Washington Square News
Housing Guide 2020
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The Housing Guide
letter from the editor Living in New York City is something I feel we often take for granted. Is it the greatest city in the world? Occasionally. As a friend of mine (Max Ferguson, who is featured in this issue) aptly said to me last summer, it’s a city that tests your dreams. It’s spontaneous, ruthless, robust, supportive, challenging and a place where we’ve all had to grow up 10 times faster than if we were living anywhere else. And being at NYU, we are privileged to be “in and of the city” — as the school’s marketing team cleverly pitches out year to year. As someone who’s moved around a lot, going from India to various suburbs of Massachusetts and then to NYU, I’ve always had a weird relationship with whatever living space I had. Home always felt temporary because I was waiting to move somewhere else. Go figure that I end up in New York City where residential stability is the last thing that comes to mind, even when it comes to living at a prestigious university such as this one. I’m figuring out how to get by in this city along with everyone else. I hope this Housing Guide gives our readers an expansive insight into all aspects of living at NYU and New York City. When you first open this issue you will be able to read the usual dorm statistics (that you’ll eventually find on NYU’s website), assembled by Deputy Managing Editors Paul Kim,
Ronni Husmann and Anna-Dmitry Muratova. But, for the first time, we’ve also explored several of NYU’s study away and abroad options, featuring an in depth look at dorms in locations ranging from London to Abu Dhabi to Accra to Washington D.C., and more! Huge thanks to Abroad Editor Sam Brinton and her team of Abroad Correspondents, Alexandria Johnson, Liv Rocklin, Mitch Bedows and Jonathan Schatzberg, as well as contributing writers Yusuf Husain, Calais Watkins, Ben Davis and Hanna Khosravi. We also have a collection of stories — features, creative writing, photo essays and video diaries — in print and online that add more dimensions to understanding what it’s like to live in New York City than past Housing Guides. We’re hoping to show the diversity and strength in our storytelling forms unlike any Special Issue before, and I’m incredibly proud of my team’s ambition, diligence and execution. I’d like to thank the Dwight Schrute to my Michael Scott, UTA Senior Editor Mandie Montes. Not only did Mandie write an incredible feature, but she was integral in maintaining our workflow and my sanity during this process and I’m glad to continue working with her this semester. Next, I must thank Celia Tewey and Sara Miranda, our Exposures Editor and Features Multimedia Editor respectively, who produced a
stunning photo series and led the initiative of getting original photography of all our dorms and stories. They were assisted by Multimedia Editor Alexandra Chan, Deputy Multimedia Editor Chelsea Li, Photo Editor Jake Capriotti, Video Editor Leo Sheingate (who also made a great short documentary) and Deputy Video Editor Alex Tran. To our Creative Directors Debbie Alalade and Charlie Dodge, thank you for all that you do on a daily basis. Your design, layout, illustrations and animations for this are spectacular. I want to thank the rest of the Under the Arch team for producing incredible content across all sections and being very audacious with everything they set out to complete: our Deputy Editors Sammy Tavassoli and Alejandra Arevalo, Voices Editors Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes and Jessica Fiorella, Video Producer Claire Feng and Staff Writers/Illustrators Rachel Lee and Eugene Hu. Huge thanks to the copy desk, consisting of Chiefs Dana Sun and Daija Dewberry, Deputy Copy Chiefs Kim Rice (who also wrote for us), Nicole Chiarella and Isabel Tan, and editors Addison Knies, Rob Loeser, Destine Mason, Shy Mitchell, Carolina Orozco and Nicholas Pabon. Without you, our pieces would be filled with Oxford commas, bad spelling and incorrect facts. I also want to thank Editor-In-Chief Cole Stallone and Managing Editor Abby
Washington Square News Staff Editor-in-Chief
Cole Stallone Managing Editor
Abby Hofstetter DEPUTY Ronni Husmann, Paul Kim, Anna-Dmitry Muratova Creative Director
Social Media
Vanessa Handy DEPUTY Lisa Kindyeyeva, Katrina Morgan, David Niu Under the Arch MANAGING EDITOR
Guru Ramanathan SENIOR EDITOR
Deborah Alalade, Charlie Dodge
Mandie Montes
Copy Chiefs
Alejandra Arevalo, Sammy Tavassoli
Daija Dewberry, Dana Sun DEPUTY Nicole Chiarella, Kim Rice, Isabel Tan
Addison Knies, Rob Loeser, Destine Mason, Shy Mitchell, Carolina Orozco and Nicholas Pabon EDITOR
Multimedia
Alexandra Chan DEPUTY Chelsea Li PHOTO Jake Capriotti VIDEO Leo Sheingate DEPUTY VIDEO Alex Tran
DEPUTY
MULTIMEDIA
Sara Miranda VOICES
ADVERTISING Business Manager
Mel Bautista Director of Sales
Yejin Chang Director of Marketing and Logistics
Mira Silveira
Creative Director
Catherine Chen Account Associates
Moosa Waraich ADVISING
Jessica Fiorella, Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes EXPOSURES Celia Tewey
Director of Operations
EXECUTIVE VIDEO PRODUCER
Rachel Holliday Smith
Lu Limanowski
Nanci Healy
Editorial Adviser
DEPUTY VIDEO PRODUCER
Claire Feng
ABOUT WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University. WSN is published in print on Mondays and throughout the week online during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.
CORRECTIONS: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible. If you believe we have erred, contact our managing editor at managing@nyunews.com.
Hofstetter for their support and guidance throughout the process. Finally, if you’re reading this, thank you. The Housing Guide has traditionally been one of our most mundane mandated corporate projects but over the past few years, we’ve tried to find ways to keep things fresh at your favorite independent student newspaper. This issue represents a lot of small and big changes for us and the direction we’re going in, and we are elated to be sharing it with you.
