But in a statement submitted to NYU Local (in full after the jump), Deschamps proclaims his innocence and clarifies his relationship with TBNYU! Unlike the privileged and spoiled brats that some news organs choose to stereotype NYU students as, Deschamps is financially independent and pursues a full course load in Studio Art on top of working 20 hours a week.
Here is his statement:
Let me start by saying that I participated in a peaceful demonstration and that I have committed no crimes. I was arrested at around 1:30 am on Friday morning in front of Kimmel. I was standing up on a bicycle, trying to get the attention of one of my friends from across the crowd, when a swarm of NYPD pulled me from behind the guard rail, tackled me and cuffed me. I spent close to 24 hours in Jail, and am facing criminal charges that are based on a falsified report by my arresting officer. My arrest was in no way intentional or a stunt, and I’m very unhappy about it, but so long as everybody’s asking why I was involved in the protest, I might as well say my piece:
I would like to speak to the whole student body of NYU when I say that we should all be concerned with the issue of budget disclosure and transparency at our University. As a senior who has acrued six figures worth of loans, I’d like to know that my money is being spent properly, responsibly, and legally. I think it is unfortunate that the organizers of this protest allowed this very important issue to get muddled with other, political issues that are unrelated to the budget and tuition. It did harm to the public face of the protest, and to popular opinion about student activism. However, this does not mean that we should throw the baby out with the bathwater. You would think that everybody who attends this university would like to know how their money is being spent. NYU needs to at least acknowledge this protest and hold open public discourse about it, instead of trying to sweep the whole issue under the rug by issuing suspensions and saying nothing.
Thanks,
Alexander Deschamps
“Unlike the privileged and spoiled brats that some news organs choose to stereotype NYU students as…”
Way to not take responsibility for a critique which you obviously share. That the students inside were privileged is a claim which no news source has dared investigate. But let’s pretend that all the students inside were tremendously privileged, for the sake of lazy reportage.
This is just a red herring for reactionary politics on the part of centrist and right-leaning rags. It’s simply laughable to suggest that the NY Post, or any other of its ilk, would support direct action by any grassroots group. If this were a neighborhood in Bed Stuy, perhaps they would depict all the direct actionists as monkeys.
Stop hiding behind the “privileged” critique!
I am definitely not suggesting that I think NYU students (or the protesters) are brats – why do you think I called the brat-label a stereotype and explicitly said “some in the media” then cited The NY Post?!
Where in this post does it suggest that the author shares the opinions of the NY Post? Just because Local coverage has been critical of much of what happened doesn’t mean that any of us believe that those who occupied Kimmel were “privileged and spoiled brats.”
Uh, I love this boy.
The “privileged” critique is something that has always been lobbed at NYU students. The price tag to attend the university is absurd, but many of us are going into massive amounts of debt to get an education here. That NYU is so shitty with financial aid is not a testament to the fact that the student population is rich and can afford NYU; it actually just means a lot of us are weighted down with unimaginable debt. We made the choice to go to NYU, but that does not come without a price. (Probably a six-figure one that will haunt us forever)
I don’t agree with TBNYU on most things, and I think their methods were profoundly flawed, but in terms of Deschamps’ comments, budget disclosure is actually an issue that deserves investigation: and that’s because we AREN’T privileged. Not only do we want to know where our money’s going, but since we’re building up so much debt, we actually kind of NEED to.
That said, “Tim Hearin” either misread the article or was too quick to jump on the press-critique band wagon. As NYU students, no one dislikes the overgeneralized NYU privilege argument more than we do.
First off, thank you Alex for speaking on the issue. Secondly I agree that the protest was a flawed afair, but the means should not obscure the importance of the end. Everyone I know, “privlaged” or not acknowlages the huge price tag this university holds. Whatever your financial backround, budget disclosure is something useful.
And lastly, Hearin; actually understanding something you are attacking is probably a good idea. I mean, come on; the first word of the sentence was UNLIKE. It is even the first word of your comment, which means you ignored it a second time and it is kinda a big word. Let me explain That means what the writer is saying is contrary to the opinion she is mentioning. I know it can be hard sometimes. Those little words can slip through the cracks of preception when your are trying so hard and blindly to make yourself out to be a fool.
The below comments are truly strange. The word ‘unlike’ is set to set Deschamps against the rest of the students qua occupants–seen from the comparison of Deschamps’ grievances and those of the occupants inside. Next, NYU Local writers have shared the same BS critiques of media outlets like the NY Post–please review the occupation commentary on this website. And one of them shared them in person, too, when he wasn’t plugging away on his keyboard.
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@Hearin – Um, no. Actually, if you read the words in the sentence (without the NYU Local disdaining-lens you seem to have adopted) you would see that ‘unlike’ is set to contrast Deschamps with the brat-stereotype used to characterize NYU students by publications like the NY Post. I do this to disprove what the NY Post says, rather than support it.
You should get some psychological help.
I really don’t think you actually believe that your teachers are using all that money on crack.
Unfortunately, because we attend a private university, they administration has no obligation to disclose anything to the students.
I don’t claim to be an expert on tuition reform or transparency, but honestly there must be different questions we could be asking our university besides blind pleas for disclosure.
“As a senior who has acrued six figures worth of loans, I’d like to know that my money is being spent properly, responsibly, and legally.”
