Excerpt from the ppt…gotta love Robert’s Rules

No less than four interlopers entered the Satow Room last night, mistaking it for a meeting of The Federalist. However, it was just student government. Bureau Chief Nadra Rahman reports, after her brief stint as traffic director.

Jordan Singer rang in her tenure as president of CCSC with a sleek PowerPoint. The structure was similar to that of a syllabus—it included information on CCSC’s organizational structure, rules of order, discussion procedures, and attendance policies, among other mundane topics.

Interestingly, in the context of larger campus conversations on mental health, Singer touched upon the need to consider the mental health of council members. She said, “We’re really here to listen, to help you navigate [your mental health needs] and your responsibility to CCSC, because we understand you have a responsibility to yourself as well.”

And for those of you who remember past debates on the utility of closed meetings, from which the public is barred, Singer outlined a policy which would require members to identify and communicate closed meetings or meeting portions to reporters before the meeting itself.

After a brief moment of confusion over the creation of the CCSC GroupMe, members shared updates and aspirations for the year ahead. Members mentioned desires to investigate the transparency of the JED Foundation’s engagement with Columbia (USenator Alfredo Dominguez), improve the marketing and explanation of health insurance for international students (International Students Rep Nikola Danev), and encourage open and inclusive student groups through funding mechanisms (VP Policy Elise Fuller).

The E-Board also touched upon recent project updates, such as the new pads-and-tampons vending machine in the John Jay lobby, the changes in the reservability of residence hall main lounges, and the new ability to book rooms in Hamilton during the first three weeks of classes, albeit only on Fridays and weekends.

Finally, USenator Toqa Badran stepped up to fill the role of CCSC’s representative to the Student Group Adjudication Board. This board, made up of representatives from ABC, IGB, SGB, and student councils, hears cases involving student groups and delivers judgment. Last year, CCSC filed a report to the Student Group Adjudication Board on the Columbia University College Republicans (CUCR). Dominguez nominated Tarek Deida for the position of alternate representative, but he demurred without hesitation.

A Visit From Down The Hall

The meeting concluded with a Q&A with Michael Higgins, the co-founder of the Food Pantry at Columbia, an organization which has rebranded itself from the Food Bank of Columbia. Higgins expounded on the encompassing nature of the term “food insecurity.” He went on to explain that the Food Pantry operates on a no-questions-asked basis, providing non-perishable, nutritional food to all Columbia affiliates who can swipe into Lerner. Vegetarian, vegan, and kosher options are offered.

According to Higgins, 12 to 15% of pantry users are CC, as is half of the active board. He stressed that all parts of the Columbia community are affected by food insecurity, asking CCSC to help promote upcoming events and better engage students.

During the Q&A, Higgins said that the pantry’s services were certainly underutilized, but that did not pose a problem, as the food is non-perishable and the pantry remains stocked in case of future upticks in patronage. He also described the funding situation in more detail—some money comes from allocations, but the pantry also receives grant funds. When asked about programs to help users prepare healthy meals, he explained that future events in collaboration with GSSC and Milvets would have Michelin-rated chefs teach participants how to cook nutritious meals using pantry items. Finally, he touched upon the changes that have come with the pantry’s recent affiliation with the Food Bank of New York City, including the organization’s name change and access to cheaper foods and city resources.

[The Food Pantry is located in 582 Lerner Hall. It holds open hours on Mondays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 pm. For more information, see their Facebook page.]

On this note, Singer adjourned the meeting, following the procedure outlined in her PowerPoint. Here’s to a year that is just as organized!