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WELCOME TO NYU WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS NYU’s Daily Student Newspaper
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
MEET THE EDITORS
JONATHON DORNBUSH Editor-in-Chief CAS 2014 | Cinema Studies Point Lookout, NY
I’ve always loved how often films and television shows use New York City as the backdrop to their narratives. From Harry meeting Sally under the Washington Square arch to Liz Lemon yelling at Tracy Morgan in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, this city has been home to a number of unique stories. I came to NYU not just for what the university offers, but because I knew I wanted to set my story amidst the vibrancy and energy of the city’s streets. And now, these same streets will set the backdrop for your story. Millions of tales are told in New York City every day — and they are not just the ones you see on your TV screen. Actors, lawyers, students and many more ride the subways and walk the avenues you will call home in just a few short months. In a city with so many ongoing stories, the possibilities will seem limit-
less during your time at NYU. By exploring New York City, you’ll amass a host of experiences from which to script your story, and NYU affords you the skills you need to write, direct and produce the movie that will be your life. Yes, you’ll be expected to walk a little faster and know what you’re going to order for takeout without taking the time to look at the menu, but the little nuisances of city life will fall by the wayside as you take advantage of your next few years. Enroll in a course that no school has offered you before. Spend a day at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and enjoy lunch on its front steps. Apply for internships with companies you’ve only dreamed of working for. Start a band or a blog and immerse yourself in the unique yet rewarding community at NYU. WSN will be there every day, online
or in print, to bring you news about your world and what matters in your life. This issue will give you an idea of what WSN covered over the last semester — a highlight reel of the spring ‘13 semester — and we will continue to show you the amazing work from your fellow students and the city around NYU in the fall. So even if there is not a movie made of your life — though you’ll meet plenty of aspiring filmmakers willing to try while you’re here — maybe we’ll be telling your stories on the pages of the Washington Square News.
No matter what the a party. Meet the multitude of loudsecurity guard you mouthed critics, inspipass every day. Ask rational speakers, leada new acquaintance ers or regular students to come by that new might say, finding a café with a live jazz community at NYU is band. It’s up to you hard. Building and reto find your niche taining that group of at a university as exalways supportive, forpansive as NYU. And ever loyal friends can like finding that one seem as likely as findhundred dollar Biing a seat in Bobst the ology textbook for night before finals. under $50, it’s posDon’t count on serensible. AMY ZHANG dipity to get you there, And while you’re Managing Editor because finding that adding new names group is hard. You have to your circle, come CAS 2014 | Journalism & Politics to work at it. Keeping by the Washington Arcadia, CA in touch, lunch after a Square News offices group project, knockand meet ours. The ing on your neighbor’s door, joining a doors are always open (quite literally. club, adding a friend. New friendships We almost never sleep). I can say with are never certain, but always spontane- absolute certainty, I would never have ous. So at the get-go, take risks. Discover survived college without this talented, where your falafel-and-rice cart server uproarious group of people. You’ll be hails from (Salif on 14th St. immigrat- saying the same. So good luck, Class of ed from Bangladesh). Don’t be afraid 2017. I hope to meet each one of you to use that joke you have prepared at some day.
I’m a senior in CAS so many unexpected and after much indepeople and places, made cision, the past three me fall in love with late years have let me to night halal, and showed become a double major me what it means to in digital and compuwork hard doing sometational journalism as thing you love. Most of well as anthropology. I all, it showed me what it wanted to be a journalmeans to find a place to ist because I wanted belong, even in a univerto be a storyteller, and sity that boasts 40,000 even as an aspiring people. Oh, and I may journalist in a field that have picked up a thing seems to be shedding its or two about journalism old ways, as both tradialong the way too. HANQING CHEN tional media seem to be As you’re preparing Web Managing Editor going away, my dream to start your first year job is still to work in at NYU, know that CAS 2014 | Journalism & one of the most tradieven in a university of Anthropology tional storytelling medi40,000 — because it is a West Deptford, NJ ums of them all -- radio. university of 40,000 — I joined WSN as a you will be able to find freshman because I wanted to challenge your place here. myself and learn about the city, and I have Maybe it will be here with us at 838 to admit, as NYU’s “teaching newspaper,” Broadway, or maybe it’s in one of the thouthis newspaper has taught me basically ev- sands of welcoming student and Greenerything I know about the city, and about wich village communities around here, myself: reporting for WSN forced to learn but always know that no matter what, you how to ride the subway, brought me to are welcome at NYU and in the city.
The past two years to midnight movie have truly flown by, premieres to breakand as I prepare for ing news to havmy junior year, I caning staff dinners, not help but wonder WSN has become where the time has my home away gone. Then I realize a from home. You majority of it has been are about to go atspent at WSN, and it tend a university in makes me smile. NYU one of the greatest has truly been a percities in the world, fect fit, especially the so take advantage WSN office. of it. I chose NYU because There are no limI wanted to pursue JORDAN MELENDREZ its to what you can journalism and polido, and your fellow Deputy Managing Editor peers will inspire tics, and I can hardly imagine a better locayou to achieve even CAS 2014 | Journalism & Politics tion to do so. As soon greater accomplishUpland, CA as I arrived, I knew ments than you what I wanted to do: have already. Your work for the school paper. And it tru- college experiences are supposed to ly has been one of the most reward- be some of the most memorable times ing experiences. Working with such in your life, and whether they are talented individuals, whom I am in- here at WSN or some other group, be credibly fortunate enough to call my sure to enjoy them as much as I am peers and friends, is incredible. From able to enjoy mine. working late hours together to going
I am a 2013 graduOutside of WSN, I am ate from the Gallatin the editor at NKD MagSchool of Individualazine, a monthly onized Study, where I line music and enterconcentrated in new tainment magazine, media and the socioland I have spent the ogy of journalism. past semester as an I started writing for editorial intern at the the Features Desk at New York Observer. WSN two years ago beI love my cat, black cause I wanted learn coffee, ’90s sitcoms about journalism and and reading The New become more involved York Times in print at NYU, and I fell in every morning. I am love with the newspagrateful for all of the NICOLA PRING per and my WSN famamazing writers and Assistant Managing Editor editors who have made ily. worked as a features staff writer, copy the past two years the Gallatin 2013 | New Media and the editor and features edbest, most fun learnSociology of Journalism itor before joining the ing experience posHoboken, NJ Managing team this sible. I will be pursusemester. ing a master’s degree I love writing and learning about peo- at the Graduate School of Journalism at ple through interviews. I think writing Columbia University in the fall. for WSN is the best way to meet new people at NYU as well as the best and most exciting way to find out what’s going on at the university and in the city.
KALEEL MUNROE
TATIANA BAEZ
VERONICA CARCHEDI
Creative Director
University Editor
City/State Editor
Gallatin 2016 Visual Imagery Coral Springs, Fla.
CAS 2015 Journalism & Environmental Studies Bay City, MI
CAS 2016 Latin American Studies Washington D.C.
Prior to working at WSN, Kaleel has never designed a newspaper before. After getting a few calls and shoutouts from Teen Vogue and the Associated Press for his superb design skills this past semester, Kaleel thinks he is doing an OK job. Hailing from South Florida with the hopes of concentrating in the intersection of photography and design, what pulled Kaleel towards WSN the most was the chance to be apart of creating a vision. As creative director, it is Kaleel’s job to make sure every issue looks as visually stunning as possible. From directing fashion shoots, to googling movie posters for design inspiration, to scolding anyone who dares to go over their word count, Kaleel truly has found a home here at 838 Broadway.
Tatiana is a rising junior studying journalism, environmental studies and politics. This past semester, she served as the university editor, better known as the NYU know-it-all. She joined WSN for the writing but stayed for the good friends and crazy antics post-midnight at the office. Tatiana lives vicariously through the characters on “Criminal Minds” and has a slight obsession with Spencer Reid. You can always get on her good side by giving her Indian food, Magnolia cupcakes (chocolate with vanilla buttercream) and a good book to read.
Veronica will be a sophomore in the College of Arts and Science, and she is majoring in journalism and Latin American studies with a minor in politics. She is originally from the Washington, D.C., area. Last semester, Veronica was city/state editor on the News Desk, one of the most talented teams she has ever worked with. WSN has been an amazing place not just to work, but also to spend time and laugh with good friends. In the future, she hopes to work as a foreign correspondent in Latin America, and she is excited about her plans to travel to Buenos Aires in the spring. A few of her obsessions include “The Wire” and all HBO shows, Boston terriers, music downloading binges, sour gummies, black coffee and books about places she’s never seen.
NICOLE BROWN
JOSH JOHNSON
KRISTINA BOGOS
Investigative Editor
Arts Editor
Features Editor
CAS 2016 Journalism & Politics West Chester, PA
CAS 2013 Hebrew and Judaic Studies Pittsford, NY
CAS 2015 Journalism & Hellenic Studies Tampa, Fla.
Nicole is a freshman in LSP and will transfer to CAS as a journalism and politics major. Her hometown, West Chester, Penn., is very different from New York City, which is part of the reason she came to NYU. She is always looking to explore different parts of the city and loves living among so many different people. Nicole joined WSN because she loves to write and be a part of the production of the newspaper. She would like to thank the WSN staff for being amazing to work with and becoming her second family. She can’t wait to continue working with everyone next semester. Nicole can usually be found drinking hazelnut coffee at The Bean on 12th Street and Broadway or eating chocolate chip pancakes at one of the dining halls (heads up: Downstein has the best). She is often accompanied by her redheaded, dancing sidekick.
Comparing other cities to New York is like comparing other television shows to “The Wire” — when you get down to it, there’s really no comparison at all. The arts scene in New York City is especially remarkable. At his time at WSN, Josh has personally covered everything from the CMJ Music Festival to “Django Unchained.” Amazingly, the opportunity to write about these ridiculously awesome things in such a professional setting is only the second best thing about working for WSN. The best thing for Josh is undoubtedly the unshakeable community the WSN staff shares. In creating a daily student newspaper, they have created a bond that is unlike anything Josh has ever experienced. At WSN, you may come for the clips, but you’ll stay for the friendships.
If Kristina was not passionate about reporting, she would be a barista at The Bean. Most days, you will see her walking around with coffee in her hand, which is most likely coffee number three for the day. She was born and raised in Tampa, Fla., but always had her eyes set on New York City. She loves traveling, being exposed to different cultures and experiencing what life is like in other people’s shoes. She speaks modern Greek and enjoys getting in touch with her Hellenic roots. In the fall, she will study abroad in Abu Dhabi where she will be managing editor at NYU Abu Dhabi’s first campus newspaper, The Gazelle. As features editor at WSN, she learned the ropes of being a leader and has even made calls to the White House for a story.
MARY JANE DUMANKAYA
SAMEER JAYWANT
RACHEL KAPLAN
Sports Editor
Opinion Editor
Multimedia Editor
CAS 2015 International Relations Elmont, NY
CAS 2014 International Relations & Economics Princeton Junction, NJ
Tisch 2015 Photography and Imaging Montclair, NJ
Mary Jane Dumankaya and is a rising junior in the College of Arts and Science. She is studying international relations with a concentration in the Middle East. Mary Jane joined the sports staff at WSN freshman year, and she has had the pleasure of serving as sports editor for the past semester. Though she has no desire to go into journalism, she became involved with WSN because she had been an editor for her high school’s paper, but she decided to stay due to all the great people that she met through WSN.
A rising senior, Sameer will be a Senator At-Large on the Student Senators Council, a CAS College Leader and Executive Director of NYU’s Generation Citizen chapter. An avid reader and writer, Sameer was honored as the best English student of his high school graduating class before coming to NYU. He began his career at WSN as a foreign opinion correspondent while studying in Paris and became a staff columnist upon his return to New York in the fall of 2012. He saw tremendous potential in the writers of the opinion section and took over as opinion editor in January. Although the semester flew by, the Opinion Desk saw a notable improvement in the quality and style of both columnists and Editorial Board members, and page seven appears poised to become the show-stealing section of WSN.
Shooting for WSN since freshman year, Rachel counts working for WSN as one of the best decisions she believes she could have made. Rachel has loved the opportunity to collaborate with so many talented people. WSN has allowed her to explore so many different interests, and shooting New York Fashion Week her first week as an NYU student was a surreal experience. Living in the city, Rachel loves taking advantage of everything its rich culture has to offer. Since starting at NYU, she has interned with IHeartRadio which also provides her with amazing and relevant experiences for her future. When Rachel can find a free moment, she loves going to the Bronx Zoo (free for students on Wednesdays).
MICHAEL DOMANICO
WICY WANG
GRACE WHITNEY
Copy Chief
Copy Chief
Social Media Director
CAS 2016 Politics Manhasset, NY
Stern 2016 Finance New Hyde Park, NY
CAS 2013 Journalism & Art History Park City, Utah
Originally hailing from Manhasset, N.Y., Michael chose NYU because of its proximity to home and the frequency with which he can get a free lunch with his dad, who works in the Financial District. He also wanted a large university completely devoid of a campus, which narrowed down his search considerably. As copy chief, Michael spent his nights this past semester reading each article running in the paper not once, not twice, but thrice, checking primarily for style and grammar, and his love for WSN knows no bounds. When he’s not rewatching episodes of “30 Rock” this summer, he will be interning with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. His idols are his mom and Tina Fey.
