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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

Aashna Miharia

Aashna Miharia, News Editor

Aashna Miharia is a sophomore studying journalism and public policy with a minor in business studies. She’s from the Boston area and is a novelist, Dunkin’ enthusiast and lover of independent bookstores. You can find her speed walking around New York City while listening to Melodrama by Lorde or on Instagram @aashnamiharia.

All content by Aashna Miharia
A group of people stand with protest signs in front of a purple-colored construction wall and barricades

NYU Law admin threatens pro-Palestinian students with disciplinary action

The student group alleged that the administrator disrupted a silent demonstration, where law students displayed signs accusing NYU of funding “genocide” amid the war in Gaza.
Aashna Miharia and Yezen Saadah December 5, 2024

An administrator at the School of Law threatened a group of students with disciplinary action for hosting a pro-Palestinian study-in at the law school library, the NYU Law Students...

A collage of four illustrations of book covers.

Books beyond Bobst: An activist’s self-help book, a new Percy Jackson novel and more

Books beyond Bobst is a book-rec column highlighting what NYU students are reading now, outside of their classes. If you’re in need of a new read, look no further.

“Writers & Lovers” by Lily King “There’s a particular feeling in your body when something goes right after a long time of things going wrong. It feels warm and...

A brunette girl wearing a white top smiling, standing against a green wall, with the words “BEYOND N.Y.U" illustrated next to her.

Beyond NYU: How a Gallatin alum built her brand up from flea markets to fashion shows

Dissatisfied with her experiences in the fashion industry, Leah Gans decided to change the trajectory of her career by creating a clothing label.
Aashna Miharia, News Editor September 30, 2024

Gallatin alum Leah Gans came to NYU with a passion for fashion, but left with a degree in the psychology field. Now, she’s hitting rewind and teaching herself how to channel...

A flier with the words “VOTING PLACE” taped to a doorway with a group of people inside the room.

RAs win majority vote to unionize

The union, which now officially represents hundreds of RAs at NYU, is demanding increased compensation and improved working conditions for resident assistants on campus.
Aashna Miharia, News Editor September 27, 2024

Student Workers at NYU now officially represents 280 resident assistants on campus, following a majority vote to unionize earlier this week — the latest development in the group’s...

A large group of people stand on a sidewalk with signs reading, “Don’t Buy Zionist Propaganda. Anti-Israel is NOT Anti-Semitism” and Palestinian flags. Three police officers stand overlooking the protesters.

Dozens of NYU students protest updated student conduct policy

Student protesters collaborated with pro-Palestinian groups from three other college campuses in lower Manhattan to protest the schools’ ties to Israel.
Aashna Miharia and Dharma Niles September 13, 2024

Over two dozen NYU students joined around 100 others from colleges and universities across lower Manhattan to condemn the university’s updated student conduct guidelines —...

A group of people wearing purple and pink shirts hold signs with the letters “N,” “Y” and “U” under the Washington Square Arch.

Summer recap: What you missed on campus since May

A student sues roommate for stealing over $50,000 in luxury items, a $6 million donation for artificial intelligence research and more news around campus you missed over the last few months.

As you prepare for the new academic year, here is some news around NYU that you may have missed over summer break.  Student sues roommate for stealing over $50,000 in luxury...

A sign attached to a barricade read “We do not engage with Zionists!”

NYU cites ‘code words, like ‘Zionist’’ as discriminatory in updated student conduct policy

In response to listening sessions over the summer, NYU changed its student conduct policy to further define protest regulations and non-discrimination policies ahead of the fall semester.
Aashna Miharia, News Editor August 26, 2024

NYU updated its student conduct guidelines to include “code words, like ‘Zionist,’” as examples of speech that could violate the university’s Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment...

A flag with N.Y.U.’s logo hangs from a red brick building.

