Dear May Day Cooper Union and SUNY Stonybrook Free University participants,
Thank you again for helping to make Wednesday’s events such a wonderful success!! We held several dozen workshops with several hundred participants of all ages, all of whom contributed to transforming education into a free, accessible, social justice-oriented, creative, caring, and interactive practice. Our focus on education as direct action was illustrated in NYC at the afternoon education convergence, Union Square rally and downtown march, and evening Washington Square dance party, as well as in Stonybrook at the protest outside President Stanley’s office. These kinds of actions sustain our visions of interconnected community struggles and celebrations to free education.
Moving forward, we wish to continue collaborating with you. As stated in our May Day 2013 “Call to Education,” our ongoing goal is to “cultivate a network of Free Universities that can be sustainably rooted in community-based education across NYC…to ensure they’re directly relevant and empowering on a ground level.” We would love your input on how to realize this network!
Solid next steps are already underway, starting with a NYC education debrief/follow-up this Sunday, 1pm, at Cooper Union. This will be an opportunity to plan for end-of-semester and summer activities both on and off campuses, including future Free U events, student unionism, and community-led organizing projects.
Another event entitled “The Future of CUNY” on Tuesday, May 7, at 5:30pm in the CUNY Graduate Center cafeteria will bring together people from around CUNY and NYC to strategize how to transform the university from below as it undergoes major administration shifts at the top. RSVP here.
As always, Free University is a developing project that welcomes new political directions, social empowerment, constructive critique, active co-creators, and vibrant partnerships with a range of existing social justice education initiatives. Please stay connected so we can all “turn the city into a free university” in the days, months, and years ahead.
Check out May Day Free University coverage.
Like our page (and share your pics/videos of the Cooper Union and Stonybrook Free U’s!).
Join our group.
Email FreeUniversityNYC@gmail.com to join our list-serve.
with immense gratitude and rowdy respect,
-Free University-NYC