GURU RAMANATHAN
Under The Arch Managing Editor
Table Of
Contents 03 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16
NYU Housing Options The Struggle to Validate Food Allergies Coming Home to Xenophobia: Racism in the Dorm Room Blueprinted Memories: An NYU Floor Plan Couch Surfers Late Lipton Study Sessions Lead to Romance Insomni-Act: Six Late-Night Spots to Know Around NYU Best NYU Dorm Views A New York City Summer: The Chore of Passion
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NYU HOUSING OPTIONS
NYU
HOUsing
options
ALUMNI HALL 33 Third Ave. | Upperclassmen • $11,386 • Subways nearby: N, R, Q, 4, 5, 6, L • 10 to 15 minute walk to WSP • All singles • Shared apartment with kitchen and bathroom • In the East Village • The most luxurious singles you’ll ever find at NYU • Right above H-Mart and next to the Barney Building (NYU Steinhardt) • The AC rattles really loudly in some rooms • Hallways are really narrow, not very mobility-aid friendly
Celia Tewey | WSN
By Paul Kim, Ronni Husmann and Anna-Dmitry Muratova Deputy Managing Editors
Sam Brinton
Photos by Celia Tewey, Sara Miranda, Alexandra Chan, Chelsea Li, Jake Capriotti, Leo Sheingate and Alex Tran
Abroad Editor
Alexandria Johnson, Liv Rocklin, Mitch Bedows and Jonathan Scatzberg Abroad Correspondents
Yusuf Husain, Calais Watkins, Ben Davis and Hanna Khosravi Contributing Writers
BRITTANY HALL 55 E. 10th St. | First-year
• $6,694-$7,532 • Low-cost housing available • Subways: N, Q, R, W, 4, 6 • Less than 10 minute walk to WSP • Alec Baldwin and Amanda Seyfreid live in the neighborhood • Some suites bathrooms are wheelchair-accessible • Doubles, triples • Communal has a kitchen (even though rooms don’t) • Suites have shared microwaves and mini-fridges • Dance practice room available • Music room with a piano available
Sammy Tavassoli | WSN
BROOME STREET 400 Broome St. Upperclassmen
CARLYLE COURT 30 E. 16th St. | Upperclassmen
• $7,000 - $9,923 • Subways nearby: J, N, Q, 6 • 15 to 20 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost available for triples • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms • Some bedrooms are in the kitchen • Near Chinatown and SoHo
Alex Tran | WSN
CLARK STREET 55 Clark St. First-year and Upperclassmen • $5,919 - $9,923 • Low-cost housing available • Subway nearby: A, C, R, 2, 3 • 15 minute walk to Tandon • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost available for doubles and triples • Apartments with bathrooms, no kitchen • There’s a fridge, TV and microwave in each apartment • Located in Brooklyn Heights neighborhood
• $7,000 - $9,923 • Subway nearby: L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 • 10 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles • Low-cost available for doubles • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms • Some bedrooms are in the kitchen • Those bedrooms are low cost. • The court outside is nice but it’s hard to navigate between the towers • Faces Union Square (both a pro and a con) • Starbucks next door (but it doesn’t accept dining dollars or campus cash) • Dance room
CORAL STREET 129 Third Ave. Upperclassmen
Sammy Tavassoli | WSN Celia Tewey | WSN
FOUNDERS HALL 120 E. 12th St. | First-year • $7,532 • Subways: N, R, L, Q, 4, 5, 6 • 10-15 minute walk to WSP • Doubles • Suites come with microwave-fridge unit • Study lounge with computers • Three student lounges on three different floors
Alexandra Chan | WSN
• $7,000 - $9,923 • Subway nearby: L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 • 15 to 20 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles • Suites accommodate up to six people (three doubles) • Low-cost available for doubles • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms • Dance practice room in the basement • The basement (and especially the dance practice room) tend to get insanely cold • There’s a 24/7 Duane Reade underneath the tower • Resource Center and lounge in basement, and laundry • Two exploration floors (sports floor and “nerd” floor)
Goddard Hall 79 Washington Square E. | First-year • $5,598 - $8,955 • Subways: A, C, E, F, D, M, N, R, 6 • Singles, doubles, triples • Right on WSP • Low-cost available for doubles and triples • Each resident has to be affiliated with one of the themed “streams” (residential college)
Sara Miranda | WSN Celia Tewey | WSN
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The Housing Guide
Gramercy Green 310 Third Ave. | Upperclassmen
Sara Miranda | WSN
• $7,000 - $9,923 • Subway nearby (about 7 min walk away): N, R, 6 • 25 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles, triples • Lots of bars, no restaurants open at night • Very few convenience stores • Low-cost available for doubles or triples • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms • Some doubles are studio-like • Gym in the basement • Laundry on every other floor • Exploration floor available (travel floor)
Lafayette Hall 80 Lafayette St. | Upperclassmen • $5,919 - $9,923 (low-cost housing available) • Subway nearby: A, C, E, J, N, Q, R, W, 1, 2, 3, 6 • 20 to 25 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles, triples • Low cost available for doubles or triples • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms • Ventilation gaps in the singles • Paper-thin walls • You’ll either have a fantastic view or face the wall, there’s no golden middle
Greenwich Hall 636 Greenwich St. First-year and Upperclassmen • $7,000 - $9,923 • Subway nearby (all a substantial walk away except for PATH): PATH. A, B, C, D, E, F, M, 1, 2, 3 • 15 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost available for triples • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms Mandie Montes | WSN
Lipton Hall 33 Washington Square W. First-year • $6,694 - $8,955 • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost housing available for triples • Subways: A, B, C, D, E, F • 0 minute walk to WSP • Dining hall • Music practice rooms are available • Study lounges are really spacious with a ping-pong table • Communal kitchen Sara Miranda | WSN
Jake Capriotti | WSN
Othmer Hall 101 Johnson St. First-year and Upperclassmen
Palladium Hall 140 E. 14th St. Upperclassmen and Graduate students
• $4,921 - $6,822 • Low-cost housing available • Subway nearby: A, C, F, R, 2, 3, 4, 5 • 1 minute walk to Tandon • Singles, doubles • Low-cost available for doubles • Traditional and apartment-style suites available • The name sounds like word ‘otter’, which is cute
Sammy Tavassoli | WSN
Rubin Hall 35 5th Ave. | First-year
Sammy Tavassoli | WSN
Second Street 321 Bowery | Upperclassmen
• $4,250 - $7,532 • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost housing available for doubles and triples • Subways: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, M, N, Q, R, 4, 5, 6, • Less than 10 minute walk to WSP • No AC in the rooms • Classrooms on the ground floor are air-conditioned • Dance and music practice room (with a piano) available
• $5,440 - $10,956 • Subways: B, D, F, M, 6 • 15 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost available for doubles
Alexandra Chan | WSN
Senior House 47 W. 13th St. | Upperclassmen • • • • •
Sara Miranda | WSN
• $8,522 - $11,386 • Subway nearby: L, N, Q, R, 4, 5, 6 • 15 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles • Apartments with kitchens and bathrooms • Exploration and themed floors available • Trader Joe’s next door • Gym is in the building • It always smells like chlorine because of the swimming pool’s proximity • Palladium Sunday brunch • Rooms are pretty small
$7,000 - $8,522 Subways: F, M, L 10 minute walk to WSP Doubles No birthday to tap in!!
