http://nyunews.com/NYU's daily student newspaperen-usThu, 02 Feb 2012 20:39:26 -0500http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/JIGl8UiPzUw/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The energizing movement of Bollywood dancers — synonymous with films like "Slumdog Millionare" — is no longer limited to the big screen.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Dillagi, NYU's Bollywood-Hindi Film Dance team, was founded in the fall of 2010 by Mohit Chhatpar. Dillagi is a coed dance team that regularly performs in the city and has even traveled for competitions. The team performed at Hofstra University earlier this year.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Next weekend, Dillagi will be traveling to Atlanta for a show called A-Town Showdown. This will be the first time the group travels outside the New York region for its biggest competition since the club was created.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"People will be competing with dance teams from all over the country," LSP freshman and Dillagi member Shaaranya Pillai said. "These types of national competitions are how you make your reputation and a name for yourself as a college Bollywood team."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In preparation for the event, the group has choreographed routines that incorporate Ghangra, another dance genre. Because the music is in another language, Dillagi has amplified Ghangra with more classical Hindi music and contemporary dance moves.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Most of the time we take our music straight from Bollywood movies," Pillai said of the Dillagi performances. "Even though I was taught classically, I love doing other genres. In our upcoming competition, we're ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02bollywood/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Annie KehoeThu, 02 Feb 2012 03:27:26 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02bollywood/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02bollywood/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/Pcu7IDOkl1M/<p><p class="p1">Art, architecture and music intertwine in a new exhibition at the Storefront for Art and Architecture gallery. Dutch artist Allard van Hoorn has challenged the conventional form of art in the gallery's 007_Urban_Songline installation. The space on 97 Kenmare St. has been transformed into a rare and interactive piece of musical artwork.</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The gallery's facade is divided into 12 moveable panels, each rotating vertically or horizontally. Connected to the walls are strings that create sounds recorded by microphones in the gallery.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">When a patron moves one wall, the entire Storefront is activated, producing audible sounds not only for the participant, but those walking along the street as well. The curious passers-by soon enter the store to investigate as well.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1">Visitors are encouraged to push the walls labeled "play me" while stepping through openings in the web of strings. They can create a personal score through touch and movement.</p><p class="p1">The sleek and modernist design of solid gray, concrete walls open to reveal a vibrant red gallery space filled with white strings. The style simplifies the presentation but engenders curiosity.</p><p class="p1"><span class="s3">The invitation to play is boldly printed in navy letters, but instructions are missing. It is unclear how and what a passer-by should play. This could encourage creativity, but in general seems to intimidate unsure participants as many ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02songlines/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Emily McDermottThu, 02 Feb 2012 03:21:21 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02songlines/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02songlines/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/pALtXnfYkyw/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Clothing as a vehicle for individuality and self-expression was the theme at last night's second-annual fashion show, SexPosed. Following the success of last year's event, the Gallatin School of Individualized Study hosted the show to emphasize the important role of gender in fashion. The 10 featured collections dismissed the notion that gender is communicated by what a person wears.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"You don't necessarily have to express your gender all the time," said Rachel Plutzer, director of special events at Gallatin and organizer of the show. "We wear different outfits to express different sides of ourselves."&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">Plutzer added that the gender divide in both fashion and society is clearly evident.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">"I love high heels," she said, "but I know that they were designed by men to make women's legs look longer."&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">In a video presentation before the show, men who had been interviewed prior to the show voiced their opinions that nothing is sexier than a woman in men's clothing. Confidence is key — a woman should dress in what reflects her personality and feels comfortable.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">The 15 talented student designers, some of whom collaborated on their collections, sought to evoke a story through each line. Models of both genders were in the show, but the focus was not on whether the model was male ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02sexposed/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Sydney WuThu, 02 Feb 2012 20:26:30 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02sexposed/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/02/02sexposed/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/FdAVLVa_Ydg/<p><p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">New York City high school students walked out in solidarity yesterday afternoon against the city's school closings and budget cuts. They converged with supporters from Occupy Wall Street in Union Square.