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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

Kaylee DeFreitas

Kaylee DeFreitas, Deputy Managing Editor

Kaylee DeFreitas is a senior (Yikes!) majoring in Journalism and Educational Theatre with a minor in Irish Studies. When she isn’t writing for WSN, you can find her watching “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” doing embroidery and taking care of her plants. Born and raised in New Jersey, she will fight anyone who says Central Jersey doesn’t exist or calls a pork roll sandwich a taylor ham. Follow her and say hi on Twitter and Instagram at @kaylee_defre.

All content by Kaylee DeFreitas
Suggestions for Non-Cheesy Valentine’s Day Reads

Suggestions for Non-Cheesy Valentine’s Day Reads

If you’re looking for an alternative to Nicholas Sparks this February, here are some novels and short story collections that recognize love as the strange and idiosyncratic thing it is.
Julie Goldberg, Staff Writer February 13, 2019

Tolstoy wrote that “All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love.” As Valentine’s Day approaches, many of us may find ourselves, happily or begrudgingly,...

Maroon 5 performing in the Super Bowl Half Time Show (via Yahoo Entertainment)

Super Bowl Halftime Show Sacrifices Ambition for Safety

Even SpongeBob couldn’t save the show from mediocrity.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer February 6, 2019

With all the controversy that surrounded the selection of musical acts for the Super Bowl LIII Halftime Show, it became clear very early on that the number one priority would be...

Jake Gyllenhaal and Toni Collete in "Velvet Buzzsaw." (via Facebook)

‘Velvet Buzzsaw’ Attempts to Push Satire Through Horror

The Netflix film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and reunites “Nightcrawler” team Dan Gilroy, Jake Gyllenhaal and Rene Russo.
Julie Goldberg, Staff Writer February 4, 2019

Dan Gilroy’s “Velvet Buzzsaw” provides a gory, fantastical look into the contemporary art world that shoots for the stars but, unfortunately, still doesn’t make it to the...

Bengt Ekerot and Max von Sydow in "The Seventh Seal," playing a chess match of life and death. (Courtesy of Nico Chapin [CMPR])

‘The Seventh Seal’ Is Revitalized at Film Forum

Kaylee DeFreitas, Staff Writer December 5, 2018
Ingmar Bergman’s iconic film is revived in new 4K restoration.
Promotional poster for the film "Mirai". (Courtesy of GKIDS Films)

‘Mirai’ Wants You to Love Your Family

Fareid El Gafy December 4, 2018
The director of “Wolf Children” returns with another unique family tale.
Bryan Cranston in "Network," an adaptation of the 1976 film. (Courtesy of the National Theatre)

‘Network’ Is a Genius Adaptation of the Film

This new play featuring Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston hopes to find the same success it had on the West End on Broadway.
Kaylee DeFreitas, Contributing Writer December 3, 2018
This new play featuring Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston hopes to find the same success it had on the West End on Broadway.
A poster for "Ralph Breaks the Internet," the sequel to "Wreck It Ralph." "Ralph Breaks the Internet" explores themes of self-improvement in the digital age. (Courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures)

‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ Wrecks the Mold Again

The sequel to the 2012 hit finds the titular character entering the internet for another colorful adventure that parodies online trends and culture.
Fareid El Gafy, Contributing Writer November 26, 2018
The sequel to the 2012 hit finds the titular character entering the internet for another colorful adventure that parodies online trends and culture.
 A player with Eevee in the new Pokemon game "Pokémon: Let's Go, Eevee!" (via twitter.com)

‘Pokémon: Let’s Go’ Proves Satisfying Yet Unambitious

Hard as they seem to try, Game Freak just can’t make a bad Pokémon game — but there's nothing like the good old days.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer November 26, 2018
Hard as they seem to try, Game Freak just can’t make a bad Pokémon game — but there's nothing like the good old days.
Stills of Willem Dafoe as Vincent Van Gogh for the "At Eternity's Gate" review running tonight. (Courtesy of CBS Films)

‘At Eternity’s Gate’ Is a Masterful Portrayal of Van Gogh’s Final Years

Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe has been receiving critical acclaim ever since the film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
Kaylee DeFreitas, Staff Writer November 20, 2018
Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe has been receiving critical acclaim ever since the film premiered at the Venice International Film Festival.
Dan Fogler and Eddie Redmayne in a still from "The Crimes of Grindelwald," the disappointing sequel to "Fantastic Beasts." (via Facebook.com)

‘Fantastic Beasts’ Sequel Loses Magic

Only two films in and the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series is already starting to spiral downward.
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer November 18, 2018
Only two films in and the ‘Fantastic Beasts’ series is already starting to spiral downward.
A promotional photo for Blizzard's controversial game "Diablo Immortal" to be released on Android and iOS. (via facebook.com)

Gamers Reject Mobile Successors to Favorite Franchises

As much as they’d like to, mobile games can’t replace better video game experiences
Ethan Zack, Staff Writer November 15, 2018
As much as they’d like to, mobile games can’t replace better video game experiences
Chris Pine in "Outlaw King." (via netflix.com)

Netflix Historical Drama ‘Outlaw King’ Falls Short of Epic

Fareid El Gafy, Contributing Writer November 14, 2018
The Scottish biopic starring Chris Pine was re-edited following its TIFF premiere, but it’s still a mixed bag
Goblin Slayer, a character from the namesake Japanese series. (via facebook.com)

Five Anime to Watch and One to Sit In on

With a slew of new anime releases on the horizon, WSN has the picks of what to watch and what to avoid this fall.
Fareid El Gafy, Contributing Writer November 14, 2018
With a slew of new anime releases on the horizon, WSN has the picks of what to watch and what to avoid this fall.
(Courtesy of John Hollands)