Celia Tewey | WSN
Seventh Street 40 E. 7 St. Upperclassmen • $8,522 - $9,923 • Subways: N, R, 6 • 10 minute walk to WSP • Singles, doubles • In the East Village • Tight-knit community, only around 90 residents • The most eco-friendly dorm • You have to write an essay to apply for housing here • No elevator or AC Celia Tewey | WSN
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NYU HOUSING OPTIONS
Third North 75 Third Ave. First-year and Upperclassmen • $7,000 - $9,932 • Low-cost housing available • Subways: L, N, Q, R, W, 4, 5, 6 • 15 minute walk to WSP • Doubles and triples • Right across from AMC and West Side Market • 24/7 deli attached to the building (not affiliated with NYU) • Kitchen and bathroom in dorm • Black mold keeps growing • Dance and music room • WSN office in the basement • Renovated student lounge
University Hall 110 E. 14th St. First-year and Upperclassmen
Celia Tewey | WSN
• $8, 522 • Subways: L, N, Q, R, 4, 5, 6 • 15 minute walk to WSP • Doubles • Palladium dining hall is close • Lots of first-years (the dorm is mainly for first-years) • Food downstairs is really good (and vegan-friendly since they offer the impossible meat patties) • Trader Joe’s nearby • Dunkin Donuts right below (and you can pay with meal swipes/dining dollars there)
Sara Miranda | WSN
Weinstein Hall 5 University Pl. | First-year
Sara Miranda | WSN
• $6,694 - $8,955 • Singles, doubles, triples • Low-cost available for triples • Subways: A, C, E, F, N, R • 1 minute walk to WSP • Downstein, Sidestein and Upstein are in the building • Chick-fil-a in the food court • East Tower is better than West Tower • The paint on the ceilings will likely crumble on you while you sleep • If you run out of shampoo, Sidestein is right there (and you can use dining dollars/campus cash) • The cinder blocks are nice and cool for when your bed gets too hot. • WNYU office in the basement • Practice rooms (including dance rooms)
london Guilford House
• 75 Guilford St., Bloomsbury, London WC1N 1DF • Upperclassmen only, exclusively NYU • $8,016-$10,559 per semester • Nearby Transportation: two minute walk to Underground at Russell Square Station (Piccadilly Line), most bus routes nearby • 10 minute walk to Academic Center • Limited studio singles, doubles, triples and limited quads • Closest residence hall to the Academic Center • Russell Square station is literally right behind the hall • Within five minutes of lots of clubs and pubs • Virtually no storage space (buy/bring collapsible storage cubbies) • The kitchen looks dirty, even when it’s clean • Plan to spend a fortune on food unless you plan to live off £3 meal deals
Urbanest King’s Cross
• Urbanest House Canal Reach, London, N1C 4BD Upperclassmen only, not exclusively NYU • $10,559 per semester • Nearby Transportation: 390 bus, 15 minute walk to Underground at King’s Cross St. Pancras Station (Northern, Victoria, Circle, Hammersmith & City, Metropolitan and Piccadilly lines) • 30-50 minute bus ride depending on traffic or 35 minute walk to Academic Center • You have your very own ensuite room (bathroom included) • Cut + Grind restaurant is attached to the side of the building • Weekly cleaning service • So many people sharing one kitchen makes for a dirty kitchen • Never the meeting place for organized student life activities and far from the Academic Center • Singles in four-person or eight-person suites • No free menstrual products • Unexpected Essentials: Bath mats, oven pans or baking sheets
Ivanna Vargas | WSN
Stay Club Kentish Town
• 65 Holmes Road, London, NW5 3AN • Upperclassmen only, not exclusively NYU • $5,797 per semester • Nearby Transportation: most buses via Kentish Town stops (but no 390 to campus), 10 minute walk to Underground at Kentish Town Station (Northern Line) • 30 minutes via Underground at Kentish Town Station to Academic Center, hour-long walk (would not suggest!) • Studio doubles • “Doubles” are bunk beds — so you’re gonna get close with your roommate. • Amazing communal facilities, including a coffee shop, movie theater, gym and even a disco • Building and rooms are new and modern • Cleaning service • Far away from campus and other dorms
Byron Court
• 26 Mecklenburgh Square, London WC1N 2AD • First-year and upperclassmen, exclusively NYU • $7,221-$10,559 per semester • Nearby Transportation: nine minute walk to Underground at Russell Square Station (Piccadilly Line), 13 minute walk to Underground at King’s Cross St. Pancras (Piccadilly, Northern, Metropolitan, Circle and Hammersmith & City lines), two minute walk to bus route 17 at Eastman Dental Hospital • 20 minute walk to Academic Center • Limited singles, doubles and triples (low cost available) • Building amenities include a game room, meditation room and a computer lab • Good sense of community • Rooms are spacious • Really thin walls • It’s a 20 minute walk to the Academic Center and a 10 minute walk to the Underground • Byron Court is the choice for those looking for a calmer neighborhood
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The Housing Guide
paris Maison de L’île-de-France, Cité Universitaire (MIDF)
• 9 D Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 • Upperclassmen only, not exclusively NYU • $6,063 per semester • 17 minutes to Academic Center via RER B • Singles with private bathrooms • Access to Cité Universitaire facilities (discounted gym, discounted dining hall, library, and more) • Very new with a sleek, futuristic design • Complimentary room cleaning and sheet changing service • MIDF is located right next to the Périphérique, the highway that rings around Paris, so some of the lower rooms can be noisy at times • Limited kitchen appliances, no oven
Les Estudines Batignolles
• 100 Rue Oberkampf, 75011 Paris • Upperclassmen only, not exclusively NYU • $5,441 per semester • 30-40 minutes to the Academic Center via the Metro (4 to 3), 45 minute walk • Single studios • Queen-size bed • Private bathroom and kitchenette (stovetop, microwave, minifridge, no oven) • Concierge in building • Cleaning and linen service • Furthest from classes (other than La Défense) • Extremely small community
Maame Attakora | WSN
Citadines Place D’Italie
• 18 Place d’Italie, 75013 • Not NYU exclusive, all upperclassmen • $9,458 per semester • 17 minutes to Academic Center via Metro 10 line to Metro 7 line • Studio singles • The rooms at Citadine include the hotel’s amenities and concierge service • Located in a neighborhood with great restaurants and beautiful architecture • Complementary weekly cleaning services and a daily breakfast room for a small fee • Not much of a community due to the small number of NYU students and the fact that it is a hotel • Significantly more expensive than any of the other NYU Paris options • Directly near a shopping center, gym and movie theater.
Fondation des Etats-Unis, Cité Universitaire • 15 Boulevard Jourdan, 75014 • Upperclassmen only, not exclusively NYU • $4,243-$5,053 per semester • 15 minutes to the Academic Center via RER B • Singles with private bathroom, singles with communal bathrooms • Access to music practice rooms, lounge with foosball table, communal kitchens on each floor, library, computer lab, cultural events and more • Access to Cité Universitaire facilities (discounted gym, discounted dining hall, library, and more) • Paper-thin walls • No air conditioning • Rooms facing Boulevard Jourdan can get noisy
Osadní
prague
James Closs | WSN
Montsouris
• 2 Rue Gazan, 75014 Paris • First-year and upperclassmen, exclusively NYU • 20 minutes to Academic Center via RER B • $5,532-$8,922 per semester • Studio singles, singles in suites, doubles • Private kitchenettes (stovetop, microwave, minifridge, no oven) • Private Bathroom in studio or suite • Communal lounge with TV and music equipment, in-building gym • If you’re an upperclassmen you will be living among mostly firstyears • Some rooms are extremely small • Shower water leaks out of the bathroom • Minimal laundry machines
• 774/35, 170 00 Praha 7-Holešovice • $4,300- $7,201 per semester • 30 minutes to the Academic Center via lines 6,12 or 17, or 45 minute walk • Singles, doubles, triples, quads in suites • The rec room/study room/ solarium is amazing • There are a lot of cheap food options in the area • It’s in a more residential area of Prague, so there are less tourists • Only dorm with practice rooms (all music students or students taking music classes must live in Osadní) • It’s the farthest dorm from campus • Osadní was built in a former ham factory, and was intended as a center for the arts. The area features nightlife, a nearby bowling alley and plenty of restaurants
La Défense
• 34 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 92800 Puteaux • Upperclassmen only, not exclusively NYU • $5,441 per semester • Nearby Transport: RER A, Metro Line 1 at La Défense Station (5-10 minute walk) • 30-40 minutes to the Academic Center on the RER (A to B), two hour walk (do not attempt!) • Single studios • Extremely modern rooms • Giant Westfield Mall next door • Twice a month cleaning service with linen changing • Among the farthest dorms from NYU • No community in the building
Máchova
• 12,120 00 Vinohrady • $4,932-$7,201 per semester • 20 minutes to the Academic Center on the subway (Line A), 35 minute walk • Singles, doubles, triples in suites • It’s very close to a nice bodega and a huge park • The study lounge has a great view • There’s a kitchen in every suite • No communal bathrooms • In a residential area filled with restaurants and parks. Directly to the south of Máchova is Havlicek Park, a huge park filled with cool old buildings and a fantastic view of the city
Slezská
