3 ARTS
6 OPINION
Review: ‘Valentine’ is a dynamic move forward for Snail Mail
Opinion: Don’t go to Travis Scott concerts
4 CULTURE
‘I’m like the slut of literature’: Fran Lebowitz speaks at NYU’s Casa Italiana VOLUME LVII | ISSUE 9
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2021
NYU is now meeting 100% of applicants’ financial need The current first-year class is the first to receive financial aid that fully meets students’ financial need, with average financial aid packages increasing by over $11,000 since last year. By ARNAV BINAYKIA News Editor For the first time, NYU’s financial aid packages met the full demonstrated financial need of every student in its firstyear class. The new policy, which started with the class of 2025, also covers international students, according to NYU spokesperson John Beckman. Beckman added that the university expects to continue meeting demonstrated financial aid for every accepted student in the future. Until this year, NYU did not guarantee it would meet the full demonstrated need of every admitted student. The university has not yet made a formal announcement of the change in its financial aid policy. NYU webpages mentioning financial aid continue to refer to the university’s previous policy. MeetNYU, the social media brand for the university’s admissions office, posted a comment on a TikTok video on Nov. 6 referring to the policy change. “NYU is going to match demonstrated financial need starting with this year’s applicant class,” the @meetnyu account wrote in response to complaints about NYU’s steep tuition. Prospective applicants and their families have also been made aware of the decision during NYU campus tours, according to multiple student admissions ambassadors. Beckman confirmed the change, adding that the average amount of financial aid allotted to new students increased by $11,000 this year. “With this fall’s entering class of first-years ... students’ financial aid packages met 100% demonstrated need
LAUREN SANCHEZ | WSN
NYU’s financial aid packages have met the full financial need of every student in the current first-year class. This is the first time that 100% of every applicants’ financial needs were met.
for the first time,” Beckman wrote in an email to WSN. “The average financial aid package increased to $50,000 from approximately $39,000 the year before. NYU expects that first-year students in future incoming classes will also receive financial aid packages that meet 100% of demonstrated need.” According to Beckman, the university has not decided whether it will expand
the new policy to cover current students not in the class of 2025. If it does, financial aid packages for these students would likely increase. NYU’s tuition increases over the past five years have been among the highest of its peer universities, with an increase of nearly 12% between 2017 and 2021. Even after taking average financial aid into account, the actual cost of attending
NYU was higher than Columbia University, Yale University, Fordham University and the University of Southern California in the 2019-20 academic year, the most recent year for which complete data is available. According to Beckman, the decision to meet the demonstrated financial aid need of every new student was made last spring. “Piloting this step was discussed with
student government representatives last spring,” Beckman wrote. “Beyond this step, we’re reviewing what else we may be able to do to enhance financial aid, but given how NYU’s budget cycle works, it’s premature to discuss at this point.” Contact Arnav Binaykia at abinaykia@nyunews.com.
Victory for Tandon workers as tentative agreement reached with NYU By RACHEL COHEN Deputy News Editor A union representing approximately 38 non-teaching staff at the Tandon School of Engineering came to a tentative agreement with NYU on Friday, Nov. 12, after several bargaining sessions. If ratif ied, the six-year contract would provide the employees with a variety of new benef its, including
childcare subsidies, a percentage increase in wages, and portable tuition for the dependents of union employees. The workers, who organize as the Off ice and Professional Employees International Union Local 153, are still in the voting process as of press time. “Our members are happy that they can now breathe freely,” said Susan Hermon, the union chief shop steward and program coordinator at Tandon’s Center for K12
STEM Education. “You are in limbo — you don’t know how salary is going to be, how medical coverage is going to be — all of that is up in the air.” Since the summer, the union — which organized under the slogan “We Are Violet Too!” — has called for the same tuition remission plan, child care assistance, increased wages, and a remote working policy for NYU faculty and non-union staff. The employees continued to abide by the terms of its previous contract, which expired in
December 2020, until a new agreement was reached with the university. Under the tentative agreement, the Tandon employees received a 17.25% increase in their base salary, a 2% increase over the union’s 2015 contract. They are also now eligible to participate in NYU’s Portable Tuition Benefit Plan for faculty, administrators, researchers, retirees and staff, which includes a $7,275 tuition reimbursement for their children who attend an accredited college or university. Previously,
