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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

Crime

Charlie Kirk speaking with attendees at the Grand Canyon University on Oct. 28th, 2024. (Courtesy of Gage Skidmore)

Off Topic: Charlie Kirk fought for what killed him

Kirk’s murder was a tragic product of the ideology he championed.
Maggie Turner and Noah Zaldivar September 15, 2025

“I think it’s worth it to have a cost of, unfortunately, some gun deaths every single year so that we can have the Second Amendment to protect our other God-given rights. That...

(Aryan Kawatra for WSN)

Opinion: For subway safety, militarization isn’t the answer

Recent initiatives to increase police and National Guard presence in the city’s transit system raise questions about who is actually allowed to feel safe on the subway, and whether funding would be better spent on mental health and housing programs.
Anjali Mehta, Deputy Managing Editor September 11, 2025

At the beginning of this year, Mayor Eric Adams and Gov. Kathy Hochul announced they would ramp up protections for New Yorkers riding the subway, expanding the MTA’s...

(Alex Tey for WSN)

Opinion: NYC needs to invest in its community, not in a Cop City

Mayor Eric Adams’ Cop City plan will not meaningfully improve public safety — it's time for a different approach that centers social services and housing support.
Serin Lee, Staff Writer April 4, 2025

The New York City Police Department is the largest and most funded police department in the country, with roughly 36,000 officers and over $671 per capita in annual funding. But...

(Danny Arensberg for WSN)

Opinion: How the NYPD evades accountability for misconduct

Legislatures need to address the department’s internal corruption of dodging disciplinary consequences for police misconduct.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer March 6, 2025

Since 2000, there have been 180,700 New York City Police Department misconduct complaints that included 59,244 separate incidents and 35,435 officers. Out of 50 million police...

(Kevin Wu for WSN)

Opinion: Subway safety is a manufactured crisis

New York City is spending millions on subway policing and surveillance, but these measures do more to ease public anxiety than actually reduce crime.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer February 12, 2025

Anyone who turns on the news might think that the New York City subway system is more dangerous than ever. Every few weeks, a violent subway crime becomes the subject of alarmist...

What to do if stopped by ICE

What to do if stopped by ICE

With U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids imminent, it is important to know your rights if you’re ever confronted.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor February 10, 2025

Immigration and deportation were defining issues in President Donald Trump’s presidential campaign — now they are shaping his first three weeks in office. There has been...

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...

Off Topic: True crime lovers, let's talk boundaries

Off Topic: True crime lovers, let’s talk boundaries

We must recognize that true crime storytelling carries a responsibility to inform, not to glamorize.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 1, 2024

True crime entertainment is more popular than ever, but at what point does our curiosity cross a line?  As Netflix’s “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story” reaches...

The exterior of N.Y.U. Lafayette Hall during the day from the diagonal corner of the street.

Readers Respond: NYU residence hall intrusions

Members of the NYU community told WSN how they feel about the recent intruders at residence halls.
November 29, 2022

The Washington Square News asked NYU community members what they thought about the university’s response to the recent intruders at multiple residence halls. These are some of...

A hand holding a small, pink canister of pepper spray that shoots out liquid.

Opinion: Strike down pepper spray restrictions

In a time of increased break-ins, attacks and safety violations, students need better access to self-defense devices. New York state needs to reconsider its pepper spray laws.
Naisha Roy, Staff Writer November 29, 2022

As I finalized my Amazon shopping cart for my first year at NYU, I realized I forgot to add one item: pepper spray. Although it wasn’t as exciting as dorm decorations, I knew...

A purple uniform patch with the logo of the NYU Department of Public Safety on the shoulder of a Public Safety Officer.

Opinion: NYU needs to better respond to crime

The university should educate students on how they can keep themselves safe in the city.
Marisa Sandoval, Contributing Writer September 9, 2022

On the first day of school, I was greeted with the blaring sounds of sirens flying through the East Village. Remembering the recent spike in gun violence across the city, I felt...

A purple uniform patch with the logo of the NYU Department of Public Safety on the shoulder of a Public Safety Officer.

Guest Essay: Campus Safety dept. ‘a ship without a captain,’ officer says

An officer describes arrogant, disrespectful leadership and low morale among staff in NYU’s Department of Campus Safety.
an anonymous Campus Safety officer, Guest Contributor April 25, 2022

The author is an NYU Campus Safety officer. Their identity has been verified by WSN. As a longtime employee of the Department of Campus Safety, I am disheartened to see what...