New York University's independent student newspaper, established in 1973.

Washington Square News
NYU purchases Hebrew Union College building for over $75 million
The Soapbox is a weekly news column rounding up stories worth reading for a global university. (Max Van Hosen and Kyra Reilley for WSN)
The Soapbox: Protests in Germany, WHO withdrawal in Argentina, island deal in the UK
How NYU Law is shaping public safety in Minneapolis
How NYU Law is shaping public safety in Minneapolis
(Alana Beyer for WSN)
ICE agency cancels interviews at NYU Law career fair amid backlash from 1,000-plus students
(Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
Grad student resigns from on-campus job amid NYU Langone protests
A cardboard sign taped to a metal barricade with the words “WE DO NOT ENGAGE WITH ZIONISTS! WE KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE!”
‘A chilling effect’: Conduct guidelines cast shadow of concern over faculty
A person wearing a keffiyeh is zip tied by a cop in protective gear.
Inside NYU’s 180-plus disciplinary cases against pro-Palestinian students and faculty
Students walking on NYU’s Abu Dhabi campus. (Sam Klein for WSN)
‘Extremely disturbing’: Concerns over academic freedom at NYU Abu Dhabi surface following policies restricting attire at graduation
A purple N.Y.U. flag hangs on a building.
A search firm failed to find misconduct allegations against NYU’s former athletics director. Here’s why.
File Photo: NYU Tisch School of the Arts located at 721 Broadway. (Katie Peurrung for WSN)
A Tisch professor disappeared during a misconduct investigation. Two semesters later, he’s scheduled to teach again.
People rally in front of NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in New York. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
Over 1,000 call on NYU Langone to continue providing gender-affirming care for children
People walking outside of a building that reads “STRAND BOOKS” while holding signs.
Strand Bookstore workers go on strike, demand higher wages
The front of a brick building with a white door. There is a sign to the right of the door that reads “SIGN OUR PETITION SAVE THE LANDMARK MERCHANT’S HOUSE”
A local museum’s campaign to keep its doors open
The exterior of the main entrance of N.Y.U. Langone Health center, located at 550 First Ave.
Researchers at NYU Langone deem kidney transplants between HIV-positive people safe
People stand in front steps lined with candles, while others light them.
NYU students join citywide youth to honor trans lives in Washington Square Park
NYU purchases Hebrew Union College building for over $75 million
(Alana Beyer for WSN)
ICE agency cancels interviews at NYU Law career fair amid backlash from 1,000-plus students
(Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
Grad student resigns from on-campus job amid NYU Langone protests
President Linda Mills at her Presidential Inauguration ceremony hosted at the Paulson Center. (Manasa Gudavalli for WSN)
Mills breaks silence on Trump’s immigration crackdown, aid freeze
People rally in front of NYU Langone’s Tisch Hospital, Monday, Feb. 3, 2025, in New York. (Danny Arensberg for WSN)
Over 1,000 call on NYU Langone to continue providing gender-affirming care for children
(Danny Arensberg for WSN)
Dozens protest onslaught of pro-Palestinian student suspensions
(Samson Tu for WSN)
Admin responds to nonprofit criticizing updated student conduct policy
(Danny Arensberg for WSN)
‘Collective punishment’: NYU suspends 13 students after pro-Palestinian sit-in
People picket in front of a red building with signs reading "DIVEST FROM GENOCIDE," "ARREST NYU TRUSTEES" and "CLASS OF 1972."
Protesters condemn NYU sanctions against students and faculty, demand divestment
A cardboard sign taped to a metal barricade with the words “WE DO NOT ENGAGE WITH ZIONISTS! WE KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE!”
‘A chilling effect’: Conduct guidelines cast shadow of concern over faculty
(Courtesy of Television Academy)
Beyond NYU: Shaping films and shows frame by frame
(Courtesy of Madi Kaplan)
Beyond NYU: Mixing acting with activism
(Courtesy of Chelsea Kyle)
Beyond NYU: Shaking up the restaurant industry one article at a time
A woman smiling against a black background with the words “N.Y.U. BEYOND” written to the left.
