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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

SoHo and NoHo are notorious for their exorbitant rent and upper-crust reputation. Mayor de Blasio's upzoning plan will create tens of thousands of affordable housing units in these neighborhoods. (Photo by Aleksandra Pankratova)

Opinion: De Blasio’s upzoning plan will foster housing affordability

Contrary to some unfounded criticisms, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s zoning proposal will, in fact, help mitigate the city’s housing crisis in NoHo and SoHo.
Michael Galati, Contributing Writer November 24, 2021

In October 2020, Bill de Blasio’s administration proposed an upzoning of the SoHo/NoHo neighborhood that would add 3,200 housing units over 10 years. Village Preservation, a...

Palladium dining hall is located on the third floor of Palladium Hall is one of the most popular NYU dining locations. Various dining restrictions since COVID-19 have made student dining more difficult, causing more harm than good. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Opinion: Dining restrictions are hurting students’ wellbeing

Despite NYU’s commitment to student health, mental health struggles are slipping under the radar. COVID-related dining restrictions curtailing eating spaces are negatively impacting the wellbeing of students, especially those who have complex relationships with food.
Alyssa Goldberg, Contributing Writer November 23, 2021

Content warning: This article discusses disordered eating. While NYU has placed a major emphasis on COVID-19 safety policies, the administration has paid significantly less...

(Charlie Dodge for WSN)

Opinion: NYU’s mask policy is just for show

NYU's mask policy is far stricter than local guidelines and sends the wrong message about vaccine efficacy. It would be more beneficial for the university to focus on encouraging booster shots. 
Jules Roscoe, Staff Writer November 22, 2021

Last year, the medical community rejoiced as Sandra Lindsay, a New York nurse, became the first American to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and more...

Gov. Hochul’s administration ended the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. The state needs to resume this program with state funding until federal funding can be secured. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Editorial: Hochul should continue funding rent assistance

The New York state government decided to end the Emergency Rental Assistance Program because federal funds are running out. Gov. Kathy Hochul should exhaust state funding while requesting federal assistance to protect the housing insecure.
WSN Editorial Board November 22, 2021

For the past several months, New York has provided rental assistance to state residents struggling during the pandemic. With the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the state...

The annual Trans Day of 
Remembrance is a chance to memorialize those lost and to stand up for those still living. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: Do us justice with your trans remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance, commemorated on Nov. 20 each year, is a day for mourning and honoring trans people lost to a transphobic society. If you’re a trans ally, you need to carefully consider where your remembrance is coming from.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor November 20, 2021

Content warning: This article discusses transphobia, murder and suicide. Founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in memory of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman murdered the previous...

The cancellation of YDSA’s tuition strike should not be viewed as a failure. Rather, it shows the lengths that students are willing to go to demand action from the university. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Letter to the Editor: The NYU YDSA tuition strike laid the foundation for future organizing

Despite the obstacles to organizing at a school like NYU, YDSA’s tuition strike proved that students are willing to take action to demand the university they deserve. A response to “NYU YDSA strikes out,” Nov. 12.
Jake Colosa, Contributing Writer November 19, 2021

Last week, a WSN opinion piece argued that the NYU Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter’s failed tuition strike “did not demonstrate the same resolve or organization”...

An illustration of a megaphone with a red handle. Written in orange on the megaphone are the words “Staff Rants.”

Staff Rants: NYU stereotypes

From Tisch film bros to trust fund babies, our staff has a lot to say about NYU stereotypes and their purveyors.

On nepotism Tisch: A school half-comprised of pure talent and half-comprised of nepotism and too much daddy’s money. Srishti Bungle — Deputy Opinion Editor On making...

Soldiers paraded around New York City on Veteran’s Day. The issue of food insecurity among military families is prominent and concerning. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: Veterans Day underscores urgency of addressing military food insecurity

The federal government must repeal irrational barriers to food assistance amid the crisis of military food insecurity.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor November 17, 2021

Last Thursday, Nov. 11, commemorations for Veterans Day swept across the country. For the first time in two years, NYC’s Veterans Day Parade returned in full flair, flooding...

Conservative Senate hopeful J.D. Vance, pictured here at Turning Point USA’s Southwest Regional Conference in April 2021, often speaks at conservative events. Vance’s recent comments at the National Conservatism Conference disparaged higher education and professors. (Photo by Gage Skidmore, via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: Senate hopeful J.D. Vance embodies American conservatism’s anti-intellectualism

American conservatives are taking up arms against education itself in a misguided and dangerous anti-intellectual crusade.
Kevin Kurian, Opinion Editor November 16, 2021

Republican senate hopeful J.D. Vance quoted disgraced former President Richard Nixon earlier this month in a harangue against institutions of higher education, going as far as...

New York state Democrats failed to pass initiatives intended to expand voting rights. As a result, barriers to electoral participation will continue to be reinforced. (Photo by Katherine Chan)

Editorial: New York Democrats failed to protect voting rights

New York Republicans launched a well-funded campaign to defeat voting rights ballot initiatives. Democrats did not respond with the same effort or coordination. As a result, barriers to electoral participation, particularly for young people, will be upheld.
WSN Editorial Board November 15, 2021

New York Democrats failed to launch a coordinated campaign to protect voting rights through ballot Proposals 3 and 4 this November, leading to their rejection by voters. As New...

Travis Scott fans need to stay away from his shows. His concerts pose a serious danger to his own fans. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: Don’t go to Travis Scott concerts

Following the death of 10 people and injury of hundreds more, we cannot trust musician Travis Scott and his fans to foster a safe concert environment.
Srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion Editor November 15, 2021

No one expects to die while attending their favorite artist’s concert. But for Travis Scott fans, death and injury became their grim reality when Scott’s Astroworld festival...

Students with NYU YDSA protest for lower tuition on April 30. The organization's spring 2021 tuition strike was canceled due to insufficient mobilization and concerns over de-enrollment. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Opinion: NYU YDSA strikes out

In the past, students have been willing to risk their degrees, lives and limbs for what they believe in. The NYU YDSA strike did not demonstrate that same resolve or organization.
Zach Banks, Staff Writer November 12, 2021

After several months of uncertainty, the NYU chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America announced that they were calling off their tuition strike. When NYU YDSA said...