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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

Tommy Collison

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor

Tommy Collison is a writer interested in privacy and the future of journalism in a post-Snowden, Google-owns-your-data world whose columns focus on the intersection of technology and student life. He is a junior in CAS for Journalism and Middle East & Islamic Studies. He's aiming for a perfect attendance medal at 16 Handles.
All content by Tommy Collison
Students should learn a different language in college while they are in the proper environment to do so. In addition to the immediate gratification of a new learned skill, learning a foreign language also benefits your cognitive abilities in the future.

Everyone Should Learn a Foreign Language in College

Tommy Collison, Staff Writer March 6, 2017
Given the unique environment that is a student’s four years at university, and the huge benefits of being bilingual or even trilingual, students ought to take as many foreign language classes as their four-year plan allows.
Tel Aviv can offer an escape from the hectic 2016 presidential election.

Tel Aviv: Some Electioneers Abroad

Tommy Collison, Contributing Writer November 8, 2016
Tommy Collison is neither a citizen nor a current resident of the United States, but he's certainly still thinking about the presidential election.
Prior to landing at his study away site, Tommy Collison takes an aerial shot of Tel Aviv and the Mediterranean.

Tel Aviv: Go Tel it From the Mountain

Tommy Collison, Contributing Writer October 18, 2016
In Tel Aviv, people tend to befriend each other based on their personality traits, not their political opinions.
Stack of rocket shells destroyed by the Iron Dome

Studying Abroad 2.0

Tommy Collison, Contributing Writer October 4, 2016
International students are technically already studying abroad. These are the recollections of an Irish student studying in Tel Aviv.
Sanders Revolution Misguided from the Start

Sanders Revolution Misguided from the Start

Tommy Collison, Staff Writer April 25, 2016
If Bernie Sanders was truly married to the idea of political revolution, I believe he would have started at the bottom and worked his way up.
Free Speech Post-Gawker Will Be Just Fine

Free Speech Post-Gawker Will Be Just Fine

Tommy Collison, Staff Writer March 28, 2016
A sex tape is only a “major scandal” if Gawker chooses to shove a retired wrestler back into the spotlight for no other discernible reason than to grab eyeballs and earn ad revenue.
NYU Should Not Look to Students for Donations

NYU Should Not Look to Students for Donations

Tommy Collison, Staff Writer February 1, 2016
The university has no business asking current and outgoing students for donations, and shouldn’t have to regardless. As he begins his tenure as president of this university, Andrew Hamilton should continue to look toward alumni and donors, rather than current students, to finance NYU.
Noah Geib

Noah Geib

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor December 10, 2015

While most students are concerned with grades, GPAs and getting a good job after college, other students are looking at the bigger picture. But Tandon sophomore Noah Geib is not...

WSN Staff recommends books to read over Thanksgiving break.

Staff Recs: What to read over Thanksgiving break

Take advantage of the five-day Thanksgiving break to curl up with some cozy books.
International students should be given green cards after college

International students should be given green cards after college

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor November 3, 2015
Candidates in the 2016 election should pledge to give green cards to international students who complete college here in the U.S.
Leaked documents goldmine for politics students

Leaked documents goldmine for politics students

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor October 20, 2015
The Drone Papers from the Intercept and Wikileaks's new document search is a trove for students of foreign policy.
Classical favorites such as Debussy’s “Clair de la Lune” are very popular study songs.

Staff Recommendations: Music to study by

Grace Halio, Alex Bazeley, Tommy Collison and Audrey Deng October 15, 2015
Hunker down for midterm studying with these staff-recommended Spotify playlists.
Walled gardens can’t connect the world

Walled gardens can’t connect the world

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor October 13, 2015
Facebook's goal to connect the world is at odds with their desire to place every FB user in a walled garden.
Media coverage of airstrike fails, outlets quietly rewrite articles

Media coverage of airstrike fails, outlets quietly rewrite articles

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor October 5, 2015
The New York Times should stop rewriting their stories and should also stop leaning on official sources for their stories.
Bring home Snowden in time for 2016 election

Bring home Snowden in time for 2016 election

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor September 30, 2015
Obama should pardon Snowden, who joined Twitter next week.
Students must come before expansion

Students must come before expansion

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor September 16, 2015
NYU is failing its lowest income students and should pause its expansion in favor of its students.
Facebook real name policy must go

Facebook real name policy must go

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor September 8, 2015
Facebook has already taken a step in the right direction by allowing users to set a custom gender. They must know abandon their stringent controls on what names users are allowed use.
Netzpolitik shows importance of free press

Netzpolitik shows importance of free press

Tommy Collison, Opinion Editor August 28, 2015
The short-lived treason investigation against German news blog Netzpolitik underscored the importance of leakers and whistleblowers to the democratic process.

Week Ahead | April 27

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor April 26, 2015

Here is a look at what's happening this week in and around the NYU Campus! Hosted by our own Tommy Collison Greek Week: https://www.facebook.com/events/820428908043107/ May...

