The People Speak College Tour: New York University

Editor’s Note: This post is by Erich Rettstadt, a student at New York University who attended The People Speak College Tour event on his campus last week.

A rainy mid-November day in Manhattan did not deter the NYU masses from attending the latest stop on The People Speak college tour. Lines of students buzzing with anticipation wrapped around The Cooper Union’s historic Great Hall hours before the 2PM event began, braving the wet and windy weather to see the headlining mega-celebrity. Matt Damon, you ask? Oh no. None other than Mr. Howard Zinn himself. After Damon’s passionate reading of an excerpt from Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, the crowd’s cheers were overwhelmed by the standing ovation Mr. Zinn received upon entering the stage moments later. Handling himself with grace, dignity and unmatched wit, Mr. Zinn encouraged the largely college-aged audience to push and prod our government until we get the change that we wanted to see. And to never give up.

Growing up in conservative northern Michigan, my parents were much more liberal than most and encouraged my sisters and me to speak up whenever we felt something was wrong – no matter what the situation. In high school, I never spoke back to teachers, but if I had a problem or a question for the administration, I would constructively confront the necessary person. At NYU, I’ve gained confidence in my voice and have used it to speak out about the inadequacies of financial aid, unnecessary bureaucratic rules and regulations…but that’s a different story. I strongly attribute my confidence to confront problems head on directly to my parents – both children of immigrants, my mom and dad built successful careers and family lives out of virtually nothing, embodying the passion and perseverance that Mr. Zinn spoke so strongly of this past week.

Once Damon and Zinn were introduced to the crowd, both sat down to talk about why they were there and the importance of The People Speak. After struggling to find the most suitable format for the project, Zinn ended up choosing to make The People Speak as a concert documentary in which artists perform historical pieces that “speak to the present” and affect the way that modern viewers approach our government today. Among the film excerpts, Damon’s performance and the series of questions posed by students, Zinn’s confidence in my generation was one thing that truly stood out for me. His affirmation of the importance of individual voices on outcomes that impact the common good resonated with seemingly everyone in the Great Hall. “Start with skepticism,” Zinn proclaimed to his loyal supporters. For you, Captain Zinn, anything. 

Photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images