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

Ethan Zack

Ethan Zack, Deputy Managing Editor

Ethan is a junior in CAS majoring in Journalism and History. When he's not stumbling through an endless stream of Zoom classes, he's doing fun and cool things like reading the Wikipedia plot summaries of horror movies because he's too scared to actually watch them or making yet another three-song playlist that he will literally never touch again, ever. He's most active on Twitter (@ethanzack), so feel free to reach out with any spicy takes.

All content by Ethan Zack
NYU announced it would still be holding Grad Alley — just over VR. (Image by Bella Gil)

The Highs and Lows of Virtual Reality Grad Alley

WSN’s top gamers went to Virtual Reality Grad Alley. Here’s what happened.

To call these times unprecedented would not only be an understatement, it would also just be repetitive. But something that perhaps nobody expected, despite everything that’s...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

Weekly Radio Roundup: Final Edition of the Semester

The most exciting tunes as you get ready to let loose in the summertime.

The end is near and the statement isn’t necessarily foreboding. The end suggests the completion of finals and the freedom to wander the streets freely for the first time in months....

Online gift cards, donations, live streams and more are still viable options during this time. The WSN Arts desk lists some ways you can still support independent artists from a safe social distance. (Staff Illustration by Charlie Dodge)

How to Support New York’s Vibrant Independent Arts Scene

Even though New York is on pause, that doesn’t mean you still can’t support your favorite local bookstore or movie theater from home.

One week ago, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio ordered New York City movie theaters to shut down as part of many initiatives to hopefully “flatten the curve.” Earlier in...

The arts desk is back with some recommendations of singles you may have missed this week.(Illustration by Rachel Buigas-Lopez)

Weekly Radio Roundup: March 7 – March 13

The most exciting singles that came out over the course of the week.

It’s National Women’s History Month! But we’re also navigating a global pandemic and the constant presence of hovering parents at a time when we should be enjoying the blessedness...

In the mood for love? WSN recommends some Valentine singles you may have missed this week.(Illustration by Rachel Buigas-Lopez)

Staff Recs: Valentine’s Day Edition

The Arts Desk recommends the best films, music and galleries for you to enjoy this Valentine’s Day.

Ashley Wu, Deputy Arts Editor  Even though Valentine’s Day was invented by Hallmark to sell greeting cards, let’s try to forget about capitalism for a second and celebrate...

The cold traps a woman in a lodge to confront the trauma from her past. Veronika Franz and Severin Fialas The Lodge is now playing in select theaters. (Photo by Ethan Zack)

Photo: ‘The Lodge’: An Elegant Horror Movie that Stumbles at the Last Hurdle

Feb 13, 2020

The cold traps a woman in a lodge to confront the trauma from her past. Veronika Franz and Severin Fiala's The Lodge is now playing in select theaters. (Photo by Ethan Zack)

Weekly Radio Roundup: Jan. 31 - Feb. 3

Weekly Radio Roundup: Jan. 31 – Feb. 3

The most exciting singles that came out over the course of the week.

In a week of wonders, Porter Robinson is back after a long hiatus and Elon Musk is now an aspiring artist? I guess if this edition of Weekly Radio Roundup proves anything, it’s...

The Emmy-nominated comedy aired its series finale on January 30. (Staff illustration by Jake Capriotti)

‘The Good Place’ Walks Through the Final Door

The series finale of the NBC comedy focuses on the beauty of the end.
Ethan Zack, Arts Editor Feb 3, 2020

Content warning: This article contains spoilers. I was just five minutes into the series finale of “The Good Place” when I started crying. When the penultimate episode...

Staff Rants and Raves: Back to School

Staff Rants and Raves: Back to School

The first week of courses always fills people with mixed emotions. Here are our staff’s takes on the subject.

Rants On Masks Alexandra Chan, Deputy Photo Editor Growing up in post-SARS Hong Kong, wearing masks is very normal to me. It blows my mind that there is an American (or...

Seven NYU Alumni took home nine wins at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night. (Image via Wikipedia)

Grammy Awards 2020 Winners Include Seven NYU Alumni

Former NYU students featured across numerous categories, from Album of the Year to Best New Artist.
Ethan Zack, Arts Editor Jan 28, 2020

At the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday night, 23 NYU alumni managed to total 36 nominations across 22 categories. At the end of the night, the alumni had taken home eight wins. Winners ...

The Final Staff Rants (of the Semester)

The Final Staff Rants (of the Semester)

In honor of the semester’s final Staff Rants, we have no theme — only pent-up rage.

