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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

Yezen Saadah

Yezen Saadah, Editor-in-Chief

Yezen Saadah is a junior at NYU studying cinema studies, journalism and Middle Eastern studies. He is interested in U.S. foreign policy and international law, and is endlessly fascinated by the role of journalism as a form of documentation. When he isn’t in the WSN newsroom or in class, he’s probably at a movie theater, taking street photos or reading lots of Noam Chomsky. You can contact him on Instagram @yezen.saadah or send tips to [email protected].

All content by Yezen Saadah
A person wearing a red sweatshirt holding a cardboard sign that reads “N.Y.U. Adjuncts in Solidarity.” He is at a rally next to the Bobst Library and is holding his phone, taking a picture. There is a crowd of people around him.

Adjuncts at odds with current union leaders in run-up to internal election

A number of adjunct professors unsatisfied with union leadership will run for executive positions within NYU’s adjunct union, citing lackluster communication from current leadership.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor May 4, 2023

A group of adjunct professors have joined together to mount a challenge against the current leadership of the union that represents them, who they say have, at times, communicated...

A person holding up a paperboard sign that reads “COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY WITH G.S.O.C.” There is a purple flag of N.Y.U hanging from a building in the background.

NYU course assistants demand $1.3 million in missing back pay

The university’s graduate student union is calling on NYU to compensate course assistants for back pay included in a summer 2022 settlement.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 27, 2023

Andrea Ho, a second-year in the Graduate School of Arts & Science, spent the 2021-22 academic year as a course assistant at the school, working 10 to 20 hours per week grading...

NYU Law assistant dean Michelle Cherande confronts students protesting in a room.

NYU Law dean confronts protesters for heckling Israeli politician

Dozens of pro-Palestine students protested an event hosted at NYU Law last Thursday that featured an Israeli politician.
Ania Keenan and Yezen Saadah April 24, 2023

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

The Soapbox: French pension reform, drought in Spain, migration in Italy

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 21, 2023

In France, protests rise after government approves pension law French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial plan to raise the retirement age in the country from 62 to 64...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop, which has displayed on its screen a man in a dark blue trench coat and hat overseeing a field of figures in green and black cubicles.

Off the Radar: ‘PlayTime’ and the baffling nature of industrialization

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “PlayTime” is available to stream on Kanopy and will screen at Film at Lincoln Center on April 16.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 14, 2023

Renowned French filmmaker Jacques Tati, most famous for Monsieur Hulot, his clumsy persona, crafted one of the most technically ambitious and conceptually timeless films with 1967’s...

A group of people standing in front of 230 Park Avenue holding various signs that read, “LEXIS loves ICE”, “LEXIS, SHAME ON YOU!”, “LEXIS SURVEILS SO ICE CAN DETAIN & DEPORT. END YOUR CONTRACT WITH ICE!”, “LEXIS SEPARATES FAMILIES”, “LEXIS PROFITS OFF DEPORTATIONS. NO TECH FOR ICE!”

NYU Law students protest LexisNexis contract with ICE

Law students from NYU and Columbia University demonstrated outside the Park Avenue headquarters of the data brokering company to demand that it end its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 11, 2023

Almost two dozen students from NYU's School of Law and Columbia Law School gathered outside the headquarters of LexisNexis on Friday to protest the data firm’s contract with...

The flag of Palestine is unfurled by a group standing in a crowd in Times Square.

Hundreds protest Israeli mosque raid at Times Square

Members of NYU’s Students for Justice in Palestine joined a crowd that gathered on Saturday to protest the Israeli military’s recent raid of Al-Aqsa Mosque.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 11, 2023

More than 1,000 people gathered in Times Square on Saturday afternoon to protest the Israeli military’s raids of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem last week, which were...

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

The Soapbox: Tension in Palestine, Indigenous representation in Australia, migrant housing in the UK 

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 7, 2023

In occupied Palestine, an Israeli military raid condemned by Arab states Dozens of armed Israeli officers raided Al-Aqsa Mosque in east Jerusalem on Tuesday and Wednesday during...

A white mail bag with blue text reading “Israel Postal Co. L.T.D.” on it. Written in red marker above the blue text are “Fuck” and “Free Palestine.”

NYU drops antisemitism charge against grad student

A graduate student worker who lost her on-campus job and was charged with counts of vandalism and antisemitism after writing on a discarded mailbag will be rehired by the university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 7, 2023

NYU dropped charges of vandalism and antisemitism that it had filed against a graduate student employee earlier this year after the graduate student union, GSOC-UAW Local 2110,...

Angela Amar dressed in black formal attire, surrounded by out-of-focus plants.

NYU’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing appoints new dean

NYU announced that Angela Amar, an accomplished nursing educator, will take over as dean of the university’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing this summer.
Bruna Horvath, Carmo Moniz and Yezen Saadah April 7, 2023

NYU named Angela Amar, the current dean of the Las Vegas School of Nursing at the University of Nevada, as the next dean of the university’s Rory Meyers College of Nursing on...

