I don’t really see much wrong with her being a senator and being a protester. I agree they should have gone through official channels and ruled out those options before staging such a major event. But, really, this seems like a bit of diversion.

How is it a diversion? Is she even a protester? We have legitimate ways to protest things and instead she participated and/or help staged a major event that has led to some injuries and negative press for NYU and its students. How is it a diversion?

Really great post. I just wrote something similar on lily Q’s article about Ms. Boehne, but it’s worth saying again: why, of all people, is a Student Senator one of the first to give up? You nailed it here when you ask who is she really representing, if the vast majority of comments on this blog are about how much people disagree with TBNYU! claimed objectives (however random they are) and their methods.

If she’s not embarrased at herself and her fellow protestors, then something is definitely wrong.

Can we impeach her?

This is the main problem: Actions like the Kimmel fiasco display a conviction that our student government is so ineffective in conveying grievances to the administration that prohibited action is justified.

In a school as huge and bureaucratic as NYU, it’s difficult to get our voices heard. TBNYU! has definitely gotten our attention, but everything they’re saying is going straight over the administration’s heads because of the measures they decided to take. I personally am all for budget disclosure, and have been frustrated in the past at the administration’s refusal to discuss the issue. But this whole thing has gotten completely ridiculous.

“In a school as huge and bureaucratic as NYU, it’s difficult to get our voices heard. TBNYU! has definitely gotten our attention, but everything they’re saying is going straight over the administration’s heads because of the measures they decided to take”

Oddly enough it is not as difficult as you think. Senator Boehne had direct access to John Sexton and his staff. She had stature as a senator and could have set up continuous meeting and open a meaningful dialogue. In addition, you can talk to your Senators to bring up these issues too. You would be surprised how closely student government officials from councils to the senate to advisory boards interact closely with administrators.

“Boehne ran on a platform acknowledging her TBNYU! membership”

Haven’t the voters already spoken, then? And I love the framing of “illegitimate political action” – haven’t Bush era “free speech zones” turned you off to the idea that the ruling body itself should get to determine the manner in which it is opposed? Words like that are always used to condemn the people who actually end up getting things done. We’ve seen what progress petitions and committee meetings have. Now, by the time this is played out, we’ll see what progress this nets. Only time will tell.

“And I love the framing of “illegitimate political action” – haven’t Bush era “free speech zones” turned you off to the idea that the ruling body itself should get to determine the manner in which it is opposed? Words like that are always used to condemn the people who actually end up getting things done.”

What!!!!? There is no issue of free speech at NYU furthermore, your allusions to Bush and NYU are ludicrously outrageous.

The ruling body is made of students like you, me and Caitlin. In addition, they haven’t gotten anything done. In fact they make it more difficult for things to be done because students support their actions less and administrators don’t know what to expect when students act like animals.

@Christian: I have had direct meetings with President Sexton on this issue and issues of financial aid, and just because he nods and smiles when you speak, doesn’t mean he’s actually listening to what you’re saying.

“I have had direct meetings with President Sexton on this issue and issues of financial aid, and just because he nods and smiles when you speak, doesn’t mean he’s actually listening to what you’re saying.”

He actually speaks a lot…maybe even too much. Is the problem that we/you are not willing to accept his response? (which could be wrong) You don’t think he understands? Is that the issue?

@Christian: I’m sure he understands, he just doesn’t agree. Which is fine, but frustrating.

At best, the student senate can only make polite suggestions to the administration. They obviously don’t listen. Because of this, I don’t see how being a student senator and a TBNYUer are in conflict. The student senate hasn’t made any progress on this front, so she’s giving this a try. Also, TBNYU has asked many times to have peaceful negotiations with the administration and the administration refused. They also sent a list of their demands to the administration long before this ever happened with a deadline for the administration to respond by and when the deadline came, the administration did nothing. A public protest would be a logical next step, however radical this one is.

The ruling body is the NYU Administration, Christian. Unless it was the democratic “will of the people” that actually picked up the phone and called the cops, cut the power and internet, and refused to negotiate in good faith for the past several months. I must have missed that mass assembly.

And my point was simply that the most effective means of dissent are always considered “illegitimate” by those to whom the message is aimed at.

So not only is she two-faced, she is also a coward. I hope this cunt loses her position.

[...] was barred from the protesters’ planning meetings. Scooplet: one of the demonstrators is an elected student senator. [NYU [...]

NYU Local’s consistently snarky, hostile, proudly one-sided and pro-administration coverage of the Kimmel occupation has shown that they’re not real journalists and have no desire to be. A particularly low moment came last night when, because nobody wanted to talk to him, NYU Local snark-on-the-scene Charlie Eisenhood falsely, mockingly claimed that the students were “running away” and ending the occupation. Now, though he repeatedly claimed that he was in for the long haul and would continue to report, he’s gone home, and they’re still there.