NYU Sketch Comedy Group Joins New York Comedy Festival

Please Don't Destroy kills cows and you with laughter.
Fareid El Gafy, Contributing Writer November 7, 2018
Please Don’t Destroy, made up of three current NYU students and three alumni, is set to perform as a part of a week-long comedy blowout.
Theodore Pellerin and Lucas Hedges in "Boy Erased." (Courtesy of Focus Features)

‘Boy Erased’ Depicts the Jarring Realities of Gay Conversion Therapy

Based on a true story, the Oscar hopeful is one of two dramas this year that focuses on gay conversion therapy.
Kaylee DeFreitas, Contributing Writer November 5, 2018
Based on a true story, the Oscar hopeful is one of two dramas this year that focuses on gay conversion therapy.
Harrison Ford in a still from "Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope," which has since produced numerous sequels. (via facebook.com)

Modern Sequels and the Death of Continuity

With the new trend of retconning old sequels in a franchise, the real question is, what will happen to Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer November 5, 2018
With the new trend of retconning old sequels in a franchise, the real question is, what will happen to Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo?
Cory Michael Smith in a still from "1985." Courtesy of 1985thefilm.com

‘1985’: A Gripping and Private View into the AIDS Epidemic

Kaylee DeFreitas October 29, 2018

Based on his short film of the same name, Yen Tan’s “1985” follows Adrian (Cory Michael Smith) as he visits home in Fort Worth, Texas after moving to New York and not returning...

(Illustration by Sophia DiIorio)

Music Taste Could Score You a Match on Tinder

How picking the perfect Anthem could determine who swipes right and who swipes left.
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 29, 2018
How picking the perfect Anthem could determine who swipes right and who swipes left.
Though the number of exclusively local or couch multiplayer games has dwindled in recent years, fans of these sorts of games believe the experience remains unique and cannot be replicated through online multiplayer. (Photo by Sam Klein)

Is There Still Room for Couch Multiplayer?

Technology may be taking over, but there’s still room on the couch to salvage the multiplayer gaming experience.
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 29, 2018
Technology may be taking over, but there’s still room on the couch to salvage the multiplayer gaming experience.
The logo for DC Universe: DC Entertainment's new streaming service. (via facebook.com)

Move Over Netflix, DC Has a New Comic Book-Crazed Streaming Service

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 25, 2018
DC Entertainment's new streaming service, DC Universe, shows promise, but offers an incomplete library and won't appeal to the average consumer.
Nadia Murad, Yazidi refugee and activist, subject of documentary "On Her Shoulders." (Courtesy of Oscilloscope Laboratories)

ISIS Survivor Bears the Struggle of the Yazidi People ‘On Her Shoulders’

Fareid El Gafy, Contributing Writer October 25, 2018
Director Alexandria Bombach's documentary "On Her Shoulders" tells the story of Nadia Murad, a survivor of sexual slavery at the hands of ISIS who seeks justice for the Yazidi people.
The poster for "Stella's Last Weekend." (via facebook.com)

‘Stella’s Last Weekend’ Is a Family Film Project That Fails to Charm

Kaylee DeFreitas, Contributing Writer October 17, 2018
"Stella's Last Weekend" is a nice family effort from Nat and Alex Wolff and their mother, Polly Draper, but it fails to build a sincere, emotional connection with the audience.
A still from season 3 of "My Hero Academia." (via facebook.com)

‘My Hero Academia’ Exceeds Fan Expectations

Fareid El Gafy, Contributing Writer October 17, 2018
The latest season of popular anime "My Hero Academia" has fresh writing, heart and heroism and exceeds expectations.
Student browses through Spotify’s homepage. Spotify has recently made itself much more accessible to independent artists, including students. (Photograph by Alana Beyer)

Spotify’s New Free Upload Initiative Splits Budding Artists

Spotify's new initiative to empower independent artists might be causing them more harm than good.
Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 15, 2018
Spotify's new initiative has left some musicians uncertain about what kind of impact it will have on the landscape of the streaming service and the music industry at large.
Timothee Chalamet in "Beautiful Boy." (via youtube.com)

Chalamet’s ‘Beautiful Boy’ Scratches the Surface of Addiction

Kaylee DeFreitas, Contributing Writer October 15, 2018
Based on memoirs by David and Nic Sheff, "Beautiful Boy" tackles the weighty topic of addiction, but fails to contribute anything new to the genre.
The poster from the movie "Venom".

The World Has Had Enough ‘Venom’

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 9, 2018
"Venom" has the seeds of being a proper addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but fails to blossom into something that meets viewers' expectations.
Musician R. Kelly is the subject of recent controversies surrounding his sexual misconduct allegations

Should We Ignore the Mess Behind the Music?

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 3, 2018
How do we define the ethics of listening to controversial musicians and can we separate the art from its creator?
Let the Streaming Wars Begin

Let the Streaming Wars Begin

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer October 1, 2018
The variety of streaming services is rapidly growing, but some NYU students want to stick to the basics.
 "Love, Gilda" looks back on the career and life of Gilda Radner.

‘Love, Gilda:’ An Intimate Tribute to a Comedic Legend

Kaylee DeFreitas, Contributing Writer September 27, 2018
"Love, Gilda," a new documentary profiling renowned comedian Gilda Radner, looks back on a life filled with both laughter and sadness.
Make Laundry Services Worth the Dollar

Make Laundry Services Worth the Dollar

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer September 25, 2018
A writer's take on laundry room horror stories and why the NYU residence hall laundry rooms could use a bit of improvement.
Nintendo recently switched their free online service to a paid plan.

Put Your Money Where Your Multiplayer Is

Ethan Zack, Contributing Writer September 24, 2018
Nintendo announced its online paid service to mixed reactions from the NYU student body.