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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

(Ivy Chan for WSN)

Opinion: It’s time for dining halls to beef up their meat-free options

As a leading institution in environmental sustainability, phasing out red meat could cut NYU’s food-related greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 50% while promoting healthier eating habits.
Serin Lee, Deputy Opinion Editor September 4, 2025

Agriculture has existed for roughly 12,000 years — long enough for most people to have lost perception of how ecologically costly the production of food is. As the fourth-largest...

A woman in costume wears a pink wig with a crown. She has her hand over her chest, and is illuminated by blue light.

Opinion: Ditch your plastic Halloween costumes this year

If you are about to buy a last-minute costume for Halloween, try checking out a more sustainable option.
Anne Lise Tan, Contributing Writer October 31, 2024

Halloween might be a season for chills and thrills, but the real horror story lies in the unregulated sweatshops and factories that churn out those plastic-filled costumes. In...

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 collage of three photos. On the left is a drawing of a big, red lollipop against a green background. In the middle is a lime green wall with the words “Food in New York” and “bigger than the plate” painted in elaborate fonts. On the right is an orange vendor’s cart inside a museum.

The food New York City eats, and where it comes from

Fabio Parasecoli, one of the curators of “Food in New York: Bigger Than the Plate,” a special exhibition now on view at the Museum of the City of New York, gives you a guided tour.
Daeun Lee, Contributing Writer February 9, 2023

New York City is home to cuisines from all over the world. From the Jewish staple matzo ball soup to Cantonese siu mai, name any dish and you can likely find a restaurant that...

llustration of a toilet with the lid open and small bathroom tiles beneath it, against a background with a light blue gradient.

Opinion: You need to stop using toilet paper to clean your butt

Despite its prevalence in the United States and on NYU’s campus, toilet paper is one of the worst restroom hygiene options. It's time for NYU to offer toilet paper alternatives.
Aksha Mittapalli, Contributing Writer November 18, 2022

Allow me to paint a picture. You’ve just come back from a great 90-minute workout and you’re exhausted. Your clothes are soaked and your hair has grown stiff from the sweat....

A large group of people wearing knit-themed and high-fashion outfits stands on a staircase.

More than a trend, knitwear is a mindset

Knitwear brands Rivers McCall and Spicie show that personalization, sustainability and mindfulness form the fabric of the medium.
Sabrina Lee, Contributing Writer November 16, 2022

Knitwear’s resurgence is closely related to fashion's tumultuous dialogue with sustainability. Produced by hand, made to last and one-of-a-kind, these intricate webs of yarn,...

A collage of two photos. One the left is an array of rainbow-colored fabric. On the right is a silver trash can and a yellow drawstring bag with the word "FABSCRAP," a website address and two arrows making up part of a recycling symbol. The text and arrows are in white.

FABSCRAP fashionably rethinks textile waste

The sustainable company makes fashion eco-friendly by saving millions of pounds of fabric waste.
Linsey Lao, Contributing Writer October 12, 2022

When New York Fashion Week kicked off on Sept. 9, the New York and Philadelphia-based organization FABSCRAP made its way into the public eye as the textile provider for sustainable...

An exterior view of the Stern School of Business. The Tisch Hall to the right, the Kaufman Management Center to the left and Gould Plaza at the bottom.

Stern receives $20 million donation to create new real estate institute

The Chao-Hon Chen Institute for Global Real Estate Finance will provide new programs and scholarships focusing on sustainability, technology and real estate markets.
Amna Sheikh, Contributing Writer September 26, 2022

Charles C.Y. Chen, a Stern alum and executive board member, donated $20 million to the school to establish the Chao-Hon Chen Institute for Global Real Estate, an academic center...

A protester shouting while holding a sign reading “There is no fashion on a dead planet” in Times Square.

FIT students rally for sustainable fabric in Times Square

Eighteen Fashion Institute of Technology students gathered in Times Square on Saturday to advocate against unsustainable textiles and their negative impacts on the environment.
Emma Grimes, Contributing Writer May 2, 2022

More than a dozen Fashion Institute of Technology students protested the proliferation of unsustainable fabrics in the fashion industry and their negative impacts on the environment...