As a rising sophomore at Stern studying finance, Wicy is often asked why she joined WSN. The answer is that WSN is more than just a newspaper — it’s a way to unite the often disparate communities of NYU, a way to provide NYU’s student body with a voice. WSN allows her to meet people from all over NYU who are passionate about their work and about bringing it to a wider audience — this past year has taught her so much about writing, journalism, and life. (And as copy chief, she’s also learned to say a bitter farewell to serial commas such as the one in the previous sentence.)
After spending her freshman year abroad in Florence as part of the LSP Freshman Year Abroad program, Grace came back to New York and fell in love with the city! The years that have followed have been an exploration of the city and of self, and the discovery of great friends and family at NYU and WSN. Grace is graduating with a degree in Journalism and Art His- tory from CAS, with plans to pursue a career in television production, and she will miss the WSN staff dearly in her post-graduate career.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
ON THE SIDE
COMPILED BY THE
WSN STAFF
WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS Editor-in-Chief JONATHON DORNBUSH Managing Editor
AMY ZHANG Web Managing Editor
HANQING CHEN Deputy Managing Editor
JORDAN MELENDREZ Assistant Managing Editor
NICOLA PRING Creative Director
KALEEL MUNROE SENIOR STAFF
university TATIANA BAEZ city/state VERONICA CARCHEDI investigative NICOLE BROWN arts JOSH JOHNSON features KRISTINA BOGOS sports MARY JANE DUMANKAYA multimedia RACHEL KAPLAN copy MICHAEL DOMANICO,
WICY WANG foreign correspondent JULIE DEVITO senior editors GENTRY BROWN, DAN
HINTON, CHARLES MAHONEY, CLIO MCCONNELL, STEFAN MELNYK, LAVYA YALAMANCHI
SPECIAL ISSUES While WSN covers the daily news that matters to NYU students, important events serve as milestones during each semester. Thanks to WSN’s design team, we are able to highlight these moments more than ever before with unique covers and page spreads.
DEPUTY STAFF
university KEVIN BURNS, NEELA QADIR city/state EMILY BELL,
ANDREW KARPAN books/theater OLIVIA GEORGE film JEREMY GROSSMAN entertainment ALEX GREENBERGER music ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE the highlighter blog SAM RULLO features HELEN HOLMES, JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU beauty & style MICHELLE LIM dining ANGEL CHANG sports FRANCISCO NAVAS multimedia REBECCA CLEMENTI, JOON LEE
OPINION PAGE opinion editor
SAMEER JAYWANT deputy opinion editors
EDWARD RADZIVILOVSKIY, RAQUEL WOODRUFF
ADVERTISING BUSINESS MANAGER
REBECCA RIBEIRO CIRCULATION MANAGER
CHLOE COFFMAN
UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOR
KAITLYN O’BRIEN SALES REPRESENTATIVE
ELLEN MCQUEEN SALES ASSOCIATES
ARIANA DIVALENTINO, ALISON LIZZIO, SAM WANDER CIRCULATION ASSISTANT
BENJAMIN SWINEHART
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
KALEEL MUNROE
ADVISING DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
NANCI HEALY EDITORIAL ADVISER
KEITH LEIGHTY EDITORS-AT-LARGE
MAXIMILÍANO DURÓN, JAEWON KANG, FRANCIS POON, MERYLL PREPOSI, AMANDA RANDONE, EMILY YANG About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods. Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Amy Zhang at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.
GOT AN EVENT? EMAIL US AT AGENDA@NYUNEWS.COM OR TWEET US @NYUNEWS. GOT SOMETHING TO SHARE? EMAIL US AT TIPS@NYUNEWS.COM.
NYUNEWS.COM
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
Improvements to Hayden to begin next year
By NICOLE BROWN
Hayden residence hall will see some improvements in the near future. Renovations for the freshman dorm will begin after the student commencements end in 2014 and finish in May 2015. A former hotel first constructed in the early 20th century, the hall houses 700 firstyear students each year. The refurbishments on every floor will include the installation of sprinklers, the repair of plaster
walls and new bathrooms, windows and floors. The lounges and offices in the building will also be updated. Students will not be living in the residence hall during construction, but the dining hall will remain open. The university is in the process of determining how to replace Hayden beds for the 2014-15 academic year, university spokesman Philip Lentz said. Lentz also said the building is landmarked, so any renovations must be approved by the
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission before NYU can proceed with any construction. The LPC issued a permit on March 29 for the current repairs of the elevators in Hayden, but the upcoming renovations require new permissions. The application for the major renovations has not yet been submitted to the commission. Nicole Brown is investigative editor. Email her at nbrown@nyunews.com.
Clive Davis students become viral musical sensation By NICOLA PRING
When a talented group of students from the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at the Tisch School of the Arts first began recording a cover of Rihanna’s single “Diamonds,” they had no idea it would go viral. The music video, which has garnered over 178,000 views on YouTube since it was published on Saturday, Dec. 15, has been featured on BuzzFeed and the Huffington Post. The students created the video for a competition organized by Universal Music on Campus. The record label asked college students to compose a video rendition of Rihanna’s hit track. The winner, selected personally by Rihanna, was awarded the chance to meet the R&B musician herself. Under the direction of Tisch junior Hannah Babitt, who worked as executive producer and video production manager for the project, the students at Clive Davis took the competition’s parameters a step further. The collective, including Kiah Victoria, recorded a full cover video featuring nine vocalists and rappers singing in the recording studio at Tisch and at locations around the Washington Square Park area. Babitt decided to undertake the project after learning about the competition at the end November. She posted a message in the Clive Davis Facebook group, asking her classmates to partake in the video. Babitt assembled a group of vocalists, engineers, editors, sound and video . The team sat down on a Sunday afternoon in early December to determine the style of the video. “We each took turns singing to figure out what part [of the song] sounded best on each of our voices,” said Tisch freshman Cari Fletcher, a featured vocalist in the video. “The entire point of this video was to showcase each person in some way. Each artist at Clive is so unique, and we all have our own styles, and I think the team was really able to make that shine through.”
VIA YOUTUBE.COM
Tisch junior Kiah Victoria contributed vocals to the video. The group began recording vocals and filming in the studio a week after their initial meeting. Because each vocalist recorded his or her part separately, they were unsure how the final product would sound. “When we met to shoot the video, we got to hear the rough mix with everyone’s solos added in and all our mouths dropped,” said Tisch freshman and soloist Sabrina Reitman. “It already sounded so incredible, and it wasn’t even the final mix yet. That’s when I knew this was going to be huge.” Tisch junior Jason Moss was responsible for mixing and mastering the track. “It was a challenge to take such a diverse group of vocalists and make them work together on one record,” Moss said. “Everyone involved in the process bringing this track to life … really delivered. This made my job so much easier.” “The first time I heard the final version of the song, I freaked out,” Fletcher said. “I knew it was going to be great all along, but the final product just blew me away. I thought to myself, ‘If we could make an awesome video to go with it, this could be huge.’” The team began filming around the city after recording vocals.
The entire process only took two and a half weeks to complete. Ryan Hutchins, a junior studying film at Hofstra University, filmed and edited the video, having previously worked with Fletcher on previous video projects. “Because everyone involved in the production of the song was in NYU … we decided to shoot in and around campus to give the video a real NYU feel,” he said. Hutchins shot the video over three days, and spent between 25 and 35 hours editing the footage for a week. The students hoped to gain recognition for their work but did not expect the reception to take off as it has. “I really didn’t intend for it to get more than a few thousand views at first,” Hutchins said. “I knew everyone had a lot of supportive friends share the video, but once I saw it was getting as many as 3,000 views an hour, I knew it was really out of our hands.” “We are excited that this video has started to go viral and really appreciate all of the support,” Babitt said. “Music is what we love, and it is exciting to share our art.” Nicola Pring is assistant managing editor. Email her at npring@nyunews.com.
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Artist connects lyrics with famous spots By DANIEL HUANG
When we were in grade school, our natural inclination was to inscribe things — words, symbols, doodles — into our surroundings. Whether it was names, phrases, quotes or random hieroglyphic carvings, inscribing in a permanent place was a way to extend the temporal relationship between our person and our place. Even though many of us may no longer be in the our time-out corners, our initials still are. Local artist Jay Shells brings this feeling to life through a street art project called Rap Quotes. In a celebration of New York and hip-hop culture, Shells takes lyrics from rap songs that mention New York streets and manufactures signs to post on the streets themselves. “When you’re on a corner that’s been called out in a rap song, I think it’s cool to know that,” he explained. Shells puts up signs displaying lyrics that describe the location of the street sign, immortalizing the connection between a master of ceremonies and his block. When Animal, an online art magazine, released a video three weeks ago documenting Shells’ exploits with his first batch of signs, his popularity skyrocketed. Since then, the story has been reblogged, re-tweeted, and re-shared countless times with coverage from The Huffington Post, Metro New York, and Hot97. But Shells said the great ideas aren’t always his own. He’s taken many recommendations from fans. “People keep writing to me, ‘Do Biggie, oh you gotta do Biggie!’” Shells laughed while throwing his hands in the air. “I love Biggie. Send me a ... lyric!” While Rap Quotes has garnered by far the most attention, it is not Shells’ first street art project. His past work includes a variety of signs, posters and
stencils that he said try to pack the same punch as New York itself — quirky, often funny and bursting with attitude. A lot of Shells’ pieces seem to share that common public service theme. Last year, Shells’ printed out thousands of “Please look out for cyclists” stickers, which he slapped on cab doors and gave out to bike shops. For a while, he was tagging the sides of bodegas with the message “Drink less soda and more water.” Before that, he ran a “Clean Up After Your Dog” campaign, which featured graphics of dogs pooping and a roller of plastic bags for public use. One subject he’s tried to tackle is sidewalk etiquette. Designed in the exact same style as street signs that might say, “No Parking 4–7 p.m.,” they instead exhibit messages like, “Pay attention while walking, your Facebook status update can wait,” or “Pull up your pants, no one wants to see your underwear.” All of Shells’ signs are well received, but some hit home more than others. He said his “Pull up your pants” sign randomly found success among a mix of schools around the country. “I was getting emails from administrators asking if they could print my signs to hang in their halls,” Shells said. Most of Shells’ signs are only up so for so long before curious New Yorkers or disgruntled authorities get their hands on them. “Of course I wish they would stay up longer but that’s just the way it is. People take them down,” he said. Not that he lets that bother him. Tools of the trade in hand — spraypaint on some days, wrench and bolts on others — Shells continues to roam the city, always vigilant for the next idea. Daniel Huang is a contributing writer. Email him at cstate@nyunews.com.
DANIEL HUANG FOR WSN
Local artist Jay Shells prints famous rap lyrics on street signs.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
Policy threatens park performers’ stage By VERONICA CARCHEDI
The presence of street performers, one of the defining characteristics of Washington Square Park, may dwindle this spring due to a recent change in park policy. The expressive matter rule, originally adopted by the New York City Parks Department in June 2010, determined where and how artists can sell their art in public places. Current rules state that artists cannot sell within 50 feet of a monument or five feet from any bench or fence. The change in ruling will now explicitly include entertainment within these parameters and define park performers who accept donations as vendors. This change will take effect May 8 and could subject performers to court summons or tickets of up to $250 for the first offense and up to $1,000 for subsequent violations. Katie Kat — a master’s student in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development for classical voice and a frequent performer in Washington Square Park — criticized the new ruling. “The restrictions being placed on street performers are an epidemic and damaging to the cultural health of New York City,” Kat said. “I am afraid for the future of a city known for the quality of its art.” But according to the Parks Department, this change is merely a clarification of the pre-existing rule. “[The Parks Department] always intended that the [expressive matter] rules would apply to street performers, buskers and entertainers soliciting fees or donations,” spokesman Philip Abramson said. “Parks adopted the change to clarify this intent.” The Parks Department initially restricted both park performers and artists after the rule was put in place. But on Dec. 19, 2011, Community Board 2 held a public hearing packed with per-
formers and parkgoers opposing these restrictions. At this time, the Parks Department withdrew many of the summons against park performers, but not artists, because they had been “incorrectly applied,” Abramson said. “There is no public demand to get rid of performers,” said Robert Lederman, a street performer and president of Artists’ Response To Illegal State Tactics. He argued that public outrage was the reason for the reversal of the unpopular policy against performers. Lederman is currently in a lawsuit with the Parks Department over the expressive matter rule, which is under consideration by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. His claim is twofold. First, the original expressive matter rules violate the First Amendment rights of artists and performers, and second that the differences in enforcement between these two groups violate the equal protection rights of the Fourteenth Amendment. “One of the biggest issues was that, even though the new park rule said performers had to be subject to the exact same enforcement as artists, that’s not the way he said the city was doing it. They were enforcing the rule against visual artists. They were not enforcing it against performers.” Lederman has begun a petition to request Parks Commissioner Veronica White and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg to repeal the restriction. So far the petition has garnered over 300 signatures. Community Board 2 is hosting a public hearing on May 1 at the Grace Church School. Performers have said that they will continue to push for the right to busk in parks. “I intend to be there May 8, performing,” Lederman said. “If they want to start giving out tickets, I’ll be there to receive one.” Veronica Carchedi is city/state editor. Email her at vcarchedi@nyunews.com.