NYU leadership proposes budget of $4.3 billion for next academic year

With a proposed 5% increase in budget over the 2023-24 academic year, the university will launch the NYU Promise, reopen Rubin Hall and Goddard Hall, and increase its endowment fund.
Aashna Miharia, News Editor May 23, 2024

NYU announced it proposed a budget of $4.3 billion for the 2024-25 academic year to the board of trustees in a universitywide memo last week, marking a 5% increase from last year’s...

A man in a black mortarboard and purple robe with a white and black scarf holds up a cardboard sign reading “Free Palestine”

Students protest war in Gaza at graduation ceremonies

Pro-Palestinian disruptions, including students chanting and waving Palestinian flags, occurred at the ceremonies for Tisch, Gallatin and NYU Law.
Aashna Miharia, Bruna Horvath and Dharma Niles May 21, 2024

Graduates across NYU’s schools wore keffiyeh scarves, carried signs and held Palestinian flags at their respective graduation ceremonies last week in protest of the war in Gaza...

A line of protesters walking on a sidewalk.

Over 100 protesters rally outside Bobst Library, condemn Mills’ leadership

The demonstration took place hours after the New York City Police Department swept the pro-Palestinian encampment outside the Paulson Center.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor May 3, 2024

Around 120 students and faculty gathered outside Bobst Library earlier this afternoon — around six hours after NYU authorized police to arrest around 14 students at the Gaza...

A girl smiling for a photo on the sidewalk. “BEYOND N.Y.U.” is written in white font in the top left corner.

Beyond NYU: Maintaining memories through shared albums

How a Tandon student is helping college students keep connections from a night out.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor May 2, 2024

Tandon student Alexandra Debow always dreaded having to say goodbye to strangers after a night out. After many nights out and multiple missed connections, she decided to create...

A protester holding a sign that reads “N.Y.U. THERE IS BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS” as other protesters walk in front of them.

Over 100 picket in front of Stern after NYU barricades Gould Plaza

Two days after NYU put up a barricade in front of Gould Plaza, pro-Palestinian demonstrators picketed on the sidewalk, condemning the university’s response to the Gaza Solidarity Encampment and demanding that NYU divest from Israel.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 26, 2024

More than 100 protesters picketed outside Gould Plaza on Thursday evening to demand that NYU divest from companies with ties to Israel, close its study abroad site in Tel Aviv,...

The words “BEYOND NYU” next to a woman holding a book.

Beyond NYU: Writing to help women combat social media’s toxic impact

Kara Alaimo used her interest in gender studies to help create sustainability goals within the United Nations, write articles for CNN Opinion and publish books.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 18, 2024

CAS alum Kara Alaimo is encouraging women to overcome the problematic nature of social media through her new book, “Over the Influence: Why Social Media is Toxic for Women and...

A woman handing a letter to another woman.

RAs unionize, demand university recognition

A majority of resident assistants on campus recently unionized, and are now demanding that NYU recognize them as a formal union.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 17, 2024

Around 25 people, including about 15 resident assistants part of the union Student Workers At NYU, demanded university recognition for the group in a letter to President Linda...

The headshots of three N.Y.U. faculty arranged in a collage.

3 professors named Guggenheim Fellows

Two Steinhardt professors and one Institute of Fine Arts professor were awarded fellowships to expand their work in the arts.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 15, 2024

Three NYU faculty members received Guggenheim fellowships to complete fine arts projects in their respective fields. The professors were among over 3,000 applicants this year and...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch, surrounded by green bushes in front of several pastel-colored buildings. On top of one building is a purple flag reading N.Y.U., and on top of another is a red flag reading W.S.N. The sky is colored with a pastel-pink gradient.

What to do this week: Earth Day, farmers markets and more

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: April 15 - 21.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 14, 2024

The outside of a building with people walking by on the street.

