College punks suspended
Posted by Ron Coleman on February 21, 2009
NYU’s administration doesn’t think collegiate protest is so groovy when you’re The Man:
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.
I have never understood what leverage students have that they’re allowed to “protest” and “barricade” and “demand” anything. This problem started in the 1960’s and somehow there is still this concept that students have “rights” to force their school to do things. Ah, but see what kind of punks we’re talking about here, after all:
The students wanted NYU to release information on its budget and endowment, including staff salaries and financial aid. The students also wanted the university to release its investment strategy and the names of the people and firms involved in it.
Ooh, yeah. Students are much more knowledgeable about this stuff and they should for sure be in charge of that sort of thing. No, wait, it gets better:
The protesters also have made the Palestinian-Israeli conflict part of their cause, demanding the university donate “excess supplies and materials” to help rebuild a university damaged in December by Israeli air raids. They also want NYU to provide annual scholarships to Palestinian students, beginning in the 2009-10 school year.
Oh, that kind of punk! Well, sure. NYU is pretty much behind that Israeli oppression and stuff. That explains that.
Punks. Give NYU credit for eventually drawing some sort of line, however fuzzy and dotted. Let’s see how fast their daddies run to the courthouse to get those big bad “suspensions” lifted — and how fast NYU folds on the punishment of its punks.
UPDATE: Instapundit rounds up reactions to the pathetic dénouement.
Lina Maini said
According to the NYP, they also used one more “tactic”; that of bare-breasted, poster-carrying females to punctuate their resolve. While a subtle yet hard hitting, powerful global message can organically arise from the simple expression of the human body v. a massive force (Tiananmen Square), two giggling half naked boobs wearing Marc Jacobs boots over their 7 Jeans, at one of the country’s most expensive universities, carrying little homemade hearts and “Ninja’s are awesome” (????) signs doesn’t cut it. But you are right again, Ron, re: parents and NYU reaction. 10:30 a.m. Rich daddy in court; 10:35 a.m. NYU issues statement, “While the actions of these passionate students were ill-advised if well-intentioned, this institution must lead by example. Our students will carry the torch as future leaders in their fields, industries and endeavors. So with that in mind, our first reaction must be one of support and compassion tempered by the need for everyone, regardless of their very young ages, to learn that there are consequences to actions. NYU faculty has consulted with , the student body, the students involved, their families, our staff, and the venerable hot dog vendor on Washington Square W. and will be directing an appropriate response once we have all of the information. We thank everyone for their continued support (checks) and have absolute faith in NYU’s students ability to carry on as beacons of America’s bright future.”
James H said
I’m not clear on one thing. Has NYU been hiding its budget, etc.?
James H said
Seems to me that if somebody is old enough to protest something or other, that person is also old enough to face the consequences of that civil disobedience.