Hundreds Rally Against Sweeping Cuts at New School
Hundreds gathered outside the New School's campus on December 10th to protest the institution's proposed faculty and program cuts. The rally, held during a board meeting, highlighted concerns that these reductions will severely impact the century-old institution's progressive social research mission. The New School, located in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, houses the Parsons School of Design and the College of Performing Arts, and is currently facing a $48 million budget deficit.
The protest was sparked by the university's financial struggles, which administrators attribute to rising costs, federal funding cuts, and declining enrollment. This fall, the university saw a record-low enrollment of just 8,900 students, a significant drop from previous years. Critics, however, argue that the shortfall is a result of financial mismanagement and accuse the administration of placing the burden on faculty.
The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) reports that 169 full-time faculty members, approximately 40%, and all non-unionized staff with over four years of service have received buyouts or early retirement offers. New School President Joel Towers acknowledged the possibility of layoffs in a recent statement, emphasizing the need to address the financial crisis.
Protesters also argue that the cutbacks contradict the school's founding principles. Established in 1919 as an alternative to traditional universities, the New School was built on the idea of addressing pressing real-world issues through debate and resolution. One organizer emphasized the school's unique mission, warning that the proposed cuts threaten its core values.
In November, Towers announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including a PhD admissions freeze, salary reductions, a pause on retirement contributions, and the discontinuation of low-demand programs and courses. The AAUP deemed these measures extreme, predicting that dozens of programs, particularly in the social sciences and humanities, will be eliminated.
Heather Davis, director and associate professor of Culture and Media at the New School, criticized the administration's approach, stating that gutting the humanities undermines the school's distinctiveness. The university plans to consolidate its five colleges into two academic units, merging the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts and the New School for Social Research with the Parsons School of Design, the College of Performing Arts, and the School of Media Studies.
Despite the financial challenges, the New School turned down an offer of $1 million for PhD funding from a group of trustees. The university's spokesperson described the restructuring plan as necessary to align finances with the mission, emphasizing the involvement of faculty and staff in the decision-making process.
The New School is not alone in facing financial struggles. The California Institute of the Arts and the School of Visual Arts have also laid off staff due to budget deficits. Students and faculty are urging the university to reconsider buyouts, cap salaries over $200,000, and suspend other cost-cutting measures. The uncertainty surrounding the future of the New School has left faculty members anxious, with one part-time professor expressing concerns about the impact on their colleagues and the institution's core values.
