John Jay College Students Protest CUNY Tuition hikes, Professors Join In
- Posted on October 5, 2011 at 6:06pm by
Leette Eaton-White
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Students at John Jay College in New York City used the sensationalism of the Occupy Wall Street protests to help build support on the street for their own demonstration. And they even got the teachers to join in.
Tuition hikes have long been a thorn in the side of CUNY and SUNY — the city and state college networks for New York — students and it is common place to see signs donning “No Cuts to CUNY” in campus halls. While walk-outs had been proposed in the past, they never had enough support to be fully realized.
That changed Wednesday when, after a week of strong promotion on Facebook and piggy-backing on the Occupy Wall Street movement, John Jay students had the success they hoped for when a protest that previously expected about 100 people grew to well over three times the expected amount.
The students’ signs showed the influence of the Occupy Wall St. movement, with many claiming the students were in the “99 percent:”
But students were not alone in their protest of tuition hikes and the possibility that the college could be privatized. Professors joined the spirited demonstration as well.
One female professor, who would not provide her name, held up a sign reading “You will not destroy my student’s dream. John Jay in Resistance!” Another teacher, well-liked by students, Prof. Richard Curtis who heads John Jay’s anthropology department, passionately declared to over 300 students,”We believe that a college education is a right! Not a privilege of the rich.” He went on to say, “We are done paying for rich people to be lazy and fat… our opportunity is being squandered by idiots! Let’s take it back from them:”
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dontbotherme
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 2:46pmEducation is a privilege, not a right. Thus spake Sr. Margaret many, many years ago.
Report Post »W@nd@
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 11:36amAt this point i am asking myself: What is the point of higher education?….
Report Post »The example of herdsmanship these professors are exemplifying is telling me …
you are grossly overpaid..and your deeply disturbing!
I think honest to God sheepherders actually care more for their charges
than these pieces of work professors!
And if this is what higher education affords you,
for the astronomical amount of money YOU pay,
i think it is time to re-evaluate what is essential for your future!
College education maybe not be as intrinsic to employment….as we once thought!
I say SAVE your money!
Certainly as an employer, would i want someone to work for me
who cannot even think for themselves? hmmm
Most employers want people who can think…out of the box, be articulate, inovative, self-starters, accountable, dependable, on time, clean, and not in need of a babysitter and able to do the job!
A good work ethic=far more than you ever realized!
If you think these students talked the teachers into protesting with them …
to parrot the mantra of the disjointed wallstreet dimbots
Really..?
Now that is a future workforce companies are running out of the country
to get away from being forced to hire!..
If these kids, but only could think for themselves,
mighten they question the self defeating choices they’ve been making
for their own futures! Accountability 101 who knew?
wisehiney
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 9:07amIt is becoming fun to watch the weasels fight over the remaining crumbs.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 9:15amThis is a college? They must not teach any economic classes because evidently the professors (I use that term loosely) can’t figure out why tuition costs are going up after they get their raises and more benefits. DUH!
Report Post »bharris0
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:57amWell, why don’t they blame their greedy, socialist professors for the tuition hikes ? I suspect that is where the money is going. What a waste of good money.
Report Post »loriann12
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 9:18amYea, if that professor thinks a college education is a right, why doesn’t he “sponsor” a couple students for their tuition. No one is stopping him.
Report Post »garbagecanlogic
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:53amThe professors get more left, the students are less educated and the parents pocketbooks are less full, while the colleges grow larger.
The U.S. Out Of The U.N.
Report Post »The U.N. Out Of The U.S.
tequilamockingbird
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:51am?Most rich people have money because they worded hard for it! They didn’t stand around protesting that they don’t have money…they worked for what they got!”
Not true. Most rich people have money because they were born rich and had all the advantages. It was never true that everyone had an equal chance, but it’s becoming more and more untrue.
I don’t think anyone with any sense is demanding an equality of outcome; rather, they want something approaching equality of opportunity.
Report Post »Dude Doug
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:47amIt just seems to me that a lot of these protesters are whining about their massive student loans and want the banks to fix their debt. Well, the banks agreed to give these dolts money to pay the college institutions – the colleges got the loan money- the student agreed that if the banks paid the college, the student would pay back the loan once they graduated. Why are they going after the banks that merely facilitated the students desire to get a higher education. I do detect their is an underlying agenda issue, and that it is evil in nature.
Report Post »missy8s
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:41am“Bolsheviks N’ Bonghits Я Us”
Report Post »hempstead1944
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:34amAh….the Entitlement Generation speaks…….
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:32amLike a candy bar, pay more get less .
Report Post »grudgywoof
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:30amWeep America. Perhaps an economic collaps is what is needed to make people appreiciate what they have. We have too many spoiled brats in this country.
Report Post »Rick300
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:22amGod help us. Our unalienable rights do NOT include education, job security, and a good pension! Most rich people have money because they worded hard for it! They didn’t stand around protesting that they don’t have money…they worked for what they got! Don’t blame the rich for what they have, blame the system of handouts and participation trophies and of putting limits on personal excellence that has permeated our country. We can’t become great if we are not allowed to become great! But we cannot become great by taking handouts or stunting creativity…
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
It is the pursuit of happiness not the demand for happiness that will make us great!
Now get off the street and back to class and make something of yourselves!
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:18amAmerica – this is YOUR future.
Report Post »cemerius
Posted on October 6, 2011 at 8:13amLook at that Prof Curtis “well liked by students” comments!!! These are the scum that are teaching/dumbing down our chiuldren witht the pursuit of a higher education…..
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