Vincent Vance, Student Co-Chair of the Diversity Task Force
• October 7, 2016
The NYU Diversity and Inclusion Task Force is a representative body of students, faculty and staff, and our only goal is a more equitable, diverse and inclusive NYU.
Divestment affirms and deepens the positive steps that NYU is already taking in reducing its emissions, producing important research in every discipline and educating the next generation of climate leaders. We do not accept the false dichotomy, which exists in the aforementioned article and elsewhere, between financial health and affirming what is right.
In times of conflict, our students should be treated as young adults, not as kids in need of parental supervision. What the administration has created is an atmosphere of fear among our students where there should be safety and tolerance.
In spite of our small per-student endowment, NYU has managed to improve its academic programs, reputation and ranking; substantially increase scholarship aid; and take some important initial steps toward improving affordability.
The room selection process for upperclass students is ultimately designed by students. We strongly encourage students to take the time to be engaged and informed about the process and continue to provide constructive feedback. We can work together to provide a better experience.
The best way to enfranchise young voters is to connect the issues that young people care about to the importance of voting, researching the candidates and knowing how to vote. There is no easy formula for getting this done, but a student organization here at NYU is giving it a try.
Incited to act by NYU’s systemic failure to reflect community demands, engage in meaningful discourse, uphold human rights, and maintain transparency, a growing group of students are in the process of forging an independent decision-making body led by students.
Assange is not free to escape the institution of law that governs modern society which he aims to evade in any way possible. The very institutions that Assange made his mission in undermining are the very institutions that he looks to for solace in his effort to escape to Ecuador.
