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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

Dharma Niles

Dharma Niles, News Editor

Dharma Niles is a sophomore studying some mystery combination of journalism, politics and/or data science. She talks a lot and can generally be found skittering around the city while anxiously gripping a can of Celsius. For more information, you can follow @dharmaniles on Instagram, and for an IRL meet-and-greet, just stand outside Bobst Library for long enough.

All content by Dharma Niles
N.Y.U. president Linda Mills sitting in a chair alongside three other people on a stage.

Photo: Opinion: NYU needs to talk about its upcoming Tulsa program

February 1, 2024

File Photo: NYU president Linda Mills announcing plans to launch a social impact program in Tulsa, Oklahoma during an alumni weekend event on Oct. 28, 2023. (Dharma Niles for WSN)

N.Y.U. president Linda Mills sitting in a chair alongside three other people on a stage.

NYU’s Oklahoma venture to host students starting spring break

The university’s recently announced social impact program in Tulsa, Oklahoma will house community service-oriented programs and internship opportunities in the coming months.
Dharma Niles, Deputy News Editor January 30, 2024

NYU’s recently announced study away location in Tulsa, Oklahoma will be open to students during the coming spring break for a service program, with two internship programs planned...

A large room with blue carpeting and a variety of colorful couches and chairs. There are students sitting with their laptops. On the floor above there are bookshelves filled with books.

Renovations to keep an eye out for at Bobst

Following initial renovations last semester, Bobst Library will undergo even more new developments, including the installation of two prayer rooms and additional low sensory spaces.
Dharma Niles, Deputy News Editor January 29, 2024

NYU has added two multifaith prayer rooms to Bobst Library and plans to open two more low sensory spaces to create “as much universally accessible space as possible,” according...

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...

Donald Trump wearing a blue suit with a red tie, an American flag pin on his lapel and white undershirt with his arms outstretched. Behind him to the left is his son Eric Trump in a gray suit with a light blue tie, as well as his legal team all standing in front of a large brown door with golden words on them.

Trump PAC, org. paid Stern professor almost $900,000 to testify at trial

The professor was paid nearly $900,000 to testify in a $250 million accounting fraud case against former President Donald Trump, claiming there is “no evidence” to support the lawsuit.
Dharma Niles, Staff Writer December 15, 2023

A professor at the Stern School of Business was paid almost $900,000 to testify at a New York civil trial for former president Donald Trump last week, saying there was “no evidence...

An N.Y.U. flag hangs above the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. Cars line the road to the right of the building and an entrance to Washington Square Park can be seen in the background.

Student criticizes NYU’s handling of antisemitism at House Republican briefing

The student joined Jewish students from three other U.S. universities in criticizing administrators for their response to antisemitism on campus at a news briefing hosted by House Republicans on Tuesday.
Dharma Niles, Staff Writer December 6, 2023

Jewish students from NYU, Harvard University, the University of Pennsylvania and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology testified about their experiences with antisemitism on...

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...

The front view of a stage with a black podium, two chairs, a small black, round table and a blue board that says “N.Y.U. ARTHUR L. CARTER JOURNALISM INSTITUTE” on it.

Journalism students criticize department silence on journalist deaths in Israel-Hamas war

Students in the journalism department met with faculty and administrators to discuss journalist deaths in the Israel-Hamas war and opportunities for future discourse on the conflict.
Dharma Niles, Staff Writer November 21, 2023

Students and faculty in the Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute criticized the department’s silence on journalist deaths in the Israel-Hamas war at a meeting with administrators...

N.Y.U. president Linda Mills sitting in a chair alongside three other people on a stage.

NYU to launch new London study away site and Oklahoma-based initiative

University president Linda Mills announced that NYU will expand its operations in London and establish a new program in Tulsa, Oklahoma during an alumni weekend event.
Dharma Niles, Staff Writer November 1, 2023

University president Linda Mills announced plans to launch a social impact program in Tulsa, Oklahoma as well as a new study away site in London on Saturday, during an alumni weekend...

People sit in an audience and watch a person behind a podium who is standing in front of a screen reading “Welcome to the EH launch!”

CAS debuts new environmental humanities minor

The new offering, which was announced on Wednesday, will be open to students in all schools.
Dharma Niles, Staff Writer October 27, 2023

NYU’s College of Arts & Science launched its new environmental humanities minor at an event in the Silver Center on Wednesday, which will be offered under the environmental...

A graphic on a black background with purple bars with a title that reads “ALCOHOL RELATED DISCIPLINARY REFERRALS AT N.Y.U.”

Alcohol-related violations at NYU decreased 13% from 2021 to 2022

Data from NYU’s Annual Security and Fire Safety Report showed a decline in liquor law violations on campus over the last few years.
Dharma Niles, Contributing Writer October 17, 2023

The Department of Campus Safety’s 2023 Annual Security and Fire Safety Report showed a decrease in disciplinary referrals for liquor law violations at the university, with an...

(Graphic by Krish Dev)

Over half of students do not know about the student government, WSN survey finds

Seventy-three percent of surveyed NYU students said they do not consider themselves familiar with the Student Government Assembly.
Dharma Niles, Sidney Snider and Zoe Alford October 4, 2023

Approximately 73% of NYU students do not consider themselves familiar with the university’s student government, according to a WSN survey.  Out of 360 students surveyed inside...

The front view of an N.Y.U. Abu Dhabi building with a bridge across the row. Numerous rows of palm trees stand in front of the building alongside two purple flags.

Stern announces MBA program at NYU Abu Dhabi

The university announced a partnership between the Stern School of Business and its Abu Dhabi campus, establishing a one-year full-time MBA program beginning January 2025.
Dharma Niles, Contributing Writer September 27, 2023

NYU’s Stern School of Business recently announced that it will launch a one-year MBA program at the university’s Abu Dhabi campus in January 2025, citing global expansion as...

A collage of two photos. From left to right: an audience listening to a speaker on a podium in a classroom; a group of N.Y.U. law school students posing for a photo in formal attire

Demonstrators confront White House climate adviser at NYU Law event

As the White House climate adviser began his keynote speech, three people rose from their seats in protest of the Biden administration’s recent oil drilling initiatives.
Dharma Niles, Contributing Writer September 20, 2023

Three people stood up in protest at an NYU School of Law event Monday, just as White House national climate adviser Ali Zaidi began his keynote speech.  The protesters asked...