“It’s very liberating to have a flop. Just “American leadership remember that, is the only thing that because everyone will move [the Arab has them.”

—TINA BROWN , FOUNDER OF THE DAILY BEAST WEB Peace Initiative] SITE AND FORMER EDITOR OF THE NEW YORKER AND VANITY FAIR , ON HER NOW-DEFUNCT TALK MAGAZINE AT THE “STAYING CURRENT, CLICKABLE, AND forward. We need the PROFITABLE” EVENT, HOSTED BY THE SCHOOL OF CONTINUING AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES big bear behind our “The tropics inebriated [Darwin]. backs to push us, so Recording in his diary his first encounter with tropical when others ask, vegetation, he wrote, ‘It has been a glorious day, giving we can point to the the blind man eyes.’ ”

—RUTGERS UNIVERSITY ENGLISH PROFESSOR GEORGE big bear.” LEVINE AT A LECTURE ON “LEARNING TO SEE: DARWIN’S —PRINCE TURKI AL-FAISAL , FORMER AMBASSADOR OF THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI PROPHETIC APPRENTICESHIP ON THE BEAGLE VOYAGE” ARABIA TO THE UNITED STATES, SPEAKING AT THE SCHOOL OF CONTINUING DURING A GALLATIN SCHOOL OF INDIVIDUALIZED STUDY AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES EVENT, “GLOBAL LEADERS: CONVERSATIONS WITH CONFERENCE CELEBRATING THE SCIENTIST’S BICENTENNIAL ALON BEN-MEIR” HEARD ON CAMPUS

“I joke with my students that I’m hoping to win a Nobel Prize because I’m going to show conclusively that, after several years of NIH-funded research, we’ve discovered the treatment for malnutrition, and it’s called food.”

—PAUL FARMER , MEDICAL ANTHROPOLOGIST AND PHYSICIAN AT HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL, AT A “SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN THE 21ST-CENTURY” EVENT HOSTED BY THE CATHERINE B. REYNOLDS FOUNDATION PROGRAM IN SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP

NYU / FALL 2009 / 1 2; : 1 D O T 00 1 E U E : O T Y N C N R T S L I A E N K, D M O THE D N A R N F O C - E O E E R O Y P 9 0 ’ TIONS S QUE B S T P O S . T C I F W E OF V , 2 R O T 7 ’0 1 F O NE R 0 , , N O R 0 1 O C AN- AFRIC S A C T O N U Y N L I R C S U N A OO T G N / L Y N OUT L M Y B AL G A F E R A S D E / S THE TH I L R U B , K R O E T I Y T S LARGE D N A UR TIER S R D T A G N I R P S O D T F ON A , W E N D N E S R E T A VSE MO S C I L O S N U EET L AND I F O R P L KEN R A E I R W A R O L F F T S A R U M I N A T P , R O O L F N O N N I L A U Y B TH S S D I Y L . VED / V I H T R U D E T P E OUR HOLLANDER R A D R O F W A R C D O AG MSE F E F S SE U OC F SER A L C - D N I Y E C C A , T A N A H T S E R E F O C R I H S B T WE S T I W T S SMALLE T 5 Y B E E R T S T N L L I 2 GH D I , W E R S ON S A J D E L I A H T VOIDE I O P H Y N WILLIS M S I O A E R D N A R U I L THE ALL T B . Y C O F W E I V Y B T I L I B U OF . 9 P SROOM S CLA ELA T S / Y B 00 S I L O P E ON I R E H T 2 TTER MA I / Y W ) 3 N © T I 5 2 I S N O P S M 2 T 8 E U 4 R THE T - S R E GH G N I T R O P E R A 8 T C E L F E I O AL V 3 R R N AH OR DEB D E N 9 1 Y I S I N U : . U S AKE T E Z AN N OP L UTY BEA S L A T C C A G O INT I S I N A S ( E T M I C I F SEARCH RE M I F D E . U Y N S AME G T R A AIT TR POR E N P TION GENEA R I N EN O S DOE O Z T F L N M U O AND A G @ E N I O D E N I E V N L A C . CENTER Z A A M E D U 2 I G 1 L Y B Y 0 8 Y L A N O I T I D D A N 9 A O I S S N T 6 NETX M I / - . K R S S M . I 8 R E R P N 9 S SIC PHY R E U L A O O W M 9 W NE V X E - T I U I S Y 12 D IN AN AMERIC CK BLA APHER OGR T PHO H T I W SIZE A MIND THE ADE ARC 3 3 T R A U L A A N E N U 2 2 4

