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 Molly Koch.

Molly Koch, Opinion Editor

Molly Koch is a sophomore in Liberal Studies planning to study journalism, art history, and archeology. They’re fascinated by classical literature and its influence on the power of the written word. When they are not writing, you can find them reading their way through their endless TBR, running along the Hudson, or facetiming their dog.

All content by Molly Koch
The “swap” and “drop” buttons on Albert displayed on a laptop screen, with the mouse hovering above the “swap” button.

Opinion: The case for extending the add/drop period

Two weeks is not enough time for students to determine if their courses are right for them.
Molly Koch, Opinion Editor Sep 20, 2023

I remember thinking that I had a perfect schedule during course registration last semester, but I was plainly mistaken and found myself wanting to change course after the first...

A wall covered with purple wallpaper and text saying “REIMAGINING THE LIBRARY’S FIRST FLOOR” above “MID-OCTOBER 2023.”

Opinion: Bobst’s construction is too disruptive for studying

Between taking away places to study and making it hard to focus in class, construction in the library is doing students more harm than good.
Molly Koch, Opinion Editor Sep 13, 2023

The first week of classes is typically a favorite among students, as assignments tend to be lighter and exams are still months away. For the unlucky students who already have labs...

Multiple students sit at long tables working on their computers. To the right is a long window facing Washington Square Park.

Opinion: Dear NYU, upperclassmen are students too

Just because we’re no longer first-years, doesn't mean we don’t deserve support as the semester begins.
Molly Koch, Opinion Editor Sep 5, 2023

As a peer mentor for a pre-orientation program, I had the privilege of moving in two weeks prior to regular move-in for upperclassmen students. I was so excited to be back on campus...

A photograph looking down on the Bobst Library atrium from a higher floor. On each level, metal barriers run from floor to ceiling.

Opinion: Final exams are weighted too high

These assessments should not be worth more than every other assignment done in a semester.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor May 2, 2023

This semester, I tragically encountered every student's biggest fear: a final worth 50% of my grade. Meaning that this final, which also happened to be a lecture-style presentation...

A laptop screen displaying the words “Albert Course Evaluation Results” in purple with an explanation of the evaluations below in black text with hyperlinked text in blue.

Opinion: Sick of misleading Rate My Professors reviews? Use NYU’s tool instead.

Save yourself from a 5.0 professor who is actually a 1.9.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Apr 25, 2023

With course registration season upon us, everyone’s scrambling to find classes that fit their schedules and major requirements, and doing their best to avoid being stuck with...

A purple N.Y.U. flag hanging off of a building’s facade.

Opinion: The 18-credit limit is a barrier to success

Extra tuition costs can bar students from pursuing additional course offerings, or even finishing their majors on time.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Apr 18, 2023

With course registration approaching, you’ll find many students looking through Albert multiple times a day, trying to craft the perfect schedule that will fulfill all of their...

A plaque on a door that reads, “All-Gender Restroom.”

Opinion: NYU’s all-gender bathroom list is outdated and incomplete

Transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming students have been left in the dark about where they can find a safe restroom at NYU.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Apr 11, 2023

NYU prides itself on promoting diversity, but the university often falls short in putting its goals into practice. Despite its much-trumpeted commitment to inclusivity, by the...

Seven students wear masks while sitting at their desks in an NYU classroom. A professor sitting on a table listens to a student.

Opinion: Recitations shouldn’t be mandatory

NYU should allow students to take ownership of their learning.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Apr 4, 2023

NYU is a large university, with over 50,000 enrolled students, which means class sizes are not always going to be small. Unless you are like me and lucked out with small discussion-based...

The marble facade of a pre-war building reflected in the floor-to-ceiling windows of a modern building.

Opinion: You don’t need an internship this summer

Don’t let your imposter syndrome make you fill a three-month break from school with extra work.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Mar 31, 2023

As the end of the academic year approaches, it feels like every person I come into contact with asks me what my summer plans are. Excitedly, I tell them I'm studying away in Athens,...

Two students at a salad bar with dining tables to the right.

