New School GA Meets for Second Time, Focuses on Mobilization
(Danielle Balbi)
In the second public meeting of The New School General Assembly, roughly two dozen students — a significantly smaller turnout from the first meeting a week earlier — met in the Vera List Courtyard on November 9 to solidify plans for the upcoming student day of action on November 17.
Like similar groups aligned with Occupy Wall Street at other universities, one of the GA’s main grievances is consistent tuition increases at The New School, which further inflate a cost of education ranking among the most expensive in the country. At the meeting on November 9, the GA worked to find a clear message to attract more participants, with a focus on mobilization as well as a concrete list of demands.
As part of the student day of action, the General Assembly called for a 7 a.m. gathering at Wall Street on November 17, followed by a citywide student strike at 3 p.m, where students from other schools in all five boroughs will meet in Union Square and march down to Foley Square.
Members of the General Assembly declined when asked for comment on the student group and its plans.
During the assembly, students and organizers split into two working groups: a direct action group and a media group.
The direct action group discussed the importance of students mobilizing not only at The New School, but in collaboration with students at other universities as well. The media group worked on garnering popular support for their initiatives from New School faculty and staff.
In addition to organizing their own New School-related initiatives, the General Assembly discussed participation in a Madison Square Park gathering on November 21 organized by students from across the city. The gathering is in response to a CUNY Board of Trustees meeting that day, which will discuss the possibility of raising tuition at CUNY schools.
Like similar groups aligned with Occupy Wall Street at other universities, one of the GA’s main grievances is consistent tuition increases at The New School, which further inflate a cost of education ranking among the most expensive in the country. At the meeting on November 9, the GA worked to find a clear message to attract more participants, with a focus on mobilization as well as a concrete list of demands.
As part of the student day of action, the General Assembly called for a 7 a.m. gathering at Wall Street on November 17, followed by a citywide student strike at 3 p.m, where students from other schools in all five boroughs will meet in Union Square and march down to Foley Square.
Members of the General Assembly declined when asked for comment on the student group and its plans.
During the assembly, students and organizers split into two working groups: a direct action group and a media group.
The direct action group discussed the importance of students mobilizing not only at The New School, but in collaboration with students at other universities as well. The media group worked on garnering popular support for their initiatives from New School faculty and staff.
In addition to organizing their own New School-related initiatives, the General Assembly discussed participation in a Madison Square Park gathering on November 21 organized by students from across the city. The gathering is in response to a CUNY Board of Trustees meeting that day, which will discuss the possibility of raising tuition at CUNY schools.
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