Beyond NYU: Opening doors to STEM for students of color nationwide
A close-up shot of a man wearing a blue-striped shirt and brown pants sitting in a floral-decorated staircase with big white words that say “BEYOND N.Y.U.”
Beyond NYU: From 8th-grade star to Broadway regular
Editorial: NYU’s disciplinary measures against students are reckless and reactive
Editorial: NYU’s disciplinary measures against students are reckless and reactive
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Guest Essay: In protest of NYU Langone
(Sophia Di Iorio for WSN)
Opinion: What NYU owes Black students beyond Black History Month
Opinion: A lack of accessibility leaves disabled commuters behind
Opinion: A lack of accessibility leaves disabled commuters behind
(Illustration generated with DALL-E, edited by Samson Tu)
Opinion: ChatGPT’s environmental destruction outweighs its benefits
Editorial: NYU’s disciplinary measures against students are reckless and reactive
Editorial: NYU’s disciplinary measures against students are reckless and reactive
An illustration of a collage of different scenes, such as a war zone, the face of prime minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu and a person holding a sign that says "BANS OFF OUR BODIES."
Editorial: Reflect. Recharge. Then get to work.
An illustration of a balancing weight scale with a box on each side. One says “LOCAL VOTE” and the other says “FEDERAL VOTE.”
Editorial: Think globally, vote locally
NYU students gather for a vigil in Washington Square Park mourning the loss of life in Lebanon on Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024 in New York.
Editorial: NYU needs to talk about Lebanon. Publicly.
(Krish Dev for WSN)
Editorial: NYU is stifling protest in an attempt to control its image
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: Silver School dean on the case for a tuition-free social work education
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: Wasserman Center director on the Handshake job search platform
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: CWS director on suicide response and mental health resources
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: NYU remains committed to NYU Tel Aviv
An illustration of a white postcard with a red stamp in the top right corner. On the postcard are the words “letter to the editor” in a cursive style. Behind the postcard is a closed gray envelope.
Letter to the Editor: An open letter to President Hamilton
A four panel illustration of four different people drawn in a monochrome purple pallet.
Off-Third: NYU released their shortlist for consultants on ‘institutional restraint.’ You won’t believe who’s on it.
An illustration of a poster on a utility pole with a woman in the center with a question mark over her face. Above are the words “LINDA MILLS” and below are the words “Lookalike Contest.”
Off-Third: Linda Mills lookalike contest brings new crowd to Gould Plaza
A portrait of Eric Adams wearing a gray suit, white collared shirt and navy blue printed tie. He stands in front of a royal blue background and an American flag on a floor stand.
Off-Third: Eric Adams and Rudy Giuliani compete to be NYC’s most disgraced mayor
An illustration of a person with binoculars staring in awe at a woman wearing dark sunglasses and red lipstick.
Off-Third: How to stalk campus celebrities
An image of a N.Y.U. flag, with the color purple edited into pink.
Off-Third: NYU changes branding to save misled patients
An illustration of a woman screaming and text that reads “STAFF RANTS.”
Staff Rants: Post-election feelings
An illustration of a black megaphone that reads ‘STAFF RANTS’ in white letters. There are black and white lines coming out of the megaphone. The background is red.
Staff Rants: Springing in and out of spring
An illustration of a black megaphone that reads ‘STAFF RANTS’ in white letters. There are black and white lines coming out of the megaphone. The background is red.
Staff Rants: New beginnings or old complaints?
An illustration of a megaphone with the phrase “Staff Rants” written on it. The megaphone wears a red Santa hat and the background is white with blue snowflakes.
Staff Rants: Holiday Overload
An illustration of a purple and orange megaphone that reads ‘STAFF RANTS’ in green letters. There are purple and green lines coming out of the megaphone. The background is black.
