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

Bill de Blasio speaks on a podium with a purple banner that reads “New York University.” He is wearing a navy suit with white-and-red stripe tie.

Off-Third: De Blasio’s NYU course to investigate the art of falling short

Start spreading the news! Former New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that he will teach at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service in the spring.
Benjamin Meppen, Contributing Writer October 31, 2022

Off-Third is WSN’s satire column. Mayor Bill de Blasio, now 61 years young, is fresh off of a failed congressional race and a steaming hot pile of New York City garbage of...

Two people hang up a protest banner on the exterior façade of a building covered with scaffolding.

Opinion: NYU students should do more to help New York City’s unhoused population

Mayor Eric Adams’ recent campaign to ramp up sweeps of unhoused encampments makes it more important than ever for NYU students to take the initiative and support their neighbors in need.
Steph Wittstruck, Contributing Writer May 4, 2022

Amid Mayor Eric Adams' ongoing aggressive campaign against unhoused New Yorkers, the principles of mutual aid are more relevant than ever. NYU students hold a unique position in...

Protesters gathered in front of New York City Hall holding signs saying Mayor Adams: Keep Your God Out Of Our Government and We Need Faith Based Not Faith Debased.

New Yorkers rally against anti-LGBTQ+ mayoral appointees

More than 100 demonstrators protested in front of New York City Hall in opposition to the hirings of Gilford Monrose, Erick Salgado and Fernando Cabrera by Mayor Eric Adams.
Pashmina Khan, Contributing Writer February 28, 2022

Around 150 protesters gathered outside of New York City Hall on Thursday, Feb. 24 calling to rescind the appointment of three pastors to Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. The...

A tree-planting program spearheaded by Mayor Eric Adams and New York City’s borough presidents has overcome partisan barriers to improve habitability and living conditions for low-income residents. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)

Opinion: Adams’ new tree-planting program will bring New York back

The mayor's revitalized "Million More Trees" project will expand green space in the city and welcome people back after the pandemic drove them away in 2020.
Jules Roscoe, UTA Staff Editor February 16, 2022

Mayor Eric Adams joined the New York City borough presidents on Monday morning to announce another "Million Trees" program. The meeting, as The New York Times reported, called...

On Sept. 1, Hurricane Ida brought unprecedented amounts of rain to New York City and caused alarming floods. The damage has prompted more scrutiny on the citys future environmental agenda. (Staff Photo by Shaina Ahmed)

Opinion: Hurricane Ida highlights need for a more comprehensive climate strategy

The historic devastation Hurricane Ida wrought upon New York underscores the urgency of investing in climate infrastructure. Eric Adams’ climate plans, which remain vague, must prioritize climate resiliency and corporate accountability.
Michelle Han, Deputy Opinion Editor September 13, 2021

Hurricane Ida dumped record levels of rain across New York City on Sept. 1, shutting down packed streets and highways and flooding subway stations. Damage and tragedy overwhelmed...

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...

Mayoral candidate Andrew Yang’s vow to crackdown on unlicensed food vendors in NYC was widely met with pushback across the board. (Photo by Suhail Gharaibeh)

Editorial: Protect New York’s street vendors

Andrew Yang presented a dangerous and misleading narrative that unlicensed street vendors pose a threat to New York City. The opposite is true: City Council has failed the vulnerable, struggling vendors who make the city what it is.
WSN Editorial Board April 26, 2021

A recent tweet from mayoral candidate Andrew Yang recently made headlines, declaring “You know what I hear over and over again - that NYC is not enforcing rules against unlicensed...

Homelessness is an ongoing crisis in New York City, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York City mayoral candidates have spotlighted the urgent need for affordable housing but diverge in terms of their solutions. (Staff Photo by Alexandria Johnson)

OPINION: New York City’s next mayor must prioritize supportive housing

The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated New York City’s homelessness problem. Supportive housing is a sustainable solution that addresses both the financial and rehabilitative needs of many homeless individuals.
Lucy Yama, Staff Writer April 21, 2021

Homelessness is an enduring crisis in New York City. Today, the number of homeless New Yorkers sleeping in shelters increased 40% compared to 10 years ago. This rise does not even...

Bloomberg Is Everything Wrong With Money in Politics

Bloomberg Is Everything Wrong With Money in Politics

A race between Trump and Bloomberg would be a disastrous hit to democracy and a symbolic shift toward an American oligarchy.
Emily Dai, Deputy Opinion Editor February 25, 2020

American elections are devolving into a tournament of oligarchs. The President of the United States is a billionaire businessman from Manhattan, and a current Democratic presidential...

Rudy Guiliani is a revered NYU alumni. (Staff illustration by Chelsea Li)

Off-Third: Happy Alumni Weekend from Rudy Giuliani

New York City’s former mayor may be famous for his public outbursts and unprofessionalism in his career as a lawyer, but few know that he learned this at NYU.
Noah Friend, Staff Writer October 30, 2019

Happy Alumni Weekend from Off-Third, WSN’s satire section. Try not to take us too seriously. A soaking wet, three-week-old copy of the New York Post; two bags of unsalted...

An Obituary for Bill de Blasio’s Political Career

An Obituary for Bill de Blasio’s Political Career

After dropping out of the presidential election, Mayor Bill de Blasio returned to New York City. But what exactly did he come back to?
Emily Dai, Contributing Writer September 26, 2019

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio’s political odyssey has officially ended — not with a bang, but with an utterly pathetic whimper. Last Friday, de Blasio announced on MSNBC’s...

Staff Photo by Alina Patrick

Midnight Confirmations and Bad Governance

The new Chairman of the MTA was appointed in the middle of the night; read one writer’s take on what this about the future of the world’s largest mass transit system.
Cole Stallone, Deputy Opinion Editor April 7, 2019

Anyone who’s ever taken the subway in New York City probably doesn’t like the Metropolitan Transit Authority. At 2. a.m on Monday, in the midst of finalizing the state budget...