WSN013112

Vol. 40, No. 4 TUESDAY, jANUArY 31, 2012 nyunews.com

wAShiNgToN SqUArE NEwSNYU’s Daily Student Newspaper

Green courses to grow at away sites

Protesters fight for union rights

Critics torn over Lana Del Rey’s ‘Born to Die’

By ElizabEth MaguirE

Thanks to the NYU Environ-mental Studies program, Sydney and Washington, D.C., will get a bit greener next fall.

Beginning in the fall of 2012, Environmental Studies students can take courses at NYU’s abroad sites in Australia and D.C. This comes after last year’s introduc-tion of Environmental Studies courses in Berlin.

“Environmental Studies is a growing area of study at NYU, and it recognizes that there is a particular value to studying in different parts of the world,” said Jim Buschman, senior direc-tor of NYU External Relations.

“Sydney was chosen because Australia offers such unique environmental conditions, and D.C. because of the rich oppor-tunities for learning about U.S. governmental policies on the environment as well as the role

r aWaY continued on Pg. 3

By tonY Chau

NYU School of Law’s Vanderbilt Hall was filled with protesters who gathered to showcase their anger toward NYU Law trustee Daniel Straus yesterday afternoon.

Straus, who annually endows the law school with a $1.25 mil-lion donation and after whom the Straus Institute for the Ad-vanced Study of Law and Justice is named, runs the CareOne and HealthBridge nursing home companies with his brother.

Protestors accused him of union-busting after HealthBridge in West River, Conn., locked out 100 workers last December when contract negotiations between the two sides fell through.

The nurses, who have not had contracts since last year, blast-ed Straus and HealthBridge for proposing to cut their wages, pensions, health insurance and

r ProtESt continued on Pg. 3

By alExandra EthridgE

You’ve probably heard of Lana Del Rey. The recent Internet sen-sation has been lauded for her blend of hip-hop beats and glam-orous vocals but has also been ripped to shreds for her question-able history as a musician. Her first album with a major label, “Born to Die,” should extinguish many of those flames of hatred with its sound, which shows that bubblegum pop and hip-hop are not mutually exclusive.

Del Rey describes her style as “gangster Nancy Sinatra” and “Lolita from the hood.” These de-scriptions prove to be over-arching themes in her album. The track “Off to the Races” references Nabokov’s masterpiece with verses like “Light of my life/ Fire of my loins/ Be a good baby/ Do what I want.”

“Video Games,” the track that launched Del Rey into the spot-light, features a string orchestra backing her contralto voice as she croons, “I heard that you like the bad girls/ Honey, is that true?”

The song’s clichéd verses and sleepy speed make it one of the less interesting songs on the al-bum, but it does showcase Del Rey’s talent as a singer.

Del Rey truly shines when she incorporates a heavier hip-hop influence with a quicker beat on the tracks “National Anthem” and “Diet Mountain Dew.” The latter, which alludes to Kubrick’s film interpretation of Del Rey’s favorite fictional muse (“Baby put on heart-shaped sunglasses/Cause we gonna take a ride”), combines a classic hip-hop beat with breathless vocals sung in the up-

per reaches of her vocal range. When one considers that indie music has been mainstream for quite some time now, the album becomes an interesting and fun addition to pop with quirky verses about love and nostalgia-evoking beats.

While certainly a unique im-age to present to consumers, her gritty-yet-glamorous, seductive-yet-innocent concept is expressed to the point that it becomes tire-some. Del Rey’s popularity is derived from her individuality, so every song is crammed with vintage references to James Dean and Coney Island to remind ev-eryone she’s not like the other stars. Her idea of gangster rap combines themes of alcohol, vio-lence and wealth with ’90s hip-hop beats reminiscent of N.W.A. and The Roots.

Without the his-tory of hardship that most rappers inject into their music, Del Rey’s attempts at be-ing tough are impos-sible to take seriously. There’s nothing wrong with a pop artist draw-ing influence from rap and hip-hop, but Del Rey’s use of the genres is like a privileged child playing dress up. The negative back-lash that has plagued the star arises from her manipulation of experiences that don’t belong to her. She is neither the reluctant hooker in “Off to the Races” nor the overtly sexual teenager of “This Is What Makes Us Girls,” and one is left to won-

der when this 25-year-old is go-ing to grow up.

Alexandra Ethridge is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].

COURTESY OF INTERSCOPE RECORDS

Protesters gathered at NYU School of Law’s Vanderbilt Hall to demonstrate anger toward Straus. ERIC HSIEH/WSN

oN ThE SiDE COmPIlED BY THE WSn Staff

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A peacock looked around for lunch at the Bronx Zoo over the weekend.

PHOTO BY RacHel KaPlan

CorrECTioNS

goT AN EVENT? EMAiL US AT [email protected] or TwEET US @NYUNEwS goT SoMEThiNg To ShArE? EMAiL US AT [email protected]

ToDAY11 a.m. to 6 p.m. | Grey Art Gallery

100 Washington Square East

SOTO: PaRiS and BeYOnd, 1950 - 1970

This exhibit shows the work of Venezuelan artist Jesus Soto from his time in Paris. It will be on

display through March.

12:15 to 1:15 p.m. | Kimmel Center Second Floor

aSK THe SexPeRT

Come to Kimmel to ask NYU’s resident sexpert any questions you have about sexuality

and sexual health.

3:30 to 4:30 p.m. | Student Health Center 726 Broadway Third Floor

FRee SnacKS On TaSTY TueSdaY

Enjoy free treats from the Health Promotion Office while learning how to snack healthily.