On Free Space By Ishaan Parmar, Deputy News Editor Look, I get it. We’re all on the homework grind. CAS, Liberal Studies, Stern, Tisch — we all have homework, and none...

Tongue-in-cheek lyricism and pop-sensible melodies mixed with gritty, raw, Hayley Williams-esque vocal prowess is what is making everyone talk about NYC singer-songwriter Morgan Keller.  (Via Morgan Keller)

Morgan Keller Is in the Business of Music

The Steinhardt junior uses her studies of the music industry to get songs all the way from lyrics on a page to Spotify.
Ethan Zack, Music Editor Dec 4, 2019

Morgan Keller wants to be a part of it all. The Steinhardt junior and musician isn’t satisfied just sending away her vocals for some producers to package into a final product...

Staff Rants and Raves: Thanksgiving

Staff Rants and Raves: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a divisive holiday, to say the least. Here’s what our staff has to say about it.

Rants On Family Bonding By Alexandria Johnson, Deputy News Editor Don't get me wrong — I love Thanksgiving. I love waking up at 7 a.m. to cook food and eating it at the...

From pop to lofi, WSNs Arts Desk recommends their favorite music to study to. (via YouTube @ChilledCow)

Staff Recs: Good Music for Studying

The Arts Desk collects the perfect chill tunes for a serious study session.
Ethan Zack, Julie Goldberg, and Fareid El Gafy Nov 22, 2019

“logical” by Shuttle358 Songs with lyrics are a bust for me when it comes to background music for studying. I always feel tempted to turn the volume up so I can hear the vocals...

Jeffrey Miller performs his first-ever set at the Funhouse concert. (Via Quadio Media)

‘Funhouse’: A Concert By, for and Featuring Students

The Quadio-Tigris collaboration celebrated local musicians late into the night.
Ethan Zack, Music Editor Nov 20, 2019

On the Smarties-adorned stage inside the SubCulture building on Bleecker Street, in a purple-pink haze of smoke and sweat, stood a small, huddled group. For the combined forces...

Staff Rants and Raves: Transportation

Staff Rants and Raves: Transportation

We’re all going places in some way or another. Here’s what our staff has to say about it.

Rants On the NYU Airport Shuttle By Bella Gil, Beauty and Style Editor Getting back and forth between JFK airport and campus is one skill I’ve yet to master. If traveling...

Staff Rants: Course Registration

Staff Rants: Course Registration

We have no Staff Raves this week. Course registration is the worst.

On Jumping Through Hoops By Ethan Zack, Music Editor Can someone please tell me why underclassmen have to make an appointment with their advisor before they can register...

From Mamma Mia! to Joker, the Arts Desk recommends several last-minute, movie-inspired costumes for Halloween. (via Warner Bros)

Staff Recs: Halloween Costumes

Scrambling to put together a last-minute Halloween costume? The Arts Desk has you covered with these costumes based on characters from some of our favorite movies.

Donna Sheridan from “Mamma Mia!” (the movie version) Be the ultimate dancing queen this Halloween in your very own Donna Sheridan costume from “Mamma Mia!” Halloween...

Staff Rants and Raves: Twitter

Staff Rants and Raves: Twitter

Twitter: Where memes come to life, where movements come to fruition, and where presidents come to rant. Hear what our staff has to say on what might be both the most multifaceted and divisive form of social media.

Rants On Dreams of Anonymity By Ethan Zack, Music Editor Having a Twitter account is a constant struggle between the absolute euphoria of being seen and the unrelenting...

The Lighthouse, a thriller movie directed by Robert Eggers, released on October 18, 2019. (Via Facebook)

‘The Lighthouse’ Merges Classic Saltwater Horror with Modern Experimentalism

Robert Egger's latest film proves there is indeed enchantment in the light.
Ethan Zack, Music Editor Oct 21, 2019

“The Lighthouse” could have been nothing more than a novelty. The stylish black and white veneer of the film that harkens back to early cinema ensured a unique visual treat...

A Purpose in Every Pixel

A Purpose in Every Pixel

One Tisch alumnus infuses his video games with autobiographical meaning and meticulous artistry.
Ethan Zack, Music Editor Oct 17, 2019

Tisch alumnus Julián Cordero ’19 doesn’t own a single modern video game console. He doesn’t like to play games for more than a short period of time. He rarely interacts...