A building with a glass facade that reads, “N.Y.U. Langone Health.”

NYU Langone opens new medical center in Brooklyn

The new center, which adds a second Langone emergency department in Brooklyn, is expected to provide care for over 200,000 patients each year.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor April 3, 2023

A new NYU Langone Health ambulatory care center, featuring a 24-hour emergency department, radiology services, cancer care and other amenities, opened in the Cobble Hill neighborhood...

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

The Soapbox: Argentina’s economy, Italy to ban lab-grown foods, UAE royalty

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 31, 2023

At the White House, Argentinian president renegotiates country’s debt Argentinian president Alberto Fernández visited the White House on Wednesday in an attempt to increase...

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

The Soapbox: No-confidence motion in Spain, judicial changes in Israel, potential ban in EU

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 24, 2023

In Spain, government votes against no-confidence motion On Wednesday, the Spanish parliament, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, dismissed a no-confidence motion tabled against...

An illustration of a silver and black laptop shows a scene of a young boy holding a book, looking at a woman wearing a hijab who is hanging clothes on a clothesline. A white and blue cup full of tea sits in front of the laptop.

Off the Radar: ‘Where Is My Friend’s House?’ and the importance of empathy

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Where Is My Friend’s House?” is available to stream on Kanopy.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 24, 2023

Abbas Kiarostami is considered by many to be one of the most innovative filmmakers of all time. While the late Iranian director is most famous for his experimental auteur films...

A wide gallery space, with a white wall on the left side of the room that has blue-colored text and pieces of art in brown frames. Behind it are black curtains and a large multicolored sculpture made of thin layers. On the right side of the image there is a green wall with black text.

NYU Latinx Project to create research center with $1.3 million donation

The university’s Latinx Project will use a recent $1.3 million grant to establish a new research center for Latinx studies with support from the Office of the Provost.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 21, 2023

A recent $1.3 million donation will establish an official research institute for Latinx studies at NYU called the Latinx Project: Interdisciplinary Center for Arts and Culture....

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

The Soapbox: Ghana’s economic crisis, Czech president leaves office, French protests

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 10, 2023

In Ghana, government addresses economic crisis Nana Akufo-Addo, the president of Ghana, spoke at an annual state-of-the-nation address about the country’s “worst economic...

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

The Soapbox: Shipwreck in Italy, outcry after Australian murder, Germany’s feminist foreign policy

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 3, 2023

In Italy, a shipwreck kills dozens of migrants A wooden boat carrying migrants from Turkey to Europe crashed near the southern coast of Italy on Sunday, killing at least 67 including...

An illustration of the Syrian and Turkish flags waving on flagpoles. Behind them is a gray and red gradient.

What the NYU community is doing to help Turkey and Syria

In the aftermath of the recent devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, NYU students and faculty have taken the initiative to organize relief efforts. The student-led Turkish Culture Association alone has raised more than $80,000.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 2, 2023

Nearly a month later, Turkey and Syria are only starting to recover from the effects of earthquakes that devastated the countries on Feb. 6. Since the disaster, NYU students and...

The exterior of the top floor of a building with a circular, purple N.Y.U. Langone Health sign. The blue sky is seen above.

NYU Langone sued for disability discrimination

A former physician’s assistant filed a complaint against NYU Langone, accusing the institution of disability discrimination after the hospital terminated her employment last year.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 1, 2023

A former physician’s assistant at NYU Langone Health is suing the school for disability discrimination after the hospital allegedly fired her for requesting accommodations. Sophiana...

An illustration of Winnie the Pooh, whose face is half covered with blood. He is holding a blood-stained hammer. A white text bubble is drawn on the right that reads “Why Bother?”

Review: Don’t waste your time with ‘Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey’

Gratuitous gore and pretentious attempts at subversion fail to impress in this abomination of a film. “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” is now playing in select theaters, but certainly don’t go out of your way to see it.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor March 1, 2023

Sitting through the miserable slog that is “Winnie the Pooh: Blood and Honey” is the cinematic equivalent of watching a speeding train crash into a gigantic dump. It’s bad,...

An illustration of a man wearing a gray suit with a blue tie and a hat. The figure is against a purple background.

Photo: NYU chaplain travels to Turkey to support relief efforts

February 28, 2023

(Illustration by Yezen Saadah)

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

The Soapbox: Airstrikes in Gaza, shortages in the UK, a coal mine collapse in China

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor February 24, 2023

In China, a coal mine collapse kills at least five people A coal mine collapse in Inner Mongolia resulted in at least five deaths and 48 disappearances. The initial cave-in of...

A group of rally attendees stand in front of Columbia University’s Alma Mater statue. A cardboard sign with blue text reads “N.Y.U. R.A.s. Stand With C.U.R.A.”

