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

Politics

A concrete guard tower overlooks rubble and trash lying in the shadow of the tall, concrete Israeli West Bank separation barrier, which is covered in graffiti.

Opinion: NYU, shut down the Tel Aviv study abroad site

Amnesty International released a report last month concluding that Israel is guilty of perpetrating apartheid and other violations of international law against Palestinians. NYU’s Tel Aviv academic center and partnership with Tel Aviv University is nothing short of complacency and, by extension, complicity.
Trace Miller, Managing Editor March 1, 2022

NYU should shut down its Tel Aviv study abroad site. Maintaining an academic center in Israel signals complacency toward — and, thereby, complicity in — the apartheid, crimes...

A portrait of Eric Adams wearing a gray suit, white collared shirt and navy blue printed tie. He stands in front of a royal blue background and an American flag on a floor stand.

Editorial: Eric Adams needs to house the homeless, not attack them

Mayor Adams wants to make our trains safer by removing unhoused individuals. His plan, unfortunately, relies heavily on policing and other forms of carceral violence.
WSN Editorial Board February 28, 2022

Michelle Go was tragically pushed to her death at a subway station by an unhoused individual on Jan. 15. Her death incited much needed conversations about the rise in crime in...

An illustrated headshot of Rhode Island state senator Tiara Mack. She is wearing a royal blue shirt and circular glasses, and stands in front of a light blue background.

Opinion: Why it’s important to teach sex ed through a pleasure perspective

Pleasure is glaringly absent from sex education curricula around the country. Educators should encourage healthy dialogues around sexual pleasure, not teach abstinence and stunt children’s sexual development.
Aarna Dixit, Staff Writer February 25, 2022

Sex education is crucial to building healthy relationships and social interactions, but our society often fails to provide comprehensive sex education. Nineteen states in the United...

“The Joe Rogan Experience” is a podcast that debuted in December 2009, hosted by Joe Rogan, comedian and UFC color commentator. (Staff Illustration by Camila Ceballos)

Opinion: Is Joe Rogan really worth it, Spotify?

Following Joe Rogan’s controversial episode about the COVID-19 vaccination, Spotify should remove his podcast from its platform.
Valentina Plevisani, Contributing Writer February 17, 2022

Let's imagine you are the cofounder and CEO of one of the largest music and podcast streaming platforms in the world. You sign a more than $100 million deal with a podcaster. By...

Ties with the United Arab Emirates hamper freedom of academic expression at NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus. (Staff Photo by Roshni Raj)

Opinion: NYU must take a stand for academic freedom abroad

Multiple NYU study-away sites have been forced into academic censorship. Enough is enough.
Zach Banks, Staff Writer February 14, 2022

Our university’s torch logo should symbolize academic freedom and justice. Instead, it has come to stand for unfettered capitalism — selling out academic freedom to pad an...

(Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

Opinion: The country needs a pro-democracy movement. It can start with you.

Following the Senate’s failure to pass voting rights legislation, succumbing to defeatism is no longer an option.
Saha Guerrero, Staff Writer February 8, 2022

On Jan. 19, 50 Republican and two Democratic senators made the choice to preserve the filibuster over protecting the right to vote. The U.S. Senate failed to pass the Freedom to...

New York state Sen. Liz Krueger, a Democrat, represents District 28 on the eastern side of Manhattan. (Photo courtesy of NYS Senate Media Services)

Opinion: The NYC Board of Elections needs urgent reform

In light of the U.S. Senate’s failure to pass the John Lewis voting rights act, the New York state government must pass a bill to significantly reform the New York City Board of Elections in order to restore trust in democracy.
Michelle Han, Opinion Editor January 27, 2022

Just because Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) thinks the filibuster is more important than letting minorities vote does not mean that New York has to follow suit. The failure of...

Mayor Eric Adams recently converted his first paycheck to cryptocurrency. He previously declared that he would take his first three paychecks in Bitcoin. (Image via Wikimedia Commons, Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: Mayor Adams, don’t take your checks in crypto

While cryptocurrency could generate jobs in New York City, Mayor Eric Adams should not encourage the use of Bitcoin as a currency because of its instability and environmental harm.
Kevin Kurian, Opinion Editor January 26, 2022

Eric Adams, the self-proclaimed “Mayor of Swagger,” is attempting to breathe new life into a city afflicted by rising crime and a global pandemic. He’s maintained an eccentric...

One year ago today, domestic terrorists in support of former President Donald Trump stormed the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. (Staff Photo by Ryan Walker)

Opinion: The Jan. 6 insurrection, one year later

In order to ensure the health and safety of U.S. democracy, the Senate must censure or expel Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley.
Kevin Kurian, Opinion Editor January 6, 2022

A year ago today, right-wing rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to silence 81 million people who voted against former President Donald Trump. They came bearing firearms...

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...