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

Photo of Susan Behrends Valenzuela

Susan Behrends Valenzuela, Editor-at-Large

Susan Behrends Valenzuela is a senior studying studio art at Steinhardt and minoring in Media, Culture, and Communication. She is passionate about the intersection of art and media, and is particularly fond of zines and small magazines. When she's not working or making art, she can be found co-running an art zine with her friend, rollerskating, sewing, baking or scrolling through Instagram.

All content by Susan Behrends Valenzuela
An illustration of students sitting in a large room for a student government meeting.

Photo: Guest Essay: SGA Semester in Review

Dec 15, 2023

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of students sitting in a large room for a student government meeting. On the left, a purple banner with the N.Y.U. torch logo hangs on the wall and reads “N.Y.U. S.G.A.”

Photo: Student government passes resolution to protect pro-Palestinian activity

Dec 8, 2023

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An interior space surrounded on all sides by bookshelves. In the middle are two red chairs. In the background, a person wearing a black shirt stands in front of a bookshelf.

Independent bookstores that are better than the Strand

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on April 29 with some of our favorite local stores.

With the rise of Booktok, interest in reading is at an all-time high among young adults. Whether you’re an avid reader already or are looking to start a new habit, buying books...

A group of people roller skate in Central Park, the person in the front wears a black top, rolled up pants, and red skates. The skaters in the back wear jeans, t-shirts and black skates.

Central Park skating is back in full swing this spring

A WSN photographer takes a spin around Central Park’s Skate Circle for its opening weekend.
Susan Behrends Valenzuela, Editor-at-large Apr 15, 2023

A black cat with green eyes sits inside a corner store with several paper boxes next to it

Photo: Bodega cats: The feline mascots of NYC corner stores

Apr 13, 2023

Say hello to Lisa, the bodega cat at 41 Grocery Deli & Grill. (Susan Behrends Valenzuela for WSN)

An illustration of three burritos with different packaging against a pink circle with a checkered, green-and-white background.

Photo: 8 NYC burritos worthy of the West Coast 

Apr 6, 2023

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of two hands holding two glasses of alcohol against a yellow background.

Photo: Sipping your way through study away: Students navigate new drinking cultures

Mar 30, 2023

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a pie chart and the silhouette of N.Y.U. president Andrew Hamilton with a question mark on his face. The pie chart is divided into two parts with forty-one percent “yes” and fifty-nine percent “no.”

Photo: More than half of NYU students likely don’t know who Andrew Hamilton is, WSN survey finds

Mar 29, 2023

Who is Andy Hamilton and why should you care? (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a beige pastry with a cream-colored fluffy topping, sitting on a mint green plate. Behind it is a solid yellow background.

Photo: My relationship with Karelian pies: Connecting with my Finnish heritage

Feb 27, 2023

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

Alan Grossman is pictured, wearing jeans, a navy blue quarter-zip sweater, a blue-and-white button-up shirt and clear glasses. He is sitting on a brown leather couch and holding a map. Behind him is a window with a white curtain facing the street.

‘Where is Greenwich Village?’ A mapmaker’s mission to document a storied neighborhood

Take a trip through the home and life of Greenwich Village’s mapmaker.
Susan Behrends Valenzuela, Editor-at-Large Feb 23, 2023

An illustration of light brown flower-shaped cookie with a girl scout emblem.

Photo: Ranked: Girl Scout Cookies

Feb 17, 2023

Trefoils. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of two women’s faces overlaid upon one another, with two pairs of half-closed lips visible. There are also illustrated black text bubbles, which read, “Closer baby closer,” and “Poems,” along with a white text bubble which reads “Savannah Brown.”

Photo: Review: The pain and beauty of modern intimacy in ‘Closer Baby Closer’

Feb 14, 2023

Savannah Brown’s third poetry collection is published this month — her most intimate work yet. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of students sitting in a large room for a student government meeting. On the left, a purple banner with the N.Y.U. torch logo hangs on the wall and reads “N.Y.U. S.G.A.”

Photo: NYU student gov’t proposes popular chair elections

Mar 27, 2023

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of three Grammy awards against a purple background. One is placed in the center, and the other two are behind it. The award itself is a gold record player with a black base.

Photo: The best and worst looks of the 2023 Grammy Awards

Feb 6, 2023

The 2023 Grammy Awards showcased yet another year of red carpet fashion dos and don’ts. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a basketball player sitting on a bench in front of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. He is wearing a black jersey with “Brooklyn 11” on it.