• 60, 120 00 Vinohrady • $4,300 to $7,201 per semester • 15 minutes to the Academic Center on the Subway (Line A), 30 minute walk • Singles, doubles, triples, quads in suites • Near Albert, one of the best supermarkets here • The communal kitchen area has a loft that’s really nice • Only community-style kitchens • The beds are too low to the ground • It is only a five minute walk from Máchova — so basically the same neighborhood and same close access to parks and restaurants
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NYU HOUSING OPTIONS
madrid Claraval (Residencia de Estudiantes Claraval) • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Calle de San Bernardo, 97B, 28015 Madrid, Spain Not exclusively NYU $6,159 per semester Nearby Transportation: Metro Lines 2, 4 15-minute walk to Academic Center Singles in suites Most NYU Madrid students will be located here, so you will see familiar faces Has a lounge with a television and vending machine, as well as a rooftop Newly renovated and comes with cleaning service Probably the closest option to campus No meal plan Hosting guests is an extensive process; there is a guest limit for the semester, and they must leave after 11 p.m. if not staying overnight Very thin walls No alcohol is allowed within the dorm
• Plaza de Cristo Rey, 7, 28015 Madrid, Spain • Not exclusively NYU • $5,950 per semester • Nearby Transportation: Metro Lines 3, 6, 7 • 30-minute walk to Academic Center • Doubles with kitchenette (no oven or stove) • Located in Chamberí, a vibrant residential neighborhood • Comes with a meal plan and dining hall within building • Food quality varies day to day • Very small elevators
buenos aires
accra
Church Crescent
El Faro (Colegio Mayor El Faro)
Asata Spears | WSN
• Church Crescent St., Accra, Ghana • First-year and upperclassmen • $6,290-$6,784 per semester • 10-15 minute walk to Academic Center • Doubles, triples • Balcony that each room has access to • Free laundry • Wi-fi is very spotty • Inefficient dryers • Shower water is lukewarm at best • Close to a Pinkberry frozen yogurt, as well as two markets • No free menstrual products • Unexpected Essentials: Full semester supply of anti-malaria medication, lots of bug spray, medication to help adjust to food in Accra
Concord Callao
• Av. Callao 1234, C1023AAS CABA, Argentina • Not exclusively NYU • $4,976 per semester • Nearby Transportation: six-minute walk to Parada Linea 12 • 20-minute walk from the Academic Center • Doubles • Higher community as you live with other NYU students as opposed to a homestay • No set time to eat dinner unlike homestay • Almost 2x as expensive as a homestay • No free menstrual products • The neighborhood of Recoleta includes a shopping district, historical sites, parks and upscale restaurants
A5 and A6 (Study Away Buildings)
ABU Dhabi
Sam Klein | WSN
Laura Shkouratoff | WSN
• Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates • $5,900 per semester • Nearby Transportation: NYU shuttle service, cabs available at the Welcome Center • 5-10 minute walk to classes • Double studios, doubles in suites, singles in suites — study away students must live in a shared double with NYUAD students • Located on campus • Tight-knit sense of community • Kitchen spaces are communal • Study away students don’t get to choose buildings — unless you request to live on a gender-exclusive floor • No free menstrual products • The campus is on Saadiyat Island, off of the mainland of Abu Dhabi. The island also neighbors Yas Island, which features amusement parks
Laurie Germain. | WSN
sydney
Allison Harrari | WSN
Urbanest Sydney Central
• 83 Quay St., Sydney NSW 2000 • Not NYU exclusive • $8,539 per semester • Nearby Transportation: Central Station for all train lines, Railway Crossing for most buses • 25-35 minute walk to Academic Center • Singles in six-bedroom suites, become five-bedroom suites for fall semesters when there are less students • Private bathrooms • Full kitchen with dishwasher included • No menstrual products provided • Next to Haymarket, Sydney’s Chinatown. The residence is also a 15-minute walk to Surrey Hills, a neighborhood with good nightlife
NYU D.C.
DC
Sam Brinton | WSN
• 1307 L St. NW, Washington, DC 20005 • $6,590-$8,568 per semester • Nearby Transportation: Subway at McPherson Square Station (Blue, Orange and Silver lines) • No commute to the Academic Center, because it is in the same building! • Doubles in suites, studio singles • Clean, new building • Spacious, apartment-style dorms with common areas on every floor • A solid kitchen set-up • Very few washing machines and dryers • NYU DC is extremely close to Logan Circle, which means an abundance of Thai food, prestige coffee, fancy restaurants, street blocks lined with picturesque D.C. townhouses and a dependable Whole Foods
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The Housing Guide
The Struggle to Validate food
Allergies
Students discuss the complications that arise from uncooperative roommates disregarding their allergies as a disability. By MANDIE MONTES
Senior Under the Arch Editor
During the spring semester of 2019, Gallatin senior Katie Peurrung received a rather chilling message from her ex-roommate. It was a screenshot of a Google search regarding Peurrung’s egg allergy that said air exposure generally doesn’t cause anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Underneath that screenshot was another message that said, “This should clear things up.” Peurrung had no idea how to respond. “That was the point where I was like, ‘I’m done,’” Peurrung said. Despite her previous efforts to explain her egg allergy — it’s airborne so exposure can affect the severity of her reaction which, in Peurrung’s case, got worse — it seemed that her roommate didn’t take that information into consideration. “If you’re gonna try to WebMD me out of my own health issues which I’ve had my entire life, [then] I don’t know how to talk to you anymore,” Peurrung said. “So I moved out.” Moving out of her room on the 17th floor of Gramercy Green Residential Hall mid-semester might seem like a dramatic decision to make, especially considering other responsibilities that come with being a student, but Peurrung felt that she had no other choice. Her health and safety will always come first — if not taken care of, her allergies
can put her life in harm’s way. After scrambling to find another place to move into, with the help of a counselor at the Student Health Center, Peurrung submitted paperwork to the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities to get approval to move out. For the latter part of the spring semester, she lived on the 4th floor of Gramercy with a friend. Housing at NYU can be tricky for students with food allergies; it can feel like a burden to place food restrictions on a stranger, but can also lead to severe allergic reactions if not properly discussed with roommates and/or suitemates. Food allergies can be regarded as a disability — one that isn’t visible but is still very much real. Though not immediately obvious, many disabilities can be invisible and vary in severity. While health issues differ for students and are important to take into consideration when moving in with someone new, students with food allergies face the obstacle of going the extra mile to prevent any allergens from infiltrating their living space. Communicating that to a new roommate may be difficult: it’s hard to ask somebody to adjust their way of living. Such requests may lead to either a respectful relationship or, in cases like Peurrung’s, an unexpectedly hostile reaction and consequential bullying. Furthermore, not regarding allergies as a real disability can affect students when trying to find accommodations to help them live safe and
Charlie Dodge | WSN
healthy lives. Tisch senior Lani Kording had an experience similar to Peurrung. Kording’s tree nut allergy — walnuts, cashews, almonds, etc. — is so dangerous that the mere exposure to a walnut particle puts her at risk of anaphylactic shock. Therefore, she takes extra steps in her daily life to be mindful of the risks: she reads food packaging labels, stores her dishes in a safe place so they can’t be used by others and purchased her own mini-refrigerator when she lived on campus. However, during her sophomore year while living at University Hall, Kording was put into a difficult situation due to her suitemates’ cooking preferences. While they wouldn’t bring a bag of cashews into their suite, they would frequently cook with nuts — especially walnuts — and would even use Kording’s dishes, which made them unsuitable for her to use. At one point, Kording couldn’t leave her room because her suitemates were cooking walnut shrimp and the mere smell made her nauseous. “I definitely felt unsafe, especially because I told them before, and because I felt embarrassed talking about it,” Kording said. “It’s like a weird sense of embarrassment, but also I need to stand up for myself because no one else will.” For Kording, discussing her tree nut allergy brings up feelings of shame — she worries that people perceive her as the “nut allergy girl that’s probably being paranoid or overreacting,” when she’s not. But one way Kording has been able to overcome this insecurity is by thinking about how she perceives others’ physical and non-physical abilities. For example, she has become more understanding of people who take the elevator to the second floor instead of taking the stairs because she doesn’t know their personal struggles, or if they have a disability. Similarly, she hopes that others are able to think past their own perceptions regarding food and become more aware of other reasons why she avoids eating tree nuts.
