CALL OFF THE PARTIES AND CELEBRATIONS UNLESS THEY ARE CELEBRATIONS OF ESCALATED RESISTANCE!

Boxed in by security as Dell Omo approaches Press Briefing - I made him walk a narrower path into the Press Briefing where he announced.

Related: Rider Faculty Needs Solidarity! Appeal to PREA and PRESSA

Yesterday, Rider - President Dell Omo - announced its long awaited decision to attempt to sell Westminster Choir College to another institution to take over operations.

Many thought the decision yesterday was the least offensive of 3 bad options.  (The other two options were complete closure and moving Westminster to Rider's Lawrenceville campus location.)  GUESS AGAIN!

The demand was always SAVE WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE IN PRINCETON.  That was *not* accomplished.

Princeton Public Schools Wants to Buy Westminster Choir College Property

https://planetprinceton.com/2017/03/29/princeton-public-schools-board-wants-to-buy-westminster-choir-college-property/

I was unable to clip the text describing what was passed so instead took this pic of it:



You thought - well at least we have another year - we can probably find someone to buy us out and keep us in Princeton?

You thought that everything will be ok after all?

That we had pushed back just enough for the best of the worse . . .

THE FOR SALE SIGN IS STILL UP!

As Rob sang:

NOT FOR SALE AT WESTMINSTER!

The administration was quite crafty - as the release of this additional information was delayed until the NEXT DAY - the opposition comments in the paper were - "well it's the best of 3 bad proposals" - so they cleverly undermined more hard hitting commentary on the day the media was most interested.

While Rider committed to trying to find a parent institution to purchase Westminster Choir College it obviously did NOT commit to the idea that the institution would purchase Westminster Choir College TO STAY IN PRINCETON - which has been the principle demand.

Questions:

Is Rider in negotiations with Princeton District?

How long have those negotiations been engaged?

Is Rider willing to sell the property in a separate transaction from the sale of the institution of Westminster Choir College?

Obviously - Princeton District was privy to the decision before it was announced to be able to roll out its plan to move on the property.  Obviously they have researched the Rider decision and made sure that Rider's commitment to sell the institution does not preclude it from selling the property to another buyer.

Yesterday's press briefing was scheduled for 1 pm but did not occur until around 2pm - perhaps Dell Omo was giving Princeton District some time to line up its ducks for last night's meeting at which the move on the property was approved.  Princeton District and Rider Administration are OBVIOUSLY coordinating.

Another point . . . selling the land (and the buildings) out from under Westminster Choir College is an important asset.  It is questionable what portion of student undergraduate body will follow the college to another site.  At least part of the faculty will not be able to relocate.  So a diminished student body, no land and diminished faculty - what is left to sell?  What is to attract the institutions that WCC supporters hope to be able to pitch to?  So this could be a blueprint for closing - just a year later.

Who wants to carry the banner at the next Princeton Planning Board meeting where the plan to make a move to destroy WCC will be proceeding?  Princeton Public Schools is trying to schedule their move against Wesminster Choir College on the agenda of that meeting.
To contact Princeton Planning Board: 

April 6 7:30 pm

Facebook event:
https://www.facebook.com/events/409504999424114/

Princeton Planning Board

Lee O. Solow, PP, AICP - Planning Director

Ilene Cutroneo, Planning Bd. Coordinator

400 Witherspoon Street, Princeton, NJ 08540

609-924-5366 - Fax: 609-688-2032 

send comments/questions

Call or text 908-881-5275 if interested.

I will add more to this article - but this firms up my oft stated proposal.

THAT WE NEED TO MARCH DOWN 206!!!

Here are the addresses of the Princeton Public School Board that voted to make these moves against Westminster Choir College:

Princeton Public Schools Board of Education
betsy_baglio@princetonk12.org
bill_hare@princetonk12.org
connie_witter@princetonk12.org
dafna_kendal@princetonk12.org
debbie_bronfeld@princetonk12.org
evelyn_spann@princetonk12.org
fern_spruill@princetonk12.org
greg_stankiewicz@princetonk12.org
justin_doran@princetonk12.org
patrick_sullivan@princetonk12.org

Update March 30:

WCTC Article

Quote from article:

“While we appreciate their interest and deeply value our place in the Princeton community, as President Dell’Omo informed the Rider community, over the next 12 months, our highest priority is to find an institution willing to acquire Westminster Choir College and keep it in Princeton,"

I find this apparent attempt to reassure to be DISINGENUOUS and here is why:it suggests that after the 12 month period - the parameters change A, and B - it says that is its highest priority but it does NOT say that they will NOT also be entertaining other offers to buy the property separately.

If you put that together with statements made by Dell Omo that his concern is purely financial - in the transcript of his meeting with faculty - that has not changed.

The administration public position all along on this was that they were talking about merging to Lawrenceville. 

That is how they played up until the last couple of weeks so a press statement has no real commitment - especially with all the subterfuge that has occurred compliments of Dell Omo and administration. I am not discouraging those who have the wherewithall to seriously broker a deal with an institution to keep WCC in Princeton but i believe there is more potential for this PPS deal than some are giving it - the quote is trying to assuage concern over it - my suspicous mind tells me that helps them continue to foster the deal - IN THE DARK!

