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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

An illustration of seven clocks against a pale yellow background. Each clock is set to a different time.

Editorial: Make daylight saving time permanent

The Sunshine Protection Act would bring a much-needed end to the biannual clock switching, placing us permanently on daylight saving time.
WSN Editorial Board March 28, 2022

Two weeks ago, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bill to make daylight saving time permanent. Called the Sunshine Protection Act, the bill would put an end to the changing...

The exterior of the Manhattan Detention Complex. A skyway bridge connects both sides of the brown building. On the ground below, cars are parked in parking spots marked with yellow lines on the right side, and a van with the New York Police Department logo and the text “NYCD Correction” on the back is parked on the left side.

Opinion: Anti-Asian hate crimes are not a reason to bolster policing

Asian American communities across the country are being targeted in anti-Asian hate crimes. While these communities deserve to feel safe, an increase in policing is not the answer.
Srishti Bungle, Opinion Editor March 10, 2022

Seven students were attacked on NYU’s campus between Feb. 2 and Feb. 25. At least three of the students assaulted were Asian. These blatantly targeted assaults are part of the...

Six protesters stand by the Washington Square Park fountain holding up cardboard posters and a Ukrainian flag in support of ending the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Opinion: Stop publishing pieces on how to ‘cope’ with the invasion of Ukraine

Coverage of the war should focus on how to help Ukrainian people, not how to destress.
Jules Roscoe, Deputy Opinion Editor March 8, 2022

I was walking out of a morning class on Feb. 28, just four days after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Two of my classmates strolled...

A cardboard sign with the words “Stop Asian Hate” in pale blue letters held by someone in a crowd of protesters.

Editorial: 6 Asian students were attacked on campus. Why did NYU take weeks to respond?

NYU’s response to attacks on Asian students on its campus has been extremely dismissive. The university must urgently address the safety concerns of Asian students.
WSN Editorial Board March 7, 2022

In February, seven students were assaulted on NYU’s campus. At least four of them were likely assaulted by the same man. Of the four students he attacked initially, three were...

Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks at a podium during a press conference. She stands in front of an American flag and a royal blue background. She is wearing a black blazer with a pale blue collared shirt.

Opinion: Struggling New Yorkers need Good Cause Eviction legislation

The state eviction moratorium expired in February, leaving thousands of New Yorkers — Black renters in particular — vulnerable to homelessness. A proposed Good Cause Eviction bill would limit rent hikes and reduce evictions.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Managing Editor March 7, 2022

As New York rent prices increase to their highest levels in decades, Gov. Kathy Hochul has left tenants out to dry. The eviction moratorium that allowed hundreds of thousands of...

An illustration of a white voting ballot with a pen writing in black ink. Behind the ballot is the Empire State Building and the larger New York City skyline.

Opinion: New York, make it easier to get on the ballot

New York state lawmakers’ efforts to reform ballot access laws highlight the need to make running for office more accessible.
Michelle Han, Opinion Editor March 4, 2022

Over at New York’s capital, two Democratic state leaders are pushing for legislation to reform the complicated ballot access laws that deter many potential candidates from running...

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...