On Campus - Tuesday, October 7, 2008 13:02 - 0 Comments
Political Union & Review at NYU Makes Return This Fall
“Resolved: Privatization is the only way to save social security from the baby boomers.” In an unprecedented vote at last night’s debate, the Political Union & Review at NYU (PURNYU) sided with the parties of the Right with a 13-12 count and 2 abstentions, passing the resolution.
Sophomore Lucas Patton (pictured above) moderated last night’s debate. Margarita Nachevnik spoke for the Party of the Left, Pat McClellan spoke for the Democrats, Mike Collins spoke for the Republicans, and Joel Nybeck spoke for the Party of the Right. All speakers were given 5 minutes for opening statements, then the floor opened for a 30 minute discussion, and the speakers concluded with 4 minute closing statements.
PURNYU kicked off last spring, led by recent NYU graduates Michael Wood and Ed Cadmus. In a series of three debates in April and May, the Political Union gained its popularity by bringing together voices from all sides of US political life. Past resolutions have included “Abortion is a miscarriage of justice” (failed) and “Republican foreign policy will not keep America safe” (passed).
Entertainment, Featured - Monday, October 6, 2008 6:32 - 3 Comments
NYU’s Max Vernon Braces for Breaking Out
It’s not too often that you get to hear thoughts from the likes of Susan Sontag coming from contemporary music. With his song “Politburo Technocrats,” Max Vernon does just that, capturing heavy considerations of politics and authority in a way that compels engagement with the music.
“I don’t ever want to make breathy, airy, background music. My style will never be that way – you have to engage with it. This is our challenge culturally,” he says. Continue…
City - Friday, September 26, 2008 18:06 - 2 Comments
Soon, ALL Food Will Be On Wheels
Rickshaw Dumplings has launched their latest venture – a dumpling truck. They’ve set up a Twitter account to keep customers abreast of the location each day, and they’re selling 6 dumplings for $6, along with their watermelonade, and sides like chili sesame noodle salad. They started out yesterday on 51st and Lex, and today they’ve set up at Wall St. and William. Thanks, Eater, for getting the first take on this one.
I got the tip from Kenny Lao, co-founder of Rickshaw Dumplings, who spoke at NYU on Tuesday. His vision is to bring quality food to the masses at a fast-food pace. He was looking to expand business in the city – they currently have a location in the Flatiron District and here at NYU on 8th St. – but due to insane rent prices, the best option was to go mobile.
City - Tuesday, September 23, 2008 13:25 - 0 Comments
Term Limits and the Media’s Impact
On September 4th, City Councilman Oliver Koppell submitted a bill for drafting that proposes to extend current term limits for elected city officials from two four-year terms to three. (Welcome back to reality, to those taking a break from fretting over the end of the world.)
The focus of the term limit issue naturally turned to Mayor Bloomberg, who will be leaving office December 31, 2009 if the bill doesn’t pass. However, two-thirds of the City Council (including Koppell), along with Comptroller Thompson, and Public Advocate Gotbaum will also be leaving office at the end of 2009, as it stands now.
The controversy surrounding the issue involves two public referendums that were held in 1993 and 1996. Those against any change in term limits cite that the public has expressed its voice twice and has upheld the two four-year term limit both times. Since January 1, 1994, elected officials have not been able to seek re-election after serving their respective eight years. But now, with considerations for having experienced city officials and people who can effectively manage New York with its present financial troubles, the term limit debate has resurfaced.
City - Friday, September 12, 2008 15:22 - 1 Comment
If Turnout is less than 3% Your Vote Might Actually Make a Difference on Tuesday
In case you didn’t hear, NYC local primaries were held on Tuesday. Maybe you were indulging in the latest news on Jeremiah Wright, or perhaps sympathizing with our new friends out in Red Hook. But I would put money down that if you were visiting Hayden or U-Hall, then you were more likely ducking in from the rain rather than casting a vote.
The November ballot will feature not only the obvious presidential contest but a whole gamut of elected officials. I remember viewing my first ballot back in November 2006 and realizing how arbitrary many of my choices were once I got passed the top executive and legislative state and federal positions. Hopefully some of the links here will help out this time around.
City - Tuesday, September 9, 2008 13:23 - 1 Comment
A Brief, Possibly Illegal Look at the Primaries
So after being denied permission to take pictures at the first two voting sites I visited, I stopped by the site at Hayden Hall to see if my NYU credentials could get me a better shot of the action – or lack thereof. I smiled politely to the administrators before swiftly taking the shot below and was immediately told that pictures weren’t allowed. If you know the reason for this silliness, tell us in the comments.
City - Friday, September 5, 2008 14:09 - 2 Comments
Local Politics 101: Community Boards
Editor’s Note: Brad will be blogging weekly about local politics, especially in relation to NYU.
“NYU professors should be teaching those kids something about civic responsibility. Why aren’t there any students fighting this with us? They’re ignorant of the realities that NYU brings upon the rest of us here. They’re too caught up in this theory or that concept and don’t even care about what’s happening to our community – no respect for the history here…”
These were the words I faced from a button-clad activist upon my first venture to a Community Board 2 (CB2) public hearing this summer. Each speaker – all community members – one after the other repeated the same cries against NYU’s development.
The comments had been directed towards NYU’s development plans for the Provincetown Playhouse on MacDougal, which NYU intends to make into new Law School facilities. Though the university has promised to preserve and restore the building’s façade, as well as the walls of the structure, the community members who spoke voiced unanimous opposition to the project. Their claims were based on historic preservation and persistent opposition to NYU’s expansion throughout the Village.