1 2 3

STAFF rECoMMENDATioNS

wAShiNgToN SqUArE NEwSEditor-in-Chief AMANDA RANDONE

Managing EditorJAEWON KANG

Deputy Managing Editor

AMY zHANG

Assistant Managing Editor

JAMES LANNING

Creative DirectorSELENA CHEN

SENior STAFFuniversity JULIE DEVITOcity/state EMILY YANGinvestigative HANqING CHENarts JONATHON DORNBUSHfeatures JESSICA LITTMANsports DANIEL HINTONmultimedia DAVID LINcopy MAxIMILíANO DURóNsenior editor JACK BROOKS, BRIDGETTE DORAN

DEPUTY STAFFuniversity ERIC BENSON, ELIzA-BETH MAGUIREcity/state TONY CHAU, KRISTINE ITLIONG, JESSICA SCHULTzinvestigative FEIYE WANGmusic JOSH JOHNSONfilm STEFAN MELNYKentertainment JEREMY GROSSMANbooks/theater CLIO MCCONNELLdining HANNAH BORENSTEINbeauty & style SHANNON LOUGHRANspecial issues KRISTINA BOGOSmultimedia JAMES KELLEHERcopy JORDAN MELENDREzsocial media agent NICOLE GARTSIDE

oPiNioN PAgEopinion editor OLIVIA GONzALEzdeputy opinion editors ATTICUS BRIGHAM, MARIA MICHALOS

ADVErTiSiNgBUSINESS MANAGERREBECCA RIBEIRO

SALES MANAGERSTEFANIE YOTKA

CIRCULATION MANAGERMEAGAN DRIVER

UNIVERSITY SALES COORDINATOREMILIA MIRONOVICI

SALES REPRESENTATIVES KAITLYN O’BRIEN, MICHAEL RYAN, MELISSA YNEGAS

ADViSiNg

EDITORIAL ADVISER

KEITH LEIGHTY

EDITORS-AT-LARGE

JAYWON CHOEKELSEY DESIDERIORUSSELL STEINBERGKIRSTEN CHANGFRANCIS POONTERKA CICELOVA

About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student news-paper of New York University. WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.

Corrections: WSN is committed to ac-curate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Jaewon Kang at [email protected] or at 212.998.4302.

NYUNEwS.CoM

SNAPShoT

In the article titled “Debates continue over wheelchair accessibility in cabs” from the Jan. 30 issue, WSN inaccurately reported that the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission purchased 30 new MV-1 vehicles. In fact, the New York State Metropolitan

Transportation Authority purchased them.

In the article titled “Five ways to fight the frost” from the Jan. 30 issue, WSN inaccurately reported that Bikram Yoga Lower

East Side offers a week of unlimited yoga for $20. In fact, Bikram Yoga offers it for $25.

WSN regrets these errors.

Revenge“Revenge” is the most addictive new

drama of the season. Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe are the perfect adver-saries on ABC’s clever Wednesday night soap about a group of lying and scheming Hamptonites. The stakes raise with each episode as the well-paced mystery contin-ues to reveal more ugly twists and revela-tions about the lives of the upper class. — Jeremy Grossman

A SeparationAsghar Farhadi’s 2011 Iranian film was

honored with two Oscar nominations for a reason. This unbearably tense and bril-liant drama is a marvelous depiction of Iranian culture, complete with stunning performances and a tautly-written screen-play. “A Separation” is a masterpiece that immediately grabs you by the neck and never lets go. Catch it while it’s still at the Film Forum. — Alex Greenberger

BridesmaidsKristen Wiig and her five funny female

friends are perfect in this comedy about a woman struggling as the maid-of-honor for her best friend’s wedding. In her Os-car-nominated performance, Melissa Mc-Carthy steals the show as the raunchiest bridesmaid. Together, these six actresses prove to audiences that comedy is not just a man’s medium. — Rachel Petzinger

Under the DomeStephen King is known for causing

nightmares among both readers and moviegoers. Now, one of his more recent books, “Under the Dome,” is on its way to becoming a TV series on Showtime. With “Under the Dome,” King shows that the only thing scarier than monsters are the monstrosities of human nature and isolation. — Chris Saccaro

Hugo in 3DPrepare to be blown away by the heart-

warming story of Hugo Cabret, an orphan in 1930s Paris struggling to find meaning after his father’s death. Directed by Mar-tin Scorcese, the film with a perfect cast and awe-inspiring visuals presents a rare opportunity to make the most out of 3-D technology. — Ana Luisa Crivorot

The West WingWith NBC struggling in the ratings,

it’s difficult to imagine that the network was once on top. To refresh, check out Aaron Sorkin’s political classic “The West Wing.” Famous for its use of fleeting cam-era shots, the show pushed the bound-aries of modern quality television and forever defined Sorkin’s writing style by his use of fast-paced and witty dialogue. — Bethany McHugh

CoLUMBIA UNIVErSITY

cubMail to transition to Gmail — Columbia Daily SpeCtator

UNIVErSITY oF CALIForNIA, BErKELEY

campus to adopt e-textbooks— the Daily Californian

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Environmental studies program continues to expand

aWaY continued from Pg. 1 NY Tech Day to promote startup companies

By tonY Chau

New York City will hold its first-ever Tech Day on April 19 in the Flatiron Dis-trict for startup tech companies. Organiz-ers behind the expo hope to feature 200 New York City-based companies and invite thousands of attendees to raise publicity for the startups.

