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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

Government

An illustration of the flags of Ukraine and the United States crossed in front of a black-and-white drawing of destroyed buildings.

Off Topic: A ceasefire in Ukraine isn’t as simple as you think it is

For the past two years, the war in Ukraine has intensified. While President-elect Donald Trump has called for an immediate end to hostilities, he neglects the disadvantageous position Ukraine is in.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor December 10, 2024

To the non-apocalypse-minded among us, the Doomsday Clock tracks the human race’s relative proximity to self-caused human annihilation, measured by the number of hours and minutes...

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...

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 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...

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...

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...

An illustration of a collage of different scenes, such as a war zone, the face of prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and a person holding a sign that says "BANS OFF OUR BODIES."

Editorial: Reflect. Recharge. Then get to work.

The results of the 2024 presidential election are unnerving and distressing — but as students, it’s important for us to harness these feelings and exercise defiance in the face of defeat.
WSN Editorial Board November 7, 2024

Many of us went to bed Tuesday night feeling weary and woke up Wednesday morning nauseous. Some of us didn’t go to bed at all. After the last four months of hope for a brighter...

An illustration of a balancing weight scale with a box on each side. One says “LOCAL VOTE” and the other says “FEDERAL VOTE.”

Editorial: Think globally, vote locally

The presidential race may steal the spotlight, but the impact of local elections on our daily lives is undeniable. Stay informed and make your vote count where it matters most.
WSN Editorial Board October 24, 2024

As college students, we consume media related to this year’s presidential election on a daily basis. It’s everywhere — in our classrooms, on social media, in our news outlets....

A logo with a white elephant on a red background and the text "C.R. | N.Y.U."

Guest Essay: Living fearlessly and embracing Trump’s vision for change

We may disagree on what the United States needs, but this election feels as existential for us as it does for you. As always, there is a lot at stake this cycle and we argue it is the difference between the status quo and actual change.
NYU College Republicans October 18, 2024

Guest essays reflect opinions from writers beyond WSN. If you’d like to submit a guest essay for consideration, please email [email protected]. To set the record straight...

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump stand in a crowd of people.

Opinion: Trump and Harris’ debate struggled to include or inspire young voters

Former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris’ face-to-face debate introduces nothing new for young voters to grasp at.
Grayson Stotz, Staff Writer September 13, 2024

Voters under the age of 35 make up roughly 29% of eligible voters for the upcoming presidential election. Throughout each candidates’ campaigns, young people have been disillusioned...