Staff Rants and Raves: Music

Staff Rants and Raves: Music

Whether you’re listening to your favorite playlist on the way to work or overhearing someone else’s at 4 a.m., music can evoke many emotions. Here’s what our staff has to say about it.

Rants On Pointless Effort By Ethan Zack, Music Editor Trying to make a good playlist has to be one of the most excruciating things you can subject yourself to. You’re...

(via YouTube)

Staff Recs: Pretentious Films to Impress Your Fake Friends

Need to sound like you know about movies? Here are a few of our go-tos.

Your friends told you to watch it. It was on your Amazon recommended list. And now the Arts Desk of WSN, a group of complete strangers, is going to reinforce everything that they’ve...

Larry David at a film festival in 2009. (Via Wikimedia)

Unpopular Opinions: Unconventionally Hot Girl Summer

The Arts Desk weighs in on some underrated hotties in the entertainment industry.

Hot Girl Summer is ending and with so many unconventionally attractive additions to the Hot Girl Summer canon (Lizzo, Billie Eilish, Beto O’Rourke), we at the Arts Desk thought...

Staff Rants & Raves: Welcome Week Edition

Staff Rants & Raves: Welcome Week Edition

Welcome Week might technically be over, but it lives on forever in the hearts of our staff. Here’s why.

Staff Rants On Getting Rejected from Events By Sam Brinton, Copy Chief My Welcome Week experience can be summed up by long waits and longer-lasting disappointments. For...

BROCKHAMPTON released its new album, GINGER, on Aug. 23. (via Twitter)

BROCKHAMPTON Rests On Its Laurels With “GINGER”

The band’s new album does a solid enough job, but could have been so much more.
Ethan Zack, Music Editor Sep 3, 2019

Maintaining their streak of a project per year, genre-bending boy band BROCKHAMPTON released its sixth album “GINGER” as a swan song after a summer chock full of large-scale...

Pom Pom Squad frontrunner Mia Berren. (via Facebook)

Pom Pom Squad Walks Forward While Looking Back

The local indie rock group’s homegrown roots haven’t stopped their forward momentum.
Ethan Zack, Music Editor Aug 24, 2019

It wasn’t too long ago that the Brooklyn-based indie rock band Pom Pom Squad was nothing more than an inkling of an idea in the back of the mind of a high schooler. Now, the...

A poster for Barry, a new HBO comedy series that follows a low-level hit man turned actor. (via facebook.com)

Second Season of ‘Barry’ Promises a Steady Descent Into Darkness

The show’s sophomore season feels like a natural continuation of something that was already great by itself.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Apr 16, 2019

When the main character isn’t shooting people full of lead, he’s making time to take an acting class and find some friends. It’s an unlikely premise, but Bill Hader and Alec...

Anderson Paak (via facebook)

Anderson .Paak Releases an Ode to Old

The R&B musician’s latest album harkens back to his hazy soul roots.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Apr 15, 2019

In a turnaround so quick it might have given his fans whiplash, rhythm and blues artist Anderson .Paak released his fourth studio album “Ventura” just months after his third,...

Detective Mike Hoolihan (Patricia Clarkson) investigates the murder of Jennifer Rockwell (Mamie Gummer) (Courtesy of BBC Films)

‘Out of Blue’ Hides Its Messy Narrative Behind Impressive Atmosphere

The new detective thriller feels like an experiment into what a competently-made movie would look like if it had its narrative amputated.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Mar 12, 2019

I spent more time trying to make up my mind on how I felt about “Ocean Blue” than I spent actually watching the film. The Carol Morley-directed flick is an adaptation of the...

Weezers Black Album Cover. (via Facebook)

Fortnite’s Music Releases Can’t Replace Traditional Methods

The battle royale game has been hosting several musical events in the past few months, but they don’t move beyond simple novelties.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Mar 11, 2019

Before Weezer’s latest self-titled album — referred to as the “Black Album” — released in stores on March 1, there was only one platform to preview several of its songs....

The thumbnail of Ariana Grandes thank u next audio version. (via Youtube)

Ariana Grande Is Brutally Transparent on Her Latest Album

"thank u, next" sets itself apart as an extremely personal project for the pop megastar.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Feb 20, 2019

Having already transcended the status of a humble musician to become a veritable cultural phenomenon, Ariana Grande finally released her highly anticipated album “thank u, next”...

