Comments on: Notes from the The New School Occupation http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/notes-from-the-the-new-school-occupation/ a radical newsletter in the struggle for peace and social justice Thu, 08 Dec 2011 15:07:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Steve Levine http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/notes-from-the-the-new-school-occupation/#comment-34465 Steve Levine Fri, 26 Dec 2008 16:01:35 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5461#comment-34465 In 1970 I was part of a group of students who occupied the New School in response to the bombing of Cambodia and in protest against the university's complicity in the war. The occupation lasted a couple of weeks and was marked by a participatory democratic engagement and terrific esprit de corps of those who took part. We had the sense that we were creating a new culture with new social relationships. The occupation was somewhat utopian but nevertheless expressed a vision of the world that would have been better for the country than what we ended up with. Ultimately a conservative group of professors (including my doctoral advisor) called in the police and had those of us who refused to leave arrested. That Bob Kerry should be the President of the New School is particularly ironic in light of the school's - and the country's - history. Vietnam casts a long shadow - all the way into the prison of Abu Ghraib and other prisons that we do not even know about around the world. I hope that students today will keep this history in mind and not be satisfied with greater email access and a more comfortable place to study. In 1970 I was part of a group of students who occupied the New School in response to the bombing of Cambodia and in protest against the university’s complicity in the war. The occupation lasted a couple of weeks and was marked by a participatory democratic engagement and terrific esprit de corps of those who took part. We had the sense that we were creating a new culture with new social relationships. The occupation was somewhat utopian but nevertheless expressed a vision of the world that would have been better for the country than what we ended up with. Ultimately a conservative group of professors (including my doctoral advisor) called in the police and had those of us who refused to leave arrested.

That Bob Kerry should be the President of the New School is particularly ironic in light of the school’s – and the country’s – history. Vietnam casts a long shadow – all the way into the prison of Abu Ghraib and other prisons that we do not even know about around the world. I hope that students today will keep this history in mind and not be satisfied with greater email access and a more comfortable place to study.

]]> By: Max Shields http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/notes-from-the-the-new-school-occupation/#comment-34140 Max Shields Sun, 21 Dec 2008 18:25:40 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5461#comment-34140 Mr. Wharton thanks for the update. I figured that BoT were culpable, but the NS's history is one which is generally progressive. I do hope Kerry is out of there, just as long as his replacement is not more of the same. Mr. Wharton thanks for the update. I figured that BoT were culpable, but the NS’s history is one which is generally progressive.

I do hope Kerry is out of there, just as long as his replacement is not more of the same.

]]> By: Billy Wharton http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/notes-from-the-the-new-school-occupation/#comment-34135 Billy Wharton Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:19:53 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5461#comment-34135 My understanding is that the selection of Kerrey was based on his ability to raise funds for the school. In addition, the New School Board of Trustees is no haven of progressive types - including this fellow Millaird who is directly connected with L3 communications. To their credit, the students actually refused to directly negotiate with Kerrey since they would not recognize his authority as President. Plus as he left the building a section of the outside protesters chased him (literally) back to his nearby apartment. A very tough evening for Bob Kerrey. A quite press release announcing his resignation two weeks from now is to be expected. If he remains as President expect fireworks to ensue once the Spring semester begins! My understanding is that the selection of Kerrey was based on his ability to raise funds for the school. In addition, the New School Board of Trustees is no haven of progressive types – including this fellow Millaird who is directly connected with L3 communications.

To their credit, the students actually refused to directly negotiate with Kerrey since they would not recognize his authority as President. Plus as he left the building a section of the outside protesters chased him (literally) back to his nearby apartment. A very tough evening for Bob Kerrey.

A quite press release announcing his resignation two weeks from now is to be expected. If he remains as President expect fireworks to ensue once the Spring semester begins!

]]> By: Max Shields http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/notes-from-the-the-new-school-occupation/#comment-34133 Max Shields Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:12:28 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5461#comment-34133 The New School has a history of being one of the staunchist progressive university in the country - world (perhaps). How in hell it ever got Bob Kerry as President is just beyond me. He is the face of fascism. The New School has a history of being one of the staunchist progressive university in the country – world (perhaps).

How in hell it ever got Bob Kerry as President is just beyond me. He is the face of fascism.

]]> By: Jason Oberg http://dissidentvoice.org/2008/12/notes-from-the-the-new-school-occupation/#comment-34117 Jason Oberg Sun, 21 Dec 2008 08:12:03 +0000 http://www.dissidentvoice.org/?p=5461#comment-34117 William, Thank you for this article, as I believe it is important to illustrate that here and there, all over the country, the seeds of revolution are being sown. And congratulations to the students on their victory. William,
Thank you for this article, as I believe it is important to illustrate that here and there, all over the country, the seeds of revolution are being sown. And congratulations to the students on their victory.

]]>