Snow Storms Not Welcome in New York; Says Residents

New York may be America’s favorite city but its residents don’t seem to think so. The city’s recent snow storms have made local residents not so eager to enjoy the big apple.

“Of course not” says Cheryl Robinson of Greenwich village, when asked if she’s ventured outside her home in the past few weeks. “The snow is becoming a bit ridiculous. It’s really starting to be a nuisance” she continued. New York has had two consecutive weeks where the snow has been a problem. First was February 9th, where a slew of schools and local businesses were closed due to the city’s biggest snowstorm of the season .The city’s snowfall measured 10 inches and the snowfall along with winds was constant throughout the day. Then a week later: February 16th, snowfall was also prominent during the day hours. However that snow wasn’t as costly as the previous week.

The Christian Science Monitor estimated that New York City pays $1 million per inch of snow. So this means the city was out of $10 million after the February 9th snow storm alone, not including the other previous snow issues or the future snow problems yet to endure.

“I hope all the worst storms have already come” says Stephanie Holiday, a student at Eugene Lang College. “I would like to enjoy the city for once. It’s so hard to walk around here because its snow there, slush here” she continued. In fact, it’s been almost a week since any snow has hit the city and yet there slush and ice on sidewalks and street corners as if it stormed yesterday.

Gina Deseppie, a employee at a Greenwich village boutique called The Family Jewels is also frustrated with the snow covering the city. “Our store has been extremely slow and obviously the weather has something to do with that” she says. “The store is so small that we thrive on locals to make business. When they’re not buying, we aren’t earning” she adds.

With the groundhog seeing its shadow earlier this month, New York City residents might just have to deal with the snow for at least six more weeks.

Lang Coffee House Cabaret

New York- The first Spring Coffee House Cabaret for the New School was held on Thursday February 18th, and received a warm welcome from New School students, as performers showed off a collage of performing arts as well as enjoying free coffee, and offered a casual performance for student members of the New School.

The Cabaret allowed students from the New School a chance to perform their various mediums; this springs including everything from dance to poetry. The event took place in Wollman Hall, a very intimate space in which viewers of the show were able to “join the community in a casual coffee house atmosphere.” The casualness was not however in the performers themselves.

Each entertainer showed a well-rehearsed performance that took form: from dance to songwriters, poetry to guitar. In particular a guitar trio made up of jazz students from the New School, preformed a two-song set, with both an original song and a compilation of There Will Never Be Another You. “This was my first time playing at one of these,” said Joel Kruzie, bassist for the trio, “it’s a no pressure performance, with a lot of different acts.” This was the overwhelming response from both performers and views alike. “It was really cool to see other student from my school performing and have free coffee,” said Andrew Lenec, a first time attendee of the Cabaret and a freshman at the New School.

Other than the scheduled performances, the Cabaret was a place to talk before and after the show, as well as for unscheduled acts that formed after the event finished. Provided for everyone present was also free coffee, which added to the viewers enjoyment. The New School Coffee House Cabaret is a monthly event and is looking forward to many more successful nights of music and art.

Student Threatened with False Fine

On Friday, February 12^th, a New School University student was informed by a security guard that she would be fined for entering Arnold Hall without her New School ID, despite being let in by the very security guard himself.

The student, Cameron Sheedy of the Fine Arts department at Parsons, had repeatedly tried to enter the building without her ID., which she had previously lost but was reluctant to replace due to the $25 fee incurred for getting a new I.D.

When trying to enter without her ID, the security guard was initially very upset with her, Sheedy recalls. “I couldn’t stop smiling. I just didn’t feel like being serious. So he got pissed. After class I tried to apologize, but he wouldn’t get off the phone. Then he said security’s going to get in touch with me. He said they’re going to start doling out fines for students that keep trying to come in without ID. When I asked if I would get one, he said ‘Ohhh yeaaah. Ohhhh yeaaah.’”

Sheedy says she knew she would have to get a new ID. eventually, but was completely unaware of the possibility of being fined for not having one.

In fact, no one at the New School seems to be aware of this fine.