Staff Rants: Spooky season
NYU ice hockey honors 2015 national championship team
NYU ice hockey honors 2015 national championship team
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of the UK, Washington, D.C. and Italy
Junior guard Caroline Peper at the Jan. 17 game against Emory University. (Kiran Komanduri for WSN)
Women’s basketball remains undefeated with an unprecedented 49 straight victories
(Kiara Mujica for WSN)
Staff Reacts: Luka Dončić to the Lakers
(Allina Xiao for WSN)
Trans student-athletes face an uncertain future under Trump
An illustration of bold white text that says “Weekly Sports Update” on a purple background with light purple flowers.
Soccer and volleyball begin UAA conference play, top finishes for both cross country teams and other news
Women’s tennis player wins championship, men’s soccer score double digits and other news
Women’s tennis player wins championship, men’s soccer score double digits and other news
An illustration of bold white text that says “Weekly Sports Update” on a purple background with light purple flowers.
Women’s golf places third, women’s soccer remains undefeated and other news
An illustration of bold white text that says “Weekly Sports Update” on a purple background with light purple flowers.
Golf and tennis kick off seasons, men’s soccer suffers first loss and other news
An illustration of bold white text that says “Weekly Sports Update” on a purple background.
Men’s soccer remains undefeated, women’s volleyball break winning streak and other news
(Levi Langley for WSN)
In the Huddle: Janie Cooper on her yearlong racing season
(Sidney Snider for WSN)
In the Huddle: Connor Vincent on his collegiate swimming career
A man in a dark coat standing outside in a park and smiling at the camera.
In the Huddle: Zach Knudsen on his aspirations and optimism for the upcoming season
A woman in a white shirt stands in front of a dark background.
In the Huddle: Maria Stamos on fencing at NYU and competing at the international level
A medic applies a black bandage to an N.Y.U. wrestler crouched on the ground in a purple leotard that reads “VIOLETS.”
In the Huddle: Trent Furman on his 100th career win and experience as a Violet
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of the UK, Washington, D.C. and Italy
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of London, Washington, D.C. and Sydney
An illustration of an outline of a referee yelling “OUT OF BOUNDS” with three buildings behind him.
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of Accra, London and Madrid
A purple illustration of a referee yelling “OUT OF BOUNDS” in a speech bubble with the Big Ben tower, a tower from Madrid and the United States Capitol building behind him. The referee holds a purple whistle.
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of London, D.C. and Madrid
A purple illustration of a person shouting “OUT OF BOUNDS" while holding a big whistle. Behind the person is Big Ben, the Berlin TV Tower and Puerto Madero's Puente de la Mujer footbridge.
Out of Bounds: Major sports news out of Buenos Aires, London and Berlin
How NYU students celebrated Lunar New Year
How NYU students celebrated Lunar New Year
For these fashion vendors, vintage never goes out of style
For these fashion vendors, vintage never goes out of style
Cooking up suburban escape
Cooking up suburban escape
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Love at first bite: The best recipes for Valentine’s Day
(Mariana Arboleda for WSN)
This Stern club highlights minority voices in the world of finance
For these fashion vendors, vintage never goes out of style
For these fashion vendors, vintage never goes out of style
(Andrea Lui for WSN)
Walter Van Beirendonck brings aliens to Earth at Paris Fashion Week
(Allina Xiao for WSN)
Kidill delivers drums, dance and brilliant punk chaos to Paris Fashion Week
An illustration of a woman wearing a short red dress with a brown bow. They wear knee-high stockings and red kitten heels.
The Christmas song kit for a perfect winter fit
An illustration of simplified drawings of various forms of self-care like tea, a person wearing a face mask, and a person doing yoga on a blue background.
What it means to take care of yourself across different cultures
Cooking up suburban escape
Cooking up suburban escape
(Suditi Sircar for WSN)
Love at first bite: The best recipes for Valentine’s Day
(Julia Smerling for WSN)
Ranked: Lunchly
(Mariana Arboleda for WSN)
Is reviving diner culture heroic or corrupt?
