Skip to Main Content
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

All content by Henry Cohen
The cast and crew of "Guys and Dolls" with President Andrew Hamilton.

Steinhardt’s ‘Guys and Dolls’ Revamps Classic

NYU Steinhardt's production of "Guys and Dolls" is a stellar performance of a classic musical.
Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer September 24, 2018
NYU Steinhardt's production of "Guys and Dolls" is a stellar performance of a classic musical.
Elsagate Shows our System Is Broken

Elsagate Shows our System Is Broken

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer December 4, 2017
The recent propagation of YouTube videos with violent and sexual content aimed at children — otherwise known as Elsagate — reveals some deep rooted issues in today's society.
Gene Editing is the Way of the Future

Gene Editing is the Way of the Future

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer November 20, 2017
In the face of such awesome potential, there has understandably been several ethical and practical concerns over CRISPR’s application, and while some are more valid than others, none outweigh the world of good that can be achieved by embracing this technology.
Entitlement Culture Starts in Film School

Entitlement Culture Starts in Film School

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer November 6, 2017
The entitlement and careerism so pervasive in the film industry have to be purged from the culture. This begins with changing how film is taught to aspiring directors, writers and executives, including here at NYU.
Identifying with a Group Undermines Your Beliefs

Identifying with a Group Undermines Your Beliefs

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer October 23, 2017
All this means that joining a group neuters us of our ability to consider arguments objectively, be they our own or those of others. People who disagree with us become embodiments of everything we hate
The iPhone Is a Part of Human Anatomy

The iPhone Is a Part of Human Anatomy

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer April 17, 2017
The physical symptoms of not having your phone within reach — higher blood pressure, increased heart rate, worsened anxiety and poor cognitive performance, — suggest that the smartphone has become a part of human anatomy.
Walk the Wrong Way on Escalators

Walk the Wrong Way on Escalators

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer April 10, 2017
Walking in the reverse direction intended on escalators — the so-called wrong way — is actually superior in many ways to conventional forms of escalator use, as it lends both a practical and a metaphorical function to a device that is otherwise purely a mode of transportation.
Everyone Should Appreciate Their Good Health While They Have It

Everyone Should Appreciate Their Good Health While They Have It

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer April 5, 2017
While this should serve as an important reminder to remain hygienic and avoid contracting the flu, it should also serve as an opportunity for those of us with good health to appreciate the faculties that good health provides.
Don’t Discourage Discussing Mental Illness

Don’t Discourage Discussing Mental Illness

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer April 3, 2017
Unfortunately, this shift in what is and is not acceptable to say has created a dangerously misguided flipside, specifically when well-meaning people discourage others from saying that they feel depressed or anxious when they “don’t really mean it.”
Educators Should Encourage a More Empathetic Understanding of History

Educators Should Encourage a More Empathetic Understanding of History

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer March 22, 2017
On the contrary, in seeing these historical figures as only names in a textbook we forget that they were real flesh-and-blood people with fears and aspirations, and knowing this can only enhance our understanding of the past.
Our Current Understanding of Sanctuary Campuses is Flawed

Our Current Understanding of Sanctuary Campuses is Flawed

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer March 8, 2017
NYU does not have the authority to defy the federal government, and barring future court rulings regarding the deportations and the travel ban it is likely that it never will. Instead of trying to turn the university into a sovereign entity within the state of New York, these misguided protesters would be better off using their time and resources to combat unjust travel bans in a more informed, constructive context.
Everyone Should Find Time to Play Chess

Everyone Should Find Time to Play Chess

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer February 28, 2017
There are so many great ways to unwind after a grueling day of classes. However, few distractions can prove as entertaining and mentally stimulating as chess.
There’s More to Cynicism Than Just Being Obnoxious

There’s More to Cynicism Than Just Being Obnoxious

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer February 27, 2017
Many people falsely believe that being cynical equates to being dismissive and obnoxious. However, cynicism is a mentality and lifestyle that can fill one's life with individual happiness.
Corporations Shouldn’t Have Opinions

Corporations Shouldn’t Have Opinions

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer February 22, 2017
The attempts of corporate marketing teams to cash in on social issues underscores the core deceit of advertising. Obviously organisations like Audi are not uniformly committed to gender pay parity as they proudly proclaim in their cringe-worthy Super Bowl ad.
There’s Nothing Wrong With Age-Differentiated Relationships

There’s Nothing Wrong With Age-Differentiated Relationships

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer February 17, 2017
Many NYU students are involved in sugar relationships. it is important to avoid stigmatizing what are mostly mutually beneficial relationships where neither party is being exploited.
NYU Should Take Advantage of Virtual Reality

NYU Should Take Advantage of Virtual Reality

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer February 13, 2017
Virtual reality, more than just being a tool for the enhancement of pre-existing art forms, is capable of so much that it must be considered its own art form emergent from new technology.
Everyone Should Be Taking Advantage of NYU’s Mental Health Services

Everyone Should Be Taking Advantage of NYU’s Mental Health Services

Henry Cohen, Staff Writer January 24, 2017
Taken with the fact that 20% of young adults worldwide suffer from some sort of mental illness, it is clear that NYU students suffering from mental illness should take full advantage of the many wellness services available on campus.
Political Satire Needs to Provide Substance With Laughs

Political Satire Needs to Provide Substance With Laughs

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer December 6, 2016
A good political satirist is able to use comedy to highlight the important parts of the news by knowing what to mock and what to take seriously, and in so doing they are able to make their message that much more impactful.
Protests Are Not the Actions of Crybabies

Protests Are Not the Actions of Crybabies

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer December 5, 2016
Protesters right now are angry and emboldened, qualities that could not possibly be called symptoms of an oversensitive culture.
Liberals Shouldn’t Idealize Fidel Castro’s Legacy

Liberals Shouldn’t Idealize Fidel Castro’s Legacy

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer November 30, 2016
The contemporary normalization of Fidel Castro is a disservice to the tens of thousands murdered or exiled because of his actions.
Voting Should Be Mandatory in America

Voting Should Be Mandatory in America

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer November 18, 2016
Among various other necessary reforms, it is time to join the ranks of the twenty-two nations that make voting mandatory for its citizens.
The Objectification of Men Cannot Be Ignored

The Objectification of Men Cannot Be Ignored

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer November 14, 2016
If female sexualization in the media demeans women, the same must be said for men.
Horror Films Have Lost Their Touch

Horror Films Have Lost Their Touch

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer October 26, 2016
As moviegoers, we vote for the kinds of films we want to see with our money, and the the idea that audiences will eat up any horror thrown our way has to end if we want to see more thoughtful, lasting scare flicks.
WikiLeaks Works Best Illegally

WikiLeaks Works Best Illegally

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer October 24, 2016
A fair election is only legitimate if the electorate is informed, and with every released email, WikiLeaks brings us closer to that ideal of radical transparency.
TV is Getting Better for Everyone, Including Kids

TV is Getting Better for Everyone, Including Kids

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer October 19, 2016
Kids shows these days are an incredible improvement from the days of high-octane meaningless television.
America Has Seen Far Worse Presidents Than Trump

America Has Seen Far Worse Presidents Than Trump

Henry Cohen, Contributing Writer October 14, 2016
If Trump does somehow win the Presidency come November, he will not be the worst man America has ever elected to that office.