A different security guard at the East 16^th Street building was completely unaware of any such punishment. Upon hearing a student was threatened with a fine, he said it was “messed up” and that the security guard involved must have “been trying to act tough with the student”. Despite being told his quotes would not be used in any form of publication, the guard refused to give his name, adding that “he likes his job”.

The head of security at the New School, Thomas Iliceto, freely responded to questions about security procedures, stating that “There are no penalties/fines for entering without ID,” and that “The only time a student would have to pay a fee is to replace a lost ID card. We strongly encourage all New School staff, faculty and students to carry their New School ID to facilitate entry into university buildings.”

For some students, remembering their IDs is easier said than done. A small piece of plastic is easily lost in these days of mass consumption and obsession with “things”, as many can attest to. Out of a group of 5 students at Eugene Lang College, 3 had lost their IDs at least once.

A man from the New School Campus Card office said the reason for the amount charged to students to replace their ID is that, “If it was just a dollar, people would lose their IDs all the time. Each time we make a new ID for you we have to change information in several different systems.” Although the information he gave lacked any particular controversy, upon being asked for his name he said,  “This is where I get in trouble,” he said. “It always ends up in that school newspaper!” 

PARSONS RESPONDS TO MCQUEEN'S DEATH

Parsons College Campus, New York City – On February 11th well known British designer was found dead in his home in London, sending instant shockwaves throughout the Parsons Fashion community.

Born in London in 1969, Lee Alexander McQueen attended Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design where he received his Masters degree in fashion design. He was discovered by international style icon, Isabella Blow, who purchased his entire graduating collection. McQueen would soon be known for his outrageous yet influential designs throughout the fashion world.

For the community at New York City’s Parson’s New School for Design, a school credited for having notable alumni such as Anna Sui, Marc Jacobs and Alexander Wang, his death came as a complete and tragic surprise. Amy Brueck, a student at Parsons, notes that his contributions to the fashion world go far beyond the music videos or red carpet outfits seen on artists like Lady Gaga. “Hearing about anyone's death these days is at first unbelievable. The immediate reaction is to google until you find enough sources to support it,” she explained. “I was in Lab class watching Korean music videos when my friend Eli got a text message from his friend that Alexander McQueen had died. After looking it up we found it to be true and were all in shock. It was eerie.”

Lashaia Artis, also a fashion student at Parsons, was particularly heartbroken by the sudden news. Like McQueen, Artis approaches her fashion designs with the intention of creating art that not only impacts those around her but also is limitless in its form. She says that his death brought up personal concern in regards to what the fashion industry can do to a person, despite their fame and fortune. “This was a lesson for me,” Artis says, “to always stay humble, keep god in mind and make sure I am happy deep down inside.”

Parsons student Samuel Forney added that he too felt confusion about McQueen’s suicide. “When I heard McQueen died, I couldn't believe it. Suicide?? How horrible was his life? Being one of the top designers in the world,” he questioned. “Everyone in the fashion world respected him so much. I was so sad. He was one of my idols.”

There are many others like Forney who would agree that McQueen was likely one of the most talented designers of present day. His recent death however surprising, does question how much pressure is placed on today’s designers. Still it is difficult to disregard the death of his mother days before the incident or Isabella Blow’s death – also a suicide – in 2007. Either way McQueen’s suicide is simply tragic and has clearly impacted the fashion community at Parsons School for Design. “As for someone who has to replace him and keep that aesthetic going the way he had it,” Artis continued, “for me that seems impossible, no one will ever to mimic McQueen.”

