Best Of 2014

This year was on fleek!

January 23: University Center Opens

Via newschool.edu

Our new University Center opened its doors to the community and Sarah Jessica Parker gave her blessing—a monumental way to start the new year.

January 28: Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart

Via youtube.com

Two of the most acclaimed actors of film and stage, Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen, stopped by for a Q&A with The New School for Drama students.

February 10: Victoria Beckham

Via newschool.edu

This was everything. *praying hands emoji*

February 27 - March 6: Parsons Paris at Paris Fashion Week

Via blogs.newschool.edu

Over the course of eight days, Parsons Paris offered students access to 38 exclusive shows—with backstage passes—at the Fall/Winter 2014 collections.

May 12: Diane Von Furstenberg

Via youtube.com

During this year's Parsons Festival, DVF spoke with Professor Hazel Clark about her iconic wrap dress, which turned 40 this year.

"The wrap dress... What made it so special? I think because it was both proper and sexy. Once somebody told me 'that's the dress the boyfriend likes and his mother doesn't mind'."

May 15: "The World's Most Powerful Room"

Luca Zanier / Anzenberger / Via abcnews.go.com

ABC News showcased the Auditorium at 66 West 12th Street as a room "where VIPs shape history."

May 22: Commencement

Via newschool.edu

During Commencement at Madison Square Garden, Zadie Smith gave an unforgettable speech titled "Many Hands." She urged graduates to collectively approach the global challenges that will define their generation:

"The climate. The economy. The sick relationship between the individual prestige of the First World and the anonymity of the Third. These are things only many hands can fix, working together."

instagram.com

...and Lady Gaga came to support her sister, a Parsons graduate.

July 11: Trapeze School

instagram.com

New Schoolers took to Hudson River Park for a trapeze lesson—what'd you do last summer?!

August 5: Matt Bomer visits The New School

Via newschool.edu

"I'm such a drama nerd," actor Matt Bomer told an audience of students at The New School for Drama.

September 16 - 24: Climate Action Week

Via newschool.edu

The New School hosted an epic series of events leading up to the largest climate march in history. Naomi Klein, author of the #1 bestsellers The Shock Doctrine and No Logo, launched her first new book in seven years This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs The Climate on our stage. She kicks climate change ass.

September 21: The People's Climate March

instagram.com

History was made. The turn out for the People's Climate March was around 400,000—New School community included. It all led up to the UN Climate Summit that took place in New York just two days later. To learn more about the results of the summit, visit here.

September 26: Journalism + Design Launch

Via Instagram: @eugene_lang

The newest Lang x Parsons collab gives students the rigorous critical thinking of Eugene Lang College with the creative design thinking of Parsons. You can study Journalism + Design as a major (BA, Journalism + Design), minor (non-Liberal Arts majors), or an area of study (Liberal Arts majors).

October 6: bell hooks and Gloria Steinem

Via newschool.edu

During her third residency at Eugene Lang College, bell hooks spoke with trailblazers including Gloria Steinem, Laverne Cox, Dr. Cornel West, and many more.

October 7: bell hooks and Laverne Cox

Via youtube.com

No caption can do these two any justice. ICYMI, the video is a must-see.

October 8: Parsons at The White House

Via blogs.newschool.edu

It isn’t every day that you get to transform The White House into your very own classroom and art space. But that’s exactly what students from The New School’s Parsons School of Design got to do when First Lady Michelle Obama invited them to participate in the first ever White House Fashion Education Workshop.

For the First Lady's event, Parsons students repurposed 600 discarded books to create a celebratory and sustainable installation in the White House East Room — including a stage backdrop made from 4,000 folded pages.

"I want to thank all of the students and faculty from Parsons who contributed to the installation today. We are proud of you, our president is proud of you."

— Michelle Obama

BRB, lemme grab a tissue, because Michelle has us feelin' some type of way.