The Free University: May Day at Madison Square Park

On Tuesday morning, as the rainclouds cleared above Manhattan, a group of protestors assembled at Madison Square Park.  Some tied red balloons to the railings, others unfolded tables and stacked fliers, and one man rolled out a big yellow banner that read “Welcome to your Free University.”  This marked the first day of classes at the Free University of New York.

The Free University, which describes itself as “a collective educational experiment,” operated from 10am until 3pm on May 1.  In solidarity with The General Strike, it encouraged students to boycott their classes and instead attend free lectures in the park.

“The Free University offers a public space for the 99% to disengage from an unequal system and imagine a model for alternative education.,” stated a free booklet at the press table outside the park. “Those gathered in Madison, Square Park and those meeting in other spaces in solidarity, are creating a university that is open to all, without debt or tuition for students, without pre-requisites, age limits or any other disqualifying requirements.”

The Free University was one of many events in a day of protest for May Day’s General Strike.  Others included a pop-up occupation in Bryant Park, a rally at Union Square and a march from Union Square to Wall Street.

Rayya El Zeine, a CUNY grad student, was in charge of press in the afternoon and handed out information packets to passers by.

“We wanted to do something in junction with mayday,” she said, “so we organized a student strike.  Some professors have moved their lectures from the classroom to the park, others have made new lectures for the afternoon.”

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A Map of the Park showing Lecture Locations

Hundreds of people gathered inside the park.  Some carried signs made out of cardboard.  One girl with a pirate flag draped like a cape held a sign that read “Robin Hood Was Right.”

On the west side of the park, a professor stood on the base of a statue, elevated a three feet off the ground.  He spoke to a crowd of about forty people, but traffic noises and conversation drowned out his voice.  Only occasional terms, such as “Martin Luther King,” “Socrates” and “Communist Party” reached the listeners on the outskirts of the crowd.

Most of the lectures were held at the center of the park by the pond.  These lecture groups were smaller, and most people sat cross legged on the ground.  On one side of the pond a man with Einstein like facial hair gave a physics class.  The group next to him discussed philosophy.

“It’s a great atmosphere,” said 23-year-old grad student Peter Barker.  “The Free University breeds conversation, discussion and debate.  It’s all for free and it’s for everyone. And that’s how it should be.”