it’s all over now…if you can’t kill time watching youtube, what CAN you do?

“I mean, possible expulsion is one thing, no internet is quite another.”
HAHAHA. you guys are great entertainment!

Why didn’t NYU do this the first day? Trip the breaker for the plugs, give it a couple hours for cell phones and laptops to run out of power, start negotiating with a group now cut off from the outside.

These guys are the most courageous folks ever! If I could only be like them, standing up for what I believe in and fighting the man! Hold the Space! Right On! Hell no, we won’t go! Power to the People! Give Peace a Chance! Help, I Need Somebody! Hey Jude!

For real, though, awesome. So, awesome. I mean I can’t tell you how awesome this. So, bad-ass, awesome, super-duper! Fantastical! Superb! Awesommmmmmmmmme!

Hold the Space!

@alex: Seriously, had they done this at like 11pm last night, they would have been out at 1 with no complaints. I, on the other hand, would have been without entertainment at work today. And that would have been sad.

I’m waiting for someone to add “A football helmet full of cottage cheese” and “Nude photos of Bee Arthur” to the list of demands.

They have lost power!

OHHHHHHHHHHH NOOOOO!

Hold the Space! Rock on! Keep it Up! Stay Firm! Go Deeper! Deeper!!!!!!

oh, i am spent…

according to someone in the facebook group:

UPDATE: The NYU administration just told the remaining student occupiers that 5 of them could go speak with administration reps about negotiation. When these 5 students left the space, they were detained and told they would be suspended. The remaining students are now in danger of being arrested right on the balcony.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=9b1edd5a887c709d5ddd125b8ffdf128&gid=65247395409

@Julian: looking into this now

charlie come back please!!!!!!!!!! i need you….

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, Feb. 20, 2009

Contacts:
Inside the Occupation:
Emily Stainkamp, (336) 207-8318
Farah Khimji, (214) 277-3879
Outside the Occupation:
Legba Carrefour, (703) 354-2044
Emma Gordon, (518) 221-5787
http://takebacknyu.com

NYU Students Shut Down Building In Protest;
Administration shuts off internet, power, restroom access, refuses to
negotiate and initiates police raid.

New York – A student occupation of an NYU building stretched into its
third day as the demonstration shut down the entirety of the Kimmel
Center on Washington Square. Police clashed with supporters outside
overnight and the NYU administration refused to negotiate with
protesters, instead turning off internet and power, cutting off
restroom access and sending police to raid the space, arresting and
assaulting students.

Seventy students from campus group Take Back NYU! continued to
barricade themselves inside a third-floor cafeteria of the Kimmel
Center in a protest that began Wednesday evening. Demanding affordable
education, student power in university operations, protections for
campus workers, including unions for graduate students and adjuncts,
as well as amnesty for their actions, students sought to meet with
administration but have so far been rebuffed. After the admnistration
asked to meet and discuss with students in good faith, a student
negotiation team of five people was seized and suspended and police
began a raid of the space.

Students report that internet and power was cut off this morning,
making communications with press difficult. Students began defacating
in buckets of kitty litter after losing access to restrooms. Outside,
supporters, who came from all over the East Coast, swelled into the
hundreds overnight, with crowds chanting “Whose School? Our School!”
into the early morning. Police briefly clashed with protesters, pepper
spraying the crowd and arresting one youth grabbed at the edge of the
rally. The occupation was identified by participants and supporters as
part of a growing student power movement that was sweeping the United
States and Europe, with university occupations at the New School in
the Fall semester and the University of Rochester two weeks ago.

“We’re still reaching out to the administration to negotiate, but
they’ve responded with force, attempts to stop press from speaking
with us, making us pee in buckets, and even arresting us,” said Farah
Khimji, a second year student. “This isn’t how you educate youth to
build a better world, so we plan on doing it ourselves.”

The group has asked for press and supporters to rally outside the building.

###

Take Back NYU! members inside the occupation are rapidly losing access
to the outside world. If press is unable to contact them, please
contact the outside spokespersons for comment.

