an important part of who you will become.

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Washington Square News Staff Editor-in-Chief

Jemima McEvoy Managing Editor

Sayer Devlin DEPUTY Sakshi Venkatraman, Alejandro Villa Vásquez Creative Director

Rachel Buigas-Lopez, Laura Shkouratoff DEPUTY Arvind Sindhwani

Opinion Page

EDITOR Janice Lee DEPUTY Hanna Khosravi,

Melanie Pineda

Under the Arch Pamela Jew EDITOR Tyler Crews, Yasmin Gulec FICTION George Hajjar, Danielle Matta

Copy Chiefs

Viral Shanker, Tarra Chen DEPUTY Akshay Prabhushankar Multimedia

Katie Peurrung DEPUTY Sam Klein PHOTO Sage Lally VIDEO Alana Beyer SENIOR Anna Letson, Veronica Liow Social Media and Marketing

ADVERTISING

Business Manager

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Allison Lambdin Director of Marketing and Logistics

Lukas Villarin

Creative Director, Blacklight

Syanne Rios

Molly Dolan, Candace Tan Audio Engineer

Tom Miritello

ADVISING

Senior Staff NEWS Alex Domb, Kristina Hayhurst, Sarah Jackson CULTURE Natalie Chinn ARTS Ryan Mikel, Daniella Nichinson SPORTS Warner Radliff

Nanci Healy

Deputy Staff

NEWS Victor Porcelli ARTS Ali Zimmerman FILM Alex Cullina,

Guru Ramanathan THEATER & BOOKS

Matthew Holman MUSIC Nicole Rosenthal CULTURE Tianne Johnson DINING Scott Hogan BEAUTY & STYLE

Amanda Burkett ABROAD Marisa Lopez, Paola Nagovitch PHOTO Tony Wu VIDEO Noah Kim

Director of Operations Editorial Adviser

Rachel Holliday Smith Editors-at-Large

Thomas Chou, Connor Gatesman, Andrew Heying, Bela Kirpalani, Taylor Nicole Rogers

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.

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Under THE

Arch

Try something new.

Under the Arch, the official magazine of WSN, is the latest addition to the newspaper. The concept — not fresh to any big-name publication — was birthed on a mass of papers, my chicken scratch of an idea resembling a crime investigation board. We wanted to tell big stories — the Bling Ring, Venmo fraud, drug donkeys — ones that expanded past our printstandard 500 words, ones that painted pictures with words.

This magazine aims to be a platform where undergraduate and graduate students alike can mutter on about their love of the blue-seated MTA trains or put into words the flavor of their love of grandma’s dumplings.

Every week, we’re bringing you personal narratives and longer creative nonfiction pieces. You’ll mainly be catching us online, so head over to nyunews.com/underthearch to see more from our first issue and all future content. If you’re interested in writing for us and with us, email us at underthearch@nyunews.com or come to our weekly pitch meeting at 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Hope to read your Bling Ring story soon, but don’t rob someone for the tale.

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Washington Square News

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, 2018