FEATURES

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00 2 ON MORRIS L ILL AL B F © / N

3 N TIO #1 E U A TR US L IL S IS

CONT TS VER O C E DEPARTMENTS CLASS NOTES

THE SQUARE IN NYC ALUMNI PROFILES 50 / TYLER FLEET / TSOA ’99 8 / POLITICS 18 / PUBLIC HEALTH MAN ON FIRE MATHEMATICAL THE STRUGGLE TO SLIM FORTUNE-TELLING DOWN THE BIG APPLE 56 / HOWARD CEDAR / MED ’70, GSAS ’70 9 / SCORECARD 19 / PERFORMANCE GENETICS GENIUS BORN IN BROOKLYN A NEW GANG OF SHAKESPEAREAN PLAYERS ALUMNI ART 10 / HISTORY 61 / LEO VILLAREAL / TSOA ’94 REMEMBERING THE BATAAN 20 / THE INSIDER LIGHTING THE END OF THE DEATH MARCH ENJOY THE BEST OF THE (SUBWAY) TUNNEL CITY THIS SEASON—FROM 12 / LAW A HALLOWEEN TREAT TO 48 PLUS ALUMNI NEWS, OPENING UP GUANTÁNAMO HOLIDAY SHOPPING BENEFITS, AND UPDATES

13 / ACADEMIC TREND SHELTER FROM THE CULTURE EVERY ISSUE VISIT US ONLINE! ECONOMIC STORM 22 / TELEVISION 1 / HEARD ON CAMPUS www.nyu.edu/alumni.magazine 14 / CUTTING-EDGE DAMON LINDELOF KEEPS 4 / PRESIDENT’S LETTER RESEARCH VIEWERS LOST 4 / CONTRIBUTORS STANDING UP FOR 5 / STAR POWER PEDESTRIANS, DEBUNKING 23 / CREDITS 6 / MAILBAG PROP 8 POLLS, SCIENTISTS ALUMNI TAKE OVER TV AND 64 / CAMPUS LENS GROW MUSCLES, AND FISH TINSELTOWN AID IN SURGERY 24 / THEATER 16 / IN BRIEF MOISÉS KAUFMAN STAGES CLASSES UP FOR ADOPTION, A RETURN TO LARAMIE NYU LAW COURTS LEGAL SCHOLARS, STUDENTS DESIGN IPHONE APPS, AND MORE IN PRINT

26 / NONFICTION STACY HORN DIGS UP GHOSTS OF DECADES PAST

28 / COOKING FIVE-STAR DINING AT HOME, HEALTHFUL SOUL FOOD, AND NEW YORK FOOD FACTS

PLUS MORE BOOKS BY NYU ALUMNI AND PROFESSORS

MIXED SOURCES: PRODUCT GROUP FROM WELL-MANAGED FOREST, CONTROLLED SOURCES, AND RECYCLED WOOD OR FIBER. CERT. NO. SW-COC-002556. WWW.FSC.ORG. © 1996 FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL.

IN KEEPING WITH NYU’S COMMITMENT TO SUSTAINABILITY, THIS PUBLICATION IS PRINTED ON FSC-CERTIFIED PAPER THAT INCLUDES A MINIMUM OF 10 PERCENT POST-CONSUMER FIBER. (THE FSC TRADEMARK IDENTIFIES PRODUCTS THAT CONTAIN FIBER FROM WELL-MANAGED FORESTS CERTIFIED BY SMARTWOOD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RULES OF THE FORESTS STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL.) FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT NYU’S GREEN ACTION PLAN, GO TO WWW.NYU.EDU/SUSTAINABILITY. LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT P H

