To the New School Community,

In solidarity with the call for a General Strike around the world on May 1st, we an unaffiliated group of students, student workers, and faculty call on all members of The New School community to join us in the streets and actively participate in what will be a historic May Day.

WHY PARTICIPATE ON MAY DAY?

The New School prides itself on its commitment to public engagement and social justice. This May Day provides us with a vital opportunity to put our ideals into practice by challenging an unjust social order one that depends on our willing participation and reclaiming what is rightfully ours. We know things can no longer continue as they have and May Day is our opportunity to create the kind of world we want to live in. Participating in May Day activities accomplishes two goals, both equally important . . .

FIRST were saying, No! Weve had enough! We cannot sit idly by while ...
- Our education becomes commodified and financially inaccessible to many while crushing student debt fuels the profits of the 1%. - Our own university marginalizes its under-employed and sub-contractually employed workers, effectively silencing their voices. - Our administration undemocratically restructures divisions including Mannes, Parsons, and Drama without the input of those community members. - Our administration refuses to create a budget committee to oversee the university's spending and provide transparency of its overall finances.

SECOND were saying, Yes! Our collective power can change this & more!
The New School prides itself on being a leader in providing creative approaches to persistent real-world challenges. This May Day we call on our community to creatively reimagine our social relations anew by throwing a wrench in the capitalist system that ensnares us. When we take collective action by striking, we force those who benefit from our labor (and our debt) to recognize their dependence on us workers. Our no! becomes at the same time an affirmation, a yes! to a new way of doing things one in which students, faculty, and workers join together to imagine and actively create a better world for all.

WAYS TO PARTICIPATE . . .
The Free University an open, horizontal space for radical education will be meeting from 10 AM to 3 PM in Madison Square Park. Professors are encouraged not to simply cancel their scheduled classes, but to invite students to the Free University or to hold an open class there. Detailed information about this project is available on the Free University website (http://maydaynyc.org/freeuniversity). Everyone not just traditional students! is welcome to attend these open, free workshops. After the Free University, join up with immigrant groups, unions, and community and student groups at 4 PM in Union Square to demonstrate our collective power.

Success Depends on All Members of the New School Community!

We must stand together to tell the 1% that we will no longer play by their rules and remain divided. ALL members of The New School community have the right to refuse their traditional roles on May 1st. In accordance with this right, we demand that the administration make public its assurance that:

1) There will be no negative consequences for any students, faculty, or workers who choose to put their work to rest.

2) It will fight any negative repercussions (including but not limited to the docking of pay, threatening, demotion, or firing) for all members of the New School community, including those employed by external contractors.

We expect a response to our demand from President Van Zandt by April 27th. We make this statement public according to our conscience and guided by our commitment to the integrity and safety of The New School community. Concerned Members of The New School Community