All content by Aksha Mittapalli
![A manipulated image showing a red broken-heart emoji superimposed against a warped image of the New York City skyline.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/ops-offthird-heartbreak-900x627.jpg)
Opinion: NYC is the best place to get over heartbreak
Feeling sad at the end of a relationship? Don’t worry: the city streets have plenty to help you recover.
Aksha Mittapalli, Staff Writer
• April 20, 2023
![A box of emergency contraceptive pills on a white tabletop. The box reads “Plan B. One-Step.”](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/ops-emergencycontraceptives-900x599.jpg)
Opinion: What if you could get Plan B from a vending machine on campus?
Universities across the country have installed vending machines that sell round-the-clock, contact-free emergency contraception on their campuses. NYU needs to follow suit.
Aksha Mittapalli, Staff Writer
• February 16, 2023
![A light blue jetliner flies at night surrounded by nine pink hearts.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/plane-—-Victoria-Liu-900x675.png)
Off-Third: The best thing about going home is the airport
The airport process, especially during holiday break, is riveting and worthwhile.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• December 15, 2022
![A laptop screen displaying a webpage that indicates the course feedback website for New York University.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/ops-courseevals-1-900x600.jpg)
Opinion: You need to fill out your course evaluations
Giving course feedback is anonymous, a good place to vent and it helps professors with future job applications — you can take five minutes to do them.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• December 12, 2022
![An illustration of an Indian woman with long black hair. A pair of hands wash the hair. In the foreground is a blue bottle of hair care product and a bowl of white liquid. In the background are red flowers.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/haircare-Vedang-Lambe-900x675.png)
How to save your hair
If your hair is suffering from the damage of dyes, bleaches and heat, here are two of the best and most dependable hair treatments from India.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• November 29, 2022
![An illustration of a roasted turkey served on a lemon platter. It is covered in leafy greens and is in the foreground a red background.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ops-offthird-thanksgiving-aaliya-900x675.png)
Off-Third: What to do when you’re stuck in the US for Thanksgiving
Not going home for the holiday? Here is a list of things to do in the city while you wait for your American friends to come back to campus.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• November 23, 2022
![llustration of a toilet with the lid open and small bathroom tiles beneath it, against a background with a light blue gradient.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ops-toiletpaper-victorialiu-900x675.jpg)
Opinion: You need to stop using toilet paper to clean your butt
Despite its prevalence in the United States and on NYU’s campus, toilet paper is one of the worst restroom hygiene options. It's time for NYU to offer toilet paper alternatives.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• November 18, 2022
![An illustration of a box filled with small pastries, two boxes labeled “SPARKLER,” two ignited sparklers, a stack of five playing cards including a 10, Jack, Queen, King and Ace from bottom to top, two flowers and a Diya, against a pink background.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/culture-dining-diwaliseason-aaliya-900x675.jpg)
Finding Diwali at NYC restaurants
Being so far away from home doesn't mean I have to reduce my Diwali dishes to just butter chicken.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• November 1, 2022
![An illustration of white wired earphones surrounded by musical notes, against a blue background.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ops-nyumusic-900x675.png)
Opinion: It’s high time we embrace pop music again
I’m tired of pretending that “Price Tag” by Jessie J is not my favorite song.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• October 28, 2022
![An illustration of a college dorm room with two beds and posters hanging on the wall. On the left side bed there are purple beddings and a girl wearing a purple tank top and blue pants. On the right side bed there are light blue beddings with a girl wearing a blue long-sleeve jersey and gray pants. Both of the girls are crossing their arms while turning away from each other facing the wall.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Ops-off-third-mittapalli-roommate-Aaliya-900x675.jpg)
Off-Third: You should dorm with your best friend
There is no need for boundaries among best friends.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• October 13, 2022
![An illustration of the silhouettes of two people facing one another, against a blue background. A text bubble is drawn, showing the person of the left saying “Can I call you “blank” for short?” to the person on the right.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ops-mittapalli-namepronunciation-aaliya-900x675.png)
Opinion: Stop trying so hard to pronounce our names right
We’re just as embarrassed as you are when you pronounce our names wrong.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• October 5, 2022
![A group of people dressed in different outfits look up at several pillars with the American national flags hanging off them.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/ops-Mittapalli-globalexperience-900x675.png)
Opinion: U.S. media coverage of international news is half-baked
American newspapers take a sensationalized approach to covering global affairs, and it is polluting the identity of developing nations.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer
• September 13, 2022
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Amanda Chen, Deputy News Editor • February 14, 2025
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Aditte Parasher, Contributing Writer • February 14, 2025
![The Soapbox is a weekly news column rounding up stories worth reading for a global university. (Max Van Hosen and Kyra Reilley for WSN)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/news-soapbox-amanda-1.png)
Amanda Chen, Deputy News Editor • February 14, 2025
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![(Courtesy of IMDb)](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/arts-tv-mo-1200x800.jpg)
Sawyer Gouw Ranzetta, Staff Writer • February 14, 2025