This article is another low point. It contains no news and consists of a piss-poor argument: Take Back NYU! first tried to press their program of a democratic university by going through the official channels of student government, and in so doing they demonstrated that they have at least enough support in the student body to get Caitlin Boehne elected to the student senate. NYU Local’s argument is that this makes Take Back NYU! *less* credible. What? If they hadn’t first tried the official route and won an election (which is more than John Sexton’s ever done), you guys would be snarking like so: “I can’t believe the nerve of these people, I mean there’s a forum for the airing of such grievances and it’s called STUDENT GOVERNMENT!”

@Andrew Jensen: We’ve published an editorial from Duncan Meisel and another one is forthcoming. Supporters have been given an opportunity to further explain their reasoning but we report what people are talking about and the response to this particular TBNYU action has been overwhelmingly negative. Most of our staff, readers and the major sites that have linked to our coverage (everyone from NYMag to NYTimes’ City Room, Gawker and Curbed) are anything but enthusiastic about the methods and have little faith that they will pay off. So that is what we are writing.

It’s amazing how many people are willing to speak out against something that they know nothing about. If any of you knew how hard the students, including Caitlin have tried to accomplish things peacefully within the system, you would understand that this is a last resort. Many of these passionate individuals involved have been working on this campaign for years and had to get their voices heard before graduation. The occupation of Kimmel was not done hastily; it was thoroughly planned out. The problem that remains is that NYU is still unwilling to listen to the voice of its students, whether through formal channels or protests like this. So why don’t we talk about the real issues, like Abd Dhabi, a cap on tuition, and budget disclosure, as opposed to wasting our time talking about whether these students were right in taking action. They wanted to get your attention and the attention of everyone else on campus. Did it work?

So her response was to become an anarchist? That is what you are essentially saying. Nothing works…so screaming like a baby and interrupting the lives of your hard working peers is the response?

If this is a last resort that she is clearly unintelligent along with the rest of her Take Back contingent. There are plenty of other options to consider without having to embarass everyone.

NYU has listened and its a constant dialogue. We’ve talked about Abu Dhabi ad nauseaum, a cap on tuition is unrealistic in this economic climate and budget disclosure is something that can still be discussed but remember its a private university. They got out attention…and now what?

@Christina

I’m sorry Christina, what did you just say? I couldn’t hear you over the obnoxious prattle coming from Kimmel (im at Union Sq.)

We hear it all the time: no one has “access” to the Administration, and I m glad that TBNYU got everyone talking about it, and if I believed that Ms. Boehner honestly tried to use all of her contacts and influence, then maybe I would say there really is a flaw with NYU. But just because some kids put on a show doesn’t convince me.

@ Christina:

I will start off by saying that as a Senator, Caitlin has done some pretty important things like working on a proposed resolution about Human Rights at Study Abroad campuses. That being said, I hope she realizes that the reason the Coke ban was overturned was because it was what the majority of the students of the entire university (including Graduate and Masters students) wanted. To say that the SSC and the UCSL can only make “polite suggestions” is not only a huge understatement, but also a direct attack on the students working within the system for the students. What about the development of the new Student Health Center which came from budget suggestions? Or a proposal to ensure NYU contracts with third parties are fair? The SSC and the UCSL research topics and put a little blood and sweat into the issues and if you think they would just let their “polite suggestions” die at the first no they received, than you are sadly mistaken. Everyone one of those senators and representatives are DIEHARD for their students and Caitlin should know that because she at one point should have felt the exact same way. If her and the rest of TBNYU want to slap away the hand of the SSC and UCSL as they try and offer support, than she has no place in the system or school anymore.

I am not arguing that Caitlin’s decision to occupy Kimmel was a bad one (it was her decision to make), but rather that her decision to do so is at odds with the nature and responsibility of her Student Senator position.

On a side note: My impression of TBNYU!’s and many students’ complaints about the NYU administration is that they have made their opinions known to Sexton but ultimately Sexton disagrees with their opinions. This causes a lot of frustration.

This protest is a result of that frustration and the realization that NYU students don’t have any “right” beyond letting their opinion be known. In the end, Sexton disagrees with you and we can’t do anything about it besides compromising to something he can get behind.

Maybe they need to back up their opinions with facts. Do the research and take the steps necessary to prove your point.

Hey Pat McGroin,

I can’t tell from your name if you are a guy or a gal but I can tell you have all the social skills of a roach. If you interview for a job someday you hopefully will slip up and reveal what a roach you are.

Caitlin’s Uncle.