Opinion: Dear NYU Eats, keep more locations open over break

Downstein should not be the only dining hall open during spring break.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Mar 22, 2023

Many NYU students leave the city over spring break — some vacation with friends, others return home to spend time with family. For those who remain on campus, though, living...

A photo of a computer screen displaying N.Y.U.’s academic calendar.

Opinion: A longer spring break is the simple solution to burnout

With travel, assignments and exams to study for, NYU’s one-week recess is hardly a break at all.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Mar 10, 2023

Next Monday, NYU students begin their highly-anticipated one-week spring break. The time off is too brief, leaving students feeling like they only have a few days to recover from...

An illustration of a college dorm room with two beds and posters hanging on the wall. The bed on the left is purple and a girl wearing a purple tank top and blue pants sits on top. The bed on the right has light blue bedding and a girl wearing a blue long-sleeved jersey and gray pants sits on top. Both of the girls are crossing their arms while turning away from each other, facing opposite walls.

Off-Third: NYU says farewell to randomized roommates

Gone is the delight of coming home to a stranger’s belongings strewn all over the floor of your shared bedroom.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Mar 3, 2023

Off-Third is WSN’s satire column. In a disappointing turn of events, NYU will retire its beloved random roommate selection starting next year, according to a recent announcement...

A group of visitors stands outside a university building that has glass windows with posters on them.

Opinion: NYU Admissions Ambassadors deserve more respect

Before you roll your eyes as you pass us on the street, try to understand the amount of effort NYU's student representatives put into their work.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Feb 24, 2023

Imagine this: You're a first-year student walking toward Bobst Library for your 12:30 p.m. class. On the way, you unsurprisingly see not one, not two, but three campus tours. Your...

This photo shows the brightly-lit exterior of N.Y.U’s Liberal Studies building. In the bottom right of the image, a pedestrian is walking by the building entrance, and a black car is parked in the foreground of the image. The shadows of the entrance are shown on the light beige walls, and a purple sign with white text that reads “Liberal Studies” is hung inside a big square window on the left of the image.

Opinion: Liberal Studies students need their own space on campus

The lack of representation for Liberal Studies and Global Liberal Studies compared to other schools is disappointing.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Feb 22, 2023

Maps of NYU are flooded with building markers, each representing a different academic building — most of which are assigned to a particular school. Zooming in on each marker...

A student dressed in a black t-shirt and black checkered sweatpants does laundry in the Coral Tower residence hall laundry room. The laundry room consists of two rows of white washers and dryers.

Opinion: Include laundry in the cost of tuition, please

Everyone’s had negative experiences doing their laundry on campus. There’s no reason NYU shouldn’t make it free.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Feb 14, 2023

Laundry day is the most dreaded day of the week. Whether it’s waking up early on a Sunday morning to get the first spot in the laundry room line, or staring at the timer you...

The southwest side of Washington Square Park covered in snow. People walk in the park.

Opinion: A shorter winter break would actually be better for you

Although students favor the long recess, having a shorter one has substantial benefits.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Feb 1, 2023

As students returned to campus this past weekend, two things I heard over and over again were “The break was too short” and “The break was way too long.” The majority of...

A student’s hand holding an N.Y.U. I.D. card up to a scanner at the entrance of a dining hall.

Opinion: I lost 112 meal swipes last semester. They should roll over.

Meals are going to waste. It’s time for the university to revisit how meal swipes are distributed. 
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor Jan 31, 2023

WSN’s Opinion section strives to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented in the Opinion section are solely the views of the writer. NYU’s meal plans are confusing....

An illustration of two sheets of exam paper stacked on top of each other against a blue background with text “final exam” written on it. There is a red circle with a diagonal line through it drawn on top of the two papers.

Opinion: Traditional final exams are impractical

With increasingly negative stigma surrounding the final exam period, it’s time to bid farewell to traditional final exams.
Molly Koch, Staff Writer Dec 7, 2022

As I said goodbye to my mother at the train station, heading back to New York City after a cozy Thanksgiving break, I remembered the intense stress that shows up right around finals...