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
5 soups to help you combat the winter cold
How NYU students celebrated Lunar New Year
How NYU students celebrated Lunar New Year
(Mariana Arboleda for WSN)
This Stern club highlights minority voices in the world of finance
(Lianna O’Grady for WSN)
Welcoming Lunar New Year in a new home
An illustration of simplified drawings of various forms of self-care like tea, a person wearing a face mask, and a person doing yoga on a blue background.
What it means to take care of yourself across different cultures
On a light green background, four orange rectangles show hands making different signs in each one.
How multicultural sororities foster community at NYU
A collage of various N.Y.U.-specific illustrations in green and blue.
Ranked: NYU lore
An illustration of an oven roasted turkey against a light purple background.
Ranked: Thanksgiving foods
An illustration of a taco fighting french fries boxing in a ring.
Ranked: Fast food near campus
(Gia Sidhu for WSN)
Ranked: Microtrends
A collage of three photos. On the left, a model walks in a black, lace bodysuit with knee–length tassels hanging from the neckline. In the middle, a model stands in front of a flashlight, wearing a high khaki-beige collar with layered circular cut-out on two sides, with a side slit skirt and knee high boots. On the right, a model wears an oversized blue pinstripe suit and a beige hat. There is a red bandana tied around their neck and collection of small red knotted ropes attached to one breast of their jacket.
Ranked: The top 5 looks from WSN’s NYFW coverage
(Andrea Lui for WSN)
Walter Van Beirendonck brings aliens to Earth at Paris Fashion Week
(Allina Xiao for WSN)
Kidill delivers drums, dance and brilliant punk chaos to Paris Fashion Week
A model wearing a long light-blue spaghetti-strap dress walks in the middle of 10 other models standing in a circle.
WSN at New York Fashion Week
Six models wearing all black, walking down a runway in a single-file line.
Frederick Anderson delivers African glam and elegance in his Spring 2025 collection
A model wears a pink and green tweed jacket in front of clothing racks.
Californian brand St. John puts an edgy twist on vintage classics at NYFW
(Courtesy of IMDb)
Review: The future of dating is bleak in ‘Companion’
The 5 most anticipated reads of 2025
The 5 most anticipated reads of 2025
10 guilty pleasure albums that we unapologetically love
(Courtesy of Atlas Media Corp, A Zeitgeist Films Release in Association with Kino Lorber)
Review: ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’ brings us the unseen stories of the showbiz icon
(Courtesy of Dualtone Records)
Review: Flipturn’s ‘Burnout Days’ explores the tension between youth and stress
The 5 most anticipated reads of 2025
The 5 most anticipated reads of 2025
(Kyra Reilley for WSN)
5 budget-friendly ways to consume books
(Allina Xiao for WSN)
Books beyond Bobst: An Irish novella, a historical fantasy book and more
Many pink and yellow books stacked on top of each other, with “MMXXIV” written on one side of the book in the middle and “STAFF LIST!” written on the other.
Staff Recs: The best books we read this year
A photo of a half green and white book cover with a cat, three chairs and three mugs on a table. Displayed is the title “Before we forget kindness, a novel" and the author’s name “TOSHIKAZU KAWAGUCHI.”
Review: The comforting magic of ‘Before We Forget Kindness’
(Courtesy of IMDb)
Review: The future of dating is bleak in ‘Companion’
(Courtesy of Atlas Media Corp, A Zeitgeist Films Release in Association with Kino Lorber)
Review: ‘Liza: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story’ brings us the unseen stories of the showbiz icon
(Courtesy of IMDb)
10 movies to look out for in 2025
(Courtesy of IMDb)
The case for ‘The Brutalist’
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Remembering David Lynch: A legacy of dreams, oddities and love
10 guilty pleasure albums that we unapologetically love
(Courtesy of Dualtone Records)
Review: Flipturn’s ‘Burnout Days’ explores the tension between youth and stress
(Courtesy of Warner Records)
Review: ‘I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy (Part 2)’ falls saccharine and stale
(Courtesy of 88rising)
​​Review: Knock2’s ‘nolimit’ is a bright and boisterous collection of bangers
(Courtesy of Atlantic Records)
Review: ‘EUSEXUA’ is ingenious, experimental club-pop brilliance
(Courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company)
Review: In ‘English,’ the fight to learn a new language perseveres
An illustration of a hand holding a nutcracker on a blue background scattered with snowflakes.
