Skip to Main Content
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

Education

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...

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 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...

Opinion: NYU should reduce the amount of CAS core requirements

Opinion: NYU should reduce the amount of CAS core requirements

Core requirements at the College of Arts & Science may be helpful — to an extent — but the sheer abundance of them only holds students back.
Amanda Chen, Contributing Writer November 12, 2024

During my first two years of college, I spent countless hours reading philosophical texts, writing pages after pages of essays, making sense of equations and memorizing names,...

An illustration of Donald Trump pointing his finger at a group of figures wearing graduation caps. Behind them are flags of the world.

Guest Essay: Studying as an international student under a second Trump administration

Kevin Hu is a Senator at-Large representing the constituency of International Students Seeking Employment in the NYU Student Senators Council and Student Government Assembly.
Kevin Hu, Senator at-Large November 11, 2024

10043. For most Americans, that number means nothing. However, ask any Chinese student you encounter on campus, and they’ll tell you how these five digits symbolize the fragility...

A photograph of a building from across the street.

Opinion: NYU needs to provide medication abortions

Many universities have stepped up to provide medication-based abortions on campus. With reproductive rights under constant threat, NYU needs to follow suit.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor November 6, 2024

In the years following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, there have been a slew of assaults on reproductive rights, including numerous states enacting aggressive and restrictive...

A graph titled "Changes in N.Y.U. first-year demographics."

Opinion: The case for affirmative action and what comes next

The striking down of affirmative action has negatively affected rates of POC enrollment and threatens a fair admissions process. NYU should take measures to ensure diversity.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor October 24, 2024

Last June, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs in college admissions, triggering a sharp decline in diversity across college campuses nationwide. In...

Two diplomas against a red background that is split in half. One half is filled with yellow smiley faces, and the other is filled with blue sad faces.

Opinion: NYU has a double major dilemma

The university should open double major options outside of the College of Arts and Science so students can explore the interdisciplinary opportunities that NYU boasts about.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer October 23, 2024

NYU is known for its broad spectrum of academic programs, with the College of Arts and Science home to over 120 majors and minors. The university, like many others, offers the...

An illustration of different colored hands raised with three signs being held in the middle with one letter on each sign spelling “D.E.I.”

Guest Essay: In defense of diversity, equity and inclusion

Adrian Pica-Borjas is the Director of Diversity for NYU’s Student Government Assembly.
Adrian Pica-Borjas, Guest Contributor October 22, 2024

My name is Adrian Pica-Borjas. I am Honduran American. When I fill out forms asking for my racial identity, I select the oversimplified “Black” and “American Indian or Alaska...

A woman’s hand swipes a metrocard.

Opinion: NYU needs to get its students moving — for free

If the university truly believes that “the city is our campus,” it's time they help students actually afford to explore it.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer October 16, 2024

My high school — just like every public high school in New York City — provided every student with a free MetroCard to get to and from school. However, NYU offers no comparable...

People sit in a park under a tree with green and orange leaves. More groups of people sit scattered behind them.

Opinion: A single day off isn’t a ‘Fall Break’

NYU's approach to fall break leaves students with little agency to recharge or prepare for midterms.
Grayson Stotz, Staff Writer October 15, 2024

As the crisp autumn air settles in and the leaves begin to turn, students at NYU are greeted with a single day off on Oct. 14 — billed as a fall break. However, this fleeting...

A student sits on the floor knitting next to their laptop with hands coming out of the computer, untangling the yarn.

Opinion: NYU needs a standardized pro-AI policy

It’s time that NYU finally adopted universal policies to guide AI use in classes.
Andreja Zivkovic, Staff Writer October 10, 2024

“This set of lecture notes was improved using the ChatGPT editing function.”  For as long as I have been at NYU, students and faculty have debated the ethics of artificial...