Students for a Democratic Society

Beginning at 8pm Wednesday, December 17, members of New School SDS, in coalition with SEAC & UFPJ, organized as the New School Radical Student Union, along with many independent graduate students, have been occupying a Graduate Faculty building at 65 5th Ave. btween 13th and 14th streets in New York City.

The occupation is part of a more than year-long campaign to demand accountability from the school administration. The students demands include:

• The removal of Bob Kerrey as president of the university.
• The removal of James Murtha as executive vice president of the university.
• Students, faculty, and staff elect the president, EVP, and Provost.
• Students are part of the interim committee to hire a provost.
• The removal of Robert B. Millard as treasurer of the board of trustees.
• Intelligible transparency and disclosure of the university budget and investments.
• The creation of a committee on socially responsible investments.
• The immediate suspension of capital improvement projects like the tearing down of 65 fifth Ave.
• Instead, money towards the creation of an autonomous student space.
• Instead, money towards scholarships and reducing tuition.
• Instead, money for the library and student life generally.

As of 1pm on Thursday, the students have been joined in solidarity by UNITE HERE Local 101 who represents the New School cafeteria workers. Union members have refused to cross the barricades.

For more information, check out:
http://www.newschoolinexile.com/

For round the clock updates from within the occupation:
http://www.newschoolinexileblog.blogspot.com/

Sign the petition:
http://www.petitiononline.com/nokerrey/petition.html

Show your support on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=43831775754&ref=nf

New York Times coverage:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/18/nyregion/18newschool.html?_r=1&ref=tod...

Check out this video of SDSers protesting outside the New School Board of Trustee meeting on Dec 12:

More updates to come as events unfold...

Check out DC SDS' Funk the War 3 from March 19, 2008, the 5th anniversary of the start of the U.S. war in Iraq. Hundreds of students flooded the streets in a massive dance party against empire, visiting recruitment centers and offices of war profiteers around the city. It was the largest mobilization of the day! Read more about the action at the DC-SDS website

Take Action in Solidarity with the Chicago Workers of Republic Windows and Doors

As students and youth, we stand in solidarity with the Chicago workers at the Republic of Windows and Doors factory in their just struggle against closure, and for the right to their jobs and health care. The wealthy bankers at Bank of America got $25 billion in the bailout, but are refusing loans to the company. The management owes over 1 million dollars in severance and vacation pay. We know it is the big bankers and bosses who have laid off, cut benefits, and sold out the worker. Everyone should support the workers' occupation of the factory to demand workers' rights and justice.

We join in the chant with them:

Bank of America got Bailed Out! We got Sold Out!

Students for a Democratic Society
December 7, 2008

Take Action!

1. Sign the petition: http://www.petitiononline.com/solidfac/petition.html
2. Organize a protest outside your local Bank of America this week in solidarity: http://www.jwj.org/bailout/12-08actions.html

Actions SDSers are already planning/plugging into:

NYC: Wednesday, December 10, 2008, 5:30pm - 7:30pm, Bank of America/SW Corner of Union Square, University Place/South of 14th Street, New York, NY

Washington DC: Thursday, December 11, 2008, 4:00pm - 5:00pm, Bank of America closest to the Treasury Department Street: Pennsylvania Ave and 15th st NW, Washington, DC

1. SDS Statement & Petition in Solidarity with the Republic Window & Door workers occupying their factory
2. Join the new Website Working Group
3. SDSers in trouble? Its the (new) Legal Support Working Group to the rescue!
4. Ratification - it happened
5. Fundraising Working Group update - apply for funds from national SDS!
6. Student Power for Accessible Education - check out this awesome organizing guide