Columbia RAs take to president’s mansion, demand union recognition

Dozens of students and resident assistants gathered at Columbia University on Monday, Feb. 20 in protest of the university’s refusal to recognize the RAs’ union.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor February 22, 2023

Resident assistants and students at Columbia University rallied in front of the residence of the university’s president, Lee Bollinger, on Monday, Feb. 20 to demand that the...

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

The Soapbox: UAE climate talks, drought in Argentina, Australia’s pledge

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor February 17, 2023

In the UAE, minister calls for a sustainable future Sultan Al Jaber, the CEO of the UAE’s state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company and the country’s minister for industry...

The interior of the Skirball Center. A crowd of ceremony attendees gather in front of a projected screen that reads "Make It Big," "Andrew D. Hamilton," "Make It Here," "Make It Bold."

NYU to announce next president on Wednesday

After a monthslong search process, NYU’s Presidential Search Committee has chosen the university’s next president. An announcement will be made on the morning of Feb. 15.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor February 14, 2023

NYU will announce its next president on the morning of Feb. 15, according to multiple employees and students who knew of plans for the announcement. The successor will replace...

Joe Puccio, the co-founder of Coursicle, wearing a maroon shirt, sits behind a MacBook Pro on a table. Behind him is a window with sunlight streaming in.

Coursicle co-founder to students: ‘I am sorry for everything’

The co-founder of Coursicle, a popular course scheduling app, recently apologized for a manic episode last year during which he sent multiple controversial push notifications to students.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor February 14, 2023

A year after sending troubling push notifications to students through his popular course scheduling app, Coursicle co-founder Joe Puccio is apologizing to users, saying that a...

An orange, animated cat wearing a black tricorn holds a silver épée.

Review: ‘Puss in Boots: The Last Wish’ is a surprisingly ambitious spinoff sequel

Computer animation and an unexpectedly heartwarming narrative go hand in hand in DreamWorks Animation’s latest “Shrek” franchise installment. “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” is now playing in theaters.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 13, 2023

To everyone’s dismay, “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” may have some stiff competition at this year’s Academy Awards — albeit, deservedly so.  “Puss in Boots:...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch. Behind the arch sits gray and brown alternating high-rises. On the top right are the words “The Daybook” in an arched shape.

What to do this week: Valentine’s Day card-making, a puppet show and more

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: Feb. 13-19.
Yezen Saadah, News Editor February 12, 2023

An illustration of a white teacup with blue detailing sitting on bedsheets in front of a laptop. On the laptop screen is a woman, as seen in the film “Charulata.”

Off the Radar: ‘Charulata’ and the conflict between old and the new

Off the Radar is a weekly column surveying overlooked films available to students for free via NYU’s streaming partnerships. “Charulata” is available to stream on Kanopy and HBO Max.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 10, 2023

Bengali filmmaker Satyajit Ray, who is most famous for his monumental “Apu Trilogy,” crafted one of cinema’s finest gems with 1964’s “Charulata.” The film deconstructs...

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

The Soapbox: Barcelona cuts ties with Israel, France-Algeria relations, African extremist groups

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN covering major news developments at NYU’s campuses and study away sites abroad. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 10, 2023

In Spain, Barcelona mayor cuts ties with Israel Ada Colau, the mayor of Barcelona, has severed her city’s relations with Tel Aviv and Gaza, ending a 25-year-long joint agreement...

A speaker delivers a speech from behind a podium. Observers stand in a semicircle in front of the speaker. Vertical floor-to-ceiling windows are behind the speaker.

Students and faculty mourn Palestinian deaths at vigil

NYU’s Student Government Assembly and Students for Justice in Palestine held a vigil on Thursday to honor Palestinian lives lost in an Israeli military raid.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 10, 2023

More than 30 students gathered in the Grand Hall of the Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life on Thursday, Feb. 9 to mourn the Palestinians killed during an Israeli military...

A storefront, viewed from the street outside, with harsh white lighting, and rows of colorful cannabis products displayed inside. A man wearing a red hoodie and black vest stands outside.

Photo: Illegal weed stores to be evicted as part of Eric Adams crackdown

February 8, 2023

An unlicensed cannabis dispensary on Broadway, near Astor Place. (Yezen Saadah for WSN)

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

The Soapbox: Afghan refugees uprooted, Australian banknotes, German mask mandate

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN’s news desk analyzing major developments in world news and rounding up the stories we think are worth the read this week. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 3, 2023

In London, the government uproots refugees The British government has ordered the relocation of hundreds of Afghan refugees in London, giving 40 families one week to leave the...

A white mail bag with blue text reading “Israel Postal Co. L.T.D.” on it. “Fuck” and “Free Palestine” are written with red marker on top.

NYU grad student accused of antisemitism for writing on discarded mailbag

After a graduate student wrote on an Israeli mailbag that had already been thrown in the trash, NYU fired her from her on-campus job and charged her with counts of vandalism and antisemitism.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 1, 2023

NYU graduate student Naye Idriss was working in the mailroom of Bobst Library last June when she came across a large, white mailbag with “Israel Post Co. Ltd.” written on the...

