Mert Erenel Archives - Washington Square News

The Problem With NYU’s Letter to Betsy DeVos

NYU’s letter urging Betsy Devos not to change university sexual misconduct policies should not dismiss the importance of cross-examination in such cases.

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • February 19, 2019

TW: This article discusses sexual assault and sexual harassment. The physical and psychological effects of sexual assault are inarguably damaging. Approximately 60 percent of...

When You’re About to Label Someone As “Fascist,” Tread Carefully

Broadly labeling any conservative as fascist waters down the term’s meaning.

Mert Erenel, Contributing Writer • November 20, 2018

Broadly labeling any conservative as fascist waters down the term’s meaning.

Liberal at Home, Conservative Abroad

Mert Erenel, Contributing Writer • October 25, 2018

Why are the labels of "liberal" and "conservative" so unyielding? Read one writer's take on these seemingly arbitrary distinctions, supported by his experience as being considered liberal in his home country Turkey and conservative here at NYU.

The Hypocrisy of Vaping

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • February 27, 2018

People who vape are hypocritical in viewing their vice as healthier and superior to cigarette smoking.

Snapchat Values Ad Revenue Over User Experiences

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • February 20, 2018

Do not be fooled, the Snapchat update was not created in order to get you to have a more personal experience on social media. Snapchat's new update was created so that the app could rake in more ad revenue.

A Discussion on Compromise: Trump’s Immigration Plan

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • February 1, 2018

Democrats and Republicans must put hard-line politics aside to reach a compromise on immigration.

New York Should Not House New Amazon HQ

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • January 29, 2018

The lack of transparency in the dealings between cities and Amazon is an indicator that Amazon's new headquarters do not belong in New York City.

An Encounter With Counter-Protesters at the Women’s March

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • January 25, 2018

People were shouting over each other instead of listening to the other side’s perspective, allowing the steel barricade to segregate them both physically and figuratively. It was, however, pleasing to see some attempts of political discourse as people crossed to the other side to discuss prevalent problems in the United States.

Appreciate Your Free Speech Rights on Social Media

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • January 22, 2018

Yes, the tweet may as well be insulting and disrespectful. But should it really warrant legal penalty, and even if so, is a bad tweet really proportional to punishment in jail?

The Just Accepting Yourself Fallacy

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • December 6, 2017

The whole “be yourself” motto is fallacious. I will even go as far to say that there is nothing more narcissistic than abiding to it.

Is Russia Behind Calexit?

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • November 16, 2017

But is #Calexit a legitimate movement by liberal activists or, as new evidence suggests, an intervention by the Russian government to destabilize the U.S political infrastructure?

Costumes Are Just Costumes

Mert Erenel, Staff Writer • October 31, 2017

At the end of the day, costumes are just costumes — nothing more. We are adults who I hope are mature enough to handle a holiday meant for children.

The Rise of the Right in Germany… and Probably The Entire Western World

Mert Erenel, Contributing Writer • October 13, 2017

The rise in global terrorism, the refugee crisis and the euro crisis have all led people to change their political views towards the right. But that change became more representative of how poorly established governments handled these issues.

Political Correctness Is A Polite Way Of Saying “Stop Thinking”

Mert Erenel, Contributing Writer • September 22, 2017

Political correctness is not a negotiation. It is a monopoly on truth and language with a set of principles that compels you to act and speak in a particular way, which you had no part of agreeing to.

The Golden Age of TV Is Costing Our TV Writers

Mert Erenel, Contributing Writer • September 19, 2017

There’s a reason people are calling this period the Golden Age of TV, as the TV experience has fundamentally changed. However, I would argue, not all of these changes are for the better.

Consider Alternate Viewpoints

Mert Erenel, Contributing Writer • September 12, 2017

Sometimes people call out these postmodernists with the term “Social Justice Warriors.” But while this term is often used as a meme or a joke, postmodern philosophy is no laughing matter.