Mandie Montes | WSN
CAS and Steinhardt junior Sarah Patt standing in front of Think Coffee on Fourth Ave. Patt has an allergy to tree nuts and peanuts and was given special accommodations from the Moses Center for their housing freshman year.
“I wonder if people think the same about me when I don’t eat at certain restaurants just because I get an unsafe feeling about it,” Kording said. “I’m sure people see me and think ‘She’s just picky.’ But that’s not the case, and they don’t know my life. They don’t know me. [My allergies] are not visible, but [they’re] still there.” After emailing back and forth with the Moses Center during the housing selection process during her sophomore year, at the very last minute, Kording was placed in a single room in Alumni Hall for her junior year, but wasn’t guaranteed that her suitemate wouldn’t eat nuts. For Kording, this was still a form of recognition of her food allergy. Similarly, CAS and Steinhardt junior Sarah Patt was able to get accommodations through the Moses Center for their allergies. While they weren’t given a clear explanation why, they were placed in Founders Hall their first year. They were less worried about their housing situation because the dorms in Founders Hall don’t have kitchens, which left little room for their roommates to be uncooperative. Another reason Patt wasn’t worried was because, coincidentally, one of their suitemates from their first year has a sister with severe food allergies, which made Patt feel more comfortable in their living space as they didn’t feel the burden of having to educate their roommate about their situation. Luckily for Patt, they haven’t had any uncooperative roommates and haven’t needed to reach out to the Moses Center about their food allergies since their first year. “I think I’m technically supposed to [contact them], but I honestly don’t really
want to because I’ve gotten to a point in my life where I’ve been dealing with this for forever,” Patt said. “So I know how to manage myself.” Peurrung, on the other hand, wasn’t too successful with the Moses Center. While she was granted housing accommodations during the fall of 2019 for her insomnia and anxiety, she was told that because her sensitive allergic reaction was rare, the Moses Center wouldn’t be able to accommodate her allergies. In fact, the Moses Center told Peurrung that to determine whether she could get accommodations for her allergies, she would have to get allergy testing done. But that meant Peurrung would have to travel to her allergist’s office in the Upper West Side and redo her allergy testing just to prove that her health issues were real. “I just wished they would have believed me,” Peurrung said. While Peurrung has never considered her allergies to be a disability, it is frustrating when people don’t believe her health condition is real, especially because she knows how intense it can be to deal with her allergic reactions. It’s important for students without allergies to be considerate by engaging in conversations about non-physical disabilities and believe those who say they have specific health issues. “At the end of the day, no one understands your allergy as much as you do,” Kording said. “So my advice is to make your voice heard.” The Moses Center declined to comment for this story. Disclaimer: Katie Peurrung was a Multimedia Editor in fall 2018 and UTA Multimedia Editor in spring 2019. Email Mandie Montes at mmontes@nyunews.com.
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FEAtures
Coming Home to Xenophobia: Racism in the
First-year international students share how cultural and communication differences made them seek out Bed-for-Bed roommate exchanges. By SAMMY TAVASSOLI
Deputy Under the Arch Editor
When Korean-Canadian CAS first-year Sandee Park would rather take her midterm over and over again instead of relaxing in her dorm, it’s obvious something is horribly wrong. In her room, Park was less a resident and more a personal maid to her two roommates, who demanded she make their beds and clean every crumb on the floor. “The bathroom’s not going to clean itself,” was constantly echoed at her. Maybe chemistry would take her mind off of her callous cohabitants? No, they’d already invited one too many guests without her permission that she couldn’t hear her own thoughts. She turned to her comfort food, Korean rice bowls, but her roommates complained of the smell and she was sent outside. Rinse and repeat. Park’s former roommates in Lipton Hall routinely targeted both her and her Korean heritage during her first semester. Park’s needs were almost always waved off, and she felt she didn’t have an equal standing in the room. Although they routinely complained about her Korean food and phone calls home, they completely disregarded her boundaries. One main conflict Park and her roommates faced regarded their lifestyles: Park preferred a quiet and relaxed atmosphere while her roommates constantly made demands and pushed their own, more social lifestyles and cultural values onto her. “Since we’re coming from different places around the world, even though it creates a diversity, you can’t dismiss that it makes us have different upbringings and values,” she said. “When it came time to fill out our roommate agreement, we wouldn’t even agree on what was considered clean, and they didn’t think they needed my consent to do whatever they wanted.” These cultural differences and double standards caused a rift so big between the Korean-Canadian Park and her roommates that she couldn’t ignore it. Whenever she brought anything related to her Korean heritage into the dorm, her roommates would make rude comments. She felt particularly targeted because she
noticed her Mexican and Cameroonian roommates speaking in their native languages while bashing only hers. “Every time I spoke with my parents in Korean, they would tell me to stop because it was just so annoying and send me outside,” Park stated. “I asked my Cameroonian roommate what was wrong, if she just hated the Korean language, and she accused me of racism for saying that about an African person.” For Stern first-year and Weinstein Hall resident Priyal, who asked to be referred to by her first name only, cultural differences between her and her roommate may have been the root of their complete communication block. While Priyal was never able to confirm it, she suspected her domestic ex-roommate felt uncomfortable talking to her about certain issues because she did not want to be culturally insensitive to Priyal’s Indian heritage and nationality. “Some of my suitemates would say my food smells weird, and I would try to understand,” Priyal said. “For example, I’m a vegetarian, and chicken smells really weird to me, but I know that other people eat it, so it’s fine. I know they aren’t used to it, but they weren’t comfortable talking about that with me at all, although they talked to the [Residence Hall Directors] about it.” Initially, Priyal hoped to resolve the situation by asking her roommate to be more open with her and meeting with their RHD, who advised them to try better communicating one-on-one before turning to more extreme measures. But Priyal quickly reached a breaking point when her roommate constantly refused to discuss anything with her in person. “Whenever she had a problem, she would go directly to our RA, and then to the RHD without even telling me what was going on,” Priyal said. “It was just wrong. She did not even give me the chance to correct any issues, but I told myself it was only the first week, first month, so I could compromise.” After seeing the conflict had been escalating for months, Priyal’s RHD referred her to Bed-for-Bed. This online forum was created just prior to the fall 2014 semester as a last resort
