I Know What I'll Hear Tomorrow
Breaking news:
There was an incident this evening at Baruch College CUNY in Manhattan, where the City University of New York's Board of Trustees was having a meeting, where one of the issues (if not the only one) was a proposal to increase tuition. The news has begun to go viral, but this posting will not link to it because I do not want to boost the hit numbers of the websites which are now spinning the story. I have watched the posted videos. My comments, in no particular order:
1. I have witnessed (and indeed, participated in) "nonviolent" demonstrations which were conducted with far, far better decorum.
2. The arrestees were apparently told to disperse and cease and desist, and were arrested only after failing to do so.
3. The people excluded from the Board of Trustee's meeting were denied admission because they did not register in advance. Advance registration is a prerequisite for admission. Advance registration is open to anybody.
4. Even with the proposed tuition hikes, CUNY's tuition is by far one of the best educational bargains available anywhere.
I'm sure that I will hear more about this one within the next 24 hours.
There was an incident this evening at Baruch College CUNY in Manhattan, where the City University of New York's Board of Trustees was having a meeting, where one of the issues (if not the only one) was a proposal to increase tuition. The news has begun to go viral, but this posting will not link to it because I do not want to boost the hit numbers of the websites which are now spinning the story. I have watched the posted videos. My comments, in no particular order:
1. I have witnessed (and indeed, participated in) "nonviolent" demonstrations which were conducted with far, far better decorum.
2. The arrestees were apparently told to disperse and cease and desist, and were arrested only after failing to do so.
3. The people excluded from the Board of Trustee's meeting were denied admission because they did not register in advance. Advance registration is a prerequisite for admission. Advance registration is open to anybody.
4. Even with the proposed tuition hikes, CUNY's tuition is by far one of the best educational bargains available anywhere.
I'm sure that I will hear more about this one within the next 24 hours.
posted by Expatriate Owl @ 3:42 AM
2 Comments:
At 23 November, 2011 01:46,
corti said…
Today I received this email which was sent by the Doctoral Students' Council at the CUNY Graduate Center in the name of the students. I'm shocked and ashamed that this was sent on my behalf. I agree with you, people are just looking for things to complain about while forgetting that we're getting the best deal around by being in CUNY.
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Dear President Kelly,
Over the past week we have heard from students expressing their concerns and questions related to the increased presence of uniformed security guards at the CUNY Graduate Center. What has been especially disconcerting is the disproportionate increase in security forces in areas of the building devoted to student study, governance, and socialization. The large number of security personnel patrolling our hallways and outside our classrooms signals to many that you believe there is a threat to the Graduate Center. Indeed, the presence of these security forces in student spaces, not at the established building entrance checkpoints, suggests that you believe the threat is internal.
We have chosen to address this issue with you in a public letter because this is a public issue and requires a public response.
In light of recent security and police actions toward peaceful student protests on CUNY campuses and at other public universities, it has become especially difficult to believe that deploying additional security personnel without notice does anything but intimidate students and faculty and create an environment of fear. The Graduate Center community must be informed should some imminent danger require you to make the decision to mobilize security forces.
You have assured the Doctoral Students’ Council that peaceful protest and assembly will be allowed on our campus. Indeed, a number of events related to student and faculty protests have gone exceedingly well and without incident from security forces for those peacefully assembled. We thank you in advance for your continued support on this matter and hope you will join the students, faculty, and staff in participating at future events.
On behalf of the students of the CUNY Graduate Center, but for the benefit of the entire community, the faculty and staff included, we request the following information:
(1) a community notice explaining the choice to increase security presence on campus, with reference to specific safety concerns;
(2) an outline of the policies and protocols for responding to student protests, including details on the levels of force that Graduate Center and CUNY security is currently authorized to use, and an overview of how security officers have been trained in responding to these issues;
(3) a report on security actions taken, observations made, and any other pertinent information on public safety officer activity, including an open disclosure of the Graduate Center budget for additional security; and
(4) a clear timeline of when the Graduate Center will draw down the increased security presence.
We thank you for your attention to these matters and anticipate your response.
At 23 November, 2011 05:47,
Expatriate Owl said…
I am not a particularly fervent fan of Chancellor Goldstein, but this morning, Matty posted a news release on his official webpage, hitting upon the points I made in this posting the night before.
Every day, those "Occupy" people are rubbing the wrong way more and more people, many of whom had formerly been neutral (or even in the Occupiers' corner).
And yes, I, too am disgusted with those CUNY-connected libtards who deign to speak on my behalf in promoting the so-called "Progressive" agenda.
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