A man with a sad expression, sitting in a dimly lit room, smoking, with a window in the background. There is another man outside, looking into the room with a sad expression on his face.

Review: Martin McDonagh’s ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ depicts heartbreak and existential despair hilariously

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is undoubtedly one of the best films of the year.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor February 1, 2023

Written and directed by Martin McDonagh, “The Banshees of Inisherin” follows best friends Pádraic (Colin Farrell) and Colm (Brendan Gleeson) around an island off the coast...

A man in a dark blue striped suit with a checkered tie facing forward with his arms crossed. Behind him is a wall with multiple tall windows.

Top lawyer named next chair of NYU board of trustees

Acclaimed lawyer, NYU alum and trustee Evan Chesler — who recently represented Elon Musk — will replace William Berkley as chair of NYU’s board of trustees at the end of his term in August.
Carmo Moniz and Yezen Saadah January 31, 2023

NYU’s board of trustees announced on Monday that it had chosen a new chairperson to succeed William Berkley. Evan Chesler, who has been a member of the board since 2006, will...

A woman stands in the middle of a crowd of protesters in Times Square. She shouts and raises her fist.

Demonstrators march across Manhattan to protest Tyre Nichols killing

New Yorkers marched through the streets after Memphis authorities released footage of Nichols being fatally beaten by police.
Adrianna Nehme, Tori Morales and Yezen Saadah January 29, 2023

Hundreds of demonstrators across New York City took part in marches protesting the death of Tyre Nichols, a Black man who died earlier this month after being brutally beaten by...

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

The Soapbox: A raid at a refugee camp, African democracies, tanks for Ukraine

The Soapbox is a weekly column by WSN’s news desk analyzing major developments in world news and rounding up the stories we think are worth the read this week. Global consciousness for a global university.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor January 27, 2023

In occupied Palestine, the Israeli military raids refugee camp An Israeli military raid on an occupied West Bank refugee camp resulted in the deaths of at least nine Palestinians...

Andrew Hamilton, wearing a dark-colored suit with a red tie, stands behind a wooden N.Y.U. podium, on stage in an auditorium. Red curtains line the rear of the stage. An audio technician stands behind Hamilton.

Hamilton bids new students farewell at final presidential welcome

At his final welcome address before he leaves his role, NYU president Andrew Hamilton greeted hundreds of incoming and returning students just before hosting the university’s biannual “Reality Show.”
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor January 26, 2023

NYU president Andrew Hamilton welcomed over 200 new and returning students to the university on Wednesday, Jan. 25 during his final Presidential Welcome speech, an annual event...

A tall building complex with a glass exterior in daylight with traffic passing in front of the building.

Winter break recap: What happened at NYU while you were gone

The fibs of a Congressman, a former NYU administrator commits fraud, the new billion-dollar building, and all the other news you missed.

As students return to campus for the start of the spring semester, here is some of the news you may have missed over winter break. Former NYU finance director indicted after embezzling...

An elderly man looks down at his watch in front of a beige building. He is wearing a black derby with an indigo striped suit, a pink shirt and a purple patterned tie. He is also holding a light brown wooden cane in his right hand.

Review: ‘Living’ is a remarkably pointless rendition of an all-time classic

“Living,” the British remake of Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru,” excels in being just that, but unfortunately offers nothing new. 
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 15, 2022

South African filmmaker Oliver Hermanus’ latest film, “Living,” is a British adaptation of the 1952 masterpiece by Akira Kurosawa, “Ikiru.” It is a story about Mr. Williams...

Two intricate sets of miniature art on display in an exhibition. On the left, a house with two stage lights next to it; on the right, a church with a statue of Jesus being hung on a large cross.

‘Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio,’ a look at the stop-motion behind Netflix’s new adaptation

Following the release of Guillermo del Toro’s “Pinocchio,” the Museum of Modern Art has staged an exhibition composed of the film’s sets, puppets and other behind-the-scenes looks.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 14, 2022

From Dec. 11 through April 15, the Museum of Modern Art will be displaying “Guillermo del Toro: Crafting Pinocchio,” a remarkable exhibition detailing the behind-the-scenes...

Bill Clinton wears a navy blue suit, a red tie and a black robe while laughing on stage. Next to Clinton is Ron Robin also laughing in a blue robe.

Bill Clinton, John Sexton visit NYU to receive degrees from Israeli university

Former U.S. president Bill Clinton and ex-NYU president John Sexton were awarded honorary degrees from the Israeli University of Haifa for achievements in their respective fields.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 13, 2022

Bill Clinton visited NYU alongside former university president John Sexton on Monday to attend a ceremony in which they were awarded honorary degrees from an Israeli university....

A silhouette of a puppet with a long nose walking through an open gate with a bright ray of light shining through it.

