NYU - Student protest took over Kimbal Student Center

[Yellow#5]

NYU Student Protest Over; Dozens Suspended

Students, Police Clashed Outside Cafeteria Overnight; One Arrested For Disorderly ConductCBS 2's Kathryn Brown

NEW YORK (CBS) ?

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The third day of protests at NYU over budget transparency has students in Kimmel Student Center speaking on a megaphone to rally their peers, all without power, Internet, and restrooms.

CBS

After renewed calls for negotiations between NYU officials and student body protestors after a night of intense rioting, those who were still barricaded in the college cafeteria Friday have finally ended their sit-in protest.

Though the number of student activists holed up inside the third floor cafeteria had dwindled to less than two dozen since Wednesday night, those still engaged remained defiant until the end.

The students, who had been inside for three days, were talking with a megaphone to their peers who had gathered outside in the building's courtyard.

The university took away power, internet, and restrooms according to the students, but the protestors showed few signs of leaving anytime soon.

University officials said they tried to negotiate but their patience was running thin.

Overnight, they sent a letter warning those involved would face probation, but if they agreed to end the protest the University would not press charges.

As of noon Friday, only one student had signed the agreement.

"Take Back NYU! has been trying to engage the university for two years now," student protestor Anna Mullen said. "This is the first time we have gotten their attention. So if this has been going over the line, it's because we were driven to it."

"We have been clear that there are legitimate means of protests which we encourage our students to pursue

[guenevere01]

Haha, welcome to college life. I love how idealistic we all are/were, believing that could make a difference. I hope I get some of that back in graduate school.

Does anyone happen to know about how NYU treats their grad students? I know there was a strike a few years ago, just wondering if anything came of it...

[traveler]

I stopped by the Kimmel center on Thursday night... it was quite cold and windy here in NYC, and there were only a handful of protesters collected outside the building.

Reminds me of the hunger strike at Columbia U. last year.

Oh, college life.

[rinneron]

NYU is actually quite nice to their grad students, and to be honest, though those who are conducting the strike are coming from the right place with the right intentions, their demands are insane and they aren't making themselves heard in the right ways. They're assuming NYU is just a many headed, evil beast with endless money and resources, and they actually want to institute "voters" on various financial and policy boards who have overseeing, veto, and voting power over virtually ever decision NYU makes about salaries, budgetary concerns, tuition, etc.

One of my profs is a Dean, and though she sympathizes with the protesters, she wished they would do some research before starting their strike. NYU is in the red right now, as with many other major universities, and they just can't pull money out of nowhere to keep the school running.

But yeah, NYU is nice to grad students. The English Department PhDs are especially lovely people -- to anyone who goes there, have fun!

[Yellow#5]

Thanks for the reassurance and inside scoop rinneron.

[rinneron]

Anytime! If anyone wants to PM me about NYU I'm happy to provide any additional information/insider's scoop that I can.