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Last month, Mayor Bloomberg announced he would close the 33 lowest-performing schools in the city and reopen most of them with new teachers and names. During his administration, classrooms have become overcrowded, and schools have experienced many budget cuts. &#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">Gregg Lundahl, the United Federation of Teachers chapter leader at Washington Irving High School, said Bloomberg made these policies to cheapen public education and lower tax burden.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We believe that the mayor ought to be shut down, not these&#160;schools of hard-working students and teachers," Lundahl said.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">The walkout was created by Save Legacy, a student group from Manhattan's Legacy High School that opposes the school's closure by the Department of Education. Students from other high schools are facing closure, including Paul Robeson High School in Brooklyn and Lehman High School in the Bronx, also attended.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We're saying no more cuts to education and no more closures. We're fighting back, we have a voice and we're here to say no," said Dinae Anderson, a junior from Humanities Preparatory Academy in Manhattan.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We should have an opportunity to defend our schools and be ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/02/02schools/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Emily YangThu, 02 Feb 2012 20:39:26 -0500http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/02/02schools/http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/02/02schools/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/VHJ2oEZvFu8/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">A news report by The New York Times on Jan. 29 recounted Newt Gingrich's fight in Florida where he labeled Mitt Romney a liar, wealthy supporter of Wall Street and an enemy to Jewish people. This is nothing new for Gingrich. Up until this point, he has characterized his campaign as extremely anti-Romney, taking every chance to slander his opponent from any angle. Whether or not it brought about his victory in South Carolina, this conduct came through as a defamation of his character. To me, it seemed excessive and slightly debasing.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">On the other hand, Romney has always been good at remaining far from the scenes of Gingrich destruction. He largely left the task to his own supporters and to his Super Political Action Committee, choosing instead to use his energy in the fight against President Obama. But it wasn't long before Romney got pulled in. Days before the Florida primary, when polls projected Gingrich in the lead, Romney chose a new strategy. He decided to shift his purpose from an anti-Obama campaign to an anti-Gingrich campaign. There would be no holes barred. And indeed, there weren't. Romney immediately began publicly classifying Gingrich as "an erratic, unreliable Washington insider" in mailin</span><span class="s3">gs and television advertisements. He was finally fighting back, and the result was nothing short ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/02/02sherman/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Brittany ShermanThu, 02 Feb 2012 19:14:15 -0500http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/02/02sherman/http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/02/02sherman/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/VXQBiNblCV4/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">While other horror filmmakers have been busy churning out found footage and unrated cuts, Ti West has been crafting horror films. His "House of the Devil" was exceptionally well-made, complete with riffs on '70s demonic possession films and long, wordless sequences. "The Innkeepers," West's sixth feature film, loses some of the fine filmmaking of "House of the Devil," but the result remains largely the same — a horror movie that actually frightens.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Innkeepers" seems outwardly familiar, as West intends. Sara Paxton stars as Claire, a caretaker at the Yankee Pedlar Inn. She dislikes her job, but the inn is closing soon. In her spare time, Claire is also obsessed with catching the inn's supernatural activity on tape, but she has never been able to see a ghost. Luckily for her, the ghosts begin to make their presence known during the inn's final days.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"The Innkeepers" manages to do away with just about every horror cliché that exists. The movie's heroine Claire may be blond, but rarely does she conform to stereotypes by making poor decisions. The film's setting initially appears trite as well. "The Shining" has explored the physical and psychological terrain of a haunted hotel before, but that movie's hotel was large and spooky. The Yankee Pedlar is quaint and seemingly harmless. These off-putting variations ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02innkeepers/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Alex GreenbergerThu, 02 Feb 2012 03:11:07 -0500http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02innkeepers/http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02innkeepers/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/pz2TEqpZokg/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">MTV's recent forays into scripted programming have been hit or miss. While "Awkward" and "Teen Wolf" were well-received by audiences, "The Hard Times of RJ Berger" and the American remake of "Skins" disgraced the network's already lackluster schedule.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"I Just Want My Pants Back" feels shockingly reminiscent of "Skins." Both feature bed-hopping, drug-hungry youngsters frolicking around cities, too untroubled for the world they inhabit. But unlike the Baltimore teenagers of "Skins," the characters of "Pants" are college graduates in Brooklyn, trapped in awful jobs. Despite a degree from Cornell, Jason Strider, played by likable newcomer Peter Vack, is stuck cleaning toilets at a casting agency.