union members received financial support only if their dependents attended NYU. “None of our kids are getting accepted into NYU, which is the issue,” Hermon said. “In the last six years, none of our children are getting any tuition remission. Younger people with younger families now want to take advantage if our kid does not go or get into NYU and at least receive some form of assistance toward our tuition to another educational institution.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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Victory for Tandon workers as tentative agreement reached with NYU CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Tricia Chang, a union member and administrative assistant at Tandon’s civil and urban engineering department, said that portable tuition would have helped her family immensely after her husband’s small business suffered during the pandemic. Her two children are both pursuing degrees in higher education. “Any benefits that advance education and are offered to any other employees should be offered to us,” Chang said. “The goal is to advance higher learning, and we want to do that with our own families. We’re doing it within the university by supporting our departments, faculty and students.” Seth Goldstein, one of the union negotiators and OPEIU Local 153 senior business representative, said the employees’ original tuition remission plan contradicted the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by restricting children of working class families from affording college. “If it’s just the elite, millionaires and billionaires, then how do you have a real classroom discussion if you don’t have working people there?” Goldstein said. “Even Amazon, which is a horrible company and a sweatshop, offers free college education, but at NYU, we
don’t have it.” NYU’s employee telecommuting policy, which allows staff to request to work remotely for one or more days per week, only applied to employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Hermon said the union will work to implement a similar policy through its Labor Management Committee — composed of NYU representatives and Local 153 union members — before the end of the year. University spokesperson John Beckman said the university was committed to negotiating in good faith to reach a contract with union members. “From the onset, NYU’s goal has been to come to terms on a fair agreement that honors the contributions of this bargaining unit’s members,” Beckman wrote in a statement to WSN. “We’re pleased to have reached a tentative agreement.” Goldstein said that the victory highlights the importance of collective action and the power of unions in reaching demands from the university. Contact Rachel Cohen at rcohen@nyunews.com.
MANASA GUDAVALLI | WSN
On Nov. 12, a Tandon union came to a tentative agreement with NYU. The new contract provides employees with benefits like childcare subsidies and a percentage increase in wage and portable tuition.
Columbia student workers strike again for a fair contract said that, as a result of this change, student workers each started the semester with $8,000 less than expected while Columbia accrues interest on the withheld wages. “By changing our pay structure without any warning at the beginning of the semester, it is a f inancial strain that I know a lot of people have had to put serious thought into,” said Abby Breuker, a second-year Ph.D. student in Columbia’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.
MANASA GUDAVALLI | WSN
Student workers at Columbia University marched on a picket line. They advocated for a better contract with improved working conditions and benefits.
By GABRIEL HAWTHORNE Staff Writer For the last two weeks, Student Workers of Columbia-UAW have been on the picket line to demand that Columbia University return to the bargaining table and agree on a fair labor contract. They are calling for a living wage, adequate healthcare and a third-party mediator to protect student workers from all forms of harassment. SWC-UAW represents more than 3,000 Columbia undergraduate and graduate student workers. The union, previously known as Graduate Workers of Columbia-UAW, was renamed in July to reflect the membership of undergraduate workers.
After a strike that lasted from March 15 to April 2, the workers voted on a tentative agreement with Columbia on April 30. The tentative agreement, however, was rejected by union members by a vote of 1,093 to 970 on April 30. According to SWC-UAW, the proposed contract did not meet the union’s current demands, including expanded healthcare coverage and protection from harassment. The union’s current strike was prompted by a change Columbia made to worker stipend payment methods after the spring 2021 strike. Rather than receiving stipends in lump sums per semester, student workers are currently receiving their stipends twice a month. The union
Student workers call for renegotiated contract The strike is currently the second-largest strike in the United States. The workers’ demands include a $26 an hour minimum wage with an annual increase of $1.50, dental and vision coverage as health benefits, and a neutral arbitrator for harassment cases between a student and the university. Becca Roskill, a senior at Columbia’s School of Engineering and a member of SWC-UAW’s bargaining committee, said that though she is only contracted to work 10 hours a week, she often has to work overtime to complete all of her work as a teaching assistant in the computer science department. “Keeping us under a certain number of hours keeps us out of the union, and keeping us out of the union keeps the university from having to pay us benefits,” Roskill said. “At the end of the day, they just want cheap labor.” In a statement, Columbia Provost Mary C. Boyce said the university has proposed increasing hourly wages to $19 an hour, and $21 an hour for those who work for at least three years. The union does not believe the proposed wage is sufficient. Thomas Preston, a sixth-year graduate student, works two jobs and is
