What NYU 2031 Means to You - Part 2

Colleges and Universities A-Z New York University
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<p>Today, I’d like to talk a little bit about the faculty and their opposition to NYU 2031. In many respects, NYU’s faculty opposes this plan for the same reasons as many Village residents. That’s because most of NYU’s faculty also lives in the Village.</p>

<p>In fact, more than 40% of NYU’s faculty lives on the two superblocks that comprise the site of NYU’s proposed expansion. The north superblock is the home of Washington Square Village. There are approximately 1,300 apartments in this complex providing housing for faculty, graduate students and others. Silver Towers, located on the south superblock consists of three 30-story towers with more than 500 apartments. Two of the towers provide housing for NYU faculty and graduate students.</p>

<p>Indeed, among all Village residents, NYU’s faculty will be the most directly exposed to the new construction, which is expected to take 20 years. For those with families raising young children, it means that the only accessible playgrounds will be removed. For all it means living in a construction zone, with all the attendant pollution and noise, for an entire generation.</p>

<p>It’s no surprise then, that many faculty launched an organization, Faculty Against the Sexton Plan (<a href="http://nyufasp.com%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://nyufasp.com&lt;/a&gt;), to fight NYU 2031. Working in conjunction with Greenwich Village Society for Historical Preservation (GVSHP</a> | Home), they are bringing a suit against NYU in an effort to stop it. FASP has also drafted an alternative to NYU 2031, that has attained widespread support in the community.</p>

<p>Though few faculty members have publicly expressed their personal intent, it is nonetheless well known that many are now seeking employment elsewhere. Though their frustration stems mainly out of concern for their own well being and that of their families, it also arises from their lack of input in the planning process. Just as the community at large is angry and frustrated that their concerns were ignored, so is the faculty.</p>

<p>Any significant number of faculty departures will have a substantial impact on the quality and value of NYU’s education. The university has spent years working hard to attract prominent educators in a variety of fields. NYU’s reputation has grown as a result. Now, it is putting its reputation at risk.</p>

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<p>You seem to have a very vested interest in posting on this subject for some reason.</p>

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<p>Yes, as an alum and a Village resident (see my earlier post), I do have concerns about NYU 2031 and its impact on the neighborhood and the school. As a senior heading to law school (congratulations!), you may personally feel little impact from the plan. Many others posting to this board, however, will likely be deeply affected.</p>

<p>As pointed out above, the faculty is deeply opposed. Prospective students, if they are admitted and attend, may find the academic landscape considerably altered from what they originally expected. In subsequent posts, I’ll explore the plan’s impact on tuition and debt.</p>

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<p>I, personally, do believe that the University could due with more space. However, I do agree that: (1) Expansion should not be at the cost of students, such that, student body quality should not be lowered, student tuition rates should not increase considerably and (2) the university ought give priority to increasing student financial aid and thereby attract a better student body. </p>

<p>E.g. I’m very annoyed that NYU continues to open study abroad campuses when many students cannot even afford to attend the University. </p>

<p>If, however, the University could attain a reasonable balance between space expansion, while also increasing financial aid and not increasing student body size or lowering selectively, then I have no qualms with the plan. Obviously, the actual obtaining of such conditions seems highly unlikely, which is, agreeably, grounds for concern. </p>

<p>And thank you for your congratulations.</p>

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<p>I plan to discuss this further in a future post, but for right now, let me share your concern about overseas expansion at the expense of students here. Indeed, what is particularly galling to so many residents and faculty is that NYU has, as you point out, opened several campuses abroad, yet refuses to reconsider its expansion plan here and build downtown in the financial district. Unlike the Village community board, which unanimously rejected NYU 2031, the lower Manhattan community board has extended an open-armed invitation to NYU, practically begging the University to build there.</p>

<p>The sites available downtown are readily accessible from the Village. They are easily within walking distance and there is also abundant public transportation. For comparison, you could overlay the entire area of Stanford’s campus on the combined downtown/Village area.</p>

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<p>Once again, get over it. As a life long NYer, I have lived with construction all my life. So do countless others. I’m sorry that the faculty residences (PROVIDED BY NYU) will be inconvenienced. Oh no.</p>

<p>If you don’t want construction, get out of NYC.</p>