New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News

Identity & Equity

Attendees of the Brown Sugar Brilliance club meeting talking to each other in a circle while smiling. A bubble floats in the air.

Brown Sugar Brilliance sweetens the soul with Black queer excellence

How a new club for NYU’s bustling Black queer scene might help me heal my inner child, reconnect with nature, and vibe out in all my vulnerabilities.
Ekene Onukogu, Contributing Writer September 28, 2023

NYU is far from a historically Black college, but the Black experience in New York City is truly like no other. It’s hard to match the energy of going to a summer block party...

A colorful illustration of a plate containing arroz con leche on top of a napkin and spoon, with the background of the red, green, and white Mexico flag.

Hispanic Heritage Month: Cinnamon, rice and everything nice

Arroz con leche, an authentic Hispanic dish, encapsulates all the ways I yearn for home in the city.
Sar Perez, Contributing Writer September 27, 2023

There are a few moments that make me feel a deep connection to my roots — when I first visited Mexico at 12 years old, during birthday celebrations when Mariachi music plays...

The façade of Judson Memorial Church, which has columns made of red bricks, stained windows and a cross at the top.

Greenwich Village church that supported abortion access in the ’60s continues activism

Judson Memorial Church, which has historically provided women with reproductive health care referrals, remains vocal in a post-Roe v. Wade world.
Clara Scholl, Arts Editor April 18, 2023

Judson Memorial Church is a little-known historic landmark nestled among NYU’s cluster of buildings around Washington Square. Founded by Edward Judson in 1890, the Baptist church’s...

Above a crowd in a park, protesters hold blue, pink and white transgender flags and a sign reading “you will never eradicate us.”

For trans people, what comes after visibility?

This year’s Transgender Day of Visibility rally was a chance for trans people to affirm their existence — and to consider how we can go beyond merely being seen.
Alex Tey, Editor-at-Large April 6, 2023

Transgender Day of Visibility, celebrated annually on the last day of March, is a complicated day for me. I often feel like I’d prefer to be invisible. This year, though,...

Koda Fraga and Leo Koulish sit together on the grass in Washington Square Park with the sun shining on them. They are holding each other and smiling at the camera.

Love in a time of transphobia

Five T4T couples talk to WSN about what love looks like, what the Trans Day of Visibility means to them, and how they navigate a world that increasingly seeks their erasure.
Adrita Talukder and Sasha DuBose March 31, 2023

A bar counter with several people sitting next to it. There is painted text reading “Nuyorican Poets’ Cafe” in all capital letters on the wall behind the counter.

Celebrate women’s history year-round at these local spots

Women's History Month is coming to a close, but you can commemorate feminism all year at these city spots.
Alexa Donovan, Staff Writer March 29, 2023

Women’s History Month may be ending soon, but appreciation for feminism and women’s empowerment is a year-long affair. With a storied past and thriving culture celebrating...

An illustration of a pavilion with a dome, covered in stained-glass-like art against the night sky with crescent moon and stars. Smaller domes lay behind the center one, which has a clear middle above an ornate bottom.

Celebrating Ramadan and the Muslim experience at NYU

Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims, is upon us. With celebration and faith come questions and concerns for Muslims here at NYU and in the city.
Pritheva Zakaria, Contributing Writer March 22, 2023

The month of Ramadan begins on the evening of March 22. For one month, from sunrise to sunset leading up to Eid, the practice of fasting and the celebration of breaking fast is...

An illustration of the Syrian and Turkish flags waving on flagpoles. Behind them is a gray and red gradient.

What the NYU community is doing to help Turkey and Syria

In the aftermath of the recent devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, NYU students and faculty have taken the initiative to organize relief efforts. The student-led Turkish Culture Association alone has raised more than $80,000.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 2, 2023

Nearly a month later, Turkey and Syria are only starting to recover from the effects of earthquakes that devastated the countries on Feb. 6. Since the disaster, NYU students and...

An illustration of a group of protesters holding signs in front of the Washington Square Arch. A rainbow reaches across the background. A purple sign in the middle reads “Black Trans Lives Matter.”

How NYU students can live up to the legacy of mutual aid in NYC

Queer activist Je'Jae Cleo Mizrahi speaks about radical and inclusive mutual aid organizations near Washington Square Park.
Sasha DuBose, Dining Editor February 1, 2023

When walking through Washington Square Park, I, like many other NYU students, tend to think only of which exit will get me to class the fastest. But the park has a rich history....

A female wearing a black down coat and carrying a tablet in her left hand speaks to a group of people in Chinatown. She is wearing a microphone on her ear.

Small-business renewal program rekindles Chinatown spirit

To bring Chinatown businesses affected by the pandemic back to the forefront, the Mott Street Girls held a walking tour that featured recipients of Citizens Bank’s Renewal Fund.
Linsey Liao and Qianshan Weng December 15, 2022

On a cold winter day in Manhattan’s Chinatown, a group congregated at the New China Hair Salon — a colorful, well-kept store nestled at Doyers Street. This was the starting...

In front of multiple wooden doors there are four low-rise beds with four males laying down on them.

New York City’s only refugee shelter is out of space

I sat down with We Are Not Afraid staff member Stephanie Gaitan to talk about the state of New York City’s only refugee shelter.
Blake Salesin, Staff Writer December 14, 2022

A seasonably cold and misty day gripped the city early Sunday afternoon. As I looked out my East Village window, I was preparing my desk to conduct an interview, opening my laptop...

The Mauna Loa erupts against a dark sky. The lava in bright red and orange lights up the volcano and tints the color of smoke shooting out from the crater.

What Mauna Loa’s eruption means as a Native Hawaiian

The recent eruption of the world's largest active volcano on Hawaiʻi Island has spurred celebration among Hawaiʻi’s residents and its visitors.
Derek Kamakanaaloha Soong, Identity & Equity Editor December 6, 2022

E heluhelu i kēia moʻolelo ma o ka ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi | Read this article in Hawaiian Hulihia ka mauna, wela i ke ahi. The mountain is overturned, hot with fire.  When...