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">No matter how much the show believes it, Jason and his friends are not "cool outsiders," but rather Urban Outfitter-drenched fashionistas with Ivy League educations to boot. Thus far, it is impossible to sympathize with the characters, as they wake up in their beautiful apartments, attend the trendiest parties and complain about their jobs when, realistically, most others their age are struggling to pay rent.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Consequently, the overarching plotline for Jason's character, in which he tries to reconnect with a one-night stand who stole his pair of pants, feels shallow. What makes this girl so special, and why is this boy's quest to find her so important? "Pants" fails to ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02pants/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Jeremy GrossmanThu, 02 Feb 2012 03:19:46 -0500http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02pants/http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02pants/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/WuCwmcJdZoo/<p><p class="p1">From the trailer for "Big Miracle," audiences might hope for a big filmmaking miracle, for the movie to be a worthwhile experience. While "Miracle" never excels, it is not nearly as bad as the preview may suggest.&#160;</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Based on Tom Rose's book "Freeing the Whales: How the Media Created the World's Greatest Non-Event," the film depicts Operation Breakthrough, a 1988 effort by the U.S. government to rescue three whales trapped in a gridlock of Alaskan ice.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Billed as a romantic drama, "Big Miracle" is refreshingly platonic. With Drew Barrymore and John Krasinski playing the lead duo, viewers may anticipate a love story. But what they will find is that the whales steal the spotlight.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Nicknamed Fred, Wilma and Bam Bam, these three gray whales are stranded five miles from the open sea by a block of solid ice. Adam Carlson (Krasinski) is covering an inane local news story when he spots them, confined to a small open-air patch of water. He calls in a local whale expert, who determines that the animals likely have only a few days to live.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">Adam reports the story, and the coverage makes its way onto national television as a filler piece. The whales' sad tale wins the hearts of Americans, including Rachel Kramer (Barrymore), an avid Greenpeace worker and ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02miracle/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Clio McConnellThu, 02 Feb 2012 03:13:16 -0500http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02miracle/http://nyunews.com/arts/2012/02/02/02miracle/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/dqT2gJ35fcs/<p><div style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; "><p class="p1">After months of trade speculations, Dwight Howard, center for the Orlando Magic, has made it clear he no longer wants to play for the franchise that drafted him out of high school in 2004.&#160;</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Upon a blowout loss to the inferior New Orleans Hornets on Friday, Howard criticized his teammates for not playing hard enough and told them to stay in the locker room if they did not want to play. He has also publicly announced a list of desired destinations that includes the New Jersey Nets, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks, the reigning champions.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Despite a hot start to the season, the Magic have lost six of their last eight games, averaging a dismal 79.6 points per game during that stretch. Howard's recent statements have severely undermined head coach Stan Van Gundy and have irreparably damaged whatever team chemistry was left.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">At this point the Magic have no choice but to trade Howard before the deadline on March 15. If they allow the franchise's all-time lead</span><span class="s1">ing scorer to leave in the off-sea</span><span class="s2">son without getting anything in return, their team will be crippled for years, and the fan base will be crushed. Orlando already endured a similar situation ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/sports/2012/02/01/01howard/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>John AxelrodWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:44:07 -0500http://nyunews.com/sports/2012/02/01/01howard/http://nyunews.com/sports/2012/02/01/01howard/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/B8b3zxjWVq4/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">In an online survey by Travel + Leisure Magazine, New York City was ranked as the least friendly city in the U.S. by non-residents. These people are right in their assessment, and to them, we New Yorkers would like to say, "We don't like you either." What we lack in manners, we make up for in honesty and accomplishment.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">We'd rather speak the truth than be nice all the time. There's value to truth, however appalling it may be to the sensibilities of the delicate, wilting flowers among us. That value far surpasses a fake smile at a church barbecue or an empty compliment followed by gossip.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">New York City is where we talk to your face. For us, judgment based on merit is not considered morally inferior to vacuous platitudes, and we like it that way. It means little when someone you've just met compliments your appearance out of social obligation. Because Americans expect these choreographed graces, New Yorkers are deemed rude when we simply don't have the time to comply.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">We don't live in a city where there is extra time for us to act out unnecessary clauses of an outdated social contract. Instead, we do big things — things that are ultimately more important than niceties. It's not personal, and it's not ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/01/01house/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>WSN Editorial BoardWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:40:35 -0500http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/01/01house/http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/01/01house/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/Wff79GiPVqY/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">If you are a Mitt Romney supporter, you have likely said to yourself one of the following sometime in the last six months: "If only he didn't put his foot in his mouth so often," or "If only he didn't commit so many gaffes." Perhaps you wish he were better with the press or could communicate in a more human way, then he would make a great president.