Elevator Debacle Brings Community Together

New York- New School dorm residents have been affected by an ongoing broken elevator in the 20th street dorm, the elevator in question has a history of glitches, the problem with the elevator has caused several students to become trapped inside on different occasions, ultimately fostering a sense of community among afflicted students and staff.
Many are protective of the community being fostered at 20th street, so much so that when asked to comment on the elevator problem, RA Ashley, declined to comment because the problem, to her is minute and inconsequential among the many positive activities being encouraged among the students. However, it seems that the elevator, with its quirks and troubles may have brought the community closer together.
Talking with Hayley Theisen, an office assistant at the residence hall, as well as one of the students stuck in the elevator, it becomes clear that bitterness about being jammed for an hour in a metal box is about the farthest emotion she feels. Theisen explains that several staff and students stood on the other side of the elevator to keep her company for nearly an hour while the problem was being fixed. She says, “It was sweet in an unfortunate kind of way”.
When asked if she was traumatized by the event, she is honest in saying that, “I did not take the elevator for about 4 weeks, but I don’t have nightmares!” Theisen’s only musing about better procedure materializes when asked if she was debriefed after the event, “I was told nothing,” she says, “I know the maintenance crew and I knew they wouldn’t let me die, but it may have been different if I didn’t work here.” The building does a wonderful job keeping the students informed and aware of fire precautions and risks, but the elevator seems to be an issue much more shrouded in mystery.
The maintenance crew, though generally forthcoming, is not allowed to speak about the technical issues in the elevator. Upon calling the company ThyssenKrupp, I talked with a supervisor to the Manhattan branch, Dan, who withheld his last name, gave me the call sheet information. “ I can’t tell you a lot, but from what I have here, it looks like all the incidents are happening at night, which means something”.
Dan suggested, that this problem could either be triggered by a change in power in the building or, a more likely theory that the doors are being held open too often. Dan’s final prognosis of the elevator debacle came down to mechanics, “It’s a machine, sometimes one piece is disrupted and it takes a while to figure out what is wrong”.
Michael Corbett, the 20th street Residence Hall Director commented, “thankfully the complaints have been minimal”. He is secure in his opinion that the staff and security of 20th street is made up of wonderful people, and whenever there is a problem, everybody reacts promptly and correctly. “The elevator is not without problems, but when there is an issue everyone is aware and alert”. When questioned about the fact that there is a Facebook group from 2006, titled F**k The 20th Street Elevator, he acknowledges its presence on the web, and says, “at least there are only 7 members, and no one has joined since 2007!” Sarah Westervelt, a member of the 2006 group says, “I can't believe the elevator at 20th street is still acting up. Yes, it used to have problems all the time, and people did get trapped in there… I don’t think anyone tampered with it on purpose, I think its just a bad elevator.”
Perhaps the best read of the situation can be realized through the support from residents. The students of 20th street are overwhelmingly supportive as of late and understand the issues with the elevator to be only a minor obstacle in their day-to-day lives. Freshman Aaron Sprat says that he, “Hardly ever takes the elevator, but-I would like it to be more of an enjoyable experience when I do.” And Amanda Clark, a sophomore at Lang says, “I would think that maybe the checkups on the elevator should be more routine, considering they've stalled several times already this semester. But, I feel like an elevator breaking down isn’t terribly uncommon. It's inconvenient, certainly, but they're always fixed pretty promptly.”

News Article: NJ Transit Commuters Get Discount, Others Do Not

In an email dated February 12th, 2010, The New School announced a partnership with New Jersey Transit that would offer full-time students (undergraduate and graduate) a 25% discount on monthly NJ Transit passes for rail, bus, or light rail service when they enroll online through the Quik-Tik Program. While this is undoubtedly a huge relief to those commuting from New Jersey, it still leaves students from Connecticut or elsewhere in New York wondering where, exactly, their discount lies.

The issue of commuting to the New School is a nebulous one that very few people acknowledge or talk about openly. The school is located in Manhattan, which means that students can not only commute from surrounding boroughs but also from adjacent states – Connecticut, New Jersey and elsewhere in New York state, specifically.

Carl Frisk, a Product Design major at Parsons, commutes from Fairfield, Connecticut every day for school. The monthly pass sets him back $308. This is considerably more than the $89 monthly subway cost. When asked if the school should provide a discount he says, "Yes I do. If they would even acknowledge that there are commuters coming in from out of state, that would be great, but to offer a discount would be even better."

Frisk points to unrealistic expectations placed on commuting students, when professors regularly ask for their students to visit local museums or take part in Manhattan-based activities, unaware (or uncaring) if said activities require an expensive and time-consuming event. If you don't have a monthly and are commuting back and forth from Fairfield during "peak" hours it costs $28 dollars and takes about an hour and fifteen minutes each way.

