New School students in New York City occupy university building

[Asoka89]

Some coverage on http://theactivist.org an interview from the site is coming soon.

---
We have just occupied New School University.

We liberate this space for ourselves, and all those who want to join us,
for our general autonomous use. We take the university in explicit
solidarity with those occupying the universities and streets in Greece,
Italy, France and Spain.
This occupation begins as a response to specific conditions at the New
School, the corporatization of the university and the impoverishment of
education in general. However, it is not just this university but also
New York City that is in crisis: in the next several months, thousands
of us will be losing our jobs, while housing remains unaffordable and
unavailable to many and the cost of living skyrockets.
So we stress that the general nature of these intolerable conditions
exists across the spectrum of capitalist existence, in our universities
and our cities, in all of our social relations. For this reason, what
begins tonight at the New School cannot, and should not, be contained here.
Thus: with this occupation, we inaugurate a sequence of revolt in New
York City and the United States, a coming wave of occupations,
blockades, and strikes in this time of crisis.
Be assured, this is only the beginning,
With solidarity and love from New York to Greece,
To Italy, France and Spain,
To the coming insurrection.
- New School Occupation Committee
http://www.newschoolinexile.com/

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

The cops showed up around 12 noon and apparently there have been some arrests.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

"they aren't letting students into the building anymore. the cops are outside all the main doors, and they are trying to keep everyone out. so unless you have a good excuse to get in they won't let you. OH and apparently needing to study for a final is not a good enough excuse to get in."

[BIG BROTHER]

Fucken pigs!!!!!

Anyways its so refreshing to see this happen here in the United States. Here in california we're also dealing with a lot of shit, such as the education budget cuts...lets see how things develop in here too...muhahahahaha

anyways solidarity with the students in new york!!!! to the barricades!!!!!!!

[bcbm]

Glad to see more occupations going down. I hope this will spread.

[JimmyJazz]

Here in california we're also dealing with a lot of shit, such as the education budget cuts

I got laid off yesterday because of California's cut to social services spending. They explicitly told me this when letting me go.

They didn't have to give me two weeks' notice, for some reason.


eta: now accepting sympathy rep.

eta2: I mean solidarity rep.

[bcbm]

They have a blog as well...

http://www.newschoolinexileblog.blogspot.com/

[BIG BROTHER]

I got laid off yesterday because of California's cut to social services spending. They explicitly told me this when letting me go.

They didn't have to give me two weeks' notice, for some reason.


eta: now accepting sympathy rep.

eta2: I mean solidarity rep.

That's not all comrade, did you know that oil corporations in california pay the lowest taxes in all of amerikkka?

[bcbm]

Pigs have entered the building again.

[Random Precision]

~ Demands of the Occupation ~

• The removal of Bob Kerrey as president of our university

• The removal of James Murtha as executive vice president of our university

• Students, faculty, and staff elect the president, EVP, and Provost.

• Students are part of the interim committee to hire a provost.

• The removal of Robert B. Millard as treasurer of the board of trustees.

• Intelligible transparency and disclosure of the university budget and investments.

• The creation of a committee on socially responsible investments.

• The immediate suspension of capital improvement projects like the tearing down of 65 fifth Ave.

• Instead, money towards the creation of an autonomous student space.
• Instead, money towards scholarships and reducing tuition.
• Instead, money for the library and student life generally.


Dear New School Community,

As you may well know, the Radical Student Union (SDS, SEAC, UFPJ) organized a demonstration and sit-in at the Board of Trustees' meeting last Wednesday, December 10th. Initially this demonstration was planned around our own issues with the Board regarding Robert B. Millard and his role as treasurer, yet after distributing flyers and vocalizing our disputes with Millard the end result was over 60 students who came to not only protest Millard, but Bob Kerrey as well. Upon hearing the faculty vote, we tailored our demonstration in solidarity with the faculty concerns as we saw an appropriate connection.

We strongly support their vote of No Confidence in President Bob Kerrey and Executive Vice-President James Murtha. They have systematically denied our rights as students to have any say in our own education. This is but one area in which their attempts to control and shape all aspects of the University in their own interest has stifled cooperation, democracy, and self-governance at the New School.

Can students honestly say that we want Bob Kerrey to be the president of this university when we are given no choice but to force him to simply hear our concerns, which he continually refuses to do? Should we not have a president who is democratically accountable to everyone in the university, who represents the interests of those whose efforts make this university run on a day-to-day basis? What trust can we have for an administration and board that not only supports him lock-step, but has the audacity to assert that our concern with their role in the university is simply "misplaced anxiety over the state of the economy"?

Our country is indeed in a severe economic crisis -- and meanwhile the costly occupation of Iraq, an unpopular and illegal war, rages on. The people of this country have chosen President Elect Barack Obama because he said he stands for hope and change in these times of need. Do we want a university president who not only believes that democracy can be militarily imposed on another nation, but also believes that he is accountable to no one when imposing his will on the academic curriculum, despite the fact that this university was founded in opposition to war and the strain it always puts on the academy? If he believes in democracy, then why does he maintain a Presidential autocracy? Why did he organize a conference on "Free Inquiry At Risk: Universities in Dangerous Times" when he has proven himself to be the biggest threat to our university? Does Kerrey not remember that the New School was founded as the University of Exile, and posed as a haven for radical academics and activists who had to literally escape the possibility of death in Europe? We need a university president who can work to build solutions during these times of need, not one who is part of the problem. We need to make this university into a symbol of change for a world desperately in need of substance, and not just a brand created by the Offices of Finance & Business and Communications & External Affairs.

We in the Radical Student Union believe in a democratic university where we have a say in university decisions in proportion to the degree we are affected by their outcomes. As such, we believe deans, faculty, and students should not be denied the right to be involved in the decision-making processes that Kerrey and Murtha consistently keep us out of. We have the right to voice our opinions in regards to the future of this university and how it could be run under such freedoms.

If the faculty chooses to continue its efforts, they have the full and active support of the Radical Student Union. We have come together and have formulated a plan of action to build a more democratic university throughout the spring. Removing Kerrey and Murtha is a central concern. We will also continue to pursue Millard's removal, transparency and accountability for the general budget and the endowment, and the creation of a committee on Socially Responsible Investment and University Self-Management.

The Radical Student Union (SDS, SEAC, UFPJ)
[email protected]

For updates visit and ways you can support please visit:

http://www.newschoolinexile.com/

[bcbm]

A few updates from the blog...


We are still with you friends!

Our resolve is lasting! We are getting stronger while the Administration gets weaker!

We are right now on the phone with One of the Deans, whom we will not name as per askance.

New School Academia is gaining ground.

Thoughtfully,
The New School in Exile


We love the internet and the 21st century.

Comrades around the world:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43831775754

On the Wolrd Wide Web,
The New School in Exile.


We have so much Support outside!

Join Us!

Join us!

65 5th Ave!

The Lang Buildings have been shut down 55W13, the 11th & 12th Street buildings!

Solidarity, Solidarity!
The New School in Exile


what you folks are doing is so awesome and so important to the new school. as an alum who is a bit too far to join you, all i can say is i and many others like me stand with you in love and solidarity. I've talked to many alumni at this point and we all think you're on the right track; spread the word to those on the inside, we really think you're doing the right thing!

love, support, solidarity,
(name deleted)

Love, support and solidarity from us too. Every message makes us stronger.
The New School in Exile

[bcbm]

Oh shit!


WE HAVE THE WHOLE BUILDING EVERYONE OUTSIDE IS INSIDE!!!!!

THE NEW SCHOOL IN EXILE!

[bcbm]

Sounds like they're pretty jubilant now. I'm hoping it isn't just a false hope, as the administration is in talks with the pigs and the people they want out don't sound like they'll take it easy on the students. Still...



Negotiations Continue

Fully on our terms now of course!

We Will get our Part in choosing a provost!

Our Comrades will not have charges pressed!

We Shut Down the Whole School!

We will continue to negotiate the immediate resignation of the Administration!

We ask everyone for calm, we ask for peace, we ask for New York and the World to continue to support us! We have the Upper Hand, in no uncertain terms! It is not over.

Please continue to rally, continue to control 5th Avenue! We need continued progress! We will win!

Solidarity Solidarity Solidarity
The New York Schools In Exile!

[BIG BROTHER]

fuck, I want the semester at my school to start already, perhaps we could at the very least organize solidarity demos, or at best make an occupation ourselves.