Last Friday, exhausted New School students emerged victorious after a 30-hour protest. The students occupied the cafeteria in response to a number of unpopular positions held by President Bob Kerrey: On December 11, Kerrey named himself interim provost after abruptly dismissing the fifth provost to serve under his presidency. New School faculty passed a vote of no confidence against Kerry and executive vice president James Murtha, citing the high provost turnover rate as damaging to the academic integrity of the institution. An upcoming demolition of campus property was also controversial, as it was primarily student space. According to the New School Free Press, students issued a list of demands to Kerry at 2:34 a.m. Friday, which called for Kerry and Murtha’s resignation as well as more input in university administration and additional study space on campus.  By 4 a.m. Kerry had responded with a number of concessions including a promise of amnesty to all protestors, the implementation of a new socially responsible investment committee and student representation on the Board of Trustees. Kerry and Murtha did not agree to resign.

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