Bwog just received an email from CCSC VP of Policy Adil Ahmed that announced there are two ROTC forums in the works  — one at Barnard, one at Columbia — designed to serve as platforms for different groups to present their views on the issue to the campus. These forums will be open to the public. 

On Friday, there will be a planning meeting — “not a political debate” — to determine who will be presenting during these forums.

As for the the University-wide referendum, it seems this thing will be written by to-be-determined members of the four undergraduate councils. The authors of the referendum will be identified once it is written, and “no groups will write the questions.”

Full email after the jump.


Dear Campus Groups,

As you know by now, the question of bringing an NROTC program has been raised and is being entertained by the undergraduate University Senators.

The student councils (CCSC, ESC, GSSC, and SGA) will be conducting a survey to gauge student opinion on the issue. We will disclose the members of the councils who draft these questions, and will seek the assistance of our SDA and CAO advisers during the survey drafting process. No groups will write the questions.

We will be working closely with the University Senators to provide the campus with a timetable / history of ROTC activity in the past, and hosting two forums for groups to present their respective views to the campus. One forum will be held at Barnard and one at Columbia so that all students have an equal opportunity to attend and learn about NROTC.

The purpose of the meeting on Friday is so that we can gauge interest in participation on the panels during the forums. It is a planning meeting, not a political debate. If your group would like to be involved, please send one or two representatives from your group to the meeting on Friday. We would also like to learn which groups are planning to organize together so that the forums can be planned accordingly. This will be a great opportunity for you to meet and talk to other student groups who are also planning to educate the campus about their perspectives on a possible Columbia NROTC program.

Of course, you are free to organize however you wish outside of our planned forums but please be respectful of your peers and our larger community.

Location: Earl Hall Auditorium

When: Friday, September 26 from 7 PM – 9 pM

Sincerely,

CCSC, ESC, GSSC, and SGA