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">This is akin to saying, "If only he were better at cutting down trees, then he'd make a real fine lumber jack." &#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">Perhaps this exaggerates the case slightly, but there is no denying that not making errors and communicating effectively with the press is an important part of being president. In fact, it is crucial.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">This is not immediately obvious. What is so bad about Romney saying that he likes being able to fire people who work for him, or explaining that he could not have an illegal immigrant clean his house because he was "running for office, for Pete's sake?" How about when he let a story about his family dog's car-roof kennel spiral out of control that it consumed an entire news cycle? Honestly, what's the problem? None of these examples really have anything to do with his policies or his stance on any ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/01/01loftus/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Louis LoftusWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:38:38 -0500http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/01/01loftus/http://nyunews.com/opinion/2012/02/01/01loftus/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/OH4zPLAYUrg/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Floor-grazing maxi skirts and leg-baring mini skirts continuously circulate the pages of magazines and runways, but the new scene-stealer is the always feminine midi-skirt. Between Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga and Rodarte, this stylish skirt can be seen everywhere. Though the calf-length style had its moment in the '40s, it is by no means old-fashioned. This trend was heavily featured on the Fall/Winter 2011 runways, but for those daring enough to don a midi-skirt, it effortlessly transitions not only from winter to spring, but also from day to night. &#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><strong>Transition from season to season:</strong></p><p class="p1">A midi-skirt purchased in the fall need not be banished to the back of your closet waiting to re-emerge a year later. Skirts in light-weight fabrics like chiffon or silk can be worn just as easily in spring as in winter. One way to update this ladylike skirt for spring is to pair it with a top in a light color like white or a pastel. You can also trade in deep hues for flirty floral prints. Complete the transition by taking off the boots and trading them in for a pair of ballet flats or sandals.&#160;</p><p class="p1"><strong>Career woman out on the town:&#160;</strong></p><p class="p1">A pencil midi-skirt is just as appropriate for the office as it is for a night on the town. It is essential ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01trend/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Rachel SandersonWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:19:21 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01trend/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01trend/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/Lfmseb5DBdM/<p><p class="p1">With New York Fashion Week around the corner, brands are gearing up to present their pre-fall and fall 2012 collections. In a press preview presented by Ogan/Dallal Associates Public Relations, four up-and-coming designers showcased their newest collections for a buzzing crowd of young fashion insiders.</p><p class="p1">Founded in Jan. 2010, designer Ramy Brook began her namesake line with a few simple, colorful silk tops. The sexy ease and sophistication of her designs caught the attention of Brook's close friends. Her line has since taken off and can now be found at Bergdorf Goodman, Intermix and the online retailer Shopbop. Budding celebrity favorite, her dresses have been wore by Kelly Rutherford of "Gossip Girl" and Jenna Ushkowitz of "Glee" and seen on the pages of InStyle and Glamour.&#160;</p><p class="p1">For fall 2012, Brook updates her classic multi-way Harriet top in appropriate autumn hues of pumpkin, yellow, teal, brown and vibrant red. She has incorporated leather accents and hoods to contrast her draped silk dresses and predicts color blocking's popularity in the fall.&#160;</p><p class="p1">Friends and business partners Karen Kupferschmiedt and Yliana Yépez founded accessories brand BLUES by kyky in 1994. The brand stays true to their Venezuelan roots as they ready for their second season in the U.S. With the goal of creating an original line that is feminine, sexy and modern, the ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01preview/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Hilary PresleyWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:23:17 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01preview/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01preview/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/OxB5gAQfCRQ/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Spring is around the corner, and makeup trends from the runways forecast bold eye shadows, metallic hues and the resurgence of the classic red lip. Look to the local drugstore to get these products for less than the boutique price so you can experiment with all the spring trends.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><strong>Foundation and Blush</strong></p><p class="p1">For everyday basics, Revlon and L'Oréal offer high-quality products in a wide range of colors. Keep coverage light with tinted moisturizers such as Neutrogena Healthy Skin Enhancer for around $10 instead of a cakey foundation. For the college girl on a budget, CoverGirl is a good&#160; go-to brand, especially its NatureLuxe line of products enhanced with cucumber and jojoba oil. The Silk Foundation ($11) highlights natural beauty while providing smooth, even coverage. Keep the look dewy with pastel pink blush: Revlon Cream Blush in the shade Rosy Glow ($8). Spring is all about showcasing healthy skin.