New School Faculty, Students and Staff Rally Against Austerity Measures

In response to drastic cuts at The New School, university students, faculty and staff marched down West 12th Street on March 4 to hand deliver a gigantic letter and petition addressed to university president Joel Towers.

“While the President’s Office characterizes this as a ‘transparent’ process of ‘restructuring,’ the reality for workers and students has been much different: vague promises, few details, closed-door meetings, and unannounced changes—including course cancellations, planned cuts to student medical services, and other austerity measures," states the letter, signed by over 1,650 people. "None of these changes serve the needs of any part of our community, but instead harm students and place Management’s financial burden on vulnerable members of the university’s workforce."

The cuts include goals to slashing student medical services, firing health workers, merging and cancelling several courses, majors and programs. They also include the elimination of 20 percent of full-time faculty and both union and non-union staff by the end of the academic year.

The gathering of university workers on March 4 began mid-day on The New School’s main building on 5th avenue. Faculty, staff and students gathered in a circle with noise makers, drums and chants before marching down to President Towers' office.  Read more from The Chief-Leader!