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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 illustration of a building with a glass exterior with green plants growing. There are two pots of green plants drawn next to the building, all against a green background. The building is N.Y.U.’s Paulson Center.

Sad in the Paulson Center? There’s a solution.

NYU’s sustainability initiatives should extend beyond reducing our carbon footprint. We should have a visually lush and verdant campus.
Derek Kamakanaaloha Soong, Identity & Equity Editor May 4, 2023

As you enter the revolving doors of the new, billion-dollar Paulson Center, New York City's vibrant energy seems to fade away, revealing the new building's ineffectual space. The...

A paper straw with blue stripes in a plastic cup against a red wall.

Off-Third: The last straw: Dining hall paper straws turn students into climate deniers

Save the turtles — or don’t. Just give us our plastic straws back, climate-denying students say.
Naisha Roy, Deputy Opinion Editor March 29, 2023

After spending months grappling with dysfunctional paper straws, some NYU students are rejecting the university’s sustainability measures — and the idea of climate change as...

Two people walk past an entrance of an building used by N.Y.U’s Tandon School of Engineering.

Guest Essay: The demise of NYU’s sustainability major

Students in the Sustainable Urban Environments major have been left in the dark by administration, while professors are hard at work fighting to keep sustainability a part of the curriculum.
Elaine Ly March 10, 2023

Elaine Ly is a mechanical engineering student at NYU’s Tandon School of Engineering. After almost a year of little to no communication, students in the Sustainable Urban Environments...

A rectangular rooftop garden filled with greeneries is set against the backdrop of the midtown skyline views of Manhattan.

NYU disputes Reuters claim that its power plant ‘dirtiest’ among colleges

An investigation found that an on-campus power plant is less efficient than comparable sites. The university has since challenged the findings.
Kayla Hardersen, Senior Staff Writer November 18, 2022

NYU’s central power plant generates more carbon dioxide than 80% of other university power plants, a Reuters investigation found. But NYU has disputed the analysis, claiming...

An eco-friendly wall covered in green plants and pink flowers framed by brown and yellow roofing and walls.

NYU: Greenhouse emissions halved by 2025, carbon neutral by 2040

NYU administrators provided updates on the university’s efforts to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions at its second annual State of Sustainability address.
Gabriel Hawthorne, Deputy News Editor April 26, 2022

NYU president Andrew Hamilton announced that the university is still on track to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 50% of what they were in 2006 by 2025 during the second...

A satellite image of Bobst Library and its surroundings. The roof of the library, upon which solar panels were recently installed, is visible. The imagery predates the installation of the solar panels, and they are not shown.

NYU to install 304 solar panels atop Bobst

The university will finish installing the panels by the end of the semester as part of the university’s plan for carbon neutrality by 2040.
Bella Ingber, Contributing Writer March 3, 2022

Bobst Library will be equipped with 304 solar panels as part of NYU’s push for greater sustainability, according to a February email from NYU president Andrew Hamilton. The solar...

A new greenery wall is installed in the lobby of 708 Broadway, home to the NYU School of Global Public Health. Recently, NYU has improved from 43rd place to 29th place on The Princeton Review’s “Top 50 Green Colleges.” (Staff Photo by Manasa Gudavalli)

NYU jumps 14 places in college sustainability ranking

The university moved from No. 43 to No. 29 in The Princeton Review’s list of “Top 50 Green Colleges,” which is based on environmental sustainability surveys.
Carmo Moniz, Staff Writer November 23, 2021

NYU climbed from No. 43 to No. 29 in The Princeton Review’s 2022 “Top 50 Green Colleges” list — a 14-place increase from last year’s ranking. The College of the Atlantic,...

NYU Eats has switched to disposable dishes and silverware due to manufacturing constraints caused by COVID-19. The change has led to questions about sustainability on campus. (Photo by Naomi Mirny)

Dishwasher disrepair disrupts dining, demands disposable dishware

Repair delays forced a switch to disposable dinnerware at dining locations on campus, NYU said. Students are unsure, though, of how to sustainably dispose of single-use items.
Carmo Moniz, Contributing Writer October 6, 2021

Supply chain issues triggered by the pandemic have forced two NYU dining halls to temporarily switch to disposable silverware. The Palladium dining hall is providing students with...

BlackRock’s corporate office located at 52nd and Madison Ave. NYU’s goal of sustainability continues to fall short due to its ties with the company. (Staff Photo by Jake Capriotti)

Faculty say NYU enables BlackRock’s greenwashing

NYU’s sustainability goals are under scrutiny due to the university’s association with BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, a member of the NYU board of trustees whose company is accused of virtue signaling while profiting from billions in fossil fuel investments.
Ruqaiyah Zarook, Staff Writer September 1, 2021

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s August 2021 report warns that climate change is the main cause of the extreme weather events — such as droughts, superstorms,...

(From back then clockwise) Matthew O’Connor, Vanneeda Keowmang, Jacob Linen, Vivian Gisle and Heather Vaxer.

Advanced TV Pilot ‘Mary and the Mob’ Blazes Trail for Sustainable Set

Showrunner and Tisch alumna Vivian Gisle and sustainability officer Bradley Sachs talk set sustainability and hopes for future Tisch and industry standards.
Fareid El Gafy, Film & TV Editor December 5, 2019

Every year at the Tisch School of the Arts, students and professors make more than 5,000 films. In the process, they discard food waste, single-use plastics, water bottles, expendables...

Cecil Scheib, NYU Assistant Vice President of Sustainability, speaks on the panel. (Photo by Jorene He)

Vice President of Sustainability and UN Official Discuss NYU’s Carbon Footprint

Justin Wu, Staff Writer November 29, 2018

NYU’s carbon footprint, along with climate change in general, was the subject of a conversation with the UN New York Office director Wednesday on campus. Speakers on the...

NYU will be opening a new Center for Environmental and Animal Protection.

NYU to Open Center for Environmental and Animal Protection

Darcey Pittman, Staff Writer April 25, 2018
NYU will launch a Center for Environmental and Animal Protection in fall 2018.