Interesting that they shut off the Internet. I’ll bet the only reason they left it up for the past couple days was because they were using my updates to stay on top of what was going on inside.

@Ameneh: I’ll have a big post detailing lots of what I COULDN’T say on the liveblog after this is all over. I’m not gone!

Don’t give up the occupation until we get another day of naked boobies!

(MA, Tisch ‘06)

Charlie, I have never really cared for internet journalism, but I must say, but the time tomorrow’s NY Times story came out online at midnight, all of their information had already been obviated by your blog hours before. You have completely turned me into a believer. Fantastic job, and thanks for keeping us informed.

Also, major lols @ the press release for their selective editing, conveniently forgetting Gaza, Bobst, dancing, buckets, arms, and doors.

Charlie, I commend the job you did live blogging. As a fan of journalism of the old school, I wonder if some of your opinions should have been kept out of the commentary, but I appreciated the info and humor. In the end, the only side I’ve decided to take is the side of Charlie. Nice job.

You guys are despicable. NYU is an private educational institution and the students do not have a right to demand that the school get involved in political fights. What does Gaza have to do with NYU. I agree it would be extrememly generous if NYU gave scholarships and supplies to students in Gaza but honestly, that is no reason stage a rediculous sit-in. Just because I want a BMW does not give me the right to barge into a dealership and refuse to leave until they give me one for free. Honestly grow up. Furthermore, I agree it would be nice if NYU had a transparent budget but once again, its a private institution that does not have to disclose that information. Anyway, what are you going to do with that infromation if it is released? its not like we can change the spending of a private institution. Finally, we would all like lower tuition but I would also love to live ina world full of lollipops and candy but it can’t happen. Grow up and realize that this is the real world and not some fantasy land. You are acting like completely spoiled petchulant children who are throwing a temper tantrum. Please stop embarrasing the student body of NYU, because you do not represent us!

@ John G.

It’s hilarious that this guy is coming in so late in the game, and that he seems to think this is TBNYU’s website.

LOL ENJOY JAIL YOU PIECES OF SHIT

And they, (and we) like the palestinians, are going to get jack shit for all this senseless instigating … they should have compromised with the 2 AM deal.

Thank you Charlie!

But wait, they still have a chance to sign the deal and if they do? Just read the statement and I’m confused by the last paragraph.

Farah Khimji is an employee of NYU and will most probably get terminated.

NEVER FORGET:

These kids took DUMPS in BUCKETS in the KIMMEL DINING HALL.

They’re staying until their arrested because they’ve realized that the only way they can possibly have any affect and make any of this worthwhile is to martyr themselves.

Fortunately, not enough people are stupid enough to see it that way.

Drew’s a wacko. I’ve been in a class with Sarah. Didn’t think she had it in her.

From above:
Khimji claims she was pushed to the ground and physically subdued by 3-4 NYU security guards.

While I don’t personally agree with this, accounts of police brutality usually means that TBNYU has no leverage and this is all they have left to talk about.

“Farah Khimji, one of the leaders of the protest, left the building around 12:40pm and began to talk to press cameras. Councilman Barron stood alongside her as she issued her statement claiming security guard brutality. Khimji claims she was pushed to the ground and physically subdued by 3-4 NYU security guards. “This is absurd. It’s an outrage. You don’t put a hand on any of the students in the building.” – Councilman Barron.”

I’m having a hard time believing this. Judging by the actions of TBNYU! and their dislike of the NYU administration, I wouldn’t be surprised if Farah was completely making this up.

And who the hell is this Barron guy? Where did he come from? Just another politician jumping on a bandwagon (and not much of one), hoping to get some positive press.

Students who participated should be expelled. Those who did damage should be sued and all outsiders should be arrested and prosecuted!

NYU is a private institution. These idiots have no right to ask a private institution for anything.

If they are unhappy with NYU then they are welcome to go to a public institution.

If only NYU had dealt with them on the first day instead of allowing their nonsense to continue.

