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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

All content by Steven Wang
Lower half of a person in front of a market holding a yellow Wegmans tote bag.

Opinion: Budget cuts on social programs will starve Americans

Republicans’ proposed budget cuts for social programs like Medicaid, SNAP and other food programs are going to have devastating effects on millions of Americans.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer March 13, 2025

Republicans on the House Budget Committee have passed a budget resolution which includes a minimum of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts, and are currently pushing to have it...

(Kiara Mujica for WSN)

Opinion: The urgency of NYC’s water scarcity

For the first time in over two decades, New York City is facing its first drought warning, with dangerously low reservoir levels fueling wildfires. The city, and its people, should be attempting to minimize the damages.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer March 10, 2025

Since the start of 2025, wildfires have spread at an alarming rate across the United States, with over 8,000 wildfires and over 160,000 acres burned. Fires have devastated cities...

(Danny Arensberg for WSN)

Opinion: How the NYPD evades accountability for misconduct

Legislatures need to address the department’s internal corruption of dodging disciplinary consequences for police misconduct.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer March 6, 2025

Since 2000, there have been 180,700 New York City Police Department misconduct complaints that included 59,244 separate incidents and 35,435 officers. Out of 50 million police...

(Charlotte Nichols for WSN)

Opinion: NYU gentrifies as New Yorkers suffer

NYU’s geographical dominance impacts both affordable housing and the progression of gentrification in lower Manhattan.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer February 24, 2025

Last month, NYU finalized its purchase of the Hebrew Union College building on West Fourth Street for $75.5 million. This addition to the university's already-massive real estate...

(Kevin Wu for WSN)

Opinion: Subway safety is a manufactured crisis

New York City is spending millions on subway policing and surveillance, but these measures do more to ease public anxiety than actually reduce crime.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer February 12, 2025

Anyone who turns on the news might think that the New York City subway system is more dangerous than ever. Every few weeks, a violent subway crime becomes the subject of alarmist...

(Kiera Gabel for WSN)

Opinion: NYU should give students the day off for Lunar New Year

Given the large Asian student population at NYU, the university should formally recognize Lunar New Year as an academic holiday.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer January 29, 2025

This past week, my mom asked me to come home on Lunar New Year to celebrate with our family and distant relatives who I haven’t seen for years. It’s one of the most important...

(Isabel Albors for WSN)

Opinion: New York’s legal system leaves the undocumented unrepresented

Thousands of unaccompanied immigrants in the United States, including New York, face deportation proceedings without legal representation.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer January 28, 2025

The right to a fair trial and legal representation are considered cornerstones of our country. The Sixth Amendment ensures this, with defendants having the right to an attorney...

(Kevin Wu for WSN)

How you can help NYC’s homeless crisis

Homelessness in New York City has reached an unprecedented scale. However, there is a way for us to support those without shelter for just one night.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer January 24, 2025

For most NYU students, the worst of a cold January night will be facing the bitter winds as we walk into the warmth of our own dorms. Inside, it’s cozy with the radiators turned...

The number 6 train arrives at the Union Square station. People stand on the platform and walk on an overpass above the tracks.

Opinion: Congestion pricing is the cure to NYC’s traffic crisis

For the second year in a row, New York City has been named the world’s most congested urban area, harming citizens every day. It’s time to change that with congestion pricing.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer December 12, 2024

In 2024, New York City claimed the title of the world’s most congested urban area once again, surpassing other major cities like Paris, Mexico City and Chicago. However, we may...

Three people wearing purple graduation gowns and black graduation caps are standing raising diplomas. To the left is former N.Y.U. president standing behind a purple-and-white N.Y.U. sign.

Opinion: No longer behind bars, but not truly free

Without support systems in place, many formerly incarcerated individuals in New York risk falling into a cycle of poverty and criminalization.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer December 3, 2024

The United States has the highest incarceration rate of any country in the world, keeping about 2 million people behind bars at any given time and costing an absurd $182 billion...

The exterior of a public restroom in a park.

Opinion: Let New Yorkers be free to pee

The shortage of public restrooms is a significant hardship and a profound indignity that unhoused New Yorkers endure every day.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer November 18, 2024

In 1990, a group of unhoused New Yorkers came together to file a class-action lawsuit against the city, citing the need for more public restrooms around the city. They argued that...

A person walks through a subway turnstile next to an open emergency exit door.

Opinion: Punishing fare evasion isn’t fair

New York City’s violent, punitive approach to fare evasion ignores the root causes, creating more harm than good.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer October 29, 2024

One month ago, a man failed to pay his subway fare and when police officers followed him into the train car, he pulled a knife and was shot at. The man was injured, along...

Two diplomas against a red background that is split in half. One half is filled with yellow smiley faces, and the other is filled with blue sad faces.

Opinion: NYU has a double major dilemma

The university should open double major options outside of the College of Arts and Science so students can explore the interdisciplinary opportunities that NYU boasts about.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer October 23, 2024

NYU is known for its broad spectrum of academic programs, with the College of Arts and Science home to over 120 majors and minors. The university, like many others, offers the...

A woman’s hand swipes a metrocard.

Opinion: NYU needs to get its students moving — for free

If the university truly believes that “the city is our campus,” it's time they help students actually afford to explore it.
Steven Wang, Staff Writer October 16, 2024

My high school — just like every public high school in New York City — provided every student with a free MetroCard to get to and from school. However, NYU offers no comparable...