University research hub receives over $1 million in funding from New York senator

New York Sen. Chuck Schumer is gifting $1.15 million from the United States’ annual federal budget to allocate toward NYU’s Institute for Public Knowledge.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 5, 2024

NYU’s Institute for Public Knowledge received $1.15 million from New York Sen. Chuck Schumer through a Congressionally Directed Spending request — a portion of the federal...

A woman with blue hair and a blue shirt plays a guitar and sings into a microphone. “BEYOND N.Y.U.” is in white font in the top-right corner.

Beyond NYU: From books to ballads

Ambrose Getz was unsure where she would end up when she first arrived at NYU. Now, she is releasing music and performing it across New York City.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor April 4, 2024

CAS alum Caroline Getz, who goes by the stage name Ambrose Getz, came to NYU with a love for music, ready to take full advantage of New York City’s spirited and vibrant entertainment...

An email from N.Y.U.’s department of campus safety pasted on a purple background.

Campus Safety responds to wave of assaults near Washington Square Park

The Department of Campus Safety said it “is aware of reports on social media” of women being assaulted in several New York City neighborhoods, including near NYU’s Washington Square campus.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 29, 2024

Multiple women have shared stories online of being punched in neighborhoods throughout New York City, including areas near Washington Square Park and Union Square. NYU’s Department...

A man in a red velvet suit looks to the right next to a vintage music player. “BEYOND NYU” is in white font in the top left corner.

Beyond NYU: A shy guy’s transformation into Broadway success

After studying music composition and musical theater writing at NYU, Steinhardt and Tisch alum Joe Iconis is creating musicals in unconventional ways.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 28, 2024

When Steinhardt alum Joe Iconis started studying music composition at NYU, he said he was known as being shy with a musical-loving personality. He said it was this introverted...

Three students walk down the Grand Staircase in the Kimmel Center for University Life. A barrier is placed on the left side of the staircase.

‘It’s better than nothing’: NYU partially reopens Kimmel stairs

The university reopened a section of the Kimmel stairs this week, five months after closing it due to heightened protest activity near campus.
Aashna Miharia and Dharma Niles March 27, 2024

NYU has reopened a section of the Kimmel Center for University Life’s Grand Staircase, according to a Tuesday email to the university community from executive vice president...

A graphic of the first two pages of a legal opinion document on a purple background.

NYU moves to dismiss antisemitism lawsuit brought by Jewish students

The university called for the lawsuit, which accuses it of indifference toward antisemitic incidents on campus, to be dismissed earlier this month.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 25, 2024

NYU is looking to dismiss a November lawsuit filed by three Jewish students that accuses the university of indifference toward antisemitism and of violating federal civil rights...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch, surrounded by green bushes in front of several pastel-colored buildings. On top of one building is a purple flag reading N.Y.U., and on top of another is a red flag reading W.S.N. The sky is colored with a pastel-pink gradient.

What to do this week: Ax throwing, an Easter parade and more

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: March 25 - 31.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 24, 2024

A graphic featuring a woman in front of a red background with the hand-drawn words “BEYOND N.Y.U.” next to him.

Beyond NYU: A global jazz singer’s journey to becoming a Grammy winner

From studying vocal performance at NYU to winning a Grammy, Steinhardt alum Nicole Zuraitis is finding ways to share her love for jazz with the world.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 14, 2024

Steinhardt alum Nicole Zuraitis grew up listening to music from bands like Led Zeppelin, always knowing that she wanted to share her knack for music with the world. Zuraitis eventually...

The glass exterior of the N.Y.U. Langone Health building, with an incomplete circle around the word "N.Y.U." on the signage.

NYU Langone expands its health care practices to Queens

The new facility marks the medical center’s second location in the borough and aims to serve 13,000 patients each year.
Aashna Miharia and Maisie Zipfel March 8, 2024

NYU Langone Health opened a care facility in Laurelton, Queens on Tuesday. The 7,200-square-foot space — the medical center’s second location in Queens — will be used to...

A graphic featuring a black-and-white portrait of a man with the hand-drawn words “BEYOND N.Y.U.” next to him.