Users must be wary of webcam snooping

Users must be wary of webcam snooping

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor April 26, 2015
It's incredibly easy for hackers or computer technicians to remotely activate your computer's webcam, so covering it with a Post-it or small sticker is something everyone should do.
Ally Week ideals must go further

Ally Week ideals must go further

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor April 19, 2015
NYU Ally Week ideas should extend beyond the week, as should inclusivity.
Privacy loss, price discounts do not mix

Privacy loss, price discounts do not mix

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor April 13, 2015
Insurance companies monetizing customer's private data is part of a dangerous trend of businesses profiting off of the private data of their customers.

NYU Housing selection process broken

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor April 6, 2015
NYU's housing selection process needs to account for student's class location and financial situations.
Students too quick to judge Hamilton

Students too quick to judge Hamilton

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor March 23, 2015
Students should withhold judgement on incoming NYU President Andrew Hamilton.
Sexual assault training must remain mandatory

Sexual assault training must remain mandatory

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor March 12, 2015

In an email sent Tuesday night, Senior Vice President of Student Affairs Marc Wais announced an online training course about sexual misconduct that is mandatory for all students....

US cyberwar tactics misguided

US cyberwar tactics misguided

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor March 5, 2015
The US needs to take a more responsible role when it comes to cyber-attacks and computer-driven espionage.

Video: Op Ed | Study Away

March 4, 2015

Matthew Tessler, Tommy Collison and Hannah Treasure discuss the pros and cons of the "Study Away" mentality in this weeks Op Ed.

Mandatory study away can benefit college students

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor February 26, 2015

NYU’s Washington Square admissions site mentions the benefits that come with living in a city so full of different cultures and communities. Beyond New York, though, students...

AT&T payment plan further erodes privacy

AT&T payment plan further erodes privacy

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor February 24, 2015
AT&T's surcharge of $29 for customers who would like to opt out of targeted ads based on their browsing history is unacceptable and shows a need for federal regulation.
Tommy Collison

‘50 Shades’ movie glorifies, excuses abuse

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor February 17, 2015
Fifty Shades of Grey provides excuses for intimate partner violence.
Activists must secure transgender rights

Activists must secure transgender rights

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor February 10, 2015
The mayor of Denver was prevented from speaking at the National LGBTQ Task Force's recent conference, and event organizers should be commended for their response to the protest.

Video: Op-Ed Live

February 4, 2015

Deputy Opinion Editors Tommy Collison and Matthew Tessler discuss the attack on French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and the Western media's response. This video is moderated...

Free speech under attack before Hebdo

Free speech under attack before Hebdo

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor February 2, 2015
World leaders must recognize that freedom of speech is for all.
Transgender suicide rate demands action

Transgender suicide rate demands action

Tommy Collison, Deputy Opinion Editor January 26, 2015
A recent high-profile transgender suicide highlights need for protective legislation.
Body cameras cannot fix racism

Body cameras cannot fix racism

Omar Etman and Tommy Collison December 4, 2014
The grand jury's failure to indict the officer who killed Eric Garner shows that body cameras may not be the perfect solution.
Rise of social media must be embraced

Rise of social media must be embraced

Tommy Collison, Staff Columnist December 1, 2014
Social media users will not replace journalists, but the world is beginning to see a symbiosis between the two groups of newsmakers.
Warrantless spying must be debated openly

Warrantless spying must be debated openly

Tommy Collison, Staff Columnist November 24, 2014
Citizens need to decide whether privacy infringement is a cost worth paying in exchange for diminished civil liberties.
Journalism needs a Netflix to innovate

Journalism needs a Netflix to innovate

Tommy Collison, Staff Columnist November 18, 2014
Journalism should embrace a new subscription service that allows access to multiple content providers.
Low-effort activism still has its place

Low-effort activism still has its place

Tommy Collison, Staff Columnist November 11, 2014
Despite disapproval, armchair activism can be a useful organizing technique.
 NYU free speech stance online deserves credit

NYU free speech stance online deserves credit

Tommy Collison, Staff Writer November 5, 2014
NYU should be commended for allowing its study away students to access the internet without being restrained by local censorship.
#GamerGate highlights industry misogyny

#GamerGate highlights industry misogyny

Tommy Collison, Contributing Columnist October 21, 2014
#GamerGate tackles the widespread inequality in video games. Shifting blame away from the misogynistic gamers is unfair to all women.
Apple’s efforts strengthen personal privacy

Apple’s efforts strengthen personal privacy

Tommy Collison October 7, 2014
For law enforcement hoping to gain more access to private data, Apple's heightened security is a bad thing. For everyone else, it's very good.
 Right to online privacy should be claimed

Right to online privacy should be claimed

Tommy Collison, Contributing Columnist September 24, 2014
When everything online is being watched by businesses, it is easy to believe that our right to privacy does not extend to the internet. This does not have to be the case. Rights to privacy should extend to the internet and there are steps one can take to protect this right.