I asked professor Michael Pettinger of Eugene Lang if he had encountered any problems with commuting students. " I know of one student who takes the PATH train in the morning (and says he thinks it's more reliable than the subway), so I haven't had to cut him any slack. On the other hand, I've had students tell me some real horror stories about getting to school on NYC transit. The L Train, I'm told, is particularly notorious..."

It's true that often times commuting students are more on time and miss fewer classes than those who live in the same neighborhood, because the commitment (both time and energy-wise) is greater.

Still, the question remains why the school would offer up discounts to New Jersey Transit commuters and not Metro North commuters.

"This is an offer by New Jersey Transit. I have not heard of any discount program offered by Metro North," said Susan Heske, The New School's Senior Director of Communications and Special Projects for Student Services. When asked why the school itself doesn't offer the discount, instead of waiting for the notoriously ineffectual and cash-strapped Metro North to step up to the plate, she replied, " In some respect, unless a student lives within walking or biking distance to campus, then one could come to the conclusion that the majority of students are commuting by NJ Transit, Path, Metro North, subway, or driving."

Heske also said they didn't have specific numbers on out-of-state commuters or numbers regarding those who have utilized the New Jersey Transit offer. Users of Metro North are still waiting for a similar deal for their costly and timely commute although they may be waiting for this particular train for a while. Additional reporting by Daisy Geoffrey.

Study Abroad Meetings at Eugene Lang Change to Group-.2

   Eugene Lang College Campus- New York City- The Study Abroad office sent out an email February 12th announcing the beginning of group meetings in place of individual meetings to discuss any questions that students may have about study abroad for any time from summer 2010 to spring 2011.  This change has risen some anxiety in the student body about the amount of support they are receiving from the study abroad office.

            Because Study Abroad is so specific to individual needs, this new form of meeting is new in the Eugene Lang community.  Previously meetings had been planned individually through email.  Study abroad advisor Kimberly is also the junior class’ Academic Advisor.  She said that the change is intended to “handle the volume [of students] who want to study abroad.”  She added that: “many students have the same questions in regards to study abroad.”  Many of the questions people ask in the meetings, they can find through other sources.  However, Kimberly insists that the meetings are important for the students to hear what they may be reading on websites.  "I'm the same way" Ms. Foote said that she intends to “voice [their answers] so they stick.”

The spring semester is the time of year when many students begin to make study abroad plans.    

            Though the change is helpful for Kimberly full schedule, some students may find it disconcerting.  The study abroad process for a student at Eugene Lang is done mostly independently.  Anna, 19, an Urban Studies sophomore at Eugene Lang who was thinking about studying abroad in the fall 2010 semester said that the study abroad process is “just as independent as everything else at Lang.” Eugene Lang is known for its motivated and independent student body.  Though, many of the students still feel as though they need direction and support,  Anna added: “Sometimes it’s nice to have someone helping you.” 

Eugene Lang does not offer much support for students when comparing its Study Abroad office with those of other liberal arts colleges.  Sophomore at Weslyan University, Carina, 20, did not think that group meetings would be helpful.  “[Weslyan has] an office devoted to study abroad with two directors, one advisor and four students, all of whose job it is to help you with questions” Carina said.  As a student planning to study abroad in France next year she added that she had her own personal questions, and came into their open office hours “a handful of times.”  To have her those questions answered.

Though there are only about 900 students enrolled at Eugene Lang College and Weslyan University has about 2,700, there are certain questions that students feel they need to ask individually.  Almost 50% of Weslyan students study abroad.  While the number of Weslyan students who study abroad are much more than that of Eugene Lang, the individual attention is important and could decrees the number of Lang students’ motivated to study abroad. 

With the support of the students in the meetings the change could encourage more questions and more answers.  This idea could be influential to both the school’s reputation as supporting independent and critical thinkers.  In response to the group meetings Anna said that, “[the other students] may ask questions you didn’t think of.”