Beyond NYU: Mastering movies and music videos

Tisch alum Jason Baum moved across the country to produce music videos for some of the music industry’s biggest artists. He now has five Grammy nominations and one Grammy win under his belt.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 7, 2024

Tisch alum Jason Baum initially entered the school’s Undergraduate Film & Television program with limited industry experience, but has since transformed into an award-winning...

A group of people stand outside the N.Y.U. bookstore. They hold two posters, one with the words “N.Y.U. + NIKE PAY YOUR WORKERS JUST DO IT” and one with the words “NIKE STOLE $800K FROM N.Y.U. APPAREL WORKERS.”

Students protest NYU Bookstore’s ties to Nike

The students are demanding that the university cut ties with Nike until the company pays wages owed to workers at a factory in Thailand.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor March 4, 2024

Around 20 students met inside the NYU Bookstore on Friday before picketing outside to demand that the university cut its contract with Nike, following accusations of not paying...

An image of Mir Hwang dressed in all black sitting on a white couch with the hand-drawn words “BEYOND N.Y.U.” next to him.

Beyond NYU: Switching medicine for music business

CAS alum Mir Hwang co-founded GigFinesse to help emerging artists reach the big stage.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 29, 2024

CAS alum Mir Hwang struggled to balance his love for music and creativity while majoring in psychology and minoring in chemistry on the pre-medical track. During his senior year,...

A white flag with a purple N.Y.U. logo outside a building.

Ex-NYU finance director pleads guilty in $3.5 million fraud scheme

Cindy Tappe, who worked as an administrator for the university until 2018, will face five years of probation and pay restitution for embezzling around $3.5 million in New York state grants.
Aashna Miharia and Maisie Zipfel February 28, 2024

A former NYU finance director pleaded guilty to diverting around $3.3 million in state funds to fictitious companies and using some of the money — around $660,000 — to pay...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch, surrounded by green bushes in front of several pastel-colored buildings. On top of one building is a purple flag reading N.Y.U., and on top of another is a red flag reading W.S.N. The sky is colored with a pastel-pink gradient.

What to do this week: Violet 100, a salsa dancing event and more

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: Feb. 26 - March 3.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 25, 2024

A graphic featuring a black-and-white portrait of a man with the hand-drawn words “BEYOND N.Y.U.” next to him.

Beyond NYU: How 2 brothers went from creating art to opening a gallery

Sam Kapp and his twin brother always had a passion for making art. Now, they work together to run their own gallery in New York City.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 22, 2024

CAS alum Sam Kapp always loved to create art with his twin brother, Daniel, but didn’t consider it something he could pursue professionally. After graduating in 2017, the Kapp...

A neon purple L.E.D. sign saying “N.Y.U. TISCH” in a hallway that has white walls with several framed pieces hung on it.

Court dismisses claims in alum’s Title IX suit over Tisch ‘blacklist’

A Tisch alum accused of sexual misconduct on an anonymous “blacklist” sued NYU over how the university addressed his concerns. The court dismissed his federal claims earlier this month.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 21, 2024

Over a year after an anonymous list accusing film students of misconduct emerged in the Tisch School of the Arts, the court dismissed claims in an alumnus’ lawsuit that NYU violated...

A portrait of a woman wearing a black turtleneck in front of a dark red background, with the hand-drawn words “BEYOND N.Y.U.” next to her.

Beyond NYU: Making musicals come to life in the Midwest

Steinhardt alum Kelsey McDaniel is taking her passion for musical theater across the country by creating her own production company in Indianapolis.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 15, 2024

From taking part in competitive dancing as a kid to later discovering the world of theater in high school, Steinhardt alum Kelsey McDaniel’s love for musical performance began...

An illustration of a woman in a green t-shirt with brown hair holding her hands to her head with a stressed expression on her face against a dark blue background. There is a thought bubble from her head that contains a set of beige papers with scribbles on them and gray chaotic scribbles surrounding the papers.

