Urban Journalism Workshop
High school reporters cover local stories for NYU Journalism Institute’s summer program.
A Push to Disarm Auxiliary Police
By Maya Mitchell Spectrum staff Pushed by local teen and young adult activists who want to disarm the Maplewood Police Department Police Auxiliary, made up of volunteers, the Maplewood Town Council voted in late July to suspend the force for 90 days. By a 3-to-2 vote, the town’s Public Safety Committee, which includes the chief of police, […]
Club Spreads Korean Culture
By Serin Koh Staff writer “Welcoming, wholesome . . .” She looked up at the ceiling, sighs, then, laughs as she ponders. “Oh, and fun.” Christine Kim slammed her hands together in one solitary clap, accentuating her descriptions of the Korean Student Association of NYU. KSA, as the students refer to it, is part of […]
For Teens, Fewer Summer Jobs
By Tylan Porterfield Staff writer For teens, finding a summer job can be hard to do. “Even if you apply for a fast-food restaurant, companies are looking for prior experience,” said Maddison Harris, 17, of the Bronx. This summer, she is working as a camp counselor at the Bronx Melrose Classic, a position she landed […]
To Wear Hijab or Not?
By Hannan Abdul-Kadiri Staff writer Fatima Hussari, 14, has her reasons for donning a hijab every day. “Wearing my hijab helps me remember to be good,” she said. Noga Lo, 45, has her reasons for not doing so. “Any religion that you follow, you should follow with your heart. And if I wear the hijab, […]
Fake Eyelashes. An “Addiction?”
By Jiwon Estee Yi Staff writer The eyelash technician taped a small white pad, shaped like a half-moon, under her client’s bottom row of eyelashes. With the help of an extra-bright overhead light and tweezers, the technician, one by one, isolated each of her client’s natural lashes. Atop each natural lash, she glued on […]
Students: Not Working is Not an Option
By Aniya Greene Staff Writer A student asked her for a roll of toilet paper. “Sure,” Ra Carroll answered, from where she sat behind the welcome desk at Palladium Hall dormitory. For handing out toilet paper and door keys, pointing summer guests at that NYU dorm toward the best pizzeria and performing other duties, Carroll […]
Soccer for City Kids
By Ryan Marrus Staff writer Instead of continuing as a Wall Street stockbroker or an English teacher in Italy, Paul Jeffries, who’d played soccer as a kid in Britain, chose to work full-time in a youth soccer program in New York. “What was the problem that I could help solve?” Jeffries asked himself as he […]
Sidewalk Booksellers Still in Business
By Shreya Paul Staff writer At the start of his workday, on the corner of East 14th Street and Irving Place, Carlos Espada transfers books from cardboard and plastic boxes to a folding table and upside-down milk crates he’s arranged on the sidewalk. The books are for sale. He and his wife, Karina Gushiken, have […]
“Rising Leaders,” a Peer-to-Peer Project
By Olivia Chen Staff writer The 15 trainees, aged 11 to 14, listened and learned as their three instructors, aged 18 to 19, schooled them on how to debate the pros and cons of a topic. That day’s make-believe topic was vanilla ice cream. What, asked Abigail Neely, 18, if vanilla was the color and […]
Youth Show “God’s Love” For Puerto Rico
By Lelah Tekhna Staff writer Before leaving Manhattan to help rebuild some of what Hurricane Maria tore down in Puerto Rico, 11 youth from Middle Collegiate Church researched what they might expect to see. Even so, Christian Unthank, 13, said nothing prepared those kids from that East Village congregation for what they saw. “This was […]
“Colorblind” Church Wants Diversity
By Samuel Hyland Staff writer Since the Bible Crusade Assembly of God opened its East Village branch in the 1970s, the core of its mission has been to make sure its membership is racially diverse. It’s still working to reach that goal. “We don’t want this to be a black temple or a white temple,” […]
Handball Thrives Still on West 4th Court
By Aidan McHenry Staff Reporter Eric Santiago started playing handball in the streets of his native Brooklyn, with his four brothers, back in the 1970s. Though the 50-year-old retired from playing professional handball he’s still enjoying the sport, competing along a snatch of West Fourth Street that is better known for basketball. “To get […]
Doctors Protest ICE Detention Centers
By Swathi Kella Staff writer “Migration is a human right.” “We see cruelty.” “Deportations are taking our neighborhoods away.” That’s how signs read during a mid-July protest in Foley Square over the deaths of seven children at Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities on the nation’s southern border. Critics have condemned the facilities as unsanitary and […]
