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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

A portrait of Alex Tey.

Alex Tey, Editor-at-Large

Alex Tey was previously WSN’s editor-in-chief. She is now at large. Watch out!

All content by Alex Tey
On Nov. 9, the indie musician Mitski released her single “The Only Heartbreaker.” It's clear that she's returned from her hiatus with a new direction for her upcoming album "Laurel Hell." (Photo illustration by Natalie Krowitz, photo by Ebru Yildiz courtesy of Pitch Perfect PR)

Mitski is back. God help us all.

The artist known for wreaking emotional devastation on her listeners is back with another single. What can we expect as we anticipate her “Laurel Hell” album next year?
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor November 11, 2021

On Tuesday, indie musician Mitski released the single “The Only Heartbreaker” and announced a February 2022 release date for the album “Laurel Hell.” Along with October’s...

NYU students, faculty and staff can now have their university ID cards reprinted to reflect chosen names and gender-affirming photos. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

NYU offers free new ID cards to reflect chosen names, updated photos

The university’s Card Center will now help students, faculty and staff better reflect their gender identities with updated ID cards.
Alex Tey and Vinith Yedidi October 22, 2021

To better support the gender expression of students, faculty and staff, NYU community members can now have their university identification cards reprinted for free with a chosen...

181 Mercer St., NYU’s new building, is being built with special glass windows to reduce energy usage and help prevent bird collisions. Up to 230,000 birds die every year in New York City from these collisions. (Staff Photo and Illustration by Ryan Kawahara)

Bird-safe glass design at 181 Mercer saves wildlife and energy

Window collisions kill hundreds of thousands of birds every year in New York City. 181 Mercer’s architects are using specially designed glass with the intention of saving birds and energy.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor October 18, 2021

Custom-designed glass on 181 Mercer Street, NYU's under-construction multi-use building, will help prevent bird-window collisions — a serious threat to native bird populations...

‘Forgotten NYU,’ Episode 2: ‘A New Type of Normal’

‘Forgotten NYU,’ Episode 2: ‘A New Type of Normal’

The second episode of a collaboration between WSN and WNYU 89.1 looks at the short-term effects and long-term lessons of 9/11.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor October 13, 2021

This episode first aired on Sept. 22, 2021. One week at a time, one day at a time, eventually things will return to a new type of normal. Even now, it's still hard to process...

‘Forgotten NYU,’ Episode 1: Ground Zero

‘Forgotten NYU,’ Episode 1: Ground Zero

In the first episode of a collaboration between WSN and WNYU 89.1 FM, host Alex Tey revisits Sept. 11, 2001, 20 years later.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor October 13, 2021

This episode first aired on Sept. 15, 2021. I just remember just the immense scale of the place. Like, all the steel beams were, you know, as— as high as multiple-story...

While NYC's reputation as a busy city is well-earned, there's still bits of wilderness to be found. Parks throughout the city's boroughs offer chances to explore nature. (Staff Photo by Alex Tey)

Ranked: NYC nature

If you’re tired of Washington Square, Union Square and Tompkins Square, these slices of nature offer an escape from city life without having to leave the city itself.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor October 4, 2021

Are you tired of pretending that the trees in Washington Square Park are a forest? Want to return to the wilderness? Well, you’re more or less out of luck. New York City is pretty...

Succulents are known for their ability to handle extreme heat and low maintenance. While succulents are a popular choice of dorm room plant decoration, poor treatment can cause them to die. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Read this before you kill your succulents

Just because they can tolerate droughts and extreme heat doesn’t mean they can tolerate your incompetence. Here’s how to not kill your latest dorm room decoration.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor August 30, 2021

Succulents are beautiful plants. From the otherworldly Lapidaria margaretae to the humble aloe, they’re popular for their fascinating leaf patterns, stunning blossoms and charming...

Caffe Reggio, located on MacDougal Street, is the first café in the United States to serve a cappuccino. (Staff Photo by Alex Tey)

Photo: Food hot spots to know as a first-year

August 25, 2021

Caffe Reggio, located on MacDougal Street, is the first café in the United States to serve a cappuccino. (Staff Photo by Alex Tey)

NYU's policy of filling out the Daily Screener to get access to NYU buildings has flaws when it comes to post-vaccination symptoms. Post-vaccination symptoms can cause people to feel ill, unrelated to the COVID-19 symptoms, so there is hesitation in responding honestly to the Daily Screener in fear of an unnecessary quarantine. (Staff Photo by Ryan Walker)

You could be quarantined in your dorm for reporting your vaccine side effects

With no apparent university policy on post-vaccination symptoms, responding honestly to the Daily Screener could get you quarantined.
Alex Tey, Copy Chief April 27, 2021

I don't socialize indoors, I wear one mask outside and two inside, and the riskiest thing I do is ride the subway about twice a week, an activity that is safer than eating inside...

The large windows in front of the Kimmel Center are a subtle hazard. NYU architecture is aggressively unfriendly to the birds in the city. (Staff Photo by Alex Tey)

Migrating birds imperiled by NYU buildings as spring approaches

Conservationists suggest steps that the university can take to keep birds from crashing into its windows.
Alex Tey, Copy Chief March 29, 2021

As the spring migration season begins, birds traveling through New York City face the threat of reflective glass on NYU buildings. A Washington Square News review of crowdsourced...

NYU administration announced the cancellation of the 2021 spring break to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. Many students are expressing their concerns about the lack of a substantial break given during the spring semester. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli and Alexandra Chan)

As spring approaches, break doesn’t

Students believe replacing spring break with two long weekends is detrimental to their mental health. Administrators remain confident in their plans.
Alex Tey, Copy Chief March 16, 2021

An Oct. 20 message from President Andrew Hamilton and Provost Katherine Fleming announced the cancellation of 2021’s spring break plans to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. In...