‘Publish or Perish’: The dark side of tenured professorship

As tenured professorships become harder and harder to find, the pressure to publish research is taking priority over quality and integrity in academia.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 11, 2024

(Left to Right) Tina Fey, Angourie Rice and Mahi Alam wearing their blue and yellow jackets with “NS” written on them while holding gold medals and smiling with their arms around one another.

Beyond NYU: When music meets ‘Mean Girls’

Steinhardt sophomore Mahi Alam marked his big debut on the silver screen with the musical remake of the iconic early 2000s film “Mean Girls.”
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 8, 2024

Steinhardt sophomore Mahi Alam grew up watching the cult classic “Mean Girls,” but now he’s taking his relationship to the movie a step further. In just his first year at...

The glass exterior of the N.Y.U. Langone Health building, with an incomplete circle around the word "N.Y.U." on the signage.

Langone purchases $33 million building in Florida

The new building will expand NYU Langone Health’s presence in Florida, where it will now have four locations.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor February 5, 2024

NYU Langone Health purchased a $33 million building in West Palm Beach, Florida on Feb. 1, marking the medical center’s third location in the city and its fourth in the state....

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch, surrounded by green bushes in front of several pastel-colored buildings. On top of one building is a purple flag reading N.Y.U., and on top of another is a red flag reading W.S.N. The sky is colored with a pastel-pink gradient.

What to do this week: A book talk, Lunar New Year celebrations and a film festival

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: Jan. 29 - Feb. 4.
Aashna Miharia, Deputy News Editor January 28, 2024

A bird’s eye view of Washington Square Park, with the trees barren and parts of the grass covered in snow. Dozens of people are walking in the square.

Winter recap: The news you missed at NYU over break

A recent donation to president Linda Mills’ new financial aid initiative, the end of an anti-racism workshop and all the other news on campus since you’ve been gone.

As you get ready for spring semester classes to begin, here is some news from around campus that you may have missed over the break. Read more for updates on financial aid, a canceled...

To the right there is a sign on a brick wall that reads, ‘New York University School of Law.’ Behind that wall is the entrance to a brick building.

NYU Law Policing Project to collaborate on Minneapolis public safety plan

The Minneapolis City Council recently approved a $1 million contract with NYU Law’s Policing Project that will help the city define future strategies for public safety.
Aashna Miharia, Staff Writer December 13, 2023

NYU’s Policing Project, a law enforcement reform project operating under the School of Law, will examine the effectiveness of the public safety system in Minneapolis through...

Dozens of people sit in folding chairs facing the front of the room. A man speaks at the front of the room next to a poster of a mural. Multiple reporters are filming them.

Village residents threaten to sue NYU if local Morton Williams isn’t saved

Greenwich Village residents demanded that NYU and city authorities preserve the Morton Williams supermarket near the Paulson Center — which is at risk of being demolished — on Sunday afternoon.
Aashna Miharia, Staff Writer December 12, 2023

A group of Greenwich Village residents said they would file a lawsuit against NYU if it does not preserve a local supermarket sitting on university-owned land. The supermarket,...

People holding various signs stand next to a large red banner with white and black text.

SGA calls for Gov. Hochul to sign reparations bill at rally

Members of the student government called on New York Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign a bill that would establish a commission to study reparations to African American New Yorkers at a rally in Washington Square Park.
Aashna Miharia, Staff Writer December 4, 2023

Around 25 students gathered at Washington Square Park on Friday in support of a New York state Senate bill that would establish a commission for the study of reparations to descendants...

Three people wearing purple graduation gowns and black graduation caps are standing raising diplomas. To the left is former N.Y.U. president standing behind a purple-and-white N.Y.U. sign.

What is NYU’s Prison Education Program?