an assistant instructor for a literature class of 22 students. He said that in order to earn a livable wage, he had to take on additional jobs outside of the university. “ The time I should be spending doing research, I am spending earning money because I can’t make ends meet,” Preston said. “I’m at Columbia, but I’m not here able to do what I came here to do.” Dental and optical appointments are also not covered under the current healthcare plan, according to the union. A fifth-year international Ph.D. student in the physics department, who preferred to remain anonymous due to safety concerns, said that dental care is unsustainably expensive in the United States. “I had to wait to go home to Italy during the pandemic to get my wisdom teeth taken out because I could not afford it here,” the student said. “Another wisdom tooth started hurting and I did not want to go get it checked out. Now I’m going to wait it out until I can go home.” Sarah Leonard, a second-year Ph.D. student in the School of Nursing, suffers from fibromyalgia and chronic migraines and believes that she would benefit from increased healthcare coverage. She said that the cost of treating her conditions is making it difficult for her to focus on work. “Stress makes everything worse, and it is very difficult trying to balance figuring out how much everything is going to cost, taking care of myself and also getting my work done so I can get out of here and make more money,” Leonard said. SWC-UAW is demanding that neutral arbitration be included in a new contract to protect students from harassment in the workplace. Harass-
ment cases are handled through the Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action. Roskill and other students believe the office is frequently unfair to victims. “Often survivors don’t even get to see the evidence that was put forward in their case and don’t get to understand the rationale behind the decision,” Roskill said. Student workers will strike until an agreement is reached Before the picketing began, the union planned a walkout to “leverage the threat of strike.” While teaching his “Freedom of Speech and Press” class on Oct. 27, Columbia President Lee Bollinger was interrupted by approximately 500 student protestors who entered the classroom chanting “No contract, no work.” WSN spoke with 10 student workers on strike who reported feeling saddened by the loss of income and not teaching their students. Columbia retains the legal right to withhold payments from student workers for the days they participate in the strike. “What do we want? Contract! When do we want it? Now!” was one of many slogans chanted by student workers who gathered in front of the Jerome L. Greene Science Center on Nov. 10. “It feels truly great to be a part of a larger labor movement that is necessary for our field and for all professions,” said Venya Gush Chin, a second-year graduate student in the Department of Slavic Languages. Student workers said they are prepared to continue striking until Columbia returns to the bargaining table. The union plans to picket daily for the rest of the week. Contact Gabriel Hawthorne at news@nyunews.com.
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Edited by SASHA COHEN and ANA CUBAS
Review: ‘Valentine’ is a dynamic move forward for Snail Mail
RYAN WALKER | WSN
Snail Mail’s sophomore album “Valentine” was released on Nov. 5. The album is a step forward that shows promise for Snail Mail’s future.
By JACK SOLOMON Contributing Writer When Lindsay Jordan, who performs as Snail Mail, released “Lush” in 2018, she was met with rapturous critical acclaim. Jordan was only 18 at the time, but already felt industry pressure for her follow up release. “Lush” deserved the hype. The album was some of the best indie rock I’ve heard in the past few years, featuring Jordan’s emotionally charged songwriting and fluid guitarwork, as well as a tight and energetic rhythm section. A self-described perfectionist, Jordan spent over a year in lockdown obsessing over the details of her sophomore album to make sure it held up to her previous work. Over three years later, the album, titled “Valentine,” is f inally here. “Valentine” opens with its title track and leadoff single, which is the album’s most energetic song. It blends the stripped back indie-trio sound of Snail Mail’s earlier music with more synths and production details. The song’s opening tricks you into thinking that Snail Mail may have gone all-in on synths, but you’re proven wrong in the chorus — jangly guitars and pounding drums crash under the frustrated question “Why’d you wanna erase me?” The variety on this album is its biggest strength over its predecessor, which was admittedly a bit of a one-note record. While “Headlock” would f it right in on “Lush” with some slight production tweaks, “Ben Franklin” is more downbeat and groovy, whereas “Forever (Sailing)”
has a yacht rock vibe. Snail Mail also makes room for a few acoustic songs, although the results of this decision are mixed. I like that “Light Blue” is a moment where Jordan’s romance works out, making the song more than just a musical change of pace. On the other hand, the country-tinged “c. et al” is an album lowlight. The gravelly strain in Jordan’s voice does not f it the track, and it becomes distracting and even grating. Despite occasionally clashing with the arrangements, Jordan’s unkempt, often strained delivery is a strength. While I can praise the album’s production, pacing and guitar playing, “Valentine” lives and dies by its emotional impact — which lives and dies through the lyrics and their delivery. Jordan has always been an expressive vocalist with a way of making certain phrases really stick in listeners’ hearts. The album briefly explores the struggles of touring, moderate fame and even a stint in rehab, but the core of the album is about love and heartbreak. Every single song reminded me of how it feels to be in a failing relationship as I listened to the album. The writing and singing are strong throughout, but standout lyrics for me include “I ruined me for you … I adore you” on “Valentine” and “Isn’t it strange / The way it’s just over / No late night calls / You’re not here to walk me to my door / Now I just love you more” on “Mia.” “Mia” works well as a closing track, not just due its emotional weight but also because it provides an end to the album’s loose arc. On “Lush,” the
line that stuck out was “I know myself and I’ll never love anyone else” from the song “Pristine.” But on “Mia,” Jordan comes to terms with moving on, singing “I love you forever / but I’ve gotta grow up now / I can’t keep holding on to you anymore.” It’s not necessarily a profound maturation, but it’s a step.
