NYU Officials Working To Soften Impact Of Strike of Hundreds of Graduate Students

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun

New York University officials yesterday sought to curb the impact of a strike of its graduate students, hundreds of whom are refusing to perform any teaching duties until the administration recognizes their union.


On the first day of their strike, NYU graduate students, along with union officials and out-of-town students, picketed in front of the towering Bobst Library on Washington Square South, the headquarters of the central administration.


Marching in a loop between police barriers erected in the street, they blew whistles and horns, pounded on drums, and screamed at a piercing volume for much of the day. Students also jeered at NYU officials entering and exiting the building. People shouted, “Shame on you!” at the white-haired dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Science, Catharine Stimpson, wearing a pewter colored raincoat and lugging a black tote bag out of the library.


“We have to show the students that the union is not necessary,” Ms. Stimpson told The New York Sun.


A year after receiving permission from the National Labor Relations Board, NYU this summer chose not to recognize the students’ union with the United Auto Workers, accusing the union of interfering with the academic prerogatives of the university. Officials at NYU, which had been the only private university with unionized students, have vowed that the school won’t return to collective bargaining.


About 1,000 graduate students serve as assistants at any one time, NYU officials said. In exchange for free tuition and a minimum stipend for doctoral students of $19,000 a year, students are required to teach for two or three years.


While the exact number of graduate students on strike is not known, it was clear that dozens of undergraduate courses have been disrupted to varying degrees. Undergraduate students have been informed that discussion sections, which are used to go over lecture course material, have been canceled.


Students taking foreign language courses have been told their classes are no longer meeting and have been encouraged to go online for course materials. The French department has 45 classes taught by graduate students.


In solidarity with strikers, more than 100 professors have also moved their classes to off-campus locations. The most popular location appears to be the Brecht Forum at 451 West St. Fat Cat Billiards on Christopher Street also is holding classes.


One student, Lisa Biggs, a second year master’s student in the Gallatin School of Individualized Study, wore a poster that read, “I’m doing this for my undergraduates. Their classroom is our workplace.”


Another striker, Matthias Heymann, a 28-year-old doctoral student in mathematics from Germany, taught a linear algebra class this semester. He said he told his students he would no longer show up to class and that he assumes his department will cover for his absence.


Short on solid information about the scope of the strike, NYU officials are urging students to call a campus number to report classroom disruptions. “We will determine if your instructor’s absence is unrelated to the UAW job actions. We’ll then be back in touch with you shortly about how to proceed,” a memo posted on NYU’s Web site stated.


In the lead-up to the strike, NYU mounted a public relations blitz targeted at undergraduates and their parents. The university president, John Sexton, sent a letter to thousands of parents assuring them that “our foremost priority is your child’s education.”


The New York Sun

© 2025 The New York Sun Company, LLC. All rights reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. The material on this site is protected by copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used.

The New York Sun

Sign in or  Create a free account

or
By continuing you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use