Review: Stop-motion animation in ‘Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio’ emotionally captures life’s transience

Guillermo del Toro and Mark Gustafson’s adaptation of the classic fairytale reaffirms why animation matters with a profound, heartful and incredibly moving narrative. The film is now playing at the IFC Center and available to stream on Netflix.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 12, 2022

“Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” is one of the most prolific animated films since 2014’s “The Lego Movie.” Directors Mark Gustafson — who is best known for his work...

A man with thick, white facial hair sits behind a table filled with cassette tapes and a radio. He looks into the camera and wears a pair of glasses, a brown vest, a white shirt and a pair of headphones.

Review: ‘Tantura’ ambitiously examines the Israeli massacre of a Palestinian village

Alon Schwarz confronts Israeli denial of the 1948 massacre of Palestinian villages in his new chilling and revealing documentary. “Tantura” is currently playing at the IFC Center. 
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 12, 2022

Filmmaker Alon Schwarz’s newest documentary, “Tantura,” examines the Israeli massacre of the Palestinian village of Tantura during the 1948 Nakba, or “catastrophe” in...

A storefront, viewed from the street outside, with harsh white lighting, and rows of colorful cannabis products displayed inside. A man wearing a red hoodie and black vest stands outside.

Photo: Unlicensed weed stores pose as legitimate dispensaries, enticing NYU buyers

Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 9, 2022

An unlicensed cannabis dispensary on Broadway, near Astor Place. (Yezen Saadah for WSN)

A woman wearing all black sits in a red chair with khaki polka dots as she holds a microphone. To her right, a man wearing a brown suit, a blue shirt, and a blue tie also sits in a red chair with khaki polka dots as he holds a microphone. In front of them, there are two small light brown round tables.

Iranian American writer speaks on Iran human rights movement

Roya Hakakian, an Iranian American writer, spoke about the current political climate of Iran during a conversation held at the NYU Abu Dhabi New York City headquarters on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 8, 2022

Roya Hakakian — an Iranian American writer and senior fellow for the online magazine American Purpose — spoke in conversation with NYU Law fellow Tunku Varadarajan about the...

Multiple people stand under gray scaffolding. In the background, there is an entrance to a building with a sign that reads “The New York Times.'' A woman wearing a yellow shirt holds a sign that displays an image of a female with blood on her face. Under this image it reads “Hananeh Kia,” “23 years old,” and next to this, it reads in red font “Woman,” “Life,” “Freedom.” At the bottom of the poster in black font it reads: “Was shot and killed by security forces.”

Iranian students from NYU, Columbia refute New York Times reporting

Students from NYU and Columbia University protested the publication’s recent coverage of the Iranian human rights movement on Wednesday, Dec. 7. 
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 8, 2022

Around 50 students from NYU and Columbia University gathered in front of The New York Times headquarters in solidarity with a global movement to secure human rights in Iran on...

An illustration of two people. On the left is a man wearing a dark suit looking to the left. On the right is a woman with dark hair facing sideways while looking to the front.

Review: ‘Closed Circuit’ fails to examine human condition through its provocative filmmaking

Tal Inbar’s “Closed Circuit,” an international selection at DOC NYC, undermines cinema’s humanist value in exploiting trauma for insincerity and shock value.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 7, 2022

Tal Inbar’s “Closed Circuit” is about as disingenuous as a documentary can be. This isn’t because of its subject matter or lack of atmosphere, but rather its excessively...

Professor Rami Salameh stands in front of a podium, speaking to an audience in the Kimmel Center for University Life, while a projector screen behind him displays a Zoom virtual meeting.

Palestinian professor discusses colonialism, higher education at SJP event

A Birzeit University professor spoke to NYU students and faculty about the history and issue of higher education in Palestine under colonial rule.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 6, 2022

Palestinian scholar Rami Salameh, the chair of philosophy and cultural studies at Birzeit University, spoke to the NYU community about academic limitations on higher education...

An illustration of the Washington Square Arch. Behind the arch sits gray and brown alternating high-rises. On the top right are the words “The Daybook” in an arched shape.

What to do this week: The Washington Square Christmas tree and holiday cabaret

The Daybook is WSN’s weekly column listing in-person and online events at NYU and across New York City. This week: Dec. 5-Dec. 11.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 4, 2022

Take a writing class with an award-winning playwright 5 p.m. on Zoom Participate in a virtual writing workshop with American playwright Suzan-Lori Parks, who is well-known...

The exterior facade of a modern glass building.

NYU commits to Tandon expansion with new billion-dollar investment

NYU announced that it will spend $1 billion on the Tandon School of Engineering in an effort to compete with top engineering schools nationwide.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor December 2, 2022

NYU president Andrew Hamilton announced a long-term $1 billion investment in the Tandon School of Engineering on Wednesday, Nov. 30, weeks after the university’s September purchase...

The entrance of the Coral Tower residence hall. To the left is a pink bulletin board with announcements about the dorm. In the middle is a gray gate to enter the residence hall, with two elevators in the background. To the left is a brown desk where security officers typically sit.