&#160;</p><p class="p1"><strong>Eye Shadow</strong></p><p class="p1">This season, swap out muted standbys for pearly, metallic shadows as seen at the Chanel and Phillip Lim shows. Iridescent makeup in soft pastels looks fresh and feminine. Instead of splurging, hunt for shadows such as Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in the color palette Skinlights ($8), which includes four good shades to play around with. Or try Maybelline's cream gel shadow in Too Cool ($7) that can easily ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01drugstore/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Hilary PresleyWed, 01 Feb 2012 02:09:05 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01drugstore/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01drugstore/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/URAdz4rK9hg/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Many people like to thrift, wash and wear. The best part about bargain shopping is transforming a piece of clothing into something unique and personal. Sure, a plain button-down blouse is a great staple, but making it into a one-of-a-kind piece is more fun. Natalie Portman and Alexa Chung have sported studded collars in the past year, proving that the studded effect is tough yet feminine. So when I stumbled upon a silk blouse in a local thrift store, I headed straight for M&amp;J Trimmings in Midtown to purchase studded nail heads.</span></p><p class="p1"><strong>Materials:</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>1.</strong> A collared shirt bought at a thrift store</p><p class="p1"><strong>2.</strong> Nail head studs with prongs (available at notions stores)</p><p class="p1"><strong>3. </strong>Scissors or butter knife</p><p class="p1"><strong>Directions:</strong></p><p class="p1"><strong>1. </strong>Lay the shirt out on a flat surface. Make sure the collar is folded properly and is even on both sides.</p><p class="p1"><strong>2. </strong>Take the first nail head and push the prongs through the collar in the desired position. Puncturing the fabric should be fairly easy as long as the fabric is not too thick.</p><p class="p1"><strong>3.</strong> Turn the collar over so the pronged side is facing upward. Take the closed scissors or butter knife and bend the prongs inward. Do not fold the prongs down by hand — they are much sharper and harder than they look.</p><p class="p1"><strong>4.</strong> Continue placing ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01diy/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Rachel PerlmanWed, 01 Feb 2012 03:16:57 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01diy/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01diy/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/qse0oFj_47U/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Founded in July 2011 by model and former investment banker Olga Vidisheva, shoptiques.com is a new online retailer that marries the originality of privately owned boutiques with the affordability and accessibility of mass-produced brands. Vidisheva, a recent graduate of Harvard Business School, came up with the idea for Shoptiques after she fell madly in love with a pair of pumps at a trendy Parisian boutique.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"If she wasn't there, on that day at that time in that country, she never would have even known they existed," said Chelsea Sun, NYU graduate and vice president of Shoptiques. "And the more she thought about it, the more she realized that you shouldn't have to get on a plane to find a distinctive piece. So she decided to do something about it."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Thus, this innovative new e-commerce business, unlike anything of its kind, was born. The site is unique because users can browse one-of-a-kind merchandise from dozens of boutiques across the country without ever leaving their homes.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Shoptiques does all the traveling for you," Sun said. "You just need to decide what you want."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Shoptiques has been featured in Women's Wear Daily, OK!, Shape and stylecaster.com and has a wait list of over 10,000 people. The website, however, has yet to launch officially.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">"We just opened ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01shoptiques/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Ayden RosenbergWed, 01 Feb 2012 04:12:33 -0500http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01shoptiques/http://nyunews.com/life/2012/02/01/01shoptiques/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/p8W7Njv_alE/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Travel + Leisure magazine released the results of its annual online survey last week, and New York City won the title of rudest city in America.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Each year, the magazine allows online readers to rank large cities throughout America in categories including Cleanliness, Safety, Ethnic Dining and Architecture. In the most recent America's Favorite Cities survey, New York City received the lowest score by non-residents in the Friendly category.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Whether or not New Yorkers truly have a bad attitude or it just appears that way to outsiders has yet to be determined. NYU sociology professor Dalton Conley said it may be the diversity and pace of the city that gives people this impression.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">"First, New York City is fast-paced, so we don't reserve a lot&#160;of time for nicities," Conley said.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"Also, it's huge and anonymous, which means it's not only not expected that you'd tip your hat and say hi to someone passing you on the street," he added. "It would in fact be downright weird. Third, we are a city with a high percentage of foreign born [residents]."</span></p><p class="p1">Different cultures and languages represented in the city by tourists and residents from other countries lead to quick and basic communication that often appears rude, according to Dalton.