HANNAH COHEN/WSN
A new policy will limit the space for musicians to perform.
Preliminary calculations indicate 30 percent admit rate for class of 2017 By HANQING CHEN
NYU has accepted around 30 percent of applicants to the class of 2017, according to preliminary admissions rate calculations provided by admissions officials. As of April 15, the university has admitted around 14,700 students across all three campuses, said Shawn Abbott, assistant vice president of admissions. While previous years’ admissions rates include students admitted to both the university’s New York and Abu Dhabi campuses, this admissions cycle marks the first time NYU has offered students admission to its third portal campus in Shanghai. After seeing a 12 percent rise in applicants this year, this admissions cycle is NYU’s sixth consecutive year of selecting students from a record-breaking number of applicants. Although there were a total of around 48,500 applicants to NYU, the university received around 55,000 applications, as students who expressed interest in multiple campuses are considered to at each campus they applied to separately. However, admissions rates are calculated according to the number of applicants, 48,500, and not the total number of applications. This admissions cycle saw one of NYU’s most diverse applicant pools yet, but Abbott said the actual makeup of the class of 2017 is still uncertain. “While it does appear that our freshman class will be the most ethnically and geographically diverse we have had in recent NYU history, it is premature to make that claim until well after May 1,” Abbott said.
New York The university admitted around 31 percent of approximately 14,000 applicants exclusively to the New York City campus. This roughly represents around a four percent decrease from last year’s approximately 35 percent admit rate. Abbott said the fluctuation in rate is expected year to year. “The admit rate at NYU has
varied between 30 and 35 percent for the last five years,” he said. There was only a two percent difference between Early Decision and Regular Decision admissions rates, with the Early Decision admissions rate coming in at 32 percent and the Regular Decision admissions rate coming in at 30 percent.
Abu Dhabi The university accepted five percent of applicants, or around 200 applicants, exclusively to the Abu Dhabi campus. This represents about a three percent increase compared to last year. Students who applied during the Early Decision cycles were more than three times as likely to be admitted, as Abu Dhabi admitted 11 percent of Early Decision I and II applicants while only three percent of Regular Decision applicants were offered admission. The jump in admissions rate could be due in part to the additional paperwork required in this year’s admissions process. Applicants were required to submit separate writing samples for each portal campus they applied to instead of simply indicating interest, which may have resulted in fewer students applying. Josh Taylor, associate vice chancellor of public affairs and community relations for NYU Abu Dhabi, said the 2017 class for NYUAD will probably exceed the projected 150-seat class size. “We are seeing strong interest from admitted students,” Taylor said. “However, we will be able to accommodate all who elect to attend. It’s a very good problem to have.” Despite the rise in admissions rate this year, NYUAD still ranks among the most selective universities in the world. In comparison, Ivy League schools such as Harvard University reported a 5.8 percent acceptance rate, and Yale University reported an acceptance rate of 6.7 percent.
Shanghai Thus far, the university has ad-
mitted about 100 students to the NYU Shanghai campus, which is scheduled to open for its inaugural academic session this fall. However, because the Chinese Gao Kao, or college entrance exams, will not take place until this June, the admissions process for the newest NYU campus will not be complete until summer, according to NYU spokesperson John Beckman. Beckman said the university expects to admit approximately 151 Chinese nationals to the Shanghai campus, while the remainder of students will be international students.
An ongoing admissions process There are a number of factors that have yet the admissions rates thus far. In addition to students admitted exclusively to individual portal campuses in New York, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai, NYU also offered admission to multiple campuses for around 330 applicants to two of three campuses — either both New York and Abu Dhabi, or both New York and Shanghai. Abbott said the students admitted to both campuses have yet to be accounted for in preliminary admissions statistics. Admitted students are expected to respond with their decision to accept or decline their admissions offers by May 1. Furthermore, approximately 6,200 applicants were given the opportunity to be considered for the NYU waitlist, which represents roughly 13 percent of the total applicant pool for the class of 2017. In this admissions cycle, NYU offered three different application options for prospective students. Early Decision I applications were due on November 1, 2012, while Early Decision II and Regular Decision applications were due on January 1, 2013. Hanqing Chen is web managing editor. Email her at hchen@nyunews.com.
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Push for transparency: Examining NYU decision-making By VERONICA CARCHEDI
Recent dissatisfaction among members of the Faculty of Arts and Science with university leadership has initiated debate over problems with transparency and communication within the tiers of governance at the university. Since its foundation, NYU has operated under a set of bylaws that act supreme and establish the administrative structure at NYU. It enumerates the powers of all governing members in the university, from the president to the Board of Trustees and the Faculty and Student Senators Councils. It also outlines the procedures of the University Senate, the main contact point between faculty and students and the administration.
The University Senate convenes three times per semester, and its purpose is to serve as a deliberative body and a forum for discussion of universitywide policies and changes. The four councils — Faculty Senators Council, Student Senators Council, Deans Council, Administrative Council — make recommendations to the president on university-related issues, and through him, to the Board of Trustees. According to the bylaws, the president is designated as “the official medium of communication between each faculty of the university and the Board, between university students and the Board, and between university administration and the Board.” Ted Magder, FSC chair, cites
the adoption of the Principles of Shared Governance as university policy, a faculty survey of NYU 2031 and several new policies as recent examples of the system working. “The FSC’s standing committees provide valuable input in all academic and administrative policy matters that affect the faculty,” Magder said. “This past year the FSC input into the decision-making process has been extensive and reflects the establishment of a new working relationship between the faculty and the administration.” But faculty senator and psychology professor Jim Uleman said that the role of the FSC in establishing the Principles of Shared Governance was a 14-month struggle before it
was officially accepted by the administration. “Occasionally recommendations made by the FSC are accepted, but the recent history of this has been very mixed to poor,” Uleman said. “Most faculty view the FSC as ineffective and irrelevant, so they ignore us.” Throughout the course of the noconfidence debate, some members of faculty have argued that there is a lack of transparency in the upper tiers of university governance. Andrew Ross, a professor of social and cultural analysis and an active individual in the vote of no confidence debate, pointed out that although FSC and SSC minutes are made public, those of trustee meetings and the administration are not. “There is no corresponding
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The broad strokes of university policy and development decisions allow for student and faculty involvement at two stages of the process.
transparency in the other two tiers of governance,” Ross said. “We have no access to the records and decision-making in the part of the administration and certainly what the trustees do is not transparent.” NYU spokesman John Beckman said the reason the NYU Board of Trustees minutes are not made public is because they contain confidential contract negotiations and information about trustees’ views on other organizations. “Some university boards make their minutes public but that is actually quite rare,” Beckman said. Magder and SSC chair Malina Webb both said the FSC and SSC have additional access to the administrative tier — the offices of the president and provost — through regular meetings outside the University Senate. Major university decisions, such as the curriculums at Global Network University sites, tuition increases, the NYU 2031 plan and the merger of NYU and the Polytechnic Institute of NYU, are discussed in these meetings. However, both chairs acknowledged a need for increased communication among the leadership and its constituents. “The [vote of no confidence] is yet another signal that the university should commit itself to improving the channels of communication and the procedures for decision-making, a process that began in earnest last summer, a process that the FSC has been pursuing for the past year,” Magder said. Veronica Carchedi is city/state editor. Email her at vcarchedi@nyunews.com.
Admitted students explore campus with family, friends By MICHAEL DOMANICO and LYANNE NATIVIDAD
“Go, Emory, go,” her dad cheered from behind the crowd. His daughter, incoming Tisch film major Emory Parker, was weaving through the sea of potential class of 2017 students at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The family was one of many that came to the city for NYU’s annual Weekend on the Square this past weekend. At one of the first events NYU hosts for admitted students, admissions ambassadors led groups of admitted students through campus to show what NYU could offer those students who confirmed their acceptance. The Parker family had driven in from Manhasset, N.Y. Sporting a class of 2017 T-shirt — which she had fashioned into a makeshift scarf — Mrs. Parker walked alongside her daughters and Mr. Parker, who had donned “the suit that he only wears to NYU,” according to his children. Two hours earlier, Lauren Fleming, another admitted student, and her
family had arrived from Burlington, N.J., just in time for refreshments and the Steinhardt welcome at the Kimmel Center for University Life. Though each college held its own welcome this weekend, the ninth floor of Kimmel served as the first official stop for many of the families that arrived. Nervous groups huddled to discuss navigating NYU’s urban campus, and parents forced their children to introduce themselves to others. The Fleming family was among them, and Mrs. Fleming casually sipped her coffee as Mr. Fleming proudly slapped on his admissions guest sticker and greeted the admissions ambassadors. As the group set off, Lauren tried to distract herself from her nerves by flipping through the program. Lauren’s 13-year-old brother, a basketball fanatic, stopped and asked his sister to take a picture of him with the NYU Bobcat. “Get a picture with my phone,” Eric told his older sister, who responded without missing a beat. “I am not taking a picture with the Bobcat,” Lauren said.
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Admitted students and their parents toured NYU. “No, take a picture of me with the Bobcat,” he emphasized. Admitted students swarmed the Square this weekend, and their parents trailed not far behind — along with their nerves. “I’ve been to the area so many times, but now that it’s admitted students’ day, I’m nervous to even walk,” Lauren said. Emory had earlier voiced her concern that city life would be intimidating. But she looked completely at home as she strolled along Broadway with her sister’s arm draped across her shoulder.
As the family made its way through Washington Square Park, Emory’s father grinned and said, “Look at us all here at NYU.” His attention turned to a live Shakespeare in the Square performance. Just minutes before, he had joked about his stage fright before his wife playfully interrupted him, saying, “Get over yourself, this isn’t about you.” Emory said what most attracted her to NYU was the freedom the university’s curriculum allowed her. “It’s such a relief to know where I’m going,” Emory said. “It’s really cool to be going somewhere. Not only somewhere, but the best place for me in the world.” As Emory and her parents made their way to their next tour, it was time for questions at Lauren’s program meeting. Her father nudged her forward. “I thought you’d ask a couple of questions,” he said. “I always have a list of them.” She responded silently, shaking her head and turning her eyes back toward her sample course syllabus. After the university welcome, her outlook noticeably shifted from
the apprehension she’d shown at Kimmel earlier in the day. She expressed a sense of belonging, saying, “I’m not going to lie, that made me excited to come to NYU.” Later, as Lauren walked ahead on the way to Third Avenue North residence hall, her dad looked at his daughter. “I always loved New York City, but I never got the chance to live here,” he said. “Now, Lauren will have that opportunity.” And in the building of the Tisch School of the Arts, Emory’s parents waited downstairs as their daughter went to familiarize herself with some of her future collaborators. “It’s so satisfying to be here, knowing these are the teachers I’m going to have, these are the kids I’m going to be working with, this is my experience,” Emory said. “I think I’m ready to go to a place where I can be immersed in everything at once.” Michael Domanico is a copy chief. Lyanne Natividad is a contributing writer. Email them at university@nyunews.com.
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Local record stores branch out to survive By BILLY RICHLING
Music from a local DJ flowed out the door of Other Music record store and followed customers of all ages around the block last Saturday afternoon. Along with about two dozen other record stores in Greenwich Village, Other Music was participating in a national celebration that featured live performances, special releases and promotional products throughout the day. But the fifth annual Record Store Day, a celebration of independently owned record stores, came only a week after the closing of one of Greenwich Village’s music icons. Bleecker Bob’s Golden Oldies, which had been selling records since 1968, closed its doors for good on April 13. “Bleecker Bob’s was more than a music store,” said James Celentano, a Steinhardt music business professor. “They were part of the community. They were a place peo- ple could browse and gather. It was a place to be seen.” According to the Almighty Institute for Music Retail, a music marketing service, Bleecker Bob’s is not alone. More than 4,000 record stores closed between 2000 and 2010 across the United States. Steinhardt professor of music business Michelle McDevitt said independently owned record stores are facing tough challenges these days. “[Bleecker Bob’s] closing is part of a larger disruption in the music industry that’s been
happening for many years now,” McDevitt said. “The music discovery experience hasn’t vanished completely, it’s just shifted to being online.” With the advent of easy downloading and online programs like Spotify and Pandora, some customers are no longer loyal fans of record stores. “I see these new services not as the death of the music industry but a technological renaissance,” CAS freshman Mike Cziner said. “I hope that records and CDs will still be manufactured, but I wouldn’t mind ordering them online.” Jason P., a clerk at Generation Records on Thompson Street, said he thought rising rent prices had more to do with the closing of Bleecker Bob’s than any perceived decline in the record store business. “It’s very expensive to be in this neighborhood right now, and they couldn’t keep up with it,” he said. “A lot of record stores are opening in Brooklyn, which I think is a sign that it has more to do with location than the business itself.” For some, like Gallatin freshman Jake Strauss, the loss of local record stores is symptomatic of the ongoing homogenization of New York. “I think this is representative of the city selling itself out to businesses that will bring in higher profits, increased land values and a safe, clean and neutral atmosphere that will raise more tax revenue,” Strauss said. As CEO of Forever Yogurt, a
Students in Mary Killilea’s class Where the City Meets the Sea settled into their seats as they watched students in Abu Dhabi and London also sit down at their desks on large, high definition screens. In a routine Wednesday morning session of Killilea’s course on coastal areas, she greeted professors John Burt in Abu Dhabi and Andy Brown in London, and the lecture began. This semester is the first time that students at three
COURTESY OF MARY KILLILEA
Professor Killilea’s course connects three NYU sites.
different campuses could take part in a joint class. The environmental studies course in CAS initially launched in spring 2012, joining students in New York and Abu Dhabi. The course added a location in London this semester and announced the addition of Shanghai as the fourth city for spring 2014. “I’ve always heard that NYU is a global network university, but I finally understand the extent to which it actually is,” CAS sophomore Evan Powell said. “For our final group presentations, in which our groups are made up of students from each campus, we asked Mary if we could be in the same group, and she was thrilled to hear that we’ve connected across campuses.” Peter Schilling, associate vice president for global technology services, was asked to help prototype ways to teach undergraduate science courses at glob-
CAS formal celebrates ‘Great Gatsby’ By JULIE DEVITO
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Despite a renewed interest in vinyl records, owners are struggling to find new ways to keep their stores open. Chicago-based frozen yogurt company which will occupy the space where Bleecker Bob’s once stood, Mandy Calara rejected the accusation of homogenization. But he did not deny that money plays an important role in the city’s real estate culture. “I appreciate the efforts of neighbor- hoods to preserve landmarks,” Calara said. “But sometimes landlords want to maximize rents.” Record stores like Other Music and Generation Records are broadening their product base to remain profitable. “We have bands playing, and we sell T-shirts and posters,” Jason P. said. “You need to have more variety and offer a little more than just records. We have an eBay store, too.” And even in an era of online music, McDevitt said she was not surprised young people still shop at record stores.
