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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

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office released the second part of his reform plan for the NYPD last Friday. While the plan promises to create a city “that never participate[s] in, or tolerate[s] any further inequality or justice,” it only offers abstractions and empty promises. (Photo by Marva Shi)

OPINION: De Blasio’s police reform is hollow and insufficient

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new police reform plan is full of abstract ideals and does not take the concrete, radical action necessary to transform the current reality of a violent NYPD.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor April 15, 2021

After a summer swept by protests for racial justice and demonstrations demanding the New York Police Department be defunded and held accountable for its violent racism, Mayor Bill...

A Trump supporter wears a MAGA hat at a midtown rally during the 2020 election. Trumpism has taken over the Republican Party. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

OPINION: Post-Trump, Republicans don’t stand for anything

After Trump left the White House, Republicans are prepared to double-down on his legacy. By tracing the roots of how the GOP became consumed by Trumpism, we can see that the Republican Party is now incredibly fragile.
Jack Li, Staff Writer April 14, 2021

“Do you miss me yet? Do you miss me?” After a five-week hiatus, the 45th President of the United States announced his presence at the Conservative Political Action Conference...

President Biden, cancel student loan debt

President Biden, cancel student loan debt

The Biden administration is considering the cancellation of up to $50K of student loan debt through an executive order. Doing so would benefit NYU students.
Kevin Kurian, Deputy Opinion Editor April 12, 2021

In a sharp departure from his centrist posturing during the Democratic primary, President Biden embraced the power of his office by signing more executive orders in his first two...

The NYPD’s war against racial justice protesters

The NYPD’s war against racial justice protesters

According to recently leaked documents, the New York City Police Department’s anti-terror unit trained officers to disregard the constitutional rights of demonstrators during last summer’s protests for racial justice. This unit must be disbanded and officers involved held accountable for these abuses.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor April 12, 2021

Beaten with batons, assaulted with pepper spray, shoved to the ground and unlawfully arrested — these are only a few examples of the force inflicted by the New York Police Department...

NYU needs to combat the bystander effect

NYU needs to combat the bystander effect

The recent rise of anti-Asian hate crimes has highlighted how dangerous it is to be a bystander in times of crisis. NYU must do more to combat this violence through more robust bystander intervention training.
WSN Editorial Board April 5, 2021

On Monday, March 29, three men at a luxury apartment complex in midtown Manhattan watched as an assailant beat and kicked 65-year-old Vilma Kari on the sidewalk outside. A man...

Students with special needs must be prioritized

Students with special needs must be prioritized

The current plan for in-person instruction issued by the New York City Department of Education leaves out students with special education needs: a vulnerable population of students whose academic performance is threatened by school closings.
Batoul Saleh, Contributing Writer March 31, 2021

Parents, students and teachers rallied at the Department of Education headquarters on March 13. They demanded that schools be reopened after over a year of virtual learning due...

America’s press should not be the arbiter of Bolivian democracy

America’s press should not be the arbiter of Bolivian democracy

News outlets have created a narrative around the latest political developments in Bolivia. However, there’s good reason to be skeptical of media interpretations.
Max Tiefer, Contributing Writer March 30, 2021

Jeanine Áñez, the former interim Bolivian president, was arrested by President Luis Arce’s administration on March 13. Áñez governed for a year, during which she presided...

Disabled subway riders deserve better

Disabled subway riders deserve better

Only about a quarter of New York City subway stations are accessible to disabled residents. Despite this, the MTA spends taxpayer dollars fighting accessibility lawsuits instead of paying for more accessible stations.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor March 29, 2021

Only about 25% of New York City’s subway stations are accessible for disabled people, whether that's through wheelchairs, ramps or elevator access. Of those accessible stations...

America needs high-speed rail

America needs high-speed rail

The rest of the developed world is eating America’s lunch in high-speed rail. Our country needs to act by making it a central part of President Biden’s infrastructure proposal.
Kevin Kurian, Deputy Opinion Editor March 26, 2021

The United States falls behind the rest of the developed world when it comes to high-speed rail. From the Czech Republic to China, governments across the world are innovating to...

De Blasio's police reform is hollow and insufficient

De Blasio’s police reform is hollow and insufficient

Mayor Bill de Blasio’s new police reform plan is full of abstract ideals and does not take the concrete, radical action necessary to transform the current reality of a violent NYPD.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor March 16, 2021

After a summer swept by protests for racial justice and demonstrations demanding the New York Police Department be defunded and held accountable for its violent racism, Mayor Bill...

We Should Be Able to Recall Cuomo

We Should Be Able to Recall Cuomo

Cuomo has betrayed the public's trust by harassing women and covering up the pandemic’s true toll on New York’s nursing homes. Voters should have the ability to recall the governor.
Kevin Kurian, Deputy Opinion Editor March 9, 2021

The past several weeks have shown the nation that a miscreant occupies the New York governor’s mansion. From being accused of sexual misconduct by five women to lying to the...

Romney Plays the Political Game Better Than We Think

Romney Plays the Political Game Better Than We Think

Since committing publicly to supporting President Donald Trump's Supreme Court replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Senator Mitt Romney has many progressives confused as to why a seemingly moderate Republican would take such a partisan stance. What these critics miss is that Romney has never changed.
Sofie Schwallie, Contributing Writer September 24, 2020

After the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, one of the most renowned justices of the modern era, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY.) quickly...