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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

Opinion

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...

A woman in costume wears a pink wig with a crown. She has her hand over her chest, and is illuminated by blue light.

Opinion: Ditch your plastic Halloween costumes this year

If you are about to buy a last-minute costume for Halloween, try checking out a more sustainable option.
Anne Lise Tan, Contributing Writer October 31, 2024

Halloween might be a season for chills and thrills, but the real horror story lies in the unregulated sweatshops and factories that churn out those plastic-filled costumes. In...

A birds-eye-view of the Lower East Side and Financial District in New York City.

Opinion: Student tenants need to stand up for themselves

NYU students living off campus get taken advantage of by their landlords because they don’t know any better. Let’s put a stop to that.
Omar Drissi, Staff Writer October 31, 2024

Wide-eyed, fresh-faced and new to the city, NYU students arrive on campus with dreams of the quintessential New York City apartment, only to meet landlords eager to exploit...

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

Opinion: The NYU College Democrats’ Harris endorsement undermines democracy

The group argues for Kamala Harris as the antidote to Donald Trump, but its reasoning relies more on fear of the alternative than accountability for its chosen candidate.
Omar Drissi, Staff Writer October 30, 2024

A few weeks ago, the NYU College Democrats published a guest essay entitled “Why Kamala Harris is our choice.” While the group raises some valid points, the piece has many...

A person walks through a subway turnstile next to an open emergency exit door.

Opinion: Punishing fare evasion isn’t fair

New York City’s violent, punitive approach to fare evasion ignores the root causes, creating more harm than good.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer October 29, 2024

One month ago, a man failed to pay his subway fare and when police officers followed him into the train car, he pulled a knife and was shot at. The man was injured, along...

Hands typing at a computer with the words “FORECLOSE” on the screen. There is another computer in the background that reads “FAKE NEWS”.

Off Topic: You should be worried about the future of journalism

Misinformation is almost as rampant as mistrust of the news is, and it’s furthering the interests of those in authority. Modern journalism isn’t speaking truth to power — it’s feigning the truth on behalf of those in power.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor October 25, 2024

Media being used to mislead the public in the interest of policy makers and government is nothing new. The explosion of the U.S. battleship Maine on Feb. 15, 1898 — and its subsequent...

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 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 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...