Thursday, December 18, 2008

In Solidarity with the Students @ The New School

Last night a group of students barricaded themselves in the New School demanding “Books Not Bureaucracy” and the removal of New School President Bob Kerrey. Their protest could not come at a more appropriate time as Gov. Patterson proposes tax increases that would make young New Yorker's (particularly grad students and undergrads on financial aid) now meager standards of living pretty much unlivable. The effects of this financial crisis on young people cannot be cast aside and the students at New School are making their voices heard. In Solidarity!


From New York City:

We have just occupied New School University.

We liberate this space for ourselves, and all those who want to join us, for our general autonomous use. We take the university in explicit solidarity with those occupying the universities and streets in Greece, Italy, France and Spain.

This occupation begins as a response to specific conditions at the New School, the corporatization of the university and the impoverishment of education in general. However, it is not just this university but also New York City that is in crisis: in the next several months, thousands of us will be losing our jobs, while housing remains unaffordable and unavailable to many and the cost of living skyrockets.

So we stress that the general nature of these intolerable conditions exists across the spectrum of capitalist existence, in our universities and our cities, in all of our social relations. For this reason, what begins tonight at the New School cannot, and should not, be contained here.

Thus: with this occupation, we inaugurate a wave of occupations in New York City and the United States, a coming wave of occupations, blockades, and strikes in this time of crisis.

Be assured, this is only the beginning,

With solidarity and love from New York to Greece,
To Italy, France and Spain,
To the coming insurrection.

-The occupied New School


Check out NYT coverage of the Occupation: "Protest at the New School Seeks Kerrey’s Ouster"

Also see Gov. Patterson's tax and fee hikes on the young: "Fees, taxes, outlook would make NY tough on young"

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great Another Example of what our educational system produces. Is it just me or does anybody else wonder if this person has ever held a real job other than being a professional student. Working at the GAP would at least make you aware of the real world.
Wake up Sista!

Marisol LeBron said...

If you don't like the subject matter of this blog don't read it. Now excuse me while I put in that application at the GAP...oh wait, that's right, we're in a recession and no one can get a job because of bullshit like what the kids at New School are protesting. How ironic.

Anonymous said...

Just what I thought you never held a job. Its called the internet sista, free opinion, freedom of thought. Just because I dont think like you ...you tell me to go away.
Why do you have a blog if you dont want to listen to other peoples opinion. You think its cool for people to burn and hurt people and break things to protest.You think thats cool. That is what is happening in Greece and Italy and Spain not some kids sitting down and protesting. Get your facts right and dont be surprise when people go on your blog and tell you what is really happening. When you say you support them you are supporting people who tear down things not build something up. That kind of thinking comes when you only read books and dont know how real people live.People get hurt when violence is used so dont try to pump people up to follow that example.If you dont like other opinions dont write.

Marisol LeBron said...

Dude, first off I am not your "sista" so quit that shit.

Second I have held a variety of jobs both inside and outside of the academy including HIV outreach and prevention and even selling shoes for two years.

And third the reason why I don't appreciate your comments is the superior and combative tone you take. Your assumptions about me and your way of getting your point across are arrogant and aggressive. You're not interested in talking about what you think or disrespectfully disagreeing, rather you attacked my opinion and my support of those students (the New School students employed non violent tactics by the way).

I'm interested in having a dialogue in this blog but if you continue to disrespect me and the blog with your condescending attitude I will delete your comments.

I stand behind my comments and support of the New School students. Now you can keep reading and start commenting in a productive and respectful manner or you can take my initial advice and stop reading, your choice but play by the rules.