A passionate outcry for the preservation of academic excellence and institutional integrity has erupted at the New School, with hundreds of students, staff, and supporters taking to the streets to voice their dissent. This protest, held on December 10th, is a powerful response to the proposed sweeping cuts that threaten the very essence of the New School's century-old progressive mission.
The scene was set outside the university's main building at 66 West 12th Street, where around 300 individuals gathered to express their concerns. Underneath the building's scaffolding, a chorus of voices chanted, "Short on money, high on power, we don't trust Joel Towers." This sentiment reflects a growing distrust among the New School community towards the administration's handling of the institution's financial challenges.
The New School, nestled in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, is facing a significant budget deficit of $48 million. Administrators attribute this shortfall to rising costs, federal funding cuts, and a decline in student enrollment, which has reached a record low of 8,900 this fall. However, critics argue that the financial mismanagement within the institution is to blame, and they point to the administration's decision to place the burden on faculty members.
According to the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), a staggering 169 full-time faculty members, approximately 40% of the total, have received buyouts or early retirement offers. Additionally, all non-unionized staff with over four years of service have been affected. New School President Joel Towers acknowledged the likelihood of layoffs in a recent statement, further fueling concerns among the academic community.
Protesters emphasize that these cutbacks go against the very foundation of the New School. Founded in 1919 as an alternative to traditional universities, the institution was built on the principle of engaging in robust debates and finding solutions to pressing real-world issues. One organizer, speaking through a bullhorn, captured the essence of the protest: "There is no other school like this in the country, yet we're in danger of losing our fundamental mission."
In November, Towers announced a series of cost-cutting measures, including a freeze on PhD admissions for the 2026-27 academic year, salary reductions, a pause on retirement contributions, and the discontinuation of programs and courses deemed to have low demand. The AAUP has labeled these austerity measures as extreme, claiming that dozens of programs, primarily focused on social sciences and humanities, are at risk of being eliminated under Towers's restructuring plan.
Heather Davis, director and associate professor of Culture and Media at the New School, highlights the institution's unique position: "The New School is the only university in the country with a world-renowned art and design school and a Research 2 designation." She adds, "By dismantling the humanities, the administration is erasing what makes our school truly distinctive."
A spokesperson for the New School, while confirming the identification of programs for merger or discontinuance across the colleges, has not disclosed the exact number of affected programs or departments. Notably, the restructuring plan also involves consolidating the New School's five colleges into two "academic units": one encompassing the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts and the New School for Social Research, and the other combining the Parsons School of Design, the College of Performing Arts, and the School of Media Studies.
The university has turned down an offer from a group of trustees to provide $1 million for PhD funding, as confirmed by Towers during a town hall meeting with students on December 5th. In a statement, the New School describes the restructuring plan as a series of necessary steps to align its finances with its mission, reduce costs, address the budget deficit, and reallocate resources to prioritize student needs and the teaching and learning mission.
The New School is not alone in facing growing financial deficits. Other private universities, such as the California Institute of the Arts and the School of Visual Arts, have also implemented staff reductions and layoffs. Students and faculty at the New School are urging the administration to rescind buyout offers, impose a salary cap for positions over $200,000, and suspend other measures that impact the academic community.
As the fall semester draws to a close, faculty members remain anxious about their future. One part-time professor from the Parsons School of Design shared her concerns, stating, "When I started teaching at Parsons, I believed it was the epicenter of everything I cared about. Now, I'm prepared to fight for what we hold dear." Another rally attendee, a fifth-year student pursuing a dual degree, recounted the emotional response of one of their professors upon receiving a buyout notice: "We're being told that everything will remain unchanged, but I don't trust these assurances. I know my teachers are overworked and exhausted."
This protest serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of academic institutions preserving their core values and missions, even in the face of financial challenges. The New School community's determination to protect their progressive legacy is a testament to the enduring spirit of academic excellence and the power of collective action.