“There’s a lot of startups in NYC that are just really heads down at their computers in their offices working their hearts out on their startups and they don’t really get the exposure,” NY Tech Day co-founder John Petersen said. “We want to make sure that we’re giving them the platform to show off what they’re working on and we think that this was an opportunity to show off to their peers and other startups.”

NY Tech Day will be modeled after a sci-ence fair — each participating company will have a booth to showcase what they have to offer, ranging from product dem-onstrations to open job positions.

Following the expo, there will be an award ceremony where featured speakers will talk about the future of technology in-

novation in New York, and some compa-nies will receive prizes.

In order to participate, each company has to abide by three loosely held criteria: It must be a startup, pertain to technology and have its base in New York.

Attending the event will be free to the public through registration, but there is a limit to the number of attendees. Funding for this free event is made possible by the $385 registration fee required from par-ticipating startups.

Jon Chan, a senior at Gallatin School of Individualized Studies who has launched his own startups, said publicity is vital to the success of all companies.

“The really big differentiating factor [among all the different startups] is mar-keting or publicity or getting awareness about how your product is,” he said. “If you want make it viral the only way you get people to do that is by having people to talk about it. Nobody will talk about your app if nobody knows about it.”

Tony Chau is a city/state deputy editor. Email him at [email protected].

other benefits. Back in 2010, CareOne fired more than 10 of its workers for engaging in union activities.

“They want to take back every-thing,” said Barbara McFadden, an uninsured nurse who was locked out. “I am diabetic and I have to pay $400 and something for my medication.”

Though the National Labors Re-lation Board ruled that the firings were unjustified and mandated the workers to be rehired, Care One has not complied.

Among the demonstrators were members of NYU4OWS and Stu-dent Labor Action Project groups. Their protest also featured a sa-tirical theater performance, in which an actress played Straus.

“This is a clear case of injustice by a member of the 1 percent who has major ties to NYU, so I think it’s important for the NYU com-munity to show our outrage and declare our support with these nursing home workers,” said Dan DiMaggio, a first-year Ph.D stu-dent and NYU4OWS activist.

“NYU should not be a place

where members of the 1 percent can sit on governing boards and hide their injustices via hefty do-nations which get their names slapped on buildings and insti-tutes, as if they were paragons of virtue,” he said.

Some law students exiting the courtyard stopped to hear the protesters.

“It’s really bad when someone’s exploiting certain people and do-ing hypocritical actions with their money,” third-year NYU law student Charles Agoos said.

McFadden added that her for-mer patients are now under the care of those who “don’t know what they’re doing.”

“You can’t buy an ethical repu-tation,” said Deborah Chernoff, the communications director for District 1199 New England, a group that represents the locked-out workers.

Straus and NYU Law were un-available for comment.

Tony Chau is a deputy city/state editor. Email him at [email protected].

By ElizabEth MaguirE

Rogan Kersh, an NYU profes-sor and Faculty Fellow in Resi-dence at Goddard Residential College, is leaving NYU at the end of the academic year to work as a provost at Wake For-est University next fall.

“I’ve been incredibly fortu-nate to work with such extraor-dinary faculty, administrators and staff at NYU,” Kersh said. “It’s hard to imagine leaving such an engaging and nurtur-ing professional environment.”

Wake Forest President Nathan Hatch said that Kersh is a dy-namic leader who will be able

to bring relevant leadership experience and a commitment to preserving the core values of the university.

“His connections to admis-sions, student life and inter-national studies will all be a plus for us,” Hatch said. “His research interests in obesity will provide a good connec-tion to our school of medicine as well.”

As provost, Kersh will super-vise professional schools and undergraduate departments, as well as athletics and stu-dent life.

While at NYU, Kersh was heav-ily involved with the Residen-

tial College — a service-based program of students in the Goddard and Broome residence halls. There, Kersh served as a Faculty Fellow in Residence, bringing eco-friendly sustain-ability initiatives and unique programming and encouraging students to become “citizens of the world.”

CAS junior Laurea Yanush-polsky said that Kersh created a vibrant atmosphere in God-dard and even put together a service trip to New Orleans where students worked to re-build houses in an environ-mentally conscious way to help improve neighborhoods that were destroyed by Hurri-cane Katrina.

“He pushed me to think big-ger, to challenge myself to my limits and to always remember that I am an active citizen of so-ciety and that my actions, big or small, matter,” Yanushpol-sky said.

In his Wagner Public Policy and Politics classes, Kersh strove to engage students and spark their interest at the beginning of their academic careers.

“Rogan Kersh, more than any other professor at NYU, was my mentor and my greatest guide in the search for a career and a passion,” said Meb Bryne, a re-cent NYU graduate and student in the original Goddard cohort. “He singled me out as a fresh-man in Goddard Hall to intern on Capitol Hill, introducing me to politics and paving the way to the best internship I have ever had.”

Elizabeth Maguire is a deputy university editor. Email her at [email protected]

NYU prof. to join Wake Forest as provost

played by nongovernmen-tal organizations.”

At the Sydney site, stu-dents will be able to take Australian Environmental Policy; Journalism & Soci-ety: Science, Environment and Politics; and Reading in Contemporary Literature Theory: Eco-Criticism.

Environmental Studies classes offered in Fall 2012 in D.C. will include Envi-ronmental History of the U.S. and Journalism & Soci-ety: Science, Environment and Politics. Students can also apply for an intern-ship within the govern-ment to learn about envi-ronmental policy.

