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

Opinion: First-years need freedom from meal plans

First-years at NYU are constrained by a rigid meal plan system with little-to-no freedom, leading to wasted food and money.
Jack Sloan, Contributing Writer December 7, 2023

As I walk into NYU’s dining halls near the end of the semester, I’m confronted by the sight of dejected students: some spending a $14 meal swipe on just a drink and a bag of...

The close-up shot of a hand scanning an NYU ID card above a card reader.

Opinion: Swipe it Forward is taking a step backward

The program aimed at helping food-insecure students has always had its issues, but instead of resolving them, NYU has made the program even less accessible.
Molly Koch, Opinion Editor September 29, 2023

The student government's Swipe it Forward program is one of the few resources for food-insecure students on campus, allowing those with meal plans to donate extra meal swipes to...

The close-up shot of a hand scanning an NYU ID card above a card reader.

Swipe it Forward returns with new banking system

The student government announced changes to its meal swipe donation initiative, Swipe it Forward, at a meeting on Thursday, Sept. 14.
Maisie Zipfel, Deputy News Editor September 18, 2023

NYU’s meal donation program, Swipe it Forward, recently returned to select on-campus dining locations, despite limitations from NYU Eats, the organization that operates the university’s...

An interior view of the Palladium dining hall with wooden counters, white columns, tiled floors and white ceilings.

Opinion: NYU’s markets are unusable with their expensive prices

The university’s campus convenience stores: a concept that only works in theory.
Naisha Roy, Deputy Opinion Editor April 28, 2023

NYU’s dining hall hours suck. The good locations are never open late, and even the mediocre ones run out of food long before they close. That’s part of the reason why NYU has...

Two students at a salad bar with dining tables to the right.

Opinion: Dear NYU Eats, keep more locations open over break

Downstein should not be the only dining hall open during spring break.
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor March 22, 2023

Many NYU students leave the city over spring break — some vacation with friends, others return home to spend time with family. For those who remain on campus, though, living...

The entrance to N.Y.U’s Upstein dining hall with a sign that reads “Order Ready.” There is a pick-up counter in the background with many brown paper bags waiting to be collected.

Opinion: Unpredictable dining hall wait times make it impossible to plan ahead

Despite the convenience of the Grubhub app, listed pickup times are unreliable, sometimes forcing students to wait up to two hours during peak periods to get their food. 
Abi Rivera, Opinion Editor March 10, 2023

As a hungry college student, I often find myself standing in the bustling Upstein food court, desperately refreshing the Grubhub app and scanning the room.​​ The large monitors...

A student’s hand holding an N.Y.U. I.D. card up to a scanner at the entrance of a dining hall.

Opinion: I lost 112 meal swipes last semester. They should roll over.

Meals are going to waste. It’s time for the university to revisit how meal swipes are distributed. 
Molly Koch, Deputy Opinion Editor January 31, 2023

WSN’s Opinion section strives to publish ideas worth discussing. The views presented in the Opinion section are solely the views of the writer. NYU’s meal plans are confusing....

A blue, plastic recycling bin with a white U+2672 Universal Recycling Symbol printed on it. A red Santa hat illustration is overlaid on the recycling bin.

This holiday season, take your trash out the right way

Here’s a few ways to give back to Mother Earth before you leave for winter break.
Naisha Roy, Staff Writer December 13, 2022

With winter break approaching, most of us are just trying to make it through finals week long enough to see the holiday lights at the end of the tunnel. However, with all the excitement...

A warped illustration of an iPad with a tipping screen displayed, with 25%, 35%, 45%, 55%, no tip, or custom tip available as options, against a blurred photograph of a Weinstein dining hall.

Off-Third: Weinstein should implement iPad tipping

If a self-serve frozen yogurt shop can ask me for a tip, why can’t Cluckstein?
Sydney Barragan, Under the Arch Editor September 29, 2022

Off-Third is WSN’s satire column. My two roommates and I went to 16 Handles last week, and after paying $15 for a small cup that I filled up myself, the Airpod-wearing teenage...

Photograph of a banner saying “NYU Farmer’s Market” on the right, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables on a table covered in a purple NYU-branded tablecloth on the left.

A love letter to Kimmel’s farmers market

You read that right. Here’s the ins and outs of the most underrated way to use your NYU meal plan.
Sasha DuBose, Dining Editor September 7, 2022

I grew up in Delaware, a state many of you probably drive through to get to more exciting places. However, for me, Delaware’s abundance of farmers markets made me the number...

A boy and two girls stand side by side smiling at the camera. Each holds different styles of food shopping bags. Behind them, the green trees of Washington Square Park.

Gallatin first-years mobilize students to donate meal swipes to mutual aid

XR University NYC, revived in March, is challenging students to address issues ranging from climate change to food insecurity.
Tori Morales, Staff Writer May 2, 2022

It’s no secret that NYU has a food insecurity problem. The university’s Swipe it Forward program, which allows students to donate meal swipes that would otherwise go to waste,...

The Jasper Kane Cafe is a NYU Eats location in  Brooklyn. A SGA resolution to attempt to mitigate food insecurity among students is heading to the Financial Affairs Committee. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

University Senate to vote on Resolution to Mitigate Food Insecurity

The resolution aims to make NYU dining services more affordable and accessible for students facing food insecurity.
Rachel Fadem, Staff Writer March 31, 2021

The Resolution to Mitigate Food Insecurity at NYU will appear before the Financial Affairs Committee and University Senate. Proposed changes include smaller meal plans, rollover...