esearch universities O Issue #13 / Fall 2009 T O

are characterized © M JASON HOLLANDER (GAL ’07) A T

by their effort to go T

H Editor-in-Chief E beyond familiar W NICOLE PEZOLD (GSAS ’04) S E P

T Deputy Editor

Rtruths and by their I M

U ´ commitment to probing the un - S REN EE ALFUSO (CAS ’06) Staff Writer known. JOHN KLOTNIA / OPTO DESIGN In this Fall 2009 issue, we illu - Creative Director minate two examples of how Articles NYU’s research has propelled us JOSEPH MANGHISE to the forefront of discovery. “Size Copy Chief Does Matter” (p. 30) features the DAVID COHEN work of scientists in our Center for Research Chief KEVIN FALLON (CAS ’09) Cosmology and Particle Physics, EMILY NONKO (CAS ’10) who are pursuing a new under - Editorial Interns standing of the physical world. Art / Opto Design “Mind Games” (p. 42) describes RON LOUIE how the intense world of video Art Director gaming, which many of our stu - KIRA CSAKANY dents know well, is being harnessed sual history with a new book about ture as well as offer a fresh take on Designer MARGARET LANZONI as a breakthrough learning tool. perceptions of beauty and power. historical events. These kinds of Photo Research Director Even as a university pushes the In another new book, NYU pro - endeavors have shaped NYU into boundaries of new discoveries, its fessors Michael and Elizabeth M. the institution it is today, and Advertising mission calls on it to preserve and Norman offer a comprehensive, we are reminded of the similar DEBORAH BRODERICK Associate Vice President of Marketing examine the past, searching for startling take on World War II’s work that our many graduates con - Communications new insights and meanings. In Bataan Death March (p. 10). tinue to do as we read through the “Black Beauty” (p. 38), photogra - It requires great patience and pages of this issue of NYU Alumni Alumni News Editors JENNIFER BOSCIA SMITH (SCPS ’04) pher Deborah Willis refocuses the inspiration to both explore the Magazine. Director of Development and narrative of African-American vi - unchartered territories of our fu - JOHN SEXTON Alumni Communications KATIE D. GRAHAM Communications Associate KRISTINE JANNUZZI (CAS ’98) Writer/Communications Coordinator

New York University CONTRIBUTORS MARTIN LIPTON (LAW ’55) Board of Trustees, Chairman JOHN BRINGARDNER (GSAS ’03) BROOKE KOSOFSKY GLASS - KEN STIER currently writes fea - JOHN SEXTON President BERG is news editor of Law.com. His work (CAS ’04) is the fashion fea - tures for Time . His reporting career LYNNE P. BROWN has also appeared in The New York tures editor of O, The Oprah has included long stints in Southeast Senior Vice President for University Times , Wired , The American Lawyer , Magazine . She has written for New Asia, the Caucasus, and Latin Amer - Relations and Public Affairs DEBRA A. LAMORTE and on his mother’s refrigerator. York magazine, Glamour , Travel+ ica, and domestic business cover - Senior Vice President for University Leisure , and Budget Travel . age, most recently for CNBC. Development and Alumni Relations PATRICIA COHEN covers Arts & REGINA SYQUIA DREW (WAG ’01) Ideas for The New York Times and is LARS LEETARU has illustrated for LEIGH WELLS is an illustrator in Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives writing a book for Scribner’s about The Wall Street Journal , Esquire , ESPN San Francisco who has worked for New York University the invention and marketing of The Magazine , Forbes, Inc. , and The Converse, Starbucks, and American Alumni Association middle age. New York Times . Express. STEVEN S. MILLER (LAW ’70) President JOHN CALVO (STERN ’91, LAW ’95) ANDREA CRAWFORD WESLEY YANG has covered Though best known for his work is contributing ed - MICHAEL DENKENSOHN (STERN ’73) cultural news as a writer and editor on The Simpsons line of comics, itor of Tablet magazine and also BEVERLY HYMAN (STEINHARDT ’80) for 15 years. She has been senior Eisner Award-winning cartoonist writes about culture for n+1. His GERALD KLACZANY (DEN ’86) RONALD G. RAPATALO (CAS ’97) BILL MORRISON editor at ARTnews , contributing happily returned work has appeared in The New York Vice Presidents editor at Poets & Writers magazine, to his paints and brushes to create Times Book Review , Los Angeles TAFFI T. WOOLWARD (CAS ’04) and a contributor for Nextbook . the cover for this issue. Times , and The New York Observer . Secretary

4 / FALL 2009 / NYU P H O T

O FORMER NEW YORK SENATOR AND CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON AND WHITE AMERICAN IDOL WINNER DAVID COOK CRACKS A SMILE S

C HOUSE PRESS CORPS VETERAN HELEN THOMAS RECEIVE HONORARY DEGREES DURING THE 2009 AT THE SKIRBALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING L O C

K COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AT YANKEE STADIUM. ARTS DURING HIS FIRST SOLO TOUR. W I S E F R O M T O P L E F T : © P H I L G A L L O ; T I M O T H Y G R I F F I N ; P H I L G A L L O ; G R E G K E S S L E R ; D A N C R E I G H T O N ( 2 S) TAR

TOP-DRAW ALUMNI AND FRIENDS PUT ON THE GLITZ FOR NYU P O W

COMEDIAN ZACH GALIFIANAKIS WHOOPI GOLDBERG ADDRESSES PERFORMS STAND-UP AT SKIRBALL. STUDENTS AT THE TISCH SALUTE. E R

BRITISH PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN AND FORMER U.S. PUBLIC ENEMY FOUNDING MEMBER CHUCK D RAPS ABOUT SOCIAL ENTREPRE - SECRETARY OF STATE MADELEINE ALBRIGHT DISCUSS MULTILATERAL - NEURSHIP AND ART AS PART OF A REYNOLDS PROGRAM SPEAKER SERIES. ISM AS A SOLUTION TO GLOBAL CRISES.

