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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

Last week, the NYU board of trustees announced the addition of three new board members with little notice to students. Despite the major role they play in overseeing the university, the board is not transparent to the student body. (Photo by Sayer Devlin)

Editorial: The NYU board of trustees must become more transparent 

In light of the recent appointment of three new trustees on Oct. 18, NYU’s board of trustees should improve its transparency. 
WSN Editorial Board October 25, 2021

On Oct. 18, NYU announced that Terri Burns, David Ko and Traci Lerner have joined the board of trustees. This announcement was made with little fanfare — the three newest trustees...

The inside of the Colosseum, which was the largest amphitheater in the Ancient Roman world. NYU’s course syllabi, and Western academia in general, neglect the study of non-white cultures in favor of Roman and Greek art and history. (Staff Photo by Arnav Binaykia)

Opinion: NYU should stop idolizing the Greeks and Romans

NYU propagates harmful attitudes about the type of history that matters with an overall lack of focus on the ancient world outside of the Classics.
Jules Roscoe, Staff Writer October 22, 2021

On a Wednesday in October, I attended an introductory anthropology class in the Cantor Film Center to hear a lecture on the history of evolutionary theory. Students typed notes...

The Arno river cuts through the city of Florence, the site of NYU’s campus in Italy. NYU’s limits on off-campus student housing options diminish financial accessibility at abroad locations — and impede students from fully experiencing their global study experience. (Staff Photo by Arnav Binaykia)

Opinion: NYU should expand off-campus housing options abroad

NYU’s limitations on students choosing off-campus housing while studying abroad restricts financial accessibility.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor October 22, 2021

As pandemic travel restrictions ease up globally, NYU’s Office of Global Programs has resumed planning for study abroad — decisions for spring term applications were...

Kirsten Gillibrand has served as a junior New York Senator since 2009. Her internship program has been criticized for its inaccessibility to low-income applicants and lack of diversity. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: Kirsten Gillibrand needs to right the wrongs of her internship program

When it comes to her internship program, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is par for the course on the patronage, exploitation and corruption of Washington, D.C.
Zach Banks, Staff Writer October 21, 2021

As the competitive application season rolls around for those aspiring to be a congressional intern this spring, college students are putting the final touches on their resumes...

181 Mercer St., located between Bleecker and West Houston Streets, will be NYU's new multi-use building. NYU brands the building as sustainable, but the university’s board still includes members who have ties to oil and gas companies. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU is using 181 Mercer for corporate greenwashing

181 Mercer Street should not distract from NYU’s failed record on climate. 
Maggie Stutz, Contributing Writer October 20, 2021

Green is the new millennial pink. It’s popular to care about the environment. People are considered trendy when they carry cute sustainably-made water bottles and shop at resale...

The new Merck COVID-19 treatment pill is currently awaiting FDA approval. Though the pill is effective at treating early-stage COVID patients, vaccines are still our best chance at ending the pandemic. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: The COVID-19 vaccines remain the best weapons against the pandemic

A new antiviral medication developed by Merck is awaiting FDA approval. The potential approval and widespread use of this new medication could help save thousands of lives, but the vaccine remains the best deterrent to the pandemic. 
Srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion Editor October 19, 2021

On October 11th, the pharmaceutical company Merck requested that U.S. regulators approve their pill for use in treating COVID-19. Merck’s antiviral pill, named molnupiravir,...

Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen lifted the veil on the company’s harmful practices. The social media powerhouse must adopt new practices to regulate harmful content immediately. (Photo by Jorene He)

Opinion: Social media companies should hire more moderators

In light of Frances Haugen’s congressional testimony, Facebook and similar companies should hire more content moderators to filter out harmful content.
Caroline Thoms, Staff Writer October 18, 2021

Earlier this month, Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen spoke to Congress about the harms of Facebook, including the spread of misinformation and the damage to young adults'...

NYU trustee and BlackRock CEO Larry Fink has called on wealthy nations to reduce carbon emissions. As an investor in the fossil fuel industry himself, his actions contradict his rhetoric. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Editorial: Larry Fink is a climate hypocrite

By calling on nations to reduce carbon emissions, but holding investments in fossil fuel corporations through BlackRock, NYU trustee Larry Fink fails to put his money where his mouth is.
WSN Editorial Board October 18, 2021

NYU trustee and BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink wrote an op-ed in The New York Times last Wednesday arguing that wealthy countries must continue to invest more money in green infrastructure....

NYU transitioned from NYU Classes to their new platform Brightspace for students to view their syllabi and assignments. While Brightspace is designed to be a schoolwide system, many professors still choose to use other independent websites. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU should make professors use Brightspace

Brightspace was created to simplify the lives of professors and students. Professors should use this platform instead of other websites.
Neha Magesh, Staff Writer October 14, 2021

In Spring 2021, NYU transitioned from NYU Classes to a new system called Brightspace. Brightspace is an easy-to-use, clean-looking interface that enables students to submit assignments...

NYU is partnering with the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times to bring free subscriptions to students. They should work to extend free subscriptions to local news outlets as well. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Opinion: NYU should offer free local news subscriptions

NYU should sponsor free digital subscriptions to local news outlets for the university community, just as it does with The New York Times and Wall Street Journal.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor October 8, 2021

On Sept. 29, NYU announced its partnership to offer free digital New York Times and Wall Street Journal subscriptions to students, staff and faculty. Given the necessity of an...

NYU students protested when former Colombian president Álvaro Uribe Vélez was invited to speak at an NYU event about sustainability and climate politics. NYU is not doing a sufficient job of acknowledging the contributions that the Latine community has made to the university. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: Why doesn’t NYU celebrate Latine workers’ and students’ contributions during Hispanic Heritage Month?

NYU would not be able to function without Latine staff and faculty. From servers in dining halls to administrative workers, the university relies on the Latine community and must do more to uplift it.
Lorraine Olaya, Copy Chief October 7, 2021

NYU loves to brag about its diversity. But the institution fails to appreciate the value that students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds and identities add to the NYU...

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has recently come under fire for her actions. Progressives targeting her are only hurting their own cause. (Illustration by Bridget Harshman)

Opinion: Taking cheap shots at AOC hurts the progressive movement

After Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s Met Gala attendance and Iron Dome vote, progressives are hurting the democratic socialist cause by joining in with the conservatives criticizing her.
Batoul Fathi, Staff Writer October 6, 2021

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez attended her first Met Gala last month wearing a dress with the words “tax the rich” emblazoned on the back in red letters. Later that month,...