option to help NYU students swap room spaces with each other when they faced unresolvable roommate conflicts. Now expanded, it essentially works as a dorm-centered Craigslist, where students can provide their names, dorm locations, room details and emails, in hopes of being contacted by other students for an exchange. With such a diverse community of over 6,500 first-year students from 88 different countries, it’s no wonder the lifestyles of students in one suite can vary so greatly. A lack of communication between roommates with different lifestyles, as in the cases of Park and Priyal, is a major factor that leads to unresolvable conflicts. Unfortunately, Park’s RA had reservations about recommending Bed-for-Bed to her residents. When Park began meeting with her about her room’s issues, she continued to urge Park toward reconciliation. Park then took the initiative to find Bed-for-Bed and obtain the required RA approval for official room swaps on her own. “My RA didn’t really know much, and I found it on the housing portal myself,” Park explained. “I was like, wow this is a real thing, and I even asked my RA about going through with it. She told me to wait and try to see how things go first, and I really tried, but it was obvious things were going south.” It wasn’t until a few weeks before finals that she realized swapping rooms was absolutely necessary for her safety — she heard her roommates threaten to physically beat her up behind closed
Dorm room doors. Park opted into the forum and tried to find a suitable new roommate, yet it didn’t yield her many quick replies. She soon began to feel helpless and trapped. Not knowing who else to turn to, Park went to one of the authority figures within the university: her chemistry recitation instructor, Dr. Zhihua An, who made the situation clear to their professor, Dr. John Halpin. He became part of an unlikely support system for Park as she pushed through to be prioritized for a room switch. “[My roommates] wanted me gone as soon as possible, but the RAs just weren’t taking it seriously,” Park said. “Having a support like Dr. Halpin, who has a respected position in the university and a relationship with the Dean, made things push through. He made them realize this was some real sht, and I needed an immediate room change.” Although Dr. Halpin declined to make an official statement regarding his involvement in Park’s situation, he did state that he believed, as a previous graduate of NYU, it was important to help one of his students through such a difficult time. “That’s right, I did talk to the Dean, but I didn’t do much,” Dr. Halpin said. “Of course, I cared because I also had a residential dorm experience here, and I think it’s important that everyone feels safe and comfortable, but what I did was give her a list of people [to contact]. She took the initiative, so I don’t want to make it seem like I did any more than that.” Without Dr. Halpin’s urging,
perhaps Park would have endured her roommates’ harassment for much longer without a reply from the forum. Priyal felt a similar sense of hopelessness during her own experience: out of the 10 people she contacted, only two took the time to respond, so she wasn’t able to find someone to swap rooms with until early February. Luckily, switching early on in the semester made the process relatively manageable. For Park, while Bed-for-Bed was beneficial, its inefficiency left her at the brink of disaster for the majority of her first semester. It was only during finals that she found a suitable dorm in Goddard Hall. While she and her new roommate had some lifestyle differences, Park had no regrets because of how considerate and communicative the other student was. With little exposure and subpar measures for contacting other users, the forum certainly requires an upgrade. For a student experiencing racial harassment and discrimination in their dorm, or constantly clashing with their roommate over daily habits, switching rooms can be a better solution than one-sided compromises ever were. But without the proper — and properly functioning — resources, students might be left to deal with bigotry on their own. Beyond the institutional issues students might face, the first step to creating a less-predjuced environment is treating each other with the dignity and respect we all deserve. Email Sammy Tavassoli at stavassoli@nyunews.com.
Sammy Tavassoli | WSN
Stern first-year Priyal struggled to communicate with her former roommate because the latter always went to the RA and RHD without talking to Priyal about any issues first.
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The Housing Guide
Lipton Hall: L’Étage Française, a.k.a. The French Floor
Blueprinted Memories: An NYU Floor Plan
A prose collection of our staff writers’ current or past experiences living in NYU Housing. Illustrations by CHARLIE DODGE Creative Director
Layout by DEBORAH ALALADE Creative Director
By MAXINE FLASHER-DUZGUNES Voices Editor
My roommate’s bed rose to the ceiling, shoes that were worn once a year stacked below, photography equipment strewn on her Persian carpet (like when a plumber dismantles a kitchen to fix one little leak) a disheveled container that required my everyday maintenance. Photo paper completely swallowed the floor, lipsticks rolled with the deep crinkles my steps made — a world so precarious I feared my dignity would be lost upon one mere calf raise. Perfumes left a misty residue by mid-morning, and rolls of photo booth pictures left me wondering about the mysterious person always beside her — like how Amélie Poulain swiftly investigates the hooded bald man at the Paris Métro. The disappointed moans and victorious cries of Werewolf and Cards Against Humanity from next door drifted to my bedside. On the other side, a steady stream of French being mispronounced, and in the hallway, the awkward elevator greetings that often stretched to a French so choppy, it even lacked the narrow possibility of repair. The skittering of Corgi paws down the same hallway followed by the precise pronunciations of their owner, a French language professor who often stunned my 8 a.m. English-wired brain and led me to believe I’d been recruited into the pre-revolution bourgeoisie. Of course, pretending we spoke French (when few really did) by engaging in French activities like Café et Conversation at La Maison Française was what ultimately determined our elitism. It was like when a poet decides to fake their way through Google Translate in an attempt to classily drizzle their poem with a foreign language. It didn’t help that my poems back then were selfhelp catchphrases that even eluded the English majors. So much for living in France when in reality, all we wanted was to live in New York City. Email Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes at mduzgunes@nyunews.com.
Third AVENUE North Residence Hall, Room 506, North Tower By JESSICA FIORELLA Voices Editor
In my first year, Friday nights were always spent in the same place: my common space, room 506, North Tower. Though we were housed in Third North, notoriously the party dorm, we never knew where the parties were and we rarely ever cared to. My roommates and our circle of friends could make our own fun, watching movies, drinking from the same bottle and getting into screaming arguments about the newly-released pictures of a black hole. One particular Friday, a pair of friends paraded into the room carrying a quart-sized glass jar filled to the brim with individual condoms, presumably swiped from the Resource Center. “Why do you have a quart-sized glass jar of condoms?” someone asked. “We found them in the elevator.” And thus, the condom jar was accepted as an essential compo-
nent of the 506 common room. It became a deity of sorts, with each of us periodically making an offering of more condoms — whenever a unique brand or packaging or flavor appeared in the Resource Center’s condom dispenser, it was added to the jar in order to appease the omniscient presence that emanated from its place atop our microwave. When the condom jar was accidentally knocked off the table, shattering into a sea of broken glass and plastic-wrapped latex, the loss was immense. The condom jar was memorialized by its former inhabitants, with condoms taped to the wall in the shape of a heart, providing a backdrop to a hundred more nights spent together. “No condoms on the wall this time,” my mom said as I moved into Gramercy Green the following year. Of course there would be no condom wall decor. It just wouldn’t be the same. Email Jessica Fiorella at jfiorella@nyunews.com.
