National - Friday, September 25, 2009 15:30 - 6 Comments
UCSC Students Go All TBNYU On the Administration
Looks like the California budget crisis is causing strife in the state schools. Following budget cuts and tuition hikes, twenty unidentified individuals holed up in UC Santa Cruz’s Graduate Student Commons yesterday.
They’re not the only UC location that’s been the site of some protesting; UC Berkely is dealing with widespreading protesting and a faculty strike in response to sweeping budget cuts.
Apparently none of the actual occupants at UCSC were available for comment, but they have a large crowd of supporters outside. And they’re not completely cut off from the world: they’ve got a Twitter feed, and they’ve released a statement explaining their reasons for occupying. Full text of the statement below the fold.
Continue…
On Campus - Wednesday, February 25, 2009 16:52 - 6 Comments
NYU Faculty Democracy Stands Against Kimmel Occupiers’ Suspension
As many students await the disciplinary fate of the Kimmel 18, the New York University chapter of Faculty Democracy has a petition on their website calling on the university to withhold any form of punishment until after appropriate hearings. “If there is disciplinary action, it should follow—not precede—fair hearings, in which both sides are represented and the faculty consulted,” the petition reads.
The statement seems fairly “radical” by our administration’s standards, but is exceptionally well reasoned and articulate and features signatures from such notable faculty as Gallatin professor Stephen Duncombe and Journalism professor/cultural critic Mark Dery. The full text is after the jump. Continue…
On Campus - Tuesday, February 24, 2009 11:47 - 18 Comments
Only Student Arrested During Occupation Speaks Out
Alexander Deschamps, Steinhardt ‘09, was the only NYU student arrested during the occupation of Kimmel last week. He was charged with unlawful assembly, inciting a riot, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental administration after climbing a ‘No Parking’ sign outside of Kimmel late night Thursday, according to NY Daily News.
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:
Featured, On Campus - Monday, February 23, 2009 21:09 - 70 Comments
Of Secret Meetings and Meager Eating: My Final Thoughts On The Kimmel Occupation
Three days have now passed since the end of my long stay inside the barricaded Kimmel dining hall and I’ve finally had a chance to sit down and collect my thoughts about the experience. I have some information to share that I couldn’t publish during the occupation (for various reasons) and ideas about why the response from the NYU and outside community has been resoundingly negative. I’ve had the chance to speak with lots of students, faculty, and administrators today and over the weekend – opinions have been fairly consistent.
Most thought the demands were too scatter shot, even if they agreed with some or all of them. Most thought TBNYU’s hypocrisy was very damaging, especially surrounding the revised statement of non-violence and abstention from property damage. Opinions about the proper consequences have been more mixed – something I will touch on after the jump.
On Campus, On-Campus Developing - Friday, February 20, 2009 0:06 - 392 Comments
NYU Occupation: Late Night Thread
12:05 – Negotiations continue, kick up those comments.
12:10 – Students just took over 4th st. in front of Kimmel. LOTS of people. Photo to follow.
12:14 – Tipster says cops are congregating by Skirball Center (side of Kimmel, for those who don’t know). Apparently we are unable to see them. I’ll take a look and see if I can get a pic.
More after the jump. Continue…
On Campus, On-Campus Developing - Thursday, February 19, 2009 19:21 - 292 Comments
Night Falls On the NYU Protesters: Will Negotiations Happen?
For my previous coverage of this event, go here.
7:04 – As TBNYU’s new rules bar me from basically every meeting, my voice, the voice going out to the people, is being silenced. As I sit far, far away, the protesters scheme and plot while leaving me totally unrepresented. These kind of scare tactics will not stand! Here are my demands:
First, I demand to be allowed to continue to blog from here in the occupied space even if I betray TBNYU’s trust, lie, or commit other egregious ethics violations.
Second, I demand full negotiation plan disclosure.
Third, I demand that a group of NYU Local writers form a new oversight committee with full power to override any TBNYU plans that are deemed bad ideas.
Fourth, I demand a silly antic rate increase of no more than 1%/year.
Fifth, I demand that 13 NYU Local writers be given full member fee waivers to join TBNYU, including funding for spraypaint and vegan delicacies.
Sixth, I demand that the Taiwanese get all leftover vegan foods.
Whose radical student group? OUR RADICAL STUDENT GROUP.
(I kid TBNYU, I kid. Don’t throw me out of here – see my first demand).
More liveblog after the jump. Continue…
On Campus - Thursday, February 19, 2009 18:55 - 5 Comments
Stop Changing Your Agenda, TBNYU
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? Continue…
On Campus, On-Campus Developing - Thursday, February 19, 2009 6:50 - 211 Comments
Day 2: NYU Students’ Occupation of Kimmel
For previous coverage of this occupation, go here.
Follow us on Twitter for extended coverage! And Digg us!
6:45 AM - As the sun rises and the protesters wake from their uncomfortable sleep, there is an air of excitement about and anticipation of the coming day. I overheard one woman say, “I’m more scared about missing class then getting arrested!” The leading organizers have been prepping for upcoming negotiations and figuring out what exactly they want to say to the administration. The admins will be meeting at 8 AM to discuss their options. Stay tuned to this post all day for a liveblog with your bleary-eyed, fake-journalist broski.
6:52 - So much for the dining hall employees not crossing “picket lines.” I just spoke to a chef who told me he’s going to go ahead and prep for the day unless his boss calls him to tell him not to. So Kimmel Marketplace still could be open. TBNYU people are worried they might try to open the gates, breaching their barricade.
Full coverage after the jump. Continue…