The Cranberriess final album, In The End, is set to be released in April. (via facebook.com)

Cranberries Begin Final Chapter With Poignant New Single

Released after lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s death in 2018, “All Over Now” sets the stage for the band’s last album.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Feb 14, 2019

Over a year after the death of the Cranberries’ vocalist Dolores O’Riordan, hearing her voice on the band’s newest single “All Over Now” feels melancholy, yet oddly comforting...

Maroon 5 performing in the Super Bowl Half Time Show (via Yahoo Entertainment)

Super Bowl Halftime Show Sacrifices Ambition for Safety

Even SpongeBob couldn’t save the show from mediocrity.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Feb 6, 2019

With all the controversy that surrounded the selection of musical acts for the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, it became clear very early on that the number one priority would be...

 A player with Eevee in the new Pokemon game Pokémon: Lets Go, Eevee! (via twitter.com)

‘Pokémon: Let’s Go’ Proves Satisfying Yet Unambitious

Hard as they seem to try, Game Freak just can’t make a bad Pokémon game — but there's nothing like the good old days.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Nov 26, 2018
Hard as they seem to try, Game Freak just can’t make a bad Pokémon game — but there's nothing like the good old days.
Dan Fogler and Eddie Redmayne in a still from The Crimes of Grindelwald, the disappointing sequel to Fantastic Beasts. (via Facebook.com)

‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequel Loses Magic

Only two films in and the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series is already starting to spiral downward.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Nov 19, 2018
Only two films in and the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series is already starting to spiral downward.
A promotional photo for Blizzards controversial game Diablo Immortal to be released on Android and iOS. (via facebook.com)

Gamers Reject Mobile Successors to Favorite Franchises

As much as they’d like to, mobile games can’t replace better video game experiences
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer Nov 15, 2018
As much as they’d like to, mobile games can’t replace better video game experiences
Harrison Ford in a still from Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, which has since produced numerous sequels. (via facebook.com)

Modern Sequels and the Death of Continuity

With the new trend of retconning old sequels in a franchise, the real question is, what will happen to Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Nov 5, 2018
With the new trend of retconning old sequels in a franchise, the real question is, what will happen to Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?
(Illustration by Sophia DiIorio)

Music Taste Could Score You a Match on Tinder

How picking the perfect Anthem could determine who swipes right and who swipes left.
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 29, 2018
How picking the perfect Anthem could determine who swipes right and who swipes left.
Though the number of exclusively local or couch multiplayer games has dwindled in recent years, fans of these sorts of games believe the experience remains unique and cannot be replicated through online multiplayer. (Photo by Sam Klein)

Is There Still Room for Couch Multiplayer?

Technology may be taking over, but there’s still room on the couch to salvage the multiplayer gaming experience.
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 29, 2018
Technology may be taking over, but there’s still room on the couch to salvage the multiplayer gaming experience.
The logo for DC Universe: DC Entertainments new streaming service. (via facebook.com)

Move Over Netflix, DC Has a New Comic Book-Crazed Streaming Service

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 26, 2018
DC Entertainment's new streaming service, DC Universe, shows promise, but offers an incomplete library and won't appeal to the average consumer.
Student browses through Spotify’s homepage. Spotify has recently made itself much more accessible to independent artists, including students. (Photograph by Alana Beyer)

Spotify’s New Free Upload Initiative Splits Budding Artists

Spotify's new initiative to empower independent artists might be causing them more harm than good.
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 15, 2018
Spotify's new initiative has left some musicians uncertain about what kind of impact it will have on the landscape of the streaming service and the music industry at large.
The poster from the movie Venom.

The World Has Had Enough ‘Venom’

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 10, 2018
"Venom" has the seeds of being a proper addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but fails to blossom into something that meets viewers' expectations.
Musician R. Kelly is the subject of recent controversies surrounding his sexual misconduct allegations

Should We Ignore the Mess Behind the Music?

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 4, 2018
How do we define the ethics of listening to controversial musicians and can we separate the art from its creator?
Let the Streaming Wars Begin

Let the Streaming Wars Begin

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Oct 1, 2018
The variety of streaming services is rapidly growing, but some NYU students want to stick to the basics.
Make Laundry Services Worth the Dollar

Make Laundry Services Worth the Dollar

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Sep 26, 2018
A writer's take on laundry room horror stories and why the NYU residence hall laundry rooms could use a bit of improvement.
Nintendo recently switched their free online service to a paid plan.

Put Your Money Where Your Multiplayer Is

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer Sep 24, 2018
Nintendo announced its online paid service to mixed reactions from the NYU student body.

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