Christopher Schlottmann, associate director of the Environmental Studies pro-gram, said the academic

opportunities in Berlin, Sydney and D.C. have great potential and will likely continue to grow.

CAS senior Steven Ras-ovsky, an Environmental Studies major, said studying abroad in Berlin shifted his perspective on sustainability.

“Living in a whole new context helped me gain a new lens with which to view the world — one of a global student,” Rasovsky said. “I think this is the essence of environmentalism, and more broadly, sustainability.”

In Berlin, Rasovsky was able to observe and inter-act real-life environmental problems like city plan-ning, public transportation and food production. In 2010, Rasovsky and a friend cofounded the NYU Global

Greening Initiative, and he worked closely with stu-dents and staff to improve recycling at the academic center in Berlin, initiating a green moveout and increase student engagement.

Rasovsky said he used what he learned abroad when he returned to New York.

“Berlin sparked curiosi-ties and really pushed me to break down assumptions I had about what makes a sustainable city,” Rasovsky said. “I could then take what I learned and bring it back to New York, where I can contribute a fresh set of thoughts and ideas.”

Elizabeth Maguire is deputy university editor. Email her a [email protected].

Demonstrators express anger toward Straus

ProtESt continued from Pg. 1

Kersh will leave NYU at the end of the academic year.COURTESY OF ROgaN KERSH

Protesters demonstrate in front of NYU School of Law.SPYROS PaPaVaSSIlIOU FOR WSN

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By hannah borEnStEin

Although Valentine’s Day can be cynically termed the most depress-ing holiday of the year, it still manages to get peo-ple thinking about two of our favorite pleasures: chocolate and sex. Babe-land, a sex toy boutique, understands the allure of these pleasures and is having a free chocolate tasting event tonight at their SoHo store.

“Food and sex can both be pleasurable, sensuous experiences,” said Pamela Doan, who works in pub-lic relations at Babeland. “Chocolate in particular is an indulgence and sin-gular pleasure for some people. This may be be-cause there’s a chemical in chocolate that is linked to pleasure and enjoyment.”

While the event will be light-hearted and full of free candy, there will also be opportunities to learn precisely why sex and sweets are so appealing.

The chocolate collection is called “Aphrodisiacs,” after substances that in-crease sexual desire.

“We’ve found that people come to Babe-land looking for ideas and inspiration for cre-ating memorable experi-ences,” Doan said. “The experience in the store of learning about and sam-pling the ‘Aphrodisiacs’ is sure to be memorable as well.”

For the event, Babeland is partnering with Theo Chocolate, a fair-trade and organic chocolate company providing sam-ples from their innova-tive assortment.

“Babeland started sell-ing Theo Chocolate and hosting events with them at our Seattle boutique in 2010,” Doan said. “The chocolates were so popu-lar and their distribution had grown nationally, so we expanded in the following years and saw the chocolate fly off the shelves in New York City

stores, too.”This is the first time an

event will be hosted with Theo at one of Babeland’s Manhattan locations.

Theo’s chocolates are infused with herbs and spices that have aphrodi-siac qualities. The exotic names of these flavor-ings range from “sensual rose” to “spicy Ceylon cinnamon.”

“Mostly, we want cus-tomers to have fun at the event and discover these amazing chocolates that pair perfectly with a sexy, romantic evening and make a smashing Valen-tine’s Day gift,” Doan said. “For college stu-dents, the event makes a great date.”

The event is at 7 p.m. at Babeland in SoHo at 43 Mercer St. (between Broome and Grand streets).

Hannah Borenstein is dining editor. Email her at [email protected].

Babeland indulges multiple sensesFusion bakery brings France to SoHo

By raChEl SandErSon

When you walk into Dominique An-sel Bakery, it doesn’t feel like you’ve left SoHo. But take one bite and you’re quickly transported to France. The combination of French pastries and whistling espresso machines makes this place an undeni-able treat for lovers of both American and French bakeries.

The shop opened in November to a crowd of supportive customers. In the past month alone, the menu has been expand-ed to include ten new items such as the Salted Pistachio Religeuse and tiny puff pastries called chouquettes.

The glass display case is filled with des-serts like macarons, éclairs and tarts. The bakery also offers items like pain au choco-lat and its most popular treat, Dominique’s Kouign Amann, a croissant with a hard car-amelized crust and a soft, flaky interior.

For fans of traditional American fare, Ansel offers items that represent a unique take on American food. They feature the untraditional Cotton-soft Cheesecake, which has an airy and soft texture credited to the blend of ricotta and cream cheese.

For those in the mood for a full meal, the bakery also serves sandwiches, includ-ing the Roasted Pork Club. After grabbing your food, you can take a seat in the sim-ple, clean environment inside the bakery, or you can wander to the back and bask in the sunlight that radiates through the glass-enclosed greenhouse seating area.

Don’t let the luxuries of this bakery fool you — France may be acclaimed for its couture trends, but you don’t have to worry about paying a designer price at this bakery. Ranging from $2 to $12, the food at Ansel is affordable even for college students. To taste a little slice of France in SoHo, find Dominique Ansel Bakery on 189 Spring Street.

Rahel Sanderson is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].

DiNiNg EDITED BY hannah borEnStEin [email protected]

Snacks not always sinfulBy CathErinE Monigan

We have all seen the sitcoms where families congregate around the dinner table to share daily meals. We also know that in our modern, fast-paced society, this tra-dition has become old-fashioned.

