The NYU University Senate reminds me of a Communist Politburo. We sit quietly while NYU President Sexton holds court. He brags about his accomplishments and the pols he hangs with. Mostly, he holds the floor and runs out the clock so there is no time for actual business. Fidel Castro speaches were broadcast live all over Cuba. Maybe "speach" is the wrong word for those rambling stream of conscientiousness
In three years we debated and voted on exactly one thing: should Coke be allowed on campus? Other issues are decided elsewhere: should NYU merge with Poly? Should we build a branch campus in Abu Dhabi? Should we drop the SAT as an application requirement? Should graduate students be required to serve as teaching assistants? Should NYU faculty housing be razed to make room for more classrooms?
Unlike the politburo, attendance is not mandatory. Still, Senators attend month after month. Some come out of a sense of duty to report back to constituents the latest administration announcements -- thus beating broadcast emails by hours or days. They gripe about having no influence, but they come.
You get the sense from old timers that the NYU University Senate, like the Imperial Roman Senate, once had a purpose. You hear stories -- the merger of two schools was held up for months while Deans worked with Senators over the details of tenure review. The present administration clearly has no patience for this.