Last month, President Linda Mills announced that the university’s Prison Education Program — which has helped hundreds of incarcerated people in New York earn college credit at no cost — will now provide bachelor’s degrees.
Aashna Miharia and Dharma Niles November 30, 2023

Every semester since 2015, 50 to 60 incarcerated people at the Wallkill Correctional Facility in upstate New York have enrolled in college courses through NYU’s Prison Education...

A group of students, both sitting and standing around a large white banner which reads “N.Y.U. is Complicit.”

Pro-Palestinian students and faculty call JPMorgan, universities ‘complicit’ in Israel-Hamas war

Students and faculty at NYU, Columbia University and the City University of New York held a teach-in at JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s New York headquarters on Friday.
Aashna Miharia, Staff Writer November 21, 2023

Pro-Palestinian students and faculty at NYU, Columbia University and the City University of New York criticized the institutions for their relationships to corporations that allegedly...

A crowd of people stands in front of a building with many windows labeled “STARBUCKS COFFEE.”

Students and faculty join nationwide strike at Astor Place Starbucks

Members of NYU’s Young Democratic Socialists of America and NYU faculty joined a protest outside the Astor Place Starbucks on Thursday, calling on the company to improve working conditions for employees in a daylong nationwide strike.
Aashna Miharia and Luke McCrory November 17, 2023

Dozens of students and faculty gathered outside the Starbucks location on Astor Place Thursday morning, joining a nationwide strike calling for better working conditions, wages...

The glass exterior of the N.Y.U. Langone Health building, with an incomplete circle around the word "N.Y.U" on the signage.

NYU Langone to study AI detection for blood clot conditions

The medical center is working with ultrasound artificial intelligence company ThinkSono to study how it could help health care workers detect blood clots in deep veins using AI.
Aashna Miharia, Contributing Writer November 16, 2023

NYU Langone Health is conducting a study to look at how artificial intelligence can help untrained health care workers perform ultrasound scans to detect blood clots in veins....

Students study on the newly renovated first floor of Bobst Library. The renovations include new couches, blue carpeting and updated lighting fixtures.

Bobst Library to undergo more renovations in coming months

The library’s newly designed ground floor was revealed to the NYU community last week, with more changes, including a coffee shop and new carpeting, to come within the next few months.
Aashna Miharia, Contributing Writer October 24, 2023

Bobst Library unveiled its first-floor renovation on Oct. 17, but NYU is already planning additional changes to the space, such as adding a coffee shop, modifying the existing...

A man in gray holding a camera facing a person with boxing gloves.

Tisch establishes new master’s degree in virtual film production

The Tisch School of the Arts will offer a graduate program in virtual production beginning next fall in an effort to train students to work with contemporary filmmaking technology.
Aashna Miharia, Contributing Writer October 11, 2023

NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts will become one of the first institutions to offer a one-year master’s degree program in virtual production starting next fall. The program...

A map of the United States that uses the color red to indicate the anti-Asian bias by state. The darker a state, the more implicit bias there is against Asian Americans.

NYU researchers measure anti-Asian bias across the country

Researchers at the university found that a state’s party leaning and its population of people of Asian descent are associated with its levels of anti-Asian bias.
Aashna Miharia, Contributing Writer September 29, 2023

Republican-majority and swing states are more prone to stereotyping Asians and Asian Americans as foreigners, according to a study led by NYU Silver School of Social Work Ph.D....

A pile of Clint Smith’s book “How the Word is Passed” displayed in the N.Y.U. Bookstore. Behind the pile is a board with Smith’s name written on it.

Author Clint Smith speaks on bestselling book at NYU Reads event

This year’s NYU Reads author, Clint Smith, spoke about his book, “How the Word Is Passed” at a Monday discussion with Interim Provost Georgina Dopico.
Aashna Miharia and Yasmeen Rifai September 20, 2023

Award-winning author Clint Smith sat down with Interim Provost Georgina Dopico to discuss his 2021 book, “How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across...