MSUA student Derek McGee on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.

In Iraq, I saw how quickly a city deteriorates when basic amenities like electricity, water, and police are no longer available.

MSUA student Derek McGee did not return from Iraq on a mission to study cities but following a brief stint in corporate security for AIG, that is exactly where he ended up.

If you are going to study cities, being in New York is the place to be.  Living and studying here immerses you in the subject matter in a way that books alone cannot.

Derek’s participation in the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement prompted a request from The Nation magazine to write an article detailing his experiences in Iraq, on Wall Street and OWS. In An Iraq Vet’s Journey from Wall Street to OWS, Derek chronicles his journey from Marine, to financier, to Occupy Wall Street protester.

The response to his article has been resounding. Since publication in February 2012, Derek has appeared on Countdown with Keith Olberman and various local media outlets. His article has been reposted on numerous blogs and online outposts.

Following graduation in May of 2012, Derek plans to study Arabic in Cairo, Egypt.