Labor Lost

On October 2nd the New School announced the layoff of 122 staff members, among them Eugene Lang’s director of finance, Alex Draifinger, and the curator of the school’s important collection of contemporary art, Silvia Rocciolo; vital services at every level were affected.In a memo to the University, President Dwight McBride called it a “difficult but necessary decision.” The action spotlighted not only the university’s fiscal crisis, but long-established gaps in communication between faculty, staff, and the administration. Going forward, the school will need to rebuild trust, and remain true to its vision.