NYU / FALL 2009 / 5 mailbag We Hear Fro mYou

Thank you to everyone who responded to the Spring 2009 issue. We are delighted that NYU Alumni Magazine continues to provoke conversation and comment.

lieve in coincidences; this will make We appreciate your article be - cle [“Economy: Code Red”] on the sense soon. We students at Bayard cause it is so real and so valid. I am contributions that NYU has made Rustin Educational Complex were thankful for what you have written, to resolving our economic problems blessed to be able to work with the and I think that we are both cham - today was fascinating. Student Press Initiative to collabo - pioning the same cause. I was so stimulated by your mag - rate in writing and publishing a book Christopher Ketant, 18 azine; it made my day. [on the stereotypes about us], titled New York, New York Cyrelle N. Ratzkin Dangerously Defined . STEINHARDT ’55 Our teacher reached out to peo - Boynton Beach, Florida ple all over the nation and asked SATISFIED CUSTOMER humbly for them to be open and My compliments to the editors. honest in revealing the stereotypes I must express my appreciation and Please send your comments and that came to mind when they enjoyment as I read through the en - opinions to: Readers’ Letters, NYU thought about NYC public school tire issue nonstop. I must confess Alumni Magazine , 25 West Fourth SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT kids. To our great surprise, we re - that it made me jealous—ah, if only Street, Fourth Floor, New York, My name is Christopher Ketant and ceived hundreds of responses. To I was young enough to participate NY, 10012; or e-mail us at alum - I am a student at what many would see the stereotypes placed on us so in some of the current activities of [email protected]. Please call a “struggling” New York City blatantly, in a long and unapologetic college students (i.e., visiting Abu include your mailing address, public high school. This afternoon, list, wasn’t easy. But soon we real - Dhabi, etc.). phone number, and school and year. my teacher [Emily Warren (CAS ized that it was this type of honesty I appreciated the recommenda - Letters become the property of ’04)] handed me an article titled that we needed, so that a real con - tions of current novels. I loved that NYU and may be edited for length “Can We Talk ?” Before I continue, versation between two separated article on the difficulties of talking and clarity. I would like to say that I do not be - peoples could begin. about race. And, of course, the arti -

THE FOLLOWING ARE ABBREVIATIONS FOR NYU YOUR GUIDE TO THE SCHOOL CODES SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, PAST AND PRESENT

ARTS - University College of GAL - Gallatin School of NUR - College of Nursing TSOA - Tisch School of the Arts, Arts and Science (“The Heights”); Individualized Study, formerly School of the Arts used for alumni through 1974 formerly Gallatin Division SCPS - School of Continuing and Professional Studies WAG - Robert F. Wagner Gradu - CAS - College of Arts and GSAS - Graduate School of ate School of Public Service, for - Science (“The College”); Arts and Science SSSW - Silver School of Social merly Graduate School of Public refers to the undergraduate Work Administration school in arts and science, LS - Liberal Studies Program from 1994 on STEINHARDT - The Steinhardt WSC - Washington Square Col - HON - Honorary Degree School of Culture, Education, lege, now College of Arts and Sci - CIMS - Courant Institute of and Human Development, ence; refers to arts and science Mathematical Sciences IFA - Institute of Fine Arts formerly School of Education undergraduates who studied at Washington Square Campus DEN - College of Dentistry ISAW - Institute for the Study of STERN - Leonard N. Stern through 1974 the Ancient World School of Business, formerly EN G - School of Engineering the Graduate School of Business WSUC - Washington Square and Science (“The Heights”); LAW - School of Law Administration; Leonard N. Stern University College, now College no longer exists but is used School of Business Undergraduate of Arts and Science; refers to to refer to its alumni through MED - School of Medicine, College, formerly School of alumni of the undergraduate 1974 formerly College of Medicine Commerce; and College of Busi - school in arts and science from ness and Public Administration 1974 to 1994

6 / FALL 2009 / NYU