Photo: The Kyrie Irving trade: A rare win-win

Feb 7, 2023

The Brooklyn Nets might gain from Kyrie Irving’s trade to the Dallas Mavericks. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of students sitting in a large room for a student government meeting. On the left, a purple banner with the N.Y.U. torch logo hangs on the wall and reads “‘N.Y.U. S.G.A.”

Photo: NYU leadership delays student gov’t pro-Palestinian speech proposal

Feb 13, 2024

NYU’s student government revealed a funding bonus for next year at its latest meeting. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of the back of a womans upper half as she points into the horizon, which shows the Eiffel Tower, some greenery and buildings. She has long, brown hair and is wearing a purple long-sleeved shirt.

Photo: How to master studying abroad

Dec 14, 2022

Here’s how to make the most of your study abroad experience. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a white speech bubble that reads “This shit sucks” in black font. Next to it, another speech bubble that is blue and reads “Right?”. Both speech bubbles are against a gray grid background.

Photo: Opinion: A 3-step guide to complaining correctly

Dec 14, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a person with a blank face, wearing a black turtleneck sweater against a yellow background. There is a red question mark on the person’s face and text “hanksy” next to it. Several abstract patterns are drawn around the person.

Photo: The unexpected connection between Adam Himebauch, Adam Lucas and Hanksy

Dec 12, 2022

Adam Himebauch, also known as Adam Lucas and Hanksy, is a mysterious artist working in and out of the Lower East Side. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of an elf wearing a red and white pointed hat and a long-sleeve red shirt with a white collar on top of the shirt. The elf stands in front of a military green background.

Photo: Off-Third: Is your Elf on the Shelf spying on you?

Dec 8, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

A faceless person with gray hair holds a microphone stand. The background is blue with white stripes expanding outward from the center.

Photo: LCD Soundsystem re-returns to Brooklyn Steel for month-long residency

Dec 5, 2022

LCD Soundsystem is currently playing shows at Brooklyn Steel through Dec. 17. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of three people. On the left is a dark-haired female wearing blue sunglasses, a red shirt with patterns, blue pants and a red tote bag. In the center is a red-haired female wearing a light brown suit, a black top and a burgundy bag. On the right is a dark-haired female wearing a black sweater, a white dress with a cherry pattern, fishnet stockings and a pink tote bag.

Photo: Bella Hadid, Matilda Djerf, Devon Lee Carlson and basic fashion cults

Dec 5, 2022

Bella Hadid, Matilda Djerf and Devon Lee Carlson have influenced style trends. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a scale against a purple background with white text next to it. The text reads “Number one Yale; number two Stanford; number three University of Chicago; number four Columbia, Harvard; number six University of Pennsylvania.” Under the list is a larger line of text that reads “number seven N.Y.U.”

Photo: As other top law schools boycott US News rankings, NYU stays put

Dec 2, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a teal crocheted grocery shopping bag on a light orange background. Inside the bag is a bundle of three bananas, a head of broccoli, a triangular block of cheese, a small carton of milk, a baguette, a plastic bag with pasta inside and a jar of red pasta sauce.

Photo: Opinion: NYU’s food security initiatives are inadequate

Dec 1, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of a brown-haired woman in a long-sleeve blue shirt holding a bagel with her left hand. Behind her there are floating bagels in vertical lines, against a dark blue background.

Photo: How to order an NYC bagel the right way

Nov 30, 2022

Don’t fumble your bagel order. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

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

Photo: Opinion: You should love 8 a.m. classes

Nov 22, 2022

Your 8 a.m. classes give you a head start on the day. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of two women in front of a teal background. The woman on the left has blonde ombré hair. The woman on the right has brown hair and black sunglasses, and she holds her iPhone up in the air to take a selfie.

Photo: 6 tips to spot celebrities in NYC

Nov 17, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

The display window of a store with a red jacket with white collar and sleeves, and a pair of red leather shoes on display.

Photo: 8 Iranian-owned businesses to support in NYC

Nov 16, 2022

(Susan Behrends Valenzuela for WSN)

Three people sit on a red-and-white plaid picnic blanket in the middle of a meadow with trees on both sides. On the ground are a bouquet of pink, yellow and blue flowers, a pair of brown boots, a bowl of strawberries, a plate of sushi and a black tote bag. From left to right, a person with golden hair wears a pair of white glasses and a dress with blue and pink gradients. The person in the middle with long black curly hair wears a black dress. The person on the left with long black curly hair wears a pair of orange tinted glasses, an orange shirt and a blue bottom.

