cooper union

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Filmed May 15, 2013. For 12 years since the eviction of the Charas/El Bohio community center at former public school 64 (P.S. 64), the building has sat dormant as developer Gregg Singer fought with the community over what to do with the building, from razing the structure, to renovating it into a youth hostel. The latest chapter in this fight was a promise from The Cooper Union to rent close to 200 beds should a dormitory be built [1, 2], and a promise from the Joffrey School of Ballet for 120 beds [3, 4]. Some critics fear the proposed dorm could later transform itself into a hostel via loopholes in the law. This deal has led to renewed protest at Charas, a protest now involving the Cooper Union community. The Cooper Union community itself faces a major protest of its own, a student-led occupation of the administrative offices of the school including that of the President. Students, staff, and faulty have issued states of no confidence over Cooper Union President Dr. Jamshed Bharucha's leadership at the school, and the board of trustees on which he serves. Students and faculty cite the lack of transparency, and poor decision making--over financial matters including scholarship & tuition--and the lack of community input over Cooper Union's vision and future, e.g., Charas community center dorm deal. [5] Organized by the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS), and Free Cooper Union, activists put on a cheerful march from Charas to Cooper Union in solidarity and support of both historic institutions. Members of the Rude Mechanical Orchestra lead the march, and play several songs including "Down by the Riverside", and "Which Side Are You On?" with lyrics, "Cooper Union Should be Free, Give Charas Back to the Community!" (cooper union must be free, give charas back to the community). The march included visuals including the People's Puppets of OWS' Lady Liberty, banners, and signs. Speakers on the video include Barbara Caporale, Charas co-founder Chino Garcia; NYC Councilmember Rosie Mendez; NY State Senator Brad Hoylman; Paul G, a Charas and Cooper Union alumni; and Free Cooper Union student representative Saar Shemesh. On a related note, the community "celebrated" the tenth anniversary of the Charas eviction with a "Locked out and Evicted Party" on December 18, 2011. That protest resulted in 3 arrests, charges which were later dismissed at trial when the judge reviewed the video of that action. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mDqUik2Frc references [1] http://evgrieve.com/2013/04/report-former-ps-64-one-step-closer-to.html [2] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424127887324030704578423003271789378.html [3] http://evgrieve.com/2013/05/report-joffrey-ballet-school-will-lease.html [4] http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324715704578479471281857326.html [5] http://www.facebook.com/FreeCooperUnion/posts/466591110088379 FOLLOW @tenementcity for updates