More than 20 arrested at New School rally; 3 from NYU
Arielle Milkman; Washington Square News, NYU
Issue date: 4/16/09 Section: National College News
Three New York University students could face university disciplinary charges following their involvement in Friday's New School occupation, which rocked Greenwich Village.
Gallatin senior Eleanor Kahn, CAS sophomore Farah Khimji and CAS junior Drew Phillips - all affiliated with the student activist group Take Back NYU, which staged the Kimmel Center occupation in February - were arrested before noon on Friday for their participation in taking over a New School academic building on Fifth Avenue. Nineteen others were also arrested.
The students occupied the building and called for the resignation of New School President Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and senator, and Executive Vice President James Murtha. This follows a similar protest in December. In the past, Kerrey, a supporter of the Iraq War, has faced a nearly unanimous "no confidence" vote by senior faculty.
According to New School officials, approximately 30 students broke into the building with crowbars around 5:45 a.m., overpowering a maintenance worker and stealing his two-way radio.
Police arrived at the scene minutes after being alerted of a burglary in the building only to find the door entrance blocked by bars and cables, among other items.
"They used Crazy Glue on all the locks," the university said in an e-mail statement sent to all New School students.
On behalf of Kerrey, the New York Police Department began efforts to remove students from the building around 11 a.m.
A YouTube video released by the NYPD shows the arrests made inside the building were conducted in an orderly fashion.
However, mayhem broke loose on the streets surrounding the building. According to many bystanders, police officers used pepper spray and undue force to subdue the students.
"I saw students being beaten. I saw bloodshed. I saw a young girl crying. I saw pepper spray being sprayed at students," New School senior Jeremy Syrop said.
Originally, claims of pepper spray and tear gas use were said to be "absolutely untrue," according to the NYPD, but a video of the scene shot by freelance journalist Brandon Jourdan shows officers spraying pepper spray inside the occupied building.
Gallatin senior Eleanor Kahn, CAS sophomore Farah Khimji and CAS junior Drew Phillips - all affiliated with the student activist group Take Back NYU, which staged the Kimmel Center occupation in February - were arrested before noon on Friday for their participation in taking over a New School academic building on Fifth Avenue. Nineteen others were also arrested.
The students occupied the building and called for the resignation of New School President Bob Kerrey, a former Nebraska governor and senator, and Executive Vice President James Murtha. This follows a similar protest in December. In the past, Kerrey, a supporter of the Iraq War, has faced a nearly unanimous "no confidence" vote by senior faculty.
According to New School officials, approximately 30 students broke into the building with crowbars around 5:45 a.m., overpowering a maintenance worker and stealing his two-way radio.
Police arrived at the scene minutes after being alerted of a burglary in the building only to find the door entrance blocked by bars and cables, among other items.
"They used Crazy Glue on all the locks," the university said in an e-mail statement sent to all New School students.
On behalf of Kerrey, the New York Police Department began efforts to remove students from the building around 11 a.m.
A YouTube video released by the NYPD shows the arrests made inside the building were conducted in an orderly fashion.
However, mayhem broke loose on the streets surrounding the building. According to many bystanders, police officers used pepper spray and undue force to subdue the students.
"I saw students being beaten. I saw bloodshed. I saw a young girl crying. I saw pepper spray being sprayed at students," New School senior Jeremy Syrop said.
Originally, claims of pepper spray and tear gas use were said to be "absolutely untrue," according to the NYPD, but a video of the scene shot by freelance journalist Brandon Jourdan shows officers spraying pepper spray inside the occupied building.
Be the first to comment on this story