Whether or not it’s better than “Lush,” “Valentine” is different and fresh. While the pressure of following up an acclaimed debut has led many talented artists to create a weaker copy of their original, Jordan moved forward. The tighter song structures and synth embellishments will win over some and likely
alienate others — that’s just a matter of personal taste. But “Valentine,” while not a perfect album, nails the delicate balance between familiarity and variety, making me excited for Snail Mail’s future. Contact Jack Solomon at arts@nyunews.com.
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‘I’m like the slut of literature’: Fran Lebowitz speaks at NYU’s Casa Italiana
ABBY WILSON | WSN
Renowned author Fran Lebowitz spoke at NYU’s Casa Italiana on Nov. 11. She shared her experiences as a writer and expressed her annoyance with NYU students.
By ABBY WILSON Contributing Writer Known for her scathingly honest commentary, renowned author Fran Lebowitz graced the NYU community with her signature dry humor on Nov. 11. It was Casa Italiana’s f irst in-person event since the onset of COVID-19, and Lebowitz delivered. Between her rambling and the audience’s laughter, the event felt more like a comedy show than anything else. “I was always opinionated,” Lebowitz said. “When I was young, by which I mean a child, I was punished for it constantly. So basically, what I got punished for as a child is how I pay my bills.” Lebowitz, 71, grew up in New Jersey, but was expelled from high school and moved to New York City at 18. She drove taxis and did other odd jobs before beginning her career as an author. She’s known for her strong opinions on feminism, politics and New York culture. Her most recent publication, “The Fran Lebowitz Reader,” is a collection of essays from her previous works, “Metropolitan Life” and “Social Studies.” Though Lebowitz has never spoken at
ABBY WILSON | WSN
Fran Lebowitz expressed her opinions on contemporary urban life.
an NYU event before, she shared opinions on the school during a 2012 visit to SoHo bookstore McNally Jackson. “I don’t love NYU,” she said. “I didn’t hate it before. I just never thought about it. It’s not of interest to me. And it really should be stopped from being called NYU, because it really has nothing to do with New York. The worst thing about being around these people, about these students, is overhearing their conversation. For that alone, I walk around my neighborhood in a constant rage.” Ironically, Lebowitz has a certain favorite bookstore in common with NYU students. “If you’re downtown, The Strand, if you’re uptown, the Argosy,” she said. When asked what she likes to read, she said “everything.” “I’m such a promiscuous reader. I’m like the slut of literature. I like everything,” Leibowitz said. Lebowitz also expressed strong opposition to the way writing is taught in school. “You can’t teach this,” she said. “This is not teachable. You cannot teach people to be talented. It’s like having tall school. I’m sorry, there’s nothing you can do about it.” Recently, Lebowitz was the subject of Martin Scorsese’s 2021 Netflix documentary film series “Pretend It’s A City,”
in which she discussed living in New York City with Scorsese, a close friend she refers to as “Marty.” Previously, she starred in his 2010 documentary film “Public Speaking.” “I always loved movies, but knowing Marty, it makes watching a movie, even without Marty present, so much richer,” she said. “It makes you see movies in such a deeper way. I would really suggest that you spend time with him.” In addition to Scorsese, Lebowitz is close with many other renowned artists. One of note was the late Toni Morrison, whom she attended the Nobel Banquet with after Morrison won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1993. “I was so shocked at how fun it was,” she said. “I cannot recommend strongly enough that you have a friend who wins the Nobel Prize.” Lebowitz’s NYU appearance was part of Addressing Style, an event series created by former special project editor of Italian Vogue, Grazia D’Annunzio. D’Annunzio is a long-time friend of Lebowitz. “She knows everybody, but she’s also selective with her friends,” D’Annunzio said. “She’s a very loyal friend and when she’s a friend of yours, she’s a friend forever.” D’Annunzio thought that Lebowitz would be a perfect addition to the list of people that she has interviewed so far for Addressing Style because of her contributions to the fields of fashion and intellectualism. “In general, from an intellectual point of view, Fran is an outsider,” she said. “Fran has