The Theresa Lang Community and Student Center of Arnoald Hall opened its doors for students, faculty and members of the community to view the building plans for the 65 Fifth Avenue last Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30pm. Despite last year’s protests at which students expressed frustration over a lack of designated student space and resources, the majority of New School students failed to make an appearance to view plans for the new student center Thursday night.
“I wish there were more students here, but that’s a wish. I think the students are narcissistic, lazy and not committed to their school,” Ben Dornbush, a junior at Lang and former NYU student said with a smile.
In spring 2009 the University Facilities Committee comprised of faculty, administrative leadership facilities staff and students was created. Its role was to provide support in the programming and design of the campus, including the university center at 65 Fifth Avenue. Of the five students that were involved in the planning process there were no undergraduates and no one representing Lang, Parsons, Jazz, Mannes or The New School for Drama.
“It was like trying to steer the Titanic, and you are turning the wheel but Lia Gartner and James Murtha are holding the rudder,” said Heather Contant, the only student member of the University Facilities Committee present. Contant, who is a Lang alum currently pursuing her graduate degree at the New School for General studies said that being involved in the planning of 65 Fifth Avenue was a frustrating experience where she felt she had no input in the process. She admitted she was relieved the project had come to an end. “ I now understand how these things really work from start to finish” she said.
Last year’s protests which were aimed primarily at New School President Bob Kerry, also targeted Executive Vice President James Murtha who was heavily involved in the planning process of 65 Fifth Avenue.
“It’s strange that students who are willing to be maced by police in the name of school resources are unable to attend a meeting about the new student resource center,” Julie Rhodes, a freshmen at Lang, said.
When asked about the poor student turn out, Constant said she wasn’t surprised. Between 5pm and 6:30 there were four students total. Vocos and Dornbush who had been there the length of the event on behalf of the New School Radio said they had seen two other students earlier in the evening; making student attendance six total.
The Current plans for 65 Fitth Avenue include an auditorium that changes to fit the needs of performances including audience size, a student center, library, as will as classrooms, a meal hall and student housing. The building will provide about 600 students with dorm accommodations. At this point there has been no timeline given for the construction of the new building and its completion. The surrounding community Watchdog Groups seem to be more responsive in calling the current building an “eyesore” then the New School students have in acknowledging the building’s current state of affairs.
“There is a lack of organization, lack of people leading and a lot or red tape,” Aundrea Vocos, a Lang Student and New School Radio personality said about the lack of student participation university wide. She said she felt that the open house was poorly advertised but even so the student body is standoffish when it comes to any sort of involvement.
I really like the way you incorporated changes. The lede makes the rest of the story much more interesting. it has an angle now! One thing, though - the student who was on the committee's quotes seem out of place in the middle of the piece now, because they're about how hard it was on committe, whereas story now is about students. so i would , for future reference, remember when you restructure lede, that often you have to reorder the way information flows.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a quote from Murtha still seems like a hole. Next time!
Good job!