O Westminster! Published and Distributed March 28

1700 copies distributed today - 500 during this mornings rally, 500 distributed to Rider students at the cafeteria - 500 handed off to Rider Students Union President Kenny Dillon who will handle their distribution and about another 200 shared with AAUP members and others who will assure their distribution.

A total of 4000 were printed so that leaves another 2300 that need to be shared.  If you want a pile of them or a few call / text 908-881-5275 with information about how many and how to get them to you.

While the decision has been announced - there is still a great deal of work to do and part of that is redefining the power relationships on the campus - especially with the current level of administration generated turmoil toward faculty.

The following is a link to an important article - the other articles that were not previously posted on this blog will be posted in the days ahead.

What if There is a Strike (Or Lock Out) at Rider University and Westminster Choir College

The PDF is available in the files of Faceboook group:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1820836201505158

The paper:

What if There is a Strike (Or Lock Out) at Rider University and Westminster Choir College

This blog article that was first published in the historic O Westminster
paper published on March 28, 2017.
The contract Rider AAUP has now with administration is through August 31, 2017.  Right now administration is placing severe unreasonable demands against faculty.  Faculty made concessions fall semester, 2015 in order to stave off the cuts of the piano major from Westminster Choir College and about a dozen majors on the Lawrenceville campus.

Administration, in spite of contract requirement to recognize AAUP as the sole bargaining unit sent a letter directly to the membership with misrepresentations of the current negotiation situation.

The take it or leave it way administration is currently sitting at the table suggests that there is a possibility of a forced strike or lock out this fall.  If that occurs, Rider might hire temp-renta-profs to supposedly teach the classes.   There will be a strong effort by administration to pressure students to accept this replacement staff as the education that they have invested in.

The first thing to do for students is to learn about the issue. The best way to do that is to go directly to the source of the information, the leadership of the AAUP.  Students should invite these campus leaders to as many  venues as they can schedule to meet with students and fully understand the situation.  Please see  the AAUP letter to its membership for a current assessment of the challenging position faculty is in right now given administration's take it or leave it approach to negotiations.

The process of engaging the AAUP for such meetings should likely begin now so that students can have a better understanding of where the situation is at currently.  Through such cooperative engagement, perhaps efforts can be made immediately to pressure the administration to make a more respectful position.

There will be plenty of opportunity to hear the administration position directly from e-mails from adminsitration and various forums with administration that will no doubt be arranged.

The kinds of forums that will not be organized by the administration are with faculty - these need to be initiated by the students.

Once you are fully aware of the real issues on the table and the real circumstances, as opposed to those that might be presented by the administration, then you can make a decision to accept the replacement staff as what you have invested your tuition in or figuring out how to work with the AAUP to bring about a quick resolution  to get the true quality of education you invested in.
Look at who is by your side now to try to save Westminister.

Administration? or AAUP?
There is a common interest to save Westminister.
That includes the Westminster Faculty.

Eve of Decision - Song and Prayer Vigil

Please enjoy the videos . . .

SAVE WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE! Unified Protests Planned for March 28

SAVE WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE!

Unified Protests Planned for March 28

WESTMINSTER AND RIDER STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, ALUM, COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS OF MUSIC AND THE ARTS - UNIFY!

 Tuesday, 3/28 at 8:30 am in front of North Hall on the Rider University Campus
Please share widely!

RAIN OR SHINE WE ARE ON THE LINE!

This notice was posted at the Rider AAUP site:

There is an action planned on Tuesday, 3/28 at 8:30 am in front of North Hall on the Rider University Campus. The Board of Trustees will be on campus to vote on the fate of the Westminster Choir College. A large contingent from the Westminster campus will be coming down so that the Board can see the faces of those individuals that will be directly affected by their decision. Please come out and show your support for the students and faculty of Westminster Choir College at this crucial time.

With this graphic:

It looks like everything is worked out for the protests on Tuesday against the pending decision for some form of closing, either complete or the closing of the campus and the attempt to merge with existing facilities on the Lawrenceville campus.

There will be a period of quiet protest called for by the Student Governing Association with widespread support from the student body.

Then later after the silent events are completed, there will be an opportunity for those who are opposed to be able to speak out and express their reasons for opposition and possible proposals for the way forward to block the move from happening and save Westminster Choir College and Rider University in the process.

I am guessing that Westminster faculty are understanding for students missing classes on Tuesday though I would still recommend that students notify their teachers if they do not plan to attend class.

I would hope that many who come for the silent event stay and participate in the later event as well – it will be a great opportunity to learn the varying angles on opposition to this administration decision.

I believe there will be opportunity for students to speak, sing, slam some poetry, maybe play something on an instrument – however they want to express their opposition.

It will be a perfect opportunity for everyone to meet in the area of the protest, to exchange tactical and strategic ideas and to determine next steps forward. 