the courage of speaking out and to tell what she really thinks.” “Fran is very curious and she has a very peculiar style,” D’Annunzio added. “She’s not frivolous but she knows a lot about fashion.” Lebowitz, whose sense of style is distinctive, often dresses in blue jeans, a white dress shirt and a dinner jacket. “That’s what I like,” she said. “I found what I like, and I like it. One thing that never occurs to anyone anymore is that you say something just because you think it. Or you wear something just because you like it. I’m not that organized.” When an audience member asked about how young people should address climate change, Lebowitz puzzled over the lack of resentment toward her generation. “This is the fault of people my age and older,” she said. “I would be angrier. Why do you love your parents so much? It’s their fault. And why is Joe Manchin allowed to be in the Senate?” Though probably reluctant to speak at an institution that represents everything she resents, Lebowitz was happy to answer students’ questions — including mine. Starstruck by the opportunity to speak with her, I asked if her thoughts on NYU have changed. “Why don’t you move it upstate instead of taking all our real estate?” she asked. “NYU used to be, when I was young, much less of a physical presence here. And you took up a lot of nice houses that rich people could be living in.” Contact Abby Wilson at culture@nyunews.com.
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Ranked: Student lounges Forty-degree weather means it’s time to find an on-campus spot to chill at during the winter instead of shivering in Washington Square Park. Whether you need to do homework, meet up with friends or just spice up your lounging routine, we’ve got you covered. We’ve ranked lesser-known but superior NYU lounges you can head to so you’re not tortured by Bobst’s aluminum screens during finals season.
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At Washington Square By LORRAINE OLAYA Copy Chief 11. Riese Lounge at Tisch — 721 Broadway, lower level
The chairs are uncomfortable, the lounge lacks seating options, the lights are too bright and scaffolding blocks any sun from the windows. With plain white walls and a boring hardwood floor, it’s too ordinary to be a Tisch building and it’s painfully awkward to walk in when you’re not a Tischie. While I’ll give it some points for having microwaves and tons of outlets, Riese is kind of the worst. 10. University Hall Commons — 110 E. 14th St., lower level
UHall is only better than the Riese Lounge because the scattered decor makes it slightly less sad. The only seating options are regular chairs and green stools that have no back support whatsoever. Wack. It was underwhelming, off-putting and void of any windows. At least there is more than just white walls.
7 E. 12th St. is home to the School of Professional Studies.
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JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN
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SIRUI WUI | WSN
60 Fifth Ave. is located next to The New School.
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9. Kimball Hall — 246 Greene St., lobby
First of all, nobody knows where this is or that it even exists. Second of all, it only has hard plastic chairs. Some of you might be into uncomfortable seating and spinal damage, but I like couches, dammit. 8. Pless Hall — 82 Washington Square E., lobby and third floor
MANASA GUDAVALLI | WSN
The Academic Resource Center is located at 18 Washington Place.
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Pless Hall loses brownie points for the same crime against humanity of chairs as Kimball Hall. It has green swivel chairs with desks attached to them. The lighting’s pretty good and the couches are pretty modern. Plus, it lowkey has art studio vibes, with the plants and art on the walls. The view of Washington Square Park makes Pless a little more palatable, even if it’s somewhat covered by window decals. The third floor of Pless Hall unearths some strong pre-K arts-and-crafts energy. It’s got haphazardly placed chairs and tables inside a carpeted room with a whiteboard and gross yellow lighting. Not gonna lie, I thought this was a classroom before I found out it was a study space. Pro tip: Pless Hall is never full, so you’re likely to find a seat, even if those seats are mostly uncomfortable. 7. Silver Center for Arts and Science — 100 Washington Square E., first and second floors
JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN
Tisch Hall is located at 40 W. Fourth St.
