Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
New School Student Occupation Day Two: Banners!
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 18, 2008
Modified Dec 18, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
View all 5
By
John Del Signore
Published Dec 18, 2008
Modified Dec 18, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A group of New School students, perhaps numbering 75 or more, are continuing their occupation of a dining hall at the university's Graduate Faculty building at 65 Fifth Avenue. Taking over the room last night, the group announced, "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."
They've hung up some banners, issued a "communique," and at least one student is wearing a beret. According to the manifesto, this is "a response to specific conditions at the New School, the corporatization of the university and the impoverishment of education in general." But that's not all:
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...Be assured, this is only the beginning...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.
Looks like we're gonna need more banners. According to the Times, the protest "echoes dissidence among many of the school’s faculty members, who in the past week have cast votes of no confidence in [New School President Bob] Kerrey’s ability to lead the school." The students demand Kerrey's resignation, as well as other officials' termination; they want the next president, EVP, and Provost to be elected by students, faculty, and staff; and they want to stop the the school from "tearing down" 65 Fifth Avenue.
Graduate student Marcus Michelson tells the Times, "This is about starting a dialogue. And to do that you have to be seen as an equal. People just don’t give equality away, you have to take it." But an unidentified school official who stopped by the nascent autonomous zone grumbled, "You are going about this the wrong way."
Tagged
Bob Kerrey
building
new school
Occupation
occupying
protest
students
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Years of bus headaches start Thursday as Port Authority advances Midtown terminal work
The Port Authority is replacing its ramshackle Midtown Bus Terminal. Riders will face years of headaches as the work is finished.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
and
Carol Chen
Published Oct 13, 2026 at 4:47 p.m. ET
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
The agency is under a court order not to use the site for detaining arrestees, but acknowledged it processed immigrants there on at least two occasions.
By
Mike Hayes
News
ICE admits to using Roxbury, NJ warehouse site to process immigrants
The agency is under a court order not to use the site for detaining arrestees, but acknowledged it processed immigrants there on at least two occasions.
By
Mike Hayes
Dolan's offer: Donations to Blakeman for Knicks tickets
By
Walter Wuthmann
NYC officials call for Target boycott, say ICE staged at Marble Hill lot before shooting
By
Ryan Kost
and
Brittany Kriegstein
'Insults, bravado': Legal standoff over Mamdani rent freeze grows fiery
By
David Brand
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .