Lerner spaces have been proposed to accommodate student groups.

The discussion on GS swipe access continued at this week’s ESC meeting. ESC has proposed to reconfigure several unused spaces that can be utilized by student groups on campus. 

The penultimate meeting of Engineering Student Council was punctuated by intermittent reminders of the upcoming transition in council members. The main topic of discussion at this relatively short meeting (internal transition discussion and picture-taking consumed the last 10 to 15 minutes of sessions) consisted of continued discussion regarding the reconstituted General Studies Swipe Access resolution.

General Studies Swipe Access Resolution: Part Deux
After Vice President for Policy Sidney Perkins recused himself as parliamentarian for the moderated caucus discussing this resolution—as Perkins is the primary sponsor of the resolution—two representatives from General Studies Student Council spoke in support of passing the resolution. The two representatives essentially contextualized the Swipe Access Resolution in reference to nearly 15 years of GS advocacy for more equitable swipe access, especially as the last few years have engendered a unique campus atmosphere for this issue. They explained how GS students do no automatically receive access to certain CPS offices, certain group events (which GS students subsidize in their tuition), study groups with friends, and memorial services for peer students held in residential dorms. At a larger level, they continued, GS students are “feeling otherized [sic]” in a manner which is “destructive to community.” They emphasized how ESC has focused this year on increasing student wellness, one aspect of which is increasing student space, claiming that opening up more spaces to GS students will work within the space available at Columbia to combat the lack thereof. Finally, the GS representatives referred to prior commuter student and GS polling data to point out how GS students utilize residential amenities at a lower rate than commuter students, who can obtain swipe access, thus proving that opening up these spaces to GS students will not negatively affect CC/SEAS student life.

A few questions were posed to the GS representatives, mainly in reference to other communities at Columbia with or without swipe access. In reference to 2017 Representative Harry Munroe, the GS advocates clarified the application process for commuter students, a luxury unavailable to GS students in Columbia housing. They further elaborated that, while as individuals they might support Barnard students having access to Columbia dorms, they do not wish to confuse the two in this discussion. If GSSC, CCSC, ESC, and the List College Student Council all demonstrated their support for such a transition, the Administration might perform actionable changes. Responding to President Neha Jain’s inquiry regarding current liability issues, the advocates explained that under current policies, swiped-in GS students are not liable for any damage they cause in dorms—rather, it’s the person who swiped in the GS student causing damage. Creating more equitable swipe access would actually act to protect CC and SEAS students in this regard.

Following the end of this discussion, ESC voted with an overwhelming majority to support this amended resolution in support of GS swipe access.

Senatorial Updates
University Senator Izzet Kebudi recounted the events this past Friday in the University Senate and the Student Affairs Committee therein. A space proposal including plans for a new “student of color” space, an “LGBT” space, a “meditation” space, and a “food bank pantry,” saw the first two proposals accepted. The new spaces will be placed in the old package center in Lerner, while the Schapiro gym will be transformed into a new LGBT lounge as well. The old space in the Furnald basement will be maintained in some manner as it was the first LGBT space at an American university. These LGBT and student of color spaces will be open to all reservations between 9 AM and 5 PM during weekdays, with private usage at all other times. Furthermore, Senator Kebudi announced his election as Vice Chair of the Student Affairs Committee, a position on an executive board which has seen little representation from SEAS in the past.

Updates:

  • President Jain reported that the data from the tampon and pad initiative is being consolidated, but noted that 3 of the 4 boxes placed in men’s restrooms have been removed. The information is being sent to Administrator Scott Wright, though Representative Munroe relayed that some of the boxes under his watch in Mudd had been removed, possibly by Columbia Facilities.
  • Both Junior and Senior Boat Cruise are scheduled for April 20th (4/20), with subsidized tickets available. Whether this date was purposefully chosen in relation to the Junior and Senior class getting lit on boats is unknown, though it’s sure to make the cruises more exciting.

Image via Flickr