JAKE CAPRIOTTI | WSN
25 W. Fourth St. is located next to the Stern School of Business.
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Silver has several options for lounging, so if you don’t like one, try another. The Elstein Student Lounge emulates Bobst Library with
At Tandon By RYAN KAWAHARA Video Editor 5. Dibner Foyer in 5 MetroTech Center (Dibner Library)
There is usually someone practicing the piano, which gives the lounge a nice ambience, and the relatively narrow hallway means that the music fills the air. It’s particularly pleasant when you need to relax or get work done. 4. 6 MetroTech Center — seventh floor
RYAN KAWAHARA | WSN
This seating area is on the second floor of 370 Jay St. in downtown Brooklyn.
This lounge’s proximity to a kitchen is crucial if you want to eat a snack before settling down to study. There are plenty of chairs and tables to choose from and a lot of natural light during the day. The best hours to visit are weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. because the staff mem-
its darkly lit room and eerie quietness. Though the chairs are minimalistic, they’re surprisingly comfortable. This spot can get a little crowded, but it’s a good choice if you’re waiting for a class in Silver. If it’s too full or if you’d rather sit on a couch, the Silverstein Lounge on the first floor is a better option. There are both squishy and textured couches for you to choose from, plus it has nice carpeting, decorative pillars and windows. Silver could have ranked higher, but the decals on the windows unfortunately block the view of Washington Square Park, and the red walls stress me out. 6. Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life — 238 Thompson St.
The Global Center for Academic and Spiritual Life has a lot of sunlight. The only downside is that there isn’t enough seating, and the elevators are too slow for you to check every floor for any space. There are a lot of benches, but, unfortunately, they’re uncomfortable. In pre-COVID times, GCASL had couches, which would make the lounge rank at least fourth. However, due to the boring and socially-distant furniture that has replaced my beloved sofas, I’m ranking it lower against my will. 5. 25 W. Fourth St., lower level
Before you say anything, hear me out: the basement of 25 W. Fourth St. is shockingly well-lit, despite the lack of windows, and has plenty of seating. The seats are fairly comfortable too. I prefer the red swivel lounge chairs, but the sofas are just as good. 25 W. Fourth also has the bonus of vending machines and a printer, even if almost every time I need to print something I’m met with an out-of-order sign. I’ve only had French classes in this building. If I didn’t associate it so much with Quizlet, it could be a relaxing spot. 4. Tisch Hall (Stern) — 40 W. 4th St.
While some people might hate the idea of walking into a Stern building, the lounges make it almost worth it. Almost. Tisch Hall offers a bit of everything for everyone. The modern building and seating options are appealing and don’t compromise on comfort. There are couches, tables, artsy chairs and lounging chairs — enough of them that you’re sure to find a spot somewhere. If it didn’t feel like a sin to walk into Stern, I’d probably rank it much higher. 3. Academic Resource Center — 18 Washington Place, first floor and lower level
Whether you like studying in sunlight or in a bat cave, the Academic Resource Center has it all. The ground floor offers a lot of natural and fluorescent lighting, and you have your pick between couches or regular
bers who work in the surrounding offices close the room when they leave at the end of the day. 3. The MakerSpace in 6 MetroTech Center
The MakerSpace is home not only to a bunch of cool machines but also a bunch of chairs and tables that are perfect for studying or hanging out. It feels like a coffee shop because the staff usually plays music. There are also plenty of outlets on the ground to charge your devices. 2. 370 Jay St. — 12th Floor
370 Jay St. is the newest building at Tandon and houses several modern, well-lit lounges. The 12th-floor lounge is open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and offers various places to sit as well as a nice view of downtown Brooklyn. The floor also has a kitchen and pantry where you can eat a meal or
seating with tables. It tends to be silent early in the morning and gets the busiest in the afternoon. Plus, it can get pretty loud when classes are let out. The lower level offers a plethora of options too. The couches, combined with the lighting, make for a comfy place for a power nap. With carpeting, several seating options and plants, the ARC is a solid choice. 2. 60 Fifth Ave., first floor
The bright lights are the only downside, but sometimes I don’t even mind them. From lounge chairs and tables to couches, 60 5th Ave. has a surprising variety of seating. It has a New York Public Library vibe; don’t ask me how or why, it just does. I’ve only ever seen it empty, so you’re almost guaranteed a seat. Plus, there are vending machines on the lower level which is a bonus if you need a snack break. It’s a pretty solid lounge. 1. School of Professional Studies — 7 E. 12th St., first and second floors