Indian Eateries Duel for Diners
By Amal Khateeb Spectrum staff The two men stood in front of the respective doorways of their side-by-side restaurants, beckoning diners. “Come in, come in,” the first guy said, waving at people passing by. “No, no, no, this is the one,” the other said, waving, too. From the steps of the single stairway leading […]
Tackling Anti-Muslim, Anti-Immigrant Bias
By Vanessa Handy Spectrum staff The sound of feet shuffling toward seats subsides. The lights dim. The chit-chat of a waiting audience goes silent. The piercing screech of the sole microphone on stage fills the room. The first performer, a woman wearing a hijab, steps to the mic, sighs and opens her mouth. I am […]
Entrepreneurs Want to Spread Positivity
By Christian Richardson Spectrum staff Nia Imani Wellman, 21, designed a mobile app that’s all about hair. R’chelle Ayanna Boyce, 24, designs clothes imprinted with Christian messages and scripture. Every item in the apparel line that Ty’leib Redd, 18, launched is imprinted with “fly,” which stands for “first love yourself.” These young entrepreneurs said they […]
Selling Chess Sets, Creating a Community
By Ryan Kim Spectrum staff Chess pieces clack against tabletop chess boards with peeling paint and scratched wood. The sound of orchestral strings streams in. Seated on opposing sides of the boards, the chess players murmur. They ponder their next move. Standing behind what doubles as a display case and sales counter at Chess Forum, […]
Activists: “Families Belong Together”
By Isabella Calix Spectrum staff Lee el version del Espanol aqui The woman’s story silenced the room. She is a wife, a mother of two and a registered nurse studying for her masters degree. She has built a life in the United States. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents already took her passport. They have […]
New Grads Navigate Job Market
By Juan Vargas Staff writer Job prospects for new college graduates have improved since the Great Recession, but still haven’t returned to previously higher levels. An improving job market however, doesn’t stop the job search from being difficult. “Technological skills, analytical and data science skills have really emerged in really profound ways and shifted everything […]
Instagram Wants News on Vertical Video Channel
By Sarvani Nori Spectrum staff In addition to being a platform for its existing celebrities and non-celebrity trendsetters and personalities, Instagram’s recently launched vertical video app aims to add news organizations and journalists to its list of users. Instagram executives, however, are in the early stages of figuring out how IGTV, that new video app, […]
Mental Health Helpline Goes Online
By Evie Newman Spectrum staff To broaden its mental health services to students, New York University plans to add an online chat service to its current list of services, which include a telephone hotline and a walk-in clinic. The online chat tool goes live August. The services are offered through NYU’s Wellness Exchange, which also […]
Where the Kicks Can Cost Up to $60,000 …
By Jeffrey Kone Spectrum staff Shoppers at Flight Club’s Manhattan store—the company’s other outlet is in Los Angeles—say they step into that sneaker spot because it’s the only place of its kind in New York City. Some of those sneaker-lovers just browse the shelves where price tags on a pair footwear are as high as […]
Author Reflects on Gay Pride, Progress, the Work Ahead
By Alexandra Aguirre Spectrum staff It’s been 20 years since Emanuel Xavier conceived and edited Pier Queen, an anthology of poems about what it means to be gay and to catch hell because of that. “The world isn’t always kind, especially to people like me,” said Xavier, 41, a full-time poet, author, editor and gay […]
Christians and Pagans Square Off Over Lifestyles, Beliefs
By Sneha Dey Spectrum staff Eight Christians stood outside the Astor Place subway stop, sweating, carrying wooden crosses and handing out pamphlets of Bible scriptures. That Saturday, for a second consecutive year, they had shown up to counter the Pagans who were hosting their annual Witchfest on the very same spot. “It’s not a […]
Cemetery for Powerful, Prominent Hosts Open House
By Trin Caviness Spectrum staff About 46,000 people die every year in New York City. But at the historic New York City Marble Cemetery, an exclusive burial site for the famous or the rich or the cemetery’s founders, just one or two bodies go into the ground annually. Unless your departed loved ones meet those requirements, […]