Posted on 03/27/2020 3:16:04 PM PDT by Impala64ssa
Students at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts want some of their tuition money back because they say virtual classes aren't what they paid for — but instead of addressing the situation, the school's dean sent them a video of herself dancing to REM's "Losing My Religion."
Following several communications between students and the school administration, Dean Allyson Green earlier this week attached her dance video to an email to students in which she explained that she doesn't have the authority to refund tuition and that it's "challenging" for the school to give students their money back right now.
The video is now making the rounds on social media after NYU Tisch senior Michael Price, 21, shared it on Twitter.
This was not an accident, this was her sort of way of trying to reach out to the student body," Price told NBC News. He said his initial reaction was that the video was ridiculous and "tonedeaf."
A year's tuition at Tisch costs about $58,552 (it's arguably a lot more when you consider other fees) and most of the students at the private and prestigious art school require hands-on education. The school informed students that it would not be reimbursing tuition fees even though they were forced to move to remote learning due to the spread of COVID-19.
I am personally upset that we are being denied access to this equipment and facilities and still being charged the same amount for what is admittedly by the university a lower quality education," Price said.
Green argued in her email that remote learning was unexpected for everyone and that it was actually costing the university "millions more." She also said the school is still paying for facilities and maintaining them even though students can't use them.
NBC New York received the following statement from Green:
"The focus of my career as a performer, choerographer, and dance educator, and my most authentic mode of expression, has always been dance. In the video, I shared the song with which I have welcomed first-year students to the Tisch School of the Arts for the past eight years. It is a piece that -- as I explained in the accompanying email -- speaks to frustration and disappointment, and that helped see me through the loss of 30 friends to AIDS -- another difficult period for artists.
What I meant to demonstrate is my certainty that even with the unprecedented hardships of social distancing and remotely-held classes, it is still possible for the Tisch community to make art together, and that all the artists in our school will find ways to remain closely connected even as circumstances challenge us. I regret it if my email left the reasons for my dancing misunderstood -- although I will note that I have also received many positive acknowledgments -- but its intent was surely neither frivolous or disrespectful."
Students have started an online petition to call for partial tuition reimbursement which now has over 2,200 signatures and the situation has gotten the attention of some famous alumni.
"As an alumnus, I am ashamed to say this is my Alma Mater. Stop buying up real estate and start treating your students and their parents with some respect and empathy," actress Rachel Bloom said in a Tweet on Thursday as she called for the school to give students their refund. "Saturday Night Live" writer and Tisch alumna Anna Drezen also sounded off about tuition cost at the school:
It’s already borderline immoral to take $80,000 a year from people in exchange for the promise of a career in pretending, but it’s very immoral when those pretending classes don’t even happen in person. @NYUTischSchool- do the least-worst thing and grant partial refunds. https://twitter.com/adamjocon/status/1243345077075939329 …
And they want student debt erased!??
I wish I Could get back the money I spent on all my bad decisions!
Shouldn’t she have tried to get someone who could actually dance to do the video?
I agree. Providing loans and financial assistance for students pursuing degrees in medicine, engineering, science, or anything useful and practical MAY have some merit, these students have a better shot at hitting it big in a lottery than a lucrative career in show biz. These snowflakes have no understanding of risk assessment.
You contracted with NYU to buy a degree and you will get a degree. You want an education? Join the Army.
>>It is a piece that — as I explained in the accompanying email — speaks to frustration and disappointment, and that helped see me through the loss of 30 friends to AIDS — another difficult period for artists.
heroin abuse and risky promiscuous sex?
Many more artists suffer from bouts of depression, suicidal thoughts, and self abuse (with alcohol, drugs, and bad life choices).
Exactly what do you get for four years of Tisch ?
In 2000 I bought my first townhome. New build. The first builder I gave $10k and another 8k for add ons over a 8 month period . The home was supposed to be built in a year and after 14 months everything stopped.
MY father found out the builder was bankrupt and by stroke of luck we found that the feds were even after them. The guy had $18 grand of mine.
I was traveling alot and my father called me and i flew home. The weekend before the Bankruptcy announcement, we traveled from Chicago to Michigan to the builders office on a saturday. He by luck was inside...and alone.
My father blocked the door and locked it and I told the guy it was worth every penny of an assault charge and either his blood and teeth would be splattered across the table or else my money would fully refunded NOW.
I meant it too.
He cut a check and thank god it cleared. We were worried on the drive back but it thankfully cleared.
In the good old days before 9/11 it was perfectly acceptable to threaten scumbags like this in private with no witnesses.
Thank you Dad!
Good times!
I have no intention of sending my kids to any of the leftist indoctrination centers called colleges or universities.
Since I do not plan to give these horrible organizations the money in the first place, I will not need to demand it back when the institutions refuse to provide a refund for services not rendered.
JoMa
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