All content by Matthew Franco
![An illustration of New York University’s Bobcat mascot against a purple background, with a red line striking it out. The Bobcat is wearing a dark purple athletic vest with the letters “N.Y.U.” printed on it.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ops-franco-mascot-900x675.png)
Opinion: The NYU mascot is meaningless. We need a new one.
Do you feel represented as a Bobcat? I don’t.
Matthew Franco, Staff Writer
• October 19, 2022
![The marble facade of the building of the U.S. Supreme Court. The building has eight columns and marble stairs.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ops-franco-affirmativeaction-900x675.jpeg)
Opinion: Affirmative action is the best tool for increasing diversity
The Supreme Court will likely strike down affirmative action in October. But no alternative is as effective for increasing racial diversity at universities.
Matthew Franco, Contributing Writer
• April 28, 2022
![An illustration of a pink background with pink outlines in the shape of hearts, with a comma inside of a larger heart outline in the middle of the illustration.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/oxford-comma-susan-01-900x675.png)
Off-Third: Give the Oxford comma a break
One little mark is a helpful, clarifying, and necessary breath of fresh air. Stop getting rid of it.
Matthew Franco, Contributing Writer
• April 21, 2022
![The exterior façade of a college building with golden doors and clear decorated windows as the sun shines on half of the building and people walk on the sidewalk.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/DSC_0483-900x600.jpg)
Opinion: NYU CAS shouldn’t require a foreign language
Forcing students to take four semesters of one language eliminates other avenues of educational exploration and wastes students’ resources.
Matthew Franco, Contributing Writer
• April 12, 2022
![The front of a brown building, with the words "TISCH SCHOOL OF THE ARTS" above the large doors. There are a few people walking down the street in front of the building.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/theater-tisch-katiepeurrung-900x621-1-1.jpg)
Carmo Moniz, Editor-at-Large • September 6, 2024
![An aisle of bookshelves filled with multicolored books.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/arts-books-feature-1200x801.jpg)
![An illustration of the Washington Square Park arch and fountain. The words “BACK TO SCHOOL,” are above the words “Ins and Outs.” On the left is a smiling figure under a sunny sky and on the right is an angry figure under a cloudy sky.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/culture-ins-and-outs-1200x800.jpg)
![A man in a black shirt, a woman in a brown sweater, a teenage girl in a gray knit sweater and a child in a blue-and-green striped shirt look scared and are holding one another. They are sitting in a dark children’s bedroom.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/arts-film-afraid-movie-review-1200x720.png)
Karina Rower, Under The Arch Editor • September 6, 2024
![A person wearing a keffiyeh is zip tied by a cop in protective gear.](https://nyunews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/news-disciplinaryaction-1200x798.jpg)
Hope Pisoni, Investigative Reporter • September 5, 2024