The SPS building is a little trek from the center of campus, but it’s worth the 10- to 12-minute walk. There are floor-toceiling windows. Even though the seating variety is limited to lounge chairs and small sofa benches, they’re quite comfortable and squishy. There’s also some couches on the second floor, which is weirdly deserted. What really surprised me was how relaxed I felt. It’s quiet, but I don’t mind it because it feels right. 7 E. 12th St. has had my heart since my first year. I swear it’s because of the windows. Even after visiting all these lounges, nothing has come close to matching 7 E. 12th. Honorable mentions:
194 Mercer: It has those cute chairs to wait in before your classes, vending machines and windows. Listening to your breakup playlist on a Mercer chair and staring out the windows is inexplicably comforting. 726 Broadway, sixth floor: It’s a little out of the way if you’re not in Liberal Studies,, but they have top-tier couches, and it’s been empty every time I’ve visited. 383 Lafayette St.: Even though it’s the StudentLink Center, floor-to-ceiling windows and comfortable lounge chairs are always the way to my heart. 10 Washington Place: It has a nice lobby with some wavy couches. Will the security guard watch me suspiciously if I only walk in to sit on these couches? Maybe. 12 Waverly Place: I’ve only been in this building once, but I still dream about the chairs on the lower level. Contact Lorraine Olaya at lolaya@nyunews.com.
snack. The only reason this isn’t ranked higher is that it isn’t available 24/7. 1. 370 Jay St. — second floor
The second floor of 370 Jay St. has the newest Tandon dining facility — Café 370 — as well as plenty of seating for eating, studying and hanging out. If you like sitting in tall chairs where your feet can dangle, there are many raised tables. But if you prefer a cushy seat, there are also couches and tables in the lounge too. It also has large windows that offer a lot of natural light. If you’re there during the hours Cafe 370 is open, you can get fresh coffee and a snack. This spot gets bonus points because it’s open 24/7. Contact Ryan Kawahara at rkawahara@nyunews.com.
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Don’t go to Travis Scott concerts
Travis Scott fans need to stay away from his shows. His concerts pose a serious danger to his own fans. (Image via Wikimedia Commons)
By SRISHTI BUNGLE Deputy Opinion Editor No one expects to die while attending their favorite artist’s concert. But for Travis Scott fans, death and injury became their grim reality when Scott’s Astroworld festival ended in a deadly crowd crush. Ten people died, including a 9-yearold boy, who was in a medically induced coma until he passed away the night of Nov. 14. Hundreds were injured and 25 attendees were hospitalized. Given the drastic failure of Scott and his team to prevent or handle this dire situation, his fans should refrain from attending his future concerts for their own safety. “We begged security to help us, for the performer to see us and know something was wrong,” Seanna Faith McCarty, a senior at Texas A&M and one of nearly 50,000 fans attending the festival, wrote in a viral Instagram post. “None of that came. We continued to drown. More and more. One person fell, or collapsed, it doesn’t matter how it started. Once one fell, a hole opened up in the ground … Person after person were sucked down … You were at the mercy of the wave … There were people. Unconscious. Being trampled by every foot that slammed into the ground as each individual tried to keep themselves upright.” Scott and his team’s negligence is clear in haunting videos of fans desperately asking Scott to stop the show. Fans pleaded with an Astroworld cameraman to stop the show and get help for the injured and dying. Even worse were the dismissive behaviors of some die-hard Scott fans. As ambulances started rolling in, fans blocked their path and danced on the vehicles. Scott did not end the show until 40 minutes after the surge that killed most victims — only 15 to 20 minutes prior to the planned end of the show. “Who asked you to stop? Y’all know what y’all came to do,” Scott said during the concert. “So performances, I always want to make it feel like WWF,” Scott said in a 2015 GQ interview ti-
