Elmer Holmes Bobst Library — Attraction in New York

If you are a student from a diverse background at NYU, even though they say they love diversity, it’s just marketing: your life will be miserable here, and they will make you feel ashamed of who you are. After one year here as a student, I can say that after many experiences and I never lived that in any of my other universities (bachelor + master). This is just 1% of my life here, and I can provide proof of that and everything that has happened.

*Attached is the real information they’ve published.

They cover everything as they are covering the 4 students SUICID3s we had in one university in just 1 year and few months: the lack of transparency is very real and I see that every day.

EDITED REVIEW WITH LAST EVENTS:

Can you see the hypocrisy in their marketing and what they publish, and how little they actually care about non-wealthy students at NYU?

In fact, they couldn't care less about students who come from different realities, and with “all the efforts of the university of inclusion,” they never contacted me. The Chief of my Department was theoretically in contact with them after the unpleasant and shameful episode in the FORC Camp because I was the only one in class without a MAC computer, and nobody could care less. I notified them about what happened right after (it happened in August), and now we are in October when this was stated:

Chief of the Department – Master GSAS:

“They tell me (referring to the NYU data services) that they have further courses during the month of September, and they will reach out to you soon to schedule something as well as to make sure that there is no operating system issue.”

SPOILER: It was never a system issue. I was saying ALL THE TIME that I was lost and I could not follow the class like my peers. If you are a student from diverse backgrounds, you will be so miserable here. I regret every day my decision of coming here and spending the only opportunity I had to come to the U.S. I thought I would become a better researcher, but if you do not have a privilege bacjground, this is a nightmare: do not believe the marketing in Tik Tok or Instagram, it is not real. I cannot change my decision of coming here, but you do not have to go trhout this: it is shameful.

COMPLET REVIEW:

Technological exclusion from the start: Although the course clearly stated it was designed for both MAC and Windows, all the instructions and commands were given exclusively for MAC users. As someone without a MAC, it was simply impossible to follow the class. I repeated many times that I couldn’t do the exercises, but no one from the program offered any real solution. I was left behind.

Total indifference from the staff and instructors: Neither the assistant nor the professor did anything to address the situation. When the session ended, nobody cared that I wasn’t able to participate at all. Only one student let me look at their screen out of kindness, but this is not how things should work at a university that charges thousands of dollars in tuition.

Humiliation and normalized inequality: After paying (through my fellowship) one of the highest tuition rates in the country, the only “solution” I received was a Google link and the suggestion to practice at home. This was humiliating. Students who don’t come from the same background or don’t have the same resources shouldn’t have to accept less.

Lack of fair resources and policies: NYU has one of the worst laptop borrowing policies: only 3 days and not renewable. If your computer breaks or if you don’t own a MAC, you’re basically excluded from courses like this. This reproduces inequality between students with privilege and those without.

No institutional accountability: I formally reported the situation and even provided witnesses. The head of my program said it was just “an operational issue.” They promised to follow up and offer alternatives, but no one ever contacted me. The so-called “options” were just a few random sessions during the year that had nothing to do...

It's surprising that a man who was anti-Jewish, Elmer Bobst, created a library for a university that is now dominated by Jews. Some have called for the library's name to be changed. You'd think he would have been able to tell, when he forked over the money for the library, that it was already being taken over by Jews.

The best hours to go there for open stacks, for those who prefer their library quiet to bustling, are between 7am-Noon, and 8pm-1am. It's pretty easy to find a cubicle or seat during these hours, even when it's busy. Though at its busiest, when students are cramming for exams, it's best to get there between 7am-10am, or after 9pm. Otherwise you may have to walk around a bit before you find some place to sit. During the Summer months and Christmas Break the library is quiet around the clock. You don't have to reserve private rooms during these periods, as there's not enough activity to warrant it.

Bobst is open 24 hours for students. For non-students it's open from 7am-1am. Though many floors are shut down between the hours of 1am-7am, so students have to move to the lower floors during that time.

There are a couple options for accessing Bobst for those who aren't NYU students. Friends of Bobst is a program that offers residents who live close to Bobst yearly membership for about $300. NYPL's free Marli program offers full access to Bobst's Open Stacks (open from 7am-1pm). The Marli program also offers access to other univerity libraries, such as Columbia's Butler. You must apply for the Marli program. Bobst will give you an orange card with a barcode on the back (this is for checking out books). You must always show this orange card and photo id to the security desk to the far right when you enter the revolving doors at the entrance. EDIT JUNE 2018: THEY NOW GIVE YOU A PLASTIC CARD WITH YOUR PICTURE, SO YOU NO LONGER NEED PHOTO I.D.

On each floor there are two bathrooms on each wing with two urinals (for the men), two toilets and two sinks. The female bathrooms may have more toilets. These bathrooms should be bigger, and are often dirty. The door handles of the men's bathrooms (and maybe the women's bathrooms) are stained brown, which is absolutely disgusting.

When going to the bathroom or to the lower level to grab a snack you'll usually be fine leaving some of your stuff at your seat or cubicle, but I've seen people get their laptops stolen, so best to take anything of a personal nature with you. I'm surprised they haven't installed surveillance cameras by now. The security at Bobst is purely ceremonial.

On some of the floors (6,7,8,9 and maybe others) there are cubicles, at which you can get a little privacy. Get there before 10am or after 9pm and you can easily get a good one. Some cubicles have outlets built into the desks. Other cubicles don't have outlets. You can eat and have covered drinks at these cubicles. Though even if you don't have covered drinks you'll get away with it.

On the lower floor there are vending machines and a seating area with tables.

It can get very cold, so if you're going to be there all day you'll want to...

It's incredibly beautiful and a pleasure to study in except during finals... then it turns into an absolute monstrosity where you spend most of your time trying to find a seat and wonder why you didn't reserve a room like every other sane and responsible student. You will notice quite a few people who appear to be sleeping. Do not be fooled: these people aren't sleeping. In fact, they're praying that their PDE, Corporate Finance, Orgo, or whatever final they have the next morning will show even an ounce of mercy. The students here appear to be hardworking (and most of them are during finals), but there is still a large number of procrastinators... such as yours truly, who is writing this review because literally ANYTHING is more fun than studying for my finals. All in all, I rate this library 5 stars... like the 5/10 my roommate got on his first...