Perhaps Caitlin’s uncle should educate her on what exactly hypocrisy is.

This is posted on NYU Local? At this point, who doesn’t know that Caitilin Boehne is a CAS Student Senator? All I can see this as is an example of biased journalism: “If Caitlin believes this to be so, she needs to ask herself whether she belongs in the Student Government any longer. We need to ask ourselves whether we want her there.” Where is the Op-Ed supporting Boehne? Seriously? You guys are a joke.

Y’all are a bunch of jerks. Those of you who have criticized Caitlin or the choices she has made have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. Seriously. Zero.

I do not to a single person (not just students, anyone) at NYU that has worked as hard as Caitlin to make the school she loves a better place. In addition to being a part of Take Back NYU!, Caitlin was one of the core members of the Tuition Reform Action Committee, which seniors will remember. TRAC went through all of the “legitimate” channels, including student government, and like TBNYU! faced bureaucracy, apathetic students, and administrators that at best, ignored their concerns about rising costs of tuition and lack of financial aid, and at worst, actively tried to obstruct their campaign. Despite this experience with TRAC, Caitlin decided to give the senate a shot to help push TBNYU!’s goals through the student government. Unless any of you have put in the kind of effort that she has (time and effort that’s, I might add, on top of a full course load, a job, and law school applications) towards making this school a better, more affordable, and just place for your fellow students, I say you have no right to attack her actions on behalf of this cause, regardless of whether the occupation inconvenienced some of her constituents.

For those of you who have such faith in the University Senate, I urge you to do your homework.

First of all, the ruling body of NYU is NOT the senate, nor is it the administration. The Board of Trustees has the final say on any and every decision that is made at this school. Period. All of the wonderful things that student government has done, like getting the student health center, were possible because the Board didn’t disapprove. I’ve been working with Caitlin on the Code of Conduct for Fair Labor that someone above mentioned, and one of the most frustrating parts is the knowledge that even if we push the resolution, which is popular with both students and faculty, through the miles of bureaucracy needed to bring it to a vote in the Senate and it passes, and even if we convince President Sexton to support it, the Board of Trustees could just say “Meh. I don’t like it.” and that would be that. The Board is under no obligation to even take anything the Senate does into consideration.

Second of all, it’s actually a bit misleading to call the Senate “student government”. The University Senate is NOT comprised of only students, or even mostly students. Of the 80ish senators, only 22 are students: one from each school plus a couple at-large senators. The rest are faculty and administrators. While I think all three constituencies (and also contracted labor and non-administrative employees) should be part of decision making, it’s inaccurate to say that this body represents the students. Take the Coke ban for example. A many (if not most) of the student senators voted to keep the ban, and bodies that are solely comprised of students, like the Gallatin and CAS student councils, overwhelmingly voted to maintain it. In a representative democracy, it’s always possible that a decision made by elected officials will contradict popular opinion. But in this case, the decision didn’t even reflect the *representatives’* opinion.

Third of all, have you ever been to a senate meeting? If not, I encourage you to ask your senator for a guest pass to attend the next one. I had a rude awakening at my first one. These are not meetings for the discussion of ideas or concerns (certainly not of the students’). They are primarily forums for the dissemination of information, dominated by a handful of mostly male, mostly older faculty and staff. I could explain why I feel that real dialogue and democracy is similarly hindered by the student-only UCSL, but I’m afraid I may be tempted to make attacks on individuals in a way I’d rather not do on the internet. Given the lack of space for student voice in the Senate, I’m astounded that Caitlin managed to accomplish all that she did.

Fourth of all, being a senator doesn’t give anyone a magical in with John Sexton, or even more importantly, with the Board of Trustees. Obviously, student senators have more of a chance to hob-nob and rub elbows with big shots, but that’s not the same as unconditional, unlimited access to formal meetings, and it’s not the same as listened to and taken seriously. JSex didn’t even attended about half of the senate meetings this year, because of his involvement with NYU-Abu Dhabi. Take Back NYU!, including Caitlin, repeatedly requested meetings with top administrators but were ignored or belittled. Members of Take Back NYU! were at every town hall meeting Sexton hosted this year. And those of you who said maybe he just disagreed are right. However, I don’t think it’s acceptable for him to decide he disagrees without first listening to his students (who, btw Christian, HAVE done the research and know the facts) and engaging in a real dialogue. A town hall is supposed to be a forum for student concerns to be voiced right to the guy at the top, but at these meetings, students ask single, concise questions, and when they attempt to engage in more of a dialogue, they are lambasted by people, like NYULocal writers, for lacking respect. We can all agree that JSex talks a lot, and that’s fine. But when does he listen? I can read his writings online if I want to know what he thinks about university issues. But when he meets with students, that should be OUR opportunity to convince him. It’s exactly this notion that its a grand privilege to be in the presence of a high-up administrator that TBNYU! is trying to subvert. Every human deserves basic respect, but my ideas, and yours, and the senators’, and your roommate’s, and that weird kid who sits in the back of your history lecture’s, are every bit as important as the rambling philosophies of President Sexton. As students, we ARE the University. Our money, energy, brains, research, and labor make it function and thrive. But the way that our current system works, we don’t have an opportunity to play a role in shaping our own University.

