Embracing Overcapacity: The “new” New School

Do you stand on long lines each time you need to eat? Are you late to class even when you leave home early? Were you over-tallied in one or more of your courses?

If you answered yes to all of these questions, chances are you’re currently a student at The New School.

It is difficult to be at The New School these days and not feel the least bit claustrophobic. The lines at Arnold Hall Café are longer than ever. The Lang courtyard is constantly bustling. There are hardly any vacant computers available at the labs. And if there are, they are within two feet’s distance of a techno party (echoing from someone’s headphones), a brunch meeting (over frappuccinos and Facebook photos), a rhythm section (made up of sickly coughs and sneezes) or a drum solo (performed with a pen).

But these are relatively small frustrations in comparison to the jam-packed and slow elevators which contribute to class lateness and, as a result, might contribute to lower grades. Or the lack of practice rooms and studio space at the Jazz school and Parsons. Or the full classes — too crowded for their allotted space and for an intimate relationship between mentor and student.

Sure, these problems were always around. I’ve been hearing New School students complain about the limited campus utilities and its great disconnect to the high tuition rates (ranked one of the most expensive in the country by CampusGrotto.com) since my first day of college over two years ago. Yet I don’t recall the campus ever being so full. Or so loud.

The Free Press recently covered a story on how this semester holds the largest incoming freshman class at New School for Jazz, with a twenty percent increase. But what about Parsons? Eugene Lang? New School for Social Research? Did they not significantly inflate as well? The issue being that The New School feels at overcapacity — not only at the Jazz school.

Unfortunately, the amount of students enrolled this semester has not been confirmed yet (coincidence?) so there is no real knowing. But The New School Fact Book, which indicates enrollment trends of the last decade, implies that an increase in the numbers is not so far-fetched. According to these records, the undergraduate student body increased by almost 1,000 between Fall 2001, holding 1,357 students, and Fall 2011, holding 2,108.

It is important to mention that since 2001, New School rebranded itself and added facilities. Yet, that doesn’t explain the breakthrough rise in undergraduate student numbers between Fall 2008 (2,228) and Fall 2009 (2, 318).

Despite these changes, The New School has always promoted itself as unique for its “small size classes.” Now, this is only true about its classrooms. According to a professor, whom I had to beg (several times) for an over-tally during the first week of school, one more slot was allotted to each class for Fall 2012 registration. This change made him all the more reluctant to sign the form, bearing the size of his classroom in mind.

On the other hand, I had another professor over-tally me (and three others) into his course without thinking twice. Every time we meet, there is a shortage of space at the table the class is meant to gather around, which leaves one or two students (late because of the elevators) always excluded from the circle and feeling less comfortable. Either or, there’s no winning in this situation; the student wants to be over-tallied so he/she could be in a desired course, yet, nobody wants a crowded classroom.

I don’t want The New School to become a collection of grandiose buildings with huge lecture-style classrooms and twenty elevators (I could have gone to NYU for that).  Rather, like many of my fellow students, I chose this university for its intimate setting and close-knit community. I enjoy seeing the same faces every day, smiling and waving to them in the modest hallways. I prefer for my professors to know who I am. And I like the idea of being able to find a quiet spot on campus (say the second floor of Arnold Hall) without having to walk great lengths.

I side with The New School’s petite body size. I agree with there being only two cafes in the vicinity, and only two main computer labs (in the Arnold Hall building), and only two floors to the Jazz school (expanding would harm the networking experience and the vibe).

I am aware that the construction of the “new building” (65 Fifth Ave.) calls for a great sum of money, which, The New School, a private institution, must cover on its own. And so, it makes sense for the university to enroll more than usual at this time.

But this doesn’t make up for the overcapacity felt at the moment, especially since tuition is only rising. Like many others, I will probably not get to enjoy the comforts of the “new building” and yet, I still have to endure the crowdedness of current-day New School.

 

My Dear New School,

Please take your sophomores, juniors and seniors into consideration when enrolling the next wave of students because the number you enroll affects everybody’s learning experience and happiness.

 

Thank you.

 

Yours truly,

Natalie