“The human condition makes us want to interact with each other, and music is one of the few universal truths that transcends age, gender and race,” McDevitt said. “They lack the nostalgia factor, but young people are there because they want to interact with other humans about music, just like we always have.” Celentano said interaction is the rea- son record shops might be able to coex- ist with online retailers. “I have accounts with iTunes, Rdio and Pandora,” he said. “But there is something I get out of going to an indie record store that cannot be matched online. For me, there is an excitement of being in a real store, seeing what’s new, rediscovering what’s old.” Billy Richling is a staff writer. Email him at cstate@nyunews.com.
NYU bridges campuses with overseas classes By JULIE DEVITO
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al study away sites. Schilling, Killilea and Burt collected publicly available environmental, census and other data and organized it into a software system that students would be able to use to input their own data out on the field. The tablet devices automatically record the location with a GPS device and place a timestamp in Greenwich Mean Time. It also asks students to input meta-data, such as water temperature to help ensure data accuracy. CAS sophomore Cindy Pi said studying globally enhances the students’ understanding of coastal cities. “We recently had a lab where all three campuses measured formaldehyde levels and indoor air quality of their campuses’ buildings,” Pi said. “We got to compare air qualities across the world and were not just confined to studying New York.” Despite the reliance on technology, Pi said they rarely experience problems with
communication across sites. The technology highlights the intersection of instruction and research. “In the past students were more the receivers of instruction, and what we’re trying to do is make folks realize that combining the two can be powerful,” Schilling said. Google has recently taken an interest in the initiative and is offering tools and oncall assistance to GTS. Other departments within NYU, are now requesting to participate in the data collection as well. “We’re building a living archive,” Burt said. “If you look at a place like Abu Dhabi or Shanghai, the sheer scale and speed of development is phenomenal … The course is global in nature. We’re looking at issues that affect cities anywhere on earth.” Julie DeVito is foreign correspondent editor. Email her at jdevito@nyunews.com.
As the elevator doors opened on the 17th floor of the Manhattan Penthouse, guests were transported back in time to the 1920s. Upon entering the dance, girls clothed in lace and sequins chose from a table of free accessories, the perfect feathers for their hair, and guys chose hats to complete their costumes. Some girls were clutching thin gold cigarette holders. Each year, the formal is held at a different location and after looking at six different venues this year, the council chose the Manhattan Penthouse by unanimous vote. Oh said it was because of it’s convenient location for students and because of the view of both the Freedom Tower and the Empire State building. Last year, it was held at the Union Square Ballroom underground. At the coat check, coats were removed to unveil attire directly from the era of the classic novel “The Great Gatsby.” Flapper dresses were commonplace. The occasion was the annual College of Arts and Science Formal, sponsored by the the CAS Student Council. This year, the event unexpectedly sold out all 250 tickets, up from the 175 tickets sold in 2012. Event host Yena Tess Oh, a CAS sophomore, said that the theme was chosen in an effort to find something current that the students could get excited about. The rest, she said, fell into place. “I hope the months of planning pay off and people have fun because really it’s an event for the students,” Oh said. Bartenders in suits served virgin piña coladas, strawberry daiquiris and shirley temples. Next to the bar, a live band called Noah Hyams Quarter played. The atmosphere for most of the evening was reminiscent of a light cocktail party, with jazz music and soft pop. Only towards the end did the dance floor erupt for a brief transformation into remixed versions of recent songs. Couples chatted on stools at tall tables, at the more traditional clothed dinner tables, or on the window sills while sipping their mocktail drinks and listening to the music. Yee Ting Wu, CAS student council president and other council members observed the scene, trying to inspire attendees by quoting lines from the classic novel. “You cannot repeat the past,” Wu said a tip of his hat as he passed by in the ballroom. Julie DeVito is foreign correspondent editor. Email her at jdevito@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF ROMAN AGUILA
CAS students enjoyed a Gatsby-themed party.
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ARTS
Ebert leaves behind illustrious legacy By JEREMY GROSSMAN
The death of Roger Ebert this past Thursday was not just a great loss for journalism but also a great loss for the entire film industry. Film critics are known for their tumultuous relationships with actors, writers and directors, but without them, the industry would be a joke. We rely on critics to help us delve deeper into our favorite movies and expose us to truths we never knew existed. And when we disagree with them, that’s even better — that means we’re thinking. A critic is your adviser, your companion and your friend, and the best critics know how to communicate with their audience and develop a sense of camaraderie. Nobody knew how to do that better than Roger Ebert. Even before the Internet, Ebert developed a fanbase through his ability to write as if he were having a conversation with the reader. He looked out for his audience and never condescended. He didn’t automatically like a film just because it was “prestigious,” and he didn’t belittle a film just because it was mainstream. He truly respected his readers, and he wanted them to challenge themselves and expand their
minds about what they expected from a movie. Although a critic of the print age, Ebert was able to reach his full potential as a critic on the Internet. He discovered blogging, Facebook and Twitter, and he communicated with an audience on a larger scale than ever seemed possible. Even after suffering papillary thyroid cancer, undergoing several surgeries and losing his lower jaw, Ebert was still talking. It’s ironic, like something out of a movie, the way that Ebert lost the physical ability to speak and yet was louder than ever before. If there was ever an argument that journalism is being saved and not destroyed by the invention of the Internet, Ebert is the prime example. In the days leading up to his death, Ebert was still talking — his last blog post, posted the day before he died, informed readers that he was taking a “leave of presence,” but assured them that he was “not going away.” Still, looking back, one must wonder if he knew what was coming. His last line ominously reads, “So on this day of reflection I say again, thank you for going on this journey with me. I’ll see you at the movies.”
By OLIVIA GEORGE
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Ebert is remembered as one of the most influential film critics. Ebert’s impact as a film critic will always be felt in the way he reminded us that movies are a group experience, meant for being shared and discussed. He wrote for everybody — not just for film scholars and not just for the everyday audience. Whatever your favorite movie may be, go check out Ebert’s review and read his comments — you might not agree with him, and you might even hate him for it, but at the very least, he’ll inspire you to think about it. Jeremy Grossman is film editor. Email him at jgrossman@nyunews.com.
‘To the Wonder’ entices, challenges audiences with visuals By ALEX GREENBERGER
The stars of Terrence Malick’s “To the Wonder” are quite accustomed to mainstream entertainment. Olga Kurylenko and Javier Bardem have both played characters in James Bond films, Rachel McAdams starred in a Nicholas Sparks adaptation and Ben Affleck’s latest film won Best Picture at the Oscars. Perhaps “Wonder” is fascinating because it is the most cinematically ambitious work associated with these actors to date. Some viewers may come to expect that filmic boldness in a Malick film by now, but “Wonder” is esoteric,
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Affleck and McAdams star in Terrence Malick’s latest film.
even by the standards of Malick’s filmography — this is about as far from streamlined narrative storytelling as film gets. There is a story to be had in “Wonder.” The basic gist is that Neil (Affleck) escapes a torrid relationship with Marina (Kurylenko) and then questions whether he’s done the right thing when he begins another passionate relationship with Jane (McAdams). Neil’s philosophical quest is paralleled by Father Quintana (Bardem), a priest undergoing a crisis of faith and living in the same Oklahoma town. But watching “Wonder” for its narrative is pointless. In fact, “Wonder” is less of a narrative film than it is a tone poem, one that is both rich with emotionally fused voice-overs and engrossing in its difficulty. Much like the many forms of romance shown on screen, the voice-overs are transcendent, if not somewhat obvious in their emotionalism. The voice-overs verbalize emotions that are internalized — feelings that would otherwise never leave the minds of the film’s beautifully realized characters. They depict raw emotion, and Malick’s direction, so complex in its style, helps to mine amazing performances — par-
‘Jekyll’ torn by fluctuating quality
ticularly a brief but noteworthy one from McAdams. Malick’s direction, radiant as always, is especially skillful in helping these voice-overs tell a melodramatic story in a few lines of dialogue. The images say everything the actors cannot — Marina gracefully twirls against a colorful sunset to show the pure ecstasy found in love. Jane appears in a red dress and is lost in a golden wheat field to suggest that she must hide her passion from Neil, for she knows that he does not love her equally. The aesthetic is so meticulously rendered that it even lends the film a musical, rhapsodic feel rarely found on screen. “To the Wonder” is all about Malick rather than the actors, and for a personal filmic essay that supplies answers for many theoretical questions about love, that is perfectly acceptable. It’s a philosophical journey more than anything else, and as a result, it should be a tough experience. “To the Wonder” isn’t simply entertainment. This is pure art, and this is passionate filmmaking. This is what love feels like. Alex Greenberger is entertainment editor. Email him at agreenberger@nyunews.com.
A battle between good and evil rages onstage at the Marquis Theater in more ways than one in the revival production of Frank Wildhorn’s musical “Jekyll and Hyde.” With a cast led by former “American Idol” contestant Constantine Maroulis and Grammy nominee Deborah Cox, director Jeff Calhoun’s show contains some genuinely impressive moments. But overall, as the story also goes, the good isn’t quite good enough to triumph in the end. This musical adaptation of the classic story tells of Dr. Jekyll, a scientist convinced he has created a potion that will eliminate the evil aspects of human nature. Unable to find a volunteer to test the substance on, he takes it himself to deleterious effect. His potion causes the opposite of the intended effect and instead heightens the evil within him to the point of creating a sinister alter ego known as Mr. Hyde. Cox takes on the role of the tragic heroine Lucy Harris, a prostitute who encounters the mercy of Jekyll, the abuse of Hyde and the affection of both. From her first number “Bring on the Men,” Cox’s characteristically strong vocals display great promise, and the subtle sadness with which she takes on the deceptively playful lyrics suggest that the pop star may actually turn out to have the acting chops for the role. Unfortunately, Cox proves unable to sustain her emotional depth through the second act, when Teal Wicks (“Wicked”), as Jekyll’s fiancée Emma,
easily outshines her during their duet, “In His Eyes.” Maroulis, though ultimately miscast, does a fair job in his embodiment of the kind, obsessive Dr. Jekyll. His rendition of “This is the Moment” is charged in a way that suggests the madness showcased by his alter ego’s persona is already present, and simply needed a push. When Mr. Hyde is unleashed — along with the actor’s ponytail, to signify the change — Maroulis is slightly less convincing, approaching the character in a way that recalls a little too closely his turn in Broadway’s “Rock of Ages.” The climactic number, “The Confrontation,” in which the actor playing Jekyll and Hyde sings a duet with himself in the musical manifestation of internal conflict, has long proved problematic. While previous productions featured Robert Cuccioli and David Hasselhoff flinging their own locks back and forth over their faces in an effort to portray the duality, Calhoun chose to prerecord Hyde’s part and have a projection of the character sing it, while Maroulis in flesh tackled only Jekyll’s part. Projections are featured heavily throughout the show and, combined with the loudly revamped score, have forced the show into a rock musical, a genre that feels completely out of place with the Victorian setting. The gimmicks create a disconnect for the audience that is even more unpleasant than the one experienced by the title character. Olivia George is theater and books editor. Email her at ogeorge@nyunews.com.
COURTESY OF THE MARQUIS THEATRE
Elaborate, flashy stage setup proves distracting in “Jekyll.”
