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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

Education

(Alex Woodworth for WSN)

Off Topic: DOGE is both misleading and inefficient

From numerical errors to study mischaracterizations, the Department of Government Efficiency has been anything but efficient in its conquest over the federal government.
Sam Kats, Contributing Writer April 4, 2025

On Nov. 12, 2024, President Donald Trump announced a new federal department: The Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE. Led by the “Great Elon Musk” and “American...

(Akshay Prabhushankar for WSN)

Off Topic: We must protect our libraries’ federal funding

Libraries and museums provide knowledge, community and equity, yet recent federal funding cuts threaten to undermine these invaluable institutions.
Antonia Ang, Staff Writer March 21, 2025

On Friday, March 14, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will remove funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, as well as half a dozen other...

(Emma Foley for WSN)

Opinion: Trump’s cuts to federal aid are leaving higher education in shambles

The federal cut to the U.S. Department of Education will have profound impacts on educational institutions, low-income students, students with disabilities and teacher shortages.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer March 20, 2025

The state of education in the United States is in shambles. Reading and math test scores have dropped to the lowest level in decades, our universities are the most unaffordable...

(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)

Up for Debate: Is college worth the debt?

With tuition costs and student loan debt at record highs, many are questioning whether a college degree is still a worthwhile investment. Is the cost of a college education justified by its benefits?

In 2024, The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics found a strong positive relationship between level of education and income. The same chart showed a 1.7% difference in the unemployment...

(Simon Tan for WSN)

Opinion: NYU is complicit in Trump’s pro-Palestinian crackdown

As the new administration has already begun to attack and detain pro-Palestinian student protestors, NYU has remained silent.
Leila Olukoga and Mehr Kotval March 13, 2025

Columbia University graduate Mahmoud Khalil was detained on Saturday by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for his previous leadership role in pro-Palestinian encampments....

(Yezen Saadah for WSN)

Opinion: NYU must be more accommodating for Ramadan

To honor its Muslim students, the university should prioritize expanding private spaces for prayer in addition to increasing meal options at dining halls for those who are fasting.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor March 10, 2025

With Shaban, the eighth month of the Islamic calendar, having ended and Ramadan already in full swing, millions of Muslims around the world are celebrating the holiest month of...

Opinion: Politics should not dictate research funding

Opinion: Politics should not dictate research funding

President Donald Trump has announced sweeping measures that’ll change the face of how research is conducted in the United States — and at NYU.
Serin Lee, Guest Contributor March 6, 2025

Ignorance and stigmatization defined the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States during the 1980s, contributing to the deaths of over 100,000 people, and leaving many more...

(Kyra Reilley for WSN)

Opinion: Tandon’s diversity statistics don’t tell the whole story

Despite nearly equal gender enrollment, the engineering school must promote more mentorship and diversity programs for minorities.
Antonia Ang, Staff Writer March 4, 2025

Despite being in the second semester of my junior year, I still have never taken an engineering course taught by a female professor. At NYU Tandon School of Engineering, out of...

(Kiara Mujica for WSN)

Opinion: Gen Z might never get the American Dream

With rampant inflation, rent prices and student debt defining the lives of Gen Z, it is important to consider how NYU can help its students navigate their financial future.
Shanay Tolat, Deputy Opinion Editor February 28, 2025

Older generations often tell us that if we work hard enough we can achieve the American Dream — the stereotypical suburban house with a white picket fence, a spacious backyard...

(Danny Arensberg for WSN)

Opinion: LGBTQ+ mental health is under attack

As President Donald Trump targets LGTBQ+ freedoms, it is important for local governments to do more to protect their LGBTQ+ citizens and their mental health.
Sam Kats, Contributing Writer February 27, 2025

Content warning: This article includes mentions of suicide. Shortly after President Donald Trump won the 2024 election, LGBTQ+ crisis lines were flooded with an unprecedented...

(Kiara Mujica for WSN)

Off Topic: The alt-right is lying about free speech

Despite its supposed commitment to freedom of speech, the Trump Administration’s actions reveal its commitment to stifling political opposition and controlling narratives.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor February 26, 2025

One of the biggest talking points of the alt-right has been the so-called destruction of free speech, which they often blame on the rise of politically correct speech, or wokeness,...

(Kiara Mujica for WSN)

Guest Essay: At NYU, we cannot afford to be passive in the face of fascism.

President Donald Trump’s blitzkrieg of executive orders threatens international students, trans rights, diversity initiatives and our core values.
NYU College Democrats February 20, 2025

Guest essays reflect opinions from writers beyond WSN. If you’d like to submit a guest essay for consideration, please email [email protected]. We have always known who...