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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

Opinion

An illustration of a rainbow-colored circle of holding hands. Inside the circle, there is an illustration of two people next to each other with a heart between them.

Opinion: Mutual aid keeps our communities alive — it’s time to get involved

Whether you want to volunteer your time, donate resources or simply learn more about mutual aid, here is the information you need to know about how to help you make a positive community impact.
Noor Maahin, Staff Writer December 5, 2024

In a school in the heart of New York City, students are surrounded by the manifestation of many social injustices with every block they turn. With thousands suffering on...

First lady Jill Biden, wearing a red dress and black boots, holds a cellphone as President Joe Biden, wearing a black suit with a blue tie, and his son Hunter Biden, wearing a black shirt, walk behind her.

Off Topic: Hunter Biden’s pardon highlights Democrats’ hypocrisy

After an election predicated on preserving democracy, this was a really bad time to prove just how rife with corruption the system can be.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor December 4, 2024

Watergate was a political scandal of unprecedented scale, which revealed the seedy underbelly of political espionage rampant in the halls of government. While the whole ordeal...

Three people wearing purple graduation gowns and black graduation caps are standing raising diplomas. To the left is former N.Y.U. president standing behind a purple-and-white N.Y.U. sign.

Opinion: No longer behind bars, but not truly free

Without support systems in place, many formerly incarcerated individuals in New York risk falling into a cycle of poverty and criminalization.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer December 3, 2024

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world, keeping about 2 million people behind bars at any given time and costing an absurd $182 billion...

An illustration of a poster on a utility pole with a woman in the center with a question mark over her face. Above are the words “LINDA MILLS” and below are the words “Lookalike Contest.”

Off-Third: Linda Mills lookalike contest brings new crowd to Gould Plaza

Move aside, rat men of the month. There’s only one doppelganger search that matters.
Dani Biondi, Film & TV Editor December 3, 2024

Off-Third is WSN’s satire column. The celebrity lookalike contest fad hasn’t left NYU’s campus just yet. With the infamous Oct. 28 Timothée Chalamet Lookalike Competition...

A stone bench with armrests on Astor Place.

Opinion: Hostile city planning hides homelessness, but doesn’t solve it.

Anti-homeless structures are not only cruel but ineffective, as they simply displace and exacerbate the homelessness crisis rather than alleviate it.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor December 2, 2024

Hostile architecture has a pervasive presence in New York City, though it often goes unnoticed. If you have ever seen window ledges spiked with metal, a barred street corner, or...

An illustration of seven people standing at purple podiums. One of the podiums has a spotlight on it, with a person raising their hand under the light. There is another spotlight that highlights the words “UP FOR DEBATE”.

Up for Debate: Should NYU adopt institutional restraint?

Following a recent trend of universities adopting institutional neutrality, NYU has expressed commitment to practicing “institutional restraint” in order to give “respect to the diverse experience and backgrounds at NYU.”
Mehr Kotval, Noah Zaldivar, Omar Drissi and Naisha Roy November 26, 2024

Naisha Roy, Editor-at-Large: The concept of institutional neutrality is inextricably linked to freedom of speech. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which gave...

A person holding a brown sign that says, “NYU RUNS ON MURDER DIVEST NOW.”

Off Topic: The Congo and Sudan exist in activism’s blind spot

Activism is a means of forcing the media to turn their attention to injustice, but too often, ongoing humanitarian crises like those in Sudan and the Congo go overlooked.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 22, 2024

The Sudanese Civil War has been characterized as one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world, yet also one of the most underreported. As of October 2023, nearly 70% of...

An illustration of Donald Trump on the left of the drawing pointing his finger, and on the right are a crowd of different colored hands raised and three signs in the middle with the letters “D.E.I.”

Opinion: Will DEI survive another Trump presidency?

Trump’s second term promises a shutdown of all diversity, equity and inclusion programs — here’s what’s at stake for higher education and what NYU should do in response.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor November 20, 2024

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, his administration’s renewed attack on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives could mark a turning point for...

A caricature illustration of a large man wearing a white nationalist pin while sitting behind a microphone and in front of an upside down American flag.

Opinion: How alt-right media influenced the Gen Z vote

Trump courted the “bro” vote, exploiting the resurgence of toxic masculinity online to secure his election victory.
Annie Emans and Mehr Kotval November 19, 2024

On Nov. 5, a sexist rant from Nick Fuentes — a Gen Z right-wing media personality, podcaster and Holocaust denier — went viral, sparking conversations about sexism among young...

The exterior of a public restroom in a park.

Opinion: Let New Yorkers be free to pee

The shortage of public restrooms is a significant hardship and a profound indignity that unhoused New Yorkers endure every day.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer November 18, 2024

In 1990, a group of unhoused New Yorkers came together to file a class-action lawsuit against the city, citing the need for more public restrooms around the city. They argued that...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talking at a podium with a screen of the American flag behind him.

Off Topic: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s concerns about health care should concern you

President-elect Donald Trump's plan to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his health secretary politicizes and endangers public health.
Grayson Stotz, Staff Writer November 18, 2024

In the weeks following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, he has begun rolling out his Cabinet nominees, many of whom are political allies whose proposed policies would...

A three person panel sitting in front of a crowd. The left person has a blue spotlight on them, the person in the middle has a red and blue spotlight and the person on the right has a red spotlight.

Opinion: Student activism in the age of Trump

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies and rhetoric surrounding protests on college campuses threaten the safety of protestors and the efficacy of the First Amendment.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 14, 2024

Many Americans have grown weary of the impending threats to their rights in the days following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Trump’s notoriety for impeding on various...