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EDITED BY JOSH JOHNSON ARTS@NYUNEWS.COM
Downloadable game takes players on emotional ‘Journey’ By JOSH JOHNSON
The main criticism against “Journey,” a PlayStation Network game created by the indie developer thatgamecompany, is that it is not really a game. Admittedly, “Journey” does not share many of the typical qualities one might find in a modern video game. An average play-through only takes about two hours, and the main character can’t do anything other than walk and jump. Make no mistake, “Journey” is certainly a video game. In fact, “Journey” represents the purest version of what a video game should be. Its two-hour runtime is not a disadvantage, but rather it eliminates all the pomp and circumstance that comes with so many of today’s games. “Journey” gives you a simple task: Get to the peak of the mountain. You start in the desert, and as you move toward your ultimate goal you slide through shimmering sand dunes, trudge through snow and fly through the closest thing we may ever know as heaven on earth (sorry, West Virginia). Every level is completely unique from the one that precedes it — a nice change of pace from the usual “clear the area of baddies, then go into the next, identical area, repeat” structure. The levels themselves are also absolutely gorgeous. The artistry of the sand dunes level alone would make Michelangelo blush. What really makes “Journey” such a pure game is that everything you do matters. It takes the familiar “chosen one” trope and gives it real meaning. Games constantly put the fate of their world solely in the hands of the player, which has resulted in
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Gameplay in “Journey” evokes enjoyment through simplicity. an odd kind of narcissism in gamers. The pressure of being the only person with the ability to save the world loses significance after being trotted out so many times, and arrogance has replaced the intended sense of duty. “Journey” does not shy away from this pressure. The music, which, like the design, is utterly breathtaking, helps mount a sense of purpose in your actions. More significantly, the game’s mechanics feed into the triumph of accomplishment, as well as the disappointment of failure. Even if you can only use two buttons and the analog stick, the controls dig deep into your psyche. For example, as you slide through the sand dunes at a breakneck pace, the controller feels like a weightless steering wheel. Conversely, as you slog through the snow in the penultimate level, you press the analog stick forward with full capacity and the controller weighs in your hands like a boulder. When
your character falls to their knees, you genuinely feel like you’ve failed the deity that has been guiding you. Really, “Journey’s” main appeal is its sincerity, which is why it has served as this issue’s inspiration. The game guides you through stages of real emotion that range from confidence to fright and from desolation to euphoria. It gives you a clear objective, and you feel an obligation to reach that objective. You don’t just want to beat the game — you want to succeed for the sake of the mysterious force that has commanded you for this life-affirming quest. At its core, “Journey” represents everything a true game should be: a sense of accomplishment in a world beyond one’s means. Save the princess, catch ’em all, get to the mountain. All in a day’s work. Josh Johnson is arts editor. Email him at jjohnson@nyunews.com.
Penn Badgley discusses music, playing Jeff Buckley By ISABEL JONES
Penn Badgley, perhaps best known for his role as Dan Humphrey on “Gossip Girl,” spoke with WSN at a roundtable interview about his upcoming film, “Greetings from Tim Buckley.” An unconventional biopic, the film chronicles guitarist Jeff Buckley’s life leading up to his father’s tribute concert. After playing “Gossip Girl’s” tortured artist Dan Humphrey for six years, Badgley was able to combine his passions for music and acting in his role. “I was playing my own music and writing my music more than I ever had, while also kind of taking the role on,” he said. “It’s influenced me in a lot of ways. Even ways that are non-musical, as an actor, creatively. It was a really wonderful thing.” For Badgley, the music never stopped. “Music has always been, first and foremost, my creative passion,” he said. Badgley said he might release an album at some point in the future. “Maybe when I’m like 35, or maybe tomorrow, but I just can’t tell you,” he said. The action of “Buckley” flashes between the lives of father and son. Badgley had to familiarize himself with Jeff ’s father as well, and found him in some ways more compelling
than his own character. “I felt like I sort of understood Jeff in a way, I intuited,” he said. “But when I read about Tim, that really gave me the kind of sympathy that Jeff needed to develop for his father, that he is developing for his father. It’s a father-son story, and the relationship between any father and son is a potent one.” Badgley went on to explain his creative process in bringing back to life the iconic character of Jeff Buckley. “I was aware of the qualities he had. I had this mental list — he was sort of feral, and feline, and feminine and kind of agile in a strange way even though he wasn’t athletic,” he said. “I just took those qualities and tried to endow myself with them and evoke them.” Playing a well-established character also had its challenges. Badgley cited the complexities of Buckley’s personality as a significant roadblock. “He could melt into the wall and people would hardly notice he was there, but he also had the ability to shock a room with a single utterance,” Badgley said. “Sometimes I feel like he was just a kid, this ratty kid. Other times I feel like he had no idea what he was doing … and so I would always battle with that.” Isabel Jones is a staff writer. Email her at film@nyunews.com.
ISABEL JONES FOR WSN
Badgley revealed a lifelong love of music before playing Jeff Buckley.
NYU student duo studies by day, DJs by night
By ALEXANDRIA ETHRIDGE
While NYU’s music scene is more typically associated with the indie rock genre, there’s a plethora of students whose tastes are more diverse. Students Nick Kohler and Alex Blanton are a perfect example of just that. By day, the two sophomores attend class — Kohler in Steinhardt and Blanton in Stern — but by the night, the two perform as Electronic Sound Outfit, a techno-dance DJ duo with a serious set of skills. Currently signed to 50/50 Records, the pair recently sat down with our staff for a video interview, which can be viewed
on WSN’s YouTube page. They revealed that they both came from the same town before joining forces within the past year to work shows together. And while you wouldn’t expect two boys from Tennessee to be emulating the likes of David Guetta and Calvin Harris, all doubts vanish upon listening to them play. Kohler elaborated on the challenges of working as a duo in mixing. “Since we are both DJing at the same time with the same equipment, it can be challenging to coordinate with each other,” said Kohler. Our performance has to be flawless, so we have to
be in sync with each other and think like one person.” Their show at M Lounge demonstrated their tight synchronicity, as the two who would either communicate with few words or anticipate what the other would do next. The crowd of young urban dwellers thrived under ESO’s live mixing, which was impressive, even to an untrained ear. Both Kohler and Blanton danced enthusiastically as they worked, often jumping out of the booth to mix with clubgoers before returning to liven the mood even more. When it comes to writing their own music, however, the duo takes a completely different per-
spective. Kohler said, “Composing dance music is a lot like composing a symphony. With a symphony, the composer has to think about all the instruments involved and write parts specifically for them. Dance is the same.” Having played numerous shows this year already, the two have hopes of reaching larger, more prestigious venues, in addition to releasing their own music. Their latest single, “Rvltn,” carried more than enough energy to pump up the crowd later that evening. With such formidable talent in both composing music and mixing it live, it’s hard to imagine that Electronic Sound
Outfit will be anything but successful in years to come. Alexandria Ethridge is music editor. Email her at aethridge@nyunews.com.
RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN
Kohler and Blanton perform as Electronic Sound Outfit.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
DINING
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EDITED BY ANGEL CHANG DINING@NYUNEWS.COM
Barn Joo offers Korean dishes tailor-made for Western palate By DANIEL YEOM
Barn Joo, a new Flatiron gastropub that opened March 4, takes patrons on a guided tour of Korean cuisine with a fresh, Westernized take on traditional Korean food. Sitting on the ground level of Hotel Verite, Barn Joo is located on Broadway between 19th and 20th Streets — just far enough to escape the crazy hustle and bustle of Union Square. The restaurant is minimalistic yet cozy, decorated with sleek wood panels and chandeliers. “Barn Joo is not a typical appetizer-entree-dessert restaurant,” general manager Raymond Park said. “It is based around the concept of tapas.” However, unlike typical small dishes served at a tapas restaurant, the portions offered at Barn Joo are rather large, successfully tackling both quality and quantity. “Barn Joo’s goal is similar to what I’ve been trying to do for a long time,” chef David Lee said. “I’m trying to accomplish Korean flavor, not Korean food, using fresh, local ingredients.” As Lee stated, most of Barn Joo’s dishes are not authentically Korean. But by using traditional ingredients such as doenjang (Korean miso) and gochujang (hot pepper paste), Lee recreates Korean flavor in a less intimidating fashion — a friendly gesture that invites New Yorkers to try Korean food without fear. The restaurant’s rendition of ddukbokki, traditionally defined as rice cakes and vegetables cooked in gochujang, is a perfect example of the understated Korean influence. To accommodate American tastebuds, Lee mixes ground chicken with rice cake bits and shapes it into little balls that resemble meatballs. It is accompanied by a gochujang-based dipping sauce, so customers can adjust the spiciness of the dish. Customer favorites include “Fly the Coop” wings ($13) — fried chicken glazed with garlic-infused soy sauce — and steamed pork belly glazed with Korean miso ($18), served with a refreshing salad made with onion and perilla leaves topped with a soy sauce-based dressing. Barn Joo will soon premiere items such as bai-top shell (sea snail) salad. Alongside small dishes, Barn Joo offers an eclectic mix of innovative and original cocktails such as the bubbly cloud ($12), a champagne-based concoction topped with fluffy cotton candy, and orange blos-
CHUCK KUAN/WSN
Bibimbap is one of Joo’s more traditional dishes. soms ($14), a sweet mixture of cucumber gin and pulpy tangerine juice. “Barn Joo is an entertainment complex,” Lee said. As the restaurant’s slogan “Eat, Drink, Play” suggests, Barn Joo aims to surpass traditional restaurant expectations. In mid-April, Barn Joo will open its underground lounge, equipped with a full bar and stereo system for private events and concerts. GLS freshman Susan Lee said the miso-glazed pork belly from Barn Joo is delicious. “Although everything tastes amazing, pork belly is definitely my favorite,” she said. “That is saying something [because] I don’t even like pork.” In the past, Korean cuisine has been overshadowed by other Asian cuisines like Chinese and Japanese food. However, Barn Joo’s bold attempt at reintroducing Korean flavors will surely go a long way in bringing Korean cuisine to the forefront of the New York City culinary scene. Daniel Yeom is a contributing writer. Email him at dining@nyunews.com.
Joe’s Pizzeria expands family business By UTPALA MENON
From Spider-Man’s alter ego as the restaurant’s delivery boy to Carrie Bradshaw’s sneaky indulgence in its famous pies, Joe’s Pizza has been hailed by many New Yorkers over its 37year existence as a West Village institution. Nearly four decades after its 1975 opening, Joe’s Pizza expanded to include a Union Square branch that opened on March 4 in a joint venture between owner Joe Pozzuoli Sr. and his grandson Sal Vitale. The project was simply a family affair, aimed at carrying the pizzeria’s legacy forward. “Our family is big, and we reckoned that we had a few extra hands who could get involved in the business,” Vitale said. Though the team retained their old staff, the expansion allowed for new additions. Located on 14th Street on the corner of Third Avenue, the new venue replicates the original at 7 Carmine St. — a perfect duplication of its cozy brick walls, glass soda bottle exhibition and framed photos of celebrities. The pizzeria, which replaces former tenant Naked Pizza, also serves its original pies, including the famous mozzarella and spinach, at only $2 a slice. “We believe in putting out four of the best pies from our original recipes and selling fresh pizza on a daily basis,” Vitale said. “It’s the real authentic deal, and we don’t want to change that with new pie formulations.” Because Union Square’s myriad eateries are competitive, Joe’s prospects in the neighborhood initially
seemed questionable. “We had a bit of a soft opening between March 4 and 10,” said Joe Pozzuoli Jr., a member of the family business. Nevertheless, the new branch, which is less than a month old, has markedly proved its potential since beginning full services and delivery options, which started on March 21. “When Joe’s started out in the 1970s, we made about $150 in the first month,” Vitale said. “Now the new venue has about a few hundred [dollars] coming in and out on a daily basis.” A large part of this could be attributed to the venue’s locations near NYU and New School dorms, in addition to studentfriendly prices. “The prices are not marked up, making this attractive to us,” said CAS freshman Anu Raghuram. “One gets tired of the generic stuffed crust pizzas at commercial joints, and Joe’s is probably fresher and more guilt-free than most.” Even though it carries the pizzeria’s authentic legacy, the expansion may threaten to commercialize Joe’s. However, Vitale begs to differ. “We still rotate the same family recipes, staff, even the same delivery boy,” he said. “What makes Joe’s different is that we keep the business in the family, nurturing and valuing the efforts that make it run. We will always promise the original Joe’s that the Village saw in 1975.” Joe’s Pizza is located at 150 E. 14th St. Utpala Menon is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
The Meatball Shop serves comfort food favorites in Chelsea By ALEX PASTRON
From his seat in the basementlevel bar of The Meatball Shop, dubbed Underballs, executive chef and co-owner Daniel Holzman expressed his optimism about the restaurant’s new Chelsea location, which opened in mid-February. “This restaurant has been our most successful opening,” Holzman said, as a constant flow of servers and managers moved in and out of the room. As would be expected from such a successful enterprise, Holzman and his general manager, co-owner and life-long best friend Michael Chernow are no strangers to the restaurant industry. The pair made a very specific choice in starting meatballthemed chain restaurants.