Let out of the doll box: My retirement from ‘The Nutcracker’
Dancers dressed in soldier costumes lined up onstage.
The Rockettes don’t know when to tap out
Two people stand on a stage with their hands on a table, looking at each other.
Broke People Play Festival expands to uplift more student artists
A person wearing a blue suit with white sleeves holds the hand of a person wearing a pink dress while they sit on a beige couch in a set of a house.
Review: ‘The Great Gatsby’ disguises mediocrity with a star-studded cast
Three balconies spiraling up with various art pieces on the walls and people perusing them.
Review: The Guggenheim’s new exhibition teaches a history lesson about a fleeting art movement
Ten paintings are hung up in a large group on a light purple gallery wall.
Review: ‘Toward Joy’ builds new frameworks for American art
An illustration of an armed man with a redacted face in front of a collage of U.S. conspiracy imagery.
Review: ‘Call of Duty: Black Ops 6’ is annoyingly fun
A woman stands and looks up in front of abstract colors.
When I need to reconnect with myself, I go to museums
A collection of photographs pinned on beige boards on a white wall.
Review: Annie Leibovitz weaves together a tapestry of American culture
Cartoon: An ode to Albert
Cartoon: An ode to Albert
(Anna Baird-Hassell, Alex Woodworth, Isabel Albors, and Rachel Ning for WSN)
On the Street: Winter break
(Alex Woodworth for WSN)
Students protest Trump presidency with march on campus
In the panel titled Tisch, a girl with long braided hair, alternative clothing and round glasses types on a computer with sheets of paper flying around her. Her eyes are swirls and her expression is panicked as she says, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have a 73-page play due tomorrow!” In the panel titled Stern, a man with short dark hair and rectangular glasses wears a suit saying, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have 500+ LinkedIn connections due tomorrow…” He holds a phone with a symbol of people and the number 500 while people shake hands in the background. In the panel titled Gallatin, a boy with wavy brown hair and goggles holds ropes while saying, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have to weave a basket underwater tomorrow.” Another dialogue line reads “Yeah, that’s my concentration…” next to drawings of fish and baskets. In the panel titled Steinhardt, a girl with curly blonde hair and freckles stares at a phone while various electronic devices are scattered in the background including a phone with a caller ID saying “Kiara & Allina.” In a dialogue bubble she says, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have to communicate tomorrow.” In the panel titled Tandon a boy with round glasses, a puffer vest, a quarter-zip sweater and dyed purple hair says, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have a robot due tomorrow!” Behind him is a robot holding a sandwich on a plate saying “YUMMY,” a laptop on a desk displaying “Chat G.P.T.” and a blackboard with various diagrams in white chalk. In the panel titled C.A.S. is a girl wearing a white lab coat and goggles over a pink shirt and saying, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have to write an essay on bird migration in Ancient Greece due tomorrow!” She holds an open book while plucking a leaf off of an overhead branch with forceps, facing away from a desk where a beaker of green liquid overflows.
Cartoon: NYU during finals is just so … unique
An aerial view of an autumn field with a runway and body of water, with factories and suburbs on the left.