Hamilton orders security review after spate of dorm intrusions

NYU president Andrew Hamilton requested that Campus Safety conduct an extensive review of dorm security following a series of intruder incidents last month.
Carmo Moniz, Lauren Ashe and Yezen Saadah December 1, 2022

After a series of security failures allowed intruders to enter multiple NYU residence halls and led to the resignation of one officer, university president Andrew Hamilton has...

A tall, wide building with grids of blue-green windows.

NYU to make dorms more accessible after Justice Dept. complaint

After reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice, NYU will expand the accessibility of its student housing within the next five years.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor November 30, 2022

NYU will begin a five-year effort to make its housing facilities more accessible after reaching an agreement with the U.S. Department of Justice. Some of the university’s housing...

A group of protesters marching down Seventh Avenue near Times Square. Some of them are holding posters with the Iranian flag on them.

At Times Square, NYU students join thousands to demand Iran regime change

NYU’s Persian Cultural Society took part in the largest Iranian protest in New York City on Saturday.
Yezen Saadah, Deputy News Editor November 21, 2022

The Persian Cultural Society at NYU joined over 10,000 people gathered in Times Square to protest against the Islamic Republic of Iran on the afternoon of Saturday, Nov. 19. The...

Illustration of a cup of hot tea and a laptop on a bed. The laptop is open displaying a man with a mustache wearing a hat and dark clothes, sitting on a swing outside in the rain at night.

Off the Radar: ‘Ikiru’ is a profound and timeless masterpiece

Akira Kurosawa’s “Ikiru,” the 1952 Japanese film about a dying old man searching for the meaning of life, is currently available on Kanopy and NYU Stream.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer November 18, 2022

Akira Kurosawa is one of history’s most prolific cinematic artists. The great Japanese filmmaker won international acclaim with epic action films, such as “Seven Samurai,”...

Two people sit behind a desk and a television behind them displaying a conference call. On the left is David Remnick wearing a black suit and on the right is Yevgenia Albats wearing a purple jacket. A group of people sit in front of them in a packed room.

Russian journalist Yevgenia Albats, New Yorker editor David Remnick on Ukraine, US midterms

NYU’s Distinguished Journalist in Residence Yevgenia Albats spoke with special guest David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, on the war in Ukraine and U.S. politics at the Jordan Center on Nov. 17.
Yezen Saadah, Senior Staff Writer November 18, 2022

Russian journalist Yevgenia Albats and editor of The New Yorker David Remnick discussed the political and humanitarian state of Russia and Ukraine at an event hosted by NYU’s...

The two-story building at 14 Gay St. is facing demolition. (Yezen Saadah for WSN)

Photo: Demolition of historic Gay Street building prompts public outcry

Adrianna Nehme, Deputy News Editor November 18, 2022

The two-story building at 14 Gay St. is facing demolition. (Yezen Saadah for WSN)

A man wearing a shirt with blue-and-red grid patterns playing a piano. A group of students stand behind the piano singing and wearing black clothes. They are inside a classroom.

Q&A: Anvita Gattani on college apps and filming for new HBO documentary

NYU Tisch student Anvita Gattani spoke with WSN about her role in “My So-Called High School Rank,” which was shown at DOC NYC on Saturday, Nov. 12. The film will premiere on HBO and HBO MAX on Nov. 29.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer November 16, 2022

“My So-Called High School Rank” is the new HBO documentary directed by Ricki Stern and Annie Sunberg, both of whom are known for their film and television production company,...

NYU President Andrew Hamilton, dressed in a suit and tie, speaks on Zoom.

Hamilton discusses student safety at town hall

University president Andrew Hamilton and NYU administrators addressed student questions during a virtual town hall hosted by the university’s Student Government Assembly on Monday, Nov. 14.
Yezen Saadah, Senior Staff Writer November 15, 2022

NYU president Andrew Hamilton joined other university administrators to address a recent intruder on campus, the potential relocation of a local Morton Williams supermarket and...

Against a purple background, a reel of film with the yellow text “IS THIS BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU !?!?” imprinted on it.

Review: ‘Is That Black Enough for You?!?’ reappraises Black filmmaking

“Is That Black Enough for You?!?” documents the forgotten chapter in American film history when Black directors drove the industry. The film is currently playing in select theaters and is available to stream on Netflix.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer November 14, 2022

The new documentary “Is that Black Enough for You?!?” was recently screened at the New York Film Festival. It describes the history of Black cinema and its long-lasting impact....

A hand holding an N.Y.U. identity card up to a dining hall entrance scanner.

Student gov’t deliberates Swipe it Forward, temporary visas and ICE event

NYU’s Student Government Assembly provided Swipe it Forward updates, debated temporary student visas and more at its meeting on Thursday, Nov. 3.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer November 7, 2022

NYU’s Swipe it Forward program — a food donation system that allows students to request a free meal swipe at select dining halls — has received 470 donations since its start...