“My partner and I were basically looking for something that would fit into the idea of healthy, inexpensive, comfort food,” Holzman said. “We wan-ted to have a fast-food restaurant based on our generation’s values, so we wanted to use all-natural food, organic meat and local sources, but we also didn’t want to charge a lot of money.” Of their four New York City locations, the Chelsea restaurant is the only one with a liquor license. Designed as a space where customers can wait comfortably and have a drink while tables open up, the bar can also be rented out for parties or dinners. Only one of the locations takes reservations for large parties, so waiting is expected at such a small, hip spot. “[The cocktail list] is an op-
RACHEL KAPLAN/WSN
The Smash sandwich makes for a mouth-watering meal. portunity to showcase American spirits,” Holzman said. “We like to introduce people to the local
brews through specialty cocktails, so we can sell a lot of them and support the local manufacturers.” NYU freshman Tori Holbrook is excited about the new opening. “While the location is a little far from campus, there are a lot of attractions over there, so you can have a casual, fun and really good dinner before going out,” she said. Holbrook recommends the Smash — a warm sandwich with spicy pork balls, hot meat sauce and mozzarella cheese served on a toasted brioche bun. She calls it good comfort food that is not too heavy. The Meatball Shop is known for its unique ordering style, as customers use a dry-erase marker to check off boxes on the laminated menu to select
their meal. The full selection of meatballs includes classic beef, chicken, pork, vegetable and the daily special. One particularly memorable special, the cordon bleu balls with chicken, ham and Swiss cheese, is best described by its menu caption as “frustratingly good,” especially when paired with the Parmesan cream sauce. While this location is still settling in, Holzman and Chernow are already opening another location on the Upper East Side. From the ordering style to the comfortable yet classy atmosphere to the house-made iced tea and the meatballs, the restaurant certainly offers an incredibly unique dining experience. Alex Pastron is a contributing writer. Email her at dining@nyunews.com.
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WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS | SPRING 2013 | NYUNEWS.COM
FEATURES
5
P O T
New York City’s hidden attractions
SECTION OF THE BERLIN WALL 520 Madison Ave. It’s a piece of world history, and you don’t have to travel to Germany to see a part of the Berlin Wall. In a courtyard near an office building on Madison Avenue, there are five panels of the famed wall by cafe tables where one can sit and observe. The panels display the work of French artist Thierry Noir, who painted sections of the wall in 1989.
THE PANORAMA AT THE QUEENS MUSEUM OF ART New York City Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens, NY Have a visitor in town who wants to see every last bit of the city? The Queens Museum of Art has you covered. It contains a 9,335-square-foot scale model of New York City that was built by Robert Moses for the 1964 World’s Fair and contains all five boroughs.
By KEERTHI HARISHANKAR The Statue of Liberty reopened for visitors and tourists on July 4, which will attract thousands of people from around the world to New York. To avoid the rush, check out these hidden gems to develop a richer sense of the city.
KOREATOWN West 31st through West 33rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues Everyone knows Chinatown, but another Asian enclave that’s well worth the visit is Koreatown near Herald Square. Try out a classic Korean dish like bibimbap, purchase some authentic stationery and then sing the night away at one of Koreatown’s many karaoke clubs.
UPRIGHT CITIZENS BRIGADE 307 W. 26th St and 153 E. Third St. United Citizen’s Brigade is an improvisational theater that hosts some of New York City’s finest comedy shows — one of the founders of the theater is none other than Amy Poehler. There are shows every day of the week in their Chelsea and East Village locations, and with tickets as low as $5, UCB is much more affordable than a Broadway show.
BROOKLYN FLEA MARKET 176 Lafayette Ave. and East River State Park Now that it is spring, your guests from home will surely want to spend their time outside enjoying the warm weather. Why not take a trip to the seasonal Brooklyn Flea Market that features over 250 vendors? From dresses and jewelry to vintage bikes and house ware, — you’ll find something one of a kind.
Keerthi Harishankar is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
Inside the storm: A nurse’s heroic rescue mission
By KRISTINA BOGOS
Monday, Oct. 29, was a normal night for NYU Langone Medical Center transport nurse Menchu Sanchez, even as hurricane-force winds funneled through the streets and 12-foot waves from the East River crashed against Manhattan’s coastline. At 8 p.m., when lights went out after the hospital’s back-up generator failed, Sanchez and medical staff were at a crossroads. During a two-hour deliberation on how to transport the sickest baby in the hospital, a premature and ventilated infant with a rotten bowel, a confident nurse just shy of five feet tall took the lead. “I told the doctors, ‘Can I hold the baby [on the way] down, I’m going to hold the baby down,’” Sanchez said. “They said, ‘No we cannot do that because it’s not allowed, that’s not the protocol.’ But then I said … ‘This is the only way we can bring the baby down safely and effectively.’” Around 10 p.m., with several staff members, Sanchez began the descent down nine flights of stairs in total darkness with the baby cradled in her arms. While sirens sounded outside and weird smells permeated the stairwell air, medical doctor Hannaise
Cruz pumped the baby’s oxygen bag while Dr. Martha Caprio recorded the baby’s breaths. Nurse manager of the 9 East Pediatrics unit Gail Geraghty walked down backwards to guide the team while medical students lined the stairwell with cell phones and flashlights to light the way. “My other hand was looking for a way to walk because I wanted to balance myself and feel secure,” Sanchez said. “I’m thinking, if just one step that I miss, it’s going to mess up everything else because I have the baby with me.” Sanchez made four trips that night, carefully moving ventilated babies and babies on feeder growers to nearby hospitals including Mount Sinai and St. Luke’s. Ambulance crews drove from Ohio and Chicago to assist during the storm, surviving on nothing but chips and crackers from vending machines. It wasn’t until the babies were placed in the arms of staff members at other hospitals and hooked to machines with power that Sanchez knew they were safe. “She stands out as a leader,” Geraghty said. “Where someone else would have shied away from taking that responsibility, she was ready to go and wanted to be a part of it.” Sanchez’s heroism that October night immediately caught
the eye of President Barack Obama. On Tuesday, Feb. 12, she was invited to attend the 2013 State of the Union address for exemplifying American ideals of heroism. Addressing the need to end gun violence and the duty for Americans to look out for each other, Obama urged citizens to follow her lead. “We should follow the example of a New York City nurse named Menchu Sanchez,” said President Barack Obama at his 2013 State of the Union address. “When Hurricane Sandy plunged her hospital into darkness, she wasn’t thinking about how her own home was faring. Her mind was on the 20 precious newborns in her care and the rescue plan she devised that kept them all safe.” As Obama spoke her name to millions of Americans, Sanchez, who was seated between Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden at the Capitol building, couldn’t feel anything but bliss. When the First Lady nudged and smiled down at her as the president said her name, Sanchez nudged and smiled back. “My heart was so overwhelmed … I am so, so happy,” Sanchez said. “I did not realize he would give me that kind of mention. This is not just for me, it’s for the nurse [staff ] as a whole.”
KRISTINA BOGOS FOR WSN
Sanchez worked to save 20 infants during Hurricane Sandy. The display of creativity by the entire medical staff that night gave Sanchez and her fellow nurses the confidence they needed to transport 20 at-risk infants to safety. Out of her nurse’s uniform, Sanchez displays the same perseverance she exudes at work with her own two kids. “She’s outstanding,” said Judith Sanchez, Menchu’s husband. “I am like the third child … [She] helps the kids grow up the right way.” Even though she describes her home in Secaucus, N.J., as a pig-
pen, a space with an unlivable first floor due to mass flooding that ruined her home, she says her life hasn’t changed. “What had happened is probably meant to happen because … it’s just a regular thing to us. It happens everyday, saving lives,” Sanchez said. “This, being a hero, is in everybody’s heart, everybody can be a hero by just doing what is supposed to be done.” Kristina Bogos is features editor. Email her at kbogos@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
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EDITED BY KRISTINA BOGOS FEATURES@NYUNEWS.COM
Director Ang Lee discusses his early career at NYU
By JONATHAN KESHISHOGLOU
It’s hard to imagine that threetime Academy Award-winning director Ang Lee was living through development hell back in the ’80s, unemployed and living in the suburbs. Fresh out of the graduate film program at the Tisch School of the Arts, Lee was living with his wife, Jane Lin, when an agent in Taiwan saw “Pushing Hands,” one of his student films, and signed him. “I lived in the suburbs, my wife worked as a researcher in a medical college … life was a little tough,” Lee said. “From time to time I pitched my project, [hoping] something might happen … it’s a typical development hell life.” Over 20 years later, Lee has three Oscars under his belt. At the 85th Academy Awards on Feb. 24, Lee won Best Director for his cinematic masterpiece, “Life of Pi.” In 2005, Lee won Best Director for “Brokeback Mountain,” and in 2000 he won Best Foreign Language Film for “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.” It was during his time inside the classroom, however, when
he really learned the ropes and honed his skill as a director. “I really like the film school,” Lee said. “It’s a very working-oriented kind of program. You get to go out and make movies with your pals and classmates, and you help each other out, both in production and also post-production, or criticizing.” While Lee studied in his small class of about 35 students, some of his peers, like fellow director Spike Lee, grew to become very successful. Spike Lee graduated in 1982 and is currently a professor of directing strategies at Tisch’s Kanbar Institute of Film and Television. Fellow classmate director Ernest Dickerson, mastermind behind “The Walking Dead” and “Dexter,” also seemed to sprint ahead. In 1982, the trio collaborated with each other for Spike Lee’s senior thesis film, “Joe’s BedStuy Barbershop: We Cut Heads.” Ang Lee worked as the assistant director while Dickerson was the film’s cinematographer. “I think our training as filmmakers is pretty confluent, you have an overall view, you know something about every aspect,”
Ang Lee said. “As a director, that’s a great advantage in the professional world.” Spike Lee is a talented writer who writes decisively, said Ang Lee, and whose work put him ahead of his time. The two directors still keep in contact. In early March, Ang Lee made a visit to Spike Lee’s class at Tisch. Spike Lee spoke warmly of his erstwhile collaborator. “Much love and respect to my friend and classmate … Mr. Ang Lee,” he said. Roberta Hodes, a retired Tisch professor, taught Ang Lee in her basic production class. Lee remembers his professor as stern but very influential in his early career, while Hodes described Lee as a student with a good sense of humor who was very intense in her basic production class. “He lived in an attic someplace in the East Village, and over his head, there was a sign,” Hodes said. “The first thing he saw when he woke up in the morning was ‘Learn English.’” These days, Lee is making a variety of well-received films, from action movies and dramas to his most recent philosophical ven-
Steinhardt senior drums up with Afrobeat indie band By UTPALA MENON
When talking with Steinhardt senior Miles Arntzen in his quaint West Village studio, one would barely expect him to be living a hectic life full of band practices and tours while juggling a rigorous course load. With several concerts scheduled in the next month, Arntzen, who believes in bringing people together through music, seems to be enjoying every bit of the rush. Arntzen, a jazz studies major, is back for his last spring semester at NYU after months touring both nationally and overseas. He plays drums in the Brooklyn-based band Antibalas, and he is a member of the afro-beat indie band Superhuman Happiness. He is currently scheduled to play in venues including the Bowery Electric and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In June 2011 Arntzen launched the Music Frees All Festival, a music festival that aims to bring people together through dance music. He has high hopes for this summer’s festival, which will take place from July 19 to 21 in Manhattan. “So often you go to a venue, [and it’s] like a machine. You do what you are supposed to do, exchange money and then you are out. That kind of de-
UTPALA MENON FOR WSN
Arntzen has performed in both America and overseas. feats the purpose of the whole thing,” Arntzen said. “A venue that makes you feel like you are at home, where there is a mutual respect, is really it.” Arntzen, who has been involved with the Antibalas and Stuart Bogie’s project Superhuman Happiness for over three years, has also created his own funk band, EMEFE. “My musical idols are really the people that I play music with on a daily basis,” he said. “Before joining Antibalas, I looked up to them as the fathers of this Afrobeat genre. Also, the people in EMEFE have stuck with the band for four years … it really is a community between the three bands.” The versatile drummer, who also plays the bass guitar and
keyboard, attributes his instrumental fervor to his musical family. His father, Leif Arntzen, a renowned trumpeter, spoke fondly of his son’s musical talent. “When I first heard him hit with EMEFE and their new songs in those early performances, I knew he was doing something that he truly felt at home with, relaxed and swinging [with] those rock infused Afrobeat,” Leif Arntzen said. “He’s experimenting all the time, seeing what makes his audience tick, what moves the band forward musically.” Lenny Pickett, musical director for “Saturday Night Live” and current Steinhardt saxophone faculty member, is one of Arntzen’s former professors. He sees promise in the musician. “He takes his drumming very seriously and was already an accomplished player before he attended NYU,” Pickett said. Even after he graduates, Arntzen will continue to spread the message that music is all about community. “I hope to be someone who facilitates the making of music, who brings people together through it,” Arntzen said. Utpala Menon is a staff writer. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
ture — and his most expensive film to date — “Life of Pi.” Even though the original story by Yann Martel was deemed impossible to film, Lee took the themes and story of the book and, using visual effects and a lot of CGI, made the film believable. “To me, it’s almost like a Western. A boy and a tiger. It’s fit in a small space, but actually it’s the ocean, it’s a big backdrop much like the West,” Lee said. “So it’s very dramatic and very poetic, and it’s philosophical … I like the challenge.” Mary Schmidt Campbell, dean of the Tisch School of the Arts and a good friend of Lee’s, views the director as an inspiration for film students and others wishing to achieve a dream. “Ang Lee is the living embodiment of the kind of artist Tisch strives to create. He has demonstrated the ability to retain the most intimate connection to emotions and human feeling in a range of genres,” Campbell said. “Never content to rest on his laurels, he has been fearless in pushing the boundaries of cinema and its expressive possibilities.” While Lee believes there is no
set advice for aspiring filmmakers — and what works for one person may not work for another — he places emphasis on the importance of writing and asking for feedback. “School’s not the end of learning, it’s just the beginning,” Lee said. “You learn throughout your career, you’re always learning.” Jonathan Keshishoglou is a deputy features editor. Email him at jkesh@nyunews.com.
