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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

Under the Arch

Welcome to Under the Arch, WSN’s magazine. Under the Arch publishes editions with a unique theme each month. For more information or to contribute, please contact [email protected].

The Oculus, which draws in many viewers per day, is now a sterile-looking ghost town. (Photo by Aleksandra Pankratova)

New York City, Asleep at Last

A journey through the empty streets of New York City during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Aleksandra Pankratova, Contributing Photographer March 30, 2020

It is Sunday, March 22, in one of the biggest cities in the world, through what used to be some of its most crowded neighborhoods, along some of the busiest streets. Areas...

(Staff Illustration by Sammy Tavassoli)

The Challenge of Navigating an Intersectional Identity as a Queer Student of Color

Students discuss the tools they use for self-acceptance when their queer identities clash with the cultural norms they associate with home.
Sammy Tavassoli, Under the Arch Deputy Editor March 30, 2020

After one NYU student first came out as queer to their mother, they never spoke about it again.  To the student, identifying as queer, a slur now broadly reclaimed by the LGBTQ+...

Side Hustling, Chapter 4: The Final Hours

Side Hustling, Chapter 4: The Final Hours

Presenting the final chapter of our March serial, “Side Hustling.”
Amelie Brooks, Staff Writer March 25, 2020

“If you need any more work, let me know,” Roy tells me after he hands me the face cream. “I’ll be inside.”  “Inside where?” I ask. When I turn back around, he’s...

Illustrated by Julia Hope Riguerra.

“Hi! Where are you from?”

When you live far away, home looks a little different every time you return.
Vaishnavi Naidu, Contributing Writer March 23, 2020

When I moved to India at the age of nine, it became easy and almost natural to associate everything good I had ever known with America: annual passes to Disneyland, self-checkout...

Side Hustling, Chapter 3: Wait — Roosevelt Island Is Real?

Side Hustling, Chapter 3: Wait — Roosevelt Island Is Real?

In the third installment of this month’s serial, Valerie must retrieve a mysterious package for Richard.
Jessica Fiorella, Voices Editor March 18, 2020

After accidentally destroying her roommate’s computer, Valerie must pick up a series of odd jobs in order to rectify the situation. As I tuck Miles into bed, his father bursts...

Illustrated by Caitlin Hsu.

Reducing Your Conscience: Living With OCD

A personal narrative about living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder.
Caitlin Hsu, Contributing Writer March 11, 2020

You arrive at CVS armed with Alex’s five dollar bill and yours. He’s in class, so you set off alone to purchase a 10 dollar bag of trail mix to make up for the one he and you...

Side Hustling, Chapter 2: Men Are From Mars, Kids Are From Hell

Side Hustling, Chapter 2: Men Are From Mars, Kids Are From Hell

In the second installment of this month’s serial, Valerie is tasked with babysitting an unruly kid who has a knack for playing with fire.
Becca Stevenson, Staff Writer March 11, 2020

After accidentally destroying her roommate’s computer, Valerie must pick up a series of odd jobs in order to rectify the situation. I try to manifest $800 by imagining the green...

A few blocks away from the art foundation, a traditional Chinese portal welcomed everyone to Shanghai’s Old Street Fangbang Middle Road and Guangqi Road. There were small shops, restaurants and dozens of motorbikes dodging the pedestrians that were walking on the road because there wasn’t a proper sidewalk.

Shanghai Flâneur

A photographic compilation retracing my steps around the city I hope to visit again.
Alejandra Arevalo, Under the Arch Deputy Editor March 9, 2020

Illustrated by Rachel Lee.

How to Fall Out of Love

A personal essay on what it means to let go.
Annabelle Tocco, Staff Writer March 4, 2020

In the 21 years I’ve been alive I have fallen in love about 500 times over. With colors, places, the taste of a scone in the English countryside, the way crickets sound at midnight,...

Illustrated by Rachel Lee.

Side Hustling, Chapter 1: The Dogs and the Disaster

In the first installment of this month’s serial, college student Valerie goes up against a pack of unruly lap dogs.
Alec Winshel, Staff Writer March 4, 2020

After accidentally destroying her roommate’s computer, Valerie must pick up a series of odd jobs in order to rectify the situation. Dogs are basically computers. Their operating...

Illustrated by Julia Hope Riguerra.

Letters to the Graduate, From the Graduating

An attempt to wrap your head around what the f-ck has just happened to you.
Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes, Voices Editor March 2, 2020

Read a transcript of Maxine's poem here: Graduating... _is like breaking up with the person you lit candles for, bought roses for, made mixtapes for, like blacking...

Illustrated by Rachel Lee.

Italian Horror Story

A personal narrative about living alone for a week in Florence, Italy.
Eugene Hu, Staff Writer February 24, 2020

It felt like a horror film: I was always alone and not alone at the same time. After a full day of treading through Florence’s art museums during the one-week field trip with...