Confessions of an Over-Analyzer

As many of you know, I am the student liaison for the Department Chairs Committee at NYU Silver School of Social Work. Last week, the Chairs Committee and the Curriculum Committee came together to discuss some of the trends that are emerging within the school of social work.

Among these trends, was the noticeable move towards ‘specializations’ that has occurred in the last few years. This is seen through specialized field learning opportunities like the Integrated Geriatric Mental Health Program, the Policy-Practice Program, the Zelda Foster studies in Palliative Care, and more. It appears that students want a more specific course of study within their chosen area of social work.

But what does that mean for the future of the NYU Silver School of Social Work? Should we have specialized programs that all students enroll in, thus making us more “marketable” in certain fields? Or is it better to have a broader education so we are not locked into a certain type of work? What if you are a student who is not sure what you want to do, where does that leave you?

As it stands now, all students can mold their course selection to create a “focus” of sorts, but there are not an abundance of formal specialized programs. I would really like to hear what other students have to say about this topic before our next meeting on February 23rd.

Give Back, NYU

I was raised to view pretty much all goods and services from a lens of consumerism. There are producers and consumers. Anyone can fit into these two categories at different times. Basically, I was taught that all problems can be reduced to economics.

This isn't always true. I know. But it is how I was raised.

This has often made me very self-righteous--given the whole “customer is always right” mentality. But I also think it makes me more accountable as a social worker, given that my “product” isn’t always quantifiable or held to the same standards as something with a lifetime “warranty.” After all, I can’t exactly assure a client they will never feel sad again--or their money back, guaranteed.

Last semester, in my affecting social change class, we looked at the institution of the University, and I asked myself these questions many times:

What does the “University”, as a producer of education, owe to its consumers, the students?

What is NYU’s product? And why do we choose to buy it?

This post comes in response to Take Back NYU’s recent occupation of the Kimmel Marketplace. TBNYU’s demands include:

•Public release of NYU’s annual operating budget, including a full list of university expenditures, salaries for all employees compensated on a semester or annual basis, funds allocated for staff wages, contracts to non-university organizations for university construction and services, financial aid data for each college, and money allocated to each college, department, and administrative unit of the university.
•Disclosure of NYU’s endowment holdings, investment strategy, projected endowment growth, and persons, corporations and firms involved in the investment of the university’s endowment funds.
•That NYU signs a contract guaranteeing fair labor practices for all NYU employees at home and abroad.
•The establishment of a student elected Socially Responsible Finance Committee. That the first two orders of business of the Socially Responsible Finance committee will be: a) An in depth investigation of all investments in war and genocide profiteers, as well as companies profiting from the occupation of Palestinian territories. b) A reassessment of the recently lifted of the ban on Coca Cola products.
•That annual scholarships be provided for thirteen Palestinian students, starting with the 2009/2010 academic year. These scholarships will include funding for books, housing, meals and travel expenses.
•That the university donate all excess supplies and materials in an effort to rebuild the University of Gaza.
•Tuition stabilization for all students, beginning with the class of 2012. All students will pay their initial tuition rate throughout the course of their education at New York University.
•That the general public have access to Bobst Library.

So what does NYU owe its students?

My dad would say: education, safety, and an edge above other college graduates.

I agree. And since I believe in transparency for all businesses/organizations/governmental agencies, I will agree with that as well.

So where do we go from there? Last night I went to a panel discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility put on by the Reynold’s Program in Social Entrepreneurship. Two crucial take-away messages were:

1)Businesses become socially responsible when consumers demand it through their purchasing patterns.
2)Businesses support causes that fit their brand and their consumer demographic.

This being said, if we demand social responsibility from our University (and I am going to go ahead and compare it to a business for this purpose) then we need to prove to them that prospective students are turning down NYU to go to more socially responsible institutions of higher education. And we need to come together as students and decide on what cause is really important to us.

As a student, I can tell you that all of NYU’s ‘consumers’ are not united behind all of these demands.

I am not sure how I feel about TBNYU’s occupation of Kimmel. I don’t denounce it completely, because I believe in the power of dissent. But I don't support it either.

I would like to hear your thoughts....