I will bring my Megavox system and make sure the batteries are fully charged.  If it is not utilized – ok – but I will have it ready.  It is possible that AAUP or others might have access to a better system so that’s fine too!

The pending decision is a horror but the unity we show will be GLORIOUS!

ALL OUT!  ALL UNIFIED!  WESTMINSTER SHALL IN PRINCETON STAY!

First 4000 people to show up get the historic issue of O WESTMINSTER!

HOW TO PROTEST THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CLOSING OF WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE?

Thing about protest . . . people have different ideas as to what sort of protest should occur.  Now just a couple days before the possible announcement of the closure of WCC - SGA - that has not up until this point even passed a resolution opposing the shuttering ot the WCC campus in Princeton - announces "silent" protest.

Now that might be the way to go . . . but it might not be.

I don't think there was a vote in the efforts to block this - and admittedly my voice is just a very small part of that melieu - for a protest that is silent.

But also - those that would prefer to protest in a silent way SHOULD have an opportunity to do that.  What they don't have a right is to tell all others how THEY should protest.

I do not believe that the SGA voted among its membership on the text of the letter it sent out in January.  The letter did seem to speak approvingly of cost savings of combining campuses . . . which is kind of rash toward the elimination of positions of AAUP members and other staff that provide the class rooom education and other education support services that would be combined (and eliminated).

So possibly the morning can be segmented into a little time for SGA silence that others can recognize.  But then if the AAUP has a particular position on the matter that they want to talk about - - I would be the last one that would want to SILENCE the AAUP!

The AAUP - BASICALLY IS WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE!  That is a fact!  Westminster Choir College IS the BELOVED FACULTY.  The faculty are the AAUP!  The faculty stand to be RAVAGED by the shuttering of WCC.  That is a point that many do not get.

Now the SGA can ASK the AAUP if it wants to participate in a silent protest and the AAUP can decide its own approach to represent the grievances of their stake in the loss of Westminster Choir College.  Their perspective could be different . . . but silence might or might not be their choice.

There are several other important organizations that have EVERY RIGHT to protest the closing of Westminster Choir College.

THe Coalition to Save Westminster in Princeton, soon to be incorporated - maybe they would go for a silent protest.  I would not be the one to ask them that.  The SGA CAN ask them that but they CAN NOT IMPOSE silence on them.

The SGA can not impose silence on any voices - that includes mine and that includes students that want to pose behind a banner supporting the beloved WCC and beloved Faculty.

That includes the Rider Students Union - that LED the student fight to SAVE Westminster (I truly believe that attack piano was the beginning of the end - even moreso now) last year while the SGAs held forums with administration and NEVER OPPOSED the cuts to the majors.  I would not silence RSU NOR encourage their silence but the SGA can ask them that.

There might be other campus organizations that have an interest in expressing their own views in their own way.

Alumni organizations and active alumnus might have ideas how THEY want to participate.

That includes others that might be coming to the campuses to support Westminster and address other issues here.

That includes leaders in the field that might want to come - sing - speak - participate.  Maybe even one or two board members want to SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE MADNESS!

So the SGA can PROPOSE silence to anyone it wants and I woudl respectfully yield some silent time if I had any input to decisions on any content of the type of protest.

But if other groups have other ways that THEY want to convey the message I am good with that.

I have a fairly decent sound box - not perfect - kind of old - about 10X bull horn if folks want to have like a rally - singers - rap artitss . . . whatever we want to do.  I am not saying we have to do that but if that is decided I got some goods.

There were other groups working on doing something before the SGA announced a silent protest.

They had not said silent or anything but maybe that is what they envisioned.  They did nto want to announce it yet - they were planning on announcing on Monday.

But the SGA should not act like they CALL THE SHOTS as to how the groups that have been swinging with both of them since December should protest.

WCC Students Assert Support for Campus - SGA Members Call Security - 4 MORE DAYS!

"
Pictures from today's Westminster Choir College banner holding photography event - and members of SGA falsely accuse this writer (and for today photographer) of "harassing students" (look through the pics - do they look harassed?) - go to security office resulting in this video.  Enjoy the wonderful pictures!

I hereby invite students from SGAs on campuses where they actually oppose administration policy and support student rights to express their opposition to administration policies to a workshop on Rider campus.  I am not sure if the administration will provide space but maybe we can meet unofficially on the campus.  There needs to be a rethinking at Rider as to the role of the SGA regarding student participation in administration decision making.

It should be understood also - the repression of this banner and picture session today by SGA members and Rider security is also suppression of an important message - - the message on the banner: SUPPORT BELOVED FACULTY!  It is important for students to recognize the commonality with AAUP over this issue - AND MOST OF THE OTHER ISSUES RIGHT NOW AT ! The holding of the banner is the beginning of the recognition of this - SAME STRUGGLE - SAME FIGHT!  It is only through such understanding can students and faculty proceed on all of the related issues.  So when the banner fell after 6:11 it was also a hit on the potential unity between these issues and groups.

About 51 students participated in the photo-banner shoot!

Westminster Power