Brad Hoylman, Noah Rosenblum, Alice Fontier, and Tasleemah Lawal sit at a panel discussion event. All four are wearing formal attire, including dark-colored blazers. Above the panelists is a screen projecting a video recording of the panel. In front of the panelists are members of the audience sitting in chairs listening to the discussion.

NYU profs, local politicians address sudden resignation of chief NY judge

The Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law at the NYU School of Law hosted a teach-in about the vacancy of the New York Court of Appeals chief judge position at D’Agostino Hall on Wednesday, Nov. 2.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer November 4, 2022

An NYU School of Law panel discussed solutions to address the current vacancy of the chief justice of the highest court in New York on Wednesday, Nov. 2. The person who fills the...

Rahimi, played by Zar Amir-Ebrahimi, looks into the distance. She wears a black headscarf.

‘Holy Spider’ is a striking work of Iranian social commentary

"Holy Spider” opened at the IFC Center on Friday, Oct. 27.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 31, 2022

Iranian Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi's latest film, “Holy Spider,” is the most unrelenting, pragmatic and cynical film of the year. There is no denying the film’s shockingly...

Author Suad Amiry talks with Columbia University professor Edward Said in front of a classroom full of people at the Barnard Center for Research on Women in Columbia University.

Review: Suad Amiry’s ‘Mother of Strangers’ powerfully portrays Palestinian life

Based on a true story, “Mother of Strangers” tells the devastating love tale of Subhi and Shams in Jaffa during the end of British rule in Palestine.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 31, 2022

“Mother of Strangers: A Novel,” by Palestinian writer and architect Suad Amiry, powerfully portrays Palestinian life during the British Mandate — the period between 1918...

A student, standing at a podium in a classroom, points to a presentation slide on a projector. The slide reads “NYU Muslim Student Organizations Present... Charity Week Kick-Off!” A snack table is set up against a wall.

Muslim student orgs raise thousands for Pakistan flood relief

Several Muslim student organizations at NYU hosted Charity Week, an international initiative geared toward assisting children in need around the world, from Monday, Oct. 25 to Sunday, Oct. 30.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 31, 2022

Several Muslim student organizations at NYU have raised nearly $14,000 for Charity Week USA 2022 — an annual volunteer-led global campaign in which students raise money for children...

A auditorium inside a cinema with red chairs and the text “FIRST RUN FILM FESTIVAL” projected onto the backdrop screen.

NYU celebrates student films at First Run Film Festival

The Kanbar Institute of Film & Television presented the NYU First Run Film Festival from Oct. 21 to Oct. 23, with an awards ceremony at Regal Union Square on Thursday, Oct. 27. 
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 31, 2022

The Maurice Kanbar Institute of Film & Television hosted NYU’s annual First Run Film Festival — a presentation of 100 films by undergraduate and graduate students — from...

A hand holding an N.Y.U. identity card up to a dining hall entrance scanner.

Swipe it Forward meal donation returns, undeterred by red tape

The student-led initiative seeks to combat food insecurity, but its launch has seen NYU Eats struggle to cooperate with the student government.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 28, 2022

Swipe it Forward, NYU's dining hall meal swipe donation program, returns today. The Student Government Assembly, which runs the program, struggled to work with NYU Eats, the organization...

Six people stand on stage, from left: Jeffrey Henson Scales, Stephen Shames, Deborah Willis, Ericka Huggins, Cheryl Dawson and Regina Jennings.

Former Black Panthers discuss party history at book launch

Former members of the Black Panther Party reflected on their time with the party at an NYU panel and book launch on Monday, Oct. 24.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 26, 2022

Former members of the Black Panther Party discussed how the revolutionary group impacted their lives at a launch event for two new books about the party’s history on Monday. “Comrade...

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. SGA.”

NYU Shanghai students ask to graduate elsewhere due to COVID cancellations

The Student Government Assembly convened to address graduation concerns from NYU Shanghai students, Swipe it Forward’s relaunch and more at its biweekly meeting on Thursday, Oct. 13.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 19, 2022

NYU Shanghai seniors who are studying away typically return to Shanghai before their graduation, but in 2022, many graduated at other NYU campuses outside of Shanghai due to pandemic-related...

A lone person stands in the middle of a winding road with worn-down buildings and dry vegetation surrounding both sides of the path.

NYFF 60 Review: ‘Beirut the Encounter’ is pure cinematic poetry

Lebanese director Borhane Alaouié questions the human condition through his powerful visual language and his instilling of a lingering sense of melancholy. "Beirut the Encounter" will screen at the 60th New York Film Festival on Oct. 16 at Lincoln Center.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 14, 2022

A beautiful 2K digital restoration of late Lebanese filmmaker Borhane Alaouié’s 1981 film “Beirut the Encounter” was screened in Film at Lincoln Center as a part of the...

