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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

An image of a letter with a blue seal bearing the words “STATE OF NEW YORK EXECUTIVE CHAMBER” at the top and has a signature at the bottom which reads “KATHY HOCHUL”. The letter is two pages and on a pure purple background.

Hochul says universities could face legal consequences for handling of antisemitism

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul told universities in the state, including NYU, that they could lose government funding if they fail to address antisemitism on their campuses.
Adrianna Nehme, News Editor December 11, 2023

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul warned universities across the state that they could be “deemed ineligible” for state and federal funding if they fail to protect students from discrimination,...

An illustration of a scanned letter document and a screenshot of an email against a background of purple gradient.

NYU reaffirms commitment to fossil fuel divestment

The university will avoid direct investments in fossil fuel companies — of which it currently has none — after a push from student activists, building on a previous announcement made in February 2022.
Bruna Horvath, Deputy News Editor September 18, 2023

NYU reiterated that it would avoid direct investments in fossil fuels and look to reduce indirect investments in a recent letter to student environmental group Sunrise NYU, after...

Protesters near Bobst Library hold up signs that read “Israel Apartheid. Blackrock. Labor exploitation. Private prisons. Climate Destruction. Finance Capital.”

Climate advocates call for NYU trustee Larry Fink’s expulsion from board

A group of student climate activists called on NYU to expel a member of its board of trustees for his company’s investments in fossil fuels and private prisons. 
Cora Snow, Deputy News Editor April 21, 2023

Around 20 students, faculty and climate activists gathered at a protest outside Bobst Library on Thursday to demand that BlackRock CEO Laurence Fink be removed from NYU’s board...

N.Y.U president-designate Linda Mills hugs a woman wearing a black suit.

NYU’s new president on the university’s future and affirmative action

On the day she was announced as NYU’s next president, Linda Mills met with administrators and students at two meet-and-greet events and spoke to WSN about her appointment.
Bruna Horvath, Deputy News Editor February 16, 2023

Greeted with hugs and congratulations from dozens of administrators, Linda Mills, NYU’s next president, made her debut as president-designate on Wednesday afternoon. After the...

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...

NYU Divest members sit in on the 12th floor of Bobst Library waiting to confront university administrators in 2015. (Photo by Lexi Faunce)

Opinion: NYU investors must commit to sustainability

From divesting to uplifting clean energy initiatives, NYU’s board of trustees must increase the sustainability and transparency of their investment decisions.
Clara Scholl, Contributing Writer February 2, 2022

In 2015, NYU’s student body led an “NYU Divest” campaign urging the administration and board of trustees to stop investing the university’s endowment in fossil fuels. Prompted...

An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.

Letter to the Editor: ‘Steinhardt student governments call for school to be renamed’

A letter concerning Michael Steinhardt from faculty of the department of Media, Culture, and Communication.

We, the undersigned faculty of the Department of Media, Culture, and Communication write in deep concern over the widely disseminated report from the Manhattan District Attorney...

The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development student governments are campaigning for removal of the Steinhardt name. This comes after Michael Steinhardt was ordered to surrender $70 million of stolen antiquities. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Steinhardt student governments call for school to be renamed

The undergraduate and graduate student governments at the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development are penning a joint letter asking for the Steinhardt name to be removed from the school.
Kristian Burt, Deputy News Editor December 8, 2021

One day after Wall Street financier Michael Steinhardt was ordered to surrender $70 million of stolen antiquities following an investigation by the Manhattan district attorney,...

A wall with photographs of NYU trustees on display at the Kimmel Center for University Life. (Alexandra Chan for WSN)

Student gov’t renews push for representation on NYU board of trustees

Presidents Council Vice-Chair Anthony Cruz resumes discourse over a resolution to add voices of the larger NYU community to the board.
Maria Freyre and Rachel Cohen December 7, 2021

At the final student government meeting of the fall semester on Dec. 2, Presidents Council Vice-Chair Anthony Cruz reopened dialogue over a resolution to give student, faculty,...

Last week, the NYU board of trustees announced the addition of three new board members with little notice to students. Despite the major role they play in overseeing the university, the board is not transparent to the student body. (Photo by Sayer Devlin)

Editorial: The NYU board of trustees must become more transparent 

In light of the recent appointment of three new trustees on Oct. 18, NYU’s board of trustees should improve its transparency. 
WSN Editorial Board October 25, 2021

On Oct. 18, NYU announced that Terri Burns, David Ko and Traci Lerner have joined the board of trustees. This announcement was made with little fanfare — the three newest trustees...

181 Mercer St., located between Bleecker and West Houston Streets, will be NYU's new multi-use building. NYU brands the building as sustainable, but the university’s board still includes members who have ties to oil and gas companies. (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU is using 181 Mercer for corporate greenwashing

181 Mercer Street should not distract from NYU’s failed record on climate. 
Maggie Stutz, Contributing Writer October 20, 2021

Green is the new millennial pink. It’s popular to care about the environment. People are considered trendy when they carry cute sustainably-made water bottles and shop at resale...

NYU’s board of trustees includes an election conspiracist and a CEO who profits from immigrant detention. These people, among others on the board, contradict NYU’s self-proclaimed diversity and progressivism. (Images via Wikimedia Commons, Staff Photo and Illustration by Manasa Gudavalli)

Opinion: NYU’s board of trustees contradicts the university’s mission of inclusivity

Election conspiracists, CEOs who profit from immigrant detention, and other proponents of inequality have no place leading NYU. These trustees should be removed from office.
WSN Editorial Board September 13, 2021

The presence of an election conspiracist and the CEO of an investment firm with massive holdings in private prison and immigration concentration camp operators proves that the...