Grant D’Avino keeps us in the know!

Virgil guides Dante through the terrace of the lustful in Purgatory. CCSC, you are our Virgil.

First, Sean Udell updated the council on the findings of the Tobacco Work Group and on the status of open housing. The Tobacco Work Group Final Report is finished and has been submitted to VP Scott Wright. However, it remains in a purgatory of sorts; there is not even a consensus as to which administrative office has the power to implement (or not to implement) a smoking ban. Few details were available on open housing, but more will be made public once a report has been released to Deans Moody-Adams and Peña-Mora. Next, Ganiatu Afolabi presented the findings of CCSC’s meal plan poll:

  • 59% of students rated the dining plans “Good” prior to the changes that took effect this semester. That number has dropped to 17%.
  • 41% of the class of 2014 rated last year’s meal plan options as “Good.” They must have enjoyed the meals they had at Days on Campus.

She concluded her presentation with commonly heard student complaints:

  • The lines at Ferris Booth are too long, and the tables are no longer accessible as a lounge area.
  • JJ’s Place is no longer a hangout spot. As one student told her, the changes to JJ’s “completely ruined the culture of Columbia.”
  • Meal Plan D is more expensive than buying the same number of meals individually.

The council then heard a presentation from University Senators representing a handful of graduate schools, as well as CC. Tao Tan, CC ’07 and CBS ’11, emphasized that “you [CCSC] have friends in the Senate” and that a close working relationship between Senators and council members is beneficial to both. “If you’re having trouble writing your CC paper, or your girlfriend dumped you, I probably can’t help you,” he said. “But I can help you find someone who can.” The council then took a three-minute cookie break.

Refreshed following snack time, the council heard from Mary Waldorf, recently hired to work as a student advocate in University Event Management. The new S.A.V.E. (Student A/V Equipment Training) program will allow students to be trained in using A/V equipment and help student groups to save on tech fees. Students trained through the program will be qualified to replace professional technicians groups currently paid for by the hour. The meeting ended with a reminder to attend “A Time To Stir: Columbia 1968,” a screening of the documentary and discussion with its director, Paul Cronin. The screening happens on Wednesday at 6:30 PM in Roone Cinema, and “refreshments will follow the event.”

Fact: food follows CCSC.

Photo via Wikimedia Commons