A large group of people sit on the large staircase inside the lobby of New York University’s Kimmel Center for University Life, with one person in the front row holding a sign with text “WOMAN LIFE FREEDOM” printed on it.

Students demand more from Hamilton on Iran demonstrations

Members of the Persian Cultural Society urged NYU to do more to recognize the human rights demonstrations in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini on Oct. 12.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 14, 2022

More than 100 NYU students gathered in the Kimmel Center for University Life on Wednesday, to honor Mahsa Amini — a 22-year-old woman who died in police custody in Iran — and...

A man wearing a blue-and-white striped button down shirt, a gray hoodie and a jean jacket holds his hands up with a scared expression on his face.

NYFF 60 Review: ‘Triangle of Sadness’ is an outrageous and heavy-handed work of brilliance

Ruben Östlund’s newest social satire comments on class warfare, socioeconomic inequities and contemporary politics in a ridiculously heightened and often hilarious way. “Triangle of Sadness” recently screened at the 60th New York Film Festival and is playing in select theaters across the city.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 12, 2022

Swedish filmmaker Ruben Östlund’s “Triangle of Sadness,” which took home the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival this year, is one of the year’s most anticipated...

A male holding a microphone standing among a group of people sitting in a conference hall with a projector screen in the back indicating that this is the Fall 2022 Town Hall event of NYU’s Graduate School of Arts and Science.

Graduate students raise concerns about housing, employment availability at town hall

NYU administrators addressed the financial and academic difficulties that graduate students face during a town hall hosted by the Graduate School of Arts & Science Student Council on Tuesday, Oct. 4.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 6, 2022

NYU administrators spoke about internship restrictions for international students and instructed graduate students on how to navigate scholarships and the housing market at a town...

A female protester wearing a white shirt with text “WOMEN LIFE FREDDOM” cuts off her dark hair with a scissor.

At vigil for Mahsa Amini, Persian Society urges NYU to issue statement

Students and community members mourned the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and protested against the Iranian government during a vigil held in Washington Square Park on Sept. 29.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer October 3, 2022

Around 150 people gathered in Washington Square Park to mourn and protest the death of Mahsa Amini — a 22-year-old woman who died after being detained by Iran’s morality...

Author Kazuo Ishiguro dressed in a white shirt, silver-patterned tie and black suit in the Stockholm Stock Exchange.

Nobel laureate Kazuo Ishiguro joins NYU Reads panel 

Kazuo Ishiguro, who authored this year’s NYU Reads selection “Klara and the Sun,” discussed his novel and creative writing process during a panel with NYU students and faculty.
Yezen Saadah, Contributing Writer September 30, 2022

Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro joined a panel of NYU students and faculty to talk about the process of writing his novel, “Klara and the Sun,” on Thursday, Sept....

A large wooden puppet named Little Amal with brown skin, long brown hair and clothes with red accents stands in front of the New York Public Library with skyscrapers and street signs in the background. There is a male operating the puppet from inside and a crowd looking at and taking photos of the puppet.

Little Amal captures the heart of NYC during first US visit

After traveling 6,000 miles across 12 countries, puppet Little Amal — an international symbol for human rights — will visit Washington Square Park on Wednesday, Sept. 28.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer September 28, 2022

Created by the Handspring Puppet Company in Cape Town, South Africa, Little Amal is a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl. Since July 2021, Amal has traveled across...

A monochromatic photograph of a prison cell. Light comes through the iron bar on the top right. A male prisoner and a female officer smoking a cigarette stand together on the left.

‘Better Call Saul’ is one of the greatest television series of the last decade

Despite being pit against the sky-high expectations following ‘Breaking Bad’, its prequel, ‘Better Call Saul’, has undoubtedly made its mark as one of the best TV series of the 2010s.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer September 26, 2022

When it was first announced that there would be a prequel to “Breaking Bad” — one of the most acclaimed TV series of the 21st century — people were naturally skeptical....

NYU President Andrew Hamilton stands on stage behind a podium with a screen with the text “NYU Welcome 2022” and a logo of a music disc displayed behind him.

Hamilton begins his final year at NYU

In the final welcome address of his NYU presidency, Andrew Hamilton greeted new and returning students before hosting the university’s annual “Reality Show” performance.
Yezen Saadah, Contributing Writer September 22, 2022

NYU president Andrew Hamilton gave his final Presidential Welcome speech to a crowd of new and returning students on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Hamilton, who announced in April that he...

A bearded man in a red shirt and teal jacket takes a call while sitting on a parked motorcycle.

Review: Mohammed Amer deconstructs the Palestinian American experience in Netflix’s ‘Mo’

Mohammed Amer stars in his own semi-autobiographical Netflix comedy about struggling to balance his Palestinian culture and traditions in America.
Yezen Saadah, Staff Writer September 9, 2022

Mohammed Mustafa Amer, most commonly known as Mo Amer, has been a prominent figure in mainstream Arab American media for years, with renowned stand-up specials including “Mo...