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VOICES
One Account of Goddard Hall: My first love — and probably my only — here at NYU. (I actually loved Goddard, sue me.)
By KIMBERLY RICE Deputy Copy Chief
Dear Goddard, I first entered your doors the summer before my senior year — 2017. I knew immediately back then that your halls were going to be important. Immediately, a smell of “dorm” hit me — I can’t pin it down, but it’s kind of like burning dust. It’s something I easily overlooked. It was in room 515, a year later, that I would meet Anya and she quickly became my best friend. I owe that to you, Goddard. Your small community made that possible; that’s what continues to draw me to you. Of the roughly 209 residents, I knew the names of 199, give or take. You were the exact opposite of my high school. I felt like I mattered to you. I loved that. I was in love at 17 and I am pretty sure there was nothing you could have done that would have made me leave you. Your love, Kimberly Email Kimberly Rice at krice@nyunews.com.
U.S. Greenwich Hall, Size 10 By MANDIE MONTES UTA Senior Editor
I often tell people that I live in a shoebox in New York City. With little to no space, I sit inside my room in Greenwich Village and stare at the tip of the Empire State Building, watching the colors change night after night recognizing a holiday, an important social event or even someone’s passing. Buildings block the entire view by towering over one another, but that’s okay because if someone told me three years ago that I would be living in a room that’s a bit small in the West Village, I wouldn’t have believed them. That’s the thing about shoeboxes: some vary in size but they always have just the right amount of space to fit my half-filled Moleskine journals, favorite CDs that were purchased at Amoeba Hollywood Record store, that Lord of the Rings Evenstar necklace I wear for good luck and even my dreams. No matter how small it is, everything that I am -– my goals, my strange 7 a.m. routine scribbled on a paper sitting loosely on my desk, prior achievements, fears, excitement and dreams – somehow fit into this shoebox that is my room. Email Mandie Montes at mmontes@nyunews.com.
Another Account of Goddard Hall: Hall Pong and Dormside Artillery By EUGENE HU Staff Writer
I snooped around the cookware aisle in the hardware store to escape the stubborn stench of sawdust. I found no refuge. My friend forewent the cart and cradled the batteries and pingpong balls himself. He asked one of the staff members where he could find PVC pipes and was directed to a dark corner with long wooden planks and metal tubes. The pipe was made for a staff that would turn Gandalf green with envy, but I doubted if the slender monstrosity would fit in the elevator. My friend, as it turned out, had a similar thought. Under the guiding hand of the same staff member, he carefully operated on his newfound slim companion and cut it in half. As the plastic surgery went on, I pictured the sort of artillery my dorm mate was planning on assembling. This passion project was bound to stir up some interesting conversations. We twirled the pipes like batons during our exodus back to Goddard Hall. Soon, my friend burst out of the elevator. I waited outside his room and read, leaving the teenage Einstein to his own devices. After two paragraphs, the commotion stopped and the mad scientist emerged from his lab, his eyes sparkling with electricity. He brought out a pingpong ball with two paddles, balanced a piece of the PVC pipe on two water bottles placed on the sides of the hallway and asked our neighboring friend if he wanted to play “a game he just devised.” In a few minutes, they started a table tennis war. “What’s this?” I asked. “We just invented a new sport: hall pong,” my friend said. “What happened to your science project?” “That can wait.” Email Eugene Hu at underthearch@nyunews.com.
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The Housing Guide
COUCH SURFERS In this video series, two NYU students share their stories about their time couch surfing, experiencing New York through another lens. By CLAIRE FENG
UTA Video Producer
While the majority of NYU students live in dorms, their own apartments or commute, couch surfing is often overlooked as an alternate form of housing or considered a last resort. However, for some students, it’s not just economic and convenient. It’s their only choice. As a part of our “Couch Surf” series, we talked to two NYU students — Tisch senior Max Ferguson and Rory Meyers junior Sarah Brys — about their experiences with couch surfing as a form of short-term housing. Over the summer, Ferguson had the opportunity to intern with a renowned filmmaker while also working other jobs to support himself. Unable to afford NYU summer housing, the only financially feasible way for him to stay in New York was to couch surf with friends. From finding ways to keep his restaurant uniform ironed to almost being robbed of all his belongings, Ferguson talks about the mental strain and stress that comes with having an unstable housing situation. He now lives in Lafayette Hall and though he couch surfed over the summer, he does not recommend doing it during the academic year. For Brys, between juggling a pediatrics office job in Long Island and studying part-time at NYU, getting her own apartment was not a logistical or financially-wise option. Brys spent her past semester commuting from Long Island and staying at her boyfriend’s apartment in Chelsea, Manhattan. She now lives in her own place in Chinatown. In these video series, Brys speaks about the intricacies of living with her partner when there are other roommates involved.
Claire Feng | WSN
Tisch senior Max Ferguson couch surfed over the summer while interning with a renowned filmmaker.
Disclaimer: Guru Ramanathan is the 2019-2020 Under the Arch Managing Editor. Lucy Limanowski is the Under the Arch Executive Video Producer for Spring 2020. Email Claire Feng at cfeng@nyunews.com.
View Videos Here:
Claire Feng | WSN
Rory Meyers junior Sarah Brys talks about commuting to a job in Long Island while couch surfing at her boyfriend’s apartment.
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VIDEOS
Late Lipton
Study Sessions Lead to Romance A slow accumulation of regulars in the Lipton Lounge brought together several residents, including Enrique Colon and Sofia Bates, who found that the dorm environment helped establish the foundation of their relationship. By LEO SHEINGATE UTA Video Producer
Illustrations by CHARLIE DODGE Creative Director
Adjusting to dorm life as a firstyear usually means finding friends based on first encounters with the people living directly around you. Another method is popping into your dorm’s lounge. Third North has a sprawling basement spreading three towers. Brittany has a compact TV/bike/kitchen space. Borrowing from both is Lipton, featuring a U-shaped couch situated around a wall-mounted TV, perfect for communal viewing and studying. This video is the story of the forming of my friend group, as well as of two people becoming more than that because of the dorm environment. I specify environment over experience — the latter implies this magical concoction happens to everyone. People get out what they put in. Over the course of the first few weeks of the fall semester of 2018,
dozens of people came to Lipton’s lounge and took a seat on the couch; two of those people were sophomores Enrique Colon and Sofia Bates. Colon is an Applied Psychology major in Steinhardt, while Bates is studying Environmental Studies in CAS. Throughout the birthday parties, movie screenings and study groups, the two benefited from living in the same dorm and being able to pop in and see who was in the lounge. While this extended to our entire friend group, it was especially beneficial for the two of them when it was simply just them. While this might have started as two people slogging through their respective piles of assigned reading, it evolved into individuals finding each other in the lounge and deciding to watch something together instead; horror movies were a choice pick for them. Besides the lounge, Lipton had access to the IFC Center, 99 cents pizza and other strange stores all ideal for midnight runs. The point at which they officially became a couple is nebulous, as there wasn’t
any official announcement. But it was evident something was happening between them based on the shrinking distance with each hang out. After tackling their first year at NYU, the pair is managing a new challenge: a long-distance relationship. Bates is currently studying abroad in Italy, but their thriving correspondence speaks volumes about the bonds that can form in housing. There is a large contrast between the previous fall semester: when the two of them moved into the same floor of Coral Towers to now, with Bates six hours ahead of Colon in Italy. This means they strive to message, FaceTime and even keep alive a “Dungeons and Dragons” campaign across screens. This video encapsulates the origins and current obstacles of their relationship, and shows how the dorm environment can bring people together through the unpredictability of its community. Email Leo Sheingate at lsheingate@nyunews.com.
