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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
NYU student to compete on college ‘Jeopardy!’ tonight

NYU student to compete on college ‘Jeopardy!’ tonight

Tisch student Jeric Brual will represent NYU and test his trivia skills in the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” at 8 p.m. on ABC.
Nicole Chiarella, Contributing Writer February 15, 2022

Tisch senior Jeric Brual is set to represent NYU in the “Jeopardy! National College Championship” at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 15. The film and television student will compete...

(Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

The case for the <3 emoticon

Real love isn’t like the ❤️ emoji.
Alex Tey, Editor-in-Chief February 14, 2022

“Instead of saying ‘I love you,’ I’ll just use a heart,” a New York college student told The New York Times in late 2011, as emoji were beginning to take off in the United...

Japanese American singer-songwriter Mitski released her latest album, “Laurel Hell,” on Friday. (Photo by Ebru Yildiz, Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

Review: On ‘Laurel Hell,’ Mitski blooms

Mitski's first album in four years pairs her unmatched lyricism with synth-heavy ’80s-inspired production. “Laurel Hell” is out Friday on all platforms.
Alex Tey, Editor-in-Chief February 4, 2022
Mitski's first album in four years pairs her unmatched lyricism with synth-heavy ’80s-inspired production. “Laurel Hell” is out Friday on all platforms.
An illustration of hand turning a page of a print edition of WSN. The image on the front page is a smaller version of that illustration, suggesting infinite recursion.

Letter from the editor: On transition

Transitions are perpetual, uncomfortable and inevitable. Meet WSN's new editor-in-chief.
Alex Tey, Editor-in-Chief January 24, 2022

Dear readers, This is a strange time to be attending college. Last spring was mostly online, last fall was mostly in person, and now we’re in this in-between zone where...

An NYU alumni newsletter suggests that NYU will resume in-person instruction for the spring 2022 semester. The university has yet to officially announce its plans. (Staff Photo and Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

NYU alumni newsletter hints at in-person spring 2022 semester

An NYU webpage dated Jan. 15, 2022, states that NYU “is preparing to resume in-person instruction at the start of the spring semester” at its New York City campus and abroad sites.
Kristian Burt, Rachel Cohen and Alex Tey January 10, 2022

NYU appears prepared to start the spring semester with in-person classes, according to an alumni newsletter on the university’s website. The page, dated Jan. 15, 2022, seems...

The holidays can be expensive. Here are some items that are worth the hefty price tag. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Sometimes, expensive gifts… are better

If you’re at NYU, there’s a decent chance that you know some rich people who helped get you here. Here are expensive gifts that are actually worth the money that you can ask them for.
Alexandra Chan, Alex Tey and Alex Tran December 10, 2021

As winter break approaches, here’s a holiday gift guide to help you to take advantage of the rich people in your life. When they ask how to ease their conscience, you can answer...

The MTA is responsible for public transportation in the New York City metropolitan area. The NYU School of Global Public Health received a $4 million federal grant to study the impact of COVID-19 on transit workers. (Staff Photo by Ryan Walker)

NYU researchers win $4M grant to study COVID impact on transit workers

The five-year project launched in November will help develop preventative measures that protect frontline workers from this pandemic and future ones.
Nicole Chiarella, Contributing Writer December 9, 2021

When COVID-19 began to spread in New York City last March, the services of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority were deemed essential, and transit employees were required...

Three separate incidents of food poisoning have been reported at the Palladium dining hall. The dining hall failed a health inspection in fall 2019. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Palladium dining hall food caused food poisoning, 3 students say

Three students have claimed that eating at the Palladium Hall NYU Eats location in unrelated incidents on separate days caused them to become ill.
Nicole Chiarella, Contributing Writer November 22, 2021

Cindy Edward, a CAS senior, said she felt ill and had to check herself into the emergency room after eating at the Palladium dining hall. She had eaten a salmon salad for lunch...

The annual Trans Day of 
Remembrance is a chance to memorialize those lost and to stand up for those still living. (Staff Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: Do us justice with your trans remembrance

Transgender Day of Remembrance, commemorated on Nov. 20 each year, is a day for mourning and honoring trans people lost to a transphobic society. If you’re a trans ally, you need to carefully consider where your remembrance is coming from.
Alex Tey, Deputy Managing Editor November 20, 2021

Content warning: This article discusses transphobia, murder and suicide. Founded in 1999 by Gwendolyn Ann Smith in memory of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman murdered the previous...

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...

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...

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...