Photo: Q&A: David Siev’s American dream lives on in ‘Bad Axe’

Nov 14, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

A black blazer jacket and a brown paper box with the text “AMAZON” written on it lay against a light blue background.

Photo: Online shopping diminishes the high-fashion experience

Nov 14, 2022

Luxury e-commerce is rising in popularity, but will it stick among high luxury retailers? (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of Google Classroom’s logo with a crown on top against a light blue background. The logo has three people in white against a green board framed in yellow.

Photo: Opinion: Brightspace is poorly designed

Nov 8, 2022

Google Classroom is a platform dedicated to education and classroom management. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An interior view of the Bluestocking bookstore. In the foreground are shelves of comic books. On the wall is a painting of Julia de Burgos in brown. On the wall is text that reads “Soy La vida, La Fuerza, La Mujer,” which translates in English to “I am Life, Force and Woman.”

Photo: Finding comfort and community at Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore

Nov 7, 2022

Bluestockings Cooperative Bookstore is a feminist bookstore located on the Lower East Side. (Susan Behrends Valenzuela for WSN)

An illustration of a wooden box in a park. A pair of legs with blue jeans and black sneakers stands on top of the box. The box reads “W.S.N.”

Photo: The Soapbox: Saudi Arabian royalty, a planned German coup, Peru’s new president

Dec 9, 2022

The Soapbox is a weekly news column rounding up stories worth reading for a global university. (Staff Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

The cover of the book “I’m Glad My Mom Died” is centered in frame. Pink text against a light yellow background reads “I’m Glad My Mom Died.” The author’s name, “Jennette McCurdy,” is pink and outlined in black. At the center of the cover is a portrait of actor Jennette McCurdy, whose hair is tied up into a ponytail. She wears a pink dress and holds a pink urn against a pink background.

Photo: Review: ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’ offers a new take on memoirs

Nov 4, 2022

“I'm Glad My Mom Died,” by Jennette McCurdy, is a memoir detailing the author’s life as a child actress and her relationship with her abusive mother. It was published by...

An illustration of the New York Yankees’ logo on a gravestone with the text “R.I.P.” engraved on it and flowers placed in front of the gravestone.

Photo: A eulogy to this year’s New York Yankees

Oct 31, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of Katie Gavin, Josette Maskin and Naomi McPherson posing for a photograph while sitting on a stage. McPherson, on the left, has brown curly hair, and wears yellow-tinted glasses, a yellow short-sleeved shirt, brown shorts, white socks, and brown lace-up shoes. Gavin, in the center, has red straight hair and wears a gray long-sleeved shirt, green pants with gray vertical stripes, and brown shoes with tied bows. Maskin, on the right, is wearing a white T-shirt, an orange long-sleeved shirt with brown stripes under the white shirt, gray-ish brown pants, and dark shoes.

Photo: Review: MUNA reimagines electropop on ‘Live At Electric Lady’

Oct 31, 2022

Musical group MUNA released a live EP. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of an orange suitcase with a purple handbag on top, a United States passport, a boarding pass from New York to London, and a smartphone.

Photo: Studying abroad next semester? Here's what to prepare

Oct 31, 2022

A guide to what to expect after you are accepted to a study abroad program at NYU. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of white wired earphones surrounded by musical notes, against a blue background.

Photo: Opinion: It’s high time we embrace pop music again

Oct 28, 2022

Admit it — we all have a soft spot for pop music regardless of what we say about our music taste. (Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

An illustration of the cover of Deborah Levy’s book “An Amorous Discourse in the Suburbs of Hell” against a light blue background.

Photo: Reading Guide: Fall in love with Deborah Levy

Oct 28, 2022

(Illustration by Susan Behrends Valenzuela)

A man wearing a red hooded zip-up sweatshirt smiles for a photo in Tompkins Square Park, holding a Citi Bike that has a gray basket attached to the front. A black pug with its tongue out sits inside the basket. A gray knit blanket is draped over the dog, and theres a hand holding a phone on the right taking a photo of the dog and the owner.

New York’s snazziest pooches: Halloween edition

From Elvis and Priscilla Presley to “Miss New Yorkie,” here’s how dogs and their owners celebrated Halloween at the 32nd annual Tompkins Square Dog Parade.

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