View Video Here:
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The Housing Guide
Insomni-Act:
Six late-night spots to know around nyu Spend your whole night or quickly treat yourself at one of these late-night spots There are eight locations of Westside Market in Manhattan, most are open 24 hours. This grocery store is an excellent stop for students around campus at all hours of the day, which means there are no excuses for not keeping up with your weekly groceries. In fact, Westside Market is located directly across the street from Third North, a two minute walk from Founder’s Hall and a five minute walk from Alumni Hall.
By CELIA TEWEY Exposures Editor
and SARA MIRANDA
Features Multimedia Editor
In the city that never sleeps, late night spots for students are abundant. Navigating the food scene of the largest city in the United States can be a challenge, especially as a college student on a tight budget. Here, we break down some of the most well-known late-night spots for food, drinks and dancing that are conveniently located near NYU’s residence halls and will not leave your wallet crying on a night out. Read on to discover how dorm life gives you access to some of New York City’s late-night establishments and offer a retreat from the dorms to the insomniacs in “the city that never sleeps.” Email Celia Tewey at ctewey@nyunews.com. Email Sara Miranda at smiranda@nyunews.com.
Self-proclaimed as “The Greenwich Village Institution,” Joe’s Pizza is a post-night out spot you have to visit at least once in your career as an NYU student. Joe’s is in prime real estate, steps away from Palladium, a two minute walk from University Hall, and a one minute walk from Coral Tower. Don’t live in the vicinity of Joe’s 14th St. location? Joe’s has another spot on Carmine Street, a five minute walk from Lipton Hall. At $3 a slice at minimum, these warm, gooey pies are satisfying with every bite. End your night with a slice of Joe’s, and you’ll be going to be with a happy stomach. 212 Hisae’s is considered a night out staple amongst many NYU students and for good reason. Located directly across from upperclassmen dorm Alumni Hall, this 21+ bar features a variety of affordable cocktails that range between $4 and $6, not to mention shots as low as $1 each. Feeling hungry? Get a bowl of salted edamame or two for the table to satisfy your post-drink cravings! 212 is the perfect option if you’re looking for an affordable bar to begin your night out.
If you’re looking for a vintage-y way to spend your night, Beauty Bar on 14th St. will take you straight to 1950s New York! Just steps away from Coral Tower or a five minute walk from Palladium and University Hall, Beauty Bar serves a variety of artisan martinis in a 1950s hair salon. The bar also doubles as a dance club with a live DJ.
With over 100 locations, the popular chain, Insomnia Cookies, specializes in delivering and serving warm cookies. The store is open until 3a.m., offering a break from the cold winter outside to the night owls. With 6 cookies for only $13, the spot is a cheap and great find, and especially great for sharing! Luckily, two Insomnia stores are located within walking distance of NYU’s dorms in the East Village and Washington Square Park. Insomnia’s MacDougal St. shop is a three minute walk from Lipton Hall and a seven minute walk from Goddard Residential College, while their location on East 11th St. is a 4 minute walk from Third North and Alumni Hall.
Customizable gourmet macaroni and cheese dishes are the specialty of S’Mac on 1st Ave. Open until 5a.m. on weekends, the restaurant is a unique find of affordable, gourmet food in the East Village. A fresh, warm bowl of mac-n-cheese is only a 7 minute walk away from Third North, an 8 minute walk from Founder’s Hall and a 10 minute walk from Alumni Hall. At an average of $13 per meal, this gourmet spot is a unique find!
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exposures
BEST NYU Dorm Views By ALEJANDRA AREVALO UTA Deputy Editor
Living in the heart of New York City is a privilege that few have and NYU dorm residents are within those few. From waking up to a view of the Empire State Building to studying facing the One World Trade Center, residents can feel like characters in their favorite movies enjoying the beauty of the cityscape from different NYU dorms. Email Alejandra Arevalo at aarevalo@nyunews.com.
Several apartments in Senior House have an Instagram-worthy view of the Empire State Building.
Carlyle Court has a privileged view and Union Square is right across the street.
Lipton Hall has a picturesque view of the west side of Washington Square Park.
Weinstein faces charming brick wall buildings in the Washington Mews and University Place.
When the sky is clear, Brittany Hall’s penthouse common area has a spectacular view of the One World Trade Center.
A New York City Summer:
The Chore of Passion A personal narrative about ignoring a beautiful summer to claim a slice of the city. By MAXINE FLASHER-DUZGUNES Voices Editor
New York City in the summer is not a vacation; it is an East coaster’s way of getting ahead, while simultaneously not caring about life. Rather, when you’re a West coaster who has chosen to be here, the extremities of you not caring have multiplied by ten, the rampant humidity wiping your brow with a fervent ambition that eliminates your enjoyment of anything beautiful. Dance courses consume your weekdays, theater interning and bartending your weeknights; your weekend mornings spent at a job where you count the cent to the minute, setting up cameras for free, breaking them down, folding them up, lugging them upstairs in the barrel of your arms, palms red from an evening of grocery handles, from broom sweeping stages, from clearing your email inbox as if shoveling snow. On weekend afternoons, you rehearse with yourself: half the time imagining what it would be like to dance in the companies that teach you week by week, one quarter crying for your dead cat, one eighth improvising while crying for your dead cat and the other eighth composing the crying into a dance that can be interpreted (perhaps cried over) into a dance about missing the things that pass. And that’s what’s missing — one Sunday, you have photos taken in SoHo in front of a park sign that says “no photos here,” your toes slithering wet in the humid grass, your polka-dotted dress blown by jazz flowers and dog barks. Your friends enjoy blue sky days obsessively using dog walking apps,
while your heart beats indoors, sickened by phone calls that don’t get you any closer to frozen shores and burnt eucalyptus brush, drinking pineapple wine over stir-fry to make the few memorable moments forgettable. On weekend evenings, you go to yoga, mindful of the moment a passion turned into a chore. What is passion then, if you cannot ever glance at the results of hard work, if you feel trapped in trying, bubbling in a standardized resumé circle, extending your limbs past the point of downward dog? You are lost — until your suitcase chunks down the subway stairs, synchronizing to your postmissed shuttle cries and worries that the aircraft will strand you, hanging at the gate, opening to the yellow tarmac and your forehead-stuck bangs swallowing the reverie you said goodbye to when the E train rushed past. But on your last week of summer session classes, the first week of July, when you perform for a little comradery of faces in the dark proscenium, you have thoughts that feel caffeinated and giddy, but your coffee brain had already drained from the early morning. You rush downstage to the world, waving your right hand, your left, as if greeting the love you left a long time ago. But as you bow, each face sharpens in the rising house lights, sending a tiny sparkle down your heaving spine. It was here you could stand, a point you could not drag or bury or swelter or crush, but a point you could stand in the now-fraying light. Email Maxine Flasher-Duzgunes at mduzgunes@nyunews.com.
Rachel Lee | WSN