Skip to Main Content
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

SoHo and NoHo are notorious for their exorbitant rent and upper-crust reputation. Mayor de Blasio's upzoning plan will create tens of thousands of affordable housing units in these neighborhoods. (Photo by Aleksandra Pankratova)

Opinion: De Blasio’s upzoning plan will foster housing affordability

Contrary to some unfounded criticisms, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s zoning proposal will, in fact, help mitigate the city’s housing crisis in NoHo and SoHo.
Michael Galati, Contributing Writer November 24, 2021

In October 2020, Bill de Blasio’s administration proposed an upzoning of the SoHo/NoHo neighborhood that would add 3,200 housing units over 10 years. Village Preservation, a...

The Arno river cuts through the city of Florence, the site of NYU’s campus in Italy. NYU’s limits on off-campus student housing options diminish financial accessibility at abroad locations — and impede students from fully experiencing their global study experience. (Staff Photo by Arnav Binaykia)

Opinion: NYU should expand off-campus housing options abroad

NYU’s limitations on students choosing off-campus housing while studying abroad restricts financial accessibility.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor October 22, 2021

As pandemic travel restrictions ease up globally, NYU’s Office of Global Programs has resumed planning for study abroad — decisions for spring term applications were...

The privatization of housing has become a priority to the NYCHA. This leaves residences dealing with problems such as asbestos and mold. (Photo by Alexandria Johnson)

Opinion: NYCHA’s privatization plans must be put on hold

Ongoing class-action lawsuits filed by tenants of Queensbridge Houses underscore the hazardous living conditions and lack of transparency that characterize the New York City Housing Authority’s transition to private management through the Rental Assistance Demonstration program. Until residents are given a seat at the table, RAD must be put on hold.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor September 17, 2021

Asbestos, lead, mold, severe leaking, flooding and vermin infestations: These are just a few of the concerns cited by Queensbridge Houses residents in the ongoing pair of class-action...

NYU continues construction on 181 Mercer Street in SoHo gentrifying the area. Mayor DeBlasio’s plan for affordable housing in the area does not serve the public interest of the surrounding area. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

Opinion: De Blasio’s rezoning plan is gentrification in the making

Mayor Bill de Blasio pledged to increase access to affordable housing for SoHo, NoHo and Chinatown residents with a controversial upzoning plan. The plan, however, will likely instead increase gentrification in NYU’s backyard and reduce net affordable housing. The City Planning Commision should reject it outright.
Asha Ramachandran, Opinion Editor September 1, 2021

Last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio’s office introduced a rezoning plan targeting much of SoHo, NoHo and parts of Chinatown. The city has emphasized the plan’s potential to create...

The NYU Office of Residential Life & Housing Services has recently changed policy regarding the role of RA’s in order shift RA responsibility away from dealing with student crises towards fostering a real community for students in university housing. (Photo by Sirui Wu)

RAs will no longer be required to respond to crisis situations

The Office of Residential Life & Housing Services outlined changes to RA responsibilities as well as new policies for the upcoming academic year.
Saurabh Kumar, Staff Writer May 5, 2021

Residential assistant positions for the upcoming 2021-22 academic year were announced on May 4. The RA role at NYU’s 22 residence halls will be modified in an effort to enhance...

The Graduate Student Organizing Committee has been on strike since April 26 of this year, demanding a renegotiated contract after their previous one expired in August 2020. This strike is not the first time graduate student workers have struggled to get the university to bargain. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

‘The resilience of GSOC’: A look into the union’s history

The ongoing graduate student worker strike is not the first time the Graduate Student Organizing Committee has used strike actions to battle for its demands.
Rachel Cohen, Staff Writer May 4, 2021

Zach Schwartz-Weinstein marched alongside fellow graduate student workers and union supporters from Judson Memorial Church to Washington Square Park on April 27, 2006, to support...

The Urgency of Housing Justice During the Pandemic

The Urgency of Housing Justice During the Pandemic

New York has done little to address the grave concerns of renters and homeowners as COVID-19 ravages the state. There is an urgent need for the government to protect New Yorkers by instituting immediate rent, mortgage and utility payment suspension.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor March 27, 2020

As New York has become the epicenter of the global coronavirus pandemic — accounting for 5% of global cases — Gov. Andrew Cuomo has been grossly overselling his own efforts...

Due to the increase in the number of NYU COVID-19 cases, students recently received an email regarding their dorms and belongings. While those evicted found a home for themselves, those who moved out and left their possessions are unlikely to see them shipped anytime soon. (Staff Photo by Alexandra Chan)

University Announces More COVID-19 Cases, Delays in Returning Students’ Belongings

NYU announced two dozen cases of COVID-19 within the NYU community and that students who left items in their dorm room after an abrupt move-out notice should not expect their belongings to be shipped to them in the near future.
Lisa Cochran and Emily Mason March 25, 2020

There are approximately 24 cases of COVID-19 within the NYU community as of Tuesday, March 24 — doubling the number from nearly three days ago— according to a university-wide...

WSN is compiling resources that may be of help during this semester. (Staff Illustration by Alexandra Chan)

Coronavirus Outbreak Resources for the NYU Community

In the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, a lot of information can get lost in the panic. WSN has compiled a list of resources that could possibly be of use to the NYU community. Email [email protected] to help expand this list.

Many members of the NYU community have been irreversibly affected by the coronavirus outbreak, either because of the virus itself or the university’s response to it. Students...

The NYU Florence campus, one of NYU’s 14 global academic centers, is located at Villa La Pietra, near Florence, Italy. Students currently studying abroad at NYU Florence have been told to leave the campus by Thursday morning. (Photo by Carine Zambrano)

NYU Florence Closes Campus Following Coronavirus Surge in Italy

After a rise in coronavirus cases in northern Italy, NYU Florence has closed its campus and canceled classes for the following week, maintaining that they will resume on March 2 and continue remotely until March 29.
Lisa Cochran, News Editor February 25, 2020

Amid a coronavirus outbreak in northern Italy, NYU Florence has suddenly closed its campus, leaving students stranded as they rapidly make arrangements to leave. According to...

De Blasio’s Privatization of NYCHA

De Blasio’s Privatization of NYCHA

Mayor de Blasio is planning to put one-third of New York’s public housing in the hands of private landlords. Privatization will only further harm residents, who have been struggling against NYCHA’s neglect and mismanagement for the last decade.
Asha Ramachandran, Deputy Opinion Editor February 24, 2020

On Jan. 31st, the coldest day of the year to date, 10,000 residents of the New York City Public Housing Authority were left to freeze without heat or hot water as temperatures...

Tisch senior Max Ferguson couch surfed over the summer while interning with a renowned filmmaker. (Photo by Claire Feng)

Couch Surfers

In this video series, two NYU students share their stories about their time couch surfing, experiencing New York through another lens.
Claire Feng, UTA Video Producer February 20, 2020