NYU Students Take Campus By Storm

February 19th, 2009

College students have been staging protests for as long as there’s been a campus to stand on. But last night at New York University (NYU, NYC, NY) dissatisfied students took their demands to another level, barricading themselves into the cafeteria floor of the Kimmel Center for Student Life. The students, calling their movement “Take Back NYU,” have a website dedicated to their effort and have listed their demands. (They even Tweet.)

Now, full disclosure: I’m an NYU alumna. Over my four years I had the privilege of attending a school with students who were passionate about their beliefs and who were willing to take a stand, even if it was unpopular. I witnessed many a protest and while some of them I less-than-loved as their chants interrupted my finals, I always supported them on principle.

I can’t say the same this time.

I’ve read over their list of grievances and demands, and many are the same things students asked for when I was in school. I can even agree with them on some points. A public release of the school’s budget? Reasonable, considering that tuition rates are on the rise. Allowing workers and T.A.’s to collectively bargain? Something NYU students have protested about for many years. There’s just one problem: their method.

Boycotting aspects of NYU life and staging protests in front of NYU buildings is a valid way of showing the administration that you and other students have concerns that are not being addressed through usual channels. Forcefully taking over an entire floor of an NYU building and barricading yourself and the area from security and NYU students who would otherwise use the space, is a juvenile move that’s more akin to a temper tantrum than a calculated protest. If anything, this decision may make coming to an agreement even harder as I doubt NYU will want to give students the idea that they can get what they want simply by acting out.

College is a time to work on your communication, leadership skills, and maturity levels and these students have thrown that to the side for a bullhorn, viral marketing, and a giggling slumber party in a school space. I have a hard time taking them seriously when they’re not going about their efforts maturely. And while I do support one of two of their demands I do not support them at all.

*Picture courtesy of CBSNews.com

– Genevieve M. Blaber

Entry Filed under: College Craziness,College Trends,General,News