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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

Palladium Brunch is a staple of NYU Dining. While clubs are currently still prohibited from serving food at in-person meetings, Palladium Brunch is back in full swing. (Photo by Max Lerner)

Opinion: ‘Let them eat brunch’: NYU’s double standard on COVID-19 food policies

Clubs are disbarred from offering food to students while NYU revives excessive Sunday Palladium brunches.
Batoul Saleh, Staff Writer September 15, 2021

Last weekend, the nyu.eats Instagram account shared that Palladium brunch, a weekly event where the dining hall presents a buffet style brunch in exchange for two meal swipes or...

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

Staff Rants: Met Gala 2021

Here are our thoughts on the Met Gala from this past weekend. Enjoy!

On boring outfits I did research, but unfortunately there was no American fashion backstory behind the plain mini black-and-white dress for the Met. Rosé pulled up in a Saint...

Universities and colleges have loosened their standard testing requirement for incoming students considering the impact of the pandemic. Such a test-optional policy, in fact, successfully promotes diversity in schools. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU should commit to test-optional applications

Batoul Saleh, Staff Writer September 14, 2021
NYU’s announcement that the 2021-22 admissions cycle will be test-optional is the perfect opportunity for NYU to fully commit to a more equitable practice.
NYU’s board of trustees includes an election conspiracist and a CEO who profits from immigrant detention. These people, among others on the board, contradict NYU’s self-proclaimed diversity and progressivism. (Images via Wikimedia Commons, Staff Photo and Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU’s board of trustees contradicts the university’s mission of inclusivity

Election conspiracists, CEOs who profit from immigrant detention, and other proponents of inequality have no place leading NYU. These trustees should be removed from office.
WSN Editorial Board September 13, 2021

The presence of an election conspiracist and the CEO of an investment firm with massive holdings in private prison and immigration concentration camp operators proves that the...

On Sept. 1, Hurricane Ida brought unprecedented amounts of rain to New York City and caused alarming floods. The damage has prompted more scrutiny on the city's future environmental agenda. (Staff Photo by Shaina Ahmed)

Opinion: Hurricane Ida highlights need for a more comprehensive climate strategy

The historic devastation Hurricane Ida wrought upon New York underscores the urgency of investing in climate infrastructure. Eric Adams’ climate plans, which remain vague, must prioritize climate resiliency and corporate accountability.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor September 13, 2021

Hurricane Ida dumped record levels of rain across New York City on Sept. 1, shutting down packed streets and highways and flooding subway stations. Damage and tragedy overwhelmed...

Recently, bills that restrict teaching critical race theory have been introduced in 27 states. In a city as diverse as New York, education about racism is extremely important. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: Opponents of critical race theory fail to understand its design

The rage against critical race theory comes from a place of ignorance. Education about racism is essential for students of all ages.
Alexis Tretschok, Staff Writer September 10, 2021

Over the summer, Republican legislators commenced a new phase in the ongoing debate regarding how to teach history classes about our nation's controversial policymakers. In June,...

In light of Texas passing a law banning abortions after six weeks, many memes comparing the law to the novel The Handmaid’s Tale have been posted on social media. These memes ignore the people most historically impacted by reproductive rights — people of color. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: White women, Texas is not your personal ‘Handmaid’s Tale’

In response to a Texas law banning abortions after six weeks, many white women posted memes comparing the law to Margaret Atwood's novel “The Handmaid's Tale.” But these memes ignore the history of those most affected by this new law: people of color.
Srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion Editor September 9, 2021

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law in May banning all abortions past the six-week mark and allowing private citizens to sue abortion providers, abortion seekers and those enabling...

The Daily Screener is a form developed by NYU to track the vaccination status of students and staff. However, given the information-carrying capacity of NYU ID cards, the Screener appears redundant and wastes people’s time. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: The NYU Daily Screener is redundant

There is no reason why we should have to show our Daily Screener and NYU ID to enter university buildings.
Kevin Kurian, Opinion Editor September 8, 2021

Despite NYU accepting the most diverse class in campus history, there are a handful of universal experiences among the student body that transcend race, gender and class. One of...

The Museum of Chinese in America located at 215 Centre St, was forced into closure after a massive fire. Following the closure, MOCA accepted $35 million in funds from the city as an agreement to De Blasio’s plan to build four borough-based jails, supporting mass incarceration. (Staff Photo by Alex Tran)

The Museum of Chinese in America should not support mass incarceration

MOCA should return funds accepted from the de Blasio administration and apologize to those protesting.
Mariana Trimble, Contributing Writer September 8, 2021

Protests against the Museum of Chinese in America have ensued since the museum reopened after being hit by both the pandemic and a fire. On its website, MOCA says it aims to “make...

The 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 is approaching this year. NYU has not done much to protect its Muslim, Arab, and South Asian students from racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia, many of whom are international students who may now know how to protect themselves. (Staff Photo by Trace Miller)

Opinion: NYU needs to protect Arab and Muslim students on the anniversary of 9/11

As the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 approaches, vulnerable populations are bracing themselves once more for the anniversary of one of the most infamous terrorist attacks. What will NYU do to protect students who are worried about what this anniversary means for their safety?
Srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion Editor September 2, 2021

The world changed on Sept. 11, 2001. Following the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, former President George Bush announced a War on Terror, created the Department of...

NYU continues construction on 181 Mercer Street in SoHo gentrifying the area. Mayor DeBlasio’s plan for affordable housing in the area does not serve the public interest of the surrounding area. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Opinion: De Blasio’s rezoning plan is gentrification in the making

Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to increase access to affordable housing for SoHo, NoHo and Chinatown residents with a controversial upzoning plan. The plan, however, will likely instead increase gentrification in NYU’s backyard and reduce net affordable housing. The City Planning Commision should reject it outright.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor September 1, 2021

Last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office introduced a rezoning plan targeting much of SoHo, NoHo and parts of Chinatown. The city has emphasized the plan’s potential to create...

WSN is undergoing a regeneration. We are more committed than ever to providing the truth to the students of New York University. (Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

Letter from the editor: on regeneration

Welcome to Washington Square News, NYU’s independent undergraduate newspaper.
Ashley Wu, Editor-in-Chief August 25, 2021

Dear Readers, A few weeks ago, I lost my notebook. It was a wire bound notebook from Muji that I wrote in almost every day. Powered by thoughts, drawings and bad jokes, the...