God, the Muhlenberg kid pisses me off.

If they stay and get arrested they get more media coverage, and they get to say they got arrested! It appears that these folks have learned nothing from political organizing, social movements, and student protest lessons of the past. Its unfortunate because they discredit some of their “causes” and others (on the left) who are working to make change. They have a lot of energy and I wish it had gone to something more useful. I have to say I am really impressed with both the NYU Security and the NYPD for their restraint. These kids are lucky and just goes to show you how much privilege they really enjoy.

Also, too bad TBNYU covered up all the security cameras on the 3rd Floor. There goes your evidence of brutality.

howard zinn and noam chomsky?

what about Bill O’Reilly and Jacques Cousteau and Yasir Arafat [from below our feet] and Donald Winicott?

Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky? Prove it. Don’t drag respected educators and philosophers into this just to try to make a statement if you can’t back up your claims.

@ Henry – Yes, it seems a sad attempt at leverage that she will most likely recant within the day.

@ Matt B. – AGREED (re: Muhlenberg). Though his “I’m looking up some performance poetry” was on of the highlights of the livefeed last night.

In response to someone who commented on France’s education system as opposed to America’s… I’m not sure who you talked to in France, but the education system there is not by any means better than here. They have to choose a specialization by lycee and are required to write very very structured essays where the structure is more important than the content. There have been riots in France concerning education reforms, etc. I spoke to many people who complained that they aren’t allowed to express their opinions in class and are taught the opinions of the professor. While I’m not condemning this protest, I think that a lot of people are speaking before thinking, for the sake of protest.

Be realistic. Be reasonable.

Wouldn’t it be great if this whole event was a huge farce staged to ridicule the radical left?

Let me just say that, as a recent graduate and a former writer for WSN, I’m impressed by how thoroughly you guys have demolished their coverage of this. Charlie Eisenhood should win some kind of award.

@ Brett – Ah, no. Because a lot of time and resources have been wasted. And not just the university’s. NYPD. Media. And I haven’t done any work since Wednesday (kidding on that point). In any event, this was a farce. Intended or not.

Go Charlie! Totally awesome coverage. You have a great career ahead of you in journalism. Unlike the TBNYers, you’re the kind of NYU student who makes me proud to be an alum. Keep on keepin’ brother!

This is by far not my only issue with this whole ridiculous event, but I need to say that I have worked in Kimmel for 4 years and have developed close relationships with many of the security guards. They are wonderful, gentle people who respect the students and would not use force—certainly not “brutal” force—on students, EVER.

Now whether this girl deserved to be forcefully subdued, that’s another story. But I assure you the guards did not do it.

LOL:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?sid=312e6fb18c48901dccc71d7ff547429d&gid=45544342203

@Chris Foster: Agreed that Alex Lotorto’s mad search for performance poetry last night was probably one of the most unintentionally hilarious aspects of this mind-bogglingly pointless exercise.

But he’s not even a student at NYU? Eugh…

Nice kiffeyeh, too. You and Rachel Ray, so edgy… douchebag.

AHHH! It’s the muhlenberg douche and the creepy kid with the pedo moustache.

The negativity here is astounding.

PEDRO mustache lol

@gbc

/fist bump

u making me laugh bob jones, just like back in middle school

so according to wsn, it’s all over???

http://blogs.nyunews.com/2009/02/20/all-have-left-kimmel-no-one-arrested/

lets get some updates!

@Lisa B.

You people are all so ridiculous! If you went to a restaurant and were completely dissatisfied with your meal, would you not voice your complaints? And just because NYU is a private school doesn’t mean the people who PAY for it’s SERVICES shouldn’t be allowed to voice their complaints. Gee whiz, I went to a private high school and you should know damn well that when my parents thought I was being mistreated or a policy was unfair, that they advocated on my behalf. People “pay” to attend public universities, as inferior as *most* of them are, it’s called TAXES. Technically, the taxes from my job, and my mother’s job pay for students to attend the University of Texas, which I chose not to attend because I wanted a quality education and not some beer-chugging, football college experience. Whether you agree with the protesters’ demands, or not, these students are paying for a service, and have every right to evaluate and critique said service.
If anything, students at private schools/universities should have more say in the educational system since they finance not only their own educations, but those of the underachievers at Manhattan community college.