Noticing this trend, the makers of LUNA bar — the nutrition bar for women — funded a study by the Institute for the Future titled “The Power of Snacking,” which discusses current and future trends in snacks and meals.

On Wednesday, Jan. 25, LUNA sponsored a discussion about eating habits. The panel included NYU pro-fessor Amy Bentley of the Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health de-partment in Steinhardt.

The most important trend noted by all of the panelists is that snacks used to be considered a bad thing because they showed weakness and were thought of as a sign of poor health. Now that people are so busy, however, snacks are becom-ing an important part of our day, and they are no longer something to be ashamed of.

“Women in their twenties are not generally at home during meal-times,” said Rachel Maguire, the re-search director of the study. “They either work all day and go to school at night, or go to school all day and work at night. Either way, they don’t have time for a normal dinner.”

The panelists emphasized the significance of snacks as part of a healthy lifestyle.

“Women’s magazines try to help women have a positive attitude to-wards snacks and cravings,” said Amy Bright of Women’s Day maga-zine. “A snack in and of itself is not a bad thing. We try to publish articles about how to control cravings and encourage healthy snacking.”

Although snacking is an impor-tant part of the modern diet, snacks should not completely replace clas-sic meals.

Bentley laid out the structure of a meal, in scientific terms, as a large portion of protein and two equal-sized portions of a vegetable and a starch.

“It can be all mixed together, like in a stew, but all three ele-ments need to be there to consti-tute a meal in people’s minds,” Bentley said. “A meal needs to be more balanced and healthy. It’s hard for me to imagine meals go-ing away entirely.”

The take-home message of the night came from the house dieti-cian for LUNA and Clif bars, Tara Dellolacono.

“We want to emphasize the pow-er of positive snacking,” she said. “It helps you to maintain energy, curb hunger and distribute calories throughout the day.”

For more information on “The Power of Snacking,” visit www.thepowerofsnacking.com.

Catherine Monigan is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].

Indulgent treats lie beyond the doors of Dominique Ansel Bakery.

jONaTHaN TaN/WSN

ArTSEDITED BY Jonathon [email protected]

By ChriS SaCCaro

Fox’s “Touch” continues network television’s recent trend of high-concept dra-mas hoping to recapture cable audiences. Tim Kring, the creator of “Heroes,” de-veloped the series that fol-lows Martin Bohm (Kiefer Sutherland) and his son Jake (David Mazouz), an au-tistic mute who can predict the future.

The pilot opens with Jake explaining his supernatu-ral abilities to the viewer. He can see the connections people have with one an-other and believes it is his responsibility to ensure that strangers meet when destiny demands it. For example, a dropped cell phone in New York must make its way to the Middle East to prevent a suicide bombing. “Touch” experiments with the impact of cause and effect as well as how all lives and decisions are interconnected.

“Touch” is a gamble for Kring. The multiple, inter-connecting storylines that destroyed “Heroes” are front and center in “Touch.” As the pilot demonstrates, the strong writing effective-ly juggles the interweaving plot lines. The acting, how-ever, is not as steady as the script. Because Jake remains mute throughout the epi-

sode, most of the dialogue between Martin and Jake’s social worker Clea (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) feels forced.

It is necessary to suspend dis-belief to enjoy the show, as it relies heavily on coincidences. The smallest decision makes the biggest impact. A stolen lottery ticket results in the res-cue of several children from a bus crash. Is that realistic? No, but at least it’s entertaining.

While “Touch” may not rely on reality, it speaks truth about the strength of human relationships and the impact individuals have on one an-other. Sutherland’s charac-ter is still suffering from the death of his wife, who died during the Sept. 11 terror-ist attacks. This storyline adds a human element and emotional content to a show

heavily grounded in num-bers and mathematics.

Where the show is head-ing is still unclear at this point. Kring has stated that “Touch” will be an episodic series, but the idea of follow-ing a new set of characters each week seems burden-some and overly dependent on guest stars. The first epi-sode did not deliver nearly enough pathos to connect audiences to characters who may only appear once. If “Touch” can connect all of its characters in intriguing ways it may fulfill the po-tential seen in the pilot to become one of the best new series of the season.

Chris Saccaro is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].

‘Touch’ shows potential but lacks character connections

Chemical Brothers excite fans in concert film

By gloria lEE

A live electronic concert can have its share of issues: the violent, substance-abusing mobs, aggressive security and a ridiculous price to see DJs turn but-tons and knobs, to name a few. But fans will tell you it’s worth it, as the contorted mix of striking visuals and heart-thumping beats create an unfor-gettable high. “Don’t Think,” a Chemi-cal Brothers concert film directed by Adam Smith, delivers on all the prom-ises of a great electronic concert with-out the complications.

Filmed at the 2011 Fuji Rock Festi-val in Japan, the visual and auditory components of the Chemical Brothers’ concert overtake their surroundings in unconventional ways. From explod-ing teapots to swimming silhouettes, the images flash on stage and eventu-ally creep into the festival’s general

area — projections of clowns appear on food stands while white, buzzing cockroaches teem over the sidewalks.

The most beautiful moment of their performance comes during the song “Star Guitar,” when the spastic lights calm for a brief moment and the light shines upon the expressive faces of the fans. The mood shift produces both a stimulating and emotionally calming sensation. It’s mo-ments like these that will make you cheer or even dance wildly around the cinema.

“Don’t Think” focuses intently on the crowd at the concert. According to Chemical Brothers member Ed Simons, the band has always had a special rela-tionship with its Japanese audience.

