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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

A stone bench with armrests on Astor Place.

Opinion: Hostile city planning hides homelessness, but doesn’t solve it.

Anti-homeless structures are not only cruel but ineffective, as they simply displace and exacerbate the homelessness crisis rather than alleviate it.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor December 2, 2024

Hostile architecture has a pervasive presence in New York City, though it often goes unnoticed. If you have ever seen window ledges spiked with metal, a barred street corner, or...

An illustration of seven people standing at purple podiums. One of the podiums has a spotlight on it, with a person raising their hand under the light. There is another spotlight that highlights the words “UP FOR DEBATE”.

Up for Debate: Should NYU adopt institutional restraint?

Following a recent trend of universities adopting institutional neutrality, NYU has expressed commitment to practicing “institutional restraint” in order to give “respect to the diverse experience and backgrounds at NYU.”
Mehr Kotval, Noah Zaldivar, Omar Drissi and Naisha Roy November 26, 2024

Naisha Roy, Editor-at-Large: The concept of institutional neutrality is inextricably linked to freedom of speech. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which gave...

A person holding a brown sign that says, “NYU RUNS ON MURDER DIVEST NOW.”

Off Topic: The Congo and Sudan exist in activism’s blind spot

Activism is a means of forcing the media to turn their attention to injustice, but too often, ongoing humanitarian crises like those in Sudan and the Congo go overlooked.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 22, 2024

The Sudanese Civil War has been characterized as one of the most dire humanitarian crises in the world, yet also one of the most underreported. As of October 2023, nearly 70% of...

An illustration of Donald Trump on the left of the drawing pointing his finger, and on the right are a crowd of different colored hands raised and three signs in the middle with the letters “D.E.I.”

Opinion: Will DEI survive another Trump presidency?

Trump’s second term promises a shutdown of all diversity, equity and inclusion programs — here’s what’s at stake for higher education and what NYU should do in response.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor November 20, 2024

As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term, his administration’s renewed attack on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives could mark a turning point for...

A caricature illustration of a large man wearing a white nationalist pin while sitting behind a microphone and in front of an upside down American flag.

Opinion: How alt-right media influenced the Gen Z vote

Trump courted the “bro” vote, exploiting the resurgence of toxic masculinity online to secure his election victory.
Annie Emans and Mehr Kotval November 19, 2024

On Nov. 5, a sexist rant from Nick Fuentes — a Gen Z right-wing media personality, podcaster and Holocaust denier — went viral, sparking conversations about sexism among young...

The exterior of a public restroom in a park.

Opinion: Let New Yorkers be free to pee

The shortage of public restrooms is a significant hardship and a profound indignity that unhoused New Yorkers endure every day.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer November 18, 2024

In 1990, a group of unhoused New Yorkers came together to file a class-action lawsuit against the city, citing the need for more public restrooms around the city. They argued that...

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. talking at a podium with a screen of the American flag behind him.

Off Topic: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s concerns about health care should concern you

President-elect Donald Trump's plan to appoint Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as his health secretary politicizes and endangers public health.
Grayson Stotz, Staff Writer November 18, 2024

In the weeks following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory, he has begun rolling out his Cabinet nominees, many of whom are political allies whose proposed policies would...

A three person panel sitting in front of a crowd. The left person has a blue spotlight on them, the person in the middle has a red and blue spotlight and the person on the right has a red spotlight.

Opinion: Student activism in the age of Trump

President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed policies and rhetoric surrounding protests on college campuses threaten the safety of protestors and the efficacy of the First Amendment.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 14, 2024

Many Americans have grown weary of the impending threats to their rights in the days following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory. Trump’s notoriety for impeding on various...

Opinion: NYU should reduce the amount of CAS core requirements

Opinion: NYU should reduce the amount of CAS core requirements

Core requirements at the College of Arts & Science may be helpful — to an extent — but the sheer abundance of them only holds students back.
Amanda Chen, Contributing Writer November 12, 2024

During my first two years of college, I spent countless hours reading philosophical texts, writing pages after pages of essays, making sense of equations and memorizing names,...

An illustration of the Earth on fire. Laying on top of the Earth is a student on their phone.

Off Topic: Doom scrolling destroys the planet — not just your mood

Generation Z may be social-media warriors when it comes to climate activism, but our online activism and activity may be having unintended negative effects.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor November 11, 2024

Climate change has been at the forefront of political debates for decades, with Generation Z leading the charge in recent years. Nearly 50% of Gen Z say mitigating the impacts...

An illustration of Donald Trump pointing his finger at a group of figures wearing graduation caps. Behind them are flags of the world.

Guest Essay: Studying as an international student under a second Trump administration

Kevin Hu is a Senator at-Large representing the constituency of International Students Seeking Employment in the NYU Student Senators Council and Student Government Assembly.
Kevin Hu, Senator at-Large November 11, 2024

10043. For most Americans, that number means nothing. However, ask any Chinese student you encounter on campus, and they’ll tell you how these five digits symbolize the fragility...

Red text reading “EXEMPTION” overlays a stack of tax forms.

Opinion: NYU’s tax-exempt status puts other New York schools at a disadvantage

The university must recognize its place in New York City and how its privileged position disadvantages the students and schools around it.
Muhammad Siddiqui, Staff Writer November 8, 2024

NYU is among the top 10 largest private landlords in New York City, a position bolstered by tax exemptions that save the institution around $142 million annually as it continues...