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Ang Lee studied in the Tisch graduate film program.
Fitness Finds: Trapeze training
By ALENA HALL
For many, spring is a time of overwhelming work schedules and daydreams of summer vacation. Exercise routines often take a backseat, but squeezing in a little “me time” can go a long way toward rebooting the mind, relieving stress and renewing inspiration. Take a couple of hours this week to consider the world from a new perspective and accept a unique mental and physical challenge at one of New York City’s outdoor flying trapeze schools. Flying trapeze is no longer an activity enjoyed only by circus performers and gymnasts. Facilities like Trapeze School New York make it accessible to any brave soul in the metropolitan area. The sport leaves even the fittest athletes sore after their first flying lesson. Like yoga and pilates classes, trapeze sessions challenge every abdominal and back muscle of the body’s core as flyers stabilize their bodies and control each minor movement when they shift from one position to another. The arms and shoulders share in the workout as well, connecting the body to the swinging bar and supporting the flyer as he or she leaps from the raised platform into the air. Regardless of the workout factor, the most compelling part of flying trapeze is the adrenaline rush that continuously floods the body during the two-hour long lesson. It is as much about the mental challenge as it is the physical one. Learning to
trust your body and its abilities, relinquishing control as you soar through the air and taking in the world around you from an entirely different vantage point develops strength far more useful in life than activities like power-lifting in a gym ever could. TSNY operates two outdoor trapeze school locations in Manhattan, challenging artists, athletes and adrenaline junkies alike to test their personal limits and learn how to fly. Trapeze students take in iconic views of New York City from Pier 40 near Hudson River Park, a site just a short walk from the heart of the NYU campus, to Pier 16 at the South Street Seaport. Professionals teach classes with a 10-person limit in state-of-the-art facilities and keep the experience as safe, hands-on and interactive as possible. If the idea of abandoning solid ground for two hours still leaves you more anxious than excited, opt for a trampoline class instead. Focusing on flips rather than flying will enable a participant to improve body awareness, challenge core muscles and work on timing for tricks that will come in handy when giving the trapeze a whirl. Flying trapeze classes last for two hours and range from $50 to $70. Introductory and beginner trampoline classes last 60 to 90 minutes and cost $35, and intermediate classes cost $65. Alena Hall is a contributing columnist. Email her at features@nyunews.com.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
BEAUTY AND STYLE
EDITED BY MICHELLE LIM BSTYLE@NYUNEWS.COM
WHAT’S IN YOUR CLOSET? By ARIANA DIVALENTINO You have probably seen her around campus: the girl with the pleather spiky backpack, clothing in bright colors or busy patterns and any one of her bright and brash accompanying wigs. “Loud” seems to be the defining word for Leor Freedman’s wardrobe and personality. A freshman in Gallatin studying performing arts and computer science, Leor is known for being boldly outspoken and whip-smart. When asked about her favorite article of clothing, Leor had trouble deciding: “I don’t wear anything unless it’s my favorite.” Ranking high on her list are the googly-eye shirt she made herself, the black-andwhite star-covered cardigan she calls a “stardigan” and the black skirt full of slits she acquired at a clothing swap. Ask her how she would describe her style — she already has a name for it: “TackyFemme ClownPunk.” Fittingly, Leor has recently discovered NYU’s circus club, Violet Circus Arts, the latest of her memberships. Last semes-
ter she was a member of the Tisch All-University Drama Cantorum, and is on the hunt for her next chance on stage. “I really want to do some musical theater,” she said. “I’m itching for it now. I did the school musical all four years of high school, so after a semester of not doing one, I’m ready to be in another show.” Leor is a also a member of the Gallatin Coloring Club, as one may expect from someone who enjoys juxtaposing black, white and neons. Art is a major component of Leor’s style — she can be seen with hand-drawn graphic makeup design around her eyes. She has several personalized clothing pieces, like the “art pants” her friends have taken turns drawing on. Despite her crazy fashion sense, Leor is very serious about certain things, namely feminism and LGBTQ issues. “People think that you’re just trying to prove yourself as an educated, politically correct citizen,” she said. “But it’s honestly just about not being a jerk and creating a world that is livable and comfortable
for as many people as possible. It’s about acknowledging that a lot of the nice things you have in your life come from the oppression of others.” Leor will be the first person to point out when something is based on a harmful social construct and will always encourage her friends to never be ashamed of who they are. Leor’s wardrobe is not so
much a component of her personality as a manifestation of it. The rainbow pants, polka-dot Doc Martens and black lacy fascinator serve to complement her intelligence, creativity, big heart and talent for puns. Ariana DiValentino is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
Whether you’re having a bad hair day or trying to make a fashion statement, a snapback can add a retro punch to any look. With roots in the mid-1900s, this hat style is making a comeback, and it looks like it’s here to stay. The snapback originated with the baseball cap. Worn by players for the obvious reason of keeping the sun out of their eyes, this style of hat grew popular with fans looking to emulate star players. Its characteristic style is denoted by the snap fastener on the back, which can be adjusted to the size of the wearer’s head. However, over time, the shape of the brim has changed from rounded to flat and its purpose as strictly athletic-wear
Enjoy hair color without commitment By SANJANA KUCHERIA
Chalk is no longer just for sidewalk art. A recent hairstyle trend is incorporating colorful pastel chalks that add flair to a normal hairdo. With summer in full swing, bright colors are back for the next several months, and chalking can create a look similar to poppy hair dye without the commitment. It’s a fast and easy way to temporarily add color to your hair. Here are some helpful tips and advice before you start chalking. HAIR COLOR If you have blond hair or blond tips, do not apply the chalk on wet hair. There is a high possibility that the color will function similarly to dyes that only last for a few washes. On the contrary, if you have darker hair, you need water to double the pigment and highlight the colors. For a better finish, twist your hair as you chalk. Turning strands of hair chalk allows the color to spread better over your locks.
COURTESY OF TANNER NELSON
Leor Freedman infuses her wardrobe with color.
Snapbacks add retro flare to any outfit By NICOLE PUGLISE
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has evolved into casual dress. Snapbacks have remained in constant production since their creation, but their popularity in casual dress has since waned. They re-emerged starting in the early ’90s among rappers such as Tupac Shakur and Ice T. These musicians began the process of redefining the snapback, from a functional accessory to a symbol of the hip-hop generation and fashion statement. Today, rappers like Mac Miller, Big Sean and Jay-Z are known for wearing snapbacks. The hat style has also been featured in many songs, such as Chris Brown and Tyga’s “Snapbacks Back,” Mac Miller’s “Snap Back” or “Wear My Hat” and Driicky Graham’s “Snapbacks & Tattoos.”
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Whatever your style, a smart snapback can help elevate your ensemble.
As GLS freshman and Australian native River Anton said, “I’ve been wearing them all my life, even as a kid.” A simple addition to any outfit, it’s easy to see how snapbacks have remained a part of popular culture for such a long time. “I usually wear them with anything,” Anton said. While Anton usually orders his snapbacks online, the hats can be found for good prices in stores such as Zumiez, Lids or even department stores such as Macy’s and Nordstrom. Even though many wear hats to represent their favorite sports team, non-sports affiliated brands are Obey, Diamond Supply Co. and Supreme. “There’s this whole world of snapback rules,” LSP freshman Elise Traywick said. “It’s got to be tilted to the side or to the back. It can never just be straight on.” However, both men and women, regardless of their personal sense of style, can incorporate this timeless piece in their outfit. For men, it can be paired with a simple tee and jeans, flannel or hoodie. For women, it can be a way to dress down a girly look, adding a hiphop and skater edge. Style it with a military jacket and combat boots to add personality to an otherwise plain look. Anton admits that “[he’s] not necessarily fashion conscious,” but the choice to wear a snapback is an easy way to ensure that he will always look good. Nicole Puglise is a contributing writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
BRAND NAME Although people might tell you otherwise, never use regular sidewalk chalk. Getting the color to stick to your hair is nearly impossible. One of the most trusted hair chalk brands is Sennelier’s soft pastels, which can be found in most art stores ($40 for a set of 12). Whichever brand you use, keep in mind that the colors can stain your clothes during the day, so it’s best to wear something close to the color of the chalk you wear. SHOWER PROCEDURE Before showering, brush your hair thoroughly. Try to get out as much of the chalk as possible before the wash to save time in the shower. Shampoo your hair with a clarifying shampoo after chalking. Conditioning afterward is a necessity, as it helps replenish the moisture that might have been lost. Most of all, chalk sparingly. Brights are wonderful, and even though the brand Sennelier uses pure pigments mixed with minimal amounts of natural binders, at the end of the day, you’re using powerful pigment on your hair. This can remove the natural moisture. Make sure your hair enjoys downtime in between major chalking sessions. Sanjana Kucheria is a staff writer. Email her at bstyle@nyunews.com.
MICHELLE LIM FOR WSN
Chalk adds unique color to your hair.
TIPS:
Compiled by THE WSN STAFF
THINGS I WISH I KNEW BEFORE COMING TO NYU
Don’t be afraid to approach professors, whether it’s in a huge lecture hall or in a tiny seminar. Take advantage of their office hours.
Keep an open mind. You’ll find friends in the most unlikely of places. NYU is a huge community of over 40,000, and yes that means that you can get lost and lonely sometimes, but it also means you have 40,000 chances to find some of the best friends you’ll ever make.
Make sure to take advantage of all of your free printing privileges. Some individual schools even offer extra free pages for printing.
Dining dollars roll over from fall to spring, so don’t rush to spend them all before winter break.
Figure out how your schedule works best for you. Don’t take a morning class if you’re a night person. If you need to write your paper two weeks in advance, block out time every day to write.
Become friends with the building security guards.
While acclimating to life in New York City and at NYU can seem intimidating, it will actually be one of the most exciting times in your life. And knowing a few tricks will help make the transition into freshman year a breeze. Here are a few tips from the WSN staff to help you through your first months.
Leave your door open in your residence hall. Invite people in. You never know how these people come back into your life.
Explore the city beyond Washington Square Park and Union Square Park. Go read in a park after class. Attend a book reading. You’ll have time to intern and worry about jobs later.
NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
SPORTS
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EDITED BY MARY JANE DUMANKAYA SPORTS@NYUNEWS.COM
NYU Ping-Pong team leaves mark on New York circuit By SEBASTIEN VAN HEYNINGEN
Is it table tennis or Ping-Pong? NYU captain Kenneth Lim doesn’t really care, and his team is too good for it to matter. This year, the NYU table tennis team swept all of the regional titles. The NYU table tennis team, founded in 2006, competes in the Downtown NYC Division and the Northeast Region of the National Collegiate Table Tennis Association. The table tennis season starts in early September and ends in May with two divisional tournaments, one in fall and one in spring. If the team does well, they qualify for the regional championship and perhaps even the national championship. Table tennis has become an established club team at NYU with weekly practices held at King Pong in SoHo. The head coach for NYU is Vivian Hiroka Ooka, a former national junior champion in China and a former Japanese National Team member. CAS junior Lim joined the team as a freshman in 2010 and became a captain the next year. “There’s not a big athletics culture at our school, but we’re hoping to change that by doing well,” Lim said. The NYU table tennis team is split up into a men’s A and B team, as well as a women’s team. The women’s team and the men’s A team compete in the NCTTA. Both squads hold tryouts at the beginning of each semester and, like all sports, experience is a plus, but those
COURTESY OF NYU ATHLETICS
NYU’s men and women’s teams won the regional tournament championship.
