For some time now the New School University has been in a struggle between the students and the President of the college Bob Kerrey. For those located in the New York tri-state area maybe you have seen some of the small news coverage of said protests. For as many protests and sit ins and the such there has been little to no movement from the President (besides being chased down 5th avenue).
Yesterday, in a silent announcement, Bob Kerrey said he would not renew his contract with the school in 2011. The board of Trustees, student senate and everyone else now try to figure out how to transition to a new president. There is no denial that the growing protests and frustrations with the administration are evidence enough of Kerrey's willingness to not renew his contract. But I wonder, is this evidence of protest having an impact to cause change, or is it the establishments victory through time?
Since we well into 100 days of a new presidency we have moved on from the former president of this country who, as we all know, was a great polarizer of the people. Yet for all of protesters demands of the former president, he graciously handed over the keys to our current president and flew out of Washington D.C. without even looking back. Did the protester's win? Did they get their way by getting the polarizer out of office?
With the New School president moving on after 2011 there will be some jubilee for those who have been in opposition to Bob Kerrey. But did the protests do what they were intended to do? The school has to figure where they will go with student demands and administration policy. As for the government of this nation, the dirty laundry is out on the past administration and what will happen? It is clear to see that nothing will happen. In the end the protester gets what they want but only masked by the civil law that was established by the establishment.