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tled “How to Rage with Travis Scott.” The horror at Astroworld, sadly, was not unprecedented: Travis Scott has a long history of inciting loud and packed crowds. Scott was arrested in 2015 after encouraging his fans to jump the barricade at Lollapalooza. At a show in Arkansas in 2017, he was charged with disorderly conduct, inciting a riot and endangering the welfare of a minor. During the Arkansas show, several people, including a security guard, were injured. At a Manhattan concert that same year, fan Kyle Green was pushed off a balcony and left paralyzed. Green’s lawyer, Howard Hershenhorn, released a statement on Green’s behalf to Rolling Stone about the tragedy at Astroworld Houston: “[Green is] even more incensed by the fact that it could have been avoided had Travis learned his lesson in the past and changed his attitude about inciting people to behave in such a reckless manner.” Scott’s event planners were aware of the possibility of casualties. In fact, staff members at the Astroworld festival were instructed to refer to dead fans as “smurfs” over staff intercoms. This cold and callous code word illustrates Scott’s disregard for the safety of his fans and for the value of human life in general. Scott’s failure to end the mania at his concert is abhorrent. Because of his long-held habit of inciting crowds, his own and his team’s negligence, and the hivemind behavior of his fans, 10 people have lost their lives. As the pandemic ends and concerts return, artists and their fans must foster spaces safe for all. Scott, who has shown us time and time again that he cannot do that, needs to stop performing at concerts altogether. Until he proves that he has learned his lesson and rectified his behaviors, his fans must stop supporting him and, most importantly, must stop attending his dangerous concerts. Contact Srishti Bungle at sbungle@nyunews.com.
Edited by ASHA RAMACHANDRAN and KEVIN KURIAN EDITORIAL
New York Democrats failed to protect voting rights
New York Democrats failed to launch a coordinated campaign to protect voting rights through ballot Proposals 3 and 4 this November, leading to their rejection by voters. As New York Republicans poured $3 million and significant effort into anti-voting rights campaigns, Democrats did not mobilize a sufficient response. As a result, marginalized voters — the working class, youth, and Black and Latine New Yorkers — will continue to suffer disenfranchisement and experience barriers to electoral participation. Proposal 3 would have removed state voting restrictions that require people to register at least 10 days in advance for elections, thereby enabling the passage of legislation allowing same-day registration. Proposal 4 would have authorized the state to pass legislation permitting any voter to request and vote with an absentee ballot. Both proposals were rejected by a majority of voters in the Nov. 2 election. Same-day registration, or SDR, and expanding access to absentee ballots are proven to increase overall voter turnout. Black and Latine voters, who have historically been disenfranchised and continue to face barriers to electoral participation, benefit from SDR in particular. States that have implemented SDR have Black and Latine voter turnouts up to around 17% higher than states that have not. Same-day registration also increases turnout for young people, who experts say are disproportionately affected by traditional voter registration. Voter turnout for 18- to 24-year-olds
in SDR states is on average 3.1-7.3% greater than non-SDR states. Democrats, however, spent only $327,000 to support Proposals 3 and 4 — almost 10 times less than Republicans across the state spent on issue ads alone. The Republican campaign, “Just Say No,” aired across the state in addition to robust digital outreach efforts and media appearances. Even in a deep blue state like New York, Democrats failed to launch a coherent response to this campaign or even attempt to sell the ballot initiatives on their own terms. Republicans strategically targeted upstate voters rather than voters in New York City, leading to greater margins of success. Democrats, on the other hand, did not even seriously attempt to raise support within the city, where their initiatives could have gained more traction. The ballot proposals ended up passing by smaller margins in the city than they were rejected by in other parts of New York. The Republican campaign promoted their cause through unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and ballot harvesting. Countermessaging from New York Democrats and a systematized campaign to advertise the benefits of the ballot proposals could have bolstered opposition to the Republican campaign and encouraged voters to turn out in favor of voting rights. Instead, the New York State Democratic Party spent effectively no money on a campaign, with Chairman Jay Jacobs arguing that it was not the party’s responsibility to take initiative. Several states have taken initiative to expand voting access through the implementation of same-day registration and absentee ballots. New York, despite its progressive reputation, failed to do the same. The Democrats’ disorganization and overall lack of effort in supporting ballot Proposals 3 and 4 mean that marginalized New Yorkers will continue to face barriers to voting. Contact the Editorial Board at opinion@nyunews.com.
KATHERINE CHAN | WSN
New York state Democrats failed to pass initiatives intended to expand voting rights. As a result, barriers to electoral participation will continue to be reinforced.
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