without a background in table tennis do not need to worry. “I’d love to take in everyone who’s interested in table tennis,” Lim said. He added that the team is always looking for “people who love and enjoy table tennis, desire to improve and are committed to the team.” NYU competes regularly against schools such as Princeton University, Harvard University and cross-town rival Columbia University. Kenneth pegs Columbia as NYU’s main rival. “I’m happy to say we’re on a 2-0 streak … winning the past two Downtown Divisional titles,” Lim said. NYU men and women’s teams won the Downtown NYC Division, with Stern senior Sandra Go named the women’s champion and Stern freshman Michael Landers the men’s champion. NYU also won both the men’s and women’s championships at the 2013 NCTTA Northeast Regional Championships on Feb. 23, held at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Landers was the 2013 NCTAA men’s singles regional champion. Both NYU teams qualified for the NCTTA National Championships, held in Rockford, Ill. from April 11 to 14. The NYU women’s team finished third with a victory over Cornell University 3-2. NYU’s co-ed team finished 19 of 24 teams. Texas Wesleyan University swept both the men and women’s championship. Go and Landers both made it to the quarterfinals at nationals for women’s singles and men’s singles, respectively. Landers was the 2009 National Table Tennis Champion and recently made a bid for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team. NYU table tennis is yet another sparkling example of NYU students excelling in their respective fields while building lifelong connections with their peers. The best illustration of this sentiment came when Lim discussed his pre-game rituals. “I make it a point to always do a group huddle before the tournament starts,” he said. “We have a great team with a great team spirit, and I want to make sure both my players and our opponents remember that.” Sebastien Van Heyningen is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Scandals cause fans to question athletes By NISHAAD RUPAREL
Athletes are our heroes — they have the perseverance to endure adversity, the passion and drive to claim success and the grace to do it all with an air of effortlessness. We love them because we think they represent what we aspire to be. In recent years, however, it has become increasingly necessary to question this assumption. It has become clear that most athletes aren’t who they appear to be during the peak of competition. It seems almost foreign now, but there was once a time when people thought Tiger Woods could do no wrong. There was a point in his career when Woods could charm audiences with his signature smile, and then proceed to ruthlessly cut through the competition on the way to the top of the leaderboard. We loved him for it. Then, his success collapsed in an instant — we found out that Woods, the man who we thought stood for wholesome character and fierce competition, was committing adultery. The same is true for Lance Armstrong. We wanted to believe he recovered from cancer and won seven consecutive Tour De France titles without the help of any performance enhancing drugs. We bought into his charade, and how can anyone blame us? Who wouldn’t love a decorated athlete-turned-philanthropist with a mission to cure cancer and raise health awareness? Then the truth was exposed, and all his fans hung their heads in disappointment and shame. In a cold and unapologetic interview with Oprah Winfrey, Armstrong confessed that he had cheated the sport and deceived his fans. Not only that, but Armstrong went to great lengths to preserve his facade. He destroyed families who were bound by law to confess what they knew about his involvement with drugs, and then, out of pure panic, he established the philanthropic organization Livestrong, which became his legacy. Now, our faith in athletes as paragons
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Tiger Woods is only one of several athletes to lose support from fans. of human character has taken a turn for the worse. Recently, inside his home in South Africa, paraplegic Olympian sprinter Oscar Pistorius allegedly murdered his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp. Just months ago, Pistorius was lauded for his character and success. He has won six Paralympic Gold Medals in sprinting, and was the only Paralympic sprinter to compete against a group of able-bodied men in the Olympic games. Pistorius’s story garnered him respect from countrymen and fans and recognition from sponsors. He was honored with the privilege of carrying the South African flag during the closing ceremonies, and he has since gained endorsements from Oakley and Nike. Fans and companies were able to connect with the story of a man they thought they knew, a man who is now an alleged murderer. The stories of these three great athletes illustrate a distinction between excellence in competition and excellence in character, if nothing else. They encourage fans to ponder whether we should we support success on the stage of athletic competition, or endorse responsibility and character off the field. The distinction has become clearer than ever. Nishaad Ruparel is a staff writer. Email him at sports@nyunews.com.
Playing ball: University rugby team rises in popularity By FRANCISCO NAVAS
Rugby football, a game of elegance and aggression, originated in the early 19th century and is played worldwide. The same basic rules apply to rugby union and rugby league, two distinctive forms of rugby: get the ball over the line for a 5-point try. Started in 1996 by a group of Stern students and later combined with other NYU graduate schools, the Stern Rugby Football Club kicked off competitive rugby play in NYU. Since then, the NYU rugby scene has been steadily growing as interest expands. After years of being only adjuncts to the graduate team, Old Violet — led by senior and team captain
Yuriy Trimba, and until recently coached by SCPS graduate student Gary McCormick — has been trying to organize its team of undergraduates to become an official school club. It continues to seek members. Playing officially as a sevens team — a truncated form of rugby with seven players on each team instead of 12 or 15 — since the 2012 spring semester, the men completed their first tournament in late November of that year, where they were knocked off in the semi-finals by a stiff Canadian side. “We finally got to play undergrads … and got a taste of real college rugby. It was also a fun experience to be the sole leader on the field,” said Trimba, who usually shares his
captain duties with a graduate student when they play joint 15s, rugby with 15 players. Old Violet is comprised of players of a range of skill levels. “Most guys on the team who are undergraduates usually start out in college,” said Trimba, describing sophomore fly-half Hubert Chan. “He actually played for their [Hong Kong] national under [a] 14s team before moving to the United States and he picked it up again in college.” Losing volunteer coach Gary McCormick last week was a blow to the team, but Trimba is grateful for the work McCormick put in. “Really solid guy, taught us a lot about rugby and our team became so much better because of him,” said Trimba.
An old English proverb says, “Rugby is a game of scoundrels played by gentlemen,” but on the pitch the rugby team, Old Violet, look like stallions. Despite losing 35-3 in their semi-annual rivalry game “The Gotham Cup” against Columbia’s team Old Blue, Old Violet played a vicious defensive game in the second half. “Although their forwards were really big, we weren’t afraid to get in and get the tackle … it was a tough game,” said prop Kiyoshi Atkins. “Our presence wasn’t there [in the first half ]. We needed to wake up,” said Chan. Francisco Navas is deputy sports editor. Email him at fnavas@nyunews.com.
JEREMY STEBENS FOR WSN
NYU rugby players race across the field in heated competition.
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For answers, call 1-900-285-5656, $1.49 a minute; or, with a credit card, 1-800-814-5554. Annual subscriptions are available for the best of Sunday crosswords from the last 50 years: 1-888-7-ACROSS. AT&T users: Text NYTX to 386 to download puzzles, or visit nytimes.com/mobilexword for more information. Online subscriptions: Today’s puzzle and more than 2,000 past puzzles, nytimes.com/crosswords ($39.95 a year). Share tips: nytimes.com/wordplay. Crosswords for young solvers: nytimes.com/learning/xwords.
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NYUNEWS.COM | SPRING 2013 | WASHINGTON SQUARE NEWS
OPINION
EDITED BY SAMEER JAYWANT OPINION@NYUNEWS.COM
SPACE
Countries must unite to explore universe By MARCELO CICCONET
Lovers residing in New York City have plenty of options to spend time together, but lying on the grass of Central Park to admire the sky doesn’t sound like an interesting idea. There’s almost nothing to be seen, for the sky is “shadowed” by the city lights. Geeky lovers will disagree, though: on certain days, the International Space Station is visible to the naked eye. The ISS may not seem like the most astounding of modern engineering achievements, in light of the Apollo Program or the cinematographic landing of a car-sized robot on the surface of Mars. However, once we consider the nontechnical aspects involved, the orbiting microgravity lab is an unparalleled achievement in comparison. It is the product of a collaborative effort between nations — an approach to nature exploration and scientific pursuit that nurtures hope in the future of our species. Despite the success of this international effort, nationalistic and militaristic arguments still prevail as driving forces in the development of the required technologies, as exemplified by the high level of propaganda surrounding
the recent rocket launches by Iran and North Korea. The fact that Western politicians reacted with fear to those countries aiming to develop ballistic missiles shows the problem is not one-sided. Not surprisingly, those fears were not mentioned when South Korea conducted its own satellite launch shortly after its enemy to the north did so. It can be argued that this is not a percountry competition. Rather, it is a race between the West and the East — reminiscent of Cold War dynamics. However, there is some evidence against this notion: Besides the ISS example, the United States currently relies on Russian rockets to send astronauts to space, and NASA’s next-generation spacecraft will have a service module built by the European Space Agency. Nevertheless, such collaboration is not seen among non-Western countries.
For instance, there is no obvious alignment between Iran and North Korea, and China wants to be self-sufficient as well, even though they started out with help from Russia. Besides, there is high competition among Western countries, including private companies such as SpaceX, which is in the high-profile market of satellite launching. Additionally, Russia, Europe, China and India are working to have their own constellation of satellites for location purposes, aiming for independence from the GPS system, which is maintained by the United States. With a few exceptions, the state of affairs in space exploration still resembles the first-come-first-served mentality of the Age of Discovery. Even though that is an expected approach, such behavior is childish. Countries whose authorities see rockets mostly as ads for nationalist pride notwithstanding, developed democratic nations should at least invest in less provincial and more collaborative approaches now that their own phase of selfish, exhibitionist muscle-flexing is in the past. Marcelo Cicconet is a staff columnist. Email him at opinion@nyunews.com.
GUN CONTROL
Gun control requires bipartisan support By RAQUEL WOODRUFF
I feel like I’m beating a dead horse when it comes to discussing gun control. But I’m afraid if I stop beating it, the dead horse will soon be forgotten. Congressional Democrats should also continue to make sure gun control is still part of the national consciousness after the Senate failed to pass a bill that would have expanded background checks to gun shows and Internet sales. These were not dramatic steps. These weren’t even moderate steps. These were basic steps toward sensible gun control. So where is the disconnect in Congress? Well, our senators are up for re-election in 2014, so regretfully, appeasing constituents and a money-hungry gun lobby take priority over the welfare and public opinion of the American people. Little surprise that the four Democrats who voted against background checks hail from deeply conservative states like North Dakota, Alaska, Arkansas and Montana. College students should be particularly adamant about this issue because gun violence has taken the greatest toll on youth. Out of the 23
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wealthiest nations in the world, the United States alone accounts for 87 percent of children killed by guns. A recent Pew poll showed that 60 percent of Americans between the ages of 18 and 30 support tough gun reform, but that doesn’t mean they are anti-gun. In fact, a new national poll conducted by American University found that 60 percent of high school and college students consider purchasing a gun at some point in their lives. The university’s research also showed that 50 percent of those who identify themselves as “depressed” or having “difficulty making friends” expressed interest in purchasing a firearm. With these statistics, we should be pushing more than ever for stricter regulation of guns — or should I say regulation, period. Gun rights advocates seem to argue
that each tragedy is another reason to do nothing. More than 80 percent of Americans support background checks, yet the big pockets and big voices are on the side of NRA-backers. Unfortunately, unless Democrats somehow manage to steal 20 House seats in 2014, I don’t see meaningful legislation passing in the near future. But this is no reason to back down. College students need to make this a top-priority voting issue. School shootings have been at the forefront of the gun control debate, and Republican legislators’ only solutions are more guns in schools and the allowance of concealed weapons on campuses. We don’t want to continue growing up in a world of gun violence. Just as the majority of congressional Republicans refuse time and time again to compromise on common sense gun reform measures, gun control supporters should not concede to anything less than safety laws that will protect the American people and the generations to come. Raquel Woodruff is a deputy opinion editor. Email her at rwoodruff@nyunews.com.
STAFF EDITORIAL
NYU Secrets fills need for community
For all of the NYU students who constantly bemoan the lack of community at our university, it appears NYU Secrets has become our solution, for better or for worse. The Facebook page, which has now garnered over 10,000 likes, is a stream of anonymous posts by its administrator, an NYU student who holds an incredible cache of often embarrassing secrets about our student body. If somebody has a burning passion to broadcast which NYU building they recently fornicated in or a sordid tale about roommate indiscretions, they can email or message the NYU Secrets page and have it made public in 24 hours, identified only by a number. However, whether this “community” page is ultimately beneficial remains to be seen. The attention that NYU Secrets has garnered is unparalleled compared to other similar pages. Take a look at Columbia Secrets — as of press time, it has a mere 47 likes (take that, Columbia). But Columbia has an enclosed campus and a smaller student body in a smaller area, naturally generating a strong and cohesive community. Comparatively, NYU’s geography is far less conducive to the same kind of community, and thus it’s not surprising that we’ve turned to an online forum to foster it. Obviously, a wall of anonymity implies that those who post to NYU Secrets have no obligation to abide by the truth. The service runs on the Internet after all, and besides, the recent “Reply All” episode has shed some light on how NYU students feel about capitalizing on comedic opportunities. Thus, the page at large could be seen as a great opportunity for the aspiring comedian to exercise his craft. As a consequence, the content tends to strengthen the stereotypes about sex and drugs that seem to define collegiate life. It may be disconcerting that NYU students have found the strongest sense of community not in a physical, tangible place but through an online, faceless forum. Nonetheless, it does not change the truth that NYU Secrets brings us together as we laugh over our collective embarrassments and find fellow commiserators in the challenges of university life. So, it is our turn at WSN to contribute our secret to the ongoing social conversation at NYU. #851: “We are all naked as we write this.”
Email the WSN Editorial Board at editboard@nyunews.com. EDITORIAL BOARD: Sameer Jaywant (Chair), Raquel Woodruff (Co–Chair), Edward Radzivilovskiy (Co–Chair), Nickhil Sethi, Matt Luo, Nina Golshan, Ian Mark, Jess Littman, Marcelo Cicconet
Send mail to: 838 Broadway, Fifth Floor New York, N.Y. 10003 or email: opinion@nyunews.com WSN welcomes letters to the editor, opinion pieces and articles relevant to the NYU community, or in response to articles. Letters should be less than 450 words. All submissions must be typed or emailed and must include the author’s name, address and phone number. Members of the NYU community must include a year and school or job title.
WSN does not print unsigned letters or editorials. WSN reserves the right to reject any submission and edit accepted submissions in any and all ways. With the exception of the staff editorial, opinions expressed on the editorial pages are not necessarily those of WSN, and our publication of opinions is not an endorsement of them.