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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

Off Topic

(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...

(Alexandra Chan for WSN)

Off Topic: The disastrous new direction of the EPA

The Trump administration’s new direction of deregulation for the EPA will undoubtedly promote business interests at the expense of the environment.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor March 17, 2025

This past Wednesday, Lee Zeldin, the new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, announced a startling change of direction for the government agency. Rather than...

Two blue N.Y.C. Emergency Rescue Kit bags with two packages of 4mg Narcan Nasal Spray in front.

Off Topic: Patent abuse is to blame for the price of prescription drugs

Big Pharma employs business practices aimed at prolonging the profitability of their drugs, at the expense of sick consumers.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor March 11, 2025

Between 2005 and 2015, nearly three-fourths of issued drug patents were for already existing drugs. A common argument in favor of the current patent approval process for drugmakers...

(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,...

Off Topic: DeepSeek’s arrival is a wakeup call for AI regulation

Off Topic: DeepSeek’s arrival is a wakeup call for AI regulation

With a new, more cost-effective chatbot permeating the market and openly sharing the secrets to its success, we must question whether DeepSeek’s effects will be disturbing or democratic.
Shanay Tolat, Deputy Opinion Editor February 19, 2025

Just last week, DeepSeek, the latest competitor to ChatGPT, burst onto the scene, immediately causing an uproar among U.S. tech companies and the recently inaugurated Trump administration....

(Allina Xiao for WSN)

Off Topic: The case for dating across the political divide

In an increasingly polarized world, political differences are a dealbreaker for most people, making it harder to find common ground, let alone fall in love.
Zofia Fernandini, Contributing Writer February 14, 2025

With Valentine's Day it's hard not to think about the one thing that can turn a date into a debate: politics. While most of us can leave political discourse at the dinner...

A red snake wrapped around a black and white rifle like the Rod of Ascelpius, in front of a blue background.

Off Topic: A shot heard around the health care sector

The public reaction to the death of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO reveals how broken the U.S. health care system is.
Mehr Kotval and Noah Zaldivar December 13, 2024

The CEO of UnitedHealthcare, Brian Thompson, was killed in broad daylight on the curb outside the Hilton in Midtown. A man wearing a hoodie — identified by the New York City...

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...

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...

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...

An illustration of the Earth on fire. Laying on top of the Earth is a student on their phone.

Off Topic: Doom scrolling destroys the planet — not just your mood

Generation Z may be social-media warriors when it comes to climate activism, but our online activism and activity may be having unintended negative effects.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 11, 2024

Climate change has been at the forefront of political debates for decades, with Generation Z leading the charge in recent years. Nearly 50% of Gen Z say mitigating the impacts...