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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

A masked student sits in an NYU common area. She is surrounded by tables, chairs and a foosball table.

Editorial: NYU lifted its mask mandate, but now isn’t the time to be idle

COVID-19 still poses a substantial risk. Keeping up with masking and testing is critical for ensuring the safety of others.
WSN Editorial Board September 26, 2022

(Charlie Dodge for WSN)

End of NYU mask mandate planned for Sept. 28

As part of the updated policy, masks will no longer be required in classrooms or in Bobst Library, and event hosts, faculty and supervisors will not be allowed to require masking within a specific space. The weekly testing requirement for unvaccinated individuals will also be removed.
Arnav Binaykia, Editor-in-Chief September 23, 2022

NYU will drop its mask mandate on Wednesday, Sept. 28, marking the end of a two-year-long requirement for students and employees in academic settings, according to a draft of an...

A student holds up their phone displaying a purple Violet Go pass to enter an NYU building.

Opinion: Violet Go is completely pointless

NYU’s one-and-done Daily Screener revamp is unnecessary. We should simply have all our information on our NYU IDs.
Jules Roscoe, Opinion Editor September 7, 2022

NYU unveiled its brand-new Daily Screener update in late August in anticipation of the new semester. The revamp, called the Violet Go pass, aims to make students’ lives “just...

The user interface of a change.org petition against a pink background: a description of the petition is in the upper half, and signatures of petitioners are in the lower half.

Petition against NYU’s COVID screener stalls after 3 weeks

After a Stern first-year was barred from entering his classes, he created a petition to end the university’s Daily Screener.
Maria Freyre, Senior Staff Writer April 22, 2022

A petition calling on NYU to stop requiring the Daily Screener — a COVID-19 vaccination pass that students, faculty and staff must show to enter university buildings —...

Skirting the Screener: How students fake NYU’s COVID pass

Skirting the Screener: How students fake NYU’s COVID pass

Jae Jin, Staff Writer April 21, 2022
Frustrated with the Daily Screener, students are finding ways to avoid completing it.
Students are seen walking down a street by the NYU Paris site in the evening against the backdrop of Parisian architecture.

Students note a lack of support and resources at global sites

For study abroad students to make the world their campus, some students feel NYU needs to provide the proper resources and communication to better ensure their safety, education and mental health abroad.
Juliana Guarracino, Staff Writer April 13, 2022

PARIS — NYU promotes its three degree-granting campuses and 12 study away sites to students by claiming that the world is their campus. But as much as NYU seeks to make its global...

An illustration of a megaphone with a red handle. Written in orange on the megaphone are the words “Staff Rants.”

Staff Rants: NYU’s new masking requirements

Our staff shares their thoughts on NYU’s updated masking requirements.

On the case for old rules:  Srishti Bungle, Opinion Editor I think it’s a bad idea to go easy on the masks right now. The new BA.2 variant of omicron is already responsible...

An illustration with a United States C.D.C.-issued Vaccination card in the background. In the foreground is a half-full syringe on the left and a bottle of vaccine on the right.

Opinion: Adams, take away the mask mandate but keep the vax

New York City has removed the mask mandate in public schools, but it is an irresponsible choice to have also gotten rid of proof of vaccination requirements.
Alexandra Cohen, Deputy Opinion Editor March 11, 2022

One of my classes starts around the time the elementary school day ends, so I find myself passing by excited children leaving school as I go past Grace Church School on my way...

A masked student sits in an NYU common room area. She is surrounded by tables, chairs and a foosball table.

Opinion: NYU, do not lift the mask mandate

Making masks optional is irresponsible and would put students at risk.
Caitlin Hsu, UTA Publishing Editor March 9, 2022

With NYU to consider lifting its mask mandate after spring break, they must take into account that lifting the mandate would endanger immunocompromised and disabled students and...

Palm trees swaying in front of a beach with clouds and mountains in the background in Maui, Hawaii.

Reasons to rethink tropical travel — from the people who live there

While tropical locations might sound appealing for spring break, some students who live there have different takes on tourism, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Derek Kamakanaaloha Soong, Staff Writer March 2, 2022

Spring break is supposed to be a time for students to relax, a reprieve from the chaos of day-to-day school life. But for NYU students from tropical locations, this time of year...

An illustration of the TikTok icon and a 10-minute timer.

Opinion: A 10-minute video is a damn TEDTok — and an ideal venue for misinformation

TikTok’s choice to extend the maximum video length to 10 minutes will exacerbate the already rampant spread of misinformation on the video-sharing app.
Alexandra Cohen, Deputy Opinion Editor March 2, 2022

I love quickness and efficiency; therefore, I love TikTok. I can watch 15-second videos for hours on end. The digestible clips fill periods of procrastination, times of sadness,...

Convalescent plasma treatment can be effective in treating COVID-19 for selected patients, according to recent research from NYU’s Grossman School of Medicine. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Plasma treatment benefits some COVID patients, NYU study finds

An NYU Grossman study found that transfusing blood plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients to COVID patients with preexisting conditions can improve the recovery process.
Natalie Thomas, Staff Writer February 16, 2022

Blood transfusions from people who previously recovered from COVID-19 have been found to improve the conditions of some currently infected with the virus, according to an NYU Grossman...