“They’re so passionate,” he told Roll-ing Stone. “And it was the perfect place to capture our live show at its best.”

To capture the band’s best work, cam-eras were spread throughout the crowd to catch the emotions of the fans. Many laughed, gasped, screamed and cried without inhibition — everything felt raw and unspoiled, contributing to the roller-coaster ride created by the music. Although this concert film has no defin-itive narrative, the camera’s focus on a few individuals in the crowd defines the emotional component of the film.

For 90 engaging minutes, “Don’t Think” ingeniously ties the sound and visuals of an electronic concert with superb editing to create this better-than-front-row experience of a Chemi-cal Brothers show. This film is best enjoyed as the group’s lyrics so suc-cinctly explain: “Don’t think/ just let it flow.”

Glorie Lee is a contributing writer. Email her at [email protected].

By JaSon boWErS

Eli Gottlieb’s “The Face Thief” seems designed to spark the ca-sual pull of intrigue. It has three chronologies, multiple protago-nists of unclear relationship, de-scriptions thick with facial tics and twists eventually leading to some frighteningly specific con-clusion through the magic sci-ence of Chinese face reading. It’s a formula that has yielded many a successful thriller.

Gottlieb’s first novel, “The Boy Who Went Away,” won the 1998 McKitterick Prize from the Brit-ish Society of Authors and the Rome Prize. Ten years later, Got-tlieb’s “Now You See Him” was declared the 2008 Book of the Year by both The Independent and Bookmarks Magazine. The titles alone exude suspense, and “The Face Thief” confidently re-flects this pedigree in its ability to build anticipation. Unfortu-nately, “The Face Thief” does not deliver on its promises. The novel contains enough glitz to inspire faith that the tension will arrive and that a satisfying resolution

will follow. It never does.Perhaps this is because the con-

flict is driven largely by money. The novel’s two protagonists, Law-rence Billings and John Potash, are incredibly materialistic. It is diffi-cult to be terribly concerned with the prospect of divorce with men whose highest goals amount to nothing more than sustaining their upper-middle-class existences.

Nor do the characters express real despair that their wealth might all be lost, an unfortunate consequence of Gottlieb’s sedate style. The consistently composed rhythm of “The Face Thief” is endearing at times but restrains the emotional impact of events in the book.

The novel is at its best when no visceral reaction is demanded — eerie childhood recollections or despondent nights at a crowded bar have the humanity to with-stand the listless comfort forced on them by the prose.

The novel’s genuinely tender moments are grounded in mari-tal strife, but as soon as these moments blossom, the focus is pushed back towards how the

protagonists grapple with the fraudulent women threatening their domesticity. And tenderness becomes auxiliary to the so-called intrigue of revenge, which is not present from the onset.

The women are all moral cari-catures. The wives make no questionable choices and moth-ers turn into angels of salva-tion. Apparently, only the men in Gottlieb’s novel can make redeemable mistakes. Seeing as every significant relationship in the novel is between a man and a woman, this parody of the do-mestic scene cheapens such in-teractions.

It seems that Gottlieb has con-centrated all the mystery in the beginning quarter of his novel. While the characters are flat and their motives questionable, there is nothing obvious about the ac-tion. This keeps the pace of the novel moving. Despite its lack of intrigue, “The Face Thief” is at least a quick read.

Jason Bowers is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].

‘Face Thief ’ can’t steal audience attention

VIa DONTTHINKmOVIE.COm

NYUNEWS.COm | TUESDaY, jaNUaRY 31, 2012 | WaSHINgTON SqUaRE NEWS 5

In Touch’s pilot, Sutherland plays a serious role.COURTESY OF FOX BROaDCaSTINg CO.

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Flashing lights and images dazzle fans in concert movie.

oPiNioNArTS EDITED BY Jonathon [email protected]

6 WaSHINgTON SqUaRE NEWS | TUESDaY, jaNUaRY 31, 2012 | NYUNEWS.COm

By Clio MCConnEll

Upon first glimpse of the stage at the Laura Pels Theatre, you know immediately that John Osborne’s play “Look Back in Anger” is any-thing but typical.

The platform juts out no more than eight feet from the wall. The play’s four actors must scuttle and shimmy past each other to avoid falling into the audience, and they seem to execute the task almost ef-fortlessly. And Andrew Lieberman’s set design is especially fitting. The narrow stage — dirty and cluttered with objects — is a perfect represen-tation of the tight space these char-acters must navigate, physically and intellectually.

“Anger” is the story of James “Jim-my” Porter, the epitome of a disen-chanted youth. He maintains that his world is suffering from a dire lack of enthusiasm. He also insists that his wife and roommate are prime examples of a modern society that lacks firmness of mind.

When John Osborne wrote “An-ger” in 1956, England was decidedly entrenched in an era of angry young men. Osborne was one such youth, and the action of the play is mostly autobiographical, which lends the dialogue a sharp and real quality. Unbearably witty at times, “Anger” is so chock-full of clever one-liners and references that it deserves to be read as well as seen.

Despite its shrewdness, Osborne’s masterpiece could easily transfer to the stage as an anachronistic mess. With Sam Gold’s direction, it seems that the Roundabout Theatre Com-pany has dodged that bullet. The titular anger is brought to life in such fashion that the disillusioned characters feel timeless.

Matthew Rhys delivers his perfor-mance as Jimmy with such acidity that even when he calls his wife beautiful, it sounds more like a scathing insult than a compliment. His near-flawless acting is powerful from beginning to end, and his whis-pering to spouse Alison (Sarah Gold-

berg) in the final moments of the play commands absolute silence.