Thing is Alex, once you write that check to NYU, it’s not your money anymore. It’s theirs. If you don’t like the way they’re going to spend it, your best bet is to not give it to them in the first place. There are many, MANY other educational options both in NYC and elsewhere. NYU is not unique.
I find it really upsetting how often I’m seeing comments like “That’s just the way NYU is…” or “NYU is a private university, live with it,” “If you don’t like it, leave.” That’s so defeatist and passive. What on EARTH is wrong with wanting to change the situations around you for the better. Clearly, most students seem to agree that budget disclosure, transparency, and socially responsible investing are all good things that at the moment NYU has no accountability for. You don’t feel like you have the right to demand it of your university, because of all these excuses- “it’s just the way things are.” Take Back NYU is trying to make it so you can hold your university accountable for these things, which everyone seems to be a-ok about. They are trying to gain you the opportunity to take control of your NYU investment so you DON’T have to say “that’s just how it is.” I totally fail to see what’s wrong with that.
@Keri: There is nothing wrong with trying to convince NYU to change their policies in a lawful manner. What TBNYU did was illegal, not to mention costly, inconvenient, and disrespectful to other members of the NYU community. TBNYU violated the law and university policy and then acted outraged when they were punished for their actions.
My comment above implied that one lawful and potentially effective way to persuade NYU to change their policies would be to stop giving them money. This is also known as a boycott. Boycotts have often been effective at achieving social change. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgomery_Bus_Boycott.
And please, PLEASE do not try and bring up the 1st Amendment. If you think TBNYU’s actions were in any way constitutionally protected, you should probably enroll in a constitutional law course asap lest you continue to make a fool out of yourself.
The manner in which these protesters engaged themselves in shows how little in which they understand the processes they attempted to engage themselves in. However, to be so privileged and then to act in such a disrespectful manner, is something that many of us in modern day society have come to expect from the spoiled youth of today. Allow me to break down some of the places where you children went horribly wrong. Let us confer to this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q6KAg6qEGY
0:35 — “Fucking scumbags.” The individual who made such a lewd comment to somebody who is speaking appropriately and respectfully to you is just pathetic. Not only do you hinder your cause, but you show how much of your effort is just mere anti authoritarian action. It destroys any merit that you had.
0:37-0:59 — The whining baby who keeps mouthing off needs to get some perspective of the real world. I realize mommy and daddy more than likely have given him a sheltered life, free from the sufferings of your average American, but that doesn’t absolve him of the standards of decency to which are expected of us.
1:20 — To the ‘leader’ who claims it is a student space. No it isn’t. This is a building managed by the administration. You have no control over the property or how it is used and any claim otherwise is pure tomfoolery. If you wanted a space of your own you should have rented a location or obtained the proper permits for a specific location in which you have legal authorization to engage in properly coordinated protests.
1:30 — You don’t know what brutality is. But it seems that you see that invading your personal bubble is brutality. It is a shame that such resources are wasted on you.
2:05 — The reason they aren’t explaining to you what is going on is because you are unfathomably unreasonable. As you have shown earlier in the video — If their actions do not coincide with your exact wishes and perspective it is ‘unnecessary’.
2:30 — The man in the red shirt and hat who is explaining to you should be commended for his proper etiquette when handling you. You are acting like paranoid child, get a grip on yourself.
2:40 — Now that is how you should behave. Good job on that part.
4:15 — That man should be given a medal. He truly cares and is doing his very best to work with you, an unreasonable student. If he wanted to he could have had that officer detain you at any time for your conduct on NYU premises. Instead he is trying to calmly explain to you the procedure in which he is taking and attempting to calm you down so you don’t get further out of hand.
5:30 — Speaker you really need to work at McDonald’s for a few years. You also need some blue collar work so you get a better perspective of how you are behaving.
5:50 — How pathetic of you. Don’t scream like a frantic child. Nobody was hurting you or assaulting you.
6:40 — The man even backed away to give you more space. It was obvious with how scattered your group was that you had no actual plan. You just wanted to be hip & edgy, showing that you ‘aren’t going to take it anymore!’
8:15 — Now I’m just laughing. A MacBook? And you guys say you aren’t privileged brats. Designer clothing and MacBooks… woe are you.
8:30-8:57 — The anti establishment quips really show how little you understand about the world around you. If you really genuinely understanding of the issues that you are ‘protesting’ about you wouldn’t even be at NYU. Nor would you be wearing designer clothes or using MacBooks.
You guys acted inappropriately and take a good look at yourselves. Hopefully you will gain some perspective from your probation/etc.
Spoiled! Just go to a SUNY school where you can get the same education for less money.
You have to enderstand that education is for the masses and you might not need it as much as everybody else. You don’t need to be told what to learn – but if you want to learn your subject, learn it otherwise get along in the world without higher education. Have your say this protesting is “silly”. From myspace.com/thefruitisinthetree x – add: Looks like I’m not the only one who thinks this – I’m a student working towards being a responsible professional – life is hard – and you’re giving us students a bad name by doing this. I’d never thought I’d say this but please grow up
p.s. I agree with Erric Mains last post.
p.p.s. At least you’re not serious criminals, though & NYU’s actions go against 1st amendment – still I don’t agree with all this protesting – forget all this and concentrate on your studies and that study is right for you – you’re supposed to be smart – and if you’re private make sure you know where you moneys’ going before you release it, blimey. Richard Osborne, OU (GB)..