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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

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...

Squid Game, the popular South Korean survival drama, investigates the destruction done by debt behind its violence and gore. As millions of students struggle to pay off student debt, the series presents a visually exaggerated but ideologically effective parallel. (Image courtesy of Netflix)

Opinion: Netflix’s ‘Squid Game’ is a hit among college students suffering under student debt

The Netflix series “Squid Game” starts a conversation on the debt that college students cannot afford to disregard.
Sade Collier, Staff Writer November 9, 2021

In the seventh episode of the dystopian psychological thriller “Squid Game,” contestants are instructed to cross a bridge constructed with glass panels of varying durability....

NYU Langone Health should include Juneteenth on its holiday calendar. Recognizing Juneteenth as a holiday would be an act of recognition that shows Langone acknowledges the historical wrong of slavery. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU Langone failed by not designating Juneteenth as a holiday

Instead of offering employees an optional “Cultural Heritage Day” in place of Juneteenth, NYU Langone should do the right thing by acknowledging the historical significance of June 19.
Kevin Kurian, Opinion Editor November 8, 2021

WSN recently reported that NYU Langone Health, NYU’s academic health center, did not include Juneteenth on its holiday calendar, instead allowing employees to choose one...

Last week, Bill de Blasio filed paperwork that set him up for a New York gubernatorial campaign. Before taking further steps, he should address the concerns surrounding his misuse of security detail as mayor and make financial reimbursements to taxpayers. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: NYC deserves answers and reimbursements from Bill de Blasio

Before rushing to file for the governor’s race, Bill de Blasio should properly address his misuse of security detail as mayor and make appropriate financial reimbursements.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor November 4, 2021

With Eric Adams’ mayoral win confirmed Tuesday, Nov. 2, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s time in office is drawing to a close. De Blasio has already begun to prepare for his next political...

India Walton is a democratic socialist who won the Buffalo’s mayoral Democratic primary in June. While Buffalo’s majority-Democratic electorate would typically ensure Walton’s election as mayor, some of her fellow Democrats have refused to endorse her. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Opinion: Buffalo mayoral candidate India Walton deserves Democrats’ endorsement

The lack of support for democratic socialist India Walton among New York state Democrats is unacceptable and foolish politics. 
Kevin Kurian, Opinion Editor October 26, 2021

Democratic socialist India Walton defeated incumbent Mayor Byron Brown’s attempt to seek a fifth term in the Buffalo mayoral primary in June. In this predominantly Democratic...

The UN has done more than most realize to curb the effects of climate change. The organization is set to commence the Climate Change Conference on Oct. 31. (Photo by Camila Ceballos)

Opinion: The UN is taking substantial action against climate change

Despite climate defeatism and cynicism surrounding the U.N., the organization is making a difference in the fight for a greener future.
Camila Ceballos, Staff Writer October 25, 2021

As the United Nations prepares for this year's Climate Change Conference, starting on Oct. 31 in the United Kingdom, the efficacy of past efforts regarding climate change...

Kirsten Gillibrand has served as a junior New York Senator since 2009. Her internship program has been criticized for its inaccessibility to low-income applicants and lack of diversity. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: Kirsten Gillibrand needs to right the wrongs of her internship program

When it comes to her internship program, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is par for the course on the patronage, exploitation and corruption of Washington, D.C.
Zach Banks, Staff Writer October 21, 2021

As the competitive application season rolls around for those aspiring to be a congressional intern this spring, college students are putting the final touches on their resumes...