An white weekly calendar with colored chunks blocked that read “8 a.m.” and a title that reads “Ideal Schedule.”

Opinion: You should love 8 a.m. classes

Whether you willingly chose an 8 a.m. or got stuck with one, these classes are not as bad as you think.
Molly Koch, Staff Writer Nov 22, 2022

One of the most dreaded weeks of the semester has officially passed us: spring course registration. Maybe you were lucky and got all your top choices. Maybe you’re still scrambling...

Students studying inside N.Y.U.’s Bobst Library in a large room on the ground floor. Several rows of desks with computers are visible.

Opinion: NYU needs more quiet spaces for students

At prestigious universities, student mental health concerns abound. The university must provide students with more quiet spaces to combat this.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Nov 14, 2022

At each Presidential Welcome and Reality Show, there is an interesting approach to mental health awareness. In song, students were told the different resources available from wellness...

The dark blue silhouettes of two women are set against a light blue, denim-patterned background. A speech bubble that reads “Thank you!” comes out from the figure on the right.

Opinion: NYU students should appreciate professors more

NYU students are lucky to have dedicated and driven professors. It’s time for us to show we care about them.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Nov 1, 2022

NYU is one of the most prestigious universities in the country, ranked in the top 25 schools. That’s due to not only its rigorous academic courses, but its driven and determined...

Andrew Hamilton speaks from behind a podium on a black stage wearing a black suit and purple tie in front of alumni and parents.

Opinion: NYU should have more than one parents weekend

NYU's Alumni and Parents Weekend is a time to reconnect with family. Students deserve more than one opportunity to do that.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Oct 25, 2022

In case you missed it, this past weekend was NYU’s annual Alumni and Parents Weekend. From Oct. 20-23, NYU welcomed student families to campus and celebrated its extensive alumni...

An illustration of two pieces of paper stacked on top of each other against a purple background, and the top one reads “MIDTERM EXAM.”

Opinion: It’s time to embrace midterm exams

As much as you may hate them, your midterm exams can help you in the long run.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Oct 18, 2022

It’s your first year at college, and wow, this is easy. A five-question problem set here, a discussion board post there — you’ve just been breezing through your classes,...

An image of two levels of Bobst Library, with students studying at tables on both floors.

Opinion: There are better study spots than Bobst

NYU’s beloved library is not all that it is hyped up to be.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Oct 4, 2022

Many new and prospective NYU students are drawn to one particular building on campus: Bobst Library. Known for its 12-story-high ceilings and geometric aluminum guardrails, the...

A crowd of protesters standing under Washington Square Arch holding the Iranian flag and signs with a person holding a wood stick with a strand of black hair hanging by the end of it.

Opinion: NYU should speak up about the violence in Iran

As an institution that prides itself in global diversity, NYU should be actively supporting Iranian women and students.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Oct 3, 2022

NYU prides itself on its diversity. The class of 2026 represents 107 countries — five more than the previous year. When a major crisis happens in one of those countries, then,...

A person sits in bed and cries while holding a family photo. They are sitting in their college dorm bedroom, and a New York University flag hangs on the wall. The text “FAKE NEWS” is written across the image in red.

Off-Third: Homesickness is not real

Everything is so great here, why would you miss home? This is better than home!
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Sep 21, 2022

Off-Third is WSN’s satire column. We are now entering week three of the semester. You’re finally getting used to your schedule and settling in. You’re so happy and everything...

An illustration of the Handshake app logo as seen on a phone screen. The satirized logo includes two figures pointing their thumbs down.

Opinion: Handshake is not letting NYU students shake any hands

The highly promoted Handshake has incredibly low response rates. NYU students should abandon the site and start applying to jobs elsewhere.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Sep 20, 2022

New York City is known to be one of the most expensive places to live. That factor, plus being a college student, makes money run low for many faster than expected. What’s the...

A New York City street in the winter. A pile of garbage covered in snow on the side of the street.

Opinion: Get involved with community service around New York City

Don’t continue romanticizing what the city offers without contributing to making it a better place to live.
Molly Koch, Contributing Writer Sep 12, 2022

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