The brilliant portrayal of Alison is nearly as embittered as that of her husband’s, requiring only a poison-ous glance to convey her dissatisfac-tion. As Rhys sneers at one point, “That girl can twist your arm off with her silence.” And the other two roles — Jimmy’s oafish roommate Cliff and Alison’s meddling friend Helena — are also well cast.

At the crux of this strange play is its ability to portray four people trapped within their own psyches and yet have them interact with such a range of emotion. Looking back on Gold’s production, I feel no anger — only a desire to see it a sec-ond time.

“Look Back in Anger” opens on Feb. 2 and will run through April 8.

Clio McConnell is theater editor. Email her at [email protected].

“Look Back in Anger” will hit the stage at the beginning of February.

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Theatergoers happy with rendition of an angry classic

ThE NEw York TiMES CroSSworD & DAiLY SUDokU

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(pray for us:Lat.)

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Apple must be held to ethical standards

Staff Editorial

Abortion is not the only pro-life issueBy ChriS dinardo

Lower taxes. Cut spending. Pro-life. These have all become policy positions composing the litmus test that Republican politicians must pass to prove themselves as viable nominees for the party. Eco-nomic principles aside, pro-life is a moniker proudly touted by the GOP. Who wants to be thought of as representing the converse, either anti-life or pro-death? This makes pro-life a title to embrace. But in politics, it’s used as a lofty term that commands adherence to a set of guidelines beyond just opposition to abortion. Anti-abortion and pro-life are not inter-changeable. The former is merely a subset of the latter and pro-life politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, must either accept and embrace that or drop the title altogether.

I, myself, am anti-abortion de-spite being liberal on most other things. I know, I know, blasphe-mous, right? But beyond abor-tion, I try to maintain values that inhabit the realm of the pro-life mantra as well. Right now, “pro-life” is just a hollow phrase meant to woo a lot of Moral Majority, one-issue voters. But those voters, their candidates and the GOP pro-life platform are lacking something important: consistency. Taking a moment to examine the current field of Republican presidential nominees provides a glimpse at the inconsistencies. Rick Santo-

rum is staunchly anti-abortion, yet when asked about potential U.S. ties to the murders of several Iranian nuclear scientists, he said that their deaths were “a wonder-ful thing.” Does that sound pro-life? How about former candidate Rick Perry’s death penalty record? He presided over the execution of 234 prisoners — more than any governor in modern history.

GOP front-runner Mitt Romney wants to escalate President Barack Obama’s secret drone program in the Middle East, which is respon-sible for the death of hundreds of innocent civilians throughout Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia. His chief competition for the nomi-nation is Newt Gingrich. While the former speaker falsely warns of the so-called death panels in Obama’s healthcare reform bill, he stands by the use of extrajudi-cial and unconstitutional execu-tive panels to determine which suspected terrorists to assassinate, among them American citizens. And that’s not a death panel?

These are the views of people we are labeling as pro-life. No pacifism. No call to end capital punishment. No desire to end a drug war that is killing thousands. And most of these positions have become a part of the mainstream ideology in both parties, particu-larly the one which has adopted pro-life as a part of its template.

The Declaration of Indepen-dence lists “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” as inalien-

able rights. Those on the left may label anti-abortion as anti-woman, but they are missing the point. I’m not anti-woman at all. This issue falls under the right to life for all. It is not an issue of liberty, which should be maxi-mized, not reduced.

So enough of the double stan-dard. We can’t laud the sanctity of all human life but then place limits on it. Where’s the value then? To say death is OK for “bad guys” or “terrorists,” or any other class of people does not show moral superiority, it shows moral hypocrisy. What makes an Ameri-can life so much more valuable that we deserve life and liberty, but a defenseless Arab child does not? And if the right to life is so inalienable, the decision to end one is not for any other individual to make.

We need to rethink how we use the term “pro-life” in our po-litical climate. Views must be re-branded or the word “life” itself loses meaning. If we only mean unborn babies, but not defense-less children in another country or convicted felons in our own, then how sacred is the right to life? By continuing the hypocrisy, we not only diminish the mean-ing of the word “life” today, we endanger the life-dependent poli-cies of the future.

Chris DiNardo is a columnist. Email him at [email protected].

abortion

NYUNEWS.COm | TUESDaY, jaNUaRY 31, 2012 | WaSHINgTON SqUaRE NEWS 7

Email the WSN Editorial Board at [email protected].

Editorial Board: Olivia gonzalez (Chair), atticus Brigham (Co-Chair), maria michalos (Co-Chair), Emily Franklin, Nicolette Harris and Katie Travers.

Since Apple products have become so integrated into our every day lives, the friendly, quotidian feeling of plugging in an iMac or fiddling with an iPad makes it difficult to imagine the ethically gruesome past that brought them to our fingertips. A scorching article from The New York Times last Wednesday has exposed this past, rendering the public conscience of labor rights violations which surfaced after an explosion at the Apple construction plant in Chengdu, China. The gory mental picture of building A5’s explo-sion paired with the records of negligence on Apple’s part have cast a dark shadow on the international corporation. Yet the media’s delay in reacting to this Apple public relations nightmare further reminds us that Apple has likely reached a place on the corporate pedestal where it can emerge with its sales unfettered from these reputation-tarnishing events.

