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

Opinion

An illustration of a person's hands typing on a laptop against a yellow background. Behind the laptop is a monitor.

Opinion: Student-run journals deserve your attention

Despite its vital role in campus culture, student-led journals often go unnoticed. Here’s why you should attend the Student Journal Submission Fest this Wednesday and discover these hidden academic gems.
Polina Belova, Contributing Writer October 7, 2024

Student-led journals are an indispensable part of the academic experience on college campuses across the country. They are breeding grounds for creativity, discovery and dialogue,...

An illustration of a person with binoculars staring in awe at a woman wearing dark sunglasses and red lipstick.

Off-Third: How to stalk campus celebrities

Tips, tricks and borderline illegal strategies to keep up with NYU campus celebrities.
Ivy St. Clair, Staff Writer October 4, 2024

Off-Third is WSN’s satire column. In my four years at NYU, I’ve heard no lack of campus celebrity gossip. From foreign princes to STD-transmitting A-listers, there’s a...

An illustration of a person standing on stage and holding a microphone surrounded by red light. Dark blue message bubbles float above the crowd with neon blue expressions of happiness, sadness and anger on them.

Off Topic: It’s time to end stan culture

The obsessive idolization of celebrities is damaging to both society and individual mental health.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor October 2, 2024

When I was 6 years old, my mom introduced me to “Ready to Die” by The Notorious B.I.G. The aggression in Biggie’s tone and the uniqueness of his flow marked the first time...

The website for Rate My Professor on a laptop.

Opinion: Don’t always trust Rate My Professors

The unreliable nature of online teacher-review sites should dissuade students from depending entirely on them.
Grayson Stotz, Staff Writer October 1, 2024

For every NYU student, course selection on Albert is a familiar burden. Its simplistic design is structured entirely around communicating the most rudimentary information: the...

NYU students gather for a vigil in Washington Square Park mourning the loss of life in Lebanon on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in New York.

Editorial: NYU needs to talk about Lebanon. Publicly.

The university has a rich history of speaking out against global injustices. Where is it now when hundreds have been killed in Lebanon?
WSN Editorial Board September 29, 2024

On Feb. 24, 2022, former NYU president Andrew Hamilton condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In fact, he didn’t just condemn it — he called it an “unwarranted and unprovoked...

An illustration of the Earth with a giant red ballot box that reads “VOTE.” Many paper airplane ballots fly towards it.

Opinion: Voting abroad can seem daunting — but it’s essential

NYU provides varying levels of guidance for voting abroad to its study-away students. Young voters need to be made aware of these initiatives.
Amanda Chen, Contributing Writer September 27, 2024

The 2024 presidential election could profoundly reshape the U.S. and global political landscape, and for American students studying abroad, their vote holds just as much weight...

Five panelists sit on a stage in front of a red curtain and a screen that reads “Listening from the Heart.”

Guest Essay: NYU in Dialogue’s ‘Shared Grief, Shared Hope’ panel was heartbreakingly healing

Ashlie Oxford is a second-year MS student in Global Affairs, concentrating in peacebuilding. She is also the Senator at-Large for Student Activists in the Student Government Assembly.
Ashlie Oxford, Guest Contributor September 26, 2024

Guest essays reflect opinions from writers beyond WSN. If you’d like to submit a guest essay for consideration, please email [email protected]. On Tuesday, Sept. 17, NYU...

An illustration of two purple islands in a starry night sky. The further one is a white arch with “W.S.P.” and an N.Y.U. flag and on the closer one is a person sitting in a bedroom on their laptop.

Opinion: Some distance from campus may be what you need

Living away from the chaos of campus can help you improve productivity, work-life balance and mental health.
Grayson Stotz, Staff Writer September 26, 2024

Attending college in the city that never sleeps can feel like a marathon. While many students, like myself, were drawn to the bustling city life of the Village, there are times...

(Krish Dev for WSN)

Editorial: NYU is stifling protest in an attempt to control its image

In a bid to keep pro-Palestinian protests at bay, NYU is putting up physical barriers to limit congregation, an attempt to keep student activism out of view — and out of headlines.
WSN Editorial Board September 26, 2024

NYU’s crackdown on student and faculty protests in the past academic year has demonstrated a clear aversion to on-campus expression, specifically as it pertains to the ongoing...

The photo is shot from behind a troupe of police in helmets surveying a group of protesters while the Washington Square Arch stands above them all.

Opinion: NYU’s hypocritical attitude toward student activism isn’t new

As much as the university frames itself as a progressive institution, it continues to regress into actions that undermine social and political activism.
Muhammad Siddiqui, Staff Writer September 25, 2024

Today marks the 54th anniversary of the Weinstein Hall sit-in. After NYU canceled LGBTQ+ university events until homosexuality was deemed “morally acceptable” by a panel of...

Three white N.Y.P.D cars park in front of Tandon School of Engineering.

Off Topic: The United States must make the push for gun control

In light of the recent Apalachee High School shooting, now is more important than ever for our country to pass common sense gun control laws.
Benjamin Rabb, Staff Writer September 23, 2024

Content warning: This article contains mentions of gun violence. I am no stranger to the countless conversations surrounding the effects and limits of gun ownership. After all,...

An illustration of a violet torch illuminating a student doing an N.Y.U. training module on their computer.

Opinion: NYU’s How We Engage Toolkit forces students to comply with its politics

The university’s new training module goes beyond superficiality by embedding problematic policies into a mandatory agreement.
Krish Dev, Director of Creative & Digital Strategy September 23, 2024

At the start of the semester, NYU sent out the first two modules of its How We Engage Toolkit, including a Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Policy Training, to all students...