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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

Politics

(Alex Woodworth for WSN)

Guest Essay: In protest of NYU Langone

Alex Denholtz is an MPA graduate student who recently resigned from the NYU Wagner School of Public Service in protest of NYU Langone’s cancellation of gender-affirming care for children.
Alex Denholtz, Guest Contributor February 6, 2025

“NYU is the best university to be transgender at,” I confided in my physical therapist last Thursday at the NYU Student Health Center. As he massaged my post-op incisions,...

(Sophia Di Iorio for WSN)

Opinion: What NYU owes Black students beyond Black History Month

NYU’s Black History Month celebrations ring hollow in light of the decline in Black student enrollment and the university’s stance on President Donald Trump’s radical anti-Black agenda.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor February 6, 2025

Every February, NYU claims to commit to honoring its Black students. Through the annual Martin Luther King Jr. week and performances from the NYU Percussion Ensemble, the university...

(Krish Dev for WSN)

Opinion: Trump’s new immigration policies put Arab, Muslim and pro-Palestinian students at risk

With a new travel ban on the horizon, international NYU students who are potentially at risk need to be aware of what lies ahead.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor January 30, 2025

In 2017, President Donald Trump enacted a drastic and unprecedented travel ban targeting Muslim-majority countries, halting immigration from countries such as Iran and Somalia...

(Marva Shi for WSN)

Opinion: The exploitation of prison labor

The prison labor system in New York state exploits incarcerated individuals, denying them fair wages, workplace protections and dignity.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor January 28, 2025

In New York, chairs in classrooms, street signs and license plates have one thing in common:  They are all produced by prison labor. As of 2024, around 1.8 million people were...

Opinion: Trump's TikTok ‘solution’ is all about control

Opinion: Trump’s TikTok ‘solution’ is all about control

President Trump’s justification for and reaction to the ban on TikTok show his intent for strict control of discourse on social media.
Leila Olukoga, Deputy Opinion Editor January 27, 2025

On the evening of Jan. 18, over 170 million TikTok users in the United States, including myself, found themselves unable to open the app. Before the app went dark, I — like many...

(Kevin Wu for WSN)

How you can help NYC’s homeless crisis

Homelessness in New York City has reached an unprecedented scale. However, there is a way for us to support those without shelter for just one night.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer January 24, 2025

For most NYU students, the worst of a cold January night will be facing the bitter winds as we walk into the warmth of our own dorms. Inside, it’s cozy with the radiators turned...

President Donald Trump addresses the press outside of the courtroom during his New York civil fraud case in New York City on Oct. 17, 2023. (Jason Alpert-Wisnia for WSN)

Opinion: New York City under Trump’s second term

As our country undergoes a second Trump administration, New York City faces threats to its economy, climate and progressive values.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor January 23, 2025

Just days into his second term, President Donald Trump signed executive orders that will change the fundamental principles of the United States as we know it. In an alarming string...

A protester holds up a white sign that reads “DISCLOSE, DIVEST”.

Opinion: NYU must sever ties with Tel Aviv University

From deadly military technology to an “engineering war room,” NYU's partner institution Tel Aviv University is not only complicit in but also contributes to Israel's war crimes.
Mehr Kotval, Opinion Editor December 11, 2024

On July 3, the Israeli military ordered the family of Muhammed Bhar, a 24-year-old man with Down syndrome and autism, to evacuate their home at gunpoint. During this altercation,...

An illustration of the flags of Ukraine and the United States crossed in front of a black-and-white drawing of destroyed buildings.

Off Topic: A ceasefire in Ukraine isn’t as simple as you think it is

For the past two years, the war in Ukraine has intensified. While President-elect Donald Trump has called for an immediate end to hostilities, he neglects the disadvantageous position Ukraine is in.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor December 10, 2024

To the non-apocalypse-minded among us, the Doomsday Clock tracks the human race’s relative proximity to self-caused human annihilation, measured by the number of hours and minutes...

An illustration of a rainbow-colored circle of holding hands. Inside the circle, there is an illustration of two people next to each other with a heart between them.

Opinion: Mutual aid keeps our communities alive — it’s time to get involved

Whether you want to volunteer your time, donate resources or simply learn more about mutual aid, here is the information you need to know about how to help you make a positive community impact.
Noor Maahin, Staff Writer December 5, 2024

In a school in the heart of New York City, students are surrounded by the manifestation of many social injustices with every block they turn. With thousands suffering on...

First lady Jill Biden, wearing a red dress and black boots, holds a cellphone as President Joe Biden, wearing a black suit with a blue tie, and his son Hunter Biden, wearing a black shirt, walk behind her.

Off Topic: Hunter Biden’s pardon highlights Democrats’ hypocrisy

After an election predicated on preserving democracy, this was a really bad time to prove just how rife with corruption the system can be.
Noah Zaldivar, Opinion Editor December 4, 2024

Watergate was a political scandal of unprecedented scale, which revealed the seedy underbelly of political espionage rampant in the halls of government. While the whole ordeal...

Three people wearing purple graduation gowns and black graduation caps are standing raising diplomas. To the left is former N.Y.U. president standing behind a purple-and-white N.Y.U. sign.

Opinion: No longer behind bars, but not truly free

Without support systems in place, many formerly incarcerated individuals in New York risk falling into a cycle of poverty and criminalization.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer December 3, 2024

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world, keeping about 2 million people behind bars at any given time and costing an absurd $182 billion...