Hokay, sorry I got a little distracted there. The point is, there is absolutely nothing “awkward” about Caitlin’s dual roles as senator and activist. When Caitlin ran for senate, she made clear her commitment to Take Back NYU!. Nothing deceptive or two-faced about it. Did those of you who disapprove of her actions even vote in that election? Did you attend the debate or read her personal statement? It was obvious she would do whatever was necessary to bring transparency, accountability, and democracy to NYU, and her commitments to both the senate and the TBNYU! coalition attest to just that. None of the occupiers know more about university governance than Caitlin, and her decision to participate proved what we already knew to be true: not only had TBNYU! exhausted all of NYU’s “legitimate channels”, those channels were insufficient to begin with.

Those of you who called Caitlin a coward or implied that she acted selfishly should be ashamed of yourselves. Caitlin made a difficult decision, risking suspension, homelessness, and her law school acceptances, so that YOU wouldn’t be left with crippling debt, so YOU could have some say in decisions that affect your education, and so our school would live up to its own principles. I’m honored to call her a classmate, fellow activist, and friend. I’m sorry you don’t realize how lucky you are to have her fighting for you, both in and outside the senate.

@ Joe G

I’m not a reporter for NYULocal, I just contributed an opinion article. An op-ed is biased by nature… And anyone who wasn’t at Kimmel when Boehne was giving her megaphone speeches probably didn’t know she was a Student Senator.

@Chris Kennedy

Understandable- but this just contributes to my overall opinion that NYU Local is publishing only one-sided articles, besides the few that Duncan wrote. But even those admit at the beginning “In our effort not to be completely one-sided in our Kimmel coverage,” maintaining that NYU Local is virtually “one-sided in their Kimmel coverage.” They admit to it.

If people like Claire Lewis would gather their thoughts concisely and write an article, NYULocal might become a little less biased. I certainly never read all the super long comments (like Claire’s above) that TBNYU! supporters always post, and I’m willing to bet most of our readers don’t either.

Although I’m certain that NYULocal editors would love to have more submitted opinions, especially from the unpopular side.

Also, may I remind you of the NYULocal polls which seem to display that most students following the protest don’t agree with it.

Well, I would like to offer that maybe if most students were not reading NYU Local articles (many people have called NYU Local the “real winner” of the Kimmel occupation, and almost everyone I know who was following the occupation read solely NYU Local), their opinions would perhaps be different. NYU Local was perhaps the most prominent media source for NYU Students during the occupation, considering the presence of Charlie on the inside, and NYU Local has presented a one-sided view on TBNYU! from the start.

So if everyone on campus is getting their “news” from the one-sided NYU Local, of course the student sentiment is going to fall their way. Especially when NYU Local claims it is the authority on the occupation, as it did only mere hours after its onset.

Why should be ashamed of myself when Caitlin actions embarassed NYU, her peers, the administration and the efforts of reasonable and rational people to get things done at NYU? Her actions did nothing. They were impractical, immature and without thought or reason. We are unlucky to have her in the Senate. It truly was a difficult decision, but rather stupid too. I hope she is removed from the senate as soon as possible.

“one of the most frustrating parts is the knowledge that even if we push the resolution, which is popular with both students and faculty, through the miles of bureaucracy”

This is a complete lie…there are no miles of bureaucracy…it’s either supported or not supported and you can send a recommendation directly to President Sexton.

TBNYU faced stupidity on their part, disorganization and lack of understanding for how policy changes and how to reasonably garner support for their causes. Now they are marginalized and known around the country for their childlish actions.

[...] well, leaving Kimmel about 20 minutes after telling us she was in it for the long haul. Also, she said the Senate is weak and ineffective.  Then why not [...]

Hey George, have you ever tried to have a resolution sent up through official channels for a vote in the senate? I encourage you to test out your “there’s no bureaucracy you just tell JSex yr suggestions” theory. Even more so, I encourage you to do so with something you care very passionately about, that you have invested a lot of time and energy into formulating. Statements like yours make it very clear to anyone who HAS tried to work through student government (even the ones who have been successful or who have faith in it) that you have no idea what you’re talking about.