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Cooper Union Students Occupy President's Office To Protest Tuition
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published May 8, 2013
Modified May 8, 2013
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By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published May 8, 2013
Modified May 8, 2013
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Students at Cooper Union, the 155-year-old institution that was founded by philanthropist Peter Cooper to offer a tuition-free arts education in perpetuity, have occupied the office of President Bharucha in an effort to force his resignation over the implementation of tuition beginning in 2014.
The students walked in around 10:50 this morning and have left the doors open to the office so others could join them. Besides one campus security officer, there is currently no police presence in the office, where over 60 people have joined the sit-in.
"We're prepared to be in here for as long as we see fit," Joe Riley, a senior in the School of Art, said in a telephone call. "We’re doing what we need to do to make sure this is an effective action."
Bharucha is not currently in the office and has made no contact with the occupiers. Bharucha's predecessor, George Campbell, was the latest in a line of presidents who larded Cooper Union with insurmountable debt that Bharucha inherited.
Students are demanding that President Bharucha resign immediately, and are spreading a petition in support of the school's tuition-free mission statement.
Students participated in an earlier occupation last December, but the board still announced the introduction of tuition for the class of 2014.
Via @FreeCooperUnion
When asked about the apparent failure of the earlier occupation, Riley told us, "I wouldn’t agree with the idea that the last one was not succesful, because it galvanized the entire Cooper Union community and that’s why we’re here. All the actions have led up to now. We are pushing back against tuition harder than ever before."
There will be a rally scheduled for 6 pm outside of Cooper Union, in Peter Cooper Square Park, and you can watch a livestream of the occupation here.
Tagged
austerity
college
cooper union
debt
tuition
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Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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