the New School in Exile; Citizen - Student Action NOW!

by globalpunditorg | December 19, 2008 at 12:23 am

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The New School In Exile; Citizen Student Action

New York, NY - At this very moment, students of the New School are engaging in an “occupa(c)tion” directed by a specific and immediate mandate which they feel is in keeping with the progressive tradition of the institution.

The have posted a frequently updated blog to inform people on what is occuring, as well as their demands and the events that lead up to the events. The title of the blog / information post is ‘The New School in Exile’

The event’s catalyst, some would say, is former Nebraska Gov. and school president Bob Kerrey’s vote of no-confidence (kind of what like Prime Minister Stephen Harper has engaged to prevent here in Canada to protect his non-democratic mandate).

This occupation of the University Library Cafeteria and Graduate Faculty Building (and expanding) at 65 Fifth Ave started Wed. evening ( Dec 17), and in the interest of facillitating the wonderful medium of electronic communications (can you imagine what would be said about the student occupation had they NOT had this source to communicate to the outside world and propective supporters and reporters?), I will simply, for now direct you to their website.

It includes a timeline and images, including their mandate, and events such as police presence, external links to articles on the New York Times blog, and other events as they unfold.

Of course, not all responses to the blog are encouragement and support, and some responses are downright ad hominem, while others are full of “self bloviating” pragmatism - so called.

I have requested an interview with one of the student activists for Friday night ( I am withholding his name out of courtesy at this juncture).

Students and supporters can also indicate solidarity by linking to their blog, or if you are in the NY area - and although it’s mighty cold out - participate in the action from the outside.

Bring your cameras, document the actions, and learn what the issues are.

TWITTER:

in addition to the official blog, you can follow www.twitter.com/noneck (mr hidalgo’s quite a guy) / www.twitter.com/iwitnessvideo (camerarevolutionaries) / and www.twitter.com/globalpunditorg for reposts on external news/views.

www.Iwitnessvideo.info have had cameras there for 28 hours as of 2:30 Fri am.

Here is their FIRST POST: Please read through all posts, especially if you are getting your information from mainstream sources.

New School In Exile

New School in Exile: A Call to Occupa(c)tion
The original idea of the University in Exile, and the New School in general, was to be a safe-haven for academic freedom and scholarship free of oppressive political regimes, be they in Europe or America, and to be a center for critical engagement with important issues of our times. It was known for its deep thinkers, its innovative academics, and its committment to social and political justice as a bedrock of all other scholarship. The New School, under its current administration, is no longer able to fulfill that role of critical engagement and dissent. This continued betryal of our founding principles cannot be tolerated any longer, and the time has come to revive the University in Exile. This is a call for student action!
~ 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.