It took a major, culminating event for the information on the labor law violations to garner enough media attention. But the sluggish me-dia response harkens back to the ignored cries for help that shaped the American worker’s revolution after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. It is unlikely that Apple sales will take a hit now that the information has surfaced. But the frightening historical parallels serve as a reminder that the ethical operations of the largest and most trusted American corpora-tions still need to be kept under surveillance, particularly in their interna-tional outposts. According to the New York Times report, employees had been working excessive hours with sub-par, dangerous living and working conditions. Yet international law and the Alien Tort Statute still do not hold corporations liable for international crimes. Even if the media is com-fortable pointing the finger at corporations, the concrete ramifications of situations like Apple’s are still limited.

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SPorTS EDITED BY daniEl hinton [email protected]

Justice and sports in conflictBy laura buCCiEri

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Aldon Smith was charged with a DUI on Jan. 28 in Miami Beach. His ar-rest earned him three and a half hours in jail and a bond payment of $1,000. According to Florida state law, drivers charged with a DUI can receive up to six months in prison.

The news forces most football fans, especial-ly fans of the 49ers, to a conflict between sports and justice. Un-fortunately, fans often side with the former.

After they get past their initial anger, fans will weigh the interests of the team. The 49ers had the best rushing defense this year, and their star rookie was a huge part of the effort. A frontrun-ner for the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year award, Smith led all rookies with 14 sacks in the regular season, forced two fumbles and re-corded a safety.

Despite his performance on the field and the popularity he received from it, Smith deserves to pay the full price of the law. If he does not, his acquittal — by the courts of Miami and public opinion — will only add to his ego, and we will have failed to send a stern message to profession-al athletes.

Take Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlis-berger as an example. Roeth-

lisberger was accused of as-saulting a 20-year-old female college student in the rest-room of a Milledgeville, Ga., bar. The disciplinary action taken was a four-game sus-pension. True, his reputation took a huge hit. But Roethlis-berger eventually returned to the field, and Steelers nation has been forgiving since he led the team to Super Bowl xLV. The focus shifted from what happened to the young woman to what happened on the gridiron.

Possibly the biggest scan-dal of all occurred back in 2003 when Los Angeles Lak-ers shooting guard Kobe Bry-ant was charged with the as-

sault of a 19-year-old female employee of a Colorado hotel. Bry-ant could have served anything from four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation. The charge also carried a fine of up to $750,000. The case never went to trial as it was settled out of court. A year after he was charged with assault, Bryant signed a $136 million contract and regained endorsements from Nike and Coke. Lak-ers fans have found it easier to accept their franchise player since winning consecutive championships in 2009 and 2010.

Fans are often too willing to let the ac-cused players slide be-cause they are good at their job. Professional

sports bring communities together in a way that many other parts of daily life can-not. If a star player were ar-rested and sentenced to serve jail time, the sports communi-ty would protest because their bonding mechanism would have been broken.

Sadly, this results in a diffu-sion of criminal acts and repeat offenders in sports. While it is easier and simpler to blame athletes, we should blame our-selves for propagating a culture in which entertainment and sports outweigh justice.

Laura Buccieri is a staff writer. Email her at [email protected].

Tennis reaches new heights down under

By daniEl hinton

After watching the first four sets of the Australian Open men’s singles final a few hours after the match ended (it originally aired on the east coast at 3:30 a.m.), I decided to get ready to leave my dorm. The upper-right corner of the screen read “Instant Classic,” but Novak Djokovic winning in four sets did not seem worthy of that title.

I was dead wrong.In front of a crowd

filled with Serbian and Spanish flags, Djok-ovich and Rafael Nadal traded 130 mph serves and sprinted across the court for another two hours. In fact, the total length of the match — five hours and 53 minutes — set the record for a Grand Slam singles final.

Nadal came back to win the tiebreaker in the fourth set but squandered a break advantage in the decisive set. Djokovic finally won his third con-secutive Grand Slam and his fourth in twelve months after hitting a fore-hand unreachable even for Nadal.

What the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked players in the world did on Sunday morning — the speed of play, the athleticism and, of course, the du-ration of the match — all changed my perception of tennis players and the sport.

The match is even more impres-sive when placed in context. Less than three days earlier, Djokovic defeated No. 4 Andy Murray in an-other grueling match that lasted nearly five hours. On the same day, Nadal put away the great Roger Federer in four sets that included two tiebreakers.

The level of play in men’s tennis has reached a new height. I say new be-cause analysts and fans alike once des-ignated Federer as the greatest tennis player ever. His stretch of dominance from 2004 through 2007 started the discussion and his completion of the career Grand Slam at the 2009 French Open ended it. Or so we thought.

Nadal, Federer’s biggest rival and possibly the greatest to ever play on clay, entered his prime as Federer entered his 30s — almost ancient in tennis years. At 25 years old, Nadal has already earned ten Grand Slams, with one at each ma-jor and a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He won four out of five Grand Slams between the 2010 and 2011 French Opens but has lost to Djokovic in three con-secutive finals.

During the past 12 months, Djokovic has gone from an obsta-cle in the way of a Federer-Nadal final match to the greatest player in the world. They say you have to beat the best to be the best, and that is precisely what Djokovic has done.

Former professional tennis player and current sportscaster Mary Car-illo has described the competition between the top three tennis play-ers as the “Trivalry.” My apologies to Andy Murray, but I don’t see any reason to change the name. Or am I speaking too soon again?

Daniel Hinton is sports editor. Email him at [email protected].

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Djokovic won four sets in the Australian Open men’s singles final.

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Smith, a promising linebacker, was charged with a DUI.

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