</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Los Angeles, Boston, Miami and Washington ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01rude/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Claire ZajdelWed, 01 Feb 2012 04:23:38 -0500http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01rude/http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01rude/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/PviJk1Dddvc/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">David Evans taught his first computer science class to nine students 10 years ago. But Evans, an associate professor at the University of Virginia, will teach at a different kind of school this spring — an online university called Udacity. Founded by three roboticists, Udacity offers an alternative medium for education to students who do not have enough money or time to attend a traditional university.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Registration for the courses began last Saturday, and thousands have already signed up. Co-founder Sebastian Thrun hopes 500,000 will have enrolled by the start of classes later this month.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">"The vast majority of the world's population cannot afford the costs of traditional higher education, cannot spend four years devoting all their time to it and doesn't live nearby an elite university," Evans said. "High-quality online higher education has the opportunity to serve these students in ways that traditional universities cannot."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Starting Feb. 20, the site will offer two courses: Programming a Robotic Car and Building a Search Engine. Each course will run for seven weeks, and students will receive a certificate signed by the professors upon completion of the course. Last fall, Udacity offered its first course, Introduction to Artificial Intelligence.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">Evans, who will teach Building a Search Engine and contributed to develop Udacity, said the university has ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01udacity/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Jessie SchultzWed, 01 Feb 2012 04:10:26 -0500http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01udacity/http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01udacity/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/iv_upe7OOTU/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">NYU adjunct professor Bingham Ray, 57, passed away last week after suffering two strokes at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">Ray was hired last year by his friend and colleague Joe Pichirallo, undergraduate chair of the Kanbar Institute of Film and Television at the Tisch School of the Arts. Before accepting the position of executive director at the San Francisco Film Society, Ray taught two film production courses from Sept. to Oct. 2011.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s3">"Bingham was larger than life. He had a distinct persona that his students liked and connected with," Pichirallo said. "He was committed to teaching and before he left we talked about making him a permanent member of the faculty."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">He added, "Bingham may not have been a household name but he was a legend in the independent film industry."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">After co-founding the independent film distribution company October Films that later became Focus Features, Ray became president of United Artists, a film studio based in Los Angeles, Calif. There, he oversaw the distribution and release of films like "Bowling for Columbine" directed by Michael Moore and "Hotel Rwanda" directed by Terry George.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">Pichirallo recalled numerous conversations with Ray, in which Ray spoke of his love for teaching and inspiring young students.</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s4">"He always planned to find some sort of teaching ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01ray/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Bridgette DoranWed, 01 Feb 2012 04:26:32 -0500http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01ray/http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01ray/http://feeds.nyunews.com/~r/nyunews/~3/sPy0vlwVpbs/<p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">NYU Students for Barack Obama held its first meeting of the spring semester yesterday evening, focusing on the current status of the president's candidacy for 2012.</span></p><p class="p1">With the goal of promoting the re-election of President Obama this November, the club will work as a grass roots movement to inspire students.</p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">CAS sophomore and NYU-SFBO media coordinator Mike Place stressed the purpose of the group lies in persuasion at the voter level.&#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"The overall mission of NYU Students for Barack Obama is to help re-elect the president through voter outreach, education and motivation," Place said. "Our efforts are not limited to solely this school or even the state, and we will be working to unite voices every</span><span class="s2">where behind President Obama."</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s2">CAS sophomore Sara Moe, </span><span class="s3">co-</span><span class="s2">coordi</span><span class="s3">nator </span><span class="s2">of NYU-SFBO and senior fellow for the New York City chapter of the Obama for America Campaign, said the club was strong in their fall semester efforts. &#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">"We were able to compile a full leadership team, each person having a specific role, and we held several voter registration drives, phonebanks as well as trips to Philadelphia and Boston to help with other states' efforts in the Obama 2012 campaign," Moe said. &#160;</span></p><p class="p1"><span class="s1">As for this semester, NYU-SFBO has a lot in store. On ... <p><a href="http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01obama/">View the rest at nyunews.com</a></p>Eric BensonWed, 01 Feb 2012 04:25:30 -0500http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01obama/http://nyunews.com/news/2012/02/01/01obama/