How to legally fly a drone in NYC
Cartoon: An ode to Albert
Cartoon: An ode to Albert
In the panel titled Tisch, a girl with long braided hair, alternative clothing and round glasses types on a computer with sheets of paper flying around her. Her eyes are swirls and her expression is panicked as she says, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have a 73-page play due tomorrow!” In the panel titled Stern, a man with short dark hair and rectangular glasses wears a suit saying, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have 500+ LinkedIn connections due tomorrow…” He holds a phone with a symbol of people and the number 500 while people shake hands in the background. In the panel titled Gallatin, a boy with wavy brown hair and goggles holds ropes while saying, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have to weave a basket underwater tomorrow.” Another dialogue line reads “Yeah, that’s my concentration…” next to drawings of fish and baskets. In the panel titled Steinhardt, a girl with curly blonde hair and freckles stares at a phone while various electronic devices are scattered in the background including a phone with a caller ID saying “Kiara & Allina.” In a dialogue bubble she says, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have to communicate tomorrow.” In the panel titled Tandon a boy with round glasses, a puffer vest, a quarter-zip sweater and dyed purple hair says, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have a robot due tomorrow!” Behind him is a robot holding a sandwich on a plate saying “YUMMY,” a laptop on a desk displaying “Chat G.P.T.” and a blackboard with various diagrams in white chalk. In the panel titled C.A.S. is a girl wearing a white lab coat and goggles over a pink shirt and saying, “Sorry, I can't go out tonight, I have to write an essay on bird migration in Ancient Greece due tomorrow!” She holds an open book while plucking a leaf off of an overhead branch with forceps, facing away from a desk where a beaker of green liquid overflows.
Cartoon: NYU during finals is just so … unique
In a grayscale comic, a person works at a desk in front of a computer next to a window showing a city in ruins with a fallen sign saying “TECH INDUSTRY.” In the bottom right corner is a thought bubble that says, “Why can’t I find an internship?”
Cartoon: Your major in computer science has been declared
Cartoon: Time is Ticking
Cartoon: Time is Ticking
An aerial view of an autumn field with a runway and body of water, with factories and suburbs on the left.
How to legally fly a drone in NYC
A person stands on stage staring into the distance. They have dark hair and wear a black fur shawl.
For Hannah Weisz, performance is resistance
(Krish Dev for WSN)
Finding school spirit at NYU
Pro-Palestinian protesters demonstrate on Gould Plaza holding a Palestinian flag and a sign that reads “No more dollar sign for Israel’s crimes.”
Inside the Gaza Solidarity Encampment at NYU
(Krish Dev for WSN)
‘Gaza Solidarity Encampment’ becomes site of mass arrest at NYU
SLAM! at NYU celebrates the art of spoken word
SLAM! at NYU celebrates the art of spoken word
Mou Theatre brings together Mandarin-speaking theater enthusiasts at NYU
Mou Theatre brings together Mandarin-speaking theater enthusiasts at NYU
A woman hanging a Turkish flag on a curtain by a window at N.Y.U.'s Kimmel Center. Outside of the window is a red building.
Turkish NYU students commemorate 85 years since the death of republic founder
Barks in Tompkins Square Park: Annual Halloween Dog Parade returns
Barks in Tompkins Square Park: Annual Halloween Dog Parade returns
Rob Benevides applies a white wig to an actor wearing a prosthetic costume face.
An inside look at the art and design process of behind-the-scenes artists
The Sports Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
The Sports Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
An illustration of Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump, over a blue and red background.
The Election Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
Six models wearing all black, walking down a runway in a single-file line.
The Fashion Issue | Under the Arch Magazine
(Alisia Houghtaling for WSN)
Welcome home, class of 2028
The Housing Guide | Under the Arch Magazine
The Housing Guide | Under the Arch Magazine
SPONSORED: Navigating mental health as a student: How Mid City TMS can support you
SPONSORED: How do I sublet my apartment this summer?
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
NYU administrators stand outside Tandon’s new clean room

NYU Tandon Welcomes Brooklyn’s First Cleanroom for Advancing Technology

Sarah Jackson, Deputy News Editor • April 30, 2018
The facility will be used to develop sensitive hardware and eliminates the threat of contamination.