Khimji claims she was pushed to the ground and physically subdued by 3-4 NYU security guards. “This is absurd. It’s an outrage. You don’t put a hand on any of the students in the building.”
________________________________________

Interesting, since her actions and planning directly led to two security guards going to the hospital including one with a head injury, not to mention damage to the building.

@Julian: Lily is putting up a new post now with all the consolidated info.

awww guys you got SCOOPED. its over and not a word on nyulocal. :(

You people are myopic and fascist. This is a vegan friendly, pro-palestine movement of enlightened members of the underclass, committed to bringing about earth-friendly, pro-planet, meat free love and peace to all. Fight the power!

@ Emily A. – I don’t have words to express how disgusting your statement is. I certainly hope you paid a hefty price for your non-”beer-chugging, football college experience” and complained every day that the entire system didn’t bow to your command. I also look forward to when you one day enslave the “underachievers” who have wronged you and your poor mother so badly.

I have a kaffiyeh, a bucket, and a sack of freegan perishables. Where do I sign up for this outrageous act of heroism?

@ Emily A.

So you KNOWINGLY chose to pay $200k to attend NYU instead of $32k to attend UT because you wanted a “good school”?

You know UT is like 10 spots behind NYU in the US News rankings, right?

Enjoy debtor’s prison.

viva la stainpants

Wait, so now it’s a vegan cause, too? MAKE UP YOUR MINDS.

haha sorry, now you’ve updated. i love you nyulocal.

[...] pm Update: NYULocal reported at 12:50 that all protesters had left Kimmel except for four who remained on the balcony. According [...]

[...] UPDATE: “they have the support of Howard Zinn and Noam Chomsky.” [...]

Farah Khimji is being paid to organize these rallies, check her bank info. She has discussed this with me on several occasions and has a vested financial interest in this “protest”. She had a relationship with a friend of mine who was not very nice to her, and became radicalized overnight. As for Charles Barrons after winning his City Council seat in 2001, Barron quickly advanced a sectarian political agenda based largely on the perceived grievances of his black supporters. As one of his first official acts, Barron urged the removal of George Washington’s portrait from Borough Hall in Brooklyn on the grounds that Washington was a slave-owner. Barron next denounced Thomas Jefferson, whose statue was housed in the chamber of the City Council, as a “slaveholding pedophile.” On another occasion he called Jefferson “a slaveholder, a hypocrite, and a rapist.” That Barron delighted in his race-conscious demagoguery was evident from the start: “We’re bringing the ‘hood to the Hall!” he proclaimed in 2002.

From: Michael Letwin
Date: Fri, Feb 20, 2009 at 9:52 PM
Subject: Hands Off Student Protesters
To: john.sexton@nyu.edu, jhb5@nyu.edu, provost@nyu.edu, evp@nyu.edu
Cc: fnk205@gmail.com, emilystainkamp@gmail.com

To: NYU President John Sexton; John Beckman, NYU Spokesperson; Office of the Provost; Office of the Vice President

New York City Labor Against the War denounces in the strongest possible terms the NYU administration’s deceitful and vindictive treatment of student protesters who occupied the Kimmel Center.

The administration falsely agreed to negotiate, only to detain and suspend the students’ representatives. It then forcibly removed the remaining protesters — some of whom were assaulted by NYU security — and evicted them from their dorm rooms.

These students’ nonviolent protest rightly demanded that NYU serve its student body, and that the University be financially transparent and accountable. It is particularly honorable that they demand that NYU support the people of Gaza and end all University complicity with the Israeli apartheid regime.

Their action is in the finest tradition of the civil rights, Vietnam antiwar and anti-apartheid movements. We are very proud of them.

We therefore join in demanding that NYU administration immediately:

1. Rescind suspensions, housing evictions and all other disciplinary action against the student protesters.

2. Meet the students’ demands.

Michael Letwin
Co-Convener, New York City Labor Against the War; Former President, Association of Legal Aid Attorneys/UAW Local 2325

[...] DAY THREE [...]

your parents must be so proud, Alex….

Noam Choamsky? Charles Baron? Who is missing Ethel Rosenberg? Baron is a supporter of Zimbabwe thug Robert Mugabe. Mugabe would never allowed this sort of protest.

Hey folks. It makes me laugh how you have absolutely no information about me or my background, have clearly not read about the demands for an affordable education we are fighting for, and Take Back NYU! is not a failure. They have legitimized their demands after two years of struggling to be heard. Many of them work multiple jobs and had to leave the sit-in to work. I grew up in rural PA, with no health care, no dentist, my family claiming bankruptcy, my dad in rehab, and very very little privileges. My mom is a florist with diabetes that is killing her. It’s made her blind with cataracts, forced emergency heart bypass surgery, a foot amputation, and now kidney failure. We had no health care to pay for any of that. My dad is a landscaper who plows driveways in the winter. I have worked every summer and every break in beer stores, ice cream stores, cleaning shopping centers, and landscaping rich fuckers houses with my dad. I have only been out of the northeast twice with trips on my grampa’s life insurance money. Wealth is not in my family. I am working class. I am struggling with my debt that my *need-based* scholarships cannot cover. I attended the cheapest college I got into. I haven’t bought new clothes in two years. I am non-violent for now, but my rage is infinite and bottomless against the people who have driven me into a despair over my mom and my powerlessness without money to buy my politicians. I’ve written hundreds of letters and made hundreds of phone calls to congressmen about my deep-felt anger about their irresponsibility. I took a semester off in DC to do work on poverty, healthcare, and anti-war issues that directly affect me. I lobbied congressmen who could care less. Then I see them destroying the lives of millions of people across the oceans. What little tax money and tuition money I pay, goes towards cluster bombs and tanks to occupy Arabs in racist wars for profit. Generals, politicians, and CEOs are stepping on the heads of everyone else for benefit. I’m sick and tired of privileged people sitting on their couches, with the power to persuade the system to work otherwise, and doing NOTHING BUT VOTING. That’s why I am non-violent for now. But if the system kills my mom, which it will, and keeps butchering people in wars, prisons, and on the streets of my country…I can’t express how prepared I am to take care of the motherfuckers myself. No justice, no peace will take on a whole different meaning when my mom is on her death bed. If you are working class, then I am struggling for you because I identify with what you’re facing. You haven’t met the Alex Lotorto that sits listening to his generation watching MTV down the hall in the dorm as he clenches his fist because he just had to force the doctor over the phone to perform a surgery on his mom because she didn’t want it and wanted to die. After that, every story coming out of Iraq, Afghanistan, and Palestine makes me overwhelmed. The difference is, I can do something about it here. I can lean and push on the system, shut it down, and make it stop its violence.

That’s what I attempted to do at NYU, like I attempt to do every day at Muhlenberg. If you don’t think it worked, don’t just criticize me, START YOUR OWN MOVEMENT AND FIX IT. Maybe I’ll join it.

OK, Alex…start your own movement that addresses your own concerns. Don’t show up at some other school that people VOLUNTARILY pay craploads of money to attend and stage a terribly lame takeover that lacks a coherent message.

I blame Clark Kerr.

Alex, your mother’s and father’s diseases were not caused by any “system,” and the illogical mental leaps that you make, linking your personal setbacks and misfortunes to a political system, reveal your lack of maturity and your limited analytical ability. The vast majority of people work for a living. So do you. Boo hoo. People get sick. Most people don’t blame others for it. Your favorite totalitarian government Hamas has a special career reserved for compulsive dissident malcontents like you who project their personal rage on their surrounding communities: suicide bomber. Run along now and get your free belt.