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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

University Life

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...

NYU dining halls’ take-out packaging has accelerated plastic consumption at NYU. (Photo by Kiran Komanduri)

Opinion: NYU Eats Grab & Go should be more eco-friendly

The Grab & Go system at NYU’s dining halls creates excessive waste and must become more environmentally sustainable.
Grace Homan, Staff Writer February 10, 2022

The Grab & Go option is offered at all 14 NYU Eats locations and allows students to take food from the dining hall with single-use plastic containers and utensils. The United...

In light of rapidly declining omicron numbers and a high vaccination rate, NYU is easing its COVID-19 guidelines and policies. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU is right to reopen campus

In light of the rapidly declining omicron numbers and a high vaccination rate, NYU made the right decision to drop certain COVID-19 restrictions.
Alexandra Cohen, Staff Writer February 4, 2022

I imagined the start of college looking more like season four of “Gilmore Girls” and less like “Grey’s Anatomy.” I dreamed of developing a cafeteria crush, sitting indoors...

NYU Divest members sit in on the 12th floor of Bobst Library waiting to confront university administrators in 2015. (Photo by Lexi Faunce)

Opinion: NYU investors must commit to sustainability

From divesting to uplifting clean energy initiatives, NYU’s board of trustees must increase the sustainability and transparency of their investment decisions.
Clara Scholl, Contributing Writer February 2, 2022

In 2015, NYU’s student body led an “NYU Divest” campaign urging the administration and board of trustees to stop investing the university’s endowment in fossil fuels. Prompted...

To reduce the school's carbon footprint, NYU should go paperless by default. (Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

Opinion: NYU should go paperless

The return of in-person classes has brought the return of printed syllabi. NYU should take action to go paperless.
Alexandra Cohen, Staff Writer January 31, 2022

As my class ended, I went to throw away my freshly printed syllabus in front of my professor. I didn’t want to be disrespectful — I just knew that I could access the syllabus...

An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.

Letter to the Editor: The English Language Institute’s closure is a tragic step back

In response to a recent letter to the editor, a former English Language Institute student offers his perspective on the program’s closure.
José Navajas Trobat January 31, 2022

This is a time for disappointment. After so many years, so many students, so much education and information received, after so many things learned about a great country and about...

Despite opting for in-person classes this spring, NYU has not provided adequate support to students and faculty — making it difficult for them to navigate the new semester amid the ongoing pandemic. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU’s handling of COVID-19 is a valid reason to take a leave of absence

Between confused faculty and administrators, ineffective online learning methods and a tuition of $80,000 per year, it's OK that you want time off.
Jules Roscoe, UTA Staff Editor January 28, 2022

NYU announced its spring 2022 reopening plans in a university-wide email on Jan. 12. The reaction was a mix of enthusiasm and concern. Students have been yearning for a normal...

An illustration of hand turning a page of a print edition of WSN. The image on the front page is a smaller version of that illustration, suggesting infinite recursion.

Letter from the editor: On transition

Transitions are perpetual, uncomfortable and inevitable. Meet WSN's new editor-in-chief.
Alex Tey, Editor-in-Chief January 24, 2022

Dear readers, This is a strange time to be attending college. Last spring was mostly online, last fall was mostly in person, and now we’re in this in-between zone where...

Despite the surge in cases of the omicron variant, NYU announced that classes will be held in-person. However, the omicron variant can be fatal for disabled and immunocompromised students, whose health and safety continue to be overlooked. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU’s reopening is ableist

NYU’s decision to start the spring semester with in-person instruction demonstrates a gross disregard for its most vulnerable students.
Srishti Bungle, Deputy Opinion Editor January 17, 2022

NYU’s recent announcement that the university will hold in-person instruction during the spring 2022 semester included a revealing concession. “To be clear, in all likelihood,...

(Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Opinion: Defending WSN’s coverage of the ELI

A response to NYU spokesperson John Beckman's inaccurate Letter to the Editor criticizing WSN's coverage of the ELI.
Alexandra Chan, Managing Editor December 15, 2021

The university’s response (Dec. 14, “Letter to the Editor: WSN's coverage of the ELI is erroneous”) to WSN’s reporting on the English Language Institute raises concerns...

NYU needs to cut ties with Michael Steinhardt and rename the school that bears his name.

Opinion: NYU should sever all ties with Michael Steinhardt 

The board of trustees must change the name of the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development given Steinhardt’s proven record as a looter and sexual predator.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor December 10, 2021

Michael Steinhardt, billionaire, hedge fund manager and the namesake of the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, was forced to surrender $70 million...

An illustration of a megaphone with a red handle. Written in orange on the megaphone are the words “Staff Rants.”

Staff Rants: The end of the semester

From existential questions to never-ending homework, our staff has a lot to say in the last Staff Rants of the semester.

On leaving Ashley Wu — Editor-in-Chief I didn't know I'd be graduating this semester. It came as a bit of a surprise. After scheduling a meeting with my counselor,...