The first time I encountered a TBNYU protest I was at Kimmel attempting to eat my lunch¬– and believe me, coming in-between me and my food does not put you in my good book. Now they’re back at Kimmel while I’m not there and I’m even more annoyed.

As far as I remember, their first three demands were along the following lines: budget disclosure, transparency of finances, specifically of the endowment and investing, and then the very unrealistic demand for a student presence on the board of trustees.

And now Gaza is being added to the list?

Since when are thirteen scholarships for Palestinians a top concern of the average NYU student? Why thirteen? Why just Palestinians? It’s things like this that make me really question the demands that TBNYU so readily spouts off. Shouldn’t they focus on their original goals rather than confusing NYU’s student body with obscure demands that detract from their message?

Another demand listed on their website asks that excess supplies and materials be donated to the University of Gaza. As far as I know, there isn’t a miraculous excess of materials floating around. If there are we should save them, for ourselves!

Considering the largest sign they posted at the protest read “Make NYU Affordable” it is odd that TBNYU is ready to give away any excess materials that they, as students, helped pay for.  And while I’m sympathetic to the situation in Gaza, there are so many other places in the world that would benefit from school supplies.

I don’t understand why any NYU student would want Bobst to be accessible to the public. The last thing I want when cramming for an exam is to hear a mom dragging a screaming child through the stacks in search of a book.

TBNYU should focus on realistic demands and realize that taking over Kimmel is not the way to achieve what they want. Every time I hear about